text:
Togo Population: 7,756,9371 VISITOR FROM HERE!
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|French Togoland became Togo in 1960. Gen. Gnassingbe EYADEMA, installed as military ruler in 1967, ruled Togo with a heavy hand for almost four decades. Despite the facade of multi-party elections instituted in the early 1990s, the government was largely dominated by President EYADEMA, whose Rally of the Togolese People (RPT) party has been in power almost continually since 1967 and its successor, the Union for the Republic, maintains a majority of seats in today's legislature. Upon EYADEMA's death in February 2005, the military installed the president's son, Faure GNASSINGBE, and then engineered his formal election two months later. Democratic gains since then allowed Togo to hold its first relatively free and fair legislative elections in October 2007. After years of political unrest and condemnation from international organizations for human rights abuses, Togo is finally being re-welcomed into the international community.
The country's length allows it to stretch through six distinct geographic regions; climate varies from tropical to savanna
|Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Benin and Ghana
|Geographic coordinates:
| total: 56,785 sq km
land: 54,385 sq km
water: 2,400 sq km
Size comparison: slightly smaller than West Virginia
|Land Boundaries:
|total: 1,880 km border countries (3): Benin 651 km, Burkina Faso 131 km, Ghana 1,098 km
|56 km
|Maritime claims:
| territorial sea: 30 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
|tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north
|gently rolling savanna in north; central hills; southern plateau; low coastal plain with extensive lagoons and marshes
|Elevation extremes:
|Natural resources:
|phosphates, limestone, marble, arable land
|Land use:
| agricultural land: 67.4% arable land 45.2%; permanent crops 3.8%; permanent pasture 18.4% forest: 4.9%
other: 27.7% (2011 est.)
|Irrigated land:
|70 sq km (2012)
|Natural hazards:
|hot, dry harmattan wind can reduce visibility in north during winter; periodic droughts
|Current Environment Issues:
|deforestation attributable to slash-and-burn agriculture and the use of wood for fuel; water pollution presents health hazards and hinders the fishing industry; air pollution increasing in urban areas
|International Environment Agreements:
| party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
|^Back to Top
| noun: Togolese (singular and plural)
adjective: Togolese
|Ethnic groups:
|African (37 tribes; largest and most important are Ewe, Mina, and Kabre) 99%, European and Syrian-Lebanese less than 1%
|French (official, the language of commerce), Ewe and Mina (the two major African languages in the south), Kabye (sometimes spelled Kabiye) and Dagomba (the two major African languages in the north)
|Christian 29%, Muslim 20%, indigenous beliefs 51%
|7,756,937 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2016 est.)
|Age structure:
| 0-14 years: 40.44% (male 1,573,363/female 1,563,267)
15-24 years: 19.34% (male 749,002/female 751,571)
25-54 years: 32.58% (male 1,255,524/female 1,271,804)
55-64 years: 4.27% (male 156,249/female 175,089)
65 years and over: 3.37% (male 112,845/female 148,223) (2016 est.)
|Dependency ratios:
| total dependency ratio: 81.8%
youth dependency ratio: 76.8%
elderly dependency ratio: 5%
potential support ratio: 19.9% (2015 est.)
|Median age:
| total: 19.7 years
male: 19.4 years
female: 20 years (2016 est.)
|Population growth rate:
|2.66% (2016 est.)
|Birth rate:
|33.7 births/1,000 population (2016 est.)
|Death rate:
|7.1 deaths/1,000 population (2016 est.)
|Net migration rate:
|0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2016 est.)
| urban population: 40% of total population (2015)
rate of urbanization: 3.83% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
|Major urban areas - population:
|LOME (capital) 956,000 (2015)
|Sex ratio:
| at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.89 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2016 est.)
|Mother's mean age at first birth:
|21 note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2013/14 est.)
|Maternal mortality rate:
|368 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)
|Infant mortality rate:
| total: 43.7 deaths/1,000 live births male: 50.1 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 37 deaths/1,000 live births (2016 est.)
|Life expectancy at birth:
| total population: 65 years male: 62.3 years
female: 67.7 years (2016 est.)
|Total fertility rate:
|4.43 children born/woman (2016 est.)
|Contraceptive prevalence rate:
|15.2% (2010)
|Health expenditures:
|5.2% of GDP (2014)
|Physicians density:
|0.05 physicians/1,000 population (2008)
|Hospital bed density:
|0.7 beds/1,000 population (2011)
|Drinking water source:
| improved:
urban: 91.4% of population
rural: 44.2% of population
total: 63.1% of population
urban: 8.6% of population
rural: 55.8% of population
total: 36.9% of population (2015 est.)
|Sanitation facility access:
| improved:
urban: 24.7% of population
rural: 2.9% of population
total: 11.6% of population
urban: 75.3% of population
rural: 97.1% of population
total: 88.4% of population (2015 est.)
|HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
|2.4% (2015 est.)
|HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
|106,300 (2015 est.)
|HIV/AIDS - deaths:
|5,100 (2015 est.)
|Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
|6.4% (2014)
|Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
|16.2% (2014)
|Education expenditures:
|5.3% of GDP (2015)
| definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 66.5%
male: 78.3%
female: 55.3% (2015 est.)
|School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
| total: 12 years male: NA
female: NA (2011)
|^Back to Top
|Country name:
| conventional long form: Togolese Republic
conventional short form: Togo
local long form: Republique Togolaise
local short form: none
former: French Togoland
etymology: derived from the Ewe words "to" (water) and "go" (shore) to give the sense of "by the water"; originally, this designation applied to the town of Togo (now Togoville) on the northern shore of Lake Togo, but the name was eventually extended to the entire nation
|Government type:
|presidential republic
| name: Lome
geographic coordinates: 6 07 N, 1 13 E
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
|Administrative divisions:
|5 regions (regions, singular - region); Centrale, Kara, Maritime, Plateaux, Savanes
|27 April 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)
|National holiday:
|Independence Day, 27 April (1960)
|several previous; latest adopted 27 September 1992, effective 14 October 1992; amended 2002, 2007 (2016)
|Legal system:
|customary law system
|18 years of age; universal
|Executive branch:
| chief of state: President Faure GNASSINGBE (since 4 May 2005)
head of government: Prime Minister Komi KLASSOU (since 5 June 2015)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister elections/appointments: president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 5-year term (no term limits); election last held on 25 April 2015 (next to be held in 2020); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Faure GNASSINGBE reelected president; percent of vote - Faure GNASSINGBE (UNIR) 58.8%, Jean-Pierre FABRE (ANC) 35.2%, Tchaboure GOGUE 4%, other 2%
|Legislative branch:
| description: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (91 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote to serve 5-year terms)
elections: last held on 25 July 2013 (next to be held in 2018)
election results: percent of vote by party - UNIR 46.7%, CST 28.9%, Rainbow Alliance 10.8%, UFC 7.7%, independent 0.8%, other 5.1%; seats by party - UNIR 62, CST 19, Rainbow Alliance 6, UFC 3, independent 1
|Judicial branch:
| highest court(s): Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (organized into criminal and administrative chambers, each with a chamber president and advisors); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges including the court president) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court president appointed by decree of the president of the republic upon the proposal of the Supreme Council of the Magistracy, a 9-member judicial, advisory, and disciplinary body; other judge appointments and judge tenure NA; Constitutional Court judges appointed by the National Assembly; judge tenure NA
subordinate courts: Court of Assizes (sessions court); Appeal Court; tribunals of first instance (divided into civil, commercial, and correctional chambers; Court of State Security; military tribunal
|Political parties and leaders:
|Action Committee for Renewal or CAR [Dodji APEVON] Democratic Convention of African Peoples or CDPA [Brigitte ADJAMAGBO-JOHNSON] National Alliance for Change or ANC [Jean-Pierre FABRE] Pan-African Patriotic Convergence or CPP [Edem KODJO] Rainbow Alliance (a coalition including CAR and CDPA) [Brigitte ADJAMAGBO-JOHNSON] Save Togo Collective or CST (a coalition including: ANC and PSR) [Ata Messan Zeus AJAVON Socialist Pact for Renewal or PSR [Abi TCHESSA] Union for Democracy and Social Progress or UDPS [Gagou KOKOU] Union of Forces for Change or UFC [Gilchrist OLYMPIO] Union for the Republic or UNIR [Faure GNASSINGBE]
|Political pressure groups and leaders:
|International organization participation:
|ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, EITI (compliant country), Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSMA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
|National symbol(s):
|lion; national colors: green, yellow, red, white
|National anthem:
| name: "Salut a toi, pays de nos aieux" (Hail to Thee, Land of Our Forefathers)
lyrics/music: Alex CASIMIR-DOSSEH
note: adopted 1960, restored 1992; this anthem was replaced by another during one-party rule between 1979 and 1992
|Diplomatic representation in the US:
| chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Yokoudema KADOKALIH (since 26 October 2015)
chancery: 2208 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 234-4212
|Diplomatic representation from the US:
| chief of mission: Ambassador David R. GILMORE (since December 2015)
embassy: 4332 Blvd. Gnassingbe Eyadema, Cite OUA, Lome
mailing address: B.P. 852, Lome; 2300 Lome Place, Washington, DC 20521-2300
telephone: [228] 2261-5470
|^Back to Top
This small, sub-Saharan economy depends heavily on both commercial and subsistence agriculture, which provides employment for a significant share of the labor force. Some basic foodstuffs must still be imported. Cocoa, coffee, and cotton generate about 40% of export earnings with cotton being the most important cash crop. Togo is among the world's largest producers of phosphate and seeks to develop its carbonate phosphate reserves. The government's decade-long effort, supported by the World Bank and the IMF, to implement economic reform measures, encourage foreign investment, and bring revenues in line with expenditures has moved slowly. Togo completed its IMF Extended Credit Facility in 2011 and reached a Heavily Indebted Poor Country debt relief completion point in 2010 at which 95% of the country's debt was forgiven. Togo continues to work with the IMF on structural reforms. Progress depends on follow through on privatization, increased openness in government financial operations, progress toward legislative elections, and continued support from foreign donors. Togo's 2015 economic growth remained steady at 5.4%, largely driven by infusions of foreign aid, infrastructure investment in the port and mineral sectors, and improvements in the business climate. Foreign direct investment inflows have slowed in recent years.
|GDP (purchasing power parity):
| GDP (purchasing power parity): $11.61 billion (2016 est.) $11.02 billion (2015 est.) $10.46 billion (2014 est.)
note: data are in 2016 dollars
|GDP (official exchange rate):
|GDP (official exchange rate): $4.52 billion (2015 est.)
|GDP - real growth rate:
|5.3% (2016 est.) 5.4% (2015 est.) 5.4% (2014 est.)
|GDP - per capita (PPP):
| GDP - per capita (PPP): $1,500 (2016 est.) $1,500 (2015 est.) $1,500 (2014 est.)
note: data are in 2016 dollars
|Gross national saving:
|18% of GDP (2016 est.) 18.2% of GDP (2015 est.) 13.6% of GDP (2014 est.)
|GDP - composition, by end use:
| household consumption: 107%
government consumption: 16.2%
investment in fixed capital: 21%
investment in inventories: 0%
exports of goods and services: 49.3%
imports of goods and services: -93.5% (2016 est.)
|GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
| household consumption: 107%
government consumption: 16.2%
investment in fixed capital: 21%
investment in inventories: 0%
exports of goods and services: 49.3%
imports of goods and services: -93.5% (2016 est.)
|Agriculture - products:
|coffee, cocoa, cotton, yams, cassava (manioc, tapioca), corn, beans, rice, millet, sorghum; livestock; fish
|phosphate mining, agricultural processing, cement, handicrafts, textiles, beverages
|Industrial production growth rate:
|7.1% (2016 est.)
|Labor force:
|2.595 million (2007 est.)
|Labor force - by occupation:
| agriculture: 65%
industry: 5%
services: 30% (1998 est.)
|Unemployment rate:
|Population below poverty line:
|32% (1989 est.)
|Household income or consumption by percentage share:
| lowest 10%: 3.3%
highest 10%: 27.1% (2006)
| revenues: $1.14 billion
expenditures: $1.377 billion (2016 est.)
|Taxes and other revenues:
|25.2% of GDP (2016 est.)
|Public debt:
|63.3% of GDP (2016 est.) 67.3% of GDP (2015 est.)
|Fiscal year:
|calendar year
|Inflation rate (consumer prices):
|Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.2% (2016 est.) 1.8% (2015 est.)
|Current account balance:
|-$361 million (2016 est.) -$295 million (2015 est.)
|$1.2 billion (2016 est.) $1.246 billion (2015 est.)
|Exports - commodities:
|reexports, cotton, phosphates, coffee, cocoa
|Exports - partners:
|India 14.6%, Burkina Faso 11.3%, China 11.3%, Benin 9.6%, Ghana 9%, Lebanon 8.3%, Nigeria 6.1%, Niger 5.9% (2015)
|$1.852 billion (2016 est.) $1.881 billion (2015 est.)
|Imports - commodities:
|machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products
|Imports - partners:
|China 22.9%, Belgium 20.3%, Netherlands 11.9%, France 6.6%, India 4.8%, Singapore 4.4% (2015)
|Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
|$647.6 million (31 December 2016 est.) $574 million (31 December 2015 est.)
|Debt - external:
|$1.173 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $1.034 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
|Market value of publicly traded shares:
|Exchange rates:
|Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 605.7 (2016 est.) 591.45 (2015 est.) 591.45 (2014 est.) 494.42 (2013 est.) 510.53 (2012 est.)
|^Back to Top
|Electricity - production:
|100 million kWh (2014 est.)
|Electricity - consumption:
|1.1 billion kWh (2014 est.)
|Electricity - exports:
|0 kWh (2013 est.)
|Electricity - imports:
|1.1 billion kWh (2014 est.)
|Electricity - installed generating capacity:
|86,000 kW (2014 est.)
|Electricity - from fossil fuels:
|21.7% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
|Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
|0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
|Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
|78.3% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
|Electricity - from other renewable sources:
|0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
|Crude oil - production:
|0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
|Crude oil - exports:
|0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
|Crude oil - imports:
|0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
|Crude oil - proved reserves:
|0 bbl (1 January 2016 es)
|Refined petroleum products - production:
|0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
|Refined petroleum products - consumption:
|13,000 bbl/day (2014 est.)
|Refined petroleum products - exports:
|0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
|Refined petroleum products - imports:
|12,280 bbl/day (2013 est.)
|Natural gas - production:
|0 cu m (2013 est.)
|Natural gas - consumption:
|0 cu m (2013 est.)
|Natural gas - exports:
|0 cu m (2013 est.)
|Natural gas - imports:
|0 cu m (2013 est.)
|Natural gas - proved reserves:
|0 cu m (1 January 2014 es)
|Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
|1.8 million Mt (2013 est.)
|^Back to Top
|Cellular Phones in use:
|total: 4.657 million subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 62 (July 2015 est.)
|Telephone system:
| general assessment: fair system based on a network of microwave radio relay routes supplemented by open-wire lines and a mobile-cellular system
domestic: microwave radio relay and open-wire lines for conventional system; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 60 telephones per 100 persons with mobile-cellular use predominating
international: country code - 228; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Symphonie (2015)
|Broadcast media:
|2 state-owned TV stations with multiple transmission sites; 5 private TV stations broadcast locally; cable TV service is available; state-owned radio network with multiple stations; several dozen private radio stations and a few community radio stations; (2007)
|Internet country code:
|Internet users:
|total: 538,000 percent of population: 7.1% (July 2015 est.)
|^Back to Top
|8 (2013)
|Airports (paved runways):
| total 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (2013)
|Airports (unpaved runways):
| total 6
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 2 (2013)
| total 568 km
narrow gauge: 568 km 1.000-m gauge (2014)
| total 11,652 km
paved: 2,447 km
unpaved: 9,205 km (2007)
|50 km (seasonally navigable by small craft on the Mono River depending on rainfall) (2011)
|Merchant marine:
| total 61
by type: bulk carrier 6, cargo 38, carrier 3, chemical tanker 5, container 3, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 3, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 21 (China 1, Lebanon 6, Romania 1, Syria 6, Turkey 4, UAE 1, US 1, Yemen 1) (2010)
|Ports and terminals:
|major seaport(s): Kpeme, Lome
|^Back to Top
|Military branches:
|Togolese Armed Forces (Forces Armees Togolaise, FAT): Togolese Army (l'Armee de Terre), Togolese Navy (Forces Naval Togolaises), Togolese Air Force (Force Aerienne Togolaise, TAF), National Gendarmerie (2013)
|Military service age and obligation:
|18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; 2-year service obligation (2012)
|Military expenditures:
|NA% (2012) 1.6% of GDP (2011)
|^Back to Top
|Transnational Issues
|Disputes - International:
|in 2001, Benin claimed Togo moved boundary monuments - joint commission continues to resurvey the boundary; talks continue between Benin and Togo on funding the Adjrala hydroelectric dam on the Mona River
|Refugees and internally displaced persons:
|refugees (country of origin): 18,476 (Ghana) (2015)
|Illicit drugs:
|transit hub for Nigerian heroin and cocaine traffickers; money laundering not a significant problem
|^Back to Top
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Source: CIA - The World Factbook


text:
Dragons: A Natural History
Simon & Schuster, 1995 - Fiction - 120 pages
For millennia, few animals have fascinated mankind more than dragons. But until now, no rigorous survey has captured them in all their glorious variety. "Dragons: A Natural History" is that survey...a one-of-a-kind book, bringing these captivating creatures to life with lavish illustrations and vivid commentary. This marvelous compendium will take you on a journey that begins with the earliest serpent dragons and continues to the present day. Along the way, Dr. Karl Shuker, one of the world's leading experts on dracontology, shares his wealth of knowledge on:
Dragon dwellings: These magnificent beasts have been found in an astounding number of places. Dragons and their near relatives have found niches in every ecosystem on the planet -- from the mountains of Greece to the forests of northern Europe to the volcanic plain of Mesoamerica to the river valleys of China -- and have, as a consequence, become deeply embedded in human culture.
Dragon variety: Here are five main types of dragons, emerging from the floods or flames of history -- the frightening Serpents, Wyverns, and Classical Dragons of the West; the Sky Dragons, including beneficent Chinese Dragons, Amphipteres, and winged New World species; the Neo-Dragons such as the Basilisk, Salamander, and the like; as well as dozens of varieties and subspecies, including orms, guivres, lindorms, and more.
Dragon traditions: From St. George's batwinged, scaly-legged adversary to Wagner's Fafnir to Quetzalcoatl, mythic dragons have been a powerful presence in the legends of humanity. Each of them is described and illustrated in "Dragons: A Natural History."
What people are saying - Write a review
LibraryThing ReviewUser Review - johninvienna - LibraryThing
This book gets excellent reviews, but the information is unfortunately not accurate. For example, an item in the Weltmuseum Wien, the famous early sixteenth-century Aztec ceremonial feather mosaic ... Read full review
LibraryThing ReviewUser Review - karlshuker - LibraryThing
As the author of this book, which is internationally renowned as a sumptuously illustrated volume containing full-colour paintings by some of the world's greatest artists, including Leonardo da Vinci ... Read full review
World of Dragons Map
Classical Dragons
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Common terms and phrases
Amphipteres animal appearance aquatic serpent dragons attack basilisk battle beast Behemoth blade body bunyip century Chinese dragon classical dragons claws cockatrice coils colossal creature deadly death depicted devoured dinosaur dragon bird dragonesque dragonet eyes Fafnir fear feathered feet fins fire flames flesh flying gargouille gaze George giant guivre head Hercules hideous horns huge hydra immense inspired by sightings jaws John Lambton Jormungander killed king known Komodo Lambton Castle Lambton worm land leech legends Leviathan limbs lindorm living long-neck maiden Marduk medieval Midgard Serpent mighty mokele-mbembe monster monstrous Mordiford mysterious neck neo-dragon ocean once pair peluda Perseus piasa plumed Polydectes queen Quetzalcoatl Regin Regulus reptilian resembled river salamander sauropods scales scaly sea lizard serpent whale serpentine Siegfried sirrush skin slaying snakelike soothsayer species suddenly Susa-no-wo swiftly sword tail tarasque tatzelworm terrible terrifying Tezcatlipoca Thor Tiamat transformed tribe Utgardhaloki villagers Winckelriedt winged serpents wyvern

subset: commoncrawl


text: Join Catholic Digest as we journey through the Lenten season. Catholic Digest has put together nine meditative videos beginning with Ash Wednesday and culminating with Easter Sunday. Each video is short enough to fit in any day—your lunch break, prayer time or any opportunity you have for personal reflection. These brief videos serve to provide you with thoughts, observations, and meditations to help you understand how Christ suffered for us and the redemption we ultimately attain through his resurrection.


text:
So for those sitting around in Stormwind or Orgrimmar bored out of their wits, fear not for the Darkmoon Fair is making a comeback with a vengeance.
If you've been to the Darkmoon Fair before, you're probably brushing off the announcement at its return but if you are, you likely aren't aware of the revamps coming its way.
There's already been a fair amount of news on the PTR regarding the upgraded Darkmoon Fair and for those of you wondering how big of a change we're talking, keep in mind that the Darkmoon Fair is also being given it's entire zone from this Fair onward.
So again, if you're bored with the repetitive dungeon grinding, why not kick back a while? Spend some time at the Fair to recharge those raiding batteries and by the time you get back into the swing of things, it won't seem quite so much like work.
There are a lot of new events to try your hand at this time around including things from harmless little minigames (the human cannon is making a return as well), to even PvP of sorts as they're including an arena zone (think of places like the Nagrand or Gurubashi arenas).
It's also not to say that there aren't any permanent benefits to spending some time at the new and updated fair.
They're also releasing blank stat replicas of the tier 0 dungeon gear from vanilla WoW for transmogrification purposes as well as a mount, pets and little fun trinkets like things that look like the foam sword from the collectible card game.
Trying out the new events can be fun at all but a little lonely…
That's why I'd recommend dragging in some friends along for the fun.
It'd be a fun way to collectively take a break from raiding together if you grab up a group of your guildies or fellow raiders and heading over to the Fair together.
The only thing that could really make little minigames such as these more amusing is if you're competing with your friends (or enemies!) for high scores and the like.
So then the next patch drops, take some time off, grab your guildies and enjoy the new and updated Fair.


text:
Slides from CSUN 2013 presentations
Here are PDF versions of our presentation slides from the CSUN 2013 conference:
- CVAA Compliance Using Adobe Tools with Andrew Kirkpatrick
- Acrobat XI Accessibility with Matt May
Here are PDF versions of our presentation slides from the CSUN 2013 conference:
It's hard to measure the impact the W3C/WAI Web Content Accessibility Guidelines Working Group (WCAG WG) has had on web accessibility. The WCAG 2.0 standard is the basis for a growing number of policies worldwide, providing a common reference for web content that adapts to users of all levels of ability.
Andrew Kirkpatrick, Group Product Manager for Accessibility, has been offered and accepted the role of co-chair of the WCAG WG, along with Joshue O'Connor of the National Council for the Blind of Ireland. Andrew and Joshue will take the place of Gregg Vanderheiden, who has chaired the WCAG WG since its inception, and Loretta Guarino-Reid, who played a pivotal role shepherding WCAG 2.0 to its final status as a W3C Recommendation in 2008. Both Loretta and Gregg will continue to participate in the WCAG WG, and we at Adobe Accessibility extend our gratitude to them for their years of effort moving the field of accessibility forward.
Andrew's role will include the rechartering of the working group, to define goals for the working group and the WCAG standard in the coming years, as well as to reflect its continued development of accessibility techniques and other supporting materials. Andrew would like to hear from people from all different backgrounds on how the WCAG WG can help advance web accessibility overall. Apart from his Twitter account, @awkawk, leaving a comment here is one way to reach him, or you can submit a comment to the WCAG working group via the online form.


text:
CEO & Executive Coaching
Your Extraordinary Life
Don't settle! An extraordinary life requires a different mindset and skill set.
- Extraordinary Career
- Extraordinary Mind and Cognitive Skills
- Extraordinary Entrepreneurship
- Extraordinary Productivity
Who I Work With
I highly recommend Stever Robbins to anyone seeking action-oriented, thoughtful, "out-of-the-box" guidance. He brings a novel approach to everything he does. His ability to push the edge of one's thinking has made our working relationship among the best I've had. He has helped me broaden my own problem-solving skills and given me new insights into my own effectiveness.
Stever isn't just a presenter; he's an experience! If you're serious about becoming successful, you not only need clarity around your long-term purpose, vision, and goals, but you need to organize your time, space, and attention to make success possible. His book will show you how to make sure all your efforts count. His unique style makes his book not only highly practical, but a fun, engaging read.
He helped make major decisions about strategic direction. After working with him, we had a new business plan, revitalized energy, and a laser-like focus on success. We had a strong sense of how to really make our idea work, and a clearer understanding of what lies ahead.
Stever is a great presenter. He presents with energy, enthusiasm and displays a mastery of the material that makes it fun and accessible to the whole audience.


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To be a Match Play Champion, you need to think like a Gladiator.
The pure head-to-head competition of match play is as old as the game itself. Match play used to have its place in major professional golf. In fact, the PGA Championship was formatted as match play until 1958. With the start of televised golf and big galleries, the desirability of elimination golf to a single final match no longer made sense. However, one week each year, Professional match play rises for its triumphant return: The WGC Accenture World Match Play Championship. This exhilarating event pins the top pros in the world against one another to see who can survive as "The Gladiator"!
So, how does one become "The Gladiator" in their own arena: Be it on their home course, a local match play event, or even on a professional level? To start, you will need the tools. These come in forms such as top golf equipment, the best instruction and personal physical conditioning that prepare you to play your best. However, to come out on top, the most important tool in your bag is the Mental Game.
When Russell Crowe went to battle in the coliseum as The Gladiator, he faced a slew of strong, talented, and wildly differing foes. I can only imagine how his character trained. Of course we know he kept himself in top physical shape. Also a "given", his tools would be sharp and ready. But did he sit in his cell saying: "Ok, if I beat Mattius Icimus, then I might have to battle Breesus. Those competitors are both strong; yet diverse. What strategy can I implement to handle their contrary arena management skills?" Yeah. No. First, he might get his man card pulled. Secondly, he would be letting random thoughts and possibilities cloud his vision. I'll tell you what The Gladiator was thinking. Over and over in his mind he kept saying, "You Da Man!"
In order to achieve success in match play, you must have a concrete Mental Strategy.
The Mental Strategy is based on confidence. Let your confidence radiate out of you from the first shot on driving range to the end of the match. If you're not confident, fake it. Find a "Poker Face "- Match Play style. A healthy level of intimidation never hurt anyone except the opponent. Carry out your confidence and intimidation factor through your respectful "walk", and not "trash talk".
That being said, you can then divide the Mental Strategy into two segments. You can either opt to focus mentally on your opponent or on the golf course.
Which one you decide is based on your personal comfort level. If your average round of golf is a Saturday Nassau with your golfing cronies, then you are probably more at ease eyeing down your opponent and figuring out your game plan based on his or her "tells". If you choose to battle the opponent, keep an eye on their situation. React with confidence in your own shot making choices. You should play smart, and play shot versus shot. Whereas you might go for a par 5 in two on your regular round, if your opponent is plugged in the fairway bunker, you might opt to lay up. As I mentioned earlier, this strategy would be best for the "Weekend Golfer", with the losing opponent buying drinks in the clubhouse.
Competing against the golf course is the right mental strategy for golfers who regularly participate in amateur or professional stroke play events. I approach match play in just this manner. Strategizing for and preparing to compete against the course is my "norm". Changing the way I prepare to play my best golf -for any format- would seem reckless and out of my element. I don't allow my opponents' shots effect how I play. If the same is true for you as a golfer, ask yourself: why would I mentally approach match play any differently?
Considering these things, in match play I stand assertively in my perspective. Any change to this would jeopardize my rationality over the game. In the book Mental Toughness - Training for Golf by Dr. Rob Bell, I am mentioned as a positive example for this philosophy. By remaining mentally tough and finding strength in competing against only the golf course, I gain control. This control encompasses my attitude, pre-shot routine, swing mechanics and course management. Whereas I cannot control my opponent's choices, I most certainly can control my own. Control breeds strength and confidence, thus embodying the Mental Strategy's main creed.
No matter your choice in adversary -opponent or golf course- approach them with confidence. Be aware of your strengths. Believe in them, and don't change who you are as a golfer simply because the format of the game has changed. Sharpen your mind, go into battle, use "The Gladiator" mentality...and emerge a champion.


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The Houston Texans' offense is known for its "Big Three" ... but is that really the case anymore?
Quarterback Matt Schaub is playing at an All-Pro level, and Arian Foster is entrenched as the NFL's preeminent workhorse back. Wide receiver Andre Johnson is supposed to complete this trinity. He hasn't carried his share of the weight through five games.
Johnson was largely neutralized Monday night by the New York Jets' Antonio Cromartie, a good, but not great, cornerback. NFL.com and NFL Network's Michael Lombardi wrote in his latest "Front Office View" column that Johnson "does not look like the same player."
Wrote Lombardi: "Johnson cannot run, burst or make sharp cuts, which has been the case since his hamstring injury."
Johnson's decreased production supports Lombardi's opinion. Through Week 5, Johnson has 17 receptions for 286 yards and two touchdowns. By way of comparison, here was Johnson's statline through five games in 2009, the last time he played 16 games: 28 receptions, 437 yards and four touchdowns.
Johnson still can produce, but at 31, it's fair to wonder if his best days are behind him.
Follow Dan Hanzus on Twitter @danhanzus.


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President Packer: Witness to 50 Years of Church Growth
30 September 2011
Starting as an assistant to the Twelve at the age of 37, President Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles has been a witness to 50 years of Church growth.
- 30 September 2011
"Ignite This Light," Elder Ballard Tells Mexican Saints
29 September 2011
When Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles visited Cuernavaca, Mexico, he taught that both members and investigators of the Church need to be converted by the eternal nature of the gospel. He said, "We all come to earth with an underlying love of truth and God. We need to penetrate the darkness with the light that is in every soul. Ignite this light."
- 29 September 2011
Special Issue on the Book of Mormon Features Prophets and Apostles
28 September 2011
In his message published in the October 2011 editions of the Liahona and Ensign, President Thomas S. Monson lists several promises made to those who study the Book of Mormon and tells of a personal experience when the Book of Mormon helped him provide the answer to a difficult question from a man who was dying.
- 28 September 2011
President Uchtdorf Reminds Sisters of Five Things to "Forget Not"
24 September 2011
"No matter how dark your days may seem, no matter how insignificant you may feel, no matter how overshadowed you think you may be, your Heavenly Father has not forgotten you. In fact, He loves you, with an infinite love."
- 24 September 2011
Temples Are a Witness of Our Faith, President Eyring Says
23 September 2011
"For Latter-day Saints, no building is more sacred than a dedicated temple of God," President Henry B. Eyring said at the Philadelphia Pennsylvania Temple groundbreaking. "Only in them can the precious bonds of family in mortality be extended for all eternity."
- 23 September 2011
Growth Steady, Apostle Says During Visit in Europe
23 September 2011
Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught Saints in Germany, Denmark, and England in September. In response to their questions, he taught the members the doctrine of Christ—to strengthen their faith in Jesus Christ and to recognize answers to prayer.
- 23 September 2011
Honesty Brings Spiritual Power, Elder Andersen Says
16 September 2011
"Honesty, integrity, and truth are eternal principles that significantly shape our experience in mortality and help determine our eternal destiny," Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said. "For a disciple of Christ, honesty is at the very heart of spirituality."
- 16 September 2011
Reaching Many "Ones" in England
8 September 2011
In Reading, England, Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles teaches that we minister to people one at a time, even when we meet with many "ones" at once.
- 8 September 2011
Prophets of the Restoration
7 September 2011
Since Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ ushered in the Restoration of the gospel and re-established the Church, the voice of the President of the Church has been a witness of divine, eternal truth. Although the means by which the prophet's voice is heard has changed through the years, that voice has always been a clarion call to come unto Christ. A video and an article now provide an opportunity to receive the words of every President from Joseph Smith to Thomas S. Monson.
- 7 September 2011
The Twelve and the Seventy, Part Three: Witnesses to the World
7 September 2011
All members of the Church are, by covenant, witnesses of Christ, President Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said in an interview about the role of the Twelve and the Seventy conducted by Elder Ronald A. Rasband, Senior President of the Seventy.
- 7 September 2011
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Printers Guide
Canon Releases New All-In-One (AIO) PIXMA MX Printers
Canon refreshed their popular PIXMA MX printers with new features such as mobile printing as well as cloud-printing capabilities.
More articles
HP TopShot LaserJet Pro M275 - Scanning the Third Dimension
HP's TopShot LaserJet Pro M275 is a color laser multifunction printer that handles its scanning function very differently from other MFPs out there; it literally employs a digital camera to capture the items. This makes it useful for 'scanning' 3D objects too. So is it any good? Let's find out.
Samsung South East Asia & Oceania Forum 2012
We're at Bangkok's Convention Center to partake in Samsung's yearly South East Asia and Oceania Forum event. Dig in to check out the onslaught of CE products Samsung has lined up in store for you!
Sitex 2011 - Cameras, Printers, Monitors & Storage Buying Guide
Planning to go on a holiday? Maybe it's time to shop for a new camera. When you return, you'd need a monitor to view the photos, a printer to print them for the family, and a storage device to keep them safe. Don't worry, we have sussed out all the deals for you.
Brother Launches New Color Inkjet Multi-Function Centre Series
It's the holiday season and Brother has decided to join in the festivities with the launch of four new wireless network-capable color inkjet multifunction printers. We also checked out their new augmented reality app that helps consumers get to know their products better.
Epson Stylus Photo R3000 A3+ Inkjet Photo Printer - Superlative Image Quality
The Stylus Photo R3000 is Epson's newest A3+ photo printer targeted at professionals and advanced enthusiasts. It accepts nine ink cartridges, has a 2-picoliter minimum ink droplet size, is able to do disc printing, and sports built-in Wi-Fi. Are you tempted?
Canon Seeks to Delight You with 23 New Products
As we approach October, it's about time to start planning your Christmas shopping. Canon Singapore has just launched their latest compact digital cameras, inkjet and laser printers. Here are the highlights.
Fuji Xerox DocuPrint CM205b - Fine Printing with Fine Design
Fuji Xerox recently released its new consumer line of printers incorporating S-LED technology. The minimalist printers came in modern designs, with a uniform identity across the various models. Can the CM205b perform? Find out after the jump.
Oki B840dn A3 Mono LED Printer - The Speed of Light
The Oki B840dn is a single-function, workgroup-oriented LED printer that's capable of up to A3 printing. Join us as we put its 40ppm speed claim to the test.
HP Envy 100 All-In-One Printer - Designer Multitasker
Right out of the box, it's clear that the ePrint-capable HP Envy 100 is one sleek-looking printer. What remains is to find out how it actually performs and how functional is its design. And that's where we come in. So dig in for the detailed review.
Articles by Product Categories
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Just Launched
An AIO inkjet printer, the Brother MFC-J825DW offers duplex printing, and unattended fax, copy, or scan capabilities. Users can choose to pr...
Capable of producing double-sided A4 documents and high quality borderless images, the MFC-J625DW is equipped with built-in wireless. It off...
The Brother MFC-J430W is an AIO inkjet printer with capabilities like built-in wireless and unattended fax, copy, or scan. Ideal for the sma...
With print speeds of up to 35ppm monochrome and 27ppm color, the DCP-J725DW is an inkjet Multi-Function Centre which offers double-sided pri...


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Universities hire politician presidents
Mitch Daniels self-deprecatingly describes himself as a freshman in higher education. If that's the case, Janet Napolitano is his classmate.
The former Indiana governor and former secretary of Homeland Security both became university presidents in 2013: Daniels at Purdue and Napolitano at the 10-campus University of California system.
Story Continued Below
The moves might seem unlikely next steps for prominent politicians.
( Also on POLITICO: Full education policy coverage)
But college presidents aren't just expected to deal with budgets and faculty members. They advocate to Congress and state lawmakers and execute billion-dollar fundraising goals — and politicians used to the era of soft money are a natural fit for coaxing donations from alumni and wealthy supporters.
So there are good reasons for politicians who found a second act, or an intermission, in academia to feel comfortable in the ivory tower's corner office.
Daniels raised $36.9 million for his two victorious gubernatorial campaigns in 2004 and 2008. Purdue, on the other hand, has raised more than $200 million annually for each of the past 10 years.
"You don't feel dirty when you're soliciting money for a university and you do when you're soliciting money for a political campaign," said Bob Kerrey, the former Nebraska senator and governor who was president of The New School in New York from 2001 to 2010.
( Sign up for POLITICO's Morning Education tip sheet)
As system president, Napolitano doesn't do as much fundraising as the chancellors of the University of California-Berkeley, University of California-Los Angeles and other campuses, who answer to her. But she'll have plenty of contact with the state's Legislature: "My role is to be the strongest possible advocate for the need to support and invest in this university system," she said in November.
In other words: "There is politics," Napolitano said, adding that she must balance the demands and needs of the state, faculty, students and thousands of workers. "It's just what kind of politics you're talking about."
One in five college presidents in 2011 was working outside higher education before assuming the post, up from 13 percent in 2006, according to a survey from the American Council on Education. Only a tiny sliver, 2 percent, came from elected or appointed office.
Still, plenty of well-known politicians have taken up the presidency: Donna Shalala, the secretary of Health and Human Services under President Bill Clinton, is now president of the University of Miami. (Before her Cabinet post, she was a career academic and college president.)
( QUIZ: Do you know Janet Napolitano?)
David Boren, the president of the University of Oklahoma for nearly two decades, was also the state's governor and U.S. senator. Robert Gates, the former secretary of defense, served as president of Texas A&M University between retiring from the CIA and leading the Pentagon.
Step down a tier from national leaders, and former political hands proliferate. Erskine Bowles led the University of North Carolina system after serving as Clinton's chief of staff. Presidents of Florida's public universities include a former mayor, former lieutenant governor and former state senator. Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell mentioned higher education as one place he could land after leaving the governor's mansion.
"I didn't feel nearly so lonely as I saw" those predecessors, said Daniels, who said he views himself more as a businessman than as a politician.
Higher education is a natural follow-up to a career in politics, said Napolitano, who said she had long been interested in a leading role at a nonprofit organization or in higher education.
"The idea of working or leading a major university and helping to educate the next generation and support the kind of the world-changing research that goes on, that's not all that dissimilar in a way," Napolitano said. "It allows one to be, on the one hand, idealistic, and on the other hand, very nuts-and-bolts oriented."
Napolitano said her interest in higher education goes back to her time as Arizona governor, when she fought for a $1 billion bond issue for public universities and increased state financial aid. She also brokered a truce between rivals Arizona State University and the University of Arizona over a new medical school — the type of balancing act she'll have to repeat as a system president.


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Find the best CMS and start working with it to create web sites, blogs, communities, e-commerce sites, and intranets
About This Book
Understand different types of CMSs and select the one that best fits your needs
Install and customize a CMS with themes and plug-ins
Learn key concepts of Content Management Systems and how to systematically assess your requirements
Introduction to the major CMSs including Joomla!, Drupal, WordPress, Plone, Magento, Alfresco, and more
A hands-on, easy-to-read guide that gives you practical tips on hosting, project management, working with specialists and communities, and finding experts
Who This Book Is For
This book is written for anyone who wants to start a web site and is looking for a good CMS. It is best suited for people who are selecting a CMS for their sites and people who will manage a CMS. Knowledge of web basics is certainly helpful, but not needed.
What You Will Learn
Analyze your web site's CMS requirements, and identify the CMS options that best suit your needs
Explore the differences between the major CMSs, and understand which CMS option best fits your site
Assess your technical skill level and choose a CMS that combines ease of use with flexibility and power
Extensive discussion and quick start guides for several major CMSs: WordPress, Drupal, Joomla!, and more
Discover "speciality CMSs" for specific requirements: intranets, document sharing, community, e-commerce, blogging, and more.
Know how to choose the right developers and designers to customize the CMS to your requirements
Know what to do when your CMS plays up: troubleshoot, get help from the community, and make full use of the documentation
Make sure your web site gets the best hosting: find an ISP that can provide your CMS with the web hosting it needs, or learn about hosting the site on your own server
Investigate the plug-ins available for each CMS – plug-ins extend the power of a CMS, meaning that you can build features into your site that the CMS on its own might not provide
Section 1: Opening up to open source CMSs
Chapter 1: Do I even want an open source CMS? – When and how a content management system is useful. Why open source? Readymade or custom built?
Chapter 2: Exploring your options – Different CMS types, their purposes and different CMS technologies
Section 2: Thinking your choices through
Chapter 3: Understanding your site requirements – brainstorm and clarify your requirements, standard compliance, scale of the site, and key features
Chapter 4: Building the site – trying out CMSs, technical requirements, downloading and installation, configuration, creating navigation
Chapter 5: Content editing & maintaining the site – using WYSIWYG editors, adding pictures, publishing content, creating links
Chapter 6: Available plug-ins and templates – adding a photo gallery, customizing design via templates
Chapter 7: Extending and customizing – understand CMS's code quality, make code level changes to understand complexity
Section 3: CMSs by breed
Chapter 8: Blog CMSs – perform typical tasks with the top 3 blog choices, evaluate features
Chapter 9: Web CMSs – using top web CMSs, customizing them, and gaining key CMS skills
Chapter 10: E-Commerce CMSs – managing product/service-based e-commerce sites with CMSs; which would be best for you?
Chapter 11: Intranet/internal CMSs – internal sites for collaboration and communication, workflow, access privileges, and version tracking; Alfresco
Chapter 12: Specialized CMSs – CMSs that serve niches – e-learning, wiki, photo galleries, discussion forums and so on
Section 4: Open source CMS tips
Chapter 13: Hosting your CMS-powered site – selecting and working with a web host
Chapter 14: Working with CMS communities – asking questions, learning from documentation, and getting help
Chapter 15: Working with a specialist – finding experts, evaluating them, tips for project management, and outsourced teams
Chapter 16: Packt open source CMS award winners – Best CMSs voted by community and experts
In Detail
There are many powerful open source CMSs available to take the pain away from managing a web site. These systems are feature rich, often easy to use, and free. Unfortunately, there are so many choices it's tough to be sure you're choosing the right one. How can you be sure that you are selecting and working with the right tool?
This book will guide you through choosing the right CMS for your needs. You can be confident in your choice of CMS for the needs of your project. It will also help you make a start using the CMS, and give you a feel for what it's like to use it – even before you install it yourself.
Are you bewildered by the many open source CMSs available online? Open source CMSs are the best way to create and manage sophisticated web sites. You can create a site that precisely meets your business goals, and keep the site up to date easily because these systems give you full control over every aspect of your site. Because open source CMSs are free to download, you have a huge amount of choice between the various systems.
Yet there are many open source CMSs to choose from, each with unique strengths – and occasionally limitations too. Choosing between the bewildering number of options can be tough.
Making the wrong choice early on may lead to a lot of wasted work, because you'll have a half-finished site that doesn't meet your initial requirements – and needs to be restarted from scratch.
This book will show you how to avoid choosing the wrong CMS. It will guide you through assessing your site requirements, and then using that assessment to identify the CMS that will best fit your needs. It contains discussions of the major CMSs, and the issues that you should consider when choosing: their complexity to use, their features and the power they offer. It discusses technical considerations such as programming languages and compliance with best practice standards in a clear, friendly way that non-technical readers can understand.
The book also contains quick-start guides and examples for the most popular CMSs such as WordPress, Joomla!, and Drupal, so that you can experiment with these CMSs, get a feel for how they work, and start using them to build your site.
After reading this book, you can be confident that your CMS choice will support your web site's needs because you have carefully assessed your requirements and explored the available options.
Style and approach
This is a practical guide that takes a task-centered approach. Each task is stepped through with detailed instructions. You will come across many step-by-step examples with plenty of screenshots and resources. This book provides all the support and guidance you need as you begin to work with CMSs. It even has additional tasks that you can carry out to build your skills further. Everything is oriented towards managing content with a CMS.
Downloading the example code for this book. You can download the example code files for all Packt books you have purchased from your account at http://www.PacktPub.com. If you purchased this book elsewhere, you can visit http://www.PacktPub.com/support and register to have the code file.


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Escape to Great Lake Taupo for Lakeside Summer Fun
We all search for the perfect holiday spot, a place we'll want to come back to year after year. Great Lake Taupo is the ultimate holiday destination.
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Covering an area of 616 square kilometres, Lake Taupo is the largest lake in New Zealand. This means there are endless activities on and around the water including fishing, boating, sailing, kayaking, parasailing and relaxing on the beach.
It's easy for anyone to take part in water sports on Lake Taupo, with plenty of businesses hiring out equipment, providing instruction and running tours and charter services.
A great way to get to know the lake is by taking a chartered boat tour, cruising the clear waters to view the Maori Rock Carvings at Mine Bay which are only accessible by boat, and perhaps trying your hand at a spot of trout fishing under the guidance of an experienced local. Chris Jolly Outdoors and Fish Lake Taupo - MV Waimarie run sightseeing and fishing cruises. It won't be long before you're ready to head out on your own fishing adventures and discover why people rave about the world-renowned Taupo sport fishery.
If you're already an experienced angler, you might be after some tips on where the hot spots are. Destination Great Lake Taupo has an excellent fishing blog which gives plenty of up to date information. Local fishing stores such as Sporting Life in Turangi and Taupo Rod and Tackle in Taupo also update their websites regularly with fishing reports.
If your idea of the perfect summer's day is cruising the water with the wind in your sails, then you need to visit the 2 Mile Bay Sailing Centre on the shores of Lake Taupo. The Sailing Centre has 16ft keelers, catamarans, windsurfers, canoes and rowboats for hire and instruction is available. The Sailing Centre also has a bar/café with good coffee, snacks and cold drinks to refuel you after your aquatic adventure. Sailing is a fun activity the whole family or a group of friends can enjoy, and it's easy and safe to learn on the lake without any waves to contend with.
Perhaps one of the most relaxing sports you can take part in on Lake Taupo is kayaking. Paddling your kayak through the calm, clear water with a magical mountain vista before you is like nothing else. You can go at your own pace, stay close to the shore or head off on an adventure to discover rarely-visited coves and beaches around the lake. There is even the option to camp overnight and enjoy the beauty and nature of some of Lake Taupo's more secluded spots. Kayaks can be hired from a number of different businesses you can find here, and many also offer guided tours which is a fantastic way to find out some local history and meet like-minded people out on the water.
To really get an amazing view and get your adrenaline pumping at the same time, you could try parasailing over Lake Taupo with Big Sky Parasail. Big Sky offer a 400 or 800 ft flight and you can choose whether you get wet or not. Parasailing doesn't require any experience and it's fun for the whole family.
No doubt all of this action will leave you feeling like a rest day or two are in order. Great Lake Taupo has numerous beautiful and relaxing beaches to enjoy and calm, clear water to swim in. Some favourite beach spots with locals include the lake front (across from the centre of town), Acacia Bay, Whakaipo Bay and the holiday haven of Kinloch. Being a freshwater lake, there's no salty water to sting your eyes and dry your hair out - Great Lake Taupo is nothing but pure, fresh water fed from streams originating in the mountains of Tongariro National Park. You can see the bottom when you're swimming, and the lake is perfect for floating on an airbed, lying back and taking in the grand view of the mountains.
There is no doubt that Lake Taupo is about the best holiday destination you will find. With the lake as the focal point of activities in the region, it is the perfect summer escape with something to offer all holidaymakers. Whether it's adventure you're after, or a relaxing time away from the city life, you'll find it in the Great Lake Taupo region.
For more information on the Great Lake Taupo region visit www.greatlaketaupo.com.


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Media Contact: TPWD News, email@example.com, 512-389-8030
June 13, 2012
Pollinator Week Raises a Buzz for Bees
AUSTIN—Gov. Rick Perry has signed a proclamation making June 18-24 National Pollinator Week in Texas. This includes the Lone Star State in an international celebration recognizing bees, birds, bats, beetles and butterflies for their service to farmers and gardeners alike.
"The annual value of bee-pollinated crops to the U.S. economy is estimated at over $15 billion," says Michael Warriner, invertebrate biologist with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. "In North America, most plant pollination is carried out by bees."
Roughly one third of all the food we eat is because of pollination that happened in a farmer's field, Warriner says. During a single day, a female bee may visit several hundred flowers, depositing pollen all along the way.
Bees are tremendously successful pollinators for two main reasons. Many people think that bees go from flower to flower to collect nectar for their hive and just so happen to be dusted with pollen but bees collect the pollen from the flower deliberately. Pollen is used as a food source not only for the bees themselves, but also for their young. The other reason is because bees tend to visit certain species of plant per trip, preventing cross pollination or pollen being wasted on a different species.
People are not the only species who are overwhelmingly impacted by the day-to-day life of bees pollinating. With producers such as plants, shrubs, grasses and trees being the lowest form of the food chain, they are a vital source of survival for most animals who consume those berries, nuts, fruits and vegetables. Native bee populations are vital to the ecosystems we are surrounded by today. The pollination service provided to U.S. agriculture by native bees has been estimated in excess of $3 billion annually.
"Bumblebees are among the most familiar native Texas bees," Warriner says. "Their black and yellow bodies are easy to recognize as they buzz from flower to flower. Like honeybees, bumblebees are social insects that live in colonies comprised of a queen and her daughter workers. Bumblebees, in particular, are more effective pollinators than honeybees of such crops as blueberries, eggplant, peppers, and tomatoes."
Although bumblebees are a crucial part of our ecosystem, they have been relatively unstudied until now, Warriner says. Recently, there has been a worrisome decline of bee species on several continents. The United Kingdom, being the first to report this decline, now has three species extinct. North America has been experiencing its own decline but researchers did not supply quantitative evidence until now.
Researchers from universities across the country have begun to study the cause and contributors of the decline and if it will continue. Some researchers came to find the decline was due to loss of optimal habitat for the bees. Other conclusions were the influx of commercial bumblebees onto wild colonies, pesticide use and competition with non-native bumblebees.
Warriner has also created a website where tips can be found on how to identify bumblebees as well as information on the nine species that occur in the state. Visit www.texasbumblebees.com to learn more about this endeavor and how you can help during Pollinator Week and beyond.
"Contributing to this process can be as simple as casually snapping images of bumblebees on flowers, recording the date and location, and submitting the image online," Warriner says. "There is a real need to evaluate the status of these insects in our state to assess how their populations are faring and if conservation actions are needed."
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We're leaving the winter months behind for slightly warmer weather… and festival season! This week we're heading to SXSW in Austin, Texas to experience everything this city has to offer, including music, fashion and culture. Check out our most loved haunts, our favorite SXSW must-see bands and most importantly, what to wear in the capital of Texas.
Girls: Keep statement pieces simple and match back to funky accessories and a great pair of dancing booties.
Shop the look:
DV By Dolce Vita Caitlynn Bootie
Guys: Rock your Americana meets Hipster style by packing your favorite pair of denim cutoffs, a printed button down shirt and desert boots for killer #AEOStyle.
Shop the look:
Stars Short Sleeve Button Down Shirt
Franklin Barbecue: Texas is known for being big, bold and hot, kind of like Franklin Barbecue. We recommend the Tipsy Texan washed down with an ice cold Mexican Coke.
Home Slice Pizza: Your go-to spot for late night eats. We'd keep things simple with their Margherita pizza, but we hear a slice of pepperoni and mushroom can change lives.
Magnolia Cafe: Whether you like breakfast for dinner, or dinner for breakfast, Magnolia Cafe offers plenty of delicious and flavorful items cooked with a heavy dose of TLC.
Torchy's Tacos: Tacos for meat lovers and vegetarians. Take the Taco Anatomy quiz to find your perfect meal.
SXSW: Explore emerging and exciting talent in Music, Theater and Interactive.
Mount Bonnell: Hike Mount Bonnell for an out of this world view overlooking the Colorado River and the skyline of Austin.
Zilker Park: From Lady Bird Lake, to Barton Springs Pool, Botanical Gardens to recreational fields, Zilker Park offers plenty of outdoor activities for all to enjoy.
Lake Travis: Enjoy activities on the lake including boating, waterskiing and tubing, or dine along the shores at The Oasis.
6th Street: The street acclaimed in this Texas town. Dance the night away on the Blind Pig's rooftop or enjoy some live music at Flamingo Cantina.
Uncommon Objects: Filled to the brim with vintage finds, oddities and quirky novelties. You can spend hours in this store without feeling an ounce of guilt.
Allens Boots: Cowboy boots are like the Texas tennis shoe. Explore 100's of styles, ranging from traditional to embroidered and beyond.
Feathers Boutique: Your go-to shop for bohemian-inspired jewelry and style.
Addison Groove: Best known for his insane combination of bass influences from Chicago Tek and Juke Scenes to Dubstep, Electronic and beyond.
Genre: Electronic
When: March 12 from 11PM- 12AM, Barcelona 209 E. Sixth Street.
Songs to check out: Footcrab, Jukemix 2014
Air Traffic Controller: As an Air Traffic Controller for the US Navy, lead singer/songwriter Dave Munro found inspiration to write demos while on deployment. He's since formed the successful band that Air Traffic Controller is today.
Genre: Rock
When: March 13 from 8PM-8:15PM Red Eyed Fly 715 Red River Street
March 15 from 11PM-11:40PM Stephen F's Bar 701 Congress Ave
Songs to check out: Hurry Hurry, You Know Me
Phantogram: The band name was inspired by an optical illusion called a Phantogram in which two-dimensional images appear to be three-dimensional. Phantogram's music can be described in a similar state as it has a way of taking you from reality to a supernatural state of mind.
Genre: Electronic Rock
When:March 14 from 2PM-2:40PM Radio Day Stage Austin Convention Center 531 E 4th Street (Ballroom D)
Songs to check out: Black Out Days, Mouthful of Diamonds
Classixx: It's no surprise here that we've added Classixx to our list of must- see artists. After all, they did create Spring Break and Summer playlists for AEO! This Electronic/DJ Duo from Los Angles can keep a party going with their unique and upbeat tunes that will have you dancing all night long.
Genre: Electronic
When: March 15 from 12AM-12:45AM Empire Control Room 606 E. 7th Street
Songs to check out: All You're Waiting For feat. Nancy Whang, Holding On
The Neighbourhood: Despite the British spelling of their name, The Neighbourhood is an alternative rock band from Los Angeles, California. With deep tracks that have somewhat of an eerie disposition, The Neighbourhood will keep you engaged in their moody beats that will make you feel something deeper than your average alternative rock song.
Genre: Alternative Rock
When: March 12 from 12:00AM-12:40AM Palm Door on Sixth 508 E. Sixth Street
Songs to check out: Sweater Weather, Everybody's Watching Me (Uh Oh)
American Authors: Based out of Brooklyn, NY, American Authors are best known for their hit single, "Best Day of My Life." Their lyrical and instrumental talents fall nothing short of awesome and we can guarantee that their performance at SXSW will be filled with energy and excitement.
Genre: Indie Rock
Location: March 14 from 9PM-9:40PM Stubb's 801 Red River Street
Songs to check out: Best Day of My Life, Believer
Whether you're going to SWSX to discover new music, or listen to your forever favorite bands, you're guaranteed to have a great time. Check out our SXSW playlist on Spotify for more artists that we love and get ready to rock the next 10 nights away in the capital of Texas!


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Must-have apps for photography nuts
Today's Best Tech Deals
Picked by PCWorld's Editors
Top Deals On Great Products
Picked by Techconnect's Editors
Want to get more out of your photography? Your tablet can be a valuable tool in the pursuit of picture perfection. A variety of apps are now available that can expand your camera's features, and even replace your laptop completely, making it easier to shoot and edit. Whether you have an iPad, an Android tablet, or a Windows 8 tablet, here are our picks for the top 10 apps for photographers. We've picked out the best editing, cataloging, collaging, and shooting apps.
Most of the time, you don't need a complex photo editor for your tablet; you just need something that can do basic editing and tweaking. Snapseed (free; Android and iPad) is just such an editor: It can crop, rotate, adjust contrast, and tweak colors, providing enough features to enhance most images that you take with or store in your tablet. The selective adjust tool, for instance, allows you to tweak brightness, contrast and saturation on selected areas of an image, which is great for bringing out faces in poorly lit photos. It doesn't offer the features of more complicated apps, though, and some of the tools are limited (you can only tilt images by up to 10 degrees, and there is no support for layers and complex color adjustments). But it offers the tools that you are likely to need most of the time. And the price is right; this app is now free.
Old-fashioned photo booths are becoming few and far between, but your tablet comes to the rescue with Pocketbooth ($1.99; Android and iPad), a nifty little app that takes photos in quick succession and puts them together into a photo strip that you can email or share (or print, via a third-party app). You can configure the number and type of photos, (color, B&W, sepia, or antique) and the look and feel of the photo strip (matte or glossy). It's nothing that you couldn't do with Adobe Photoshop Touch yourself, but the process is handled just like an old-fashioned photo booth, so it's a neat way to produce a party favor or get a cute, spontaneous photo memento of a trip.
If a picture paints a thousand words, a photo collage can write volumes. Mixel (free; iPad) is a simple way to create collages from your images on the iPad, and easily share them with others. You just pick the photos you want in the collage, then the program arranges the images according to their size and orientation. Don't like the collage? Just hit the shuffle button, and it will be recreated. You can also drag the images around to swap or recrop them. The latest version allows you to send offline users a postcard printed with the collage from within the app for $1.99. At present, the app is optimized for the iPhone, so it runs at a lower resolution; we would love to see a full iPad version of this neat app.
Photoshop Touch
The tablet version of Adobe's flagship photo editing app, Photoshop Touch ($9.99; Android and iPad) is a powerful photo editing program that offers a lot of features. It also inherits a good selection of tools from the desktop Photoshop. These include layers and a selection of filters, as well as familiar tools such as the magic wand, clone stamp, eraser, selections (with feathering), and more.
There are also a few tablet-specific tools, such as the scribble wand, which let you select an area by roughly scribbling on the areas to keep, and the ones to remove. The app builds a selection based on that, and you can then refine the selection with more scribbling. This means you can fairly easily do things like blurring backgrounds or removing objects from photos that would have only been possible on a desktop computer: I was able to create an acceptable cutout of a figure from a photo in a few minutes. Camera Fill is another neat feature that allows you to capture an image directly to a layer from the camera; no external programs are needed. You can pinch to zoom in on images to a magnification of up to 400 percent or out to 10 percent, which is a good range for basic editing. Some operations were a little slow, though; a refine edge operation on a 5-megapixel image taken with the tablet camera took over 45 seconds to process on a fast tablet. But that's a minor complaint: I generally found the program to be fast and responsive during most tasks.
PowerDVD Mobile
Windows 8 users don't have a lot of choice when it comes to photo editing packages. One of the first apps on the Windows 8 Store is PowerDVD Mobile from CyberLink ($14.99; Android, iPad, and Windows 8). Don't be fooled by this app's name: PowerDVD Mobile offers more than just DVD playback support—it plays a variety of digital video formats, and it handles photo editing and slideshow creation as well. Its editing abilities covers the basics—cropping, rotating, and resizing images, as well as adding frames and allowing you to scrawl on your photos with a set of basic editing tools. The edited images can then be saved or posted to Facebook or Flickr. The app can also organize photos. By default, photos are sorted by the date they were taken; but images can also be put into folders. Once the photos are organized, the app allows you to create a simple slideshow of the selected photos. Again, the features here are basic, allowing you to choose between a fade and zoom for transitions, and to select your own soundtrack and image resolution. However, you can't change the interval of the slideshow, nor can you change the sequence. The slideshow can be exported as a video, ready for uploading to Facebook or some other video hosting service.
The name may send shudders down the spine of spell checkers everywhere, but Fhotorom (free; Windows 8) is a great touch-based photo editing program that shows how touch screens can make photo editing easier. It offers a range of fhoto, err, photo editing tools that allow you to crop, rotate, resize, and vignette images, and an editing brush that allows you to brighten, darken, and soften parts of the image with a touch. A $1.49 in-app pro upgrade expands the features on offer, adding handy brushes for removing noise, sharpening and red-eye removal, as well as tools for lens correction and a neat panorama rotation tool that corrects for perspective. The free version is also limited to 3-megapixel images, while the pro upgrade removes this limitation. There are also a number of color styles that try and match the look of different films and media, such as silver-toned prints. The app uses Windows 8's clean interface to provide a simple, intuitive approach to editing photos.
Perfectly Clear
The cameras built into tablets are getting better, but they are not perfect. They can be easily confused by different types of lighting, backlit subjects, and other tricky shooting scenarios. Perfectly Clear helps to fix 12 common shooting problems with automatic or manual controls that can do a lot to help your tablet shots look better—including fixing exposure, sharpening images, and removing noise and color tints. A beautify filter corrects skin tones, softens skin, enhances eyes, and whitens teeth; each of these filters can be applied individually as well as all at once. We particularly liked the noise filter, which did a good job of removing the noise from images shot in low light without losing too much detail. None of these features can work miracles, but they can do a lot to make a poor image more presentable.
The images are shown side by side before and after the correction, with a neat slider that allows you to see the complete image either way. That's a great way to judge the effect and decide if you like it or not. Once you have chosen the effect, you can save it back to the gallery, email it, or post it to Facebook or Twitter.
There are a few things missing, though: You can't zoom into images, which makes seeing the result of the noise removal a bit difficult, and the interface is a little awkward to use, as it isn't structured like most tablet apps.
Roxio MediaBook Ultimate
Put a few photos together and you get a collage. Add a few more and you get a story, or a book—which is what Corel's Roxio MediaBook ($19.99; Windows 8) does. This app takes your photos and helps you create a book, complete with page flips. These books can contain photos, video and audio, as well as links to webpages. The program is easy to use and can either build the book for you from the selected materials, or offer templates that let you build it yourself. Either way, you get a lot of control over how the book looks, with the ability to alter its layout, background, and structure. The included templates have between one and five photos per page, with options for captions. The app can also add a narration to the book for each photo, where you can record a 30-second audio clip that plays when you click it.
Once your book is complete, you can publish it. This creates a single ePub 3 file that includes all the photos and other content that can be read in any eBook reader that supports this format. I did find that the formatting of the book was lost with some ebook apps; but I got the best book experience by downloading the free MediaBook reader software that Roxio supplies.
TouchRetouch HD
People are a problem. Lampposts are a problem. Animals are a problem. They all have a habit of sneaking into your photos when you aren't looking, only appearing when you look back through the images later on. TouchRetouch HD from Adva Soft ($0.99; Android and iPad) looks to deal with this by removing the offending objects from the images. The app is simple to use: You just load the photo, select the offending object with the selection tool or the brush, then hit 'go'. The program ponders for a bit, and then removes the offending object by replacing it with the background. In my tests, it did an excellent job of removing objects both small and medium sized, creating a near-seamless replacement of the object, especially with out of focus and blurry objects.
It is not perfect, though: It struggled with things larger than about a quarter of the image height or width, and the removal of objects over regular patterns (such as fences and walls) was much more visible. There is a manual clone stamp tool that can help, but it's not perfect. It's more about removing one person from a group shot than deleting an ex-husband/wife from your wedding pictures. It also doesn't do anything that most image editing programs could do with some time and patience, but for the price, it's hard to argue with the convenience and power of this simple, but useful, app.
High Dynamic Range (HDR) photos have a lot of impact. They combine multiple images into one, creating a single image that has a wider range of high- and low-light detail than your camera can normally capture. Creating HDR photos is difficult, because you have to do some fancy processing to combine the images. Pictional's TrueHDR ($1.99; iPad) does all of the complicated stuff for you: When you press the shutter, it takes two images at different shutter speeds (one under- and one over-exposed), then does the processing that combines the images into one. The result is an image that looks slightly surreal, because it contains a wider dynamic range than we are used to seeing in photos.
A veteran of the app scene (first launched in 2009), TrueHDR is simple to use, offering fully automatic, semi-automatic and full manual shooting modes. In the full auto mode, you just press the shutter button and the app takes three images to combine, then picks the best two. In semi-auto, you select the two exposure points (selecting what the camera will meter for), then it takes two photos at the appropriate settings and merges them. In manual mode, you take the photos. You can also use photos taken with other apps, or another camera. Once the photos are captured and merged, you can tweak their warmth, color, and contrast and brightness to get the best effect. You can also add filters. The results look excellent, and the program is simple to use, providing a great intro to the new area of HDR photography without spending a fortune on Photoshop.
This story, "Must-have apps for photography nuts" was originally published by TechHive.


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Item Added To Bag
Broken Homme James 7" Boot in Oxblood
Color: Oxblood
Qty: 1
James 7" Boot
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Broken Homme
- Leather upper with vibram 2040 rubber sole
- Lace-up front
- Shaft measures approx 7" H
- Revolve Style No. BKEX-MZ1
- Manufacturer Style No. BH13002
Designed in Long Beach, California, Broken Homme will only release product that represents the true character of their identity. They want you to expect nothing but the highest quality product in terms of fit and design.
If an item you would like to purchase is out of stock, you can place a Special Order Inquiry. REVOLVE will then check the availability and obtain an approximate arrival date for the item, if available. Typically, it takes up to 3-4 weeks to verify this information.
Placing a Special Order Inquiry is absolutely free and there is no obligation to follow through with a purchase.
- You will be notified by email once we receive the item.
- You may cancel at any time without penalty
- Your card will ONLY be charged when your order is shipped.
- Availability is not guaranteed.


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Nicolaus Copernicus
Nicolaus Copernicus (Polish: Mikołaj Kopernik; Born::February 19, 1473 – Died::May 24, 1543) is considered the founder of modern astronomy, who once referred to the cosmos as "built for us by the Best and Most Orderly Workman of all."
He was born in Poland and did undergraduate studies at the University of Cracow where he first became interested in astronomy, which at the time was in the field of mathematics. He called astronomy the "most beautiful and most worth knowing." He later obtained a degree in Canon Law at the University of Bologna in Italy while he also continued to study mathematics and astronomy. Here he met scholars who challenged Aristotle's geocentric cosmology.
While at the University of Bologna, he was officially installed as a Catholic canon (ecclesiastical administrator) on October, 20 1497. In 1500 Copernicus visited Rome, as all Christians were strongly encouraged to do to celebrate the great jubilee, and he stayed there for a year lecturing to scholars on mathematics and astronomy. Copernicus was later granted leave from his duties as a canon to return to Italy to study medicine at the University of Padua. Afterwards he decided to complete his Doctorate of Canon Law, but rather than return to Bologna he took the degree from the University of Ferrara.
Copernican Views on Astronomy
His views on astronomy were in stark contrast to those of the period, which held that the earth was at the center of the universe (geocentrism). Around 1514 he distributed a little hand written book to a few of his friends called Commentariolus (usually called the Little Commentary), which set out Copernicus's theory of a universe with the sun at its center (heliocentric).
Commentariolus contained seven axioms:
- There is no one centre in the universe.
- The Earth's centre is not the centre of the universe.
- The centre of the universe is near the sun.
- The distance from the Earth to the sun is imperceptible compared with the distance to the stars.
- The rotation of the Earth accounts for the apparent daily rotation of the stars.
- The apparent annual cycle of movements of the sun is caused by the Earth revolving round it.
- The apparent retrograde motion of the planets is caused by the motion of the Earth from which one observes.
In 1514, Copernicus began working on his major work, De Revolutionibus, which asserted that the earth rotated on its axis once daily and traveled around the sun once each year. Copernicus was not the first to make this proposal, but his book gave the concept strong mathematical support. His book was slow to reach the state where he wished to see it published, which ultimately did not occur until the year of his death. The Copernican model was later reinforced by Galileo Galilei, and Johannes Kepler.
Despite the controversial nature of his view, Copernicus was able to maintain his position as a canon and served his church faithfully for 40 years, but never pursued ordination for the priesthood.
See Also
- Nicholas Copernicus Today's Christian, March/April 2001
- Astronomer by Night, Canon by Day Christian History & Biography
- Nicolaus Copernicus Biography by School of Mathematical and Computational Sciences, University of St Andrews


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FRIDAY, June 26, 2009 (HealthDay News) -- Mice with an extra chromosome region inherited from their fathers display many behaviors seen in people with autism, a finding that suggests that the same chromosome abnormality in humans is one cause of autism, according to Japanese scientists.
The mice will be an important tool in efforts to develop treatments for autism, the researchers from Hiroshima University say. Their report appears in the June 26 issue of the journal Cell.
The duplicated chromosomal region in mice is the equivalent of human chromosome 15q11-13, which is duplicated in about 5 percent of all people with autism. It is believed that chromosomal abnormalities account for 10 to 20 percent of autism cases, according to a news release from the journal's publisher, Cell Press. So far, duplication of chromosome 15q11-13 is the only recurrent aberration connected to autism.
The mice with an inherited duplication of a region on their chromosome 7 showed autism-like behaviors, such as poor social interaction, behavioral inflexibility, abnormal vocalizations and anxiety, the researchers found.
"The link between social behaviors in rodents and social behavior in humans is difficult to establish," the study authors concluded. "Our model mouse will be valuable not only for therapeutic studies but also provides a starting point for more detailed genetic analysis directed toward understanding the etiology of developmental brain disorders."
More information
The U.S. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke has more about autism.


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United States wheat stocks are the tightest since 1995 and world wheat stocks are the tightest since 1981. The world's wheat stocks to use ratio (ending stocks divided by annual use) is 19.5 percent, the tightest on record.
This implies that on May 31, 2007, there will be enough wheat in storage to meet world wheat demand for 71 days. The average is a 97 day supply.
United States corn stocks are the lowest since 1996 and world corn stocks are the lowest since 1990. The world's corn stocks to use ratio is 12.6 percent, the lowest since 1972. This implies that as of July 31, there will be enough corn in storage to meet 46 days use. The average is 71 days supply.
Normally, producers can rebuild wheat stocks with one year's production and corn in two year's production. The current situation is different. During the 2006/07 corn marketing-year, 1.1 billion bushels more corn were used than were produced.
Also, during the 2007/08 marketing-year, corn demand for ethanol is expected to increase by 1.1 billion bushels.
Without reduced corn used for feed and exports, 2007 U.S. corn must be 2.2 billion bushels higher than the 10.5 billion bushels 2006 corn crop.
World use of corn as feed is expected to decline. Wheat and other grains will be substituted for corn.
Wheat not used by the food market will be used by the feed market and wheat stocks are expected to remain below 500 million bushels. This should prevent wheat stocks from being rebuilt during the 2007/08 marketing-year.
In developing the 2007/08 wheat marketing-year marketing plan, producers need to consider the fact that the feed market will provide a floor for wheat prices. Producers should also consider the timing of the corn harvest and the foreign wheat harvests.
Corn supplies cannot be increased until corn is harvested in September and October. Thus, corn prices should remain near current levels until new crop corn enters the feed market.
Corn's impact on wheat prices is that wheat prices should remain relatively high through most of July. A corn crop above 12.3 billion bushels and a world wheat crop above 22 billion bushels could result in wheat prices trending downward after July. In this case, the wheat marketing strategy would be to sell wheat at harvest.
Current world wheat conditions support 2007/08 marketing-year production estimates of about 22.5 billion bushels. The five-year average is 21.6 billion bushels. The record wheat crop is 23.1 billion bushels produced in 2003/04.
Kansas City Board of Trade wheat contract prices imply that the market expects wheat demand to remain strong through July 2009. The KCBT July 2007 contract price is $4.83 and the July 2009 contract price is $4.85.
The Chicago Board of Trade July 2007 corn contract price is $3.89 and the July 2010 corn contract price is $4.05. This implies the feed market may provide a price floor for wheat at about $4 cash price in Oklahoma and Texas through 2010.
When developing the 2007 marketing plan, note that the KCBT December contract is at a 24 cent premium to the July contract price.
For wheat stored in commercial storage, the cost to own wheat is about five cents per month. Thus, commercial storage plus interest costs from July 1 to Nov. 30 is about 25 cents.
For producers whose storage cost is less than three cents per bushel per month and/or they have low interest opportunities, there may be profit in storing wheat until the September through November time period.
Producers who pay three cents per month storage and need income for production loans or to plant the 2008 crop should consider selling the wheat at harvest.
There is about 40 cents downside price risk and about a $1 upside price potential for wheat prices. This may be the year to sell one-half of the wheat at harvest and sell the remaining one-half between late September and Dec. 1.


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Shaw Laminate, Shaw Hardwood, Mohawk Carpet, Mohawk Hardwood, Mohawk laminate, Mohawk Tile, Tarkett Vinyl, Congoleum Vinyl, Armstrong Vinyl, Carpet Cleaning, Hardwood Sanding and Refinishing.
Custom stair runners, Custom Size Area Rugs , Shaw, Beaulieu Commercial, Patcraft Hospitality Group Carpets, Milliken Carpets, Milliken Area Rugs, wool carpets, Congoleum Plank Vinyl, Tarkette, Armstrong, Mannington, Faus Laminate, Pergo Laminate, Dupont Carpet Fiber, BR-111 Exotic Hardwood, Bruce Hardwood, Natural cork, Natural Cork Bamboo, Teragren Synergy, Beaulieu Hollytex Carpet, Bigelow Carpet, Signature Carpet, Mullican Hardwood, Century Hardwood, Florida Tile, Daltile, American Olean Tile, Marble, Granite, Philadelphia Carpets, Shaw contract carpets, Columbia Hardwood.
Plank Flooring, Strip Flooring,carpet binding, carpet surging, residential carpet, commercial carpet, custom showers pans, Fabrica carpet, Stanton carpet, godfrey hurst, nylon carpet, pet proof carpet pad, Carpet rip out and disposal, Custom Tile Back splashes, Custom Tile Medallions, Custom Tile Borders.