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Internet Marketing For Photographers – Your Virtual Personality
Oct 10, 2013
Internet Marketing For Photographers – Your Virtual Personality
It's pretty obvious that internet marketing is critically important to a photography business.
When I started my business, the argument was: Do you need a website? At the time, I don't think anyone could have predicted that a website would become only a small part of an overall photography business internet marketing strategy.
But, when was the last time that you checked your virtual personality?
In this article, I am going to review what I find when I search my own name and my business name – with at least one curveball thrown in.
In case you are wondering, I did not in fact write "Live Nude Girls: The Top 100 Strip Clubs In North America".
It was written by someone who happens to have the exact same name as me, and Amazon has been making sure that it has been popping up in internet searches for my name since 1998.
You'd be surprised when meeting me for the first time how often new clients say something like:
"Ohhhh right, JP Danko, you're the photographer that wrote that guide to the best strip clubs."
Which brings me to my first point: your name is your brand and it's important.
I am fairly lucky in that I have a relatively unique name, and more importantly, besides "Live Nude Girls" my name is not really associated with anyone else.
Rick Danko (of The Band fame) and Danko Jones (of alt rock fame – with a way cooler version of my name) come up once in a while, but other than that, I'm all by myself.
If you happen to share a name with someone famous, or even worse, a serial killer – forget about it, your name is never going to be on page one of any search engine.
Some people are really touchy about their name, but if your name happens to be William Smith, or Kate Perry, I would consider going with an alias or just using your business name instead.
Of course, that also gives you an excuse to go with a way cooler version of your name…like say Max Power.
The Internet Will Follow You Forever
You've probably heard that anything you put online will follow you forever.
While that is generally true, it is also interesting that the web sites you interact with, what you like, what you comment on, etc. also follows you around.
Internet Tracks – Example One
For example, this is a screen capture of a Google Image Search for "JP Danko".
Most of these are my photos, but six of them are images that I recently liked on 500px when I was looking for inspiration for an upcoming athletics shoot.
Image Credits Go To: Rob Hammer, Joel Addams, Antonio Rossetti and Y. 14.
Now imagine if I was looking for nude black and whites.
Internet Tracks – Example Two
Here's another example – this is a link that pops up a few pages into a Google Search for "JP Danko".
This is a comment that I left on Scott Kelby's blog a couple months ago about an article written by photographer Tim Tadder (check him out on 500px – his work is awesome).
So, be careful about what you say online (under your own name or your business name anyway – but regardless, it's probably a good idea not to be an anonymous troll either).
Internet Tracks – Example Three
First of all, my YouTube, Stocksy and 500px avatars pop up near the top of the page.
This is a good thing, because I want potential clients to actually see who I am and have a name to face recognition right off the bat. This also shows the importance of using a consistent, good quality avatar across your online presence.
Next, most of the images that pop up on the first page are actually my work – another good thing.
Obviously, I want my work to be associated with my name – but it is interesting from what sources Google is pulling my work from.
Almost none are from my actual studio website blurMEDIAphotography.com. Instead, the majority are either from my Stocksy portfolio, my 500px portfolio or from various articles that have appeared here at DIY Photography.
Then there are a bunch of images that I have posted along with articles on my wife's photography blog. Most of these are editorial or stock that are not my work, but were posted as editorial content in an article under my name.
Interestingly, the only social media platform that Google seems to be pulling images from is Google +, because I don't see anything associated with my Twitter account, or my personal Facebook page.
Finally, there are a few images from a magazine site that are my work, but were posted online by a model who then gave me credit. Apparently, that's enough for them to show up under my name.
I think the point here is that you have to be careful with any images that could even be associated with your name.
If you post a stock photo of a fluffy cat swinging from a ceiling fan as editorial content somewhere online that is also associated with your name – you could end up receiving a lot of nasty emails from irate cat people.
Standard Search Engine Results
This is what I get if I search for my own name on Google:
My studio website comes up third, beat out by my personal Facebook account and Amazon with "Live Nude Girls" – Newman!
All of my social media networks also pop up on the first page…along with a few other random links associated with "Live Nude Girls"…
If I search "blurMEDIA Photography", my studio website comes up first. However, second is an old Blogger website that I no longer use.
Even worse, the images for blurMEDIA Photography that come up are outdated and associated with that same old Blogger website.
To fix that, I will need to be proactive and delete that account and hope that things will eventually re-associate with my current website.
Interestingly, I also have a flash based website that was promised to be search engine friendly (blurMEDIA.ca) that has been online for over five years. It doesn't show up until page five.
One other thing that I also see associated with blurMEDIA Photography is a number of directory websites, such as Manta.com, Eventective.com, ylm.ca, weddingwire.com, goldbook.ca etc.
I can't tell you how much I despise directory websites.
There is nothing worse than searching for a business and coming up with page after page of directory websites instead.
Directory websites are also an excellent resource for spam bots to lift your name, phone number, email and address.
Thankfully, Google has recently cracked down on directory websites so they don't figure as prominently in search results, but I can see that there are still a number of listings for blurMEDIA Photography that I need to have deleted.
Three Tips To Build A Quality Virtual Personality
1. Stay Consistent
Use the same name, the same business name, the same avatar, the same logo, the same colors etc. across your entire web presence – from your studio website, to your social media accounts, all the way down to the name you sign when you leave a comment.
Consistency also applies to your photography. For example, one common mistake that I see over and over is photographers who associate themselves with both photos of women in bikinis and families with kids.
That might not be a problem for the women in bikinis, but it will certainly be a problem for the moms that search for the photographer's name or business name.
2. Maintain Your Virtual Personality
This is not easy work and it is not necessarily something that you have full control over – but your online presence is still something that needs regular maintenance.
Search for your name, your studio name, misspelled versions of each and see what comes up.
If there are undesirable results, do what you can to have the offending content taken down.
3. Don't Underestimate Web Karma
Always be conscious of what you post anywhere online.
Something that seems innocent, like an off color joke, an angry comment or the classic drunken selfie can come back to bite you years later.
Even something as seemingly benign as posting say a blog post about the ten worst photos you've taken this year will end up associating those ten bad photos with your brand.
Above all, just be nice. If you post and interact online as you would with someone face to face, then your virtual personality will reflect your actual personality – and it is the real-world you that will draw clients to your business.
What Is Your Virtual Personality?
What do you find when you search for your name or your studio name?
What images do search engines associate with your name – anything odd like "Live Nude Girls"?
Does your photography studio website figure prominently, or is it lost in the shuffle?
What strategies do you use to actively manage your virtual personality?
JP Danko
JP Danko is a commercial photographer based in Toronto, Canada. JP can change a lens mid-rappel, swap a memory card while treading water, or use a camel as a light stand. To see more of his work please visit his studio website blurMEDIAphotography, or follow him on Twitter, 500px, Google Plus or YouTube. JP's photography is available for licensing at Stocksy United.
Join the Discussion
DIYP Comment Policy
Be nice, be on-topic, no personal information or flames.


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Imagine this: You are sitting on a plane getting ready to take off and you see a mechanic working on the wing of the plane you are in. The mechanic is making some last minute checks when he or she accidentally drops a wrench on the wing that puts a sizable dent on the surface of the wing. It's instances like this that Compression After Impact (CAI) testing is done. After performing this type of test, a composite manufacturer can fully understand the structural affects that any impact would on a given material.
Performing a CAI test in accordance to ASTM D7137/7137Mdetermines the residual strength of multi-directional composite laminate plates that have been subjected to quasi-static indentation. This particular test requires a CAI Fixture that is designed in accordance to the standard.

subset: commoncrawl


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Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG Parts
- Mercedes-Benz
- Exterior Body
- Mercedes-Benz
- Engine
- Mercedes-Benz
- Brake
- Mercedes-Benz
- Suspension
Mercedes Shock Absorber Kit - Bilstein 1663200130
Mercedes Airmatic Strut Kit - Bilstein 26-251691
- Mercedes-Benz
- Air Intake
- Mercedes-Benz
- Fuel System
About Mercedes Benz C43 AMG
Easily the fastest and most powerful vehicle in its class, the Mercedes Benz C43 AMG is the epitome of a four door muscle car. Although it may appear small, the 302 horses under the hood would beg to differ. The C43 AMG has a 5 speed automatic transmission and can gallop from 0 to 60 mph in under 6 seconds. While it's precision and adherence to normal roads make it an amazingly exhilarating car to drive in, one would not want to test the suspension in anything but normal driving scenarios. That being it's only fault, it's safe to say that if you're a proud owner of the Mercedes Benz C43 AMG, chances are you wont be taking it on any off roading journeys any time soon.
Mercedes Benz C43 AMG Parts from FCP Euro
Mercedes Benz AMG is a relatively new merger between two super groups that have blended maximum luxury with ultimate power. FCP Euro is proud to carry an extensive selection of Mercedes Benz C43 AMG parts, kits and C43 AMG accessories all designed to help you keep your vehicle performing at peak operation for years to come. Whether you're looking for C43 AMG original parts or complete kits such as our control arm kits, control arm bushing kits, FCP Euro has the high quality, complete solutions to all your Mercedes C43 AMG parts needs. In addition to the type of quality level that you can trust, we also back up our entire Mercedes C43 AMG catalog with a quality and fitment guarantee, and a one year warranty. With an unmatched level of attention to your personal needs, FCP Euro separates itself from the type of impersonal treatment you so commonly find at a garage or Mercedes Benz dealership. Trust our 20 plus years of experience in the euro parts industry, and enjoy the noticeable difference in the quality performance of your Mercedes Benz.


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This is an excellent compilation
of Christmas music that shows considerable imagination and variety. From the transcendent sound of William Byrd
to the more pungent music of William Mathias by way of an urbane contribution
from Francis Poulenc, this CD offers an
exciting and thoughtful contrast to many run of the mill seasonal offerings.
There are four pieces by William
Byrd. It was once written about this composer that he was a 'pastoral poet who
loves misty distances, soft hues, gently undulating landscapes…a countryman,
whose rural lyricism decks itself in the most exquisite graces that can be
imagined by an artistic temperament at once simple and refined' (Van den
Borren). It is this ability to create a vocal tone-poem that impressed me with
these pieces. Not only does the composer communicate the theological and
liturgical message of the texts, he is able to present a musical evocation of
the nativity landscape imagined by poets and painters. However, this landscape
has been translated to England. Truly wonderful and uplifting.
At the other end of the scale is
William Mathias's 'Ave Rex- A Carol Sequence' op.45 which exploits a variety of
harmonic devices old and new. For example, the medieval practice of 'organum'
parallel movement of voices is contrasted with 20th century bitonality:
the open 'fourths and fifths' are juxtaposed with sharp dissonances. The
complex organ part is integral to this work.
'Ave Rex- A Carol Sequence' was commissioned by the Cardiff Polyphonic
Choir and was first heard at Llandaff Cathedral on 6 December 1969.
Other works on this CD include the masterly antiphon 'Mater
Christi sanctissima' by John Taverner, and an elegant and thoughtful setting by
Palestrina of the Magnificat. John Sheppard's superb anthem 'Gaude, Gaude,
Gaude, Maria' is a complex six-part work probably written during the reign of
Queen Mary.
Finally, I have never come across
the Portuguese composer João Rodrigues Esteves (1700–1751). Seemingly, he was a fairly
prolific composer of liturgical music. After study in Rome he spent the
remainder of his life in Lisbon and latterly became a master of music in the
Basilica de Santa Maria which was an adjunct of Lisbon Cathedral. His music is
well-wrought and colourful. In some places he seems to be moving towards an
operatic style rather than adhering to the then strict requirements of the
Roman Catholic Church. It is hardly surprising that he is deemed to be the
finest (if still largely unknown) Portuguese composer of his generation.
The presentation of this CD has
one or two minor issues. It would have been good to have the texts of these
pieces: as far as I can tell, they are all out of copyright. I accept that the
listener can find these on the internet, but having them to hand is ideal. This is a compilation, which is fine, but
some idea of when each track was 'laid down' would have been useful. Finally,
some of these pieces have an organ part, but the organist is not credited.
In the round, this is a most
refreshing contribution to the very large number of Christmas CDs currently
available. The singing is always impressive and the choice of programme inspiring.
Track Listings:-
Williams BYRD (1543-1623) A solis ortus cardine
William MATHIAS (1934-1992)
Ave Rex- A Carol Sequence, op.45 (1969)
John TAVERNER (1490-1545)
Mater Christi sanctissima
William BYRD Hodie
Christus natus est; O magnum Misterium; Puer natus est nobis
John SHEPPARD (c.1515-c.1559)
Gaude, gaude, gaude, Maria
Francis POULENC (1899-1963)
Salve Regina (1941)
Giovanni Pierluigi PALESTRINA
(c.1525-1594) Magnificat (Sexti Toni a 6)
João Rodrigues
ESTEVES (c1700-1751) Beati Dei
Genitrix; Verbum caro factum est
Christ Church Cathedral Choir, Oxford/Stephen Darlington
Nimbus Records NI7096
With thanks to MusicWeb International where this review was first published.


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Cassidy Landscaping is a family-owned and operated team of masonry contractors Winchester MA providing masonry and hardscaping services to Stoneham, MA and surrounding towns.
It's been our pleasure to serve the hard material landscaping needs of the local community for years. We specialize in the design and installation of all types of outdoor walls, patios, paved surfaces, fire pits, walkways and outdoor kitchens.
We handle both residential and commercial masonry projects. We pride ourselves on our professional service, competitive pricing and attentiveness to your specific needs. Our goal is to build longstanding local relationships and serve the Stoneham area for years to come, and we look forward to getting to know you and assisting you with your dream projects.
Specific masonry and hardscaping services we offer include:
Whether it's a driveway, walkway or concrete pad, we can pave any surface to your specifications.
We also offer outdoor patio paving services, with a variety of attractive options including interlocking stone and concrete, flagstone and crushed rock. We can work with you to design a lovely patio that suits your needs without requiring much maintenance. We can also provide durable brick paving services, as well as maintenance and restoration of your existing brick.
We will literally build your dream wall brick by brick ... or we can use clay, concrete, marble, granite, limestone or a variety of other materials!
Need a landscaping or retaining wall? That's also not a problem. We install durable walls that are properly situated in the soil to prevent failure and avoid water buildup.
In addition to the materials mentioned above, a popular option for gardens and backyards is a timber retaining wall. They are commonly used as retaining walls and are also very popular for garden and plant enclosures.
You might also consider a natural fieldstone wall—these are the lovely stacks of stones that come in all shapes and sizes, yet remain perfectly balanced. We can install these walls with or without concealed joints (which make the wall appear as if no mortar was used to set the stones).
Those are some of our featured items, but Cassidy Landscaping can handle a wide variety of other hardscaping projects as well. Other options you can partner with us on include:
We're happy to take on any and all projects, from the simplest to the most elaborate. You can put our decades of experience to the test; check out our portfolio for samples of our previous hardscaping projects, and contact us through our convenient web form for a free quote.
Servicing Greater Boston, MA and Beyond
21G Olympia Ave., Suite 65, Woburn, MA 01801


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Create a Website Account - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more.
No. You may only walk on public property within the designated Social District boundaries. Leaving the Social District with an alcoholic beverage, or trespassing on private property violates State and local law.
Show All Answers
The Social District allows customers the flexibility to purchase alcoholic beverages downtown (currently from Tripelroot, Frank's East, La Creme & StrEATs Taco Kitchen) and consume them while walking or sitting within the boundaries of the district.
This is a perfect opportunity to grab a drink while you wait for availability to dine at a restaurant or visit a downtown event. It also creates the opportunity for different people in your party to select drinks and food from different restaurants and dine together at City of Zeeland tables within the Social District. Think of it like a food court!
You may eat or consume alcoholic beverages served in designated Social District cups at any City of Zeeland furniture, including: downtown benches, picnic tables, at café tables found within the boundaries of the Social District. Group seating is provided at the Elm Street Park (across from City Hall), in the Main Street bump outs adjacent to the mid-block crosswalk, the patio behind Drip Coffee, and the on-street Patio in front of Tripelroot (on Main Street).
Businesses that provide their own café seating in front of their business along Main or Elm Street, may permit customers to consume Social District beverages while dining at their tables. (Please ask at individual businesses.)
Beer, wine, and liquor are allowable drinks when served in a designated Social District cup. Drinks must be purchased from a licensed business within the Social District. Currently: Tripelroot, Frank's East, La Creme & StrEATs Taco Kitchen.
No. Once an alcoholic beverage has left the business where it was served it must be consumed before you enter another other business or private property.
No. The Splash Pad is not part of the regular operational hours of the Social District. If alcohol is ever permitted within the Splash Pad it will be for City of Zeeland approved special events only and will be clearly posted on those occasions.
The social district map has two categories - the red section indicates the regular social district boundaries: Mon-Sat, 8am-11pm.
The pink sections will be used during designated special events only.
These special events include:
*Alcohol in the Splash Pad is explicitly off limits unless otherwise posted.


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Discover the COSMOS Roadmap
The Discover the COSMOS initiative demonstrates innovative ways to involve teachers and students in eScience through the use of existing e-infrastructures in order to spark young people's interest in science and in following scientific careers. It demonstrates effective community building between researchers, teachers and students and empowering the latter to use, share and exploit the collective power of unique scientific resources (research facilities, scientific instruments, advanced ICT tools, simulation and visualisation applications and scientific databases) in meaningful educational activities, that promote inquiry-based learning and appreciation of how science works, and to promote effective integration of science education with e-infrastructures through a monitored-for-impact use of eScience activities, which provides feedback for the take-up of such interventions at large scale in Europe.
In order to capture the multifaceted nature of science learning, the Discover the COSMOS consortium has developed a roadmap that includes a series of "strands for the design of the Educational and Outreach Activities" that articulates the science-specific capabilities supported by the environment of a research infrastructure. The strands provide a framework for thinking about elements of scientific knowledge and practice. The proposed framework also describes a series of support functions that have to be deployed in order the long-term impact of the proposed activities to be safeguarded. Such support actions could include support the integration and coordination of educational and outreach activities between groups across different research institutions; support the science community and scientists interested in educational and outreach activities; support the education communities interested in scientific content and applications; support special events and activities and provide means and tools for web-based communication and collaboration.
The proposed framework provides a useful reference for helping outreach groups to articulate learning outcomes as they develop programs, activities, and events to further explore and exploit the unique benefits of introducing eScience in schools. Furthermore, such an action asks for knowledge areas integration, effective and closes cross-institutional collaboration, and organisational change in the field of science education.
The roadmap presents the main areas of action of the Discover the COSMOS initiative and discusses the approach used to introduce eScience activities in everyday school practice. It presents the main framework for the design of outreach activities, the main principles, proposes way to assess the learning outcomes, it emphasizes on the collaboration with the teachers and concludes with a list of recommendations for the outreach teams of research infrastructures for the design of their activities targeting schools.
- 16768 reads


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Houston gets iPhone app with up-to-date smog data
(AP)—Houston residents now can have in their pocket the answer to whether ozone levels in the city are too high for their asthmatic child to play soccer.
A new app available for iPhones and Android smartphones collects data from 74 air and wind monitors throughout the Houston area, giving residents nearly real-time data on smog.
The app was developed by the Houston Air Alliance, the University of Houston and the American Lung Association.
Houston has some of the highest ozone levels in the country.
Scientists and doctors say air pollution exacerbates asthma and other respiratory illnesses.
Interim Air Alliance director Larry Soward says the Houston Ozone Map app is unique because the data is minutes old. Most other similar apps use data that is more than an hour old.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Your lease or rental agreement should spell out your landlord's key rent rules, including:
State laws in Arkansas cover several of these rent-related issues, including the amount of notice a landlord must provide to increase rent under a month-to-month tenancy, and how much time a tenant has to pay rent or move before a landlord can file for eviction.
Rent is legally due on the date specified in your lease or rental agreement (usually the first of the month). Arkansas state law does not address late fees, so Arkansas landlords can charge a reasonable late fee if its terms are laid out in a written lease or rental agreement. If your lease or rental agreement doesn't say anything about late fees, your landlord can't impose one, no matter how reasonable it is.
Arkansas does not have a state statute on the amount of notice the landlord must provide tenants in order to increase the rent or change other terms of a month-to-month rental agreement. Unless your rental agreement specifies otherwise, the landlord must typically provide the same amount of notice to change the rent or another term of the tenancy as state law requires the landlord to provide when ending the tenancy—in this case, 30 days. Keep in mind that if you have a long-term lease, the landlord can't increase the rent until the lease ends and a new tenancy begins—unless the lease itself provides for an increase.
Arkansas landlords may not raise the rent in a discriminatory manner—for example, only for members of a certain race. Also, Arkansas landlords may not use a rent increase in retaliation against you for exercising a legal right—for example, in response to your legitimate complaint to a local housing agency about a broken heater.
Landlords must follow specific rules and procedures for ending a tenancy when a tenant has not paid the rent. Arkansas landlords can use unconditional quit notices to terminate a tenancy for nonpayment of rent—this means that the landlord doesn't have to give the tenant a second chance to pay rent.
Arkansas has two ways for landlords to evict a tenant who doesn't pay rent: a civil process called "unlawful detainer" and a criminal process called "failure to vacate." The unlawful detainer process is used more often than failure to vacate.
For an overview of landlord-tenant laws in Arkansas, see Overview of Landlord-Tenant Laws in Arkansas.
See the Laws and Legal Research section of Nolo for advice on finding and reading statutes and court decisions.
Need a lawyer? Start here.


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Time and tide wait for no man
What's the meaning of the phrase 'Time and tide wait for no man'?
No one is so powerful that they can stop the march of time.
What's the origin of the phrase 'Time and tide wait for no man'?
The origin is uncertain, although it's clear that the phrase is ancient and that it pre-dates modern English. The earliest known record is from St. Marher, 1225:
"And te tide and te time þat tu iboren were, schal beon iblescet."
A version in modern English - "the tide abides for, tarrieth for no man, stays no man, tide nor time tarrieth no man" evolved into the present day version.
The notion of 'tide' being beyond man's control brings up images of the King Canute story. He demonstrated to his courtiers the limits of a king's power by failing to make the sea obey his command. That literal interpretation of 'tide' in 'time and tide' is what is now usually understood, but wasn't what was meant in the original version of the expression. 'Tide' didn't refer to the contemporary meaning of the word, that is, the rising and falling of the sea, but to a period of time. When this phrase was coined tide meant a season, or a time, or a while. The word is still with us in that sense in 'good tidings', which refers to a good event or occasion and Whitsuntide, noontide etc.
See also: the List of Proverbs.


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Green tea is minimally processed, and has little to no oxidation, making it a wonderful source of antioxidants. Having a cup of green tea daily has quickly spread from Asia to Europe and North America, nowadays it has become a healthy routine in the lives of millions of people worldwide.
Green tea, after harvested and washed, is withered and then rolled by either machine or hand. To stop the oxidation process and to bring out certain flavors, some green teas are steamed, pan fried, or toasted. Each preparation creates a unique tasting tea, from grassy, to deep umami, spinach-like greens, and each green tea has a fresh, clear bright astringent flavor making it a one of a kind in the tea world.
The natural sweetness of green tea is given by a variety of amino-acids. Be careful when preparing your water temperature for steeping, green tea is sensitive and too-high of a temperature can ruin green tea's delicate flavor.
Depending on where your green tea was produced there are vast differences on what you will taste in your cup. Both China and Japan are widely known for their green tea and have long historical, and cultural traditions when producing their tea leaves. Dragon Well, beautifully hand rolled Jasmine Pearls, Sencha, Gyokuro, and Bi Luo Chun are just a few of the famous green tea varieties.
Health Benefits of Green Tea
Studies have shown that green tea features polyphenols, which give green tea its prized health benefits. Aids in weight loss- studies show that drinking three cup daily will help you melt off extra pounds, but don't rely on green tea alone, pair it with a healthy lifestyle and better choices. Lowers cholesterol- A U.S. study suggests that drinking it regularly may reduce LDL, or 'bad' cholesterol a few points. Lowers risks and prevents cancer- many studies have proven again and again that green tea consumption aids in combatting cancer. Basically, the more green tea participants in the studies drank, the less the risk of developing stomach cancer, colon, pancreatic, esophageal cancer, prostate cancer.
Brewing Guidelines
Be attentive with your water temperature and steeping times for green tea. We suggest following the specific suggestions on your bag of tea, but here are some guidelines.
Chinese green tea 1 tsp of loose tea for every 8oz of water. 175F/80C for 2-3 minutes. Japanese green tea 1 tsp of loose tea for every 8oz of water. 175F/80C for 1-2 minutes.


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BERLIN — As part of their effort to join the Sustainable Maryland Certified (SMC) initiative, Berlin officials are asking town residents to speak up and take part in a survey that will be used to assess a variety of community conditions.
The survey will seek data on everything from stormwater management complaints and natural resources, to input on recycling and personal health and wellness. Officials plan on using information learned via the survey to help develop a list of community priorities.
"You're actually gaining insight from them on what is important," said Town Administrator Tony Carson.
Deputy Town Administrator Mary Bohlen described the surveys as giving "a better picture of what citizens are interested in." Additionally, Carson explained that the assessment would also aid the town in gauging how informed the community is about certain issues. He noted that some residents may be unaware of Berlin's recycling program or other sustainability projects. Therefore, he believes the survey is killing two birds with one stone, helping both the town and its residents learn more about what Bohlen called "the health of the community."
Offering the survey is part of the overall effort being made by Berlin to earn the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) Environmental Finance Center's SMC status.
"The survey itself is a required part of becoming a sustainable Maryland community," said Bohlen.
Last summer, Berlin became the first municipality in Maryland to register for SMC. The program evaluates communities on a 150-point judging system, with the points divided between several categories like stormwater management, recycling, and the other criteria measured by the survey. According to the town website, "using best practices in resource areas like water, energy, land use, health, food, and economy, a municipality can receive sustainability certification."
Carson added that the survey would tie in with the continuing efforts of the UMES Finance Center's storm water research project.
"It certainly works hand-in-hand with stormwater," he said.
So far, community input has been tepid. Bohlen estimated only 30 or so surveys had been completed as of this newspaper's deadline. However, she attributes that to residents not knowing about the assessment, or how important it is to providing the town leadership advice on what improvements the community wants to see most.
"It really is a very short survey," she added. "It only takes a few minutes."
Carson clarified that the SMC rating wasn't something the town decided to go for out of the blue and that many points listed in the initiative are already covered by current Berlin practices.
"A lot of these things we've already been doing," he said.
Following that same thought, Carson said that SMC "works so well in Berlin because of all the environmental initiatives we do."
"It improves your community," he said.
Bohlen explained that public input is "vital" to the survey process and urged all residents to take part since everyone is affected by at least some, if not all, of the issues being discussed. Residents can take the survey by logging onto the town's website and following the Sustainable Community Survey link at the top of the page.


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Sure, I could have picked a pristine shell from our collection, but I like the rugged character of this one. It is the terebratulid brachiopod Coenothyris oweni Feldman, 2002, from the lower Saharonim Formation (Middle Triassic) of Har Devanim, southern Israel. I picked it up, along with a dozen others, during our 2010 Israel expedition.
Above we have a dorsal view of this brachiopod. The posterior is at the top, anterior at the bottom. The round hole is the pedicle opening in the ventral valve. (The pedicle is a fleshy stalk the brachiopod uses to attach to a substrate.) As with all brachiopods, you can see the bilateral symmetry of the shell with the plane perpendicular to the hinge between the valves. Terebratulids are still around.
The layered units at the top of this ridge of Har Devanim are the lower part of the Saharonim Formation (Anisian, Middle Triassic). Micah Risacher ('11) is just visible.
Coenothyris oweni was named in 2002 by my friend Howie Feldman. He also wrote a 2005 paper on the paleoecology of this species in the Saharonim Formation of southern Israel. The brachiopods are sometimes found in obrution deposits, meaning they were buried alive by storm-driven sediments (see above).
The genus Coenothyris was named by Joseph Henri Ferdinand Douvillé in 1879 (above as a young man and older). He was a French paleontologist and geologist who worked first as a mining engineer and then a professor of paleontology at the École des Mines (School of Mines). His research took him around the world, but his most prominent papers were on French fossils and geology. In 1881 he became president of the Société géologique de France; in 1907 he was elevated to the Académie des Sciences.
Feldman, H.R. 2002. A new species of Coenothyris (Brachiopoda) from the Triassic (Upper Anisian-Ladinian) of Israel. Journal of Paleontology 76: 34-42.
Feldman, H.R. 2005. Paleoecology, taphonomy, and biogeography of a Coenothyris community (Brachiopoda, Terebratulida) from the Triassic (Upper Anisian-Lower Ladinian) of Israel. American Museum Novitates, no. 3479: 1-19.


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Internet celebrity Antoine Dodson shocked everyone when the once-gay man renounced his sexuality and said he was expecting a baby with his girlfriend. Now the baby boy is here and Dodson is already thinking about the child's sexual future. Dodson recently said if his son is gay, he will still love him regardless, but try to make him straight again.
Antoine Dodson came to be known in 2010 after he helped thwart the rape of his sister in their home. He famously was interviewed by a local news team where he delivered the statement, "Hide ya kids, hide ya wife, hide ya husbands … cause they rapin' everybody out here.
Follow @JaySpeakEasy_ Follow @TheUrbanDaily
Dodson told reporters he believes the gay lifestyle is wrong and anti-religious, but would love his child no what who they chose to be with. "I wouldn't be shocked because I lived that life before. I would try and get him help. Even if he couldn't be fixed it doesn't matter because I still support him no matter what."
So we're still going to allow him to act like one can be cured from their sexual preference? Okay, got it.
JaCobie kept us up all night long and now he's sleeping but we're still up!! http://t.co/8Gh9gIBV30—
Kevin Antoine Dodson (@antoinedodson24) May 20, 2014
Like TheUrbanDaily.com on Facebook to stay updated with the latest entertainment news and original interviews!
Chris Brown Released From Jail Early
Stephen Jackson Disses Donald Sterling In Rap Song [EXCLUSIVE]
Jay Z Ends Relationship With Longtime Business Partner
Antoine Dodson: "If My Son Is Gay, I'll Make Him Straight!" was originally published on theurbandaily.com


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The Korg monotribe. Click on the image to take a closer look.
UPDATE: See our video demo live from the show floor here.
MUSIKMESSE 2011 Press Release: In a world seemingly ruled by digital, Korg created an analog sensation with the palm-sized monotron Analogue Ribbon Synthesizer. Today, Korg once again takes up the analog banner with the amazing monotribe Analog Ribbon Station; a new form of synthesizer that packs an amazing array of features and technology into its compact body.
Korg's monotribe shares the monotron's analog DNA, yet quickly delves deeper into the rich, organic, and often chaotic world of analog synthesis. In addition to analog synthesis, monotribe brings together intuitive ease of use and a three-part discrete analog rhythm section, plus the proven appeal of Electribe-style sequencing. Complete with built-in speakers and battery power, monotribe is self-contained and highly portable, able to deliver your ideas with style and personality.
The monotribe Analog Ribbon Station - bringing responsive realtime control to analog groove making.
Monotribe highlights:
• The powerful sound of true analog synthesis
• 3-part analog drums, using discrete analog circuitry
• Popular Electribe-style sequencing.
• Active Step and Flux features for realtime dynamic loop manipulation
• Advanced multi-function ribbon keyboard; Chromatic, Continuous, & Wide modes
• Auto-tuning provides stable pitch for accurate chromatic playability
• Selectable oscillator waveform, noise generator, and versatile LFO
• Uses the same VCF (filter) circuit as the classic MS-10/MS-20
• Sync In & Out jacks allows synchronized integration with multiple units
• Battery operation, built-in speaker and compact size deliver on-the-go groove-making
True Analog Synthesis
The monotribe's sound engine uses technology old and new, merging the powerful sound of analog synthesis with the dexterity and playability required in today's groove making environments. Analog technology is essential for fast and responsive control, and delivers the full sonic spectrum from warm and easy-going to full-throttle rampage.
Three-Part Analog Drums
The monotribe provides a three-part rhythm section powered by discrete analog circuitry; bass drum, snare, and hi-hat. These three sounds were the key elements in a generation of analog beat making, and are still in demand today. Use these powerful drum sounds to generate distinctive beats attainable only from the monotribe.
Electribe-Style Groove Creation
For over a decade, Korg Electribes have served as the standard tools for dance music and DJ work, and has earned outstanding popularity, even appearing recently as a top-selling iPad app. The fantastic step key interface lives on in monotribe, with a dedicated button for each of the eight steps. This allows realtime, hands-on step editing of not only the drum parts, but also for any synth part sequence played on the ribbon keyboard.
Active Step and Flux Mode
Active Step editing lets you remove or re-insert individual steps, creating short loop-like effects or off-beat patterns that weave in and out of complex rhythms. The step buttons provide this Active Step control during playback, and also provide an instant return to the original 8-step sequence if needed. Flux Mode allows the creation of sequenced synth parts that are not rigidly tied to the step grid, providing more musical versatility. The creation and morphing of edgy beats and stuttering rhythms has never been easier.
Auto-Tuning Analog
Analog synthesizers of yesteryear were prone to drift in pitch. But no more! The monotribe's auto-tuning circuitry provides stable chromatic playability, and will not go out of tune. This auto-tuning technology also means no warm-up time, no servicing for pitch calibration, no sensitivity to temperature changes - just the great sound of analog VCO.
Multi-Mode Ribbon Keyboard
The ribbon controller keyboard provides three selectable playing modes/ranges. The chromatic mode (KEY) is ideal for playing melodies and bass lines, and stepping smoothly from note to note. Switch to the continuous mode (NARROW) for glides and bends - just as on the monotron. Also available is the wide continuous mode (WIDE) with a six-fold pitch range for dramatic synth zaps and screams. In addition, pressing the Gate Time button will allow the gate time to be sequenced as the ribbon controller keyboard is played.
Classic Analog Components - VCO, LFO, VCA
The VCO offers a choice between sawtooth, triangle and square wave. White noise can mixed in to the oscillator signal in any amount. The Octave selector covers a broad range, from deep bass to piercing lead-lines. Three EG (Envelope Generator) presets provide the VCA with impressive versatility and dexterity. The LFO can be patched to the VCO and/or the VCF, creating impressive dynamic effects. The Range switch allows the LFO to deliver stirring cyclic changes over tens of seconds (SLOW) or superfast (FAST) audio-range FM ringing. Switching the LFO Mode to the 1-shot setting allows the LFO behave as a second envelope generator - a truly powerful addition!
Vintage MS-10/MS-20 Filter
The monotribe features the same VCF circuit found on Korg's classic MS-10 and MS-20 analog semi-patchable synthesizers. Distinctively analog, this sharp and powerful filter adds dramatic change to the sound, imparting the uniquely memorable character of Korg's early analog synthesizers. Using the audio input, any audio source can be enhanced by passing through the filter section. Process an instrument, a voice, or a complete mix form CD or MP3 and create larger than life filter effects!
Sync Jacks: A Return To Modular
The monotribe provides both Sync In and Sync Out jacks, empowering multiple monotribe units to play and work together for a synchronized performance. Not just other monotribes, either. Audio line level pulses can trigger the Sync Input so the monotribe can be synchronized to a DAW system, for example. In addition, the polarity of the pulse waveform can be changed for both the input and output, so you can enjoy synchronized performance with a variety of equipment equipped with Sync connections.
On-The-Go Groove Making
Light, compact, and portable, monotribe is great on the go. Equipped with a built-in speaker and powered by six AA batteries, it is completely self-contained and ready to deliver hours of enjoyment wherever you take it.
Information taken from official press release, for more visit Korg
Submit a press release: email email@example.com
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Enable BSS master mode on Hermes-based radios.
Hermes-based radio cards (such as the tremendously popular but confusingly named Lucent/Orinoco/Avaya/Proxim Silver and Gold cards) are notoriously difficult to operate in BSS [Hack #63] master mode. By design, the cards themselves are actually not able to provide BSS master services on their own.
You might find this surprising, since they are the radio card embedded in the original AirPort AP, as well as the RG1000, RG1100, AP1000, and many others. Before these cards can operate as a BSS master, they need additional firmware uploaded to the card. This tertiary firmware is uploaded to the card's RAM, and is lost if the card loses power. To make matters even more difficult, the firmware in question is licensed software, and can't legally be distributed by anyone but the manufacturer.
The ingenious Hermes AP project, located at http://hunz.org/hermesap.html, addresses both of these tricky issues. It consists of a set of modified drivers, a utility for uploading the tertiary firmware, and a simple script that downloads the firmware from Proxim's public FTP server. Hermes AP isn't trivial to get running, but can be the perfect piece of software if you absolutely need a host-based Orinoco AP.
To get Hermes AP running, you need a 2.4-series kernel (2.6 kernels will not work with this hack) with Dev FS enabled. This allows the kernel to manage the /dev directory, dynamically creating device files for every physical device that the kernel supports. You'll need to compile your own kernel with Dev FS enabled. If you haven't compiled a kernel before, you might want to skip this hack.
Run a make menuconfig, and select "Code maturity level options" "Prompt for development and/or incomplete code/drivers." Now, go back to the main menu, and under "File systems," enable "/dev file system support," as well as "Automatically mount at boot." When running Dev FS, its also a good idea to disable "/dev/pts file system support."
Before you recompile your kernel, copy all of the source code under the drivers/ directory from Hermes AP over top of the existing drivers in the kernel (right over top of the files in linux/drivers/net/wireless/). Now, build your kernel and modules as you normally would, and reboot.
Your Orinoco card should come up as usual with the new driver, but won't support BSS master mode yet. First, cd to the Hermes AP source directory. To download a copy of the tertiary firmware from Proxim's site, run the hfwget.sh script in the firmware/ directory. Next, build the hfwload utility by running make in the hfw/ directory. This utility uploads the tertiary firmware to your card. Copy the utility and the card firmware somewhere handy (I keep mine in /usr/local/hermesap) and run a command like this at boot time, before the interface comes up:
cd /usr/local/hermesap; ./hfwload eth1 T1085800.hfw
Note that the card must not be configured as up when you load the firmware; if it is already up, an ifconfig eth1 down will bring it down for you. If all goes well, an iwconfig should show that etH1 is in Master mode! You can now configure the radio with an ESSID, WEP keys, and any other features as you normally would.
For an 802.11b access point, we prefer HostAP and a Senao/EnGenius card, or Madwifi and an Atheros card [Hack #63] to Hermes AP. The radio cards are more powerful and sensitive, the drivers are under active development, and they have many more features. But if you are stuck with an Orinoco flavor radio card, Hermes AP might be just the code you need.
Bluetooth, Mobile Phones, and GPS
Network Discovery and Monitoring
Wireless Security
Hardware Hacks
Software Hacks
Do-It-Yourself Antennas
Wireless Network Design
Appendix A. Wireless Standards
Appendix B. Wireless Hardware Guide


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I like the sound of this module. Although, I would rather get the second shipyard/drydock/ability to build a new hull and refit at the same time before I get any more ships, and its not jsut me that feel s this way.How about an "Engineering Module", that when equipped, will SLOWLY repair the fleet while at sea. I'm not talking about enough repair to just stay at sea indefinitely, but just enough to maybe postpone the trip home for a bit.
FvF is dead.
---It was killed when attack button was removed on charge's of unfair in a pirate game. Now this is offered as a compensation for the lack of FvF action. Idea as idea is GOOD. It is something new, and calls in even more additional usage of correct tactic's in order to outsmart the enemy. The combination's that can be used in battle is huge. What problem's me the most in this pressure to be used only on "special" hull. Sorry but I must decline. In already busy shipyard I must, WE MUST, now find time to make 4 new hull's (atm it is 4) in order to keep up with this. At the risk of being outdated and send into the scrap-yard of BP history, I will,no I must, say NO.
NO to new hull;
NO to new tactic;
NO to any new spending;
This game has lost it focus and in my mind is now just wondering around without any clear heading. This statement is based on information we can see. I am open for further development of this idea, and imo it should be introduced as form of adding "module" or "tactical officer" to an existing ship in a fleet,not having to lose damage output. This is just now the beginning of discussion on this matter, whom I will watch closely.
How about an "Engineering Module", that when equipped, will SLOWLY repair the fleet while at sea. I'm not talking about enough repair to just stay at sea indefinitely, but just enough to maybe postpone the trip home for a bit.
Alexander Schneider wrote: »Swag a question
Does the tactical bonus end if the tactical ship is sunk?
KIXEYE CM Lou Seal wrote: »If the Tactical Ship is sunk on the battlefield, it will no longer be around to provide the Field of Effect, so yes, the battlefield bonus will disappear.
It's coming no matter what the player circumstance. So get use to it as you did lag, self deployed merchant fleets and a host of other bad things. I still think it's not a good idea when better ideas are on the drawing board. But it sound like a good way to use up excess salvages and get a few more points.
Paul Preece wrote: »The only thing this changes for you, if you are a high level player, is hitting bases so low that you have no business hitting them. What's the phrase... try picking on someone your own size?
SCURVY DEMON wrote: »If they are going to introduce these big changes, why not do it in stages, a little bit at a time instead of a wholesale change to "see how it is received and plays out", that way, Kix can reverse the poorest changes, Kixeye need to learn from the disastrous graphic change introduction which has lost them a lot of customers.
All in all some of these changes could be positive looking at the more precise post we see from SWAG here, the best change is getting rid of that awful "Aura" word which scared all pirates half to death lol
Most importantly Kix need to fix the shipyard issue and long build times but this is not going to happen because they want us all to coin fleets people.
Im not a fan of adding a new hull to the game for one singular use. Like an earlier poster said. I have 5 nearly identical HH in a fleet, except one has sonar to track subs, the enemy has to figure out which one to try to kill first. In this scenario, he knows right away, kill the tac ship. Takes some of the tactical aspect out of the game instead of adding to it if you ask me.
CALICO_JACK 215 wrote: »So Swag will we be getting another shipyard for our aura hulls and refits to all of our fleets since we now have to reconfigure everything?
KIXEYE CM Swag wrote: »Have you every played an arena-style MMORPG? The healer is (almost) always the first target. Support classes are targeted first, that's just good strategy.


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Looking back at Tideman Johnson
Sep 25, 2013 at 2:26 PM 0 Comments
In 2006, Environmental Services completed the Tideman Johnson restoration project to protect a major sewer pipe, protect Johnson Creek from sewage contamination, and restore more natural conditions in the stream. Since then, we've been monitoring the project to ensure it performs as designed, and we're learning lessons for future stream restoration and infrastructure protection. Many of Portland's aging sewer pipes cross or run along streams, and creative approaches help our gray and green infrastructure keep working for clean water.
The Lents Interceptor pipe crosses Johnson Creek in Tideman Johnson Park near Cesar Chavez Boulevard. It conveys wastewater from southeast Portland to a pump station on McLoughlin Boulevard and from there to the wastewater treatment plant in North Portland. When this sewer pipe was built in 1922, it was buried about five feet below the creek bed. Over the years, increasing stormwater runoff from development caused more flow in the creek, which exposed the pipe and left it vulnerable to failure. That would have meant sewage in the creek and other consequences.
The 2006 project reinforced and covered the pipe, building up the stream bed to re-create natural stream dynamics and improve the fish and wildlife habitat. The streambanks were reshaped and planted with native trees and shrubs, and large boulders and wood were added to prevent erosion, slow the stream, and enhance habitat for salmon. This approach to the Lents Interceptor problem saved money while also adding environmental benefits. The alternative - moving the large capacity pipe - would have been much more expensive, estimated to cost nearly $500,000 more.
Now seven years later, this section of Johnson Creek continues to heal and change. Nature never stays put!
Beaver have constructed dams, stream flows have caused some changes in the channel, and gravels have washed into the area naturally (which is good for spawning salmon). Native plants have grown in and the sewer pipe remains well-protected. As this is a steep part of Johnson Creek with high-velocity flows, Environmental Services staff are keeping a eye out for erosion that would make the banks unstable.
Environmental Services is now working with Clackamas County on a similar project to protect an exposed Portland sewer pipe that crosses Johnson Creek near SE Luther Road. That project is planned for construction in 2014. We'll make sure to share some photos when that gets underway.
Did you know? When the stream was temporarily diverted for the Tideman Johnson project construction, nearly 7,000 fish were salvaged from the area and relocated elsewhere in Johnson Creek. 99% of the fish were native species, including 23 Chinook salmon and more than 100 steelhead. Habitat restoration projects like this help Endangered Species Act-listed salmon return and thrive in Portland.
Photos: Top, the exposed Lents Interceptor pipe before 2006 project construction. Next: Project site recently, with mature vegetation and natural beaver dam (notice the staff person standing just below the dam?). Bottom left: during 2006 construction, workers reinforcing the sewer pipe. Bottom right: the project just after construction, with large wood placed in stream.
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I understand how to use the Grid multi-factor authentication as a user but how does it work technically? Specifically how can just a few letters from the grid be enough to decrypt any secret defined ahead of time or is this a more traditional challenge-response type of model?
EDIT: Link to Lastpass Grid Multifactor Authentication


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Materials: Tarva dresser, wood filler, paint, stain, polyurethane, hardware
Description: We gave our Tarva dresser a Midcentury Modern feel by painting the frame, staining the drawer fronts, and adding new hardware. We used a semi-gloss latex paint for the top, sides, and legs of the dresser. For the drawers, use a little wood filler to fill in the pre-drilled holes.
Once the wood filler has dried, sand down any excess wood filler to give the drawer fronts a nice, smooth look. Apply a couple of coats of stain and a coat of polyurethane following the product directions. Drill new holes for the new hardware. Voila!
See more of the Tarva dresser.
~ Alexis Middleton, United States


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A-PDF Content Splitter
A-PDF Content Splitter is a utility that lets you split Acrobat files into smaller pdf files based on location and text information within the files. It can be used to split composite PDF documents (such as invoices, reports or payroll) into separate files by keywords such as invoice number, account number or employee name. A command line version is included also.
If you want to split PDF running in the background mode, you can Use A-PDF Content Splitter Service.
only $79 Get a free license >> |
Free download trial version | Step by step tutorial |
How does it work
A-PDF Content Splitter will locate the position according to user-defined criteria, extract and compare text, and if the text is different, it generates a new small file. Download the example PDF file.
Why A-PDF Content Splitter
Unique Split Function
The program provides an unique function that splits files based on content. It is extremely easy to split a PDF file into individual sections based on keywords.
It is ideal for large invoicing, reporting and payroll systems, where a single output file may contain many thousands of individual records that need to be extracted and distributed. Text within the document can be used to dynamically name output files and extracted to a delimited file for data storage.
Visual Rule Editor
A-PDF Content Splitter provides a power split rule editor to allow you define how the file will be split and how the split output files are uniquely named. You even can define and save multiple rules to apply to different files.
Split Methods
It supports 3 split methods:
- Splits on unique text by using word position searches
- Splits on find text by using word position searches
- Splits on unique text by using word position searches and group output by unique text
Flexible Tags
There are two type tags, split tag and macro tag. Split tag can be used to trigger to split file and can be used in output name and properties. The macro tag can be used to output name and properties only.
You can also use pascal-script to transform and validate tags, either split tag or macro tag. For example:
- Transform tags: You can write some script to use only first 5 characters of split tag.
- Validate tags: You can write some script to make sure the split tag is all number, otherwise it is not valid tag.
Powerful Output Name Scripts
A-PDF Content Splitter support script for output name using Pascal-Script. For example, you can get rid of the space in split tag using the script below:
Begin SplitTag:=Trim(SplitTag); End.
Work with Hot Directories
You can set up a monitored directory, where all files written to that directory will be splitted as they are saved. The original files can also be moved to a backup directory. All of the operations will be recorded in log files.
Easy to Use
After a rule is defined to split one or a batch of PDF files, you just:
- Select the PDF files that need splitting.
- Select a split rule to apply.
- Click the "Split all" button.
That's all.
A-PDF Content Splitter can work with command line, as you defined rules, you can reuse the rule to split file daily.
It also can trigger another program to process split files after splitting.
PCSCMD <input file> [-S<password>] <rule file> [-O<output dir>] Parameters: Input file: The PDF file to be split. Such as "C:\invoice.pdf" Output dir: The output directory. If it is blank, will be the "output" under current directory rule file: Content Splitter Split Rule file name, PCSCMD will split <input File> base on the rule, the rule can be defined by A-PDF Content Splitter GUI -S: A password to open <input file> (if the pdf have open Password Security). If the <input file> no Password Security, it is not need. -O: output direcotry. Default is currently directory. Examples: PCSCMD.exe "C:\invoice.pdf" "InvoiceNumber.rul" PCSCMD.exe "C:\invoice.pdf" –Spwd "IN.rul" -o"C:\split" >c:\log.txt Return Code: 0: Split successful 1: Show help message only. Parameters error. 2: Input file does not exist. 3: Rule file does not exist. 4: Load input file (PDF file) error. 5: Split files error. 6: Create output directory failed.
Save Time
- Handle a batch of files at one time.
- Reuse rules you defined.
- Supports command line files, which can be scheduled or called by your script.
Save Money
A-PDF Content Splitter is a standalone program costing only $79. It does NOT require Adobe Acrobat Pro, which costs hundreds of dollars.
only $79. | Free download trial version |


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NOTE: The report which follows is heavily biased toward route and waypoint descriptions, because we spent a lot of time wondering if we were on route, because others keep getting lost there, and because help is so very far away.
The high point of Baja, Mexico, is El Picacho del Diablo (for the non-Spanish-speaking crowd, that would be "Devil's Peak"). Linda Roman had been denied the summit twice before, once by roads and once by ice, so when she convinced John Strauch (another ice-bound veteran) to try again and asked me to go along I had some misgivings. Was it too soon and still snowy? Was it too late and baking hot? The last time I was in Mexico involved gunfire on two occasions, but I put all that aside and packed for all reasonable conditions except ice. Phil Rogul joined us at the last minute, and we left from San Diego on 12 May 2001 for our Roman Holiday (the trip that went to the devil... on purpose).
It takes the better part of a day to drive to the trailhead in Parque Nacional San Pedro Martir, mostly because there are over 100km of dirt roads. We chose the west side entry because of its relative safety and because the trailhead is higher altitude. Somehow I skipped over the fact that the backpack in went up 1000' and then DOWN 3000', leaving us with quite a haul back out, but I still think this was a fine approach. Whether you enter from the east or the west, the summit day from Campo Noche is 3800' of gain in 1.23 miles, or an average slope of 60% - twice the "angle of repose" for many mountains, and much of it involves ducking under tree limbs and climbing over boulders.
Watch for the large house shaped and painted like a
naked woman near the 50km mark on Hwy 1 (waypoint WOMAN) and do
shield the children's eyes if you worry about that sort of thing!
I caught a glimpse of it when heading down to climb Picacho del Diablo,
and this photo proves I'm not crazy. The house owner may be, but not me!
Click on either of these small maps to pop up a PDF map which
you can scale to view or print with good resolution.
Both driving and hiking waypoints are listed below,
with a link to an interactive map of all the waypoints.
. | |
This report refers often to waypoints plotted on a scanned image of Schad's map (used with permission from Jerry Schad). The hardcopy map Parque Nacional San Pedro Martir (San Pedro Martir National Park) including Picacho del Diablo by Jerry Schad, published by Centra Publications, is a must-have. It contains topographic data, route summaries, and background information on the park. |
There are waypoints at the border, several in Ensenada in case you get lost, and one at the last possible gas station (waypoint PEMEX is just north of the turnoff to the national park, waypoint DIRT01 is where you actually leave the pavement). A string of waypoints lead you along the good dirt road, which climbs to 2000' (waypoint DIRT06) before getting rough. Strauch's Hyundai sedan bounded along on its tiny tires all the way to the trailhead with no apparent damage.
We had expansive views west to the Pacific Ocean
while driving toward Parque Nacional San Pedro Martir
The first real junction on the dirt road is at waypoint MELING, where you turn toward Rancho Meling (stay on the main road, don't turn into the ranch). Waypoints SPLIT1 and SPLIT2 are near confusing places that you can ignore: The road forks, but both forks come together shortly so take whichever one you want.
Waypoint MARTIR is the entrance to the San Pedro Martir national park. The buildings were deserted but the gate was open. We stopped to look around, and heard a hissing tire on Roman's Jeep. It was flat in about 2 minutes, but we attacked it like a pit crew and moved on. The plateau of Sierra San Pedro Martir is about 8000', and seemed oddly void of brush and wildlife. Lots of tall pine and aspen trees growing in sand, but very dry in spite of a reported 24" per year rainfall. Waypoint OBSERV is where we turned off the main road (to the observatory) with a sharp right turn onto a road marked Botella Azul (toward the Blue Bottle trail). Don't stop at the building, keep going in the same direction to waypoint TRCAMP where you'll find a log teepee frame (some call it a pyramid) and a loop road along which you can car camp. It was just below freezing at night, but soon after sunrise we were in shorts.
Surprising field of wildflowers around 2000-3000' elevation
If you see a "hikers only" sign (a hiker symbol and the word "solo") you've gone just a few yards too far. Continuing up that road will lead you to "the shack" at Los Llanitos, where old reports indicate you can park. The road is now closed, and you should NOT start in that direction. From waypoint TRCAMP, where we both parked and camped, you should head directly up the shallow drainage (at a bearing of 95 degrees from the cars) to waypoint ASPEN1 where a clear streambed forms and a trail shows up on the south bank. Follow the trail or tromp up the wash to waypoint ASPEN2, where you can turn left into the mouth of what looks like a poor choice of small washes (but actually is correct) or continue up the main drainage to waypoint ASPENA.
Walking through the Aspen Grove - Strauch/Rogul/Eckert from left to right
On the way in, we missed the correct trail entirely and followed the main drainage through Aspen Grove (waypoints ASPENA and ASPENB are two places where we hunted around a bit for a good route, and were tempted to follow ducks out of the drainage). On the way out we picked up the trail shown on Schad's map, going via waypoint ASPEN3 and bypassing the main aspen groves. This saved a bit of distance at the expense of some up and down, and the trail is easier walking that the wash. Either way there is year-round water available so you can leave the vehicles with minimal weight. The scenery is so different on the two routes that I'd highly recommend taking them both!
The place where you leave the wash to stay on the shorter trail (ASPEN2) is hard to spot on the way in. I'd tell you to look for ducks (from one balanced rock to large cairns), but as another report once said, don't take comfort in seeing ducks because even the wrong routes are marked. It's a hard left turn just as you're sure you can see the wash curving left in a broad arc in front of you, and the trail seems blocked by huge boulders that represent the only real obstacle to an otherwise excellent trail. Go between the boulders and follow an obvious trail.
If you elect to stay in the wash, you will want to stay right when the drainage forks. We picked up a good use trail and wound up sidehilling with easy footing over 100' above the canyon floor. When returning, we took an equally good trail that stays right beside the year-round running water. Neither trail seems visible from the other, but both are in the canyon marked with waypoint ASPEN5. From here you follow the canyon (east) as it bends right (southeast) and climbs through great terrain to a broad saddle (waypoint ASPEN6). Leave the saddle at a bearing of 148 degrees and traverse over a small ridge, sidehilling slightly down until you see a major canyon opening to your left.
Turn east (uphill) into the canyon which starts at waypoint BLUEB1. This is where the trail from "the shack" intersects the trail you are on... but neither trail is really more than a ducked route. For completeness, I've included Cheslick's waypoints for the route from the shack at Los Llanitos (waypoints LLNTS1 and LLNTS2) to the "junction" at BLUEB1, but I have not field checked them and you should review my notes on datum problems below! (If you can't drive to the shack, there is no reason at all to walk there.) Stay on the left (north) side of the canyon as you approach the slabs that appear to block your route, then zigzag through them to the left and pop out at "Blue Bottle Saddle" (waypoint BLUEB2, northwest of Cerro Botella Azul) where you can see the peak(s) and the observatory for the first time.
At our leisurely pace, we didn't reach this saddle (at about 9300') until noon. Waypoints from Cheslick's report didn't match very well, and a side trip to climb Cerro Botella Azul (Blue Bottle Peak, the second-highest peak in Baja at 2950m or 9680', waypoint CBAZUL) confirmed the problem: He reported coordinates in UTM grids, but didn't specify the datum. I assumed NAD27 CONUS, which most UTM people prefer, but that caused over a tenth of a mile error. Assuming NAD84 resulted in a closer match, but perhaps they are in NAD27 MEXICO or some other coordinate system. Either way, don't trust any GPS coordinates if you don't get a datum spec with them, and make sure to enter them only after setting your GPS to the matching datum.
The west side of El Picacho del Diablo from Blue Bottle Saddle
(the north, higher, peak is on the left)
The wrecked transmitter on Blue Bottle was an eyesore, but there is a register and a small (blue) bottle of Vick's Vapo-Rub. Hmmm. I wonder if the name or this bottle came first? We spent most of our time looking at the amazing view (north) down into Campo Noche (our first day's destination), up northeast) to the summit, and west over the plateau. Salt water could be seen both east and west, a sharp contrast with the desert and our tree-studded peak and a reminder of where we were (Baja California).
Then we started down. The map shows a trail junction right at the saddle, but as you head east there are ducks and apparent trails everywhere. Ignore them. Keep traversing, slowly losing altitude. Even when it looks like it's going to get steep and you should go down NOW, keep going until waypoint BLUEB3 (at about 9100') or you risk getting trapped in Gorin's Gulch with Class 5 rappels. Once you DO start going down, still going east, following ribbons or ducks becomes unnecessary because you traverse a cliff on the only route possible. The crux is about 8900' where you are on a narrow rubble-covered ledge with high exposure in a small stand of aspens. Below the traverse (at waypoint BLUEB4, about 8700') where the trail pops over a low rib, you should try VERY HARD to stay on the use trail switchbacks. They drop you 1000' (going north) before any scrambling is required, but on the way in we didn't stay on them and burned up our knees for nothing.
Around 7700' the canyon gets serious and you'll have to pick your route carefully to avoid 3rd class climbing at various dry waterfalls and cliff bands. The route stays on the left (west) side of the wash for the most part, but crosses occasionally. Here the ducks become positively annoying, because some of them are in places you can't get to and don't want to go. We found the red surveyor's tape more reliable than the cairns, but there are large gaps where no marks are to be found. Don't worry about it... just stay in the drainage until year-round water shows up again. I believe Gorin's Gulch joins the drainage we followed at a beautiful waterfall on the left (west) side of the canyon. From here to Camp Noche the going is particularly tough. Crawling under trees and through brush is bad enough even when your knees haven't been pounded with thousands of feet of cross country downhill with a full pack!
The waterfall which comes out of Gorin's Gulch
Water sounds good when you've been dry all day, but with it came stinging nettles and gnats and a few mosquitoes, plus the need to fight through brush to avoid the slick rock and pools. I enjoyed this part a LOT more on the way out, in the morning when it was cooler and bug-free. Campo Noche ("Night Camp", waypoint BPCAMP at 6300', the backpackers campsite for both the east entry and the west entry) is impossible to miss. It's on the right (east) side of the drainage as you come to the second major side canyon. Boulder Wash was the first (where the canyon is not as steep), Night Wash is the second (just after the canyon steepens again). A small but deep swimming hole marks the start of the campsites, some of which are hidden about 50' elevation up the side of the canyon from the obvious ones near the stream. My altimeter showed 1800' of gain and 3300' of loss (including the peak) getting to camp, which took us 10 hours total at a moderate pace with lots of long breaks.
My pre-dawn morning chant was the agreed way to get awake, Rogul's standard "So what does everyone want to do today?" question was the best way to get moving, and we left camp around 6am after a very warm (45F) night. We departed from the middle campsite, but should have left from the upstream one (via the hidden camp area) and should have on the right (south) side of Night Wash near the bottom. Those who advise staying in the center of the wash are right once you're a couple hundred feet above camp (where the brush eases off), but that's not the best way to get started (as we learned when returning).
Since we were in such a deep canyon with very tall trees, the waypoint for Campo Noche (BPCAMP) may not be accurate. About 600' up Night Wash (at 6900') I stored waypoint DEVIL1 where camp was at a bearing of about 260 degrees. The waypoints are at an angle of 266, indicating that one or both of them may be off due to the narrow steep canyon and tree cover. While you are actually in Canyon del Diablo it is probably best to use terrain recognition and an altimeter instead of GPS coordinates.
We drifted left (north) as we climbed, and waypoint DEVIL2 is on top of a minor ridge that comes into the drainage we were climbing. I do not recommend going that way, since the use trail we took on the way down stays in the center of the drainage at that elevation and was more brush-free. Routes abound, none is perfect. The plants slowly change as you climb, and odd rock formations make the climb interesting.
Odd rock formation in Night Wash or Slot Wash
We crossed another subsidiary ridge, also entering our drainage from the left (north), and entered what appeared to be a large bowl. Waypoint DEVIL3 is at a constriction in the bowl, where we stayed to the left. We stayed high on the left for a while but returned to the center of the canyon around 7800'.
Drifting right, we stayed out of the center until we came to a bigger knob or face (near waypoint DEVIL4, apparently the entrance to Slot Wash) and traversed sharply to the left about 100' below the base of the face into the canyon leading to Wall Street. Here at 8200-8500' elevation we repeatedly found what looks like year-round water (based on the presence of thirsty plants like columbine) in Slot Wash, matching the information on Schad's map, and wished we had not carried all our water up from camp at 6300'. In this area the route appears to enter and exit the wash to avoid waterfalls and slick rock, so be prepared to climb out on the left (north) and return to the stream several times. Just above 8400' the cliffs force you back into the stream for a very short distance, then a waterfall forces you back out near 8500'. On the way down this was the only place we had to hunt for a route, so pay attention here!
At waypoint DEVIL5 (8800') we traversed left out of the wash and onto the steeper of two friction slopes. This one I measured at 40 a degree slope, the upper one was probably more like 30 degrees. Going straight up would have led us into loose talus, so the point at which you should traverse is easy to find. By this point I had counted 8 hummingbirds on the route. I wonder if they thought we were food? Above the slabs (which were steep enough to give us pause, but easy to work around on cracks and seams) we did some more boulders and entered a canyon which formed to our left. Almost at the entrance to this new canyon we traversed right onto lower angle friction slabs and headed into a narrow square-bottom chute with a headwall that required class 3 climbing on a ledge to the right. This narrow chute (waypoint DEVIL6) is the entrance to Wall Street, and the climbing stays steep but mostly class 2 from here to the ridge (with a few loose boulders here and there).
Slabs at the entrance to Wall Street, below the square 3rd class chute
Wall Street tops out just a few feet from the summit, an easy class 3 scramble to the left. We hit the summit just after 11am, the moderate pace and early morning shade allowing us to reach the north peak of El Picacho del Diablo (waypoint DIABLO, at 3095m or 10154') without being exhausted or overheated. We stayed well over an hour, savoring the view and the mild temperatures, napping, taking hero shots with the low desert or the south summit (2 feet lower at the far end of a 4th-class-looking traverse) in the background. The register is full but only one year old, so we signed in on the edge of the page and left a Climber.Org business card! If you're headed up there soon, ask yourself why the locals climb in April and the tourists climb in May... but take a register book anyway!
This is actually about 50 yards from the summit, on a more
impressive rock near where Wall Street hits the summit ridge
Returning to camp we followed different routes in places, and took several long breaks. We lost the route only once, at about 8500', but recovered in a few minutes after giving up on our memory and just going where a route seemed like it would work (back into the center of drainage, as described above). All possible directions are marked except when you're not sure where to go, in which case there are no ducks or surveyor's tape at all. Including our long lunch on the summit and a couple of half hour stops on the way down, we were away from camp 12 hours with about 4000' of gain/loss. We all agreed that the stops were preferable to arriving in camp early, because there was a mild breeze in Night Wash compared to the still air and bugs at Campo Noche.
The 10-hour hike out was uneventful, for the most part, but the route diverged from the hike in as noted above. Roman stepped on a moving rock heading down from Blue Bottle Saddle and did a mid-air-face-plant somersault over a small tree/boulder combo that could have done some damage. She was fortunate enough to walk away unscathed. The only damage was some leaves stuck to her face - a testament to her reflexes and plain old good luck, and much better than the twisted neck or shoulder I thought she might have as I watched her go down.
We had good debates, long breaks, a moderate pace, and no drive home that night! We tossed back a few beers, built a fire, and talked about life until the stars ruled the night. I feel fortunate to have been invited with this group, and hope my report will help others enjoy it as we did. Too many reports speak of injuries (perhaps because people were rushing or off course) and split up groups (which reduces safety margins in a place where help is NOT close at hand). We stayed together, we stayed happy (except when the gnats got to me), we stayed basically on route and on schedule, everyone helped out, no one was injured beyond brush scratches, we never wanted the emergency rope I brought, and we all got the peak. Who could ask for anything more?
Other reports may help also:
Waypoints below are as logged on my GPS (after "selective availability"
was turned off by the US Government so they should be accurate). I use
NAD83 CONUS for waypoints, and as long as you enter them into your GPS
using that datum you can switch to any other datum for use in the field.
You may wish to use data from the map instead, but either way don't
follow instruments blindly. There is a discussion of UTM vs. degree
specifications and datums, along with links to several software packages
(both free and commercial) that can convert between them, on the
Sierra Peaks database page.
NOTE: The interactive map link below defaults to an overlay only usable
in the USA. Pull down the upper right menu and choose 'Terrain' to get
Google Maps topo lines. See also the static PDF maps above.
Download the Waypoint+ data below as a GPX file for your GPS.
Datum,North America 1983,GRS 80,0,-1.6E-7,0,0,0
RouteName,2 ,DRIVING
RoutePoint,D,BORDER, 32.5352300056,-117.0295599738,05/17/2001,23:49:31,BORDER CROSSING
RoutePoint,D,WOMAN, 32.2440500104,-116.9329799823,05/17/2001,23:49:37,BODY SHAPED HOUSE
RoutePoint,D,ENSEN1, 31.9027600099,-116.7324499817,05/17/2001,23:49:32,NORTHERN ENSENADA
RoutePoint,D,ENSEN2, 31.8665300099,-116.6621199817,05/17/2001,23:49:32,CENTRAL ENSENADA
RoutePoint,D,ENSEN3, 31.8504100099,-116.6046899817,05/17/2001,23:49:32,SOUTHERN ENSENADA
RoutePoint,D,PEMEX, 30.9819700101,-116.1629099808,05/17/2001,23:49:32,LAST GAS ON HWY 1
RoutePoint,D,DIRT01, 30.9670000101,-116.1539599807,05/17/2001,23:49:32,TURN OFF PAVED ROAD
RoutePoint,D,DIRT02, 30.9693800101,-116.0907799806,05/17/2001,23:49:32,
RoutePoint,D,DIRT03, 30.9482900101,-116.0122099804,05/17/2001,23:49:33,
RoutePoint,D,DIRT04, 30.9387999945,-115.9428099653,05/17/2001,23:49:33,
RoutePoint,D,DIRT05, 30.9502499944,-115.9304899652,05/17/2001,23:49:33,
RoutePoint,D,DIRT06, 30.9626899944,-115.8508099654,05/17/2001,23:49:33,ROUGHER RD, 2000 FT
RoutePoint,D,MELING, 30.9767899944,-115.7658399655,05/17/2001,23:49:33,GO PAST RANCH TURNOFF
RoutePoint,D,SPLIT1, 30.9609899946,-115.6961399658,05/17/2001,23:49:37,SPLITS AND JOINS LATER
RoutePoint,D,SPLIT2, 30.9572699946,-115.6809199659,05/17/2001,23:49:33,SPLITS AND JOINS LATER
RoutePoint,D,MARTIR, 30.9693199947,-115.5798899661,05/17/2001,23:49:33,SAN PEDRO MARTIR PARK ENTRANCE
RoutePoint,D,OBSERV, 31.0224799940,-115.4742499662,05/17/2001,23:49:33,STRAIGHT IS OBSERVATORY
RoutePoint,D,TRCAMP, 30.9988499945,-115.4510999662,05/17/2001,23:49:34,TRAILHEAD CAMPSITE
RouteName,3 ,BACKPACKING
RoutePoint,D,TRCAMP, 30.9988499945,-115.4510999662,05/17/2001,23:49:34,TRAILHEAD CAMPSITE
RoutePoint,D,ASPEN1, 30.9986199945,-115.4478099662,05/17/2001,23:49:37,ENTRANCE TO WASH
RoutePoint,D,ASPEN2, 30.9883999946,-115.4381199663,05/17/2001,23:49:36,TRAIL LEAVES WASH
RoutePoint,D,ASPEN3, 30.9858499947,-115.4325199663,05/17/2001,23:49:36,TRAIL WINDS THRU BOULDERS
RoutePoint,D,ASPEN4, 30.9851999947,-115.4285599663,05/17/2001,23:49:34,TRAIL REJOINS WASH
RoutePoint,D,ASPEN5, 30.9819099947,-115.4187399664,05/17/2001,23:49:34,YEAR ROUND WATER SUPPLY
RoutePoint,D,ASPEN6, 30.9787899948,-115.4124799664,05/17/2001,23:49:35,BROAD SADDLE
RoutePoint,D,BLUEB1, 30.9729922385,-115.4082701918,05/17/2001,23:49:35,TRAIL JUNCTION
RoutePoint,D,BLUEB2, 30.9732299948,-115.3958899665,05/17/2001,23:49:35,BLUE BOTTLE SADDLE
RoutePoint,D,CBAZUL, 30.9713499948,-115.3946799666,05/17/2001,23:49:35,BLUE BOTTLE PEAK
RoutePoint,D,BLUEB2, 30.9732299948,-115.3958899665,05/17/2001,23:49:35,BLUE BOTTLE SADDLE
RoutePoint,D,BLUEB3, 30.9733199948,-115.3940799665,05/17/2001,23:49:35,TOP OF TRAVERSE
RoutePoint,D,BLUEB4, 30.9732399948,-115.3913499665,05/17/2001,23:49:36,BOTTOM OF TRAVERSE
RoutePoint,D,BPCAMP, 30.9880199947,-115.3951499664,05/17/2001,23:49:35,CAMPO NOCHE
RouteName,4 ,CLIMBING
RoutePoint,D,BPCAMP, 30.9880199947,-115.3951499664,05/17/2001,23:49:35,CAMPO NOCHE
RoutePoint,D,DEVIL1, 30.9882099947,-115.3919399664,05/17/2001,23:49:35,SIGHT BACK TO CAMP
RoutePoint,D,DEVIL2, 30.9885199947,-115.3913399664,05/17/2001,23:49:36,TOO FAR NORTH
RoutePoint,D,DEVIL3, 30.9884799947,-115.3867199664,05/17/2001,23:49:36,BOWL CONSTRICTION
RoutePoint,D,DEVIL4, 30.9886299947,-115.3821499664,05/17/2001,23:49:36,SLOT WASH ENTRANCE
RoutePoint,D,DEVIL5, 30.9894699947,-115.3791599664,05/17/2001,23:49:36,STEEP FRICTION SLABS
RoutePoint,D,DEVIL6, 30.9913599947,-115.3783299664,05/17/2001,23:49:36,WALL STREET ENTRANCE
RoutePoint,D,DIABLO, 30.9926899947,-115.3750999664,05/17/2001,23:49:36,EL PICACHO DEL DIABLO
RouteName,5 ,WASH VS TRAIL
RoutePoint,D,ASPEN2, 30.9883999946,-115.4381199663,05/17/2001,23:49:36,TRAIL LEAVES WASH
RoutePoint,D,ASPENA, 30.9849899947,-115.4344199663,05/17/2001,23:49:34,WATERFALL TO BE BYPASSED
RoutePoint,D,ASPENB, 30.9839799947,-115.4311599663,05/17/2001,23:49:34,SIDE CANYON OPTION
RoutePoint,D,ASPEN4, 30.9851999947,-115.4285599663,05/17/2001,23:49:34,TRAIL REJOINS WASH
RouteName,6 ,CHESLICK DATA
RoutePoint,D,LLNTS1, 30.9573499949,-115.4226999666,05/17/2001,23:49:30,SHACK AT LOS LLANITOS
RoutePoint,D,LLNTS2, 30.9646499949,-115.4142099666,05/17/2001,23:49:30,TRAIL SPLIT
RoutePoint,D,BLUEB1, 30.9729922385,-115.4082701918,05/17/2001,23:49:35,TRAIL JUNCTION


text:
BANGKOK (REUTERS) - Thailand's military is conducting a systematic reshuffle to blunt the power of officials seen as loyal to former premier Thaksin Shinawatra in what seems to be an effort to dismantle his support base and ensure he can never return to power.
Governors in 13 provinces have been transferred, mostly from the country's pro-Thaksin north and northeast, according to the junta's National Council for Peace and Order (Ncpo). The junta is also restructuring the police, long seen as a bastion of support for Thaksin and his sister, ousted Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.
Thaksin was a police officer for 13 years before resigning to start his own business. Thaksin himself was ousted from the premiership in a coup in 2006, and the constitution was re-written under a military-backed government in an effort to limit his political influence.
But Thaksin's sister came to power just a few years later, in 2011, after winning a general election. This time the military seems intent on ensuring neither he nor his family can return.
"They will finish what they started in 2006. They will make it difficult for Thaksin loyalists to make a comeback," said Mr Kan Yuenyong, a political analyst at Siam Intelligence Unit.
The military has detained people from both sides of the political divide, but a disproportionate number are Thaksin's red-shirt supporters. It has closed down radio stations of his supporters and frozen the bank accounts of some. It has secured a US$1.5 billion loan to make payments to rice farmers, seeking to reach out to Thaksin's rural power base.
At least 17 top police have been transferred over the past week, according to Ncpo documents. The purge includes top officers of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), Thailand's equivalent of the US FBI, including DSI chief Tarit Pengdith. Mr Tarit declined to be interviewed for this article.
Spokesmen for both the police and military denied that a political purge was under way. "These appointments are not political. They are based on appropriateness," deputy army spokesman Winthai Suvaree said.
But senior officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, paint a different picture. "There is a systematic purge to ensure that those in key positions will cooperate with the military," a senior Bangkok police official, who declined to be identified, said. "That means removing those perceived to be Thaksin allies."
The Ncpo is planning a review aimed at depoliticising the police force and increasing the autonomy of provincial commands, according to several police officials. The police force is under the command of the prime minister's office.
Critics accuse the ousted Yingluck of stacking the police with loyalists, including appointing Thaksin's brother-in-law, Priewpan Damapong, as chief, following her 2011 election win. He stepped down in 2012 and was replaced by Adul Saensingkaew who was sidelined after the coup through a transfer to a post at the Prime Minister's Office. Acting national police chief Watcharapol Prasarnrajkit said that the force would be restructured to "make it free from political intervention" but gave no concrete details as to how this would be done.
Restructuring the police force and ridding it of a "bribes for jobs" culture was a key demand of six months of street protests, led by former deputy prime minister Suthep Thaugsuban, that helped trigger Yingluck's ouster.
Thaksin started his career as a police officer in 1973 before building a telecommunications empire and he built up the force during his time as prime minister. The demonstrators vilified the police as Thaksin's lackeys and the military appears to have acceded to the protesters' wishes, moving swiftly after the May 22 coup in places such as the northern province of Chiang Mai, the home of the Shinawatra clan, where at least four senior officials were reshuffled.
Among the first to go was General Krit Krittileuu, the provincial police commander. Lieutenant General Preecha Chan-ocha, a younger brother of military chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha, ordered Krit to be transferred because of evidence he helped Thaksin's son, Pantongtae Shinawatra, evade a military summons according to a signed letter dated three days after the coup.
Chiang Mai's governor, Wichien Puttiwinyu, was also among those removed. "I am not aware what the previous governor did to be moved ... but it's better to find a brand new person," the new governor, Suriya Prasatbuntitya, said as uniformed provincial staff moved heavy wooden furniture into his new office. "The fact that we are not siding with anyone means that I can coordinate with every side."
Analysts say a reshuffle of top officials is a prelude to broader changes aimed at expelling Thaksin from political life - long a desired goal of Thailand's royalist establishment of the Bangkok middle class, senior generals and old business families. "The elite have designs to limit Thaksin's influence, for example, by adding clauses in a new constitution to limit the number of elected senators, most of whom are Thaksin allies,"said Mr Yuenyong. Just how long the military council can keep Thaksin loyalists out remains to be seen.
Senior police officials said the military's reshuffle can always be reversed. "If a Thaksin party wins the next election again then his guys will be waiting to take up key positions again," said the senior Bangkok police official. "In Thailand gratitude lasts a lifetime," another police official said. "He is an older brother in the police force and always will be."


text:
Some businesses struggle to stay afloat. Not Zech Bennett. His focus is on staying beneath the surface.
As the owner and operator of C&C Diving and Salvage, Bennett and his crew — Jim Parker, Seth Sanford, and, occasionally Cecil Cheatwood, former owner of the business — offer everything from the simple retrieval of lost items to more complicated projects beneath the surface of Alaska waters.
Last week's work list included everything from righting the capsized skiff being towed behind a commercial fishing boat to salvaging, with Cheatwood's help, a floatplane off Nanwalek.
"One guy dropped the plug off his boat at the launch ramp. He could look down and see it and was contemplating getting in the water and getting it himself," said Bennett of one of C&C's smallest jobs. "I was already suited up and said, 'No. I'll get it.' I walked down into the water, held my breath, picked it up and handed it to him."
On the other side of the spectrum, Bennett just completed a project in Valdez where he was 100 feet deep, 30 minutes at a stretch, cutting pipe used in a fish-grinding operation.
In addition to depth, water temperature can be a concern, especially in winter.
Currents also are a consideration. Bennett recalled two jobs — one in the Kenai River and one in the Kasilof — that were particularly challenging, especially because of the speed with which the water was moving. The projects involved removing line and brailer bags tangled around propellers and then staying clear of the freed props as they began spinning with the current.
"The Kasilof was probably the hardest. It was dark and muddy, like diving in a chocolate milk shake. I couldn't see a thing. Plus, it was getting dark outside," said Bennett. "And there was a seven- to eight-knot current. You can't even swim against that."
Anyone familiar with Kachemak Bay knows it also has powerful currents. While doing some underwater welding on the OSV Perseverance, a 270-foot, 299-ton vessel owned by Cook Inlet Spill Prevention and Response Inc., Bennett felt them begin to tug.
"All of a sudden, I was welding sideways," he said of the current shifting his position.
The risk of working underwater is clear.
"It's probably drowning, running out of air," he said. "But as long as you continue to do your safety checks, diving is a safe occupation. Make sure your equipment is in good working order, your tanks are full and you have a proper crew on deck that knows what's going on and what to do in an emergency situation."
Originally from Montana, Bennett was making a living as a mechanic and a millwright. Once he learned to dive, combining that with his work seemed a logical step, followed by completion of a seven-month program in commercial diving at the Divers Institute of Technology in Seattle, Wash.
During summer visits to the Homer area, Bennett met Cecil and Corrine Cheatwood. The couple moved to Homer in 1988 and began C&C Aquatics, teaching diving and doing salvage work.
"We sold that angle of the business that has to do with diving, but (Cheatwood) still does some consulting," said Corrine Cheatwood.
Keeping certifications current is a must and Bennett, who has more than 10,000 hours in the water, does that at DIT each year. He has a Diver Certification Board of Canada card for unrestricted surface supplied diver, which allows him to use surface-supplied diver equipment to a maximum depth of 30 meters.
"Those are probably one of the hardest cards to get because it allows me to go anywhere in the world and dive," said Bennett.
His other certifications include various types of underwater work and equipment, as well as life saving and first aid. Parker holds the same level of certification and Sanford is "building up his certification to the level I am," said Bennett.
Another part of C&C's work involves scrubbing the bottom of boats and applying zinc to the hulls as protection against electrolysis. One of those recently done was Arktikos, a sailboat owned by Hal Smith and Susan McLane of Homer, who got their diving certification through the Cheatwoods.
"I usually put our boat on the grid to do the bottom work or zincs, but if I don't have time I have hired (Cheatwood) to clean the bottom for us," said Smith. "To tell you the truth, I'm not sure who else is out there to do the work, but since I've had (Cheatwood) do it, I have not looked any further because he has done a nice job. … Since Zech now has the business, he did the work for me this spring."
Smith summed up C&C's work by saying he would "highly recommend" Bennett for the work done.
Even though C&C is busy with projects in the Homer area, as well as across the state, Bennett said there isn't a waiting list.
"We just get them knocked out as quick as we can," he said of completing projects. "We stay pretty busy."
McKibben Jackinsky can be reached at email@example.com.