text:
In 2010, music has been over-run by pop synth-vibes and autotuned vocals. While this is the trend today, there are still music fans who appreciate raw, sultry vocals, true instrumentation and innate spirituality in their music. In keeping with his mission to share real soul music, Urban Mystic is ready to touch the masses with Love Intervention, his fourth official album on SoBe Entertainment. Urban Mystic's powerful new ballad "In The Morning" features MDMA, also known as the multi-talented writer/producer Pooh Bear.
Urban Mystic and Pooh Bear have teamed successfully in the past, and have several tracks together on the upcoming Love Interventionalbum. "In The Morning" is indicative of the style 25-year-old Urban Mystic plans to bring to fans this time around – more stellar slow jams with life-inspired lyrics. As the track hits radio officially in February, the SoBe team is setting up for the Love Intervention release in Spring 2010.
As a Fort Lauderdale-born Minister's son, Urban Mystic, or Urb as his friends call him, takes a progressive approach to creating music that is well-received across genres and generations. He galvanizes R&B, Hip Hop and Classic Soul beautifully and effortlessly, without losing his gospel roots.
Urban Mystic hit the national scene in 2004 with his KayGee-produced hit single "Where Were You?" which quickly resonated at urban radio. The video for the song enjoyed rotation at BET, MTV Jams, and hundreds of video outlets. The popularity of "Where Were You" from his debut album Ghetto Revelations established Urban Mystic as a vocalist to be reckoned with.
His selection as the 2004 Miami Music Award's "Best New Artist" was early proof of Urban Mystic's bright future. He followed with the 2005 single "It's You" featuring Paul Wall, and released Ghetto Revelations II in 2006, garnering even more attention for his stellar vocals.
The third installment of the Ghetto Revelations saga, GRIII: Old School 2 Nu Skool, released in April 2009, offered longtime fans tunes like "Obama: A Change Has Come," "Can't Stop, Won't Stop," "Spread Your Wings," "2 Good 2 B True" and "Best Part of the Day." He also brought in new fans with radio-friendly tracks like "Main Squeeze" with Yung Joc and "I'm So Fly" featuring Reggae giants Ce'Cile and Beenie Man.
With Love Intervention, Urban Mystic is taking the stance "if it ain't broke don't fix it." And this time around, Urb is taking on more of the producing and writing. "The industry and everybody will get a chance to see what's on my heart and mind," he beams.
The first single "In The Morning" is already impacting radio, and Urban Mystic is taking on shows around the country while they prepare the video, to be directed by Malcolm Jones and Yannique Barker, and official album release date.
Much more than just a singer, Urban Mystic's multidimensional talents reach beyond his raspy, Southern-style vocals. He writes, plays piano and utilizes his distinctive rap/sing delivery to his full advantage. Those who have witnessed Urban Mystic's live show can attest to his charismatic, soulful flow, especially when accompanied by his eight-piece band.
In the past year, Urb has performed tracks from his first three albums to a variety of audiences across the country, and is assured that his movement will continue strongly with Love Intervention.
"I want people to know that years later I'm still me," Urban Mystic professes. "If you don't know me by now, I want you to know that I'm going to keep that soul music coming. I get questioned a lot about whether I'll do anymore up-tempo club records, and I will eventually. I'm preparing a mixtape called To The Street Level, to share some of my club vibes. I'm a chameleon with my work, and I want to give the people what they want. The sky is not the limit with Urban Mystic!"


text:
Elephant Quest
**Please install Flash Player 10.2, this seems to be resolving some issues for people. Thank you! ** Latest version is v1.09. Some of these fixes may require a NewGame+ or NewGame to have the game fixed (saved game may retain bugs) Version 1.09 This version fixes the following: • Umbrella quest fixed (when loaded from save) • Trophy quest fixed • Map fixes for some browsers • Elephant names hidden on loaded Save Game • Area 12 walls climbable • Area 25 walls climbable • Area 31 jumping challenges fixed • Old gun trails removed on new area • Area 42 ghost block patched Version 1.08 This version fixes should resolve most world map loading for users. The fight is on! Wooly has taken your precious bowler cap and now you are on a romp to go get it back! Explore the freeform world of 45 various areas in this RPG-Shooter hybrid. Complete sidequests to get power-ups, extra firepower, and experience! Navigate the ridiculous Level Up tree to become the most powerful elephant in the universe. Art by Jimp! Programming by John! Produced by Armor Games
Arrow Keys/WASD to move, mouse to shoot
Embed this game
Share this game

subset: commoncrawl


text:
You are here
Applied Design, Skills, and Technologies 4
Curriculum Applied Design, Skills, and Technologies Grade 4 PDF Grade-Set: k-9
- Download Curriculum▼
- Télécharger le programme d'études▼
Core Competencies
Filter Curriculum:
Big Ideas
Grandes idées
Designs can be improved with prototyping and testing.
Skills are developed through practice, effort, and action.
The choice of technology and tools depends on the task.
Learning Standards
Show All Elaborations
Curricular Competencies
Students are expected to be able to do the following:
Applied Design
Understanding context
- Gather information about or from potential usersusersmay include self, peers, younger children, family or community members, customers, plants, or animals
- Choose a design opportunity
- Identify key features or user requirements
- Identify the main objective for the design and any constraintsconstraintslimiting factors such as task or user requirements, materials, expense, environmental impact, issues of appropriation, and knowledge that is considered sacred
- Generate potential ideas and add to others' ideas
- Screen ideas against the objective and constraints
- Choose an idea to pursue
- Outline a general plan, identifying tools and materials
- Construct a first version of the product, making changes to tools, materials, and procedures as neededproductfor example, a physical product, a process, a system, a service, or a designed environment
- Record iterationsof prototypingiterationsrepetitions of a process with the aim of approaching a desired result
- Test the product
- Gather peer feedback and inspiration
- Make changes and test again, repeating until satisfied with the product
- Construct the final product, incorporating planned changes
- Decide on how and with whom to sharetheir productsharemay include showing to others, use by others, giving away, or marketing and selling
- Demonstrate their product and describe their process
- Determine whether their product meets the objective and contributes to the individual, family, community, and/or environment
- Reflect on their design thinking and processes, and their ability to work effectively both as individuals and collaboratively in a group, including their ability to share and maintain a co-operative work space
- Identify new design issues
Applied Skills
Use materials, tools, and technologies
in a safe manner, and with an awareness of the safety of others, in both physical and digital environments
technologiesthings that extend human capabilities
Identify the skills required for a task and develop those skills as needed
Applied Technologies
Use familiar tools and technologies to extend their capabilities when completing a task
Choose appropriate technologies to use for specific tasks
Demonstrate a willingness to learn new technologies as needed
Students are expected to use the learning standards for Curricular Competencies from Applied Design, Skills, and Technologies 4-5 in combination with grade-level content from other areas of learning in cross-curricular activities to develop foundational mindsets and skills in design thinking and making.
Note: Some of the learning standards in the PHE curriculum address topics that some students and their parents or guardians may feel more comfortable addressing at home. Refer to ministry policy regarding opting for alternative delivery.


text:
By Susan M. Thigpen © 1999
Online: January, 1999
Biscuits are easy. You just have to know a few tricks handed down from our grandmothers.
When I was a little girl, I watched my grandmother make biscuits many, many times. She would go to her pantry where there was a huge flour bin and her bread making bowl - one of those earthenware big brown bowls with a stripe around the top that cost an arm and a leg in antique stores today. She never measured anything, but would scoop out flour with a big tin scoop into her flour sifter that was painted white with red cherries painted on the side. Then she would sprinkle a little baking soda into the flour and sift it into the bowl.
Then she would go to the spring house and get home churned buttermilk. She would sit these things on her kitchen table that was covered in a red checked oil cloth tablecloth. Then she would get out her bucket of lard and scoop out a hunk about the size of a walnut with her fingers. My grandmother would put this lump of lard in the middle of the flour, having first scooped a hole out in the center of the flour. She poured the buttermilk into this depression in the flour and worked it and the lard into the flour.
I remember my grandmother held the bowl under one arm and mixed the dough with a twisting motion of her fingers. She never used a spoon. When the dough was mixed, she would start pinching off big pieces of dough and rolling them in the palm of her hand. Then she would place the newly formed biscuit in a pan that was blackened from many years of use. the pan would always be full of biscuits, no spaces between and if there was a little dough left, she would make it into a tiny baby biscuit and tuck it away in a small hole between the other biscuits. This would be my special biscuit.
My grandmother made it look so easy. When she was finished, her bowl was clean, her hands were clean, there was no dough or flour on her, the bowl or the table. How she managed that, I have never figured out. It was magic and as far as I'm concerned, it still is! I make a pretty good biscuit, but I've never managed to come out clean as a whistle like she did. She would place the pan in her wood cook stove oven and remove it at just the right time so that the biscuits were golden brown, never burned. Those biscuits were always light, fluffy and huge - that's why they are called cat head biscuits - because they are as big as a cat's head!
Now, how do you reproduce those biscuits today? I will give you a recipe and some pointers.
2 cups self rising flour
1 cup buttermilk
a lump of solid shortening the size of a walnut. This can be real butter, margarine, lard or solid vegetable shortening. This has to be at room temperature to blend smoothly into the dough. Do not, and I repeat, do not use a soft dairy spread - they contain so much water that they won't work for any baking purposes.
In a large mixing bowl, put the flour. Most flours today do not need to be sifted. Push the flour to the sides of the bowl to form a depression in the center. Place the shortening and a little of the milk in the center and start stirring with a big spoon. When the shortening is blended, add the rest of the milk, mixing just until blended and the dough forms a ball. The dough will be a little on the moist side.
Place wax paper on a flat surface like your kitchen table and sprinkle flour on it. Roll the dough out on the wax paper. Do not handle the dough any more than you have to - it makes the biscuits tough. The less you handle it and the more moist the dough, the better your biscuits will be. Just pat the dough gently until it's about an inch and a half thick.
Then cut out the biscuits. Do you know what I use for a biscuit cutter? I use a tin can that I cut both the bottom and top out of and removed the label. A one pound vegetable can is a good size. Cut out your biscuits and place in a greased pan. The pan can be either glass or metal, but be sure it is small enough so that the biscuits are all close together, touching - Remember, you want the biscuits to rise up, not out to the side. Another reason for this is that when the biscuits bake with their sides touching, you can pull them apart easily, but those sides will be very soft and tender, not hard and brown. This is a very important part of making good biscuits.
Bake in a hot oven 400 degrees just until the biscuits are light brown, but you are sure the dough is done through and through. No one likes a biscuit that is still doughy, but neither does anyone like a hard crust either!
You can brush melted butter on the tops of the biscuits when they are done, or before you place them in the oven. This is also a hint to keep the biscuits soft and moist. This recipe will make around 8 to 10 biscuits, depending on the size of your tin can. A variation of this recipe is to use tomato juice instead of milk. the biscuits will be red and you will love the flavor if you eat them with a slice of country ham in them! They do not rise as much as buttermilk biscuits.
At this point, all you will need is to eat the biscuits - hot right out of the oven with butter, honey, home made strawberry jam or molasses. Gourmets - Eat your heart out, country cooking rules!


text:
Judge: Hollister must redesign store entrances
Stores must be remodeled by 2017
An advocacy group for the disabled says a federal judge is giving Hollister Co. until Jan. 1, 2017, to modify the entrances of its stores so they are wheelchair accessible.
Some Hollister stores have entrances that resemble a front porch, with steps.
The Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition says a ruling Friday by a federal judge in Denver requires Hollister to make changes at a rate of 77 stores per year so they are more accessible.
The ruling says the company has options including leveling out stairs at entrances or installing ramps. It also can close off stairway entrances so that all customers, not just those who can't walk, would use secondary entrances.
The lawsuit was filed in 2009 against J.M. Hollister LLC and its owner, Ohio-based Abercrombie & Fitch Co., on behalf of several Colorado customers.


text:
The Institute of Physics (IOP) in Scotland presents annual awards to students, postgraduates and teachers.
The IOP have many mainstream awards to recognise and reward outstanding achievements by physicists in their respective fields.
Those seeking IOP in Scotland endorsement for nominations for any IOP or other awards should contact the Honorary Secretary of the IOP in Scotland at least four months in advance of the closing date for submission of the nomination. This will allow the IOP Scotland committee time to consider the nomination.


text:
We are proud to announce that this May 29th, 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM we will be hosting an Open House at 7238 189 St. in The Tate in the Clayton Heights, Cloverdale neighborhood, Surrey. This is an opportunity to visit this excellent Townhouse for sale in beautiful Clayton Heights, Cloverdale.
Please come with any questions you may have. In the meantime you can take a virtual tour of this Clayton Heights, Cloverdale Townhouse for sale.
As always please do not hesitate to give me a call at 604-376-3350 if I can answer any questions before the open house, or if you would like to book a private showing.
Liz Penner
Greyfriars Realty Ltd.


text:
Jason Rosenbaum
Since entering the enticing world of professional journalism in the mid-2000s, Jason Rosenbaum dove head first into the world of politics, policy and even rock and roll music. A graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism, Rosenbaum spent more than four years in the Missouri State Capitol writing for the Columbia Daily Tribune, Missouri Lawyers Media and the St. Louis Beacon. Since moving to St. Louis in 2010, Rosenbaum's work appeared in Missouri Lawyers Media, the St. Louis Business Journal and in the Riverfront Times' music section. He also served on staff at the St. Louis Beacon as a politics reporter. Rosenbaum lives in St. Louis City with with his wife Lauren Todd, an engineering librarian at Washington University. Their son, Brandon Todd Rosenbaum, was born in February 2014.


text:
This Is A Track From Beat Konducta Vol. 5 : Dil Cosby Suite.
Download Sacrifice FREE MP3
Madlib (Mind Altering Demented Lessons In Beats) (born Otis Jackson Jr. on October 24, 1973 in Oxnard, California, United States) is a California-based DJ, multi-instrumentalist, rapper, and music producer. Known under a plethora of pseudonyms, he is one of the most prolific and critically acclaimed hip hop producers of the 2000s and has collaborated with a myriad of hip hop artists, including The Alkaholiks, Mos Def, De La Soul, Ghostface Killah, Talib Kweli, A.G., MF DOOM (as Madvillain), and the late J Dilla (as Jaylib). Madlib has described himself as a "DJ first, producer second, and MC last," and he has done several projects as a DJ, mixer, or remixer. Madlib has been an influence on an upcoming generation of producers and musicians, many of which prefer Madlib's abstract styles.
Buy Beat Konducta Vol. 5 : Dil Cosby Suite MP3
Buy Beat Konducta Vol. 5 : Dil Cosby Suite Vinyl
Madlib Links :


text:
Listings in Restaurants
Star Lane Winery
in Wineries, Weddings, Restaurants, Picnic Facilities, Open for Lunch, Open Weekends, Functions, Cellar Doors, Café
Nestled in the heart of Australia's famous Beechworth wine growing region of North Eastern Victoria, the family owned and operated Star Lane Winery offers one of the most beautiful and picturesque Cellar Door wine tasting experiences in Australia.
51 Star Lane
Beechworth, Victoria 3747
Review this
Amulet Vineyard
in Wineries, Wheelchair Access, Weddings, Restaurants, Picnic Facilities, Open for Lunch, Open Weekends, Open Most Days, Open Daily, Functions, Child Friendly, Cellar Doors, Café
Amulet Cellar Door is open daily for tastings 10am - 5pm. Come and enjoy our hospitality, modern function area and cellar door as well as our awesome views. We offer lunch on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 12pm - 3pm.
1036 Wangaratta Road
Beechworth, Victoria 3747
Review this
03 5727 0420
Fax: 03 5727 0420


text:
The aggregate reduction in storage requirements gained from deduplication technology represents the data deduplication rate.
What you can expect
Numerous variables impact the deduplication rate you can expect to get in your environment. Redundancy varies by application, frequency of version capture, and retention policy. Significant variables include the rate of data change as fewer changes mean more data to deduplicate, the frequency of backups because more "fulls" makes the deduplication rate higher, the retention period as longer retention means more data to compare against, and the size of the data set since the more data, the more there is to deduplicate.
When comparing different approaches to deduplication, be sure to compare with a common baseline. For example, some backup software can offer deduplication, but simultaneously do incrementals-forever backup policies. For high-contrast comparison, they compare their deduplication effect against daily-full-backup policies with very long retention. EMC tends to characterize deduplication behaviors in a daily-incremental, weekly-full backup policy with one to four months of retention.
The deduplication technology approach and granularity of the deduplication process also affect compression rates. Data reduction techniques typically split each file into segments or chunks, and the segment size varies from vendor to vendor. If segment size is very large, then fewer segment matches will occur, resulting in smaller storage savings at lower compression rates. Likewise, the smaller the segment size, the more segment matches occur, resulting in greater storage savings.


text:
Mike & Molly creator Marc Roberts responded to a Marie Claire blog post criticizing the CBS sitcom and the portrayal of overweight people on television, calling it "hateful."
In the post, titled "Should 'Fatties' Get a Room? (Even on TV?)," sex-and-relationship blogger Maura Kelly said overweight TV characters shouldn't be intimate because they gross her out.
Are Mike & Molly's fat jokes funny?
"I think I'd be grossed out if I had to watch two characters with rolls and rolls of fat kissing each other ... because I'd be grossed out if I had to watch them doing anything," Kelly wrote in a post Monday. "To be brutally honest, even in real life, I find it aesthetically displeasing to watch a very, very fat person simply walk across a room."
The entry has since received 1,300 comments online, many from readers upset with the article's tone. Some even said they were canceling their Marie Claire subscriptions because of the piece and called for a boycott of the publication until Kelly was axed.
"It just makes me sad," Roberts told The Hollywood Reporter. "I struggled with weight all my life and I don't know how to address this without being angry with somebody else's stupidity about other human beings."
Marie Claire Editor-in-Chief Joanna Coles apologized Wednesday for the post. "Maura Kelly is a very provocative blogger," she told Fashionista.com. "She was an anorexic herself and this is a subject she feels very strongly about."
According to Coles, the magazine has received more than 28,000 e-mail responses. Kelly has since updated the entry, apologizing for being "insensitive" and coming off as a "bully."


text:
Girl struck in hit-and-run released from hospital
Manheim Township police search for driver
Manheim Township police said the 12-year-old girl struck in a hit-and-run last week is out of the hospital. Officers are still searching for the driver.
The girl was crossing Graystone Road near Hollow Drive in East Petersburg just before 7 a.m. Thursday, heading to her bus stop, police said.
Investigators said the driver may live near that neighborhood.
"It really is frustrating. Essentially in this case, the person I would have to assume was aware that something occurred. There was a group of students there and they clearly left the site without even asking or having any concern," said Dan Forry, of Hempfield School District.
District officials said other students at the bus stop helped the girl by calling 911, not moving her and keeping her warm by giving her their coats.


text:
Welcome to the
Visit Our Local Bastrop County Community Pages:
Click Here for More Bastrop County News
The F.I.P.S. code is 48021.
Latitude: 30.1644, Longitude: -97.2747.
There are more sites for other counties and towns across the State of Texas available.
In fact, we host pages for every State, County and Town in the U.S.!


text:
Food & Drink
The most Instagrammed places in 2013
By Karla Cripps, CNN • Updated 18th December 2013
View Gallery
10 Pictures
With 2014 fast approaching, media companies around the world are hard at work churning out their obligatory year-in-review/look ahead roundups.
(Guilty as charged -- you can find CNN Travel's look ahead to
what's hot in 2014
right here.)
Last week we highlighted the most popular
Facebook checkins
This week it's Instagram's turn to spill the beans on its users' favorite places to photo-filter in 2013.
Once again, an attraction in Bangkok topped the list of the most Instagrammed places.
Last year, the Thai capital's international airport snagged the lead spot.
In 2013 it's a luxury shopping mall -- Siam Paragon, last year's No. 2. (See the 2012 Instagram list
New to the most popular list in 2013: Walt Disney World, New York City's High Line and Central Park and the Bellagio Fountains in Las Vegas.
MORE: 7 video game worlds we most want to visit
The most
nstagrammed locations of 2013
1. Siam Paragon, Bangkok
2. Times Square, New York
3. Disneyland, Anaheim, California
4. Bellagio Fountains, Las Vegas
5. Disney World Florida
6. Staples Center, Los Angeles
7. Central Park, New York
8. Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles
9. Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK), Bangkok
10. The High Line, New York
That Bangkok managed to sneak two places into an otherwise exclusively U.S. list certainly seems curious.
Jon Russell, Asia editor of global technology blog
, explains why the photo-sharing app is so hot in the Southeast Asia nation.
"Instagram is hugely popular in Thailand where timing -- the app's rise coincided with mass market adoption of smartphones -- and its use by Thai celebrities made it a must-have app for locals," he tells CNN.
"Thais are less concerned by the privacy issues of tracking their location, and keen to show friends where they've been.
"Plus Siam Paragon itself is more than just a shopping mall in Western terms. Aside from the many shops, cafes and restaurants -- taking a photo of your food/coffee is standard -- there's an aquarium, cinema and more."
MORE: Instagram launches direct messaging
Most Instagrammed cities of 2013
Bangkok's penchant for posting filtered shots of Siam Paragon and Suvarnabhumi wasn't enough to put the Thai capital into the top spot for most Instagrammed cities overall.
That honor went to New York City.
"In the course of the past year, we've seen Instagram continue to grow across the globe," says a post on the the photo sharing app's blog.
"We've been amazed to see the community thrive in places like Indonesia, Russia and Brazil. Sixty percent of Instagrammers are now sharing photos and videos from outside of the United States, so we wanted to also share the most Instagrammed cities in the world."
Here they are:
1. New York
2. Bangkok
3. Los Angeles
4. London
5. São Paulo
6. Moscow
7. Rio de Janeiro
8. San Diego, California
9. Las Vegas
10. San Francisco
Are you a fan of Instagram? Do you wish people would stop posting photos of their lunch? Share your thoughts on sharing in the comments
A year of the world's
Best Beaches
There's a perfect beach for every week of the year. Join us on a 12-month journey to see them all
Go to the best beaches


text:
Smart organizations understand that their primary goal is to enhance the performance of their people. In a knowledge work economy, people are the engine that keep companies growing, adapting, improving and innovating.
Entertainment One
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
PEFORMANCE = ABILITY x MOTIVATION x OPPORTUNITY
Performance is a function of the three factors acting together. Ability has to do with whether a person can do a task. Motivation is a measure of whether a person wants to do it. Opportunity is about accessibility; a person can't do a task if she is not given a chance or if she is denied access to necessary resources or amenities.
This framework – looking at human performance as being influenced by multiple factors – reflects the difficult and variable nature of our work today. All of these factors must be supported by the work environment in order for people's best work to occur. So, how can the workplace help?
1. Thermal Comfort and Temperature
2. Access to Nature, Views and Daylight
3. Sensory Change and Variability
4. Color
5. Noise Control
6. Crowding
7. Human Factors and Ergonomics
8. Indoor Air Quality
9. Choice
10. Employee Engagement
Click to learn more and see real-life examples of these strategies at work. Read the full article on Issuu or download the PDF (1.5 MB).


text:
Interbike Update 9-17-2012:
We finally got a chance to ride the Scott Genius 700 650b bike at Interbike. And it took a little bit of Mtbr clout because these were the most in demand bikes at the Outdoor Demo for test rides. About 10 bikes were completely booked up for both Demo days and test riding was 'by appointment only'.
We rode the aluminum version and were surprised to see that the finish on it was pretty difficult to distinguish from the carbon version. It had a matte-black finish and the branding and the blue striping of the aluminum matched that of the carbon version.
To refresh our memories, this bike has 150 mm travel front and rear with a 67.7 head angle and a steep 73.8 seat angle. Chainstay length is at 17.3 inches and BB height is at 13.6 inches. So it all checks out on paper with a slack head angle just the right height BB for a 150mm travel bike. This particular bike came with a Fox Talas front fork with 120/150 mm of front travel.
So I took the shuttle up to the very top of the mountain and started the descent on the sometimes often swoopy and sometimes rugged trail back down to the expo. The bike proved extremely capable and agile. It was easy to handle and throw into a corner. The bike was easy to pump as well and it gained speed on the many ups and downs of the Bootleg Canyon singletrack. It was playful in mid-air as well. So in all these respects, it was better than a 29er.
Now Bootleg Canyon has rocks, and sharp jagged ones at that. The Genius 700 got up and down them well and rolled over them better than a 26er. The Nobby Nics performed well on the rocks and the many swoopy turns near the bottom of the trail.
When it was time to climb, I flicked the Fox lever and it locked out both the front and rear shock. This was a new experience for me but oh so refreshing. Flicking the other lever unlocked the system. Since this toggle was so convenient to use, I found myself using it more frequently than on my bikes with no remote levers.
The bike performed extremely well and I suspect it will be as scarce in dealer shops next year as it was at the Scott Interbike demo tent this year.
While most had their attention on Tour de France, Scott quietly introduced their new 650b bike in France. What they came up with is a more traditional suspension design with 150mm of travel both front and rear for the Genius 700, sporting 650b sized wheels. They also have a 29er version which has 130mm of front and rear travel. They have done away with the 26er version.
While the old Genius had a complex pull shock design, this 2013 one has a more traditional push shock layout. It is nicely integrated into a sculpted carbon frame. The linkage is very slick as it lays over the seat tube when fully extended. This saves space and gives the bike a very clean look.
150mm of travel is a lot, but that is really the promise of 650b bikes. 29ers can handle the shorter travel bikes but they hit a wall as they creep into long travel as their chainstays and wheelbases get longer. That's where 650b takes the baton and allows bikes with long travel and big tires to still maintain the fun and agility that riders expect.
The Genius 700 series (650b), in its low setting, sports a 67.7-degree head angle, a 73.8-degree seat angle (effective), a 13.6-inch-high bottom bracket and 17.3-inch chainstays. These numbers tell the story of a slack bike with still fairly shortchain stays and the BB height is just perfect for a bike designed for 650b as opposed to a 26er conversion.
Frame weight is another interesting story. Scott saved 200 grams and still managed to make the frame stiffer. Weight is claimed at 5.07 lbs. Interestingly enough, the 29er version also weighs in at the identical weight.
Other details:
- Press-fit BB92
- Internal cable routing
- Rear axle that can work with 142x12mm, 135x12mm and 135x10mm quick-releases
- Comes with 135x12mm DT Swiss RWS
- Front fork is a shortened custom Fox 34 with a QR15 bolt-through axle and a full 150mm of travel
The Genius is full-suspension chassis that's designed to handle Any Trail, Anytime. It is the most capable trail bike ever produced and offered in two unique forms. The Genius 900 has 130mm of travel and all the benefits of the 29″ wheel while the Genius 700 utilizes an entirely new wheel standard, 27.5, which allows it to offer 150mm of travel.


text:
The broth can be served on its own as a light starter with or without the vegetables in it. It can also be used in recipes calling for canned vegetable broth.
- Yield
- Makes about 8 cups
- 1 cup chopped onion
- 1 cup quartered crimini mushrooms
- 1 cup sliced carrots
- 1/2 cup chopped parsnips
- 1/2 cup sliced celery
- 4 large garlic cloves, crushed, peeled
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 8 cups water
- 1 cup coarsely chopped Swiss chard (including stems)
- 1/2 cup thinly sliced leek (white and pale green parts only)
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley (including stems)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 large fresh thyme sprig or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Combine first 6 ingredients in 13 x 9 x 2-inch roasting pan. Drizzle oil over; toss to coat. Sprinkle with salt. Roast vegetables until tender and golden, stirring occasionally, about 40 minutes. Remove from oven.
- Add 2 cups water to roasting pan; stir vegetables, scraping up any browned bits from bottom. Transfer vegetable mixture to large pot. Add remaining 6 cups water and all remaining ingredients. Bring to boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer 30 minutes. Strain. Reserve vegetables. (Can be prepared ahead. Cover broth and vegetables separately and refrigerate 2 days or freeze up to 2 weeks.)


text:
At Cao Bang you join Highway 4, an ambitious road that was originally part of a French military network linking the isolated garrisons right across northern Vietnam's empty mountain country. This road is more subject than many others in the north to falling into disrepair, and the 140km journey to Lang Son takes about four hours, depending on conditions. Beyond Dong Khe, a nondescript town roughly 40km out of Cao Bang, the virtually traffic-free road climbs through a gorge of sheer limestone cliffs before cresting the dramatic Dong Khe Pass. In 1950 this pass was the scene of a daring ambush in which the Viet Minh gained their first major victory over the French Expeditionary Force. In the ensuing panic, forts all along the border were abandoned, an estimated six thousand French troops were killed or captured, and the Viet Minh netted 950 machine guns, eight thousand rifles and a few hundred trucks.
That Khe lies exactly halfway between Cao Bang and Lang Son, and beyond here the road winds through Na Sam, an attractive town snuggled beneath a dramatic setting of outcrops. The villages in this area are inhabited by Nung and Tay; their bamboo rafts and huge wooden waterwheels, which form part of sophisticated irrigation works, grace the river that weaves along beside the road. Unfortunately this rural idyll comes to an abrupt end, as the speedy Highway 1 from Dong Dang brings you hurtling into Lang Son.


text:
We hope our Northeast readers are faring OK with Hurricane Sandy.
The storm has wreaked havoc in many ways. On the market side, one has been its disruption of news flow. So, to catch up a bit, here's a brief current earnings update on a number of our recommendations. Bottom line: They each did well, and we continue to recommend them all.
Harris (HRS): On Monday, Harris reported its fiscal first-quarter earnings. The per-share results came in a couple of pennies ahead of estimates as stronger margins more than offset revenue that was just very slightly below consensus.
It's important to note that the company maintained its guidance of flat-to-slightly-up revenue and earnings of $5.10 to 5.30 per share for the fiscal year ending June 2013. This was a strong quarter for contract wins: Book-to-bill of 1.09x and large assignments from the Federal Aviation Administration are boding well for the future. Battlefield radios will have tough comparisons this year from last, but growth elsewhere should roughly compensate.
The stock has come down in the last few weeks due to a small competitive radio award to General Dynamics (GD). However, that award also opens up the entire procurement to full and open bidding by mid-2013, and Harris expects to aggressively pursue its fair share.
We still like the case for Harris shares, which trade at about 9.3x earnings. The company has a strong balance sheet and good free cash flow, and it offers a growing dividend that's now more than 3.1% yield. Our target for the stock is well above $60. Shares closed Thursday at $47.66.
Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) reported earnings of $0.50 vs. the $0.45 consensus estimate. Management executed well during the quarter, achieving better-than-expected grain trading results, positive oilseed margins and better corn sweetener pricing and margins.
Ethanol was the weak link during the quarter, sustaining an operating loss of $26 million, compared with a $153 million profit last year. The next two quarters will be tough due to extreme drought-induced grain shortages. However, a normal planting season in 2013 should lead to better company fundamentals by next summer, including better ethanol margins, and an improving earnings outlook.
We continue to recommend ADM for its above-average dividend yield of 2.6%, its depressed valuation of 1x book value vs. an historical average of 1.3x and its relatively low price volatility. Shares closed Thursday at $27.10.
Teva Pharmaceutical (TEVA): The company's quarter mirrored that of many others this quarter -- a slight earnings beat and a slight revenue miss. Its flagship drug for multiple sclerosis, Copaxone, brought in surprisingly high revenue, while sales in most generics were slightly disappointing. The company demonstrated very strong expense control, especially in sales and marketing outlays, that drove the operating profit upside.
On a geographic basis, business in the U.S. was stronger than it was in Europe or in other global regions. Management affirmed its financial goals for the year and tightened its estimated earnings-per-share range for 2012, now pegging it at $5.32 to 5.38. Under its new CEO, Jeremy Levine, Teva is likely to focus more on profitability than sales growth. Its forward financial projections are set to be unveiled Dec. 11. We would rate the quarter as having turned out modestly better than in-line, and we continue to carry a target price of more than $70. The stock is too cheap, and we expect better things ahead for the stock price. The shares closed Thursday at $41.31.
MetLife (MET) reported better-than-expected earnings of a $1.32 vs. the $1.28 consensus. Management reaffirmed its earnings outlook for the year, which stands at some $5.30 in EPS. North America, Latin America and its annuities division were the brightest spots during the quarter, though all of the company's business units performed well. The company did take a $1.6 billion noncash goodwill impairment charge on its annuity business, which should be a non-event.
Regarding Hurricane Sandy, the property and casualty division is a small part of the business, and we do not expect it to have a meaningful impact on the company's financials in the upcoming quarter. We continue to recommend MetLife for its deeply discounted valuation level of 6.7x earnings (vs. its 10x historic average) and its 25% discount to book value. Shares closed Thursday at $35.48.
Kellogg (K) reported better-than-expected earnings of $0.82 vs. the $0.80 average analyst target. Management reiterated the earnings outlook for the year, and continues to expect earnings of between $3.18 and $3.30 per share. Organic revenue climbed 2.8%. The recent Pringles acquisition performed better than anticipated, and should add to greater-than-expected earnings accretion in 2012 and 2013.
We continue to recommend Kellogg for its above-average dividend yield of 3.3% and its below-normal valuation level of 14.8x the 2013 EPS estimates of $3.60, which comes against an historical average of 16x to 17x earnings. The stock also sports relatively low price volatility, and fundamentals have been improving.


text:
Go Daddy has acquired smartphone-based mobile Web site creator M.dot.
The companies announced the deal today. In a statement, Go Daddy said that its M.dot acquisition bolsters its "mobile first" strategy, which aims at connecting its 11 million customers with services across smartphones and tablets.
M.dot was founded in June by Dominik Balogh and Pavel Serbajlo. The company's application is available for mobile handsets and allows site owners to choose site templates and create a page optimized for smartphones and tablets. The application, which is available for free in Apple's App Store, is specifically designed for small businesses.
"Go Daddy is exactly the kind of technology company we wanted to join because they cater to and understand the small business customer," Balogh said today in a statement.
Go Daddy declined to provide details on the financial terms of the deal. The company did, however, say that it expects to continue to grow, and its Sunnyvale, Calif.-based offices will expand from 40 employees to 80 in the next year.


text:
KC man gets life sentence in bystander's death
Marcus D. Smith sentenced in Samir Clark's death
A 31-year-old northwest Missouri man has been sentenced to life in prison for killing a 19-year-old student.
Marcus D. Smith of Kansas City was convicted in Clay County in February of second-degree murder and three other charges in the August 2011 death of Samir Clark. Smith was sentenced to life in prison on Wednesday.
The Kansas City Star reports that police said Clark was visiting a relative when a neighbor knocked on the door and asked for help. Clark and his relative took the woman and her children in. Smith fired several shots into the apartment, hitting Clark in the neck. Investigators said Smith had argued with several people before the shooting.
Relatives said Clark was to leave for Tennessee State University in Nashville later that week.


text:
Okay. Time for a confession. A Storm Hits Valparaiso is selling a little less than I had hoped. But that's not what today's post is about. This question – why is my book not selling? – is quite a common one and I would like to address it in a general way because I think many people slip up on the basics.
I would also like to use my new book as a case study, to show what steps I am taking to address somewhat tepid sales over the last couple of weeks. And in fact, the tide is already turning – thanks to a couple of tricks I pulled yesterday, but we'll get to that.
As Seth Godin says, it's far cheaper to design marketing into a product than to advertise it afterwards – and he's right. But what does that mean for self-publishers? Well, if you don't get the basics right, you are making your job incredibly difficult.
Too many self-publishers skimp on, say, editing or covers, then waste money on ads that do nothing for their sales. It's not that ads are a waste of money per se – the right ad on the right site (for the right book) can have great results. But if your cover looks like something a drunkard knocked up the first time they used Photoshop, all the ads in the world won't help.
So, the basics. After I skip through these, I'll get into some marketing nitty gritty and my own bean-spilling. Stay with me, folks.
All the following advice is predicated on the assumption that you have only published your best work and that your story is ready for public consumption. Newer writers especially may need to go through several drafts, and at least one round with a beta reader, to make sure the writing is of the requisite standard.
Self-editing is a skill that all writers need to learn. I will have a guest post on this topic next week, but I highly recommend Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Browne and Dave King. (I haven't read Sol Stein's On Writing, but I know it's held in similar esteem.)
Effective self-editing requires lots of practice, but it's really worth putting in the time (and will reduce the amount of professional editing you need, saving you money too). Plus, as you get better at self-editing, you won't need to cycle through as many drafts.
Your book's cover is the face it shows the world. You want to make a good first impression, don't you? A smart, professional cover makes all the difference. People really do judge a book by its cover.
I can hear the complaints: this stuff shouldn't matter; it's all about the writing. The world is unfair. Get over it. If you want your book to stand out from the crowd, if you want to send the reader a signal that you have taken as much care with the inside of the book, you better make sure the outside looks good. In short, get a professional to design your cover.
Joel Friedlander has an excellent post on common mistakes book cover designers make, and I have a post here on the process I go through with my designer. If you are struggling with covers, read them both (note: Joel's site has an astonishing number of fantastic posts on all aspects of self-publishing. He also runs monthly cover design awards, commenting on most entries – which is very instructive).
If you would like to show some love to your cover designer, please give them a mention in the comments so others can check out their work.
This might be where self-publishers skimp most of all, and readers will spot the errors straight away. But even if you have eliminated the obvious stuff, there may well be deeper problems.
I have written about the importance of editing here and here, and I will have two guest posts from professional, experienced editors next week (both of whom are also authors), as this topic is so important it needs more attention than a few short paragraphs. Every time I get an MS back from my editor, her suggestions improve the work immeasurably. But more importantly, I learn something. So you aren't just investing in your book, but in yourself as a writer.
I know what the main objection will be – price. But you must consider it an investment in your book. If you can't afford it, find a way. Save, barter, crowdfund, agree a payment plan with your editor, give up that diamante-encrusted ham you are so fond of – whatever it takes (although I would draw the line at getting into debt and/or an elaborate heist).
Again, please feel free to give a shout-out to your editor below.
I'm not the greatest blurb writer in the world, and it usually takes a few weeks after my book is published before I'm relatively happy with it (often after I get a review which describes the book more succinctly than I can). Here's the blurb I had up for my latest release until just recently:
A Storm Hits Valparaíso. In 1810, José de San Martín deserts the Spanish Army and returns home to Buenos Aires to lead a bloody revolt against his former masters. Struggling with an increasing dependence on opiates, San Martín forms a secret army of thieves, mercenaries, slaves, and prostitutes to free Argentina from the Spanish Empire.
A Storm Hits Valparaíso is an epic, 400-page historical adventure with a huge cast of characters whose stories gradually interweave: two brothers torn apart by love; a slave running for his life, a disgraced British sailor seeking redemption in a foreign land; an Indian trapped in the death mines of Potosí; and a Spanish general who deserts the army to raise the flag of rebellion against Madrid.
Ugh. Just makes you want to click onto the next book, right? It's boring, makes the book sound like non-fiction, and no connection is made with the reader. Here's the new improved version, crowdsourced in a Facebook group (thanks guys):
Catalina Flores de la Peña's tongue got her in more trouble than any other part of her body, even though there were far more likely candidates. But when a storm rolls into her sleepy port town, she finds herself embroiled with a gang of adventurers, mercenaries, and prostitutes on a journey to free South America from the Spanish Empire.
A Storm Hits Valparaíso is an epic, historical adventure starring two brothers torn apart by love; a slave running for his life; a disgraced British sailor seeking redemption; and José de San Martín, an Argentine general who deserts the Spanish Army to lead a bloody revolt against his former masters.
Can you see the difference? The second is far more enticing. Each sentence should hook the reader. Keep it brief, and make sure there are no lazy words in there. Try and capture something of the voice of your book. And don't write a plot summary or a query letter. Sell the book.
There is some nifty advice on blurbs at Publetariat (another excellent site), written by Joanna Penn (who also has a fantastic site herself). Blurb writing is a skill, but you can get quite handy just by looking at the books at the top of the charts and copying the structure.
It might feel a little cheesy boiling your magnum opus down to a few hooky sentences, or you might find it tricky if you have a complex plot or multiple main characters, but my book has seven main characters. I only alluded to that, and really focused on one.
Your aim is to get the reader to click the sample/buy button, not to write a school report. After you get some nice reviews, you can add those underneath the blurb, which will add weight. I think my first three releases are good examples of this (here, here, and especially this one here). And if you are wondering how to add effects like bold and italics, you do that through Author Central (where you should also set up your profile).
I've spoken about a pricing a great deal here. All I will underline is the importance of experimentation. And if you are going for the higher end of the spectrum, you better make sure the rest are pristine.
I launched A Storm Hits Valparaiso at $4.99. In retrospect, that might have been a little saucy, considering I was branching out into a new genre and wouldn't have that much carry-over from the audience I built up with my other releases.
I think it's a price I could sell this book at, but perhaps not until it gets a few more reviews and/or visibility. But I will be experimenting to find the sweet spot (more on that below), and I suggest you do the same for each of your titles.
Okay. The reader has clicked on your arresting cover, was sucked in by your compelling blurb, liked the price, and clicked on the sample button. You're nearly there. Whatever you do, don't screw up when you are this close to a sale.
Your book should be properly formatted. If you can't learn how to do it yourself, I have recommended two services on that page. Recommend your own in the comments.
Don't force the reader to wade through pages of unnecessary stuff before they get to the actual story (i.e. dedication, table of contents, acknowledgements) – move all of it, bar the copyright page, to the back so that they get more story in the sample, and they dive straight into it.
Finally, make sure the opening of your story grabs the reader. Open with a bang (but it doesn't literally have to be an explosion, or similar dramatic action, it can be an arresting sentence). If there is no conflict on that first page, you have probably started your story too soon.
The Wisdom of the Crowd
These are the key components to a professional looking book. They are no guarantee of success, but if you get these basics right, you are giving yourself a much better shot.
If you are struggling with these basics, or can't put your finger on what's wrong with the whole package you are presenting, I highly recommend an excellent (free) service provided by the New York Times bestselling self-publisher Victorine Lieske.
Together with her regulars at Why Is My Book Not Selling, she will run the rule over everything – critiquing your presentation through a readers eyes, but providing astute advice on how to remedy whatever issues you may have from the perspective of an extremely successful self-publisher.
But that's not your only option. I road-test everything. I use beta readers to whip my story into shape. I put two different versions of my covers on Twitter to see what the reaction is. I crowdsource blurb advice on forums and Facebook. All of that costs nothing, and can create some anticipation for your release.
I covered marketing basics in Let's Get Digital. I think there is no real need to go over them here (but if you want to, the PDF is free here, and you can just read Steps 6 to 10) as I think most authors understand the importance of websites, blogging, Twitter, Facebook and the rest. Let's assume you are doing all that stuff, that you have tried giveaways, competitions, ads, the lot, and you are still getting nowhere.
I know the feeling, I've been there many times, and I'm sure I will again. Just recently, I released a book I had been writing (on and off) for over five years. I know what it feels like to pour your heart and soul into something, to put out what you feel is your very best work, only to have it slide into relative obscurity.
After a good launch in December, sales dried up this month. I was selling one a day (all channels) all month. One of my shorts was outselling it, despite being free everywhere except Amazon! But, I didn't panic. It was, after all, early days, I was confident the basics were in place, and I had some tricks lined up to get it a little more attention.
Right after the launch, I updated the back-matter of all existing titles – with nice blurbs for all my other books, but really pushing the new one with a good sample – and then made my two shorts free on Smashwords.
Yesterday morning, both shorts finally went free on Amazon (because of the holidays, it took about three weeks). Immediately, I slashed the price of the new book to $2.99, and announced it as a two day sale in the blurb. The timing was especially fortuitous because I have an ad spot today on a readers' site.
I sent a couple of tweets… and that was pretty much it. And I got lucky. Real lucky. But having all the basics in place helped. I had 8,000 downloads across both shorts in 24 hours or so. And that's just Amazon. They are free everywhere else too.
If You Go Into The Woods has been the #1 Free Short Story on Amazon (and #3 Literary Fiction) for about 12 hours now.
Transfection would have been #2 if it hadn't been stripped of its categories in the transition to the free listings. The stories are currently at #58 and #104 in the overall free listings, but did peak a little higher than that late last night.
On top of that, I had my best sales day (of paid stuff) this month. I might top that today with the ad spot.
Plus those thousands of downloads will eventually be read (or at least some of them will be), and they all have a nice sample of the new book in the back. Even if only a teeny tiny percentage of those downloaders purchase the new release, I'll do very well out of this. If nothing else, it gets my name out there, and give me a little (a lot actually) extra visibility.
The sale for A Storm Hits Valparaiso ends at some point tomorrow. So if you want to grab a copy – and save yourself $2 – you better be quick. I'm switching the freebies back to paid tomorrow on Smashwords too. I've no idea how long that will take to filter through to Amazon (could be a few days, might be a few weeks), but grab them while you can!
You might not be able to employ similar techniques, but try thinking outside the box. Be creative. Even better: come up with something no-one else is doing, or at least something different from what everyone else is doing.
A lot of writers who are disappointed by their sales will be tempted into KDP Select, but it may not work out for them (especially if those basics aren't in place), and then they could be tied down to the terms for 90 days anyway. I'll have another guest post on Friday, this time from an author who is doing fantastically well by staying out.
Whatever you decide, don't lose heart. Your situation can turn around very quickly. Getting down achieves nothing. Checking your sales achieves nothing other than putting you in a sour mood. And whining? It does all of that, plus it makes you look silly (whining in private though, is fine – my whiskey bottle is stained with tears).
Have confidence in yourself. You wrote a book! Only a tiny minority ever cross that finish line. Take that immensely creative brain of yours, take those rigorous standards you apply when selecting books to read, and go over every aspect of your presentation. Look at your marketing and see how you can get more eyeballs on your work – because that's what will turn things around for you, but give yourself a helping hand by having those basics in place.
A caution: make sure you aren't spending time on promotion when you've got one or two cheap titles out. Unless you have some earners (either titles pulling in volume at that price, or higher priced books that can get you a good return per sale), then it's not really worth it.
And write something new. Nothing reinvigorates you, your readers, or your whole approach than new work.
Speaking of which…


text:
Events Calendar
Graduate School Expo
Interested in grad school? Come see what your future may hold!
Date: October 17, 2019 - October 17, 2019
Time: 10 a.m. - Noon
Location: Cleary Family Auditorium, Kearney Hall
Hosted by the Center for Career and Academic Planning
In partnership with the Rochester Area Career Development Association, Fisher will host over 35 representatives from colleges and universities offering advanced degrees.
Free for students and the public. Questions? Email Jean Skuse at firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
It could be the NFC's Super Bowl win, or a particularly optimistic January Effect. Whatever the reason, the fact remains the S&P 500 is off to its best start year-to-date in 21 years.
The broad market has climbed 7.5% in 2012, the most since 1991, as recent unemployment numbers indicated a decrease in the jobless rate and interest rates are slated to remain low through 2014.
"The low rates certainly help, as does the deduction for qualified dividends," says AdvisorOne contributor Ben Warwick (left), CEO of money management firm Quantitative Equity Strategies. "Will it continue? I'm generally bullish. Investors are moving into lower beta names as an alternative to fixed income because the yields are higher."
Combined with the positive outlook for employment, Warwick calls it a "sweet spot for the market."
"It's almost like a repeat of last year at this time," he adds. "We started very strong in 2011, but fell apart last summer. Could that happen again? Sure. But it's strong now, so here we go."
Bloomberg reports the S&P 500 slipped slightly last week to 1,342.64, trimming its gain for the year to 6.8%, still the best start since the index surged 8.8% in the first six weeks of 1991. The index advanced 0.6% to 1,351.26 at 9:34 a.m. in New York today.
"Companies with earnings least-tied to the economy, last year's market leaders, are trailing now," according to the news service. "Utilities have retreated 3.5% since the start of 2012, the biggest decline in the index, while phone companies lost 2.8% and houseware makers are down 0.1%. Banks and brokers, technology companies and commodity producers have rallied 11%, on average, data compiled by Bloomberg show."
Perpetual bear Gary Shilling of A. Gary Shilling & Co. isn't as optimistic, however. In December, Shilling predicted a "severe" recession for Europe and a hard landing for China's economy, assertions from which he hasn't backed away.
"I also predict a moderate recession in the U.S. as we experience a retrenchment in consumer spending," Shilling said Monday. "Retail sales reports for January will be released later this week. They were flat in December. Consumer spending has continued even though wages are flat. That can't continue. As a result, the recession will get under way fairly early in the year."


text:
21 - 30 of 83 Results
There were no documents that contained all of the words in your query. These results contain some of the words.
Queenstown accommodation brilliantly positioned just a five-minute walk along the lakefront to the town centre. Located directly opposite the stunning Lake Wakatipu with unsurpassed views across the water to some of the most majestic scenery in New Zealand. The Bazaar Interactive Market Place and…
accommodation » hotels
Just been dumped? Stressed at work? Or even found yourself on the holiday from hell? Choose a weapon and SMASHIT up! SMASHIT is a perfect way to let out some anger or just have a lot of fun as we arm you with the tools to become a bull in a china shop, smashing your way through our breakable items.
attractions and activities » attraction and activity passes
…with Coronet Peak in the background, The Canyons BnB offers guests fantastic bed and breakfast accommodation in Queenstown. Only 4 kilometres from Queenstown's abundance of cafes, restaurants and shops allowing you to be close to the action, while still being in the country and serene surroundings.
accommodation » bed and breakfast
…truly believe that our trips include the best activities in the South Island, many of which are exclusively available through Adventure Junkies. Unique trips, personal and run by expert guides. We're here to show you the greatest adventures New Zealand has to offer. Family adventures a speciality.
tours » adventure tours
At the home of the world's highest cliff jumps we present to you; a 109m high Shotover Canyon Swing with 60m freefall, and our 182m high and 445m long Shotover Canyon Fox. With heaps of different styles to choose from, there's a fun or scary style for you. Gravity is a toy. Come out and play!
attractions and activities » adventure » fly by wire, flying fox and canyon swing
Odyssey is an a-maze-ing Queenstown adventure consisting of 13 different sensory rooms to be explored. Unlike a typical maze where the goal is simply to find your way out Odyssey offers much more. You'll experience darker challenging spaces, quirky obstacles, illusions, sound and lighting effects,…
attractions and activities » family fun and activities » playground and maze fun
…stays close to nature. Small, intimate and ultimately private, it features modern New Zealand style, each villa offers stunning views of Lake Wakatipu, The Remarkables and Queenstown. Rates include breakfast, afternoon tea, pre-dinner drinks with canapes, and all transfers. 5 minutes to town. 20…
accommodation » lodges and retreats
Challenge yourself and friends to a real life horror experience in New Zealand's scariest haunted house. SpineTingling Suspense and Screams await you. Do you have what it takes to survive Fear Factory Queenstown? We guarantee you the ultimate fun and totally terrifying experience! Top 3# Rated…
attractions and activities » family fun and activities » theme and adventure park fun
…motel accommodation is the ideal place to relax or explore the beauty of Queenstown. From our elevated position in the centre of the city, you can enjoy magnificent views from most rooms. Enjoy the convenience of being situated just 2 blocks, flat walk to Restaurants, Night-Clubs, Casinos, Garden…
accommodation » motels and motor lodges
…- the most luxurious, full-featured floatation tank on the market. Our Dreampods are designed with maximum hygienic technology, allowing you to immerse yourself into a light and sound-free environment guaranteed to alleviate a host of common stress induced symptoms we hold onto in our daily lives.
attractions and activities » day spas, health and beauty
For more listings please click: Previous | 1 2 3 4 5 | Next


text:
The Sensing Technique allows sensor type shinobi to mould chakra and change it to the sensor type. This enables them to detect and track down targets through their chakra signatures. The range of this technique varies between sensors.
Unique Sensory Techniques
- Spider Web Area — Exclusive to Kidōmaru. With this technique, he is able to send chakra through webs to detect the approach of any enemy, that touches the threads. The web is so sensitive, that not even the slightest disturbance of the air goes unnoticed.
- Mind's Eye of the Kagura — Exclusive to Karin. With this technique, she is capable of finding, sensing and tracking any individual over vast range by focusing and opening her mind's eye.
- Rain Tiger at Will Technique — Exclusive to Nagato. Using this, he is capable of creating falling raindrops, which are closely linked to his senses. When the rain is obstructed by a chakra belonging to someone not of the village, the existence of the intruder can be detected.
- Sensing Hexagram Seal — A hexagram seal that allows the user, by transmitting waves, to sense targets in a large radius, akin to a radar.
- Sensing Water Sphere — A sphere made out of water that lets the user monitor the surrounding area. Despite the usefulness, the sphere itself does not provide a complete form of detection, unless it is complemented with a barrier.
- Negative Emotions Sensing — Exclusive to Kurama and its jinchūriki. Using this technique, the user is capable of detecting negative emotions, such as hatred, of any individual around them.
- Concealed Sand Picture Cat — Exclusive to Gaara. With this technique, he is able to spread specialised sand across a wide terrain and detect anything that comes into contact with it, even if the target is invisible.
- Throughout the series, various characters have commented on the feel of chakra and similar comments regarding the ability to sense high, foul or potent levels of chakra a little, leading to the possibility that chakra sensing is merely a more refined version of this by either teaching or being simply born more "sensitive".[2][3][4][5]
Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted.


text:
First Name
Last Name
E-mail Address:
Deafhood Foundation (DHF) is a tax-exempt charitable 501(c)3 organization, and your donations are tax deductible.
Your donation will help end the economic exploitation of Deaf people, support anti-audism work, and create a society where everyone experiences full humanity and celebrates American Sign Language and Deaf culture.
© 2019, Deafhood Foundation. All Rights Reserved.


text:
Free Shipping offered on all Domestic Orders over $50 for a limited time! No code needed. Dismiss
No products in the cart.
US dollars will be applied to anyone outside of Canada.
For your wife on Mother's Day
Box Set of 5, Single Card
There are no reviews yet.
Only logged in customers who have purchased this product may leave a review.
Username or email address *
Password *
Remember me Log in
Lost your password?
Username *
Email address *
A password will be sent to your email address.


text:
Randle leads Lakers past Mavericks in OT (Jan 13, 2018)
DALLAS (AP) With a matinee game in the middle of a road trip, Dallas native Julius Randle had a rare opportunity to enjoy a night off in his hometown.
He already had a good afternoon.
Randle had 23 points and 15 rebounds, including a follow shot late in overtime that helped the Los Angeles Lakers seal a 107-101 victory over the Mavericks on Saturday.
''Yeah, I'm going to enjoy it for sure,'' Randle said. ''I've got my little man here, got my wife here, my family. I'm going to enjoy this night.''
With his team leading 104-101, Randle grabbed a rebound on Lonzo Ball's missed jump shot and scored on the rebound with 18 seconds remaining, giving the Lakers a five-point lead they preserved to extend their winning streak to a season-best four games.
''That's a tough place to win, so it's a good job getting this win on the road,'' Randle said.
The Lakers (15-27) trailed by double digits in the fourth quarter, but battled back for their first win against the Mavericks in 15 tries and their first victory in Dallas since Feb. 24, 2013.
''We just didn't want to lose,'' guard Jordan Clarkson said.
Clarkson added 19 points, Kyle Kuzma had 18, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored 17.
Rookie Dennis Smith Jr. had 23 points, 17 in the first half, as the Mavericks (15-29) had a two-game win streak snapped. Harrison Barnes and Wesley Matthews each had 17 points for Dallas.
Randle scored six points in overtime, including a fadeaway shot with 2:35 remaining that gave the Lakers a 102-99 lead.
''He was just being a beast tonight,'' Smith said. ''Using his power all game, he was relentless. So it worked out pretty well for them.''
Each team had a chance to win the game in final seconds of regulation.
Barnes made a pull-up jumper in the paint to tie the game at 95 with 5.9 seconds remaining. The Lakers called a timeout but couldn't get off a clean shot before the buzzer.
''I told them going into overtime, `All right, it's time to regroup now,''' Lakers coach Luke Walton said. ''They made some tough shots (at the end of regulation), and now it's time to refocus. We've been in overtime games before, and let's take it possession by possession.''
There were six ties and 12 lead changes in the game, and the Lakers turned it into a close game when they orchestrated a 15-3 run in the fourth quarter, erasing the 80-70 lead that Dallas had taken early in the fourth quarter on a 3-pointer by Dirk Nowitzki.
''We gave up the 10-point lead in the fourth, we obviously lost some defensive edge there,'' Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said. ''We just weren't able to stop them. That was really it.''
Los Angeles played most of the game without Brandon Ingram, who had four points in the first half before a sprained left ankle pulled him from the game.
''It's a mild ankle sprain, day-to-day. I think they took him back to get some X-rays. I don't know that part of it, but he's day-to-day right now,'' Walton said. ''We're obviously hopeful that he'll be able to get back with us because we need what he does out there on the court.''
Lakers: The Lakers' four-game win streak comes after a season-worst, nine-game skid.
Mavericks: G Kyle Collingsworth was signed to a 10-day contract on Saturday. Collingsworth was originally signed to a two-way contract by Dallas on Dec. 19 but had been waived on Jan. 10 after playing in four games.
Kuzma had his 10th double-double of the season with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Kuzma also had three assists and a steal in 36 minutes off the bench.
Nowitzki passed former Laker Jerry West with his 7,161st career free throw made in the second quarter, taking sole possession of sixth in NBA history. Nowitzki finished 3 for 4 from the line and now has 7,163 makes in his career. Michael Jordan ranks fifth all-time with 7,327 made free throws.
Lakers: Visit the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday.
Mavericks: Visit the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday.
More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball
More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball


text:
Product Details
Alchemy Fleece Blankets
100% buttery soft and cozy polyester fleece
Edge-to-edge sublimation printing in vibrant full color
Sturdy double edge stitching for a clean finish
Back color is off-white
Machine washable, gentle cycle, mild detergent
Tumble dry low
Small Fleece Blanket- 30"x40" Retail $40
Medium Fleece Blanket- 50"x60" Retail $60
Large Fleece Blanket- 60" x 80" Retail $80
If you are using Lay-buy for your purchase, please review our layaway terms and conditions.
Please allow for 7 days for your item to ship.
Product Reviews
Size Chart
Shipping & Returns
Items purchased through Carislings.com will ship within 48 hours of purchase, excluding weekends. Items will ship Priority with Insurance through United States Postal Service. Please note **Sale wraps will ship within a week of purchase** Bundle of ends will ship within 72 hours of purchase. We ship only to the address on your PayPal email address. If purchasing with Credit Card, it will be your address on file. We will ship only to the address on file, and are unable to combine orders. International orders will also be shipped Priority United States Postal Service and price will be subjected to item's weight. We will not be held responsible for custom fees, or import duties incurred by your country's mailing system.
We will accept returns on unworn, unused items with receipt from the original purchaser within 10 days of receipt. Returns must be made with all packaging intact, including bags, paperwork etc. You must cover shipping expenses back to Cari Slings HQ. Refunds will be administered after items have been received at Cari Slings HQ. Refunds will be made within 7-10 days of receipt. Any questions, please email email@example.com


text:
Halloween is over and let's roll on the festive season!
With it comes all the flurry of thinking about what presents aka kids toys to buy your children, nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and grandchildren. So I thought I would help out over the next few weeks and give you some ideas with my gift guides, as we build up to Christmas 2015 ( 7 weeks + and counting, just thought I would add that in for some shock value!).


text:
...and many more!
|10.3 mi
|5,427 hotels
|From $144/night
With access to 5,000,000 hotel deals, take advantage of our best price guarantee.
If you find a lower rate on another site that we didn't offer you, let us know.
Let us know and we'll refund the difference to you within 30 days.


text:
when perched up and singing, the California Thrasher and many others in
this family are very difficult to see as they skulk in the undergrowth.
The abundant eastern North American Gray Catbird (right) is a skulker,
but can sometimes be more easily seen in migration or its wintering grounds
(as here in the Florida everglades). It, too, has a complex fluty song
but it is named for its mewing call note. Almost all the thrashers (except
the Mockingbirds which we'll discuss next) prefer dense thickets and undergrowth,
making them difficult to locate (the same can also be said for mockingbirds
in the genus Melanotis -- the Blue M. caerulescens &
Blue-and-white M. hypoleucus mockingbirds of Mexico).
While thrashers and catbirds have wonderful vocalizations, perhaps the best known of all the mimids are the mockingbirds. There are 16 species called "mockingbirds" but it is the nine of these in the genus Mimus that are best known for their songs. The Bahama Mockingbird (left) is restricted to arid scrub in the Bahamas & Jamaica, but our Northern Mockingbird M. polyglottos is widespread in the southern U.S. Its Latin name translates to "many-throated mimic" and its song is a constant sound in lightly-wooded open country in the spring (suburbs to magnolia gardens to southwestern deserts). With the opening of California to human development, Northern Mockingbirds spread north throughout the Central Valley and into the Bay Area by the mid-1900s (Arnold 1980) and they have now reached the far northwest in the state.
Some mockingbirds sing all night long -- numerous complaints from insomniacs -- and aggressively defend their nest-sites from hawks, jays, cats, dogs and unwary people! This bird is such a fine mimic that one can often determine what other species are around by identifying each rendition. I recall a time some years back when I first recognized a crossbill invasion was starting because the local mockingbird starting incorporated the "kip" notes of Red Crossbills! Bent (1948) quotes T. Gilbert Pearson who wrote that the mockingbird "revels in the glory of his vocal strength, and shouts his ringing challenge to the tree, the flowers, the very sky itself... However, it is at night that the Mockingbird is at this best. If he is the music-prince of the grove by day, he is the song-king of the lawn on moonlight nights!"
Four species of mockingbirds are in the genus Nesomimus and are restricted to the Galapagos Islands. This is the more widespread Galapagos Mockingbird (right), but the three others are endemic to one or two tiny islets each. These Galapagos birds are extremely unwary and bold, eagerly checking out humans for potential tidbits and sometimes landing on camera lens or boots! Given this behavior, several species have suffered from the introduction of non-native predators (rats, cats) and special efforts are underway to save some species from extinction.
Another cool thing about some of the northern mimids is their migration, which leads to navigation errors and vagrants. Eastern North American species such as the Gray Catbird or Brown Thrasher Toxostoma rufum occasionally turn up in California, where I live, and the widespread Great Basin species -- the Sage Thrasher (below) -- sometimes makes it to the coast in fall or winter. The young bird photographed below was hanging out among farm equipment and a fenceline at a local sewer pond...
Since mimids are New World species, and nearly all of them are found in North & Central America, I've done pretty well in finding a good selection. I recall that when I first started birding enthusiastically as a college freshman, I really craved a trip to Arizona to search for the fine thrashers shown in my Golden Guide field guide: Curve-billed T. curvirostre, Bendire's T. bendirei, LeConte's T. lecontei, and Crissal T. crissale. Today, of course, I've had many experiences with these species and now revel in successful efforts for such specialties as Ocellated Thrasher T. ocellatum (restricted to oak-pine highlands in or near the state of Oaxaca, Mexico) or the Cozumel Thrasher T. guttatum (endemic to Cozumel I. off the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico) or the endangered White-breasted Thrasher Ramphocinclus brachyurus (found only on the Lesser Antillean islands of St. Lucia and Martinique). Two other localized species are shown below: the Black Catbird (below left) -- restricted to coastal Yucatan Pen. & Cozumel Island -- and the Pearly-eyed Thrasher (below right) of the Caribbean (found from s. Bahamas/Hispaniola to the Lesser Antilles). The latter species seems to fill the "jay" niche in the Caribbean, being omnivorous (look at that bill!) and searching out other bird's nests for eggs or fledglings.
It was in the Caribbean islands of St. Lucia, St. Vincent, and Dominica that I encountered perhaps the strangest thrashers of all -- the two species of tremblers. This is the Brown Trembler (left), striking a characteristic stance with cocked tail. I had expected to find them in the undergrowth, like other thrashers, but these are arboreal specialists. They use their long thin bills to probe bromeliads and leaf-clusters in the canopy. The Brown Trembler prefers wet rain forest; the Gray Trembler Cinclocerthia gutturalis of St. Lucia & Martinique also extends into dryer woods. Both have the very odd habit of quivering their wings while at a perch -- "trembling" as it were -- but otherwise remaining remarkably unobtrusive. Their arboreal, probing activities reminded me of some long-billed foliage-gleaners in South America, but their trembling behavior was altogether unique. I really thought there was no way I'd get a photo of these canopy dwellers, but a pair was nest-building in the eaves at the entrance station/cafe at the "Emerald Pool" on Dominica, and I noted the birds used the same perch to fly to and from the hidden nest site. So I upturned a restaurant chair to use as a tripod and managed a few shots. The birds were entirely oblivious to hordes of tourists, brought by vans from their cruise ships, pouring into the entrance booth or eating at the cafe just below their nest.
The taxonomic relationships of the Mimidae are comparatively settled. They are biochemically related to starlings, and Sibley & Monroe (1990) emphasized this by placing them simply as a "tribe" among the starling family (Sturnidae). Morphological analysis confirms a closer relationship to starlings than to thrushes & allies (Beecher et al. 1953). The 7th ed. A.O.U. Check-list (1998), quite properly, place these distinctive birds in their own family but next to starlings. All authorities now appear to agree that there are 34 biological species among the mimids.
Photos: The California ThrasherToxostoma redivivum was singing in chaparral at Ft. Ord, Monterey County, California, on 29 Dec 1994. The Gray Catbird Dumetella carolinensis was in Everglades Nat'l Park, Florida, on 8 Jan 1999. The Bahama Mockingbird Mimus gundlachii was on San Salvador I., Bahamas, on 18 May 1983. The Galapagos Mockingbird Nesomimus parvulus was on Santa Cruz I., Galapagos, on 25 Sep 1989. The Sage Thrasher Oreoscoptes montanus was a vagrant to Salinas, Monterey County, California, on 14 Oct 1996. The Black Catbird Melanoptila glabrirostris was on Cozumel I., Mexico, on 2 Sep 1979. The Pearly-eyed Thrasher Margarops fuscatus was on the prowl at Cinnamon Bay, St. John I., U.S. Virgin Is., on 28 Aug 1979. The Brown TremblerCinclocerthia ruficauda was at the entrance to the "Emerald Pool" in the central highlands of Dominica on 24 Mar 2000. All photos © 2000 Don Roberson; all rights reserved.
Bibliographic note:
There is no "family book" of which I'm aware, so I gleaned information from Bent (1948) and my own experiences (some mentioned in Roberson & Tenney 1993). The Handbook of the Birds of the World series has not reached this family, but one suspects it will provide an outstanding overview in due course. An outstanding set of tapes of all the thrashers & mimids of the world is Hardy et al. (1987).
Literature cited:
American Ornithologists' Union. 1998. Check-list of North American Birds, 7th ed. A.O.U., Washington, D.C.TOP
Arnold, J. R. 1980. Distribution of the mockingbird in California. West. Birds 11: 97-102.
Beecher, W. J. 1953. A phylogeny of the oscines. Auk 70: 270-333.
Bent, A. C. 1948. Life histories of North American nuthatches, wrens, thrashers, and their allies. U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull. 195. Smithsonian Instit., Washington, D. C.
Hardy, J. W., Jr., J. C. Barlow, and B. B. Coffey, Jr. 1987. Voices of all the Mockingbirds, Thrashers & their Allies: Family Mimidae. Cassette tape. ARA records, Gainesville, FL.
Roberson, D., and C. Tenney, eds. 1993. Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Monterey County, California. Monterey Pen. Audubon Soc., Carmel.
Sibley, C. G., and B. L. Monroe, Jr. 1990. Distribution and Taxonomy of Birds of the World. Yale Univ. Press, New Haven, CT.
Page created 1 Apr 2000


text:
Sherman Oaks from Mulholland
This blog is about the Los Angeles neighborhood of Sherman Oaks. To vote for other Los Angeles neighborhoods (as many as you'd like) to be the subject of future entries, click here. To vote for Los Angeles County communities (again, as many as you'd like), vote here. Should you also like to see blog entries about Orange County communities, click here.
Pendersleigh & Sons' Official Map of Sherman Oaks
Sherman Oaks is a neighborhood located in the southern portion of the San Fernando Valley, surrounded by Van Nuys and Valley Glen to the north, Valley Village to the northeast, Studio City to the east, West Hollywood to the southeast, Beverly Crest and Bel-Air to the south, Brentwood to the southwest, Encino to the west, and the Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve to the northwest. For this episode I was joined by frequent traveling companion, Shimbles. It was a hot day, yet, for unknown reasons, he kept rolling up the windows so that he could listen to and sing along with the hits of Sugar Ray, Smashmouth and Collective Soul videos on his iPhone.


text:
I am trying to make a custom tool to Arcmap using Python. It is supposed to read in a raster DEM, a point shape file and a distance, and output another raster.
The output raster should be essentially the same as the input one. In the process however, I want to edit some the raster values according to a specified function, namely those that are within the input distance from a point in the point file.
The problem with my script is the saving part. I have two different approaches. Alt 1 is working in the meaning that I get an output file. However is the projection and transformation completely off and I'm not sure how to fix it. Alt 2 is my preferred approach, but i can't figure out how to write my array to a band in the file. Also I am not sure that the edits gets saved back to the array properly, at least they are not visible in the files I do get.
Python is still a bit new to me, so there might just be something simple that I've missed. I'm grateful for all the help i can get!
I'm using Arcmap 10.0 and Python 2.6 on Windows 7.
import os, sys, json, osgeo, arcpy, math, arcgisscripting, numpy
from osgeo import gdal, osr, ogr, gdal_array
from osgeo.gdalconst import *
inDEM = arcpy.GetParameterAsText(0) # .tif
Outlets = arcpy.GetParameterAsText(1) # Point shapefile
outDEM = arcpy.GetParameterAsText(2) # Path
buffr = arcpy.GetParameterAsText(3) # Value
# Register GDAL drivers
## Open the DEM
dem = gdal.Open(inDEM, GA_ReadOnly)
band1d = dem.GetRasterBand(1)
cols = dem.RasterXSize
rows = dem.RasterYSize
trf = dem.GetGeoTransform()
prj = dem.GetProjection()
driver = dem.GetDriver()
# Get info
band_info = arcpy.Describe(inDEM + '/Band_1')
nodata_dem = band_info.noDataValue
cellsz = band_info.meanCellHeight
area = int(buffr[0])
buffers = area/cellsz # The area around each chosen cell to use for calculations
# Convert to point file to raster
outlet_raster = 'testraster'
arcpy.env.overwriteOutput = True
arcpy.env.extent = inDEM
arcpy.PointToRaster_conversion(Outlets, "Enabled", outlet_raster, "MAXIMUM", "", cellsz)
arcpy.env.overwriteOutput = False
# Convert rasters to arrays (can probably be done in a more memory-efficient way)
outl_arr = arcpy.RasterToNumPyArray(outlet_raster, "", cols, rows, None)
nodata_o = outl_arr[0,0] # I know this is not the best way, but not an issue atm
f = numpy.argwhere(outl_arr != nodata_o)
dem_arr = arcpy.RasterToNumPyArray(inDEM, "", cols, rows, None)
# Create slope array
slope = []
x_list = numpy.arange(0,5,.01)
for i in x_list:
length = len(slope)
# Make modifications
non = []
for i in range(len(f)):
index = f[i]
if dem_arr[index[0], index[1]] != nodata_dem:
r_low = index[0] - buffers
r_up = index[0] + buffers +1
c_low = index[1] - buffers
c_up = index[1] + buffers +1
data = dem_arr[r_low:r_up, c_low:c_up]
dim = math.sqrt(numpy.size(data))
n1 = math.floor(dim/2)
for j1 in range(dim):
for j2 in range(dim):
n2 = data[j1,j2]
dist = math.sqrt((n1-j1)**2 + (n1-j2)**2)*cellsz
decr = length * dist / area
if decr < length and decr != 0 and n2 != nodata_dem:
data[j1,j2] = n2 + slope[int(math.floor(decr))]
elif decr == 0:
data[j1,j2] = n2 + slope[0]
elif decr == length:
data[j1,j2] = n2 + slope[-1]
dem_arr[r_low:r_up, c_low:c_up] = data
# Trying to save the changes Alt 1.
newraster = arcpy.NumPyArrayToRaster(dem_arr, "", inDEM, "", nodata_dem)
# Trying to save Alt 2.
newdem = driver.Create(outDEM, cols, rows, 1, gdal.GDT_Float32)
newband = newdem.GetRasterBand(1)
newband.WriteArray(dem_arr) #


text:
Thanks to modern technology, last weekend I was able to update what was happening on the Niigaki Risa FanClub Bus Tour through tweets and pictures. But thinking back, there's still a lot that I want to share and tell. So please allow me to start from the beginning, on Saturday morning when Day 1 started.
The ride from Osaka to Shizuoka is very, very long. We were kept busy for awhile with paper work, ID pass, and a VTR message from Niigaki. As we were finally nearing our first location, I noticed that Morning Musume's manger (@MornibngMusumeMg) was tweeting about Ikuta being on the bus and watching concert DVDs. I wasn't surprise to read that Ikuta came along the tour but the big question was, did they have a whole bus just for Ikuta?


text:
Next week Congress comes back from recess and the Senate will resume debates on the Farm Bill. While there are a number of possible amendments we have our eye on this year, especially those pertaining to the labeling of genetically engineered food, support for organic farmers, and a repeal of the "Monsanto Protection Act," there's one amendment in particular that we're expecting to receive a ton of buzz: Senator Boxer's pollinator protection amendment.
Over the past decade, honey bees and other pollinators have been suffering record-high population losses. Given that one in every three bites of food is reliant on bees and other species for pollination, the decline of pollinators demands swift action; our agricultural economy, food supply and environment depend on their well-being. Thankfully, Senator Barbara Boxer's (D-CA) introduction of amendment (S. 1027) to the Farm Bill would be a step in the right direction towards protecting honey bees and other pollinators if passed.
What exactly would this amendment require the government to do?
Amendment 1027 would help to ensure the long-term viability of populations of honey bees, wild bees, and other beneficial insects through several initiatives, including:
Why Should Congress Support Pollinator Protection in the Farm Bill?
Pollinator losses represent a serious threat to the agricultural industry and food security. Pollination services are critical to global agricultural production, valued at over $125 billion annually. In the United States, pollination contributes to crop production worth $20-30 billion to our agricultural economy annually. A single beekeeper pollinating almonds, blueberries, pumpkins, apples, and cherries contributes an estimated value of $5 million to the agricultural economy. Of the 100 crops that provide 90 percent of the world's food, over 70 are pollinated by bees. In North America, honey bees pollinate nearly 95 kinds of fruits, including many specialty crops like almonds, avocados, cranberries, oranges and apples.
Honey bees are declining at record-high rates. Reports nationwide have consistently documented bee kills between 50 -70 percent this year, with some beekeepers losing 100 percent of their operations. A recent government-sponsored survey indicated that on average, U.S. beekeepers lost 45.1 percent of the colonies in their operation during the winter of 2012/2013.
Native pollinator species and other beneficial insects are also declining at alarming rates. Besides honey bees, there are thousands of other pollinating species that the government needs to protect, including, numerous U.S. native bees, butterflies, ladybugs and lacewings, dragonflies, hoverflies, and several critical bird and bat species. Some of these species are experiencing declines worse than those faced by honey bees. The loss of native pollinators is a threat to agriculture as well. Billions in annual farm income could be lost given the bee's importance to numerous specialty crops from tomato and pumpkin patches to fruit trees and California's almond industry.
Bees are an indicator species for a healthy and sustainable food system. We are now experiencing the worst die-offs of commercial bee colonies since colony collapse began. This is a clear message that we need to be doing more to protect critical pollinating species. In May 2013, USDA and EPA released a joint report concluding that there are a multitude of factors contributing to the rapid decline of honeybees and that more research is needed. This amendment would help meet that goal and push the process along.
While the Farm Bill debates continue to be a rollercoaster of upsets and victories for small farmers, conservation groups and other stakeholders, it is important to remember that this five-year bill affects all of us, and all of us will be affected by the devastating pollinator losses plaguing our nation. It is crucial that we take whatever steps we can, however small they may be, to work towards protecting these critical species and our future food security. The Senate will resume voting on amendments next week, so please take action today and urge your Senator to support the Pollinator Protection Amendment!
Image: hkratky / 123RF Stock Photo


text:
The Adrian Leeds Group®
Your Complete Solution to a New Home in France
Adrian Leeds Group® provides comprehensive property services for Anglophones who desire to live, work, or invest in France.
Let our team of experts assist you with every aspect of investing in property – from locating the property to contract-signing, finding financing, renovating and decorating, setting up utilities, and then renting the property on a long-term basis. You may also wish to list your property with us for resale.
To enrich your experience in Paris, Nice and France…


text:
Bat found in Lexington tests positive for rabies
Health officials in Lexington are advising residents to be sure their pets' rabies vaccinations are up to date after a bat there tested positive for the disease.
The Lexington Fayette County Health Department says the bat was found in a home in the eastern part of the city. Officials say it doesn't appear there was contact between the bat and neighborhood animals but say residents should still keep an eye on pets. Early rabies symptoms include behavior change, chewing at bite site, fever and appetite loss.
Health officials warn against handling a bat to minimize the risk of contracting rabies.
Officials say anyone who finds a dead bat in the home and can't rule out possible human exposure should contact the Division of Environmental Health and Protection at (859) 231-9791.