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Rick Van de Poll, PhD
Dr. Rick Van de Poll provides quality inventories, assessments, and knowledge of our natural resources to promote biodiversity conservation in New England for the public and private sector. In 1988 he founded Ecosystem Management Consultants of New England, LLC and since then has inventoried over 350,000 acres. Dr. Van de Poll sets the standard with his innovative contributions to the environmental field and was the first to develop a PhD program in Natural Resource Inventory. Rick is highly influential with State and Federal agencies and his unparalleled expertise is sought after throughout New England and New York. He has appeared on TV, radio and as a keynote speaker on various ecological topics.
Who I Am.
More About Dr. Rick.
Dr. Rick Van de Poll is the principal of Ecosystem Management Consultants (EMC) of Sandwich, New Hampshire. Beginning in the mid-1980's, his company was one of the first to perform natural resource inventories for the public and private sector of New England. With an emphasis on biodiversity conservation, EMC has conducted land assessments and completed management plans for local and state land trusts, state and federal agencies, municipalities, and private individuals. Dr. Van de Poll has completed field-based biological inventories on over 350,000 acres of land, including the Castle-in-the-Clouds Preserve in Moultonborough, the Hersey Mountain Preserve in Sanbornton and New Hampton, the Peirce Reservation in Stoddard, and the Lake Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge in Errol. He has completed natural resource inventories in 78 municipalities in NH, 12 municipalities in VT, 12 municipalities in ME, 8 municipalities in MA, and 3 municipalities in NY.
During his natural resource inventory work, he has recorded over 1600 mushrooms in New Hampshire, including a number of undescribed species. After studying with Dr. Harry Thiers at San Francisco State University for 2 years, he taught Mycology at Antioch New England from 1985 to 2001, and then Mycology as an adjunct faculty at Plymouth State University from 2003 – 2007. As a mycology instructor, Rick has presented dozens of walks and workshops throughout New England for the past 30 years. In 1988, he co-founded the Monadnock Mushroom Club in the southwest part of the state, and in 2001 he founded the local Sandwich Area Mushroom (SAM) Club in the Lakes Region of NH.
In the field of land use development, Dr. Van de Poll has worked primarily in the field of wetland science. He is a state-certified wetland scientist and served on the NH Joint Board of Natural Scientists for two terms (10 years), including one term as Chairman. He is a founding member of the NH Association of Wetland Scientists (now the NH Association of Natural Resource Scientists), and served as Vice-President, Education & Research Committee Chair, and Wildlife Discipline Chair. He has worked on dozens of subdivision projects since 1990, and has provided mitigation and restoration plans for residential and commercial development, including five building projects for Wal-Mart.
Dr. Van de Poll has assisted a large number of municipalities with development projects from both the conservation side and the development side, and strives to seek a balance of appropriate "smart growth" types of development alongside suitable conservation initiatives. He has written zoning ordinances and master plan chapters for six municipalities on the subject of wetlands and water resources. Recently he co-authored the revised 'Method for the Inventory and Evaluation of Freshwater Wetlands in New Hampshire' (UNHCE & NHDES 2011). He is the past Chair the Conservation Commissions of Sandwich, NH and Sullivan, NH. He also served two terms on the Board of the NH Association of Conservation Commissions.
Education and Employment.
1996: (Ph.D.) The Union Institute – Cincinnati, OH Specialization: Natural Resource
Management; Dissertation: "Natural and Cultural Resource Inventories: A Guide to
Comprehensive (Level III) Methods for Private Landowners in New England"
1985-86: (MST) Antioch New England Graduate School – Keene, NH Emphasis:
Environmental Science; Natural Resource Inventory; Conservation Biology
1984-85: (MS in part) San Francisco State University – San Francisco, CA
Emphasis: Mycology and Lichenology
1974-77: (BA) The Evergreen State College – Olympia, WA Emphasis: Outdoor
Education and Counseling.
1971-72: (BA in part) Middlebury College – Middlebury, VT
2003 – 2008: Adjunct Faculty, Plymouth State University, Plymouth, NH Courses developed and taught: Freshwater Biology Seminar, Summer Science Institute in Freshwater Ecology, Mycology, Wetlands (Graduate Division)
1985 – 2001: Associate / Core Faculty, Antioch University New England, Keene, NH.
Courses offered: Wetlands Flora, Wetlands Delineation, Natural Resource Inventory, New England Flora, Mycology, Lichenology, Non-flowering Plants, Alpine Flora, Coastal Ecology, Tropical Ecology, Desert Ecology, Ecology of the Pacific Northwest, Tropical Ecology of the Galapagos and the Central Andes.
1990 – July, 2001: Director, Field Studies Program, Antioch New England Graduate School, Keene, NH. Oversaw and administered off-campus Field Ecology courses: Agroecology of the Italian Alps, Galapagos Ecology, Tropical Ecology (Costa Rica), Coral Reef Ecology (Caribbean), Wolf Ecology (MN), Desert Ecology (US/MEX), Ecology of the Pacific Northwest (WA), Coastal Birds (MA), Coastal Ecology (ME, MA), Pine Barrens Ecology (NJ), Marine Ecology (ME).
1988 – present: Principal, Ecosystem Management Consultants of New England, LLC, Center Sandwich, NH. Oversee the operation of an environmental consulting firm that provides natural resource inventories, wildlife assessments, and land use planning for the public and private sector. Conduct wetland delineations & evaluations; draft ordinances, provide written and oral testimony on municipal issues; supervise employees in research and education; teach environmental education
2005 – 2016: Environmental Education Director, Otter Brook Farm, Peterborough, NH. Conducted research and coordinated environmental education activities for two middle schools, one high school Envirothon team, and one pre-school. Worked with Harris Center for Conservation Education in coordinating in-class & field activities.
2009 – 2018: Land Steward Monitor, Sweet Water Trust, Sheffield, MA. Conducted annual monitoring of 15,000-acre Shingle Shanty Preserve & Research Station (Adirondacks, NY), 11,500-acre Vickie Bunnell Preserve (NH), and 1600-acre West Mountain Preserve (VT)
2002 – 2004: Academic Consultant, Plymouth State College, Plymouth, NH. Provided planning assistance in the development of the Center for the Environment; organized science faculty contributions, advised on curriculum development; initiated and taught an annual, one-week science camp for teachers
1990 – August 2001: Director, Antioch New England Environmental Studies Contracts, Keene, NH. Conducted community service projects for the Environmental Studies Department in environmental education and natural resource inventory & management. Administered contracts, hired and supervised students and wrote reports.
Certifications & Service.
Certified Wetland Scientist #110, State of NH, Joint Board of Natural Scientists
Wetland Delineator Certification – Army Corps of Engineers (1987 Manual)
Northeastern Naturalist
New England Wildflower Society
2007 – present: NH Method Wetland Assessment Working Group
2007 – present: NH Fish & Game Department Wildlife Action Plan Revision Task Force
2006 – present: Governor-appointed member of Site Selection Committee for Aquatic Resource Mitigation Fund, NHACC representative
1998 – 2008: Governor appointed (Chair) NH Board of Natural Scientists, 2 terms
1998 – 2004: Wetlands Bio-monitoring Assessment Working Group, US Environmental Protection Agency, Region 1.
2003 – 2004: Squam Lakes Natural Science Center Advisory Board
1998 – 2001: Board of Directors, NH Association of Conservation Commissions
1997 – 1998: Deer, Moose & Bear Task Force, NH Fish Game Department
1996 – 1998: Army Corps HGM Wetlands Assessment Work Group
1996 – 2000: Ecological Reserves Steering Committee (NH) of the UNH Cooperative Extension Living Legacy Project, Scientific Advisory Group
2018 – present: Tin Mountain Conservation Center, Honorary Board Member
2013 – present: Squam Lakes Conservation Society Lands Committee
2012 – present: NH Land Trust Coalition, Outreach & Education Committee
2007 – present: NH Association of Natural Resource Scientists, Legislative Comm.
2002 – 2010: Board of Directors, Northeast Wilderness Trust (President 2002-2007)
2002 – 2010: Chair, Sandwich Conservation Commission
2001 – present: founder, director of Sandwich Area Mushroom Club
1996 – present: Member, NH Task Force, New England Plant Conservation Program
1991 – present: Board of Trustees, Northeast Mycological Federation
1997 – 2001: Ashuelot River Watershed Association Steering Committee
1992 – 2001: Natural Resources Advisory Comm., SW Reg. Planning Commission, NH
1992 – 2000: Vice-President, New England Chapter, Society of Wetland Scientists
1989 – 1994: Board of Directors, NH Association of Wetland Scientists
1988 – 1998: Chairperson, Town of Sullivan Conservation Commission
1988 – 1998: Co-founder & President, Monadnock Mushroomers Unlimited
Selected Contract Experience
* 2013 – present: Northwood Area Land Management Collaborative – conducting "current condition summary" of 2646 acres of land in Northwood and Deerfield, NH for public-private collaborative of 18 landowners; preparing background documents for ecosystem-based management plan to assist landowners in joint stewardship of critical upper Lamprey River watershed area
* 2013 – 2014: Springfield Wetlands Project – completed comprehensive mapping of wetlands in town of Springfield; assisted with revisions to the existing wetlands ordinance; identified 161 probable vernal pools & provided guidance on recognizing vernal pools; provided wetland education at regional high school; currently providing rapid evaluation of major wetland complexes http://www.uvlsrpc.org/
* 2011 – present: Ossipee Mountain Preserve Ecological Monitoring – completed baseline documentation reports on two expansion tracts in Ossipee Mountains for Lakes Region Conservation Trust; currently conducting 10-year interval monitoring of wildlife and natural communities on entire 3,400 acre preserve
*2013 – 2014: Squam Uplands Rapid Ecological Assessment – completed 9-month assessment of 1465 acres in uplands region NW of Squam Lake for Squam Lakes Conservation Society; coordinated project review, completed BDR's, wrote case statement for expansion of conservation focus area
*2011 – 2013: Grantham Wetland Inventory & Assessment Project – completed comprehensive aerial and roadside survey of all wetlands in Grantham, NH, as well as revised NH Method evaluation of 54 significant wetlands; coordinated 22 town volunteers and conservation commission members; prepared and presented final report; testified at several town hearings regarding proposed prime wetlands http://www.granthamnh.net/
* 2011 – 2014: Town of Center Harbor, NH Prime Wetlands Mapping Update – utilized NRI completed in 2011 to update prime wetlands mapping for six prime wetlands; presented at Town hearings and assisted in registering wetland with state of NH. http://www.centerharbornh.org/; currently assisting with rewrite and passage of Water Resources Ordinance
*2011 – 2013: Twin Pines Housing Trust Rivermere Affordable Housing Project – Assisted TPHT to obtain grant assistance through the Northern New England Housing Investment Fund by providing wetlands and shorelands permitting guidance in Lebanon, NH; performed delineation & site assessment for project; completed storm damage assessment and assisted with restoration plan
* 2010 – 2012: Wildwood Property NRI & Management Plan, Dublin, NH – completed 20-year monitoring of natural resources at 1400-acre property; updated comprehensive, compartment-based management plan for private landowner
*2010 – 2011: Pleasant Mountain Preserve EA, Bridgton & Denmark, ME – completed comprehensive ecological assessment of wildlife, rare plants, and ecological communities on 1500-acre Phase I property and 736-acre Phase II (pending sale) property of the Loon Echo Land Trust; found one new and one state historic rare plant for Maine; documented 28 occurrences of 16 rare plants on mountain
*2010 – 2011: Hebron Town Forest NRI & Management Plan, Hebron, NH – conducted rapid ecological assessment of 453-acre public property; presented findings to town; worked with town forester to compile management plan
* 2009 – present: Wetlands Restoration & Conservation Project, Webster Lake, NH – completed 850-acre conservation easement on four parcels through Wetlands Reserve Program (NRCS); currently coordinating flood storage and aquatic life passage restoration on all properties to improve WQ of impaired Webster Lake
* 2009 – 2011: Town of Meredith Prime & Designated Wetlands Project – remapped prime and proposed designated wetlands in town, and coordinated passage of town-wide ordinance to approve modified prime & designated wetlands http://www.meredithnh.org/
* 2009 – 2011: Town of Center Harbor, NH Natural Resources Inventory – mapped and described major natural resources of town; completed aerial photo mapping of all wetlands; assessed and submitted documentation on six prime wetlands to state; wrote NR Chapter of master plan; submitted final report for town. http://www.centerharbornh.org/
* 2008 – 2010: City of Lebanon Natural Resources Inventory Phase II – mapped and assessed all wetlands, documented wildlife species & corridors, determined high-value co-occurrence areas, assessed steep slopes, presented findings to the City [http://planning.lebnh.net/]; currently assisting with wildlife corridor analysis to integrate with City's 'green infrastructure'
* 2008 – 2009: Town of Hanover Mink Brook Highlands Assessment – conducted NRI assessment of 650-acre area that is currently subject to development proposals; performed 4-season wildlife and natural communities assessment, mapped wetlands
* 2007 – 2009: Effingham Wildlife Action Plan Implementation Project – conducted comprehensive review of wildlife and wildlife habitats in Effingham, updated Wildlife Action Plan at local level, and coordinated conservation of significant wildlife habitat in Effingham; conducted intensive sampling for critically imperiled species of mammals, birds, reptiles, fishes, amphibians, dragonflies & damselflies, and moths in selected wetland and upland habitats. Presented final report and assisted Conservation Commission with education outreach & conservation.
*2007 – 2009: Meredith Natural Resource Inventory – Phase II – conducted field-based survey of high-value co-occurrence areas established during Phase I NRI; completed 40% field-based, 60% office-based mapping of 7 prime wetlands; assessed wildlife habitat and identified wildlife corridors in town; wrote/presented reports http://www.meredithnh.org/
*2006 – 2008: Squam Range Ecological Inventory and Conservation Planning – wrote 3 grant proposals and received funding for 2-year EA in 20,000-acre area north of Squam Lake; worked with Plymouth State University graduate students and the Squam Lakes Conservation Society to monitor permanent plots, conduct primary research on threatened species, identify significant ecological areas, and make recommendations for management and conservation of land resources.
* 2005 – 2007: Effingham Wetlands Protection Project – wrote proposal and received 'Moose Plate' grant to map 90% of the wetlands in Effingham using 1998 digital aerial photographs and field surveys, identifying them by cover class, and assessing them in the field using the 'N.H. Method.' Project included the creation of a strategic wetland conservation plan for the Town
* 2003 – 2006: Town of Meredith Natural Resource Inventory – Phase I – conducted comprehensive GIS map review and 'windshield survey' of town's natural resources, completed API of all wetlands, developed GIS 'co-occurrence' overlays and attribute assessment model; Phase II – conducting field verification of NRI data.
* 2003 – 2005: Bear Pond Natural Area NRI – served on team of scientists that researched the natural resource attributes of a 925-acre property in Canaan, N.H., for the Mascoma Watershed Conservation Committee. Performed the plant, mammal, and fungi inventory portion of the project.
* 2003 – 2004: Lake Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge – conducted biological assessment of macro-invertebrates of 19,000-acre refuge for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, assessed effects of annual drawdown of 8900-acre lake, and provided assistance in the development of the Comprehensive Conservation Plan.
* 2002 – 2004: Castle-in-the-Clouds Bio-Inventory – performed a comprehensive inventory and assessment of the 5600-acre Castle property in Moultonborough and Tuftonboro, NH for the Lakes Region Conservation Trust; identified old growth areas, rare & endangered species, plus flora and fauna for management purposes.
* 2001 – 2002: Squam Lakes Watershed Bio-Inventory – conducted first year of long-term monitoring project in the 41,000-acre Squam Lakes area of central NH; compiled data base and annotated review of existing literature; prepared long-term ecological monitoring plan for 35 permanent plots, completed comprehensive assessment of plants, animals, water quality, and ecosystems for Squam Lakes Association.
* 2001 – 2002: Remick Museum Ecological Inventory – completed a comprehensive natural resource inventory of the 410-acre Remick Museum properties in Tamworth, N.H. Wrote management plan and nature trail guide for 2.5-mile nature trail. Assisted Farm staff in managing land and offering educational workshops.
* 2001 – 2002: Holt Pond Preserve Rapid Ecological Assessment – conducted a GIS and field survey of the 400+ acre Holt Pond Preserve in Bridgton, Maine for the Lakes Environmental Association (LEA). Established monitoring plots, wetland assessment, species accounts, and educational materials for outreach efforts of LEA.
* 2000 – 2001 Nelson Priority Conservation Plan – Prepared GIS review of all natural and cultural resource attributes of the 14,452-acre town; drafted attribute assessment model based on LCIP & LCHIP criteria; assessed 38 parcels within high quality ecological areas; advised on conservation initiatives for selected parcels.
* 1999 – 2001: Ossipee Mountain Preserve Bio-Inventory – Completed two-year natural resource inventory of the +/- 3000 acre Lakes Region Conservation Trust land on part of the Ossipee ring dike; conducted rare & endangered species assessments, mammal tracking, natural community mapping, releve' plot analysis, and bird, reptile and amphibian surveys; prepared management plan for this wildlands area
* 1999 – 2000: Amherst Wetlands Assessment – Completed 'NH Method' evaluation of all wetlands > 1 acre in Amherst, NH; trained 28 volunteers, supervised 4 Antioch interns; prepared and presented summary analysis for nominating prime wetlands through the NH DES Wetlands Bureau; assisted Town in preparing ordinance revision requiring water resource management plans for all proposed impacts in project area (passed 3/12/01)


text:
GRASS and Python
(for discussions on the new GRASS GUI, see here)
- 1 Python SIGs
- 2 Writing Python scripts in GRASS
- 2.1 Creating Python scripts that call GRASS functionality from outside
- 2.2 Running external commands from Python
- 2.3 Examples
- 2.3.1 Display example
- 2.3.2 Parsing the options and flags
- 2.3.3 Example for embedding r.mapcalc (map algebra)
- 2.3.4 Example for parsing category numbers
- 2.3.5 Example for getting the region's number of rows and columns
- 2.3.6 Managing mapsets
- 2.3.7 r.mapcalc example
- 2.3.8 Using output from GRASS modules in the script
- 2.3.9 Calling a GRASS module in Python
- 2.3.10 Path to GISDBASE
- 3 Python extensions for GRASS GIS
- 3.1 wxPython GUI development for GRASS
- 3.2 GRASS Python Scripting Library
- 3.3 Python Ctypes Interface
- 3.4 Python SWIG interface
- 3.5 Python-GRASS add-ons
- 3.6 Using GRASS gui.tcl in Python
- 5 Links
Python SIGs
Python Special Interest Groups are focused collaborative efforts to develop, improve, or maintain specific Python resources. Each SIG has a charter, a coordinator, a mailing list, and a directory on the Python website. SIG membership is informal, defined by subscription to the SIG's mailing list. Anyone can join a SIG, and participate in the development discussions via the SIG's mailing list. Below is the list of currently active Python SIGs, with links to their resources.
See more at http://www.python.org/community/sigs/
Writing Python scripts in GRASS
Python is a programming language which is more powerful than shell scripting but easier and more forgiving than C. The Python script can contain simple module description definitions which will be processed with g.parser, as shown in the example below. In this way with no extra coding a GUI can be built, inputs checked, and a skeleton help page can be generated automatically. In addition it adds links to the GRASS message translation system. For code which needs access to the power of C, you can access the GRASS C library functions via the SWIG interface (note 7/2010: swig stuff to be superseded with 'ctypes' soon).
- GRASS Python interface to library functions: http://grass.osgeo.org/programming6/swig/
- GRASS Python scripting library: http://grass.osgeo.org/programming6/pythonlib.html
Code style: Have a look at SUBMITTING_PYTHON.
Creating Python scripts that call GRASS functionality from outside
In order to use GRASS from outside, some environment variables have to be set.
GISBASE= C:\GRASS-64 GISRC= C:\Documents and Settings\user\.grassrc6 LD_LIBRARY_PATH= C:\GRASS-64\lib PATH= C:\GRASS-64\etc;C:\GRASS-64\etc\python;C:\GRASS-64\lib;C:\GRASS-64\bin;C:\GRASS-64\extralib;C:\GRASS-64\msys\bin;C:\Python26; PYTHONLIB= C:\Python26 PYTHONPATH= C:\GRASS-64\etc\python GRASS_SH= C:\GRASS-64\msys\bin\sh.exe
Some hints:
- The Python interpreter (python.exe) needs to be in the PATH
- Python needs to be associated with the .py extension
- PATHEXT needs to include .py if you want to be able to omit the extension
- PYTHONPATH needs to be set to %WINGISBASE%\etc\python
1-3 should be taken care of by the Python installer. 4 needs to be done by the startup (currently, this doesn't appear to be the case on MS-Windows).
Currently (as of 22 Feb 2011) if you want to use Python for scripting GRASS on Windows, the best solution is to delete the bundled version of Python 2.5 from the GRASS installation, install Python and the required add-ons (wxPython, NumPy, PyWin32) from their official installers, then edit the GRASS start-up script to remove any references to the bundled version.
The variables are set like this:
export GISBASE="/usr/local/grass-6.4.svn/" export PATH="$PATH:$GISBASE/bin:$GISBASE/scripts" export LD_LIBRARY_PATH="$LD_LIBRARY_PATH:$GISBASE/lib" # for parallel session management, we use process ID (PID) as lock file number: export GIS_LOCK=$$ # path to GRASS settings file export GISRC="$HOME/.grassrc6"
Running external commands from Python
For information on running external commands from Python, see: http://docs.python.org/lib/module-subprocess.html
Avoid using the older os.* functions. Section 17.1.3 lists equivalents using the Popen() interface, which is more robust (particularly on Windows).
Display example
Example of Python script, which is processed by g.parser:
#!/usr/bin/env python
# MODULE: d.shadedmap
# AUTHOR(S): Unknown; updated to GRASS 5.7 by Michael Barton
# Converted to Python by Glynn Clements
# PURPOSE: Uses d.his to drape a color raster over a shaded relief map
# COPYRIGHT: (C) 2004,2008,2009 by the GRASS Development Team
# This program is free software under the GNU General Public
# License (>=v2). Read the file COPYING that comes with GRASS
# for details.
#% description: Drapes a color raster over a shaded relief map using d.his
#% key: reliefmap
#% type: string
#% gisprompt: old,cell,raster
#% description: Name of shaded relief or aspect map
#% required : yes
#% key: drapemap
#% type: string
#% gisprompt: old,cell,raster
#% description: Name of raster to drape over relief map
#% required : yes
#% key: brighten
#% type: integer
#% description: Percent to brighten
#% options: -99-99
#% answer: 0
import sys
from grass.script import core as grass
def main():
drape_map = options['drapemap']
relief_map = options['reliefmap']
brighten = options['brighten']
ret = grass.run_command("d.his", h_map = drape_map, i_map = relief_map, brighten = brighten)
if __name__ == "__main__":
options, flags = grass.parser()
Parsing the options and flags
grass.parser() is an interface to g.parser, and allows to parse the options and flags passed to your script on the command line. It is to be called at the top-level:
if __name__ == "__main__":
options, flags = grass.parser()
Global variables "options" and "flags" are Python dictionaries containing the options/flags values, keyed by lower-case option/flag names. The values in "options" are strings, those in "flags" are Python booleans. All those variables have to be previously declared in the header of your script.
>>> options, flags = grass.parser()
>>> options
{'input': 'my_map', 'output': 'map_out', 'option1': '21.472', 'option2': ''}
>>> flags
{'c': True, 'm': False}
Example for embedding r.mapcalc (map algebra)
grass.mapcalc() accepts a template string followed by keyword arguments for the substitutions, e.g. (code snippets):
grass.mapcalc("${out} = ${rast1} + ${rast2}",
out = options['output'],
rast1 = options['raster1'],
rast2 = options['raster2'])
Best practice: first copy all of the options[] into separate variables at the beginning of main(), i.e.:
def main():
output = options['output']
raster1 = options['raster1']
raster2 = options['raster2']
grass.mapcalc("${out} = ${rast1} + ${rast2}",
out = output,
rast1 = raster1,
rast2 = raster2)
Example for parsing category numbers
Q: How to obtain the number of cells of a certain category?
A: It is recommended to use pipe_command() and parse the output, e.g.:
p = grass.pipe_command('r.stats',flags='c',input='map')
result = {}
for line in p.stdout:
val,count = line.strip().split()
result[int(val)] = int(count)
Example for getting the region's number of rows and columns
Q: How to obtain the number of rows and columns of the current region?
A: It is recommended to use the "grass.region()" function which will create a dictionary with values for extents and resolution, e.g.:
#!/usr/bin/env python
#-*- coding:utf-8 -*-
# MODULE: g.region.resolution
# AUTHOR(S): based on a post at GRASS-USER mailing list [1]
# PURPOSE: Parses "g.region -g", prints out number of rows, cols
# COMMENT: ...a lot of comments to be easy-to-read for/by beginners
#% description: Print number of rows, cols of current geographic region
#% keywords: region
# importing required modules
import sys # the sys module [2]
from grass.script import core as grass # the core module [3]
# information about imported modules can be obtained using the dir() function
# e.g.: dir(sys)
# define the "main" function: get number of rows, cols of region
def main():
# #######################################################################
# the following commented code works but is kept only for learning purposes
## assigning the output of the command "g.region -g" in a string called "return_rows_x_cols"
# return_rows_x_cols = grass.read_command('g.region', flags = 'g')
## parsing arguments of interest (rows, cols) in a dictionary named "rows_x_cols"
# rows_x_cols = grass.parse_key_val(return_rows_x_cols)
## selectively print rows, cols from the dictionary "rows_x_cols"
# print 'rows=%d \ncols=%d' % (int(rows_x_cols['rows']), int(rows_x_cols['cols']))
# #######################################################################
# faster/ easier way: use of the "grass.region()" function
gregion = grass.region()
rows = gregion['rows']
cols = gregion['cols']
# print rows, cols properly formated
print 'rows=%d \ncols=%d' % (rows, cols)
# this "if" condition instructs execution of code contained in this script, *only* if the script is being executed directly
if __name__ == "__main__": # this allows the script to be used as a module in other scripts or as a standalone script
options, flags = grass.parser() #
sys.exit(main()) #
# Links
# [1] http://n2.nabble.com/Getting-rows-cols-of-a-region-in-a-script-tp2787474p2787509.html
# [2] http://www.python.org/doc/2.5.2/lib/module-sys.html
# [3] http://download.osgeo.org/grass/grass6_progman/pythonlib.html#pythonCore
Managing mapsets
To check if a certain mapset exists in the active location, use:
... returns a list of mapsets in the current location.
r.mapcalc example
Example of Python script, which is processed by g.parser:
The shell script line:
r.mapcalc "MASK = if(($cloudResampName < 0.01000),1,null())"
would be written like this:
import grass.script as grass
grass.mapcalc("MASK=if(($cloudResampName < 0.01000),1,null())",
cloudResampName = cloudResampName)
The first argument to the mapcalc function is a template (see the Python library documentation for string.Template). Any keyword arguments (other than quiet, verbose or overwrite) specify substitutions.
Using output from GRASS modules in the script
Sometimes you need to use the output of a module for the next step. There are dedicated functions to obtain the result of, for example, a statistical analysis.
Example: get the range of a raster map and use it in r.mapcalc. Here you can use
grass.script.raster_info(), e.g.:
import grass.script as grass
max = grass.raster_info(inmap)['max']
grass.mapcalc("$outmap = $inmap / $max",
inmap = inmap, outmap = outmap, max = max)
Calling a GRASS module in Python
Imagine, you wanted to execute this command in Python:
r.profile -g input=mymap output=newfile profile=12244.256,-295112.597,12128.012,-295293.77
All arguments except the first (which is a flag) are keyword arguments, i.e. arg = val. For the flag, use flags = 'g' (note that "-g" would be the negative of a Python variable named "g"!). So:
input = input_map,
output = output_file,
profile = [12244.256,-295112.597,12128.012,-295293.77]
profile = [(12244.256,-295112.597),(12128.012,-295293.77)]
i.e. you need to provide the keyword, and the argument must be a valid Python expression. Function
run_command() etc accept lists and tuples.
Differences between run_command() and read_command():
- run_command() executes the command and waits for it to terminate; it doesn't redirect any of the standard streams.
- read_command() executes the command with stdout redirected to a pipe, and reads everything written to it. Once the command terminates, it returns the data written to stdout as a string.
How to retrieve error messages from read_command():
None of the existing *_command functions redirect stderr. You can do so with e.g.:
def read2_command(*args, **kwargs):
kwargs['stdout'] = grass.PIPE
kwargs['stderr'] = grass.PIPE
ps = grass.start_command(*args, **kwargs)
return ps.communicate()
This behaves like read_command() except that it returns a tuple of (stdout,stderr) rather than just stdout.
Path to GISDBASE
In order to a avoid hardcoded paths to GRASS mapset files like the SQLite DB file, you can get the GISDBASE variable from the environment:
import grass.script as grass
import os.path
env = grass.gisenv()
gisdbase = env['GISDBASE']
location = env['LOCATION_NAME']
mapset = env['MAPSET']
path = os.path.join(gisdbase, location, mapset, 'sqlite.db')
Python extensions for GRASS GIS
wxPython GUI development for GRASS
- See the wxGUI wiki page
GRASS Python Scripting Library
See GRASS Python Scripting Library (Programmer's manual). See also Converting Bash scripts to Python, and sample Python scripts in GRASS 7
Uses for read, feed and pipe, start and exec commands
All of the *_command functions use make_command to construct a command line for a program which uses the GRASS parser. Most of them then pass that command line to subprocess.Popen() via start_command(), except for exec_command() which uses os.execvpe().
[To be precise, they use grass.Popen(), which just calls subprocess.Popen() with shell=True on Windows and shell=False otherwise. On Windows, you need to use shell=True to be able to execute scripts (including batch files); shell=False only works with binary executables.]
start_command() separates the arguments into those which subprocess.Popen() understands and the rest. The rest are passed to make_command() to construct a command line which is passed as the "args" parameter to subprocess.Popen().
In other words, start_command() is a GRASS-oriented interface to subprocess.Popen(). It should be suitable for any situation where you would use subprocess.Popen() to execute a normal GRASS command (one which uses the GRASS parser, which is almost all of them; the main exception is r.mapcalc in 6.x).
Most of the others are convenience wrappers around start_command(), for common use cases.
- run_command() calls the wait() method on the process, so it doesn't return until the command has finished, and returns the command's exit code. Similar to system().
- pipe_command() calls start_command() with stdout=PIPE and returns the process object. You can use the process' .stdout member to read the command's stdout. Similar to popen(..., "r").
- feed_command() calls start_command() with stdin=PIPE and returns the process object. You can use the process' .stdin member to write to the command's stdout. Similar to popen(..., "w")
- read_command() calls pipe_command(), reads the data from the command's stdout, and returns it as a string. Similar to `backticks` in the shell.
- write_command() calls feed_command(), sends the string specified by the "stdin" argument to the command's stdin, waits for the command to finish and returns its exit code. Similar to "echo ... | command".
- parse_command() calls read_command() and parses its output as key-value pairs. Useful for obtaining information from g.region, g.proj, r.info, etc.
- exec_command() doesn't use start_command() but os.execvpe(). This causes the specified command to replace the current program (i.e. the Python script), so exec_command() never returns. Similar to bash's "exec" command. This can be useful if the script is a "wrapper" around a single command, where you construct the command line and execute the command as the final step.
If you have any other questions, you might want to look at the code ($GISBASE/etc/python/grass/script/core.py). Most of these functions are only a few lines long.
Interfacing with NumPy
Glynn writes:
The grass.script.array module defines a class array which is a subclass of numpy.memmap with
.read() and
.write() methods to read/write the underlying file via r.out.bin/r.in.bin.
import grass.script.array as garray
a = garray.array()
b = garray.array()
b[...] = (a / 50).astype(int) * 50 # or whatever
The size of the array is taken from the current region.
The main drawback of using numpy is that you're limited by available
memory. Using a subclass of
numpy.memmap lets you use files which may
be much larger, but processing the entire array in one go is likely to
produce in-memory results of a similar size.
One may also use the scipy matlab interface:
### SH: in GRASS ### r.out.mat input=elevation output=elev.mat
import scipy.io as sio
# load data
elev = sio.loadmat('elev.mat')
# retrive the actual array. the data set contains also the spatial reference
data = elev.get('map_data')
# a first simple plot
import pylab
# the contour plot
# obviously data needs to ne reversed
import numpy as np
data_rev = data[::-1]
# => this is a quick plot. basemap mapping may provide a nicer map!
Python Ctypes Interface
This interface allows calling GRASS library functions from Python scripts. See Python Ctypes Examples for details.
Python SWIG interface
Warning: The GRASS-SWIG interface isn't particularly stable and well understood. Please consider to use the Python ctypes GRASS above.
There is a prototype GRASS-SWIG interface available (thanks to Sajith VK), find it in GRASS 6-CVS: swig/python/. Draft documentation is here. It now wraps both raster and vector data C functions plus the general GIS (G_*()) functions.
Background: SWIG (Simplified Wrapper and Interface Generator) is:
- A compiler that turns ANSI C/C++ declarations into scripting language interfaces.
- Completely automated (produces a fully working Python extension module).
- Language neutral. SWIG can also target Tcl, Perl, Guile, MATLAB (try PyLab+Matplotlib from python), etc...
- Attempts to eliminate the tedium of writing extension modules.
Python-SWIG examples
- Latest and greatest: [GRASS 7 Python scripts]
Sample script for GRASS 6 raster access (use within GRASS, Spearfish session):
#!/usr/bin/env python
import os, sys
from grass.lib import grass
if "GISBASE" not in os.environ:
print "You must be in GRASS GIS to run this program."
if len(sys.argv)==2:
input = sys.argv[1]
input = raw_input("Raster Map Name? ")
# initialize
# find map in search path
mapset = grass.G_find_cell2(input, '')
# determine the inputmap type (CELL/FCELL/DCELL) */
data_type = grass.G_raster_map_type(input, mapset)
infd = grass.G_open_cell_old(input, mapset)
inrast = grass.G_allocate_raster_buf(data_type)
rown = 0
while True:
myrow = grass.G_get_raster_row(infd, inrast, rown, data_type)
print rown, myrow[0:10]
rown += 1
if rown == 476:
Sample script for vector access (use within GRASS, Spearfish session):
# run within GRASS Spearfish session
# run this before starting python to append module search path:
# export PYTHONPATH=/usr/src/grass70/swig/python
# check with "import sys; sys.path"
# or:
# sys.path.append("/usr/src/grass70/swig/python")
# FIXME: install the grass bindings in $GISBASE/lib/ ?
import os, sys
from grass.lib import grass
from grass.lib import vector as grassvect
if "GISBASE" not in os.environ:
print "You must be in GRASS GIS to run this program."
if len(sys.argv)==2:
input = sys.argv[1]
input = raw_input("Vector Map Name? ")
# initialize
# find map in search path
mapset = grass.G_find_vector2(input,'')
# define map structure
map = grassvect.Map_info()
# define open level (level 2: topology)
grassvect.Vect_set_open_level (2)
# open existing map
grassvect.Vect_open_old(map, input, mapset)
# query
print 'Vect map: ', input
print 'Vect is 3D: ', grassvect.Vect_is_3d (map)
print 'Vect DB links: ', grassvect.Vect_get_num_dblinks(map)
print 'Map Scale: 1:', grassvect.Vect_get_scale(map)
print 'Number of areas:', grassvect.Vect_get_num_areas(map)
# close map
- Implement modules support in a Python class using --interface-description and a Python-XML parser. This should be a generic class with module's name as parameter, returning back an object which describes the module (description, flags, parameters, status of not/required). See GRASS 6 wxPython interface for inspiration. Important is to auto-generate the GRASS-Python class at compile time with a Python script.
Python-GRASS add-ons
Stand-alone addons:
- Jáchym Čepický's G-ps.map, a GUI to typeset printable maps with ps.map (http://126.96.36.199/~jachym/index.py?cat=gpsmap)
- Jáchym Čepický's v.pydigit, a GUI to v.edit (http://les-ejk.cz/?cat=vpydigit)
- Jáchym Čepický's PyWPS, GRASS-Web Processing Service (http://pywps.wald.intevation.org)
Using GRASS gui.tcl in Python
Here is some example code to use the grass automatically generated guis in python code. This could (should) all be bundled up and abstracted away so that the implementation can be replaced later.
import Tkinter
import os
# Startup (once):
tk = Tkinter.Tk()
tk.eval ("wm withdraw .")
tk.eval ("source $env(GISBASE)/etc/gui.tcl")
# Here you could do various things to change what the gui does
# See gui.tcl and README.GUI
# Make a gui (per dialog)
# This sets up a window for the command.
# This can be different to integrate with tkinter:
tk.eval ('set path ".dialog$dlg"')
tk.eval ('toplevel .dialog$dlg')
# Load the code for this command:
fd = os.popen ("d.vect --tcltk")
gui = fd.read()
# Run it
dlg = tk.eval('set dlg') # This is used later to get and set
# Get the current command in the gui we just made:
currentcommand = tk.eval ("dialog_get_command " + dlg)
# Set the command in the dialog we just made:
tk.eval ("dialog_set_command " + dlg + " {d.vect map=roads}")
- Q: Error message "execl() failed: Permission denied" - what to do?
- A: Be sure that the execute bit of the script is set.
General guides
- Wikibook Python Programming
- Quick Python tutorial for programmers of other languages
- More Python tutorials for programmers
- Python programming style guide
- Python Editors
- Python and GRASS:
- GRASS Python interface to library functions: http://download.osgeo.org/grass/grass6_progman/swig/ based on SWIG http://www.swig.org/
- GRASS Python scripting library: http://download.osgeo.org/grass/grass6_progman/pythonlib.html
- PyWPS, GRASS-Web Processing Service http://pywps.wald.intevation.org
- Python and OSGeo:
- Python and GDAL/OGR:
- Python bindings to PROJ:
- Python and GIS:
- Python and Statistics:
- RPy - Python interface to the R-statistics programming language
- Bindings:
- SIP (C/C++ bindings generator) http://directory.fsf.org/all/Python-SIP.html
- Cython - C-Extensions for Python (compile where speed is needed)
- Other external projects
From FOSS4G2006:
- A Python sweeps in the GRASS - A. Frigeri 2006
- GRASS goes web: PyWPS - J. Cepicky 2006

subset: commoncrawl


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Reports, Policies and Procedures
The documents listed below are also available on application to the Town Clerk. Information provided is correct at time of going to press but no responsibility is accepted for any loss or damage caused due to the use of this information.
Complaints Procedure: We hope you are happy with the work we are doing, and trust you will come to us if you have any complaints. If however you feel that you have exhausted all avenues, any complaints about councillors can be sent to: The Monitoring Officer, Cornwall Council, Room 462, New County Hall, Truro, TR1 3AY
Invoices: The Town Council will pay all non-disputed invoices within 30 days. Details of all expenditure is listed in the Finance section of the Town Council agenda held on the first Thursday of every month.
Policies - Employees
Policies - Finance
Policies - General
Policies - Health and Safety
Policies - Library
Policies - Members
Policies - Civic
|Last updated 16th September 2020
|Website developed by WesternWeb


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Not sure what your business needs?
Sometimes what your business needs isn't obvious. We offer a FREE consultation service that helps you get to the bottom of the issue, using your business goals and objectives to guide us towards creating a tailored solution that delivers results.
Why solutions over services?
We learned pretty early on that our clients appreciate a jargon and hassle free approach to business and this extends to the services we offer. As experts, we believe it is our job to guide you towards a suite of services that can help you achieve your business objectives rather than waiting for you to tell us what you think you need.
For instance, many of our previous clients had a broad idea of what SEO entails but weren't sure if it was a suitable channel to invest in. We decided to change our approach and stop selling services straight from a menu-instead we now focus on creating results driven, tailor-made marketing solutions that deliver a return on investment.


text:
James O'Brien 10am - 1pm
Katie Hopkins Rages Against Notting Hill Carnival
30 August 2016, 08:22 | Updated: 5 September 2016, 11:45
After five stabbings and hundreds of arrests, Katie Hopkins rants about the Notting Hill Carnival and multiculturalism in London.
Caller Michael in Ealing phoned in to defend the two-day event, which saw more than a million people hit the streets for music, dancing and partying.
It also saw more than 400 arrests and five people stabbed, including a 15-year-old boy.
But Michael said we should compare it to other events of similar size and realise how small the crime figures actually are - a point that Katie wasn't having at all.
"Other large events do not get reported - " he started, when Katie cut across him.
"We've tried to find comparable statistics and we can't. This seems to be one of the most violent events Michael," said Katie. "We've tried to find statistics that make it look OK, it doesn't look OK."
Michael replied: "This is a London event, it's multicultural - " and that's what really kicked Katie off.
"I don't buy multiculturalism at all.
"I get it inside this London bubble, I come here to work, I see, you all believe in it. Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah.
"The liberal left wing press, the BBC, they love it! They can't get enough of it.
"Look at the pictures on the BBC website today of the Notting Hill Carnival, it'd make you think it was Rio. I look at some other pictures, there's five gentlemen weeing against a wall.
"As an outsider, as a Brexiteer, I don't buy it at all."


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Photos are reality and reality is just photos… says our generation. #sodeep#notbasic
(On the bus)
Hey guys! It's me Konni again(obviously) and I'm sitting around as usual, taking shameless, superficial selfies. But today I've brought to you something that isn't usual at all too-here's a rare opportunity: getting to talk to the masterminds behind a popular smartphone app.
Being a wannabe techno-geek myself, I got talking with Alex from 'Team Instacollage'.
K: Hey Alex! First things first- why did you develop the app in the first place?
A: Thank you Konni for crediting me as being the developer of InstaCollage ;). But, I am not the real developer of InstaCollage. It was developed by my friend, Lavi, about an year and five months ago, who is a passionate android developer and a great one. He developed this app during his college time, but there was no real reason to develop it. I joined him six months ago to turn InstaCollage into a business, which does not suffice with just collage making. So, right now, we are porting this android app to iPhone, which we are planning to release within 2 months.
(But first-Lemmetakeaselfie! Used to be obsessed with that song by The Chainsmokers. Oh and my phone camera sucks(as you can see in photo above) so bear with me. This photo is from my high school graduation day
when I was caked with makeup : )
K: Cool. Tell us a bit about your app.
A: InstaCollage, as the name says, it's a Simple Collage Making App on Android. I do really mean it "Simple". The app has pure Black-and-White interface designed to let you focus on the most important thing while making a Collage, i.e. your photos.
K: Ooh. So that's what differentiates you guys from other photo collage apps out there.
A: Yeah, existing collage apps miss this most important part. InstaCollage is packed with photo editing tools too, like Photo Filters, Photo Frames and Backgrounds, the option to add text to turn it into a collage story. We are also working on stickers which will be released within a week. Apart from just providing these features, the app provides smooth and fast interface to create collages.
K: What type of grids do you have on your app? I'm not a huge Instagram fan but I definitely do need a trusty collage app for my Kakao Talk(guys, this is a huge chatting app in Korea) profile pics.
(I took this photo today, a moment ago, before I took my shower(I still have a towel on my head, I never got into the habit of actually using a hair dryer). I lost a bit of weight recently-probably because I've been busy working.)
A: Well, by using InstaCollage, you will find that you can create only square collage grids, and we are not looking to remove this restriction. But we will add "Free Style Collages" as a separate feature in InstaCollage by the end of February. I request you to install it on your android device and experience it yourself, as that matters a lot for us. You can simply install it from here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.photos.instacollage
K: Thanks, Alex. Okay, now I need to know how it's being run. So that I can, you know, take some
superficial selfies.
(Like this one)
A: I hope by saying "how it's being run", you want to know, how app actually works. Follow these Steps:
– Choose a layout and then select the required number of photos, and in the end, user is taken to collage editing screen.
– or Choose few photos, then you will be directly taken to collage editing screen, where a random layout is shown and you do have the options to change layout while editing your collage.
K: Thank you so much for introducing us to your app, Alex! This is all for now but be sure to type in 'instacollage' on your Google Play Store if you have Android because WHO DOESN'T NEED A GOOD PHOTO COLLAGE APP IN THIS DAY AND TIME, Y'ALL. Especially in fashion-I often find that fashion is in-the-moment, but it's the photos that last.
Hope you guys had fun making fun of my selfies XD


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Analyzing Watersheds in Google Earth
by Tim Norris and Will Federman
Students perform a computer lab activity to answer basic geographic questions about the watersheds in which they live. This module is an opportunity for students to: 1. Learn how to read topographic maps, 2. Use computers and GIS to visualize topographic information, 3. Learn how to draw using a computer, 4. Learn how to measure area and distance using a computer, and 5. Learn how to interpret satellite imagery to answer basic questions about land-use.
Docs: fulltext.docx intro.pdf help.pdf lecture.pdf worksheet.docx
Keywords: area, argument, communication, data, distance, HS-ESS3.A, HS-ESS3.C, HS-ETS1.A, explanations, GIS, Google Earth, investigations, mapping, scale, systems, watershed


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The Lightbox Company
Transparency Storyboard
Create an original montage of photos. This is perfect for that special holiday but you can also create your own wedding storyboard or simply any collection of photos - it's up to you.
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You can choose matt black or matt white frame. You have a choice of 13 different colours of fantastic fabric cable and we include 1.5 metres of fabric cable with each Lightbox.
Frame: Matt black or white aluminium.
Cable: Fabric covered cable 1.5m in your choice of colours. Total cable length with transformer is 2.5m.
Power: Supplied with a UK 12v mains transformer. The mains transformer has a black cable.
Rating: For indoor use only.
Frame size: Width: 505mm Height: 355mm Depth: 30mm.
Window size - 468mm x 318mm.
Each Lightbox is designed and lovingly made in our Southampton workshop using the highest quality components.
The Lightbox Company
A3 Lightbox
A4 Light Box
A4 Transparency Storyboard
A5 Lightbox - Landscape


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Displaying items by tag: Michigan Brewers Guild
Monday, May 16, 2016
Raise a glass to the Craft Beer Revolution: Thursday, May 19 at 8pm
The Michigan Brewers Guild currently has more than 200 member breweries, meaning there will be no shortage of American Craft Beer Week (ACBW) celebrations in the Great Beer State, May 16-22.
Published in Beer Week Events
Thursday, April 14, 2016
Fermenta and Stormcloud Brewing Company Unite to Brew Summer Fest Beer
Fermenta, Michigan Women's Craft Collective, and Stormcloud Brewing Company of Frankfort are partnering to brew a beer to be served at the 2016 Michigan Brewers Guild Summer Beer Festival in Ypsilanti.
Sunday, February 28, 2016
Eleventh Annual Winter Beer Festival in Comstock Park features warmer temperatures and over 1000 beers
The 11th annual Winter Beer Festival was held Friday and Saturday, February 26th and 27th at Comstock Park's Fifth Third Ball Park, just north of Grand Rapids. This year marked the second year of an expanded two day festival with the addition of a Friday afternoon session as the popular Saturday session continues to sell out very quickly each year. While last year's event proved brutally cold with single digit temperatures and issues with freezing beer lines, this year's festival featured much milder weather with temperatures reaching the mid 40's.
Thursday, February 25, 2016
Top 20 Beers to try at 11th Annual Winter Beer Festival
Here we are again, another Winter Beerfest beckoning to us from the (not so) icy tundra of 5/3 Ballpark! Hopefully we're looking at a beerfest not quite as bone-chilling as last year, and the breweries have brought us an expansive and intense list of beers to try this year!
Sunday, February 14, 2016
The Sweet Taste of Michigan Craft Beer
Craft beer enthusiasts are passionate about Michigan brews…and February is the perfect time to fall in love with rich, chocolaty and fruity beers.
Published in Seasonal Beers
Monday, February 08, 2016
Michigan Brewers Guild Announces 2016 Festival Dates
The Michigan Brewers Guild (MBG) has announced its 2016 festival schedule. With the exception of the UP Fall Beer Festival in September, the festivals are scheduled for the fourth Saturday (and the Friday before) of their respective months. Details about each festival are posted online at MiBeer.com.
Tuesday, February 02, 2016
Michigan Brewers Guild Announces 2016 Board of Directors
The Michigan Brewers Guild recently elected its 2016 Board of Directors at its annual meeting, January13, at the Kalamazoo Radisson Plaza Hotel. Each board position is a two-year term, elected in alternating years (4, 3).
Monday, November 30, 2015
Give the Gift of Michigan Beer & Brewery Related Swag
Chances are you have a craft beer lover (or two) on your holiday shopping list. This year, give the gift of Michigan beer, while also supporting locally-owned businesses and the state's overall agricultural industry.
Thursday, October 22, 2015
20 Beers You Must Try At Detroit Fall Beer Festival 2015
It's time for the grand conclusion of the 2015 Michigan Brewer's Guild festival schedule, culminating at Eastern Market in Detroit, Michigan this Friday and Saturday. As of today, Thursday the 22nd, there are still FRIDAY tickets available for purchase. Head over to http://www.mibeer.com to snag your tickets as soon as you can!
Published in Fall Events
Tuesday, October 20, 2015
Top 20 Beer List For Michigan Brewer's Guild Fall Beer Festival at Eastern Market
Upon the release of the beer list for the Michigan Brewer's Guild Fall Beer Festival in Detroit's Eastern Market this weekend, I try to zero in on 20 beers I'd like to try.
Published in Fall Events


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ABC Wins Friday as "Shark Tank" Closes Out with its Best-Ever Finale and Strongest Season Ever
With back-to-back Shark Tanks, including the season finale at 9pm, leading into 20/20, ABC won the final Friday of the season in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49. ABC's Shark Tank and 20/20 stood as the Top 2 shows of the night in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49. And out of the 4 newsmagazines airing on the evening, ABC's 20/20 ranked #1 in viewers and key adults (AD18-49/AD25-54), outdelivering NBC's 2-hour Dateline from 8-10pm, NBC's Rock Center at 10pm and CBS' 48 Hours at 10pm. Up 15% from the season finale Friday last year, ABC finished out as Friday's #1 TV network for the 2012-13 season in Adults 18-49, building 13% year to year to its highest delivery on the night in 4 years - since the 2008-09 season.
From 8-9pm, the first installment of Shark Tank ranked #1 with a 7-week high for ABC in the time period (since 3/22/13), beating out CBS' season finale of Undercover Boss by 20%.
Friday's #1 show, ABC's Shark Tank finale dominated the 9 o'clock hour in Adults 18-49, growing 6% week to week and topping its year-ago finale by 19% for its highest-ever season closer. Shark Tank was also up by 1.1 million viewers from last season's finale. The finale featured the first Shark Tank Extra, a clip of the pitch from Disney Channel's "Phineas and Ferb's" nefarious Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz. On average, Shark Tank marked its strongest season ever with a 17% year-to-year increase in Adults 18-49.
ABC's 20/20 won the 10 o'clock hour in Total Viewers, Adults 18-49 and Adults 25-54, defeating CBS' 48 Hours and NBC's Rock Center with Brian Williams. For the 2nd week in a row, the ABC newsmagazine surged by double digits over its delivery on the same night last May in Total Viewers (+27%), Adults 18-49 (+25%) and Adults 25-54 (+27%).


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Make a Difference
Your support of Jingle All The Way will help us reach out to one more person waiting for the chance to shine. You can either donate directly to a jingle team or make a general event donation. Either one goes a long way!
*If you would like to donate to an individual jingler or team, be sure to designate in the box directly under the photo on the donation form.
Donate Supplies
This year, you can also jingle with aloha by providing much needed supplies for our area's babies and young children who are growing up in poverty. Here's a list of suggested items. But feel free to get creative with it. Mahalo (that means thank you!)
New Items
Pacifiers, Sippy Cups, Diapers & Wipes, Baby Socks & Onesies (age 0-24 months), Rattles, Teethers, Children's Socks & Underwear, Baby Soap, Shampoo, Lotion
New and Nearly New Items
Diaper bags, Towels, Baby Carriers, Baby Bathtubs, Baby & Children's Clothing (all sizes 0 & up)
In the interest of safety and hygiene, we cannot accept:
Used Car Seats, Cribs of any kind (due to recalls), Over-sized plastic play structures and backyard toys, Stuffed animals, Used sports safety equipment (helmets, shin guards, etc.), Bicycles or ride-on toys, Any toy larger than 2′ x 2′ (must be small enough to fit into a suitcase), DVDs/CDs/VHS tapes/computer games, Violent toys/games, Electronics, Books and clothing with family related messaging ("I Love Mommy," "Daddy's Little Girl"), Used bathing suits, Used underwear, socks, or pajamas, Used hygiene or feeding products or bottles


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Since their earliest years, Jehovah's Witnesses have believed that the end must come within one generation of a supposed invisible return of Christ. According to Watchtower literature today, Jesus is said to have taken his throne as king in the heavens in the year 1914. This is the invisible return. They believe that Matthew 24:34 teaches that the final judgment must occur within a generation of that date. This teaching has proven problematic as 1914 is now over a hundred years past, leading to reinterpretations to try to preserve this failed prediction.
The 1874 Generation
Many Jehovah's Witnesses are unaware that their founder's original teaching was that Jesus' invisible return was in 1874 rather than 1914. The founder of the Jehovah's Witnesses, Charles Taze Russell, taught that Jesus' return began in 1874 (though he did not fully ascend to the throne until 1878) and that the day of God's wrath would be complete in 1914 or 1915. He thus explains that the time between the invisible return of Christ and the end of God's judgment of the world would be well within one generation.1 In spite of the fact that this failed to transpire, Watchtower literature continued to hold to the 1874 return of Christ through the 1920's. One publication, for example, plainly stated:
"Surely there is not the slightest room for doubt in the mind of a truly consecrated child of God that the Lord Jesus is present and has been since 1874," (Watchtower Jan 1, 1924 p.5)
Thus for some time, the Jehovah's Witnesses taught that the end must come before the generation of 1874 passed away.
Those Alive in 1914
In spite of all this clarity and alleged certainty, the date of Jesus' "invisible return" was eventually changed to 1914 (the date of Russell's original prediction for the final judgment). As to the generation, the Watchtower literature explained:
"Some persons living A.D. 1914 when the series of foretold events began will also be living when the series ends with Armageddon. All the events will come within the span of one generation," (Watchtower, Sept 1, 1952)
The literature was clear that the "battle of the day of Jehovah" would come "shortly, within our twentieth century."2 They went on saying for decades things like:
"In 1914, he went into action as ruling king. Satan and his demons were promptly hurled out of heaven, this act cleansing the seat of government. (Revelation 12:7-12) The Present world system had entered its final days. The countdown that had proceeded for some six millenniums now nears its zero hour. So close is it that people who were alive in 1914, and who are now well along in years, will not pass off the scene before the thrilling events marking the vindication of Jehovah's sovereignty come to pass – Mark 13:30," (Survival into a New Earth, 1984, Pg 185)
"It was to our generation that Jesus referred when he added the key thought: 'this generation will by no means pass away until all things occur.' (Matt. 25:34) The generation that saw the beginning of woes in 1914 would also see the end of Satan and his entire wicked system of things. Some who were alive then would still be alive when 'the end' comes," (Awake!, 1966, pg 18)
The literature even seemed to imply that they did not merely mean just anyone born by 1914, but specifically those who were old enough to actually be witnesses of the things that occurred that year:
"Some who saw the events of 1914 will also see the complete destruction of this present wicked world," (Studies in the Scriptures, 1989, pg 200)
We have left the twentieth century behind. We are over a century passed 1914. The Watchtower expectation remains unfulfilled. While there are still a small number of people left who were alive in 1914, even a few who were old enough to qualify as eyewitnesses, the Watchtower has already begun preparing for the inevitable failure of this prediction by changing the rules again on what they once proclaimed to be so certain.
The Overlapping Anointed Generation
In the last several years, the Watchtower literature has been changing their interpretation yet again. In 2010, they began explaining:
"We do well to keep in mind several things about the word "generation": It usually refers to people of varying ages whose lives overlap during a particular time period; it is not excessively long; and it has an end. (Ex 1:6) How, then, are we to understand Jesus' words about "this generation"? He evidently meant that the lives of the anointed who were on hand when the sign began to become evident in 1914 would overlap with the lives of other anointed ones who would see the start of the great tribulation. That generation had a beginning, and it surely will have an end. The fulfilling of various features of the sign clearly indicate that the tribulation must be near," (Watchtower, April 15 2010)
In 2014 they repeated all of this, and went on to further explain:
"Anyone who was anointed after the death of the last of the anointed ones in the first group—that is, after those who witnessed the "beginning of pangs of distress" in 1914—would not be part of "this generation."—Matt. 24:8," (God's Kingdom Rules, 2014, pg 12)
"The anointed ones who are still alive and part of "this generation" are getting on in years; yet, they will not all die off before the great tribulation begins. Therefore, we can conclude that very soon indeed God's Kingdom will come and exercise its rule over the earth! How thrilling it will be to witness the fulfillment of the prayer that Jesus taught us: "Let your Kingdom come"!" (God's Kingdom Rules, 2014, pg 12)
In other words, "this generation" is now defined as two groups of people. The first is anyone who was already a part of the Jehovah's Witness "anointed class"3 in 1914. The second group is anyone who became a member of the "anointed class" during the lifetime of the first group. The literature implies that the first group has already died and that the second group is "getting on in years." What year did the last of the first group die? Just how old is meant by "getting on in years?" The Watchtower leaves all of this far more ambiguous than they used to. Still, this explanation will likely see some further tweaking in the next few decades to allow for an even longer understanding of what it means to be a "generation."
While it's impossible to read the motives of another man's heart, these changes at least appear rather telling. If the Watchtower writers really believed their own teachings, you would expect them to see that the 1914 generation was nearly over and to be doubling down with urgency as the end must be upon us any day now. Instead, you see the convenient rewriting of the teachings to buy time while straining the definition of words beyond reason. It seems the leaders of the Jehovah's Witnesses wish to maintain just enough urgency to keep their people engaged, but that they doubt their own teachings too much to let them stand in the twilight years of their once firm prediction. The Watchtower has a long history of false prophecies due to their poor system of interpreting the Bible. This is another example where a single set of biblical misunderstandings has produced as series of failed predictions and is in the process of producing more before our very eyes. The world did not end in 1914. It did not end before the generation of 1874 passed away. It did not end before the close of the twentieth century. The Watchtower writers have already hedged their bets that they will fail again as we approach the tragic passing away of the last of those who lived to see the year 1914. These predictions have failed, and continue to fail, because the governing body of the Jehovah's Witnesses is not God's organization as they falsely claim to be, and they cannot interpret the Bible properly. The whole Jehovah's Witness system has shown itself to be a lie.
- 1. Studies in the Scriptures - Series IV - The Battle of Armageddon, 1916 edition, pg 604-605
- 2. The Nations Shall Know That I Am Jehovah, 1971, p. 216
- 3. The Jehovah's Witnesses believe that there are 144,000 individuals whom God has chosen to be resurrected as "spirit creatures" or angelic beings and who will reign in heaven as the "kingdom of God" in the age to come while all other Jehovah's Witnesses will live on a paradise earth


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The following is the printed history of the 49th Iowa, Company C and biographies of its officers.
The History:
"Company C, Forty-Ninth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, was originally known and organized as Company C, First Regiment Iowa National Guard, November 1, 1883, at Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It's first Captain was Geo. GREEN, who was elected Colonel of the Regiment, October, 1890, and appointed Adjutant General of the State January, 1891, serving two terms. Its second leader was Captain SMITH, who was elected January 13, 1891, for a term of five years, when its present Captain, Geo. A. EVANS, was elected. Company C was mustered in as they were in the National Guard, and enlisted with sixty-three men, afterwards recruiting up to the full quota of 104 men. The members are young business men, of fine physique, who immediately responded to the call of the President for volunteers, many giving up positions of trustm and good salaries to defend the flag. They are a credit to the Regiment of the State of Iowa, and a body of men that any officer might well feel honored in being their commander.
Captain George A. EVANS was born in Iowa in 1857, and was educated in Cedar Rapids, graduating from the high school there. Captain EVANS began his military career in 1874, hence has had long experience. He was mustered out of service in 1880, and in 1883 joined his present Company; he has served as Sergeant and First Lieutenant, and was elected Captain in 1895. He responded promptly with his Company to the President's call for volunteers and was mustered in to the Volunteer Army June 2d, 1898. In civil life Captian EVANS is manager of large factory interests in Cedar Rapids, where he lives with his family, at 527 First Street, West.
First Lieutenant Harry J. SUGRU is 28 years old, and was born in Rochester, New York, in 1870; was educated at that place and also in the Rochester Business College, taking a course in stenography. Lieutenant SUGRU has lived in Cedar Rapids since 1890, and joined Company C, December 31st, 1891. He became First Lieutenant in February, 1898. His ability as an officer is well known and he is well liked by the men of his Company.
Second Lieutenant Albert U.
was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Christmas day, 1874; was educated in
public schools of that place and has always lived there. He
Company C March 2d, 1894, and was elected to his present rank April 4,
1898. He is an intelligent and conscientious officer."
"Historical and Biographical Souvenir of the 49th Iowa U.S. Volnteer Infantry. Illustrated with scenes of camp life." (Jacksonville, FL 1898).


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Today feels like a car day. It's Saturday! The day we wash and wax our cars, detail the interiors, and then take fast/leisurely drives down our favorite backroads with no end in mind. Personally, I love cars. They are the exquisite metal and leather manifestation of artists and engineers. They are objects of beauty that have fascinated men and women for over a century now. I grew up twisting wrenches on the old VW Beetles and then the Japanese cars, and now the Porsches. I love going to American classic car shows but I've never owned one. As a matter of fact I've never even driven one but I sure love how they look and sound! That certainly was a proud era in American ingenuity for design and manufacturing.
Over the years I've shot some images of car front ends that I thought were interesting. I appreciate the old American classics but I must apologize for my limited knowledge of them. If you know the year, and model of any of these cars below, I'd love to know!
This shot turned out kinda neat. I was wearing a bright yellow shirt and it was a reflected back in all the chrome of that front end. I found one of those little America Flags that you wave around on a stick, and held it between me and the camera to block out my shirt. I like the field of red and white stripes behind the blue Ford logo. A fitting combination!
This old Bel Air I discovered alongside a country road in South Carolina. I was incorrectly led to this area by my good-for-nuthin GPS. Part way through shooting this car I was alerted to the fact that it had a guard dog who did not take kindly to my photographing it without his permission. The German Shepherd was about 120lbs and tied to chain I'm certain one of my young daughters could break. I spoke to the dog about the car and how I just wanted some take-home images and that they would not be sold for commercial use without his permission. He settled back into the long grass with a warning that he would be keeping a close eye on me and I would be in big trouble if I scratched the paint or peed on the tires.
Have a great weekend!
Technical Details:
First Image: Nikon D200 with Nikon 50mm f/1.8
Second, third, fourth and fifth image: Nikon D700 with Nikon 28-70mm f/2.8


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A lumbar discectomy is a surgical procedure performed used to alleviate symptoms of a herniated disc in the lower spine (lumbar spine is L1 to L5). During the procedure, damaged disc material that is pressing on a nerve root or the spinal cord is removed. Removing the disc alleviates the pressure caused by the bulging disc on the surrounding nerve roots and spinal cord.
A surgeon will get a diagnostic test done to confirm the herniated disc (MRI, CT, myelogram). ACDF is generally recommended after other non-surgical treatments have failed to alleviate symptoms.
What is Disc Herniation?
A disc herniation happens when the nucleus inside the center of the disc pushes through the annulus, the ligaments surrounding the nucleus. The herniated disc material may push outward, causing pain. Numbness or weakness in the arm occurs when the nucleus pushes on the spinal nerve root. Of greater concern is a condition in which the nucleus herniates straight backward into the spinal cord, called a central herniation. Discectomy relieves pressure on the nerves and spinal cord.
Significant leg pain, numbness, or weakness that inhibits daily activities
Leg symptoms do not get better after nonsurgical treatment
Results of a physical exam show weakness, loss of motion, or abnormal feeling that is likely to get better after surgery
In order to gain access to and remove the disc fragments, the surgeon will make an incision over the center of your back and move the muscles away from the bone of your spine. Using special instruments, a small amount of the lamina bone (the back of the ring over the spinal canal) and ligament is removed–this is called a laminotomy. This allows greater room for the surgeon to remove the disc (discectomy) material that is pressing on the spinal nerve or spinal cord.


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Friday, January 31, 2014
Shipwrecked, in a good way, on Kauai
If you get to choose a spot to be marooned, try Shipwreck Beach in front of the Grand Hyatt Kauai. You can take sustenece at one of Hawaii's premier destination resorts, a low-slung Asian-inspired masterpiece with a huge man-made saltwater lagoon, wide staircases leading to a sprawling pool with chutes and falls.
When it's time to rough it, try the surfing beach, which is indeed treacherous for ships, although the last abandoned hull of 1970 was swept away by Hurricane Iniki in the early 1990s. You can access it at the Hyatt or via the sweet beach park right next to it. When desperation sets in, and you need to escape, head south on the Mahaulepu Heritage Trail. It climbs tawny Makawehi Bluff (pictured) and continues for several miles, passing the ruins of Ho'ouluia Heiau before descending to Gillan's Beach. Keep an eye out for whales and shorebirds, since this trail is primo for both. Complete directions are in your Kauai Trailblazer guidebook.
Posted by TrailblazerHawaii at 10:25 AM Links to this post
Saturday, January 25, 2014
Hidden charms of Whacky Whacky Waikiki
The shortest distance between two points—in this case the high rises of Kalakua Boulevard in the center of Waikiki Beach and the Pacific Ocean—is a straight line. A sea of flesh is the norm along the shore of Prince Kuhio Beach Park.
But, hang a left along the surf on a short barefooted stroll and relative solitude is to be found at Sans Souci (Without Care) Beach, which borders the huge greenspace of Kapiolani Park. And, for those willing to don flip-flops and and walk another 10 minutes toward Diamond Head, a truly out-of-the way jewel awaits. There is no parking at the little Makalei Beach Park, fequented by locals only in a ritzy enclave. It's small beach (Kaluahole) is a freaking dream, and you can also walk a seawall path in the backyards of the zillion-dollar homes to little Leahi Park. Oahu Trailblazer has more details on page 53.
Posted by TrailblazerHawaii at 8:44 AM Links to this post
Friday, January 17, 2014
Where the action is: Hawaii Big Island Hotspots
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park delivers the goods: towering flumes of gases erupting from the gut of the earth, glowing red rivers flowing like taffy, and the enormous bomblast where heat meets cold at the ocean in a conflict that is old as time itself. Pu'u (cone) O'o (pictured above), is part of the major Kilauea Volcano's east rift zone. It blew its cork most recently in 1983 and has been gurgling lava ever since, including 40-plus fiery fountainheads and one major explosion in 1997 that collapsed the height of the cone hundreds of feet within 24 hours. The lava rivers change direction.These days you can see the fresh stuff not in the park, but down the coast from Hilo in Kalapana. For a dramatic aerial view, hop aboard one of the Blue Hawaiian helicopters that leave from two locations on the island.
Halemaumau Crater, the home of Volcano Goddess Pele, is within the larger Kilauea Caldera, the centerpiece of the national park. In the middle of the night (fortunately) in March of 2008, Pele threw a major hissy fit, blowing away what had been the viewing platform at the lip of the crater. The road around the park has been closed ever since, but you can get a good look from the Jaggar Musuem, which is a few miles from the entrance station.
Numerous hikes and drives give you perspective on these outbursts; Hawaii the Big Island Trailblazer (new edtion 2013) has more details.
Posted by TrailblazerHawaii at 9:08 AM Links to this post
Saturday, January 11, 2014
Waimea Bay: Surfin' U.S.A.
The shorebreak at Waimea Bay on Oahu's North Shore is killer. Surfers put on their big boy board shorts to ride waves memorialzied by that happy-go-lucky Beach Boys song. Specators lounge of the wide rim of sand at the shore, cooling off in the freshwater pool formed where Waimea Stream meets a sand bar.
But the real action at Waimea is the Quiksilver In Memory Aikau Big Wave Invitational, held each year—but only when wave faces are 20 feet or larger. Godzilla waves of 50-plus feet have challenged, but not defeated, the pros, who come from around the world at the drop of the hat when surf's up. The parking lot get crammed for the Eddie. The best parking tip: drive around the bay to the top and park at the blocky St .Peter and Paul Catholic Church. Then walk a path down along the guardrail and take a seat on the embankment to watch the spectacle.
Eddie Aikau is on the short list of all time Hawaiian surfing legends. In 1978, at age 32, he was a crew member on the Hokulea (replica of ancient hawiian sailing canoe) that was swamped in heavy seas on its maiden voyage. Eddie paddled off into the darkness on his surfboard to try to seek help on the island of Lanai, and was never seen again.
Posted by TrailblazerHawaii at 9:29 AM Links to this post
Monday, January 6, 2014
Honolua Bay: Maui's world-class wave machine
Snorkelers flock to Honolua Bay, but surfers say the real action is at the bay's north tip where a sweet right-break seemingly never ends. Although not on the big-boy pro circuit, some of Hawaii's best surfers regularly show up here. It's that good, and even better for spectators. To get a ringside seat, drive around the bay and turn off to the left when you reach the top of the road. You can see well from the parking lot, but check out the eagle's nest view that is a short distance down the point on a rugged trail.
Looking inland toward the Honolua Marine Conservation District. Tip: The better lookout is on the other side of the bay, just past Mokuleia Bay when coming north from Kapalua. From there you can scope snorkeling conditions--specifically whether stream runoff has muddied the waters.
Find full directions to this spot in your Maui Trailblazer guidebook.
Posted by TrailblazerHawaii at 12:27 PM Links to this post
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Hey y'all. I'm back from my little blog break. I hope that you had a wonderful holiday season and that you did something super fun to ring in the new year!!
I just want to say a big thank you for reading my emails and showing such amazing support. It was a pretty major year for me both personally and professionally, full of incredible opportunities and growth.
Here are some highlights in no particular order:
- After a full year of planning Kristy, Justin, and I produced the inaugural VenturePOP, the first ever creative entrepreneur conference in New Orleans.
- Launched a new ebook called Blogging With Intention
- Introduced the VIP Resource Library for email subscribers
- Got a puppy named Scrappy
- Continued to grow my product line.
- Worked with some amazing clients like New Orleans Film Society, Kelsey Berry Event Company, Race and Religious, Ellen Dolgen, Touro Infirmary Foundation, The Green Project and many more!
- Got married
- My design work was published on 100 Layer Cake, Hostess With the Mostess and 100 Layer Cakelet.
- Saw No Doubt play at Jazz Fest
- Regina interviewed me as a part of her Go Independent series and I wrote an article for her Blog In Print Magazine
- Celebrated 6 years of blogging and published over 60 blog posts with the help of my amazing contributors. Here are some of your faves:
I love helping people to grow their businesses whether it's by sharing my knowledge through blog posts and e-books or creating brand identities allowing businesses to fulfill their greatest potential.
I want to help YOU and YOUR business! In 2016 I'll be writing more about freelancing and design because it's what I love to do and it's what you've said you really want from me. If you have any design or biz struggles that you'd like me to go into on the blog or in a course, just let me know!
This year, I also decided I want to give my email subscribers some extra inspiration, so I'll be including a new design each month that you can print yourself and display in your home or office (wherever you need a little encouragement). January's already went out (see image above) but you can still purchase the design. It also comes on a mug so you can get your morning started right with this encouraging message.


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Break out the trusty skillet to cook filet mignon in a way that practically renders a steak knife irrelevant. One of the more expensive cuts of beef, filet mignon comes from the French term "dainty filet" or "cute filet," and refers to the cut from the tenderloin area of the cow. What you get for the hefty price tag is tenderness, since the tenderloin's muscle is non-weight-bearing and that part of the cow does not get a lot of exercise.
The French Way
Wrap four 6-oz. filet mignons in slices of bacon. Place 1 tbsp. each black and white or pink peppercorns in a small plastic bag and whack with a mallet or the bottom of a pan. Sprinkle the filets with kosher salt and the crushed peppercorns, pushing the cracked pepper into the meat. In a large, heavy skillet, melt 1 tbsp. butter and 1 tbsp. olive oil over medium-high heat. Place the steaks in the pan and cook three to four minutes per side for medium-rare. Place the steaks on a plate and discard the bacon slices. Return pan to heat and add 2 tbsp. port wine; bring to a boil while scraping the filet bits from the bottom of the pan. Add 2 tbsp. beef stock and cook over medium-high heat until thick and syrupy. Lower the heat and blend in 1/4 cup heavy cream. Drizzle sauce over filets.
The Tuscan Way
Brush four 6-oz. filets with a little olive oil. Rub a sliced garlic clove over both sides of the meat and season the filets with kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper and about 1 tbsp. rosemary leaves. Heat a skillet with 1/3 cup olive oil over medium heat. Add 8 thinly sliced garlic cloves and saute until golden brown. Remove garlic and set aside. Drop four rosemary sprigs into the hot oil and cook about two minutes, or until crispy. Remove and set aside. Add 1 tsp. dried red pepper flakes and toss in hot oil for 30 seconds. Cook filets in the infused hot oil for three to four minutes for medium-rare. Place filets on a plate and top with garlic and rosemary sprigs.
The Danish Way
In a heavy frying pan over medium-high heat, heat 2 tbsp. olive oil. Sear two 6-oz. filet mignons in the hot oil for three to four minutes for medium-rare. Remove filets from the pan and let rest on a warm platter for five to 10 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare the sauce. On a small plate, mash 2 tbsp. herbed and spiced Danish cream cheese with 1 tbsp. Danish bleu cheese and set aside. Add 2 tbsp. dry white or red wine to drippings in skillet and bring to a boil for one minute. Reduce heat to low and stir in cheeses until well blended. Add 2 tbsp. water and freshly ground pepper. Simmer for one minute, stirring occasionally. Pour sauce over steaks and top with two strips of cooked bacon and 1 tbsp. crumbled bleu cheese.
Filet Mignon Cooking Tips
Because of its low fat level, filet mignon needs to be cooked with bacon or other forms of fat, which keeps the meat from drying out. The technique of searing -- cooking at a higher temperature on both sides -- also preserves its moistness and tenderness. After searing the meat, remove to a plate or platter and cover loosely with aluminum foil for about 10 minutes. This resting period helps redistribute the juices throughout the meat.
- Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty Images


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Fish Farm Fiasco Frazzles Fishermen
Atlantic salmon escape into Puget Sound after aging pen collapses
October 1, 2017
Commercial fishermen are naturally wary about fish farms for many socioeconomic reasons.
With wild Pacific salmon stocks floundering and fishing opportunities scarce, the August 20 collapse of a steel net pen in one of three fish farms owned by Canada-based Cooke Aquaculture Pacific, off Cypress Island about 60 miles north of Seattle, has only exacerbated the enmity. The failure led to the "great escape" of at least 160,000 farmed Atlantic salmon from the aging facility. Officials from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and the state's Department of Natural Resources (DNR) say they have tracked escapees as far north as the outer coast of Vancouver Island and into Washington rivers where wild salmon return to spawn.
In a statement about the incident, Cooke cited "exceptionally high tides and currents coinciding with this week's solar eclipse" as the reason for the collapse.
Cooke Aquaculture is a global fish-farming company and the largest producer of Atlantic salmon in North America. The company, which markets the fish mostly to grocery retailers and mid- to large-size food service distributors, boasts about $1.8 billion in annual sales, including more than $31 million in Washington, where Cooke currently has 80 employees.
The company acquired the three farms at Cypress Island and five others in Puget Sound from Icicle Seafoods in 2016. Fish farming had been underway there for three decades, and the net pen that failed was installed 17 years ago. Market analysts say the Washington acquisition aimed to help the company expand and reach new markets.
Cooke officials say they intended to continue the company's practice of acquiring farms and upgrading them for top production. A key issue was the orientation of the failed farm, which was broadside to the current. They intended to turn the farm and install new equipment at a cost of $1.4 million immediately after the harvest, scheduled for September.
At the end of July, they worked on stabilizing the farm, working to steady it after it had begun to drift and move in heavy currents. The farm started drifting again on August 19, and collapsed the next day.
"We are deeply sorry about the incident at our Cypress Island farm," a company spokesperson noted. "We are focused on properly and safely removing the fish and equipment from the farm, and working with tribes, experts and agencies to meet our obligations."
Too Little Too Late
Fishermen, tribal members, federal and state agency officials, environmental group leaders, and others say the escapees pose a threat to wild Pacific salmon, including many regional stocks designated as endangered or threatened. They say farmed salmon tend to be larger and could outcompete wild salmon for critical resources, such as prey and preferred habitat vital for spawning.
Citing the importance of wild salmon fisheries to tribes, fishermen, and the state's ecosystem, the state's Congressional delegates – US senators Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray and US representatives Rick Larsen, Derek Kilmer, Denny Heck, and Suzan DelBene – urged administrators for NOAA Fisheries and the US Army Corps of Engineers to take "quick and decisive" action to determine the impacts of the breach, mitigate the risks, including the capture of the escaped farmed salmon, and to work to stop all permits for new pens or a planned expansion of the facility, as well as prioritizing requests to update or maintain existing pens. While tribes, fishermen and state agencies were diligently responding to the situation, they said the scale of the escape required "immediate and direct federal response."
"Pacific salmon are central to our economy, our culture, and our environment in the Pacific Northwest, and are a critical part of marine and estuarine ecosystems in Washington," they noted in a letter to both agencies.
Governor Jay Inslee had already directed the state's ecology department to put on hold any new permits for net pens, and state officials formed a response team from the departments of natural resources, fish and wildlife, and ecology, as well as the governor's office and state emergency management division.
"The release of net pen-raised Atlantic salmon into Washington's waters has created an emergency situation that has state agencies working together to protect the health of our salmon," Inslee said, noting that Cooke must stop additional escapes, recover escaped fish, and compensate those trying to capture the escaped fish.
Tribal, commercial, and recreational fishermen were urged to catch as many of the escaped salmon as possible, and report where they caught them, so state officials could trace how far they had gone. For some, it turned into a welcome fishing derby in the middle of what Nancy Fitzpatrick, executive director of the Oregon salmon Commission, deems "a dismal season" for wild Pacific salmon.
On the Brink
Commercial salmon fishermen say the fishery is teetering on the edge of oblivion, and Fitzpatrick said they were none too pleased about the farmed salmon escape in Washington on top of everything else.
Most of the Oregon Coast was closed to salmon fishing in August, and is currently open only from Florence to Cape Falcon, with strict quotas in place.
No salmon fishing has been allowed south of Florence. As of mid-August, fishermen had landed only 237,000 pounds of salmon, compared to 517,000 pounds in 2016.
So with a poor 2016 salmon season in their wake and a bleak 2017 season underway, the fishermen face considerable hardship. Some shun salmon fishing and turn to other fisheries to maintain their livelihoods. Henry DeRonden-Pos, a third generation salmon fisherman in Newport, Oregon who fishes aboard the 50-foot F/V New Dawn, is among them. A member of the Oregon salmon Commission, DeRonden-Pos says he refuses to give up, but views things pragmatically. He hedges his bets by also pursuing Dungeness crabs, albacore tuna, and halibut.
Unfortunately, those who turn to albacore this season face similarly daunting prospects.
"They're getting no reprieve," said Fitzpatrick, who is also the executive director of the Oregon Albacore Commission. As of mid-August, tuna fishermen had landed 1.2 million pounds values at $2.6 million. By this time in 2016, those numbers were 2.5 million pounds worth $4.1 million on the way to 7.2 million pounds worth $12.5 million.
"We have no idea why," Fitzpatrick noted. "It's not just Oregon, but the whole coast. Fishermen are out hunting and looking almost to the 200-mile line, and they're only bringing back maybe 12 to 20 fish per day. That's not tuna fishing."
It's not salmon fishing, either.
Since 2005, commercial salmon fishermen have watched their livelihoods dwindle to almost nil as the cumulative economic effects during the long stretch of poor fishing opportunities were substantial, not just for the commercial fishery, but recreational marine and freshwater fisheries and the communities that depend on them. When the Pacific Northwest salmon fishery collapsed in 2006, commercial and recreational fishermen and fishery managers agreed on the need to mitigate factors causing the decline. While the 2013, 2014 and 2015 seasons brought somewhat of a reprieve for commercial fishermen, the crash and snail's-pace recovery are part of what fishery managers call a boom-and-bust cycle for salmon that will continue until they find a solution to overcome the effects of certain factors – among them habitat restoration, drought conditions in salmon's native rivers and worsening ocean conditions due to the effects of climate change - that prevent the fishery from returning to a steady commercially viable status.
This season won't help, and fishery observers say the outlook for 2018 is just as grim, if not worse.
Fitzpatrick says the way quotas and seasons are determined makes salmon "the most complicated and regulated fish in the Pacific Northwest." It has turned salmon into what Fitzpatrick calls a "credit card fishery," in which fishermen catch fish "on credit" this year and pay for it the following year through reduced quotas or other restrictions.
Fishermen say costs of prepping and putting a boat in the water keep rising, market prices and weather fluctuate, regulations and restrictions change, and the ongoing debate between wild versus hatchery fish continues.
To have wild salmon – an iconic integral part of Pacific Northwest culture and lore – disappear and give way to the farmed variety is unthinkable to fishermen like DeRonden-Pos. While fish farming advocates say they are in business to fill the gap from dwindling wild catches, opponents say aquaculture brings its own peculiar set of woes and concerns. They point to incidents like the Cypress Island facility failure as proof.
Mopping up
As of FN's press time, Cooke Aquaculture crews were winding down the "deconstruction" of the damaged net pen array. All ten stock nets had been removed, and 145,101 fish left on site were recovered, dead or alive.
Tribal, commercial, and recreational fishers continue to capture fish that escaped the enclosure, with WDFW collecting information on those catches.


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conradin 1 Posted July 9, 2010 Report Share Posted July 9, 2010 (edited) Hi All,I am trying to use a select box to show file names of any given users account where clicking on any of the select box item would then load the data into flot. I know flot is probably beyond the scope of this forum. What I am trying to do is use <select> as an input type. A tutorial I followed uses the value tag of a select box to store the urls until the OnChange event occurs.http://www.davesite.com/webstation/js/theory1jump.shtmlhowever, the URLs I have are different for every user. I tried creating a value tag set as a variable but that wouldn't work.What i want to do is have a select box that is filed with the sort file names of a users files. When a user clicks on the file name, the data loads. as this pertains to flot, I only know how to load data from a button or a select box. Also note, I'm using coldfussion, and my server doesn't have php. Below, is a (snippet) code for a working input button, and a non-working select box. I would really appreciate any help I can get. <input class="fetchSeries" type="button" value="First dataset"> - <a href="<cfoutput>#FileURL#</cfoutput>">data -
   <form name="jump2">  <select class="fetchSeries" name="jumpBox" size="5" id="Files" OnChange="location.href=jump2.jumpBox.options[selectedIndex].value" value="<cfoutput>#FileURL#</cfoutput>" multiple> <cfoutput query="FileListJSON"> <CFIF len(FileListJSON.Name) LE 4> <cffile action = "copy" source = "#PathJSON##FileListJSON.Name#" destination = "#PathJSON#NoName.json"> <cffile action = "delete" file = "#PathJSON##FileListJSON.Name#"> <CFELSE> <cfset FileToGraph = LEFT(FileListJSON.Name, len(FileListJSON.Name) - 4)> <option value="#FileToGraph#">#FileListJSON.Name#</option> </CFIF> </cfoutput> </select> </form> If anyone really wants to be my hero and try using a set test set up I created, goto:http://icn2.umeche.maine.edu/newnav/NewNav...r/LoginForm.cfmlogin with the username: testotpassword: 111111then navigate to http://icn2.umeche.maine.edu/newnav/NewNavigator/e/ajax.cfm Edited July 9, 2010 by conradin Quote Link to post Share on other sites


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External Hemorrhoids Treatment - Natural Hemorrhoid Remedies - Hemorrhoids Thrombosed
There is a difference between the discomfort caused by anal fissures and hemorrhoid pain and symptoms. And when you are feeling discomfort it is important to find out which type you are suffering from as to not go through the wrong treatment.
- Are you sick of the irritation burning discomfort inflammation or bleeding down there?
- Aren't you frustrated simply because it's completely embarrassing to ask for advice on this probably crippling condition?
Discover My 100% Natural Cure for Hemorrhoids that Works in 48 Hours
Pregnant women are highly susceptible to them as well because of the fetus' weight bearing down on the colon. If you are aware you've hemorrhoids avoid carrying heavy things and staying still in just one position like sitting.
You Have a Hemorrhoid There are Lots of Treatment Options Available Today
For those who have a thrombosed hemorrhoid then you have a hemorrhoid with a blood clot. Blood clots that develop in hemorrhoids are called thrombosis. Thrombosis is very painful. Not to mention it looks really scary. Most thrombosed hemorrhoids tend to be purple or blue. The bleeding hemorrhoid will bleed often. Thrombosed hemorrhoids aren't that bad and also most of the time will go away in a week or so...
Is a frustration when you are suffering from hemorrhoids and is unable to get rid of the condition. Like any individual would do you is likely to try out different types of treatments like creams suppositories and other medications out there that are promoted and marketed in the market as a cure for hemorrhoids.
- Did you know that Navy fighter pilots consider hemorrhoids as an occupational hazard?
- Why are these totally physically fit guys subject to this entirely sedentary condition?
- Find out why as well as how you can avoid the pain and stress with one of these simple suggestions.
- Hemorrhoid sufferers are acutely aware of the pain discomfort and embarrassment that accompanies a hemorrhoid flareup.
- Actually the simplest tasks such as walking or sitting can be difficult in order to difficult.
What Is Internal Hemorrhoid Symptoms? How To Treating Internal Hemorrhoids?
What Is Internal Hemorrhoid Symptoms? How To Treating Internal Hemorrhoids? Click the link below to read more: http://tinyurl.com/Hemorrhoids101 ...
Today we take a look at hemorrhoid treatments and whether or not making use of prescription drugs are the best plan. You can get rid of hemorrhoids but exactly what is the best treatment?