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GitHub User: kkampen
Site: http://about.me/kellykampen
Comments by Kelly Kampen
First off, I love your podcasts & books ryan. They have been an immense help.
I would love to see how you do "user generated forms". handeling field_types (ie. checkbox, select, etc) and moving them in positions on the form. As well as how you would handle the user inputed data for each form.
I think it would make a welcome podcast. I have been googling for days and couldn't find anything to explain best practice on how to do this.

subset: commoncrawl


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The bus driver I rode with this afternoon wasn't happy to find out that Pride was this weekend. I assumed it was the traffic he had a problem with until he derisively spat "faggots!"
People rarely look at me and assume I'm a lesbian, but I froze, irrationally terrified I would be singled out in some way. I spent the rest of the bus ride and the walk home angry at the driver and angrier at myself for feeling hurt.
Do you wonder what the point of Pride is? It does seem to bring out the nastiest in the homophobes.
But I don't celebrate Pride to try to convince people like my bus driver that queer people deserve better than the disgust in his voice; I celebrate Pride because the seemingly endless hatred still hasn't made me bitter, because dancing is more fun than crying, because drag kings make me weak at the knees, and because nothing makes a homophobe angrier than an out and happy queer.


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Are you a millennial struggling to find a job in your field? In this new digital age, millennials are always being criticized for their addiction to their mobile devices and their never-ending obsession with social media. Many parents of millennials feel these social platforms are merely a distraction, what they don't know, however, is how social media is actually beneficial. Nowadays, social media platforms are a key resource when it comes to finding, getting, and even keeping a job.
If you were born between the years of 1980-2000, you are part of the first generation to grow up with the internet. The internet has become ingrained in your daily life and you are probably guilty of always being online and connected. Millennials have mastered the online world and every social media platform there is. They can use this expertise to their advantage and leverage their social media accounts to help them get jobs and advance in their careers.
Millennials are still fairly young. They're at that stage in life where they are thinking about their future, especially in regards to their finances. While millennials often use social media to communicate with friends for social and leisurely purposes, what many of them may not know is that the online universe offers a variety of opportunities to further their careers. Growing up with the reliance of the internet, millennials are very comfortable using these social channels to interact, make connections, participate in online conversations, and share information with others.
Keeping this in mind, millennials should use social media platforms to focus on long-standing relationships by providing value to their connections. Find opportunities to make your social interactions all about your connections! You never know, publishing valuable content and sharing it with your connections may be wise in the long run. Based on the content you create, you'll be remembered for how valuable you are if there ever comes a time when they need someone for a new venture or job.
Having trouble landing a job interview? Try creating professional social media accounts on platforms like Linkedin and Twitter. Becoming visible on the right channels and connecting with the right people will help get your name out there and help you get noticed. This is a great way to leverage your connections and past experience to help you land the job of your dreams.
Be consistent and post meaningful content. Your personal brand is reliant on the content you produce. When pursuing a career, your personal image is stronger if you have established content on the web to show. Remember relevance is important online. If you aren't consistent and don't show up online often, it will be easy for you to be overlooked and forgotten. Therefore, posting and engaging with your connections constantly will increase your following.
Lastly, be smart with what you post online. Content lives online forever, so beware of the topics you discuss, what you post, and what groups you're involved in. Going forward and following these easy steps, you'll see how easy it is to make social media a powerful resource in landing a job.


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Flute, Clarinet, & Saxophone Lessons
Private & Group Woodwind Music Instruction
Our woodwind instructors are artists that are proficient in teaching many different styles including classical, jazz and contemporary music. All of our instructors have had many years of coaching, mentoring and teaching experience, and are active in local bands and pit orchestras in New England. Summit Studios can help you get there too! Summit Studios woodwind instructors are the best in the area!
If you're ready to master the skills needed to play music professionally, or if you just want to maximize the enjoyment you get from playing your woodwind instrument, register now to start taking your music lessons today!
Summit Studios offers private flute, clarinet, and saxophone lessons to students throughout Central Connecticut, including: South Windsor, Vernon, Manchester, Glastonbury, Bolton, Ellington, Tolland, Hartford, Hebron, Coventry, East Hartford, West Hartford, Andover, Avon, Simsbury, Windsor, Portland, Columbia, Wethersfield and Rocky Hill.


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Welcome Welch Packaging Team Members!
Making a difference in:
Our Customers Business
Our Associates' Lives
Our Communities
Please join the Welch Packaging family in making a difference in our communities by coming together as one team in completing 12,000 hours of Community Service through 2020.
Any amount of time you can give in volunteering to help the needy in our communities will help us reach our goal. No amount of time is too small!
Remember "the heart of a volunteer is not measured in size, but by the depth of commitment to make a difference in the lives of others" -DeAnn Hollis
Our Goal 12,000
Submit Volunteer Hours
Be sure to log your community service hours so we can track the company-wide total!


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My daughter is 7 years old. For the past 3 years she has been seeing/dreaming (not total sure which) of a red eye ghost. It only happens in the fall and winter, and she's the only one to see it. The past 2 years, it's been outside her window. Within the past 2 weeks, it's "moved" to under her bed the one night and to touching her tonight. I'm not sure if she's awake or dreaming. Her and I are a lot alike, as we both sleepwalk and have extremely vivid dream. I've had dreams of loved ones dying (age 12), and find out the next day that the one I dreamed about pasted in the night/early morning (they exact way I dreamed it).
I'm not sure if I believe in the paranormal, but it scares her. After she tells me about it, she's calm and goes right back to sleep. I'm not sure if it's just because of Halloween, and the costumes she sees scares her more than she realizes, or if it's something more. We've never really gone trick-or-treating, only to family members. So she hasn't really been exposed to too much of that. At the county fair, there was a set up of a few dolls that a haunted house uses (like a 2 headed person or something like that), and she, as well as my 8 year old, didn't want to be near it. She had a bad dream that night, but no red eye ghost dream.
We live out in the country, closest neighbor is about a half mile away. House is new, we built it before she was born. And there has never been anything built here before, used to be a big farm and our property was one of the fields.


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It's a battle between Android and Windows Phone 7! Aaron pits the HTC HD7 and T-Mobile myTouch 4G against eachother in an epic dogfight. On one hand, you have Android, which is a more mature platform with a stocked Market. On the other hand, you have Windows Phone 7, which while new, is an awesome OS and a huge change from Windows Mobile.
Two awesome devices, one carrier - which one will prevail? We'll find out. Part 2 of 2.
For more, check out T-Mobile myTouch 4G vs. HTC HD7 Dogfight Pt. 1


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AED (Defibrillator) Training Course
This course is aimed at anyone who requires a course in AED (Defibrillator) use. Learning AED skills is becoming more important with the increase in the numbers of units in the community and workplace. They are easy to use with little training and make a real difference in the chance of survival to someone in cardiac arrest. If you have already completed any other first aid course, you will understand the importance of prompt use of an AED, making this an ideal course to develop your skills.
Dates are flexible. Please contact us on 01698 374 362 or email firstname.lastname@example.com for more information or to book a course.


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Business Summary
Livestock Agents-
Brian O'Halloran & Co. is an independent agency established in Warrnambool in 1973 and provides the Western District of Victoria with an enthusiastic and experienced team of property and livestock agents.
The 11 Agents employed by our firm have over 220 years combined experience in the property and livestock industry. Our team awaits your email, phone call or SMS message to assist with all enquiries on real estate and livestock needs.
We at Brian O'Halloran & Co can provide advice on a number of issues pertaining to all real estate matters being:


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NSW Blues' poor culture keeps costing them Origin
A GREAT silence falls over the Blues. Freed from another Origin series shortcoming, they are still not free from their Origin pain.
Everything we believed is a fraud. The strides made in culture, their belief in what it meant to play for NSW, all a puff of smoke.
Not everybody let the team down. But those who did, did so badly.
As a unit there is not a lot of strength in the Blues. Not everywhere, where it is absolutely necessary in Origin.
Some are wonderful young men. Captain Boyd Cordner grew this series.
Josh Jackson is welcome in any team you care to name. Jake Trbojevic is a player you can build a team around for the next 10 years.
Coach Laurie Daley went beyond the call for his players, protecting their reputations against the loss. Cradle them too tightly, though, and they die in your arms.
It seems the Blues still weren't united ahead of the decider.
Some players let down Daley and their teammates tremendously. They should never be picked for NSW again.
Several days before the game Daley told David Klemmer he was going to start the game in place of Andrew Fifita. It was a sound tactic.
Queensland negated Fifita in Game II when they got out early from marker and chopped him around the legs. The moment Fifita feels his legs are being attacked he begins to crab across field.
A starting pair of Aaron Woods and Klemmer provided other benefits. One a ballplayer, the other pure crash and barge.
It also allowed a fresh Fifita to come on once the sting had left the defence, where it is assumed he would be more threatening.
Fifita did not much like the switch and the story broke in The Sunday Telegraph.
Asked a question, Klemmer could not lie.
"Yes, I was told I was starting," Klemmer said. "But I didn't. That is all I will say."
Most reports, the politest way they can be described, are that Fifita aggressively questioned the tactic, to the point Daley relented and allowed him to start, leaving the rest of the squad frustrated.
What happened to this culture of team buy-in? They were sacrificing a sound strategy to please a player?
Fifita is big and quick across the ground and should stand like a colossus in the game. Yet Fifita is a punchline in the Queensland camp.
They laughed solidly when he whinged after Game II that he was sledged. He was angry, he told all who would listen, but he would not say what was said that angered him.
He seemed to have no trouble sooking about what was said on the field but, pressed for detail, then saying what happens on the field stays on the field.
It later emerged that Josh McGuire - who put it on the line verbally and then backed it up physically, winning the admiration of plenty - told Fifita "We knew you were shit" and "You are just shit c ... s".
The Queenslanders, all solid men, knew Fifita's salty tears said everything they believed about Fifita. They exposed it, too.
At the same time as we were being sold on this new Blues culture it also emerged in the decider fallout that Blake Ferguson and Josh Dugan were spending their day off at the Lennox Point Hotel.
This was after the bonding period was shut down. If nothing else, it shows where their heads were at.
The disappointment in all this is that this is exactly what the Blues have been telling us they are so slowly building towards - identifying and correcting this weakness in culture.
The Blues spoke so often about it they had many of us convinced.
We have now learned it is one thing to recognise it and speak to it ... and another thing altogether to live it.
The failings begin from the top down.
The Blues are called in to camp and as quickly as they can they fly to Kingscliff on the Queensland border. As far from the heart of NSW as they can be. Hessian netting is wrapped around the ground for training sessions to stop prying eyes seeing in.
The Blues isolate themselves, tucked in their own world.
Queensland embrace their State. They fly into towns like Toowoomba and Rockhampton and Mackay and spend a day signing autographs and absorbing what it means to represent these people.
Training is open and Queenslanders are welcomed to be part of it.
Their first words are always about the honour of playing for Queensland and not letting their state down.
The Blues merely speak to it, undone by a few, and still they do not learn.


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Publicado el
Authors: Mollie Dickenson, Mike Pedler, John Burgoyne.
Whilst there is extensive and growing literature in online and networked learning (e.g. McConnell, 2000) and in research and practice on face-to-face (f2f) action learning (AL) (Pedler et al, 2005), there appears to be very little reported or anecdotal evidence of the virtual variety.


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Today was one of those days. I had no motivation, no stress, and not one commitment today. I got a little bit accomplished- but not much. I'm not complaining- it was fantastic. But I know that tomorrow it ALL changes.
At 8 am, Jason and I are leaving for Weber State. Andrew is at Boys State right now and he was nominated Governor and voted Governor in the primary election. So tonight was the big debate and tomorrow at 11 am, he finds out if he won. The boy who is elected governor gets to accompany Senator Bishop to Washington DC for Boys Nation. How cool is that? It's either going to be Andrew or one other boy- I'm so proud of him for making it this far! Everyone keep your fingers crossed for tomorrow.
After we get Andrew, we are heading to St. George. Words cannot adequately describe how excited I am to be with my family. The Egbert cousins also arrive tomorrow and it's been awhile since I've seen them- so that is also very exciting!
Saturday will be-- life changing. I am going through the St. George Temple to take out my Endowments. I am so, so excited. And nervous. And just so in awe of how close to God I feel right now. It's truly a marvelous feeling.
I also really, really need to study. A LOT. Like- insane amounts. I have three finals next week- two on Wednesday, one of Thursday. Why did I sign up for 9.5 credits? It's almost over though- I just need to seal it off with some good scores! Only one grade seriously depends on the final (haha). Life- it is so crazy. And sometimes impossible to keep in perspective!
I love this Temple :)


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Ear Home > Floxin Otic Drug Interactions
Although there are no known drug interactions with Floxin Otic, make sure your healthcare provider is aware of any other medications you are taking. For instance, if you are using another type of ear drop, you may have to wait a certain amount of time before using Floxin Otic. Also, it's possible that certain interactions may be discovered at a later date.
Does Floxin Otic Interact With Other Drugs?Floxin® Otic (ofloxacin otic solution) is a prescription ear drop approved to treat infections of the middle ear (known medically as otitis media) in children with ear tubes and people with holes in the eardrum. It is also used to treat infections of the outer ear and ear canal (known medically as otitis externa, or more commonly "swimmer's ear"). This medication does not have any known drug interactions.
Floxin Otic is applied directly into the ear, and very little of the medication is expected to be absorbed into the body. Because only very small amounts of the drug (if any) are expected to reach the blood after use, Floxin Otic will likely not react with other medications.
Although this product is not expected to interact with other medicines, it is probably a good idea to limit your use of other ear drops when using this medication, unless your healthcare provider tells you otherwise. If you do use other ear drops, you may not be able to use them at the same time as Floxin Otic. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to separate your other ear medicines from Floxin Otic.
Final ThoughtsAt this time, it seems unlikely that Floxin Otic would react with other medications. No drug interactions have been identified to date, and very little of this medicine is expected to be absorbed into the bloodstream. However, this does not necessarily mean that there really are no drug interactions with Floxin Otic. This medication has not been studied with every possible drug, and there may be negative interactions that are yet to be discovered.
It is always a good idea to make sure your healthcare provider has a complete list of all your medications. Therefore, make sure you tell your healthcare provider about any medications (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, vitamins, or supplements) you are taking, even if you believe they will not interact with other medicines.


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What is the meaning of the hadith regarding migrating in the age of fitna? How shall I preserve my faith?
What is the meaning of the hadith regarding migrating to caves and valleys in the age of fitna? What should a common Muslim do nowadays to preserve his Imaan?
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu 'alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuhu
Imam Bukhari narrates in his authentic compilation of hadith that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said,
"A time will come that the best property of a Muslim will be sheep, which he will take on the top of mountains and the places of rainfall (valleys) so as to flee with his religion from Al-Fitan (afflictions and trials)." (Sahih al-Bukhari 1/7 Qadeemi kutub khana)[i]
The scholars of Hadith state that the meaning of 'al-fitan' is that scenario where there is widespread violation of the laws of Allah Ta'ala. In addition, for one to practice upon Islam it is extremely difficult and the means to practice are all but gone. Such a time is regarded as al-fitan.
This hadith is not promoting celibacy. Instead, it is highlighting the last resort to preserve one's faith. (In'aam al-Baari 1/404 Maktabah al-Hiraa)
Furthermore, if a person is trapped in the web of al-fitan and he has the strength and courage to counter these trials, then it will be compulsory for him to try his utmost to vanquish these trials. If he is weak and unable to face the severity of the trials, it is better for him to migrate. (Umdah al-Qaari 1/224 Maktabah at-tawfiqiyyah)[ii]
Let alone a common Muslim, every Muslim should constantly be striving to preserve his faith. There are some deeds every Muslim should do daily without fail to safeguard his/her faith. Below is a checklist which everybody should try and adhere to. Every night, take account of yourself and see if you practiced the '5 points'.
1) Men must perform their 5 times salaah in the masjid with the congregation. Likewise, women should perform 5 times salaah at home in the recommended time.
2) Recite a portion of the Quran daily according to one's capacity.
3) Study the English translation of the Quran for 10-15 minutes daily. We recommend Ma'ariful Quran by Mufti Muhammad Shafi sahib or Tafseer Uthmani by Maulana Shabeer Ahmed Uthmani sahib (Allah have mercy on them).
4) To perform zikr (remembrance of Allah) daily. The recitation of 100 times Salawaat on the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), a 100 times Istighfaar and a 100 times third kalimah some time in the morning and evening.
5) Do your utmost to fulfil the rights of people. Do not oppress or hurt anyone.
If there is a downpour of rain and we see shelter, we immediately run to that shelter. Likewise, when there is a downpour of trials, the shelter is the company of the pious and god-fearing. Frequent the gatherings of the pious in your locality. Also, try and spend some time with the brothers in Tabligh Jama'ah. It is a praiseworthy movement with the sole aim of refreshing and reviving the faith of the people.
Mawlana Faraz Ibn Adam,
Checked and Approved by,
[i] قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: " يُوشِكُ أَنْ يَكُونَ خَيْرَ مَالِ المُسْلِمِ غَنَمٌ يَتْبَعُ بِهَا شَعَفَ الجِبَالِ وَمَوَاقِعَ القَطْرِ ، يَفِرُّ بِدِينِهِ مِنَ الفِتَنِ.(صحيح البخاري ج 1 ص 7 قديمي كتب كانه)


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5:47 am
January 11, 2016
I want to thank everyone for viewing my material and information. I don't believe this is the site for me as I've had little to no feedback on my personal work or have had arguments made towards Carl P Munck's irrefutable proof of an ancient system that still exists on Earth/Mars today.
If you were indeed searching for truth, I surely provided that ground and momentum.
I know the world is full of lies and power hungry malevolent beings controlling everything.Carl Munck's work is just the beginning of knowledge, such a knowledge that will change the powers of control as they cannot disprove any of it.
I hope you find what you're looking for.
Roger Brown
8:46 am
April 9, 2009
Woah.. there little doggie... Really don't run off. As I had mentioned in another post, there is a slow down in posting in many forums. Not anything you are posting being a problem. It is all over the net at the moment. Don't go and run off. If you notice you posts are being looked at. Just folks aren't saying anything. I have noticed that this forum is a bit more slow and I'm not sure why either. So really, keep posting stuff. Your stuff has been interesting. As for the Secure Team video on the moon. I have seen a similar thing and I pass it off as the sun being in the right place at the right time to give something the perfect shadow. Seen many things like this before. DON"T RUN OFF..
9:12 am
April 9, 2009
Agree 100% with earthman, and I even said the same thing to you, a week or so ago, about message board traffic, and how message boards need good posters.
Roger I have responded to several of your posts, remember that most people do not go to all the forums either. I wrote at length about several of them, admitting I did not totally understand the concept on that power post, but I did respond several times.
It is not your posts or content, like earthman says, the counter shows many are reading, but remain lurkers as far as replies. I have hundreds of posts that never got a single reply, but they never are deleted, they stay in the archives for people to find.
Don't give up, stick around.
9:16 am
April 9, 2009
Just scanned the forum index, and you have a lot of people who read you view your posts, even on threads that have zero replies, I found some with 40 - 60 views. I think you are wrong people are paying attention to your posts.
Most people do not reply because they are shy, and do not write well, or just afraid to jump in.
Bottomline is your threads are getting a lot of attention.
10:23 pm
April 9, 2009
11:14 am
April 9, 2009
Seriously, it is a sign of the ever declining values of this society. They do not want to take time for anything anymore. Instant gratification society at its worst. Nobody wants to cook, its fast foods and the microwave. Nobody wants to read to learn, they don't take the time. People want it quick and now, and be done with it. We are glued to out TV's that have 500 channels, and can't stay on one for 10 seconds, because we have that remote wearing out our fingers, faster than a speeding texting phone. The smart phones are just dumbing down society at light speed.
I understand Roger being frustrated, it takes time to write meaningful things. Over on the religion forum, we have the daily copy and pasting crap from someone who probably never reads a word of it, and wonders why nobody ever responds to it.
People are just too busy to get past facebook selfies or stupid crap, to show everyone "Look at Me", or copy and pasting something like a chain letter "say Amen otherwise you are heartless", or some brainless saying, and everyone hits the like button all day long.
7:27 pm
December 4, 2009
rogerbrown, I've been a member here for 17 or something years (yes that is something I'm proud of) the black vault has at times been an unbelievably lively place... soo many posts in one day you could never keep up with it! Stay tuned it will come back to that and you will be glad to be a part of it. That could take a while, but it's definitely going to happen. As quiet as it is now, I am more than happy to have the space here!
"Living backwards!" Alice repeated in great
astonishment. "I never heard of such a thing!"
"—but there's one great advantage in it, that one's
memory works both ways."
— Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass
1 Guest(s)


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PS Vita Jailbreak 3.61 CFW – How To Jailbreak PS Vita Free CFW Tutorial
This if first and official PS Vita Jailbreak and Downgrade Installer ( Like HENkaku) for 3.61 and later firmware.
As we know HENkaku is the first ever homebrew enabler for PS Vita and PSTV. It is akin to jailbreaking your iPhone or rooting your Android device. Homebrew are games and other software not officially approved. For example, VitaDoom is a port of the classic game DOOM and mGBA lets you play Game Boy Advance ROMs. You can find more examples in the showcase. Best of all, HENkaku is 100% free.
Steps and Instructions:
7: Now Upgrade your firmware version to 3.61-CFW.


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Swatching all of these new MAC Retro Matte Liquid Lipcolour lipsticks yesterday was an adventure because they're CRAZY pigmented. They're liquid mattes, which means they can be a little drying (purr usual), or SUPER drying when it comes to my super sensitive lips, especially after applying and removing 15 of them, but with good lip prep beforehand, you should be fine.
After all, only crazy people put on 15 liquid lipsticks one after another.
MAC Retro Matte Liquid Lipcolour
$20 US each/$24 CAD
Available January 7, 2016 at all MAC locations (permanent line)
- Fashion Legacy – an intense fire truck red
- Feels So Good – a deep true red
- High Drama – a deep, dark plum
- Dance with Me – a deep cranberry red
- Lady-Be-Good – a warm mid-ton nude
- Tailored to Tease – a bright fuchsia
- Oh, Lady – a deep wine
- Recollection – an intense bright violet
- Quite the Standout – a bright orange-red
- To Matte With Love – a bright raspberry
- Personal Statement – a shocking pink
- Divine-Divine – a light creamy pink
- Mademoiselle – a bright creamy coral
- Back in Vogue – a peachy nude
- Rich & Restless – a mid-tone pinky salmon
As always, thank you for watching! 🙂
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,


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The Florida State University Program in the History and Philosophy of Science was started in 2004. Over the years, as it has developed and matured, increasingly the focus has been on what one might broadly describe as science in the public domain, together with a strong sense that HPS has both the potential and obligation to engage with scientists and with the general public on issues of social and moral concern. To this end, faculty and students have spent much time off-campus visiting museums and engaging in debate and collaboration with faculty and students at other institutions, both in North America and in Europe
It was therefore a very natural extension of our mission and vision when the Director, Michael Ruse, decided to build a graduate course around the Florida Everglades, that natural resource of wetlands at the bottom of the State, that offers such opportunities for study and recreation, but that has been under such threat both from the encroachment of human activity and from the introduction of alien species. The aim was to let students in the Program, along with any others who wanted to join us, explore questions in the history and philosophy of ecology, with special reference to the opportunities offered by and challenges posed by the Everglades.
Central to the course was a trip to the Everglades, which was held during the FSU spring break at the beginning of March 2014. Some fifteen students (with friends) and the director made the trip, which included both a guided tour and opportunities for individual study and exploration. What follows is a preliminary report on the trip and our findings and initial thoughts. Everyone was asked to write a five-hundred-word mini-essay and accompany it with a picture. Intentionally, the field was left entirely open and students were encouraged to think laterally as it were, meaning that they were told to give first impressions and reactions, rather than putting their ideas into a formal framework. That can come later.
Above all, we hope that as you read through what we have written, we can convey something of the excitement of our visit and the challenges, daunting and exciting, that face our generation of students, both in the Everglades and elsewhere. No one pretends that history and philosophy of science solves all of the world's problems or automatically makes one into a better person, but we would like to think that an encounter and experience such as this shows that our training and our interests do have a very positive contribution to make both to our own development and to the future of life here on Earth.
Non-native species, also known as introduced, alien, or exotic species, can be defined as a species living outside its native distributional range, which has arrived there by human activity, either deliberate or accidental. Introductions can be either intentional or unintentional. Intentional introductions have been motivated by individuals or groups who either (1) believe that the newly introduced species will be in some way beneficial to humans in its new location or, (2) as is the case with pythons in the Everglades, species are introduced intentionally but with no regard to the potential impact. Unintentional or accidental introductions are most often a byproduct of human movements, and are thus unbound to human motivations. Subsequent range expansion of introduced species may or may not involve human activity.
Introduced species that have a negative effect on a local ecosystem are also known as invasive species. Invasive species spread widely or quickly and have a negative effect on the environment, the economy, or human health. Not all non-native species are considered invasive. Some have no negative effect and can, in fact, be beneficial such as an alternative to pesticides in agriculture for example. In some instances, the potential for being beneficial or detrimental in the long run remains unknown.
Species that humans intentionally transport to new regions can subsequently become successfully established in two ways. In the first case, organisms are purposely released for establishment in the wild. In the second case, species intentionally transported into a new region may escape from captive or cultivated populations and subsequently establish independent breeding populations. Escaped organisms are included in this category because their initial transport to a new region is human motivated. As the everglades are surrounded on three sides by urban areas and are close to a major transportation and shipping center between the United States, Caribbean, and Central and South America, they are particularly vulnerable to the importation of exotic species. For example, they might be used for agricultural experiments, arrive in shipping containers, or be attached to vehicles.
The Astronotus ocellatus, or Oscar fish, seen in the photograph above, is an invasive species known to the Everglades National Forest, which is native to South America. They were introduced to this region in the 1950s by being released from aquariums and escaping aquaculture.
Though the Oscar was initially seen as an undesirable exotic fish, in the late 1980s, that image began to change due to the fact that it is an edible fish that is easy to catch. Now the fish is seen as a great contribution to the everglades fishery. Although this fish is sought after by anglers, the introduction of these fish into other bodies of water is still discouraged and illegal.
Due to the potential benefits some invasive species have on local industry, some might argue that we should not make efforts to control these species and protect the environment from the potential harms they may cause. For instance, because the Oscar is becoming poplar to local fisheries, many people do think efforts should be made to eradicate them from the everglades. However, the Oscar is one of the few exotic fish species to have obtained a foothold in Everglades National Park. Though the extent of their potential for harm is not yet known, there is evidence that they are upsetting the ecological balance of the park.
Once we define non-native species as those introduced by humans, it becomes clear that if we want to preserve ecosystems such as the everglades for future generations, we ought to make efforts to eradicate invasive species. Humans are responsible for the damage caused by invasive species and it is our obligation to try and repair it. Regardless of whether or not the introduction of invasive species and the prevention of their eradication may be beneficial to local economies, we should not support this effort. We owe it to future generations to do what we can to preserve the Earth's delicate ecosystems.
Spending time in the Everglades and Key Largo made me reflect on the cognitive dissonance between logical and functional thought. Specifically that people may logically and/or factually know about nature, ecology however this nascent understanding seems to have no transference to functional application. Decision-making is often predicated on immediacy. In this view, considerations of down- stream effects are typically downplayed if not totally omitted. Slavoj Zizek uses internal plumbing and garbage pick-up as surrogate to address this phenomenon - though we logically know that our waste is going to a treatment facility we functionally operate under more of an 'out of sight, out of mind' mentality. There is, in other words, an accepted notion that our waste is simply "gone."
As a science educator, this is of great concern to me; particularly relating to environmental, ecological understanding. Having been trained as a physicist and teaching physics I am less concerned with a person's inability to think of the world in terms of kinematic equations, wave theory or quantummechanics - despite their importance. We may be bound by these physical theories but in terms of ecology we are agents within the system.
Experiencing the Everglades potentially helps people recognize the importance of the ecological zone (i.e. water filtration, spawning ground for many Gulf species of fish, habitat for transient pollinators etc.). Experiences with, in the Everglades allow people to interact with nature outside of idealized and/or caricaturized representation. One can easily experience being mere feet from intimidating animals such as large crocodiles, alligators, highly venomous snakes (e.g. water moccasin) as well as see delicate beauty like bromeliads in bloom. Upon entering the Everglades, most exit their comfort zone; in doing so, it is easy to have our focus narrow, again, toward the immediate needs we have. Walking through the Cypress Dome 'swamp' one has unsure footings resulting in a reliance on a walking stick and attempting to see through the 'muck' in search of stable footing. Diverting your attention a mere foot to the right or left enables one to appreciate the crystal clear water - filtered by the cypress trees and other flora - instead of seeing only that which is obscured with sediment.
Education needs to be reflective of this bias toward logical/down-stream decision making. John Dewey's works place education as central in his conception of The Great Society - achievable through education and democratic interactions. Specifically, Dewey's view of a democratic society is one which allows people to make decisions based on the effect on all parties involved. The imperative becomes the inclusion of ecological zones, species and other biotic, abiotic factors. Rachel Carson makes the idea of down-stream ecological issues abundantly clear, readily accessible and helps remove any doubt regarding our intimate relationship with nature. The Everglades, as well as other national and state parks, are an integral tool in helping people recognize these factors - which should be included in decisions - however, the educational necessity is to help incorporate these into common practice. Through education we can help minimize the cognitive dissonance associated with environmental decision making - whether reducing consumption/generation of waste, reducing consumption of natural resources or how we manage the resources available to us.
The Everglades are a natural American landmark. Sadly they are under increased risk of environmental degradation. Fortunately, environmentally conscientious people care deeply about the future of the Florida Everglades. Yet, how do we inspire commitment to protect the environment? From my recent experience, I can attest that being able to have firsthand experience with nature is one of the most effective ways to both inspire and reinforce environmental conscientiousness.
One of the most interesting things to do while in the Everglades is to go wet walking in a cypress dome. The Everglade's cypress domes are swamps where the trees in the middle grow larger than the trees on the outside, yielding a dome shape. It is a fascinating experience to drive several miles down a manmade road, and then venture out, on foot, into a naturally occurring environment that is nearly untouched by man. Life is so abundant in these domes that you are literally surrounded by nature. Once you walk a mere 40 feet, you can look back and see nothing but cypress trees and other wildlife. Within the cypress domes, I witnessed such a remarkable variety of plants and animals that it felt like being transported to a different world.
It is amazing to see how this one area is not only better suited for certain kinds of trees, but gives alligators, water moccasins, and other kinds of animals an ideal environment. At first, it can seem quite frightening being so close to a dangerous animal. However, the fear quickly subsides when you realize that you are with a knowledgeable guide who has been in this environment many times before. The inherent, but unwarranted fear you initially experience makes you realize how little you actually understand nature. Touring the Everglades is certainly a valuable lesson in biology, but in a larger sense provides an inspiring connection with nature. There is something profoundly different about seeing an alligator in its natural habitat as opposed to seeing one within a zoo. Many people worry about the economic impact that environmental degradation will have on the world. Not nearly enough worry about losing the transformative experiences one can have with nature.
One has to wonder how much of an effect these kinds of experiences could have on the public at large. Perhaps, if we could provide everyone the same or a similar experience, then they too, would develop a greater respect for nature and begin to appreciate the inherent value, history and beauty that the Everglades have to offer.
Consider two cases: A) The belted kingfisher is a popular pet in Canada. Many Canadians migrating to south Florida bring their beloved birds with them. Inevitably some escape or are released by their owners. Lacking natural predators, they out-compete native species overpopulate the ecosystem. N) Due to natural changes in the climate of their habitat, the belted kingfishers migrate away from their native Ontario to south Florida. Lacking natural predators, they out-compete native species overpopulate the ecosystem.
Are there relevant differences between these two cases? I will argue that there are not, and this poses a theoretical problem for those concerned with A-type cases, what I call artificially invasive species. These are cases where an invasive species's presence is due to human actions. Specifically, the case for controlling invasive species may not be able to be distinguished from the case for preserving ecosystems from all change.
Invasive species are problems for a number of reasons. They compete with native species for resources, often face few natural predators, and otherwise are thought to harm the ecosystem and the species living in it. There is not much difference between naturally invasive and artificially invasive species. True, the introduction of species by humans usually occurs over a shorter time period and is more likely to involve very different ecosystems (and so have no natural predators in their new one). But these are contingent matters. In the cases above, case A may occur over a time span the same as or longer than N. If we are concerned about case A, it seems we ought to be equally concerned about case N.
In A, the harm is due to the behavior of moral agents who ought not to have behaved irresponsibly. In N, there is no moral agent who has caused the harm. But while this difference matters if we are concerned with blame or punishment, the harmful effects are the same. If we are concerned with mitigating harm to ecosystems, as I assume those concerned with A-type cases are, we ought to be
concerned about N-type cases as well, since they result in equal harms. We might think that this is not much of a bullet to bite, and we should also work to remove naturally
invasive species. There is a further step on the slippery slope, however. Ecosystems are dynamic, and characterized by changes. Stopping all changes in an ecosystem and preserving it as it is is an utter failure of conservation, not its success. If we are concerned about N-type cases, can we distinguish them from other fluctuations and changes that are not problematic? This is difficult to do, since ecosystems are composed of species that either migrated or evolved to fill a niche. Many native species were once invaders.
Our concern with species introduced artificially ought, I have argued, to lead us to concern with species that migrate or otherwise are naturally introduced. It is unclear, however, that N-type cases can be distinguished from the normal changes which ecosystems undergo. If we cannot resist either of these two steps, the case for taking action against invasive species in A-type cases is vulnerable to a slippery slope argument.
The fact of knowing little about the Everglades combined with the demotivating idea of not knowing anything about philosophy after 6 years of hard work, makes writing this essay a difficult task, for it threatens to expose my ignorance in both fields. Writing about this subject has emerged as unexpectedly as the journey to the Everglades and, consequently, my words will sound somewhat shaky. It is the kind of trembling that usually arises when we write or talk about subjects that we don't know; "fear of the unknown" is usually said when we face an abyss impossible to surmount. Let's see how I face the unknown from an absolute Socratic point of view:
Martin Heidegger, in his fundamental work Sein und Zeit, establishes a difference between two feelings of man that are often confused as equals and that, in accordance with the distinction that this philosopher makes, they are far from being the same. We must discuss the difference that should be established between the fear and angst. The objective of Heidegger, as Existentialist, differentiates these two feelings by clearly defining what is meant by angst. According to Heidegger, the fear has the characteristic of being objective: we are afraid of an alligator's teeth when he comes towards us. On the other hand, anxiety is fear of an indefinite thing: we feel anguish for our existence when it comes to thinking about death because it is something that has not hitherto been sufficiently defined. As a result, when both sides converge, the human being reaches a state of absolute passivity that enables him reacting properly: when we are in an unknown place like the Everglades, with endless paths of wetlands and innumerable threats around us, the whole situation makes us feel as beings lacking the potential to find solutions.
The reference to Epicurus is a must when looking for solutions of this kind. His well-known Tetrapharmakos is explicitly presented as medicine to fight the four major fears that grip the human soul: the fear of the gods, the fear of death, the fear of pain, and the fear of failure. Inaugurating a tradition of libertarian philosophy, radical humanist and materialistic, Epicurus proposes a philosophy which consists of enjoying the pleasures of life, learning how to distinguish between suitable and not suitable pleasures, and sharing both life and knowledge.
Maybe my strange dialectic will not show how to distinguish between appropriate and inappropriate pleasures, but it has been useful personally to know that really it is worth, from time to time, to be exposed to new challenges in order to share them later. The fear of the unknown does not always have to be something negative, if at the end of the road you finally get to overcome the abyss. Paradoxically, the unknown finally has served as a therapy which regulates our own limitations and that it teaches us how to extract knowledge from ourselves. To share it or not with others, is a different task, for a different essay.
Left: A route map of the Mangrove Swamp at Nine Mile Pond. Note the manmade ponds.
On average, humans change nature much faster than nature changes itself (a counterexample that comes to mind is a hurricane. However, one could argue this phenomenon is incorporated into the cycles of the everglades ecosystems). Conversely, nature can only change human made things so much; remnants of manmade structures remain. Where do you draw the line between what's bad and what's okay in human-nature interactions? The Everglades National Park, covering a vast 1.5 million acres, is a perfect case study. While visiting the Everglades, we focused our attention to a small portion of the park, but thanks to a full day tour we were able to see nine unique ecosystems that make up the Everglades and examine the human-nature dynamic.
One of our activities was kayaking through a Mangrove Swamp at Nine Mile Pond. The access point is at a manmade pond (Figure 1). Historically, roads through the Everglades were made by digging canals and using the excavated soil to mounding the earth beside it for the road. This, however, blocked drainage and flow of the water. In the case of Nine Mile Pond, these manmade ponds were dug to acquire soil for the road as a substitute to building a canal.
Water flow to the Everglades is an issue with deep historical roots. Historically, the Everglades began at Lake Okeechobee. The Everglades is actually a river, slowly winding down to Florida Bay, moving, at most, a quarter mile each day. Drainage via canal was attempted by Hamilton Disston in the early 1880s but, ultimately, it was unsuccessful. The Hoover Dike around Lake Okeechobee was authorized in 1930, and changed the course of water and northern limits of the Everglades became farmland. Now the National Parks and Water Conservation Area protect the remainder (Figure 2). Recently, billions of dollars have been systematically spent to revert the drainage problem by raising portions of the highway, returning water flow back to its natural course.
One premise of restoration ecology is that human impact and barriers are bad, and in the case of extensive barriers to water flow, we may all be in agreement that it is bad. However, there are less clear cut circumstances and situations. 1. Does this ethical claim always stand? 2. Is restoration a matter of minimizing human impact and barriers (preventatively or restoratively)? I outline two examples for consideration.
On the portion of road where we stopped for the wet walk in the Cypress Domes, culverts connected the water on either side. The road has drastically changed the course of water. Unintentionally however, culverts have given alligators a hideaway and a safe way to cross the road (how significant this benefit is, is unknown). One may argue that without the road, there would be no minor trouble of alligator road kill. But a National Park must balance human access and environmental concerns; removing the road makes the Park inaccessible.
Nine Mile Pond developed into a pond ecosystem attached to the Mangrove Swamp; alligators swim throughout. Besides an uncommonly quick drop-off, one cannot visually tell it was manmade. Alligators are considered ecosystem engineers (beavers are the archetypal example of this characterization). Alligators wallow in the mud, creating holes that can become extensive and eventually host various species and can be part of ecosystems such as Cypress Domes. Although the likelihood of alligator holes forming exactly where Nine Mile Pond was created is low, they provide comparable change to habitat, and are a common aspect in the surrounding ecosystem.
While humans have changed parts of the Everglades to something no longer recognizable as the everglades (e.g. farmland), humans have also changed the everglades by degree. Whether this is a good thing or not remains to be seen.
I asked myself the question, "How can philosophy be used to promote environmental advocacy on behalf of the Florida Everglades?" which I understood as a question about the scope and import of environmental ethics on practical matters of environmental advocacy. Of course, I think philosophers can do a lot. They can provide guidance and precision in the construction of the concepts and arguments that support one or another view about any number of relevantly related environmental issues. Philosophers can also produce and critique accounts about how best to understand the value of the varied, complex ecosystems of the Florida Everglades and humans' relationship to them (e.g., intrinsic versus extrinsic accounts of value). Finally, philosophers can weigh in on the pragmatic upshot of framing certain advocacy efforts in one way rather than another (e.g., some philosophers claim it can lead to poor political policy when well-intentioned environmental advocates motivate their arguments by appeal to the intrinsic value of nature).
But can philosophers produce arguments that will motivate people to take action? Here I (as an environmental advocate) came into philosophy with the naive hope that one could produce an argument so carefully reasoned, so uncontroversially sound, that people would be compelled to promote environmental stewardship and sustainability. However, the fact of the matter is, the most thoughtfully reasoned philosophical arguments very often fail to compel anyone to action, even the philosophers who advanced them. Take, for example, the fact that there are philosophers who agree with arguments in favor of adopting veganism as a highly effective strategy to promote environmental sustainability, but who are not thereby compelled to adopt this dietary regimen. It is also common to run into philosophers who claim to believe, for philosophically-motivated moral reasons, they "ought" to be vegetarians in order to alleviate unnecessary animal suffering, but who subsequently add that they just "can't" because they "love meat too much!"
My point, of course, is not that philosophy is totally useless to the cause of environmental advocates (as I have indicated otherwise) or that philosophers are just a bunch of hypocrites. It is that carefully reasoned philosophical arguments are (at their best) no more compelling than showing people pictures of the hole in the ozone layer, statistics about the impact of global climate change on the suffering of women and children in poor nations, news reports on current and past episodes of human genocide, or clips of animals being subjected to torture inside factory farms- and that philosophers are no more objective, and no more ethical, than anyone else.
The natural ecosystems of the everglades, of which nine distinct systems have been identified, support life that is accustomed to surviving on low nutrient availability. To humans, it may be an uninhabitable swamp but its unique vastness supports awe-inspiring plant and animal life, as well as provides many ecosystem services for human life. Similar to the nutrient-poor terrain that best supports viticulture, the low nutrient loads within the everglades habitats, exacerbated by the occasional intrusion of salt water from the ocean, allow only for the hardiest plants and animals to survive and flourish. One thing that the everglades ecosystems rely heavily on, however, is the seasonal fluctuations in water availability. Since drainage attempts and flood control have been attempted in hopes of economic prosperity, water control issues have forced disturbances in the natural water flow that the Everglades relies on. From observations based on our March visit, the best and most natural anthropogenic manipulation of the water cycles in the everglades has yet to be found.
Humans are not the only agents of change within the everglades, other animals also exert power on their environment, although at much smaller scales. For example, alligator holes provide areas of deeper water that provide safe haven for fish and wading birds during the dry season. We visited the Everglades during the end of the dry season, although the river of grass was uncharacteristically wet. As a result of excess rains and returning water from the Okeechobee slough, a possible result of the 2001 Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan legislation(CERP), the water in the swamp was higher than it had been observed at this time (early March) for 35 years.
While this many appear to be a positive, there are negative repercussions for excesses within carefully orchestrated networks. Wading birds, including the endangered wood stork, the egret, the blue heron, and the night heron, fish for food by wading in shallow water and capturing fish and invertebrates with their long beaks. This method of self-sustenance is best practiced in shallow water, where food items are concentrated. The depth of the water in the swamp we observed made it difficult for the wading birds to efficiently feed themselves, driving them away to other areas that become crowded or unsuitable. In addition, run-off from swamp-turned-farmland contains residual fertilizers, adding nutrients to the areas that exist and flourish on low nutrient loads. At Nine Mile Pond, a popular kayaking spot, we observed the mangroves ecosystem up-close. In among the red mangroves were cattails, an invasive species that signaled excess phosphates and nitrates, found in residual fertilizers.
Interestingly, the kayak put-in spot, adjacent to the park highway and a parking lot for easy access, consisted of three barrows. A barrow is a pond-like structure, deeper than the rest of the swamp, as a result of having been previously excavated for limestone. The limestone was to become building material to elevate the area where the National Park Service highway within the Everglades was. Nine Mile Pond consisted of three connected barrows linked to mangrove waterways, where it was significantly more shallow but still too high for wading birds to fish in. In fact, we saw no wading birds in the area. The everglades as a macro-ecosystem is unique in its orchestrated networks of life which subsist within a system that not only undergoes seasonal changes, but is also affected by phenomenal events- hurricanes. The fluctuations within the system have resisted human interference in the past, but continue to lose ground, as the invisible human influence leaches through the river of grass.
There is a concern in ethics about our obligations to the future. While most agree that it seems imminently clear that we have one, what is less clear is what the nature of the obligation is, to whom do we owe it and why do we owe it. Metaphysical, epistemic and ethical worries abound as solutions to these questions are offered, but I will try to propose a token solution.
Every Boy Scout learns to leave his campsite in at least as good of a shape as he found it due to an obligation he has to those who will use it in the future and recognizes that he has no right to abuse this public resource. I believe that we can extend this principle to the world at large. When we enter this world, we find it as it exists, and it exists how the prior generations have left it to us, intentionally or not. We come upon it as a camper comes upon his campsite, and we are obligated to treat the world with respect in the same way that he is obligated to treat his campsite with respect. The prior tenants of the site took care to not desecrate it so that he might use it, and the past generations have likewise taken care to leave us the world as we find it so that we might use of it. It is in virtue of this that we come upon our obligation to preserve the world for posterity's sake. Our obligation is to maintain the state of the world, and if possible to improve it (a supererogatory action). This does not mean that we cannot change the world; just that if we do, it is our responsibility to make sure that we do not knowingly change it for the worse. This responsibility is directed towards the future, though not at any specific time or group of people, and it finds its moral force in a debt we owe to the very real past that can only be repaid in this way.
The nature of the obligation is to maintain the well-being of the Earth, it is owed to the indistinct future, and it is owed to them in light of a debt we owe the past. We are no more responsible for the state of the world when we find it than we are for the family we are born into, but as with the family, this does not mean that we have no obligation toward it. It does not matter who exists in the future, all that matters is that there will be a future. It is an inescapable fact that we have no right to further degrade the state of the Earth. From the perspective of humanity writ large, each generation is but a steward, and each has a duty to be good stewards of their charge.
The Everglades National Park offers an interesting example of the complex relationship between invasive species, endangered (or threatened) species and our ethical responsibilities towards them. This is the case of the Burmese python and its relationship to some endangered species.
The Burmese python (Python bivittatus) is one of the largest snake species in the world, reaching up to 19 feet long. These enormous serpents are originally from Southeast Asia, where they are considered threatened and vulnerable; but in the Everglades, they hold a different status.
It is believed that a population of these pythons established in the park as a result of accidental or intentional releases by pet owners. Their introduction can have negative effects in the biodiversity of the Everglades by decreasing the population of the native species. Not only do they outcompete the native species for resources, but they also prey on them. Of particular concern is their predation of protected species, like the American Wood Stork, the Key Largo wood rat, and even of another big predator: the American alligator.
In order to counterbalance the potential negative effect in the park's biodiversity actions have been taken towards controlling the population of Burmese pythons. The United States National Park Service (USNPS) has been using different methods to locate them. When captured, they are euthanized; and when python nests are found, they are all destroyed.
The case of Burmese Pythons and its effect on endangered species raises a series of ethical questions. One of them is about our historical responsibility: Are we responsible for introducing them and therefore for the damage caused to the ecosystem? Even if their introduction was not intentional, we still have the power to prevent devastating consequences for the biodiversity, should we then take action? If so, is it because species have intrinsic value independent of human preferences or is it because the potential source of knowledge useful to humanity that every species represent -as some people like E. O. Wilson has argued? If this is the reason why we should value biodiversity, then the Burmese pythons in the Everglades might be a different source of knowledge -as opposed to their Southeast Asian relatives- because even thought they are a different species, they inhabit a different area and therefore interact with a different environment. Should we then try to exterminate these invasive reptiles from South Florida or just control them for the sake of biodiversity?
The Everglades host three different species of mangrove trees: red mangroves (Rhizophora mangle), black mangroves (Avicennia germinans) and white mangroves (Laguncularia racemosa). These salt-tolerant trees thrive in the areas where saltwater mixes with freshwater from the Everglades. Red mangroves, which grow on the outside edge of the swamp (closest to open water), tolerate the high salinity in the water thanks to their impermeable roots, which leave out a great proportion of the water's salt, and thanks to the "sacrificial leaf" in each branch, which absorbs part of the salt, dying as a consequence. Black mangroves often grow behind red mangroves, and they get the name from their black trunk. Red and black mangroves don't have seeds which have a dormant stage and need cold to germinate. Instead, their seeds (called propagules) start to germinate and grow while they are still on the tree twig.
All three mangrove species are essential to coastline protection during severe storms. In addition, red mangroves, thanks to their far-reaching roots which trap sediments, not only stabilize the coastlines but also add land, as more sand and decaying vegetation is trapped in their root systems.
During the dry months, the Everglades mangrove habitat serves as a valuable nursery for several species which congregate in the mangroves to feed and nest: shrimp, bonefish, egrets, birds of prey such as ospreys, hawks and vultures, and several species of coastal and wading birds, such as white ibis, green-backed herons, brown pelicans, roseate spoonbills, ospreys and snowy egrets among others. Mangroves also serve as shelter for American coots, American crocodiles, bald eagles, Peregrine falcons and Eastern diamondback rattlesnakes. Above the water's surface, one can find tree snails, crabs, spiders and bromeliads, and below the water's surface (often encrusted on mangrove roots), sponges, anemones, corals, oysters, mussels, starfish and crabs. The mangrove habitat supports pink shrimp and stone crabs, which are exploited by multi-million-dollar industries.
Brackish water is needed to keep the mangrove ecosystem healthy. Rains and canal-building have been extremely disruptive to the mangrove habitats, by releasing too much or too little fresh water into the tidal estuaries. In 2000, the State of Florida and the U.S. government passed a plan to restore (as far as possible) the ecosystem to its state before intensive draining.
The Everglades National Park is home to thousands of species of plants and animals, but many have been introduced to the area with the help of humans. There are at least 380 documented species listed as invasive that can be found in the Everglades currently. The National Invasive Species Council (NISC) defines invasive species as "a non-native species whose introduction does or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm, or harm to human, animal, or plant health." This definition is used to inform policies on how to manage invasive species and when/how to take action. Only when a non-native species causes 'more harm than good' is it considered invasive. However, the notion of harm here relies largely and explicitly on anthropocentric interests. In our efforts to seemingly preserve the native members of particular parts of nature in the Everglades and other areas, we define 'invasive' in such a way as to put human interests (often economic interests) on par, if not above, the interests of the native organisms. NISC explains, "[e]ssentially, we are clarifying what is meant and not meant by 'causing harm' by comparing negative effects caused by a non-native organism to its potential societal benefits." What is interesting here is the insistence on weighing the benefits to society as a whole against the organisms' negative effects. This creates imbalanced situations that appear to undermine the project of preserving the native members in the first place.
One example of this imbalanced situation is the cultivation of European honeybees in America. The bees are used for honey and pollination services and while they have formed wild populations and reportedly caused problems to the native organisms in certain areas of the country, they are not considered invasive because they are far more profitable than problematic. NISC allows such a broad conception of societal harm that even a reduction in the aesthetics of an ecosystem is enough to consider a species 'invasive.'
The concerns of the native plants and animals in an ecosystem are not ignored by the policy makers, but the NISC reserves action to clear-cut cases where the harm severely outweighs the good. This pragmatic approach has two unfortunate consequences. First, there is little room to take preventative measures before the invasive species has done serious harm to an ecosystem. Second, the most obvious notions of 'harm' come in the form of economic detriment to humans. This consequence is perhaps the most egregious and is seemingly removed from the conservation efforts of a native region.
In the way that we cash out these concepts concerning conservation i.e., 'invasive' vs. merely 'non-native' it appears as though the goal is not to preserve the native members of an ecosystem. If a species is brought into a region and is not particularly 'harmful', it is merely categorized as 'non-native' and left alone. However, the 'harmful' species requires removal to preserve the native members of the ecosystem. Given the anthropocentrism of assessing 'harm,' the native state of an ecosystem appears to play little role in the arbitration of which members are allowed in an ecosystem and which are not. The justification of the policy makers implicitly concerns the instrumental value of the non-native (or invasive) species under the ruse of preserving some apparent intrinsic value of the native state of an ecosystem.
Many species in the Florida everglades have been negatively impacted by man's intrusion on this ecosystem. For the birds of the everglades, man was a predator, but not solely for food. Instead, more often these were hunted birds for fashion. Retail markets in the Northeast demanded beautiful bird feathers for their stores and men were capable of making fortunes off of the trade. This practice was legal for many years, but continued to go on after its abolition in 1902. Guy Bradley was an early game warden in the everglades that gave his life arresting a poacher year (McIver, 2003). His legacy was used by the National Ornithological Society to educate future generations about birds he protected.
Since man first made his way into this rugged ecosystem the birds have felt man's presence. Many birds were killed in the name of fashion in the late 1800's and early 1900's. The plume trade made men rich beyond their wildest dreams. Bird poachers could make thirty to forty cents a bird. This was incredible money when a single town could turn over close to 70,000 birds in a week, and the original game wardens only made $420 a year (McIver, 2003). Birds were hunted down during the most crucial time in their reproductive cycles. When the chicks were just hatched, hunters could enter a rookery, or bird nesting area, and kill birds one at a time as the others would stay to protect their young. The young would be left to fend for themselves and would often die. This was also the most lucrative time to poach the birds because their feathers would have just developed, and these were more valuable to fashion retailers.
Education was the most effective measure taken to end the plume trade. The local population was informed of the outlawing of the practice as well as the detriment caused to the everglades by hunting the birds. This caused a decrease in the hunting that had so devastated the bird populations over the years(McIver, 2003). Many bird species were eradicated in the area and many more were left with decimated populations. Today people should be responsible for this ecosystem and the continuation of its varied species by educating people on the ways man continue to affect the environment.
Today the birds of the everglades do not experience the same threats man posed as plume hunters, but still people are putting the species at risk with our activities in and around this vital ecosystem. Human activities such as farming and water management have unintended consequences such as causing polluted runoff from pesticides and fertilizers or causing flooding or droughts in crucial habitats. In these ways man continues to negatively affect the birds of the Florida everglades.
Still, the Florida Everglades are home to many beautiful bird species. If people wish to have these beautiful birds, and this beautiful ecosystem around for future generations man needs to continue to investigate the ways he interacts with this system, and to continue educating and informing people on how they can take more responsible actions in and around the everglades. Learning from the past is the only way to prevent making the same mistakes in the future.
One of the main themes that run through Marjorie Stoneman Douglas's landmark book Everglades: River of Grass (1947) is the notion that the Everglades have for centuries remained unchanged until humans began pouring into the state in the early twentieth century. Upon touring areas of the unique Southern Floridian ecosystem, we can see that Douglas's calls for protection against human incursions are valid when considering human involvement in the invasion of many nonindigenous species. Naturalist E.O. Wilson has even pointed out that such incursions have changed the overall biodiversity in Florida (and by extension the state's overall heritage) in large part because it has contributed to habitat destruction. Invasion of exotic species is the biggest result of this, he argues.
While the full impact of non-invasive fish into the Everglades National Park are not fully known, biologists in recent decades have suggested that human water management and control efforts of the ecosystem have led to increased non-native species. Four species of fish that are made known to the public as "exotic" are the oscar (Astronotus ocellatus), the pike killfish (belonesox belizanus), the blue tilapia (oreochromis aureus), and the maya cichlid (cichlasoma urophthalmus). Since at least the end of World War II, these species have been added to the ecosystem under differing circumstances and hence compete for food and space with other more native fish like the Florida Gar, Warmouth (Bream), bluegill, mosquitofish, and largemouth bass.
In the case of the oscar, like other South American freshwater fish, it has exploded in numbers since being introduced to the human-constructed ecosystem of the late fifties. With interconnected canals throughout South Florida, slow moving waters have allowed this species to gain a strong presence in the park area. According to Robert H. Robins, the species' full impact on the natural ecosystem is "unknown" even though they eat smaller fish as well as crustaceons, gastropods, and aquatic insects, but they are highly desirable by humans, particularly as aquarium pets.
Similarly, the Mayan cichlid, first reported in 1983 in the Everglades area, has spawned in great numbers in past decades, but have done so due to their adaptability to a variety of marine environments (salinity and water levels, especially). The fish is desirable to anglers, but due to their aggressive and tendency to compete with other fish in mangrove environment have often been found a nuisance for sports fishermen.
The pike killfish of the eastern coast of Central America, unlike the first two species, thrive close to the surface of slow-flowing rivers and ponds, especially in areas with lush vegetation. Out of the four, the fish is unique in that it had been part of a medical research project in the fifties, before being purposely released into a canal in 1957 when research funding ended. The fish will eat native mosquitofish. mosquito larvae, mollies, and even their own species.
The blue tilapia, which originates from North Africa and the Middle East is seen as "the most widespread foreign species" in Florida and very present in south and central "lakes, ponds, rivers, streams and canals."
As a massive federal restoration project in the Florida Everglades continues into the 21st Century, biologists estimate invasive fish species will continue to take a presence in the unique ecosystem. Indeed, between 2000 and 2012, eight new species were introduced, while three fish native to the area took a presence.


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Johannesburg, South Africa
Andries Strauss is the Mine Residue Section Manager of Knight Piésold South Africa and is based in the Johannesburg office. He holds a bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering and is a registered Professional Engineer with 18 years of experience gained in several African countries and was based in the Ghana office for some time.
His main area of technical expertise lies in geotechnical and civil engineering for mine waste management, including tailings storage facilities, heap leach pads and waste rock facilities. He carries surveillance responsibilities for some of the largest tailings facilities in South Africa. Project capabilities range from inception, through the feasibility and implementation phases, right to closure. He has strong background and interest in design and modelling software. His focus is less on design and more on project management, surveillance/audits, and business development to sustain and grow the section.


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Ways to aid the homelessBy Harry Shelton
October 23, 2020
With more and more people becoming homeless in the world, those who have a roof over their heads need to give to those who don't. Thankfully there are a lot of ways to give to the homeless and ensure that a difference can be made in their situation.
Some are easy and some are hard, but everything and anything that can be done to help someone in need is a good thing to do. Most homeless people were simply hit by a tragedy such as job loss, addiction, a death in the family, or illness and didn't have a support system to help them through it.
The easiest way
Educate yourself about why a homeless man or woman could be homeless. Not all of them are bad people, and most are kind and nice who just fell on some hard times and need a kind ear and a helping hand to get back on their feet.
By understanding not just how they became homeless but also how easy it is for anyone to fall on the same bad times and become homeless themselves, people can understand just how much the homeless need help and will be more likely to give it.
This also helps with showing respect, because homeless people are people too, and they shouldn't be treated like they are invisible. By giving the people dignity, it can provide wonders for their self-esteem and confidence.
Clothing, shoes, toys, books, and nonperishable food items are often worth their weight in gold to the homeless. So if a shelter is nearby, do what you can to donate. Old and gently used items are valuable and can change someone's life forever.
Also, offer other things like electronics, appliances, furniture, and phones to shelters to help not only improve their quality of care but also help formerly homeless people who are trying to get jobs or furnish an apartment.
Donating time is also a big help, as getting to know the homeless in your area is the first step towards breaking down any prejudices that either side might have. Using skills such as cooking and serving food, cleaning and repairing items, or even passing things out can all make someone's day brighter and better.
Teaching about things such as how to repair common items, how to apply and conduct a job interview, and how to manage money can also be a step towards helping the homeless get their lives back on track as they move from the temporary shelter to a new home and place of employment.
The first thing to remember
Just understand that no homeless person wants to be homeless, and they often want to work, have a job and money, and improve their situation. Just by telling them that they are seen and giving them those chances can light a fire in them to help the homeless get out of the situation themselves.
Treat them like people, and who knows what kindness that will be given in return.


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Source BoxBox
Current as of Change Set: ####
Latest source code can be found by browsing here.
Class CollectDetectBoxBox : DetectFunction
Please feel free use the forum to discuss any issues / comments / concerns. While we will try to keep this information current, the latest source code can be found here.
page revision: 0, last edited: 09 May 2008 03:41


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SVG bundle pass – CHRISTMAS
Looking for the perfect Christmas theme file to create gifts for the ones you love? I got you covered! This collection of SVG cut files will up your game and make your presents the envy of everyone around you!
What's included?
You will get instant access to all the current SVG files under the Christmas category + ALL NEW files that we will add to this category during the year of your VIP bundle pass subscription.
Each design included in this VIP bundle pass comes in 4 different formats (SVG, PNG, PDF, and DXF) to ensure there is one that will be compatible with your cutting machine.
What is a VIP bundle pass?
A bundle pass is a virtual product that unlocks access to different categories or the full library of SVG file cut files in our Website for the period of ONE YEAR.
They are a great way to save money and make sure that you always have the most fresh unique files for your projects. You will have instant access to all the files in the category you purchase + access to all future files we add in that category until the one-year subscription is up.
Additionally, another of the perks of having a bundle pass is that you can give us your suggestions for the future files that will be added to the shop, and if you purchase the full library pass, you will also receive a custom design with the idea of your choosing.
How does it work?
After you purchase this listing, you will be redirected to the category you purchased, from there, you can go to the design you would like to download. You will also receive an email with your confirmation.
Inside the listing, now instead of an "ADD TO CART" button, you will see a "DOWNLOAD" button. You can go and download all the design you want, if files get updated, you will need to download them again after the update.
To access your license, you can go to your profile, under the PURCHASES tab, you will find a link called "View Details and Downloads" there you can download your license, if you purchased the extended license, just fill out the information and email it back to me to register you.
With this file you will receive a Basic use license that does not allow commercial use, the terms of this license are listed below:
You may
You may not
SVG bundle pass – CHRISTMAS
I (Joy Kelley) and my business (HowJoyful Design Studio) are not liable nor responsible for trademark violations, while every effort is made to check that each of my designs is not infringing on new trademarked "words & quotes" that are filled every day, I only check a few classes.
Because digital files are in a completely different class than most items embellished with my designs, I AM NOT LIABLE or responsible if the products you select to place our design is registered or trademarked in a particular category. You are responsible for checking that the final product you are selling is free of any trademark in that particular class and to consult a lawyer if you have questions regarding the item you are making for sale.
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This listing is for PERSONAL USE ONLY (or commercial use if you purchase the extended license option) this listing and files are not intended for mass production, please read our License agreement.


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Auto insurance protects you against financial loss if you have an accident. It is a contract between you and the insurance company. You agree to pay the premium and the insurance company agrees to pay your losses as defined in your policy.
An auto insurance policy is comprised of six different kinds of coverage. Most states require you to buy some, but not all, of these coverages. If you're financing a car, your lender may also have requirements.
It's really all about protecting yourself financially.
Questions to ask us
Your agent is an advocate for finding auto insurance that meets your specific needs. Here are a few things to consider as you prepare for the discussion:
Contact Us Get a Quote
Homeowners insurance provides financial protection against disasters. A standard policy insures the home itself and the things you keep in it.
Homeowners insurance is a package policy. This means that it covers both damage to your property and your liability or legal responsibility for any injuries and property damage you or members of your family cause to other people. This includes damage caused by household pets.
Damage caused by most disasters is covered but there are exceptions. The most significant are damage caused by floods, earthquakes and poor maintenance. You must buy two separate policies for flood and earthquake coverage. Maintenance-related problems are the homeowners' responsibility.
It is really all about protecting yourself financially if something unexpected happens to your home or possessions. That's important because chances are your home is likely one of your largest investments.
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Securities offered through Nationwide Securities, LLC., member FINRA, SIPC. DBA Nationwide Advisory Services, LLC. in AR, CA, FL, IL, NY, TX and WY. Representative of Nationwide Life Insurance Company, affiliated companies and other companies.
Representatives of Nationwide Securities, LLC may only conduct business with residents of the states in which it is properly licensed and/or registered. Please note that not all of the products and services that may be mentioned are available in every state.
Licensed in OH, TN, GA, NC for P&C and Life & Health Insurance
Products are underwritten by the issuing life insurance company. Insurance products are subject to underwriting guidelines, review and approval. Products and discounts not available to all persons in all states.


text: Basebuild Inc. has offices in Salt Lake City, Utah and Richmond, Virginia. We are not a big outfit, we all work from home offices but we do good work, on time. We pride ourselves on still being a friendly, individual-client focused small group of developers and will constantly work to not lose that familiar "local web guys" appeal.


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The boys dip their toes into some intellectual waters this episode.
Topics of discussion: revisionist history in regards to Cold War aggressors; Television, Comic Books, and the difference between utilizing the strengths of one medium in regards to another and just straight up copying one medium to another and not respecting how one audience experiences it opposed to the other; and that age old debate between Diversity and Xenophobia in the comics medium.
Going deep this week.
[00:00] Start
[00:32] Intro
[00:49] Pigs #1
[11:57] Buffy The Vampire Slayer: Season Nine #1
[30:04] Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #1
[49:30] End
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 49:30 — 22.7MB)


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Ernie Nevers
Ernest Alonzo Nevers
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 0", Weight 205 lb.
- School Stanford University
- High School Santa Rosa High School
- Debut April 26, 1926
- Final Game May 4, 1928
- Born June 11, 1902 in Willow River, MN USA
- Died May 3, 1976 in San Rafael, CA USA
Biographical Information[edit]
"You've got good speed, kid. For my sake, I hope you stick to football." - Babe Ruth, speaking to pitcher Ernie Nevers
Ernie Nevers, the great football player, also had a brief major league baseball career.
He went to Stanford University, where he played football under coach Pop Warner. He was Stanford's leading rusher in a losing effort in the 1925 Rose Bowl against the Notre Dame team coached by Knute Rockne. Nevers had signed with Stanford only after a recruiting blitz - he was supposedly visiting UC Berkeley when Stanford partisans lured him to a hideout with a good-looking young woman. Later, Nevers admitted that he had been all set to go to Berkeley.
As a Stanford baseball player, he once pitched 37 consecutive scoreless innings.
After Stanford, he also signed a basketball deal and played professional basketball in 1927, in the same year as he played professional football and baseball. He came to the major leagues in 1926, and also to the NFL in 1926. During off-seasons, he would sometimes appear in movies with a USC football player who later became known as John Wayne. He is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio and the College Football Hall of Fame. He holds the NFL record with 40 points in a single game.
Appearing in 44 games as a pitcher from 1926 to 1928 with the St. Louis Browns, he went 6-12 with an ERA that was slightly above the league average. However, his ERA each year was better than the team's ERA. He was somewhat wild, throwing 5 wild pitches in 27 appearances in 1927. He gave up two of Babe Ruth's 60 home runs in 1927. As a hitter, Nevers once hit a double off Walter Johnson.
In World War II, he served in the Marines. His battalion was missing for several months, and several died. Nevers had wasted away to 110 pounds. His wife died while he was missing.
Nevers' great-nephew, Gordie Nevers, was a minor league pitcher in the Kansas City A's organization. Gordie's son, Tom Nevers, was selected by the Houston Astros in the first round of the 1990 amateur draft. [1]


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My Digital Life is giving away 50 (fifty) free 3-month accounts of Sailfish VPN. The 50 accounts are to giveaway via random lucky draw.
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He's given us (among other things) Get Smart, The Critic, Young Frankenstein, Blazing Saddles, and The Producers. He helped get The Elephant Man and My Favorite Year brought to the screen. He made his bones in a writer's pit with Neil Simon, Carl Reiner and Sid Caesar.
As an actor, director, producer, screenwriter, lyricist, singer and playwright he has helped introduce satire and parody to the last three generations…and his timeless work will continue to entertain the planet (and whatever life-forms visit in the future) for eternity.
He's won an Emmy, a Grammy, a Tony and an Oscar.
He is, without a doubt, a comic genius.
He is Melvin Kaminsky – Mel Brooks to us – and he's 83 years old today.
I'm sure I'm not the only person who can recite lines from Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein by heart – I might, if pressed, spill out the whole movie. When The American Film Institute (AFI) released their recent poll of the funniest movies ever made, Brooks scored three of the top thirteen: Blazing Saddles (#6), The Producers (#11), and Young Frankenstein (#13). That is astounding.
As an Alfred Hitchcock fan, I have a soft spot in my heart for High Anxiety, which skewers several Hitchcock films perfectly while maintaining a suspenseful (but hilarious) plot of its own. It's a funny film if you've never seen a Hitchcock film, but if you know the master, it's priceless. And who but Brooks would float a silent movie – called Silent Movie, of course – where the one spoken word came from the mouth of the world's most famous mime?
I realized recently that there were a lot of people who were very familiar with Young Frankenstein and Blazing Saddles (film and Broadway versions) but were unaware of Mel's iconic "2000 Year Old Man" character, a routine played to perfection with the great Carl Reiner. A few months ago Shout Factory released a box set collecting all the albums and cartoons, adding some commentary and rare footage. It's a first-rate package and a must-own for comedy fans.
Here is my review from earlier this year…
Reiner recalls that the genesis for the 2000 Year Old Man occurred when he approached Brooks with "Here's a man who actually knew Jesus" and Brooks deadpanned "Oh, boy". But although they would continue the routine in private for years as parlor entertainment for themselves and their friends, it wasn't until they were finally prodded by Steve Allen to record it in his studio. (Or perhaps it was George Burns asking if the routine had been recorded, playfully insinuating that he'd swipe it if it wasn't.) Reiner had gotten in the habit of bringing a tape recorder to these parties because Brooks never said the same thing twice, and he was astute enough not to let this comedic gold slip away.
Over the years the pair released five albums: 2000 Years with Carl Reiner and Mel Brooks (1961), 2000 and One Years with Carl Reiner and Mel Brooks (1961), Carl Reiner and Mel Brooks at the Cannes Film Festival (1962), 2000 and Thirteen (1973) and The 2000 Year Old Man in the Year 2000 (1998). The 1998 album won the Grammy for Best Spoken Word Comedy Album, besting fellow nominees Steve Martin, Jerry Seinfeld, Jeff Foxworthy and The Firesign Theatre.
The structure of featuring the title character as one among many was continued on the second and third albums, but the fourth and fifth albums were dedicated solely to the man who survived modern history. Reiner continued to play the voice of the audience, asking questions and challenging answers. "He was like a District Attorney" claimed Brooks, who felt that Reiner's real-life knowledge of history and important events raised the bar on the exchanges. "I knew the questions" quipped Reiner, "but I didn't know the answers".
Read the rest of my review at PopMatters.
Mel Brooks wiki
Get this incredible collection of Mel's films for a pittance!