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By Andy Hirsch
LEWISBURG, Pa. — "AWESOME," is the one word first-year student Sasha Bausheva uses when describing her recent trip to Japan, and she insists it be capitalized.
"Every little moment of the trip was invaluable," Bausheva said. "We were only there for a week, but it felt like a whole month because every day was filled with new learning opportunities."
Bausheva was one of nine students selected to go on the Japan Sustainability Study Tour in January. Associate Professor of East Asian Studies Elizabeth Armstrong and Assistant Professor of Biology Mizuki Takahashi spent months planning the trip centered around the theme, "Sustainability: Japan's nuclear power, environment, culture and language." The group was made up of students focused on either animal behavior, biology or East Asian studies. A grant awarded by the Japan Foundation helped make it possible, covering nearly all of the travel expenses.
"The grant made the trip a reality," Armstrong said. "Just being in country gives you the ability to teach culture and language at every turn: while you're walking down the street, while you're on the train, while you're eating. It was a wide open classroom."
The eight-day tour included a visit to the Fukushima Prefectural offices and an hour-long presentation on the 2011 nuclear disaster at the Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. Students also traveled to the nuclear power research facility at Kyoto University, where they met with Professor Hiroaki Koide, whom Armstrong describes as Japan's pre-eminent authority on nuclear power in Japan.
"Japan has a long history of successful coexistence with nature, but it is now feeling the effects of a massive nuclear disaster, high population density, and various environmental problems," Takahasi said. "The trip allowed us to explore many different aspects of sustainability, and it was truly gratifying to see our students from diverse backgrounds fully engaged."
For many of the students, one of the highlights of the tour was a day spent at the home of ecologist and environmentalist Takayuki Mori. Mori was the first person in Japan to adopt solar power. He designed his entire home around the idea of sustainability.
"Every part of his simple looking house had a purpose, every part was environmentally friendly," senior biology major Zinkal Bhutwala noted. "The visit was a life changing experience for me; it motivated me to use my resources wisely in order to conserve our natural resources."
Between the lectures and stops at universities, students spent time consuming the culture, detailing their most memorable moments in a blog about the trip. Armstrong said journaling their journey through Japan was a key component of the grant, and it turned out to be a valuable resource for the students.
"Blogging was a very good thing," Van Reedy, an undeclared major, said. "Remembering and articulating the experiences helped me retain much of the information, which helped me create a lot more personal value from the trip."
Armstrong and Takahasi hope to develop the trip into a three-week intensive, interdisciplinary class — one that would allow them to travel to other parts of the country and integrate more learning opportunities, such as daily sessions dedicated to learning the Japanese language.
"In eight days the students learned so much about sustainability, about the Japanese culture, the language. I think it was an eye-opening experience for the students," Armstrong said. "I would say it was an overwhelming success and a trip none of us will soon forget."
Contact: Division of Communications
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In Pursuit of Perfect Pictures
Consider what you'll be shooting (for instance, family vs. sports), the purpose of the pictures (website postings vs. printed photographs), and so on. Then ask yourself, what fits your lifestyle and how creative do you want to be? Can I carry a larger camera with lenses around or do I need to keep it simple? Do I want or need to override the camera's exposure settings?
Point and Shoot: Versatile, Easy to Use, Fits in Your Pocket
If sheer ease of use is what you're seeking, then point-and-shoot cameras are models of simplicity. Point and shoots are ideal for the absolute beginner, or for the amateur who wants to take casual party pictures. A good point-and-shoot camera will offer a decent zoom for close-ups and have similar capabilities to an interchangeable lens camera— like manual override of a few settings that affect the image quality. But if you're looking to take quick, quality pictures, these cameras will be just fine.
Yet point and shoot cameras can also appeal to experts as well—those who like to capture "the decisive moment." Because it's an agile, easily portable camera, with no need for elaborate technical adjustments or additional equipment, even world-class photographers keep a point-and-shoot camera handy for when they require a "lean and mean" approach to photo-taking.
Point and Shoot: Dual LCD Screens
The innovative DualView Camera is designed for self portraits and couple shots. It gets you out from behind the camera and into the picture. This camera has two screens that help you frame up shots—a 1.5" front LCD screen for self portraits and a rear LCD touch screen with easy access your photo library.
In addition to having two screens, the DualView ST600 has a 27mm wide angle lens. The 5x optical zoom gives you a wider shooting range from a shorter distance so you get more of your subject in the image and have greater flexibility than most cameras with a built-in zoom.
Point and Shoot: Wireless
The SH100 with its jumbo 14.2 megapixel sensor is Wi-Fi capability, allowing you to email and post pictures directly from Wi-Fi hotspots. Upload directly onto Facebook, Picasa or YouTube at the touch of a button and share your moments with friends and family almost instantly. Have easy access to your smartphone too using the SH100's Remote Viewfinder functionality, enabling remote previews and control of zoom, flash, resolution and more.
Point and Shoot: Long Zoom
Long optical zoom cameras allow you to focus in on your target with precision and maximum pixels. With a shorter zoom, you are forced to crop later, which is time-consuming and crops precious pixels out of the image.
Interchangeable Lens
The NX System is designed to be like a traditional DSLR i.e. allowing interchangeable lenses, but is engineered to be compact through the elimination of a traditional optical viewfinder and mirror box.
Large Apertures
A quality lens should let you shoot at larger apertures to allow more light in needed to freeze a scene while providing little distortion. Do you tend to shoot in low light or need edge to edge sharpness, then look at a lens with a large aperture (FStop) such as the 30mm NX Pancake Lens. Lenses such as these that also use an aspherical element in its optical design, improve sharpness and keep distortion at a minimum.
Telephoto Zoom
Point and Shoot or Interchangeable Lens
Shooting sports outdoors and need to be close? A telephoto zoom lens such as The T50200IB 50-200mm gives the versatility to pull back for images such as portraits, but zoom into the field to capture the action. This lens also incorporates ED glass in its optical design minimising colour distortion typical in telephoto lenses.
In addition, shooting modes that permit the manual choice of shutter speeds (Shutter Priority AE) or aperture (Aperture Priority AE) unleash your creativity by allowing you to choose how movement is captured and the range of focus within your scene. Just like a Point and Shoot however, you can also shoot in Auto for ease of use.
Memory and Sharing
When shopping for cameras, make sure that your camera uses a standard memory size such as SD or MicroSD (like SD, but smaller). Some cameras use proprietary memory card formats, which will be harder to find and more costly to purchase. There are multiple ways to clear memory and transport photos: move the SD card from the camera to a computer or printer; use cables to connect the camera to the computer directly; or ideally, use Wi-Fi to send images to your computer or email directly to friends and family.

subset: commoncrawl


text: While Koinobori, or carp streamers for Children's Day wave in the sky in Japan, anime fans are celebrating all the adorable lolis and shota characters in anime. In the spirit of the day, I found a loli & shota anime poll collected by Anikore, a Japanese user generated anime review site. The ranking is determined by "loli points" or "shota points" from user reviews on the site. See the top 10 shows after the jump!


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It's very easy to forget just how good Sergio Busquets is.
Internationally, he's part of the Spain team that boasts the likes of Xavi, Andres Iniesta and David Silva. Similarly at club level, Busquets lines up again, alongside both Xavi and Iniesta, with Gerard Pique and Carles Puyol behind him, with the world's greatest player in attack.
With that array of talent it's very easy for people to overlook the Spaniard. That's not to say that the holding midfielder is forgotten. After initially questioning what he brought to the Barcelona side there has been a widespread acceptance that he is an integral part of the best club side of a generation. But I believe he is still undervalued.
Take last night for instance. Lionel Messi will receive the plaudits – and rightly so – for dismantling an AC Milan side that looked caught in the headlights. But Busquets was the best player on the pitch by a distance.
One of the telling stats of the game was that Busquets was not dispossessed once in the 90 minutes. While Messi and Iniesta had the ball taken off of them on five occasions, if Barcelona required a man to steady the ship and push them forward again, the young Spaniard was the man to do so. Moreover, other than Xavi, Busquets passed the ball more times than anyone on the pitch, and did so with an accuracy of 92%.
Since the beginning of the century there has been a greater appreciation of the importance of the defensive midfielder. It is customary to play two holding players in today's game, with the emphasis on winning the ball and being able to break quickly.
The man very much celebrated as the upholder of the position in recent history has been Claude Makelele, the man Zinedine Zidane referred to as the "entire engine" of the Galacticos upon his sale to Chelsea. Similarly, Steve Mcmanaman labelled Makelele as "the most important yet least appreciated midfielder at Real".
These comments could so easily be directed the way of Busquets (with the obvious difference being which side of the Clasico they played on). Often overlooked in favour of his more attack-minded teammates, it's easy to forget that the Barcelona man is just 24-years-old. Despite his relative inexperience in terms of age, Busquets has won three La Liga titles (and looks set to add another), three Supercopa's, two Copa del Rey's, two Champions League titles, two European Super Cups, two World Club Cups, the European Championship and the World Cup. At 24.
Busquets hasn't even entered the prime of his career yet and he has a trophy cabinet filled more so than many players ever achieve. The obvious counter to the array of silverware he possesses would be that he is a part of arguably the greatest club and international sides in history, but that only serves to underline the quality he possesses.
He isn't a peripheral member of these teams, he is the man entrusted with treading the line between defence and attack. Protecting the defences behind him and providing for the players in front of him.
Busquets still has a long time ahead of him in his career, but in my opinion he may already be the best holding midfielder the world has ever seen. A man who does his job to absolute perfection and possibly deserves a great deal more credit than he currently gets.
DISCLAIMER: This article has been written by a member of the GiveMeFootball Writing Academy and does not represent the views of GiveMeFootball.com or SportsNewMedia. The views and opinions expressed are solely that of the author credited at the top of this article. GiveMeFootball.com and SportsNewMedia do not take any responsibility for the content of its contributors.
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Local cancer charity, Aurora Wellbeing Centres, has launched a new programme to help employers support their employees who may be affected by cancer.
Local businesses can sponsor an Aurora wellbeing treatment package in advance or if a staff member is diagnosed or caring for someone with cancer and give them the time off work to attend their appointments. If no one in the business needs to use the package throughout the year then it can be used by another man or woman who does.
"It's a great idea, inexpensive and a nice thing to be able to do for the people you work with," says Andy Roberts, owner of the Doncaster car dealership, Fleet Direct, who has just signed up his family firm to the Aurora Caring in Work Programme. "We have always tried to be a supportive team. It's difficult to know how to support employees during such exceptional times and this is an opportunity to do a little bit extra."
With one in three people being diagnosed with some form of cancer during their lifetime it is likely that someone at work will be affected. Colleagues are even clubbing together to sponsor a co-worker's package to show their support and give them something to look forward to.
Aurora's holistic and beauty treatments known to help improve a general feeling of wellbeing, self-esteem and confidence include reflexology, massage, reiki, skincare and hairdressing.
The charity is keen to build stronger relations with local businesses to help them to support their members of staff and the local community. As well as the Caring in Work Programme, other ways that businesses are raising funds for Aurora include adopting it as their chosen charity for the year, donating raffle prizes, attending and sponsoring charity events, and organising their own fundraising dress down days, bake sales and other sponsored activities.
The treatments offered at Aurora's five Wellbeing Centres across Doncaster, Mexborough and Worksop are also available to everyone for a suggested donation which helps to continue the work of the charity to care for local people affected by cancer.
For more details about Aurora and the Caring in Work Programme, Freephone: 03000 111 202 Email: email@example.com


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Roberto Mancini has suggested his Manchester City players are not up to man-to-man marking at set pieces.
City have conceded an alarming number of goals in such a manner this season, and did so again against Tottenham on Sunday before fighting back to claim a 2-1 win.
Some of the blame has been pinned on the zonal marking system which details players to take charge of areas, rather than players, but Mancini said: "We are not strong enough to mark man-to-man, and every time we do there is a risk of conceding a penalty. If we work, we can improve the system. We have let in goals because of it, but we can change that. We are working on it, but we need to work more."
Copyright (c) PA Sport 2012, All Rights Reserved.
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Position: OL
Height: 6-3
Weight: 255
Hometown: Northridge, California
High School/Previous School: Crespi Carmelite High School
Coach Mangurian on Wolff: Initial quickness, explosive and athletic. Can play center, guard and tackle. Balance and feet, good sustain and finish. Intelligent and relentless. Good use of hands and posture as a pass protector. Does a good job getting to the second level in the running game. Can and will get bigger. Tough and self-motivated. Depending upon conditioning level, could challenge for playing time early. Can't have too many centers.
HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Crespi Carmelite High School in Encino, Calif. ... Played for head coach Jon Mack … Team captain and led his team to an 8-2 record … Ranked the No. 19 team in California … All-league 2010 and 2012 … Daily News All-Star … Also lettered in wrestling, shot put and tennis.
INTENDED MAJOR: Mathematics
PERSONAL: Parents are Carol Shubin and Thomas Wolff (deceased) … Has a younger brother, James (16).
FUN FACT: Interests include hiking, reading, and playing the guitar and piano.
WHY COLUMBIA? "I was impressed by Coach Mangurian and the direction he is taking the Columbia football program in."


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Robert E. Brown Southbridge (Mass.) Collection
During the mid-1970s, Robert Brown worked as a fifth grade teacher at the West Street School, Southbridge, Mass., while pursuing a graduate degree in anthropology at UMass Amherst under Joel Halpern. Part of Brown's research involved conducting oral histories with Southbridge families identified as "ethnic," including Albanian, Greek, Polish, Portuguese, Italian, and Puerto Rican, as well as the only African American family in town at the time. Brown published his work in local newspapers and ultimately in the book, The New New Englanders (Worcester, Mass.: Commonwealth Press, 1980).
The Brown collection includes copies of his newspaper articles, profiles of the families he studied, and apparently complete transcripts of two oral history interviews. Also included are copies of two papers by Brown on Southbridge, possibly for an anthropology class, analyzing the education of Puerto Rican students and the lives of Rumanian Americans.
- African Americans--Massachusetts--Southbridge
- Greek Americans--Massachusetts--Southbridge
- Immigrants--Massachusetts
- Italian Americans--Massachusetts--Southbridge
- Rumanian Americans--Massachusetts--Southbridge
- Southbridge (Mass.)--History
- Brown, Robert E
Types of material
- Oral histories


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Main Site - :: Why Won't God Heal Amputees? ::
Added to which one has to remember that the story about him being an illiterate sheep herder is all very well but could easily be written later as a back story. I suspect Mo was fairly well read and bright and saw what he was doing as a way to the top and a way to stay there.


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The Karma system is currently undergoing maintenance (Monday, January 29, 2018).
The maintenance period has been extended to 8PM EST.
Karma Credits will not be available for redeeming during maintenance.
The Journal of Medical Internet Research (JMIR; Medline abbreviation: J Med Internet Res) is the leading international peer-reviewed journal dealing with all issues of health, health care and medicine in the age of the Internet.
JMIR aims to publish papers that help physicians, researchers and consumers to understand critical issues in medicine and health care in the Internet age. Worldwide, health care is in dire need of being reinvented and reengineered, and eHealth approaches are a critical component in this process. We publish original research that help to stimulate research and debate around eHealth applications and the associated change processes. e.g. report the application, development, and evaluation of information technology in medicine and health care, as well as proposals, reviews, and opinion papers on standards, policies, and legal and ethical issues of eHealth.
A competent editorial board employs a rigorous and constructive review process, assuring the quality of published papers. The acceptance rate for non-solicited articles is currently about 30-40% (see homepage for real-time data on current acceptance rates).
JMIR is also among the pioneers of a new generation of open access (OA) medical journals, supporting free and unrestricted access to research information on the Web. This publishing model is becoming increasingly popular among researchers, who have learned that open access articles are more visible and more frequently cited than articles published in obscure subscription-based journals. An often overlooked fact is that JMIR was actually one of the first open access journals, preceding BMC and PLoS journals. It was also the first independent electronic-only journal indexed on Medline. JMIR has developed strategies and tools that helps other journals to move to an open access model, and now also acts as publisher and consultant for other journals.
JMIR is also a founding member of the Open Access Scholarly Publishers Association.
Further information on the scope and mission of the journal can be found in the Scope statement and in the (historic) first Editorial, available at http://www.jmir.org/1999/1/e5/ (J Med Internet Res 1999;1(1):e5).
Note however that the scope of JMIR is now broader than originally described in the first editorial, in that we see ourselves as a forum for debate and research on broader ehealth issues (as defined here), rather than just "Internet in Medicine". We will therefore also consider submissions reporting or commenting on important developments that have nothing or little to do with "the Internet", as long as the underlying problems and ideas can be addressed by information and communication technologies.
Scholars interested in publishing their work in JMIR are urged to carefully read the detailed Instructions for Authors of JMIR before submission. Please make sure that you understand that by submitting and publishing work in an open access journal, submission and publication fees have to be paid, unless your institution is a supporting member. Authors usually cover these from their research funding (much as they pay registration fees for conferences from their grants).


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Original URL: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/01/19/oracle_patch_update/
Hey, hey it's Oracle patching day
Quarterly update volley addresses 80 vulns
Posted in The Channel, 19th January 2006 08:43 GMT
Wednesday became a busy day for database administrators after Oracle released its quarterly patch update which, this time around, tackles more than 80 vulnerabilities in different Oracle software packages and components. Various flavours of Oracle database (37 security bugs), Oracle E-Business Suite and Applications (27), Oracle Collaboration Suite (20) and Oracle Application Server (17) are most in need of update.
The vulnerabilities might potentially be exploited by hackers to remotely execute hostile code on vulnerable systems or perform denial-of-service attacks. Other security flaws carry an information disclosure risk. Oracle's advisory contains a risk matrix designed to help security and database admins to access the potential seriousness of the flaws in their environment. Users of affected products are advised to install the corresponding updates sooner rather than later.
Useful overviews of these security problems have been put together by US CERT (here) and security notification firm Secunia (here). ®


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Ronald Reagan officially declared the war on drugs, a policy that would send millions of people to prison for low-level drug offenses and lead to a quadrupling of the number of people incarcerated between 1980 and 2008.On October 14, 1982,
States across the country passed mandatory minimum laws for nonviolent drug offenses - by 1983, 49 states had mandatory sentencing laws. The Anti-Drug Abuse Act, passed in 1986, established five- and ten-year sentences for people caught distributing or importing drugs, further increasing the number of people serving long sentences.
Most of them would be African-American and Latino - the groups together comprised 58 percent of all prisoners in the United States in 2008, even though they were only about 25 percent of the general population.
Less widely documented is the role that drug arrests have played in juvenile incarceration. According to the Juvenile Justice Information Exchange, drug arrests are now the leading cause of youth confinement.
The recent calls for mandatory minimums for gun possession in light of the shootings in Newtown, Connecticut and the rising urban violence Chicago have led some advocates to wonder what effect this will have on the trend away from incarceration in juvenile justice reform.
"What this push speaks to in general is the desire for more penalties and increased criminalization as the answer to gun crime," said Angelo Pinto, campaign manager for the juvenile justice project at the Correctional Association, which advocates for a "more humane" justice system.
"It doesn't address how guns are getting into the hands of young people, and it doesn't really address the issue of violence," said Pinto. "And when they come out of being incarcerated, they are not rehabilitated."
Pinto and the Correctional Association are one of the groups at the forefront of a "raise the age" bill in New York State, which would mandate that 16- and 17-year-olds would be tried in juvenile courts, regardless of their crime. Under current law, only New York and North Carolina still automatically transfer youth under the age of 18 to criminal court.
Identical legislation that "raises the age of criminal responsibility to eighteen years of age" was introduced in New York State's House and Senate. Another bill introduced in the most recent legislative session proposes to change the juvenile delinquent state age from 16 to 17 years of age.
Pinto says that the push for mandatory minimums, and the damage that harsh legislation can do on the state level, can be seen in the effects of the Rockefeller drug laws, put into place under Gov. Nelson Rockefeller, which swept New York in the early 1970s.
Following a rise in drug use and a trend toward hysteria around drug-related crime, New York enacted mandatory minimum sentences that made the sentence for possession of some drugs equivalent to the sentence for second-degree murder. Someone caught with four ounces of drugs would face from 15 years to a life sentence behind bars.
New York saw drug offenses behind bars surge and took away judges' ability to exercise discretion. Former New York Gov. David Paterson, during a State of the State address, said, "I can't think of a criminal justice strategy that has been more unsuccessful than the Rockefeller Drug Laws."
The gun control legislation being put forward by groups like Mayors Against Illegal Guns, an organization of mayors promoting tougher federal, state and local gun regulations, includes some calls for mandatory minimums. Mayors Against Illegal Guns did not respond to repeated requests for comment.
New York passed a bill that some have called "the toughest gun control measure in the country," and which includes increasing prison sentences for using guns in certain crimes or taking them onto school grounds.
A bill recently introduced in the Illinois General Assembly would increase penalties for, among other things, the "unlawful possession of a firearm by a street gang member," and mandate that "a street gang member shall receive no more than 4.5 days of sentence credit for each month of his or her sentence of imprisonment."
Nation Inside, an organization working to change the US justice system, said the Illinois bill would only allow "legislators pretend to address the problem of gun violence by sweeping more young people in prison. HB2265 would spike the prison population by thousands in just a few years, for no public safety gain."
Chicago police have also been accused of applying the term "street gang member" to a person linked with any shooting or death that take place in low-income neighborhoods, which residents say undermines the complexity of the causes of gun crime and could lead to harsh penalties applied to those deemed "gang members," with little oversight.
Peter Leone, executive director of the Justice Policy Institute, says that while he understands the recent worry over gun violence, zero-tolerance policies aimed at juveniles have been proven to have negative effects.
"I don't have any problem with schools putting in policies that keep students safe," he told Truthout, "but it belies the extremely low rates at which guns and other weapons are brought into schools."
"One of the problems that has happened over the last 15 or 20 years with zero-tolerance policies that schools have implemented is they have often swept up many kids in a system that has unfairly affected low-income and minority youth, and whose education careers have been upended by policies supposedly designed to protect children," said Leone.
Youth of color deal with disparities in several areas. In schools, they are more likely to receive harsh discipline. Black and Hispanic students make up more than 70 percent of juveniles who are referred to law enforcement through their schools.
Black youth make up more than 17 percent of the young people in the United States, but they are 30 percent of juveniles arrested and 62 percent of minors tried in the adult system, the Campaign for Youth Justice found.
In the case of drug use, for example, youth of color use and sell drugs at similar rates to those of white youth, according to Human Rights Watch, but are significantly more likely to be arrested for drug offenses.
Leone also notes that research has found harsh penalties don't deter youth from committing crimes, but that counseling and support are more likely to help.
"Zero tolerance totally misses the developmental differences between children and adults," he said. "If children make mistakes, particularly if it involves guns or weapons, zero-tolerance policies make it very difficult for them to ever recover."
Research has shown that the effects of strict laws for juveniles do little or nothing to result in lower crime rates.
Malik Speaks
When Malik Gardner was 15 years old, he stole an iPod. And when he stole that iPod, along with his brother, he says, he beat up the kid he stole it from. Gardner was given a felony, charged with robbery and assault. But because he was only 15, the state gave him youth-offender treatment.
If he had been only one or two years older, he could have gone into the adult system.
"That was the first time I ever committed a crime," he said. "Just because you commit a crime, that doesn't mean you are a criminal. It might be just that one crime, you need to get that money, some people's parents are out of work."
Gardner says says many juveniles who commit crimes don't realize that it could haunt them for life.
"At that age, we don't really know what's going on," he said. Many of his peers "don't know that if they commit a crime, they can get that felony."
And with that, said Gardner, "I would say in my head, Man, I can't get a job with this felony, people are going to think I'm a career criminal."
Gardner says he hasn't been in trouble with the law since his first arrest - and he doesn't plan to be. He is attending the Borough of Manhattan Community College, where he is taking classes in criminal justice.
His narrow escape has also helped make him an activist, he said.
"I want to be able to help people out, speak up."
The number of juveniles behind bars has dropped by about a third since 1999, when it reached a high of 107,000 young people confined, according to a recently released report by the Justice Policy Institute.
These changes can be attributed to breakthroughs in how juvenile psychology is understood, the high cost of detention, and a shift in the national discussion around crime and punishment.
"I think that we swung so far one way that it was almost inevitable that we would come back," said Spike Bradford, a senior research associate at the Justice Policy Institute, about the harsh laws instituted in the 1980s and 1990s.
"It's really expensive to treat youth as adults in the justice system, and as more and more research comes out and shows that treating young people as adults in the justice system is really counterproductive, laws have responded to that."
At the state level, the majority of states have changed their juvenile justice laws to either bring most youth under age 18 into the juvenile system or grant judges discretion to bring juveniles to family court instead of criminal court.
Several Supreme Court decisions over the past seven years have also changed the way the law sees juveniles. According to The New York Times, these are: "a ruling that barred the death penalty for juveniles in 2005; one that banned life in prison for juveniles convicted of crimes other than homicide in 2010; and now [a] ruling that rendered invalid state laws requiring youths convicted of homicide as well to die in prison."
Leone, with the Justice Policy Institute, says he would like to see an alternate way of dealing with juveniles.
"There is a lot of evidence that intervening early and proactively finding supports that can prevent kids from getting in trouble, and keeping guns out of the hands of children in general," is the right way forward.
"If you read the literature about the implementation of zero tolerance, that should give pause to anyone who wants to implement policies that removes kids from school and positive pro-social environments."
He also hopes that the push for harsh measures won't take away discretion from judges, the way it happened with the drug laws of the 80s and 90s.
"Discretion is everything," said Leone.


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Editor's Note: Rotoworld's partner FanDuel is hosting a one-day $8,000 Fantasy College Football league for early games this Saturday. It's $10 to join and first prize is $1,500. Starts Saturday at 12pm ET. Here's the link.
Matchup Previews
Arizona State vs Notre Dame, 7:30 pm EST, NBC
Can the Irish handle tempo?
- Notre Dame has struggled against tempo this season, and that won't get easier against the Sun Devils.
- I have talked about Arizona State's Will Sutton and how some are sour on his play, but I have actually been more disappointed in Louis Nix. I saw flashes of Vince Wilfork in Nix's game prior to the season and considered him a potential top 10 pick. He could still go there, but he's not beating 1 on 1 matchups.
- Keep an eye on Arizona State junior WR Jaelen Strong, a junior college transfer, who is lighting it up this season. Strong isn't afraid to absorb and deliver contact in his routes, winning from the slot and out wide. He's an emerging talent.
Georgia Tech vs Miami, 3:30 pm EST, ESPNU
Will Morris and Henderson show consistency?
- The Hurricanes have two excellent prospects in QB Stephen Morris and RT Seantrel Henderson, but both need to show more consistency.
- Morris is dealing with an ankle injury. He's best and displaying athletic footwork in the pocket then firing downfield on vertical shots. Might be the best in that category in CFB, but then there are poor decisions and forced throws.
- Henderson's effort has been questioned throughout his career, but few deliver the combination of athleticism and power he does.
- He should see time against athletic pass rusher Jeremiah Attaochu, who is really thriving in a two point stance on the edge, displaying great burst in his first few steps.
Ohio State vs Northwestern, 8:00 pm, ABC
Will Miller continue to show QB skills, or will Guiton see some snaps?
- After missing two games with a knee injury, Buckeyes QB Braxton Miller looked better than ever against Wisconsin. Everything was there, including accuracy, vertical touch, and running ability.
- Urban Meyer did not stick to his word after saying senior Kenny Guiton would see playing time even with Miller returning. It will be interesting to see how they utilize the two passers, especially if Miller shows moments of struggling.
- Northwestern is a sneaky team. Very well coached and have intriguing NFL talents, with offensive weapon Kain Colter and the return of RB Venric Mark.
1. Oregon QB Marcus Mariota
2. Clemson QB Tajh Boyd
3. Texas A&M QB Johnny Manziel
4. Georgia QB Aaron Murray
5. Louisville QB Teddy Bridgewater


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School News
Lowry named to Basketball Academic All State
- Details
- Category: School News
- Published on 12 March 2014
- Written by Mount Vernon Optic-Herald
Grant Lowry, a senior at Mount Vernon High School, has been named to the Basketball Academic All-State team. To be considered, an eligible basketball player must be of good moral character, a senior, and have an overall grade point average of 92 or above.
Mr. Lowry is the son of Stan and Jill Lowry. He is ranked sixth of 101 students in his class. He plans to attend either the University of Texas at Austin or Texas A&M - College Station to obtain a business degree and then pursue a law degree.


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(Click image to enlarge)
Frank Reid's grave
Note the lack of trees. Today this area is literally a forest.
In 1897-98 the trees were felled to build the town.
Frank Reid's grave
Note the lack of trees. Today this area is literally a forest.
In 1897-98 the trees were felled to build the town.
Boy, did I receive a shocking e-mail last night! I had to re-read it about seven times before attempting to respond. It comes from Dee Longenbaugh who is reviewing Alias Soapy Smith. Dee has her own story to tell so I'll let her tell it.
Dear Mr. Smith,
I am reviewing your new book for the "Sitka Sentinel" and KTOO radio here in Juneau. I have a personal problem. When I worked in the library of the "Denver Post" many years ago, I ran across the stories on Soapy and his time in Creede & Denver, etc. Rather amusing.
In the early 1960s we moved to Mt. Edgecumbe, Alaska (now just a part of Sitka). Our next door neighbors and later dear friends, George and Margaret Wagnon, and my husband and I decided to break the winter's monotony by taking the ferry to Skagway. Margaret had told me about her family and Soapy so she took flowers (plastic, as no fresh ones in Sitka in 1965) for Uncle Soapy's grave.
Margaret, nee Smith, told me - when she and her two sisters were children, they were fascinated to find Jefferson Randolph Smith name crossed out in the family Bible. Upon asking the adults, they were told he was a bad man. When they grew older, they found he had married a woman from a small town not far from Atlanta, then deserted her. The family was so horrified that I invited his young wife to live with them, which she did until her death.
Margaret's father was a doctor; her mother, who came to visit Sitka a few times, very much a Lady of the Old South. I shall never forget the chill in her voice when the segregationist governor of Georgia's name came up. "Poor man. No one invites him anywhere." Clearly, Atlanta society had no welcome for him.
At any rate, George Wagnon was a doctor as well (as was my husband).
In Skagway, Margaret and I were startled when we asked someone where Soapy was buried. He asked M. if she was a relative; when she replied she was, he grew abrupt and said every so often someone would come up, saying they were related. As M. had a lighthearted approach to her uncle, she was taken aback. We did find the grave and M. left the flowers. We also saw that Jeff Smith's Parlor was still there, small and shabby though it was.
Both Margaret and George died some years ago, as I expect Margaret's sisters did as well. However, I am still in touch with the Wagnon's three children.
So - my question is - did you ever hear the story of the abandoned wife? Since they never divorced as far as Margaret knew, any subsequent marriage of Soapy would not have been legal.
I had hoped your book might go into that, but there's no mention. Before I proceed with my review, I would like to hear your views on this.
Thank you.
Dee Longenbaugh
The Observatory, ABAA
299 North Franklin Street
Juneau, Alaska, 99801
I thought to myself, How in the world am I going to handle this? You want to be honest but you don't want to anger someone who is writing your books review! Margaret was obviously a close friend but according to my entire families combined 100+ years of research the story has never been heard of before now. Below is how I responded.
Hi, Dee.
Soapy has been a huge part of my family since the day he was born. He saved perhaps 90% of his letters and documents of which the family still retains. His cousin grew up with him and his sisters in Georgia and Texas. There are no stories or mention in my family of another wife, let alone any other woman, other than Mary Eva Noonan whom he married in 1886 and stayed with until his death. My family was close one and a story of that nature would have surely been heard from. This is the very first I have ever heard of it. To be honest I have doubt that Margaret is family. I hope me doubting your friend's story does not anger you, but please understand that I too could be angered by such a story.
Soapy's parents moved to Round Rock,Texas in 1876-1877. If he had married another woman in Georgia then he would have been only 16 or 17 yrs old at most.
Margaret does not show on the family tree and to be quite honest many people over the decades have claimed to be relatives but were not. If Soapy were indeed her uncle, then Margaret's mother or father would have had to be one of Soapy's sisters or brother. None had a child name Margaret.
I thank you for choosing my book to write a review of. Soapy's children and grandchildren researched his life and adventures. I myself have spent 24 years researching his life and continue to do so. In reading Alias Soapy Smith you can see that I worked very hard to keep the history well sourced and accurate. With that being said I ask that you please keep Margaret's story as a separate entity as there is no provenance that her story is true and I do not wish to confuse people. If you feel that you must mention her story I ask you to include that no such story exists in family records and verbal histories. If something should arise at a later date that indicates there is a possible chance of an abandoned wife I would be glad to look into it. As of now I can only view it as fiction.
I have always promised myself to keep an open mind so I now ask if anyone in the family has ever heard any hint of a story that Soapy married another woman and then abandoned her? Please let us know.
I have always promised myself to keep an open mind so I now ask if anyone in the family has ever heard any hint of a story that Soapy married another woman and then abandoned her? Please let us know.


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The hypothesis of this study was that sustained activity of the Nod-like receptor protein (NLRP)-3 inflammasome in wounds of diabetic humans and mice contributes to the persistent inflammatory response and impaired healing characteristic of these wounds. Macrophages (Mp) isolated from wounds on diabetic humans and db/db mice exhibited sustained inflammasome activity associated with low level of expression of endogenous inflammasome inhibitors. Soluble factors in the biochemical milieu of these wounds are sufficient to activate the inflammasome, as wound conditioned medium activates caspase-1 and induces release of IL-1β and IL-18 in cultured Mp via a reactive oxygen species-mediated pathway. Importantly, inhibiting inflammasome activity in wounds of db/db mice using topical application of pharmacological inhibitors improved healing of these wounds, induced a switch from pro-inflammatory to healing-associated Mp phenotypes and increased levels of pro-healing growth factors. Furthermore, data generated from bone marrow transfer experiments from NLRP-3 or caspase-1 knockout to db/db mice indicated that blocking inflammasome activity in bone marrow cells is sufficient to improve healing. Our findings indicate that sustained inflammasome activity in wound macrophages contributes to impaired early healing responses of diabetic wounds and that the inflammasome may represent a new therapeutic target for improving healing in diabetic individuals.
- Received June 13, 2013.
- Accepted October 31, 2013.
- © 2013 by the American Diabetes Association.
Readers may use this article as long as the work is properly cited, the use is educational and not for profit, and the work is not altered. See http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/ for details.


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Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr.'s series African American Lives journeys deep into the African-American experience to reveal the triumphs and tragedies within the family histories of participants. Watch clips from the series at pbs.org. In conjunction with this series, KLRU's Michael Emery will be blogging about his own genealogical experiences. Here is part three of his journey.
Yesterday I put my DNA in the mail! I have no idea how long the results will take. The actual collection procedure is about as strenuous as flossing one's teeth. There are no obvious bodily liquids involved with the sampling. The mail-in package is sanitary and secure. And the expectation is mounting, yes!
Research genetic genealogy and you'll find that there are two popular tests, and the biology of it tests my understanding to the limit. One of these evaluates genetic markers from the father of the father of the father et cetera. This Y-chromosome isn't passed on by females, which means that women can't be tested for it. And the other test looks at chromosomes that describe a subject's maternal lineage, the mother of the mother of the mother et cetera. Family trees can spread very wide, but these tests trace back only one paternal line and one maternal line. This might appear to be a drawback, but the results are nonetheless very dependable and can create a reliable scientific outcome, unlike my mind's understanding of it all. I will simply trust what the experts say about this.
The science says that the results point back to unique haplogroups for the subjects of these tests. What's a "haplogroup"? Wikipedia says that it pertains to deep ancestral origins dating back thousands of years. What's more, these haplogroups are associated with geographical population distributions: they can point to the regions from which one's earliest foremother and forefather come.
So, with great expectation I look forward to seeing if two of my family lines point back to Africa–or what? Slowly but surely, I'm also looking forward to watching more of this show, African American Lives 2.
– Michael Emery
At KLRU, Michael Emery directs Texas Monthly Talks, is a camera operator for Austin City Limits and other productions, and produced Juneteenth Jamboree. He is a former bicycle commuter, currently a car commuter, and aspires to be a bicycle commuter again.


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Your Commission to Teach the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ
You are surrounded by people. You pass them on the street, visit them in their homes, and travel among them. All of them are children of God, your brothers and sisters. God loves them just as He loves you. Many of these people are searching for purpose in life. They are concerned for their families. They need the sense of belonging that comes from the knowledge that they are children of God, members of His eternal family. They want to feel secure in a world of changing values. They want "peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come" (D&C 59:23), but they are "kept from the truth because they know not where to find it" (D&C 123:12).
The gospel of Jesus Christ as restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith will bless their families, meet their spiritual needs, and help them fulfill their deepest desires. Although they may not know why, they need relief from feelings of guilt that come from mistakes and sins. They need to experience the joy of redemption by receiving forgiveness of their sins and enjoying the gift of the Holy Ghost.
As an authorized representative of Jesus Christ, you can teach people with power and authority that "redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah," and that no one "can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah" (2 Nephi 2:6, 8). As people come to accept the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and receive the ordinances of baptism and confirmation by priesthood authority, they can be assured that they "are not cast off forever" (Book of Mormon, Title Page).
As your understanding of the Atonement of Jesus Christ grows, your desire to share the gospel will increase. You will feel, as Lehi did, the "great … importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth" (2 Nephi 2:8).
President Ezra Taft Benson taught: "We are commanded by God to take this gospel to all the world. That is the cause that must unite us today. Only the gospel will save the world from the calamity of its own self-destruction. Only the gospel will unite men of all races and nationalities in peace. Only the gospel will bring joy, happiness, and salvation to the human family" (The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson [1988], 167).
You are called to represent Jesus Christ in helping people become clean from their sins. You do this by inviting them to come unto Jesus Christ and become converted to His restored gospel. To come to the Savior they must have faith in Him unto repentance—making the necessary changes to bring their life into agreement with His teachings. You can help people develop such faith by teaching them the restored gospel by the Spirit and inviting them to commit to live according to its teachings. Keeping this commitment prepares them for the covenant of baptism and confirmation and the precious gift of the Holy Ghost. They are to put off the "natural man" and become a Saint "through the atonement of Christ the Lord" (Mosiah 3:19).
The Gospel Blesses Families
The message of the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ blesses families. Because of the Restoration we understand God's purpose for families: "The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally" ("The Family: A Proclamation to the World," Ensign, Nov. 1995, 102).
On earth, family associations can be the source of some of our greatest joy. Satan is attacking the family on many fronts, and too many families are being destroyed by his efforts. The message of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ makes it possible for families to be united now and in eternity. By living the principles of the gospel, families can experience peace, joy, and a sense of belonging and identity in this life. Through the light of the gospel, families can resolve misunderstandings, contentions, and challenges. Families torn by discord can be healed through repentance, forgiveness, and faith in the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. "Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities" (Ensign, Nov. 1995, 102).
Strive to find and teach families—a father, mother, and children—who can support one another in living the gospel and eventually be sealed as a family unit by restored priesthood authority.
Teaching by the Spirit
Because the gospel of Jesus Christ is the "power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth" (Romans 1:16), the message of the Restoration of the gospel must be taught by divine power—the power of the Holy Ghost, who is the third member of the Godhead. He is often called the Spirit, and one of His roles is to teach and testify of the truth. As you teach by that power, the Holy Ghost will:
Teach you new truths and bring the doctrines you have studied to your remembrance (see John 14:26).
Give you words to speak in the very moment you need them (see D&C 84:85).
Carry your message to the hearts of the people you teach (see 2 Nephi 33:1).
Testify of the truthfulness of your message and confirm your words (see D&C 100:5–8).
Help you discern the needs of the people you are teaching (see Alma 12:7).
The Spirit is essential for teaching the truths of the gospel in a way that builds faith in others. As you strive to develop the faith to rely on the Spirit, you should:
Pray for the Spirit (see D&C 42:14).
Purify your heart (see D&C 112:28).
Keep the commandments (see D&C 20:77, 79).
Teach so that others understand your message and are edified (see D&C 50:13–22).
Exercise faith (see Moroni 10:7).
You have been set apart for your sacred calling with the promise that the Spirit will be given as you meet the requirements set by the Lord. Enjoying the gifts of the Spirit should be one of your most earnest desires.
The Power and Authority of Your Calling
Missionaries are to go "in the power of the ordination wherewith [they have] been ordained, proclaiming glad tidings of great joy, even the everlasting gospel" (D&C 79:1). You have authority to preach the gospel. If you hold the priesthood, you have the authority to administer the ordinances thereof. As you prayerfully and worthily exercise that authority, you will receive spiritual power, which is evidence of the reality of your call. Do not be afraid or shy about fulfilling this commission. Just as the sons of Mosiah, you are to teach with the power and authority of God (see Alma 17:2–3).
When you were set apart by priesthood authority, you received the right and privilege to represent the Lord. You received a ministerial certificate that verifies that authority to the world. President Spencer W. Kimball said: "The setting apart may be taken literally; it is a setting apart from sin, apart from the carnal; apart from everything which is crude, low, vicious, cheap, or vulgar; set apart from the world to a higher plane of thought and activity. The blessing is conditional upon faithful performance" (The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, ed. Edward L. Kimball [1982], 478).
Along with your authority comes a responsibility to live worthy of your calling. As the Lord's representative, you are to be "an example of the believers" (1 Timothy 4:12). Strive to live according to God's commandments and keep the covenants you made in the temple; know the scriptures; be courteous, on time, and dependable; follow missionary standards of conduct, dress, and grooming; love the people with whom you serve and work. Honor Christ's name by your actions.
In addition to authority, you are also to exercise power in your work. The authority that you have received can lead to power. Indeed, spiritual power is one evidence that your authority is real. Spiritual power is a gift that makes it possible for you to do your work more effectively.
Your power and authority should be evident as you work and teach. Power may be manifest in many things you do, such as:
Being led by the Spirit to say what the Lord would have you say at just the right moment (see D&C 84:85).
Receiving guidance about where to go or what to do (see D&C 28:15; 31:11; 75:26–27).
Having your testimony confirmed by the witness of the Spirit (see 2 Nephi 33:1; D&C 100:5–8).
Taking part in ordinances of salvation (see D&C 84:19–20).
Giving priesthood blessings if you are an elder (see James 5:14–15).
Praying with and for the people you work with (see Alma 6:6; 8:18–22; 10:7–11; 31:26–35; D&C 75:19).
Expressing love for the Lord, your family, fellow missionaries, and the people you serve.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ
The gospel of Jesus Christ defines both your message and your purpose; that is, it provides both the "what" and the "why" of missionary work. The Savior defined His gospel to include some very vital and basic doctrines. He came into the world to do His Father's will, and His Father sent Him into the world to be lifted up on the cross. By His Atonement and Resurrection, all men will be lifted up to stand before Christ to be judged of their works, whether they be good or evil. Those who exercise faith in Christ, repent of their sins, and are baptized in Christ's name can be sanctified by the Holy Ghost. If they endure to the end, they will stand spotless before Christ at the last day and will enter into the rest of the Lord. Christ will hold them guiltless before the Father. He will be their Mediator and Advocate. Those who do not endure in faithfulness to the end will be "cast into the fire … because of the justice of the Father." (See 3 Nephi 27:13–22; compare 2 Nephi 31:10–21; 3 Nephi 11:31–41; D&C 76:40–42, 50–53.)
The purpose of the gospel is to cleanse people of their sins so they can receive the Savior's mercy at the day of judgment. Therefore, the focus of this book and, more important, the work you do each day is to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end.
Individuals and families begin to follow Christ as they exercise faith in Him and repent of their sins. They receive a remission of sins through baptism and by receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost from one who has authority from God to perform these ordinances. They then endure to the end, or, in other words, they continue throughout their lives in exercising faith in Jesus Christ, repenting, and renewing the covenants they have made. These are not just steps that they experience once in their lives; rather, when repeated throughout life these principles become an increasingly rewarding pattern of living. In fact, it is the only way of living that will bring peace of conscience and enable Heavenly Father's children to return to live in His presence.
Obedience to Jesus Christ is a lifelong commitment. Through exercising faith, repenting, being baptized and committing to serve Christ, and then receiving the Holy Ghost, we can experience healing, forgiveness of sins, and complete conversion to the Savior and His gospel.
Help people gain faith in Jesus Christ unto repentance by teaching and testifying that the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the authority of the priesthood have been restored and by inviting them to live by His teachings.
The Message of the Restoration: The Foundation of Faith
No matter where you serve or whom you teach, center your teaching on the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. "The Lord will bless you as you teach the message of the Restoration to a world that desperately needs the gospel of Jesus Christ" ("Statement on Missionary Work," First Presidency letter, 11 Dec. 2002). As you study the doctrines in the missionary lessons, you will come to see that we have one message: Through a modern prophet, God has restored knowledge about the plan of salvation, which is centered on Christ's Atonement and fulfilled by living the first principles and ordinances of the gospel.
Make sure that everyone you teach clearly understands the following:
God is our literal Father in Heaven. He loves us. Every person on earth is a child of God and a member of God's family. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is our Savior and Redeemer.
Our loving Father in Heaven reached out to His children throughout biblical history by revealing His gospel to prophets. Sadly, many people rejected that gospel; even some of those who accepted it changed gospel doctrines and ordinances and fell into unbelief and apostasy.
Our Father in Heaven sent His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to earth. He performed miracles and taught His gospel. He accomplished the Atonement and was resurrected.
Beginning with the First Vision, God has again reached out in love to His children. He restored the gospel of Jesus Christ and His priesthood authority and organized His Church on the earth through the Prophet Joseph Smith. The Book of Mormon is convincing evidence of this Restoration.
As you help investigators see the pattern of apostasy and restoration, they will be prepared to understand the great need for the latter-day Restoration. They will see the need to accept the restored gospel, receive the ordinances of salvation by the authority of the restored priesthood, and follow the way to eternal life. Help people recognize that the Church is not just another religion, nor is it an American church. Rather, it is a restoration of the "fulness of [the] gospel" (D&C 1:23), the same as was revealed and taught from the beginning.
The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ is convincing evidence that Joseph Smith was a prophet and that the gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored. It is the keystone of our religion, the most powerful resource for teaching this message. Some important truths restored through Joseph Smith include the knowledge that God is our Father and that we are His spirit children, that we lived with Him before birth, and that families can live together forever in God's presence through Christ's Atonement by obeying the laws and ordinances of the gospel.
The Book of Mormon is evidence of the love of God for His children. It shows that God speaks to His children. As you teach and testify, invite people to read the Book of Mormon and pray about its message. Each person you teach must decide whether to accept the Book of Mormon as revelation from God.
Trust the remarkable promise in Moroni 10:3–5. Do all you can to persuade people to read the book, understand it, and ask God sincerely whether it is true. The witness of the Holy Ghost becomes the cornerstone of their faith that Christ has restored His Church. Help those you teach to receive that spiritual confirmation.
Helping Others Make Commitments: The Door to Faith and Repentance
Help people qualify for baptism and confirmation by teaching them true doctrine and inviting them to repent and change their lives through making and keeping commitments that build their faith in Jesus Christ. These commitments prepare people to make and keep sacred covenants.
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland taught: "The first thing you will do when an investigator tells you he or she had not read and prayed about the Book of Mormon is be devastated! … Much of the time we are just too casual about all of this. This is eternal life. This is the salvation of the children of God. Eternity hangs in the balance. … It is the most important path this investigator will ever walk. But if he or she doesn't know that, at least you do! … So take control of this situation. Teach with power and authority, and then be devastated if the first steps toward commandment-keeping and covenant-keeping have not been successfully begun" ("Making and Keeping Covenants," missionary satellite broadcast, Apr. 1997).
As you teach people to understand the Restoration of the fulness of the gospel, you "declare repentance" (D&C 15:6). Repentance involves a change of heart and a desire to forsake sin and serve God. It involves humbly yielding to the Spirit and submitting to God's will. It requires that people increase their commitment to live in agreement with God's will. Repentance requires a sincere and lasting change of thoughts, desires, habits, and actions. It is a positive experience that brings joy and peace. Be bold and loving in helping people understand what they must do to repent. By inviting people to make commitments, you can effectively raise a voice of both warning and hope.
Baptism and Confirmation
Baptizing and confirming the people you teach is central to your purpose. Baptism is for the remission of sins, and the gift of the Holy Ghost brings a host of blessings to those who live worthy of it. Through these ordinances people enter the gate and continue on the path to eternal life. Elder Dallin H. Oaks said: "We do not preach and teach in order to 'bring people into the Church' or to increase the membership of the Church. We do not preach and teach just to persuade people to live better lives. … We invite all to come unto Christ by repentance and baptism and confirmation in order to open the doors of the celestial kingdom to the sons and daughters of God. No one else can do this" ("The Purpose of Missionary Work," missionary satellite broadcast, Apr. 1995).
As you teach the restored gospel, help people understand the sacred nature of baptism and confirmation. Help them realize that receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost is a great blessing in this life and a key to their salvation. The Holy Ghost will "teach [them] all things" (John 14:26). President Boyd K. Packer taught: "When you are teaching investigators and preparing them for baptism by water, you must also think of the gift of the Holy Ghost—baptism by fire. Think of it as one sentence. First comes the baptism of water and then the baptism of fire" ("The Gift of the Holy Ghost: What Every Missionary Should Know—and Every Member As Well," seminar for new mission presidents, June 2003). The Prophet Joseph Smith taught, "Baptism by water is but half a baptism, and is good for nothing without the other half—that is, the baptism of the Holy Ghost" (History of the Church, 5:499).
Help those you teach understand that to qualify for baptism and confirmation they must meet the conditions given in Doctrine and Covenants 20:37.
After worthy converts are baptized, they are confirmed members of the Church and the gift of the Holy Ghost is conferred upon them. This confirmation occurs under the direction of the bishop or branch president in a sacrament meeting soon after the baptism. While the two ordinances are separated by a brief time, confirmation complements and completes baptism.
Establishing the Church
When people have been baptized and confirmed members of the Church, continue to work with ward leaders and members to help these new converts adjust to their new life and continue their spiritual growth. The Church is established as people who have testimonies are baptized and confirmed, keep their covenants, prepare actively to go to the temple, and help strengthen the ward or branch.
Converts who have member friends, who are given responsibility, and who are nourished by God's word will grow in testimony and faith. Missionaries, ward leaders, and Church members should not turn away from their responsibility to nourish and strengthen new members.
A Successful Missionary
Your success as a missionary is measured primarily by your commitment to find, teach, baptize, and confirm people and to help them become faithful members of the Church who enjoy the presence of the Holy Ghost.
Avoid comparing yourself to other missionaries and measuring the outward results of your efforts against theirs. Remember that people have agency to choose whether to accept your message. Your responsibility is to teach clearly and powerfully so they can make a correct choice. Some may not accept your message even when they have received a spiritual witness that it is true. You will be saddened because you love them and desire their salvation. You should not, however, become discouraged; discouragement will weaken your faith. If you lower your expectations, your effectiveness will decrease, your desire will weaken, and you will have greater difficulty following the Spirit.
You can know you have been a successful missionary when you:
Feel the Spirit testify to people through you.
Love people and desire their salvation.
Obey with exactness.
Live so that you can receive and know how to follow the Spirit, who will show you where to go, what to do, and what to say.
Develop Christlike attributes.
Work effectively every day, do your very best to bring souls to Christ, and seek earnestly to learn and improve.
Help build up the Church (the ward) wherever you are assigned to work.
Warn people of the consequences of sin. Invite them to make and keep commitments.
Teach and serve other missionaries.
Go about doing good and serving people at every opportunity, whether or not they accept your message.
When you have done your very best, you may still experience disappointments, but you will not be disappointed in yourself. You can feel certain that the Lord is pleased when you feel the Spirit working through you.
Missionary Work
Following are statements made by Presidents of the Church in this dispensation.
President Joseph Smith (1830–1844)
"After all that has been said, the greatest and most important duty is to preach the Gospel" (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith [1976], 113).
"Let the Saints remember that great things depend on their individual exertion, and that they are called to be co-workers with us and the Holy Spirit in accomplishing the great work of the last days" (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 178–79).
President Brigham Young (1847–1877)
"There is neither man or woman in this Church who is not on a mission. That mission will last as long as they live, and it is to do good, to promote righteousness, to teach the principles of truth, and to prevail upon themselves and everybody around them to live those principles that they may obtain eternal life" (Discourses of Brigham Young, sel. John A. Widtsoe [1954], 322).
President John Taylor (1880–1887)
"Our duty is to preach the gospel to all men. … This is what God expects of us" (The Gospel Kingdom, sel. G. Homer Durham [1943], 234–35).
President Wilford Woodruff (1889–1898)
"We have come to this earth upon a mission; … that we may have power to go forth and warn the nations of the earth. … As elders of Israel, very few of us fully comprehend our position, our calling, our relationship to God, our responsibility, or work the Lord requires at our hands" (The Discourses of Wilford Woodruff, sel. G. Homer Durham [1946], 124).
President Lorenzo Snow (1898–1901)
"There is no mortal man that is so much interested in the success of an elder when he is preaching the gospel as the Lord that sent him to preach to the people who are the Lord's children" (The Teachings of Lorenzo Snow, comp. Clyde J. Williams [1984], 70).
President Joseph F. Smith (1901–1918)
"We have a mission in the world: each man, each woman, each child who has grown to understanding or to the years of accountability, ought … to be qualified to preach the truth, to bear testimony of the truth" (Gospel Doctrine, 13th ed. [1968], 251–52).
President Heber J. Grant (1918–1945)
"We as a people have one supreme thing to do, and that is to call upon the world to repent of sin, to come to God. And it is our duty above all others to go forth and proclaim the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, the restoration again to the earth of the plan of life and salvation. … We have in very deed the pearl of great price. We have that which is of more value than all the wealth and the scientific information which the world possesses. We have the plan of life and salvation. … The best way in the world to show our love for our neighbor is to go forth and proclaim the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, of which he has given us an absolute knowledge concerning its divinity" (in Conference Report, Apr. 1927, 175–76).
President George Albert Smith (1945–1951)
"That is your mission, my brethren and sisters of the Church, that is your responsibility. Freely you have received and our Heavenly Father will expect you freely to share with His other sons and daughters these glorious truths" (Sharing the Gospel with Others, sel. Preston Nibley [1948], 213).
"We will attain our exaltation in the Celestial Kingdom only on the condition that we share with our Father's other children the blessings of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and observe the commandments that will enrich our lives here and hereafter" (Sharing the Gospel with Others, 190).
President David O. McKay (1951–1970)
"Every member … a missionary!" (in Conference Report, Apr. 1959, 122).
"True Christianity is love in action. There is no better way to manifest love for God than to show an unselfish love for your fellow men. This is the spirit of missionary work" (Gospel Ideals [1954], 129).
President Joseph Fielding Smith (1970–1972)
"We have heard that we are all missionaries. Every member … is or ought to be a missionary; … as members of the Church, having pledged ourselves to the advancement of the gospel of Jesus Christ we become missionaries. That is part of the responsibility of every member of the Church" (Take Heed to Yourselves [1971], 27–28).
President Harold B. Lee (1972–1973)
"Missionary work is but home teaching to those who are not now members of the Church, and home teaching is nothing more or less than missionary work to Church members" (Improvement Era, Dec. 1964, 1078).
President Spencer W. Kimball (1973–1985)
"Now is the moment in the timetable of the Lord to carry the gospel farther than it has ever been carried before. … Many a person in this world is crying, knowingly and unknowingly, 'Come over … and help us.' He might be your neighbor. She might be your friend. He might be a relative. She might be someone you met only yesterday. But we have what they need. Let us take new courage from our studies and pray, as did Peter, 'And now, Lord, … grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word' (Acts 4:29)" (Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball [1982], 546).
President Ezra Taft Benson (1985–1994)
"We must share the gospel with others. That is our responsibility—every member a missionary. That is the call of prophets of God. …
"… Member-missionary work is one of the great keys to the individual growth of our members. It is my conviction that member-missionary work will raise the spirituality in any ward where applied" (Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, 208–9).
President Howard W. Hunter (1994–1995)
"Surely taking the gospel to every kindred, tongue, and people is the single greatest responsibility we have in mortality. … We have been privileged to be born in these last days, as opposed to some earlier dispensation, to help take the gospel to all the earth" ("Walls of the Mind," Ensign, Sept. 1990, 10).
"What does the Atonement have to do with missionary work? Any time we experience the blessings of the Atonement in our lives, we cannot help but have a concern for the welfare of others. … A great indicator of one's personal conversion is the desire to share the gospel with others." ("The Atonement and Missionary Work," seminar for new mission presidents, June 1994).
President Gordon B. Hinckley (1995–2008)
"We are here to assist our Father in His work and His glory, 'to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man' (Moses 1:39). Your obligation is as serious in your sphere of responsibility as is my obligation in my sphere" (in Conference Report, Apr. 1995, 94; or Ensign, May 1995, 71).
"Let there be cultivated an awareness in every member's heart of his own potential for bringing others to a knowledge of the truth. Let him work at it. Let him pray with great earnestness about it" ("Find the Lambs, Feed the Sheep," Ensign, May 1999, 106).
Ideas for Study and Application
Personal Study
Prepare a two-minute talk on one of the questions at the beginning of this chapter. Be prepared to share your talk with your companion or with other missionaries in a district meeting.
Ask recent converts to tell their conversion stories. What helped them gain "faith unto repentance" (Alma 34:17)? Why did they decide to be baptized and confirmed? What was it like for them to become new members of the Church? How could missionaries have served them better?
Consider what it means to raise the voice of warning (see Jacob 3:12; D&C 1:4; 38:41; 63:57–58; 88:81; 112:5; Ezekiel 3:17–21; 33:1–12). Write in your own words what it means and how you can go about doing it.
Read Mormon 8 and Moroni 1 and 10. As you read, ask yourself, "What was Moroni's hope for our day? What did he want us to do with the Book of Mormon? What would I say to Moroni if I had the chance?" Record your thoughts in your study journal.
Consider the events in your life that have strengthened your testimony of Joseph Smith and the Restoration. Then write an answer to this question: What has helped you know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph Smith?
Companion Study
Share with each other your answers to the questions from "Consider This" at the beginning of the chapter.
Share with each other what your hopes and desires were for your mission when you received your mission call. To what extent does your experience thus far meet your expectations? How can you meet these expectations more fully?
Read and discuss "Ministry" in the Bible Dictionary.
Select one of the following great missionaries, and read the references listed. As you read, discuss how this missionary (1) understood and committed himself to his calling, (2) demonstrated his attitude and desire for the work, and (3) helped others accept the gospel.
In the hymnbook, select two hymns under the topic "Restoration of the Gospel" (see page 424). Read or sing the hymns. Discuss the meaning of the words.
Read together "Faith," "Repentance," "Baptism," and "Holy Ghost" in the Bible Dictionary. Read and discuss all the scripture references in each entry.
Read together "Dispensations" in the Bible Dictionary. Also read and discuss Doctrine and Covenants 136:37.
District Meetings and Zone Conferences
Invite two or three recent converts to share their conversion experiences. How did they feel about the missionaries? about what the missionaries taught? about keeping commitments? What most strongly influenced their conversion?
Invite a priesthood leader to talk to the missionaries about the opportunities and difficulties of building the Church in your area.
Read Alma 18 and discuss these questions: What were Lamoni's feelings at the beginning of the story? How did they change? What feelings must a person have in order to receive the blessings of the gospel? Read Alma 34:15–16, and compare it with Lamoni's story. How does Christ's Atonement enable us to obtain mercy?
Discuss what it means to be a successful missionary. Invite missionaries to give specific examples of success.
Divide the missionaries into three groups. Assign one group to read Acts 2:36–38 (Peter), another group to read Acts 16:25–33 (Paul), and the final group to read Mosiah 18:8–11 (Alma). Ask each group to answer the question, "What did this missionary do to help others increase in faith in Christ, repent, and receive baptism and confirmation?" Discuss what the missionaries learn from these stories that could help them exercise faith when inviting people to repent, be baptized, and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Several days before the meeting, assign several missionaries to ponder selected questions from "Consider This" at the beginning of the chapter. Ask each missionary to prepare a two- to three-minute talk on his or her assigned question. During the district meeting or zone conference, allow the missionaries to give their talks. Following the talks, discuss what they learned and how they could use it in their missionary work.
Divide the missionaries into four groups. Ask each group to list as many truths, covenants, and ordinances as they can that were restored and revealed through the Prophet Joseph Smith. Have each group share their results. Invite missionaries to share how any of the truths revealed through the Restoration has influenced their lives.
Mission President
During interviews, periodically ask missionaries to share with you:
Their testimony of Jesus Christ.
Their testimony of the restored gospel and the mission of Joseph Smith.
Their thoughts about their purpose as a missionary.
Invite missionaries to record in their study journal what they feel is the purpose of their mission. During an interview, ask them to share what they have written.
Send a letter of congratulations to new members.


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In addition to gifts made during the donor's lifetime, the BSA Foundation can accept a wide range of planned gifts.
Bequests are the simplest way of
making future gifts – and revocable gifts – to the Foundation. The key
to making effective bequests is precise language that accurately
identifies the charitable recipient and the donor's intent. Donors may
choose to make gifts in the form of: a) an exact dollar amount, b) a
percentage amount, or c) as a portion of the residue estate or trust.
They may also name the Foundation contingent beneficiary of an estate.
Either the Foundation staff or
National Major Gift Counsel can also provide sample bequest provisions
to your professional advisors in drafting suitable bequest language on
a confidential basis, without requiring the advisor to identify the
Life estate
Almost half of all personal wealth in
the U.S. comes from real estate. This is particularly true for older
donors whose homes have greatly appreciated in value over the years. In
these situations, a life estate may enable a donor to give generously
to Scouting and also achieve significant income and estate tax benefits.
A life estate is basically a deed
restriction. It gives the donor the right to use a personal residence
(or farm) for life, or a specified term, with the remainder interest
passing to the BSA Foundation. The most common property used for life
estates is the donor's primary residence, though second homes may also
be used.
Creating a life estate gift
generates an immediate income tax charitable deduction for the net
present value of the remainder interest in the property. This type of
gift also removes the real estate from the donor's estate, potentially
reducing estate taxes. Some donors will even use their income tax
savings to purchase life insurance, thereby replacing the value of the
donated property for their heirs.
Though a life estate irrevocably
conveys the remainder interest in the property to the Foundation (to be
used as the donor requests), these arrangements do offer some
flexibility. For example, the donor might decide to enter a retirement
community. The donor could then rent the property and receive the
income. Or the donor and the Foundation might agree to sell the
property and divide the proceeds during the donor's lifetime, according
to their respective interests.
Retirement plan beneficiary designations
Retirement plans, including IRAs,
401(k) plans, 403(b) plans, Keoghs, and SEP plans, can be effective
assets to use for testamentary charitable gifts.
Many people choose to name their
heirs as beneficiaries on retirement plan documents. However, for
donors with charitable intentions, this may not be the wisest course of
action from a tax planning perspective. Assets in retirement plans can
be hit with both income and estate taxes if left to anyone other than
the surviving spouse. These funds are considered "income in respect of
a decedent," or IRD, so any individual beneficiary (again, except for a
surviving spouse) is required to pay income tax on the distributions.
Donors can avoid this "double
taxation" by designating the Foundation as the beneficiary of all or
part of the plan's assets. As a qualified public charity, the
Foundation does not pay any tax on the distribution. The donor may then
leave other assets that are taxed more favorably to family and
non-charitable beneficiaries.
A sample IRA beneficiary designation and letter to an IRA plan administrator is available from the Foundation.
Charitable Remainder Trusts
A charitable remainder trust (CRT)
enables the donor to irrevocably give cash or property to the trust
while retaining an income stream, either for life or for specified time
period. The donor may also select someone else, such as a spouse,
parent, or child to receive the payments.
The CRT terminates either on the
death of the named beneficiary or at the end of the specified term. The
appreciated principal then passes to the Foundation to grow in a fund
established by the donor. Some of the benefits of a remainder trust:
· Allows donor to convert non-productive assets into an income stream
· Generates immediate tax deduction for
contribution to the trust, and avoids capital gains tax on the sale of
appreciated property by the trust
· Pays annual distribution to the donor or other beneficiaries selected by donor
· Very flexible in structuring the
amount and timing of income payments to the income beneficiaries
(either for life or a term of years)
· Donor can designate future use of
gift proceeds through the Foundation to the local council or Scouting
program of his or her choice.
There are two basic types of
charitable remainder trusts: annuity trusts (CRATs) and unitrusts
(CRUTs). The primary differences between these two types are the method
used to determine the payments, and the annual valuation requirement.
In an annuity trust, a specific,
fixed annual income is paid to the donor or other beneficiaries. The
income beneficiaries receive a constant annual payment, regardless of
value fluctuations of the trust assets or the actual return on the
trust assets. In contrast, the unitrust pays a specified percentage of
the net fair market value of the assets. The trust is revalued annually
for income purposes, so the annual income will typically fluctuate
based on fund performance.
There are many variations on these trusts. You may want to discuss these with one of the National Major Gift Counsel or the BSA Foundation staff.
Charitable lead trust
A charitable lead trust (CLT) is the
"mirror image" of a charitable remainder trust. It is a trust that
generates income for Scouting first, and then transfers trust assets
either to the original donor or to the donor's family members.
The donor transfers cash or property
irrevocably to a trust, creating an income stream to the BSA Foundation
for a certain number of years. At the end of that period, the principal
either reverts back to the donor or passes to non-charitable
beneficiaries, such as the donor's children, grandchildren, or
If persons other than the donor receive the remainder of the lead trust:
· Donor receives a federal gift or estate tax deduction for the present value of the payments given to the BSA Foundation.
· Taxable income and capital gains realized annually by the trust are taxed to the trust.
· The principal ultimately passes to non-charitable beneficiaries either outright or in a continuing trust.
· The present value of the assets
passing to non-charitable beneficiaries is a gift for gift tax purposes
or is included in the estate for estate tax purposes.
If the donor receives the remainder of the lead trust:
· Donor obtains a current income tax deduction equal to the present value of the total payments to the Foundation.
· Taxable income and capital gains realized annually by the trust are taxed to the donor
Lead trusts are ideal vehicles for
making significant charitable gifts and transferring assets with high
growth potential to the next generation. It may also be appropriate to
fund a lead trust with income-producing real estate interests, oil and
gas interests, or closely held stock and ultimately transferring these
assets to future generations.
Some donors want to make a major gift
to Scouting, but don't want the ongoing responsibility of an advised
fund, or can't afford the minimums required for charitable trusts. The
simplicity of a charitable gift annuity or a pooled income fund gift
may be just what they need to meet their objectives.
The BSA Gift Annuity Program
allows donors to make a gift to Scouting and, in return, receive
lifetime income – part of which is tax free – and a current charitable
income tax deduction. The annuity rate is guaranteed by the general
assets of the Boy Scouts of America, established at the time the gift
annuity is created, and will not change for the duration of the gift
annuity. Some donors choose to create a gift annuity (and a stream of
income) for a spouse or other family member. When the gift annuity
ends, after the lifetime of the annuity recipients, the remainder goes
to the local council(s) chosen by the donor. Larger gift annuity
remainders could also be designated to the BSA Foundation to create a
named fund in perpetuity.
The minimum gift to establish a
gift annuity is only $2,500. The donor may use cash, stocks, bonds, or
mutual shares to make the gift. Annuity beneficiaries must be at least
50 years of age at the time the gift annuity is established, and most
donors want their annuity payments to begin immediately. Many donors
also choose a deferred gift annuity – they get a tax
deduction now, but delay the annuity payments until a later date when
the income is most needed (e.g., at retirement).
The BSA Pooled Income Fund Program
is similar to the gift annuity program, but is more like a "charitable
mutual fund." Donors contribute to the pooled fund and receive
"investment shares" in the larger pool. They receive lifetime income
and an income tax deduction in return for their gift. At the end of the
lifetime of the beneficiary (or beneficiaries), the "shares" are cashed
in with the proceeds going to the local council or councils of the
donor's choice (or, again, to establish a new fund at the Foundation).
The minimum gift to participate in
the pooled income fund is $5,000. Donors may add to their gift in
$1,000 increments at any time – each addition increases their annual
income from the fund and generates another tax deduction. Donors may
use cash, stocks, bonds, or mutual shares to make the gift. Pooled fund
beneficiaries only need to be 40 years of age at the time of the
initial gift.
There are two differences between
the income stream from the pooled fund and the income from a gift
annuity. First, unlike the gift annuity, pooled fund income will not be
partially tax-free. Second, the income stream from the pooled fund will
vary from quarter to quarter, based on the actual investment
performance of the fund.
Giving vehicle
Typical donor goals
Income to donor or others
Income tax deduction
Capital gains and estate taxes
Attractive funding assets
Estate tax reduction
Provide for favorite Scout councils or programs
(But will reduce estate tax for large estates that owe it).
IRD assets
Life estate
Reduce income taxes
Provide for Scouting
Residential real estate
Retirement plan beneficiary designation
Provide for charity while treating heirs equitably
No (unless pursuant to Pension Protection Act of 2006, and may avoid income tax compared to other gifts)
IRAs, other qualified plan assets
Charitable remainder trust (Unitrust or Annuity Trust)
Create income for self or others
Establish permanent charitable legacy
Variable (CRUT) or Fixed
Yes, based on value of assets contributed, minus present value of income payments
Appreciated low-basis stock or real property
Appreciated real property (if CRUT is selected)
Charitable lead trust
Transferring assets to another generation (non-grantor trust)
Income tax deduction (grantor trust)
Yes, income to charity or fund in BSAF
No (non-grantor trust)
Yes (grantor trust, but donor taxed on income stream)
Estate taxes are avoided, but gift tax may be due
Income-producing assets that are likely to greatly appreciate in
value, or will be passed to children (e.g. shares in closely-held
Gift annuities and pooled income fund gifts
Potentially increasing current income from existing assets
Simple, affordable way to provide an endowment gift to a local council
Yes, either predictable and part tax free (gift annuity) or a variable income stream (pooled fund)
Yes, for both.
Appreciated stocks with low dividends, or cash that could be invested for higher returns.
For the Boy Scouts of America National Foundation
Electronic Transfers of Stock (Broker-to-Broker)
Step 1: Please have the broker transfer stock to:
National Financial Services Corporation
Boy Scouts of America -- Account #W18-123692 DTC Clearing #226
Step 2: Prior to the transfer, the donor, broker,
agent, or trustee should fax or email a description of the stock, any
specific use or purpose for the funds, and the anticipated transfer
date. Fax: BSA Cashier Services, 972. 580. 2108, or email firstname.lastname@example.com.
Mailing of Stock Certificates, Checks, Money Orders, & Cash Equivalents
Step 1: If actual stock certificates are being given, the stock certificate and a properly signed stock power should be mailed – in separate envelopes – to:
Tim Pierce, Cashier Services, S401
National Boy Scouts of America Foundation
1325 West Walnut Hill Lane
Irving, Texas 75015-2079
Step 2: Donor (or agent) will include instructions as to the use/purpose of the funds.
Electronic Transfer of Cash/Sales Proceeds from Stock
Step 1: If cash or sales proceeds from stock sold by
the donor's broker are being electronically transferred, please direct
them to:
Chase Bank of Texas -- Houston
Account Name: Boy Scouts of America
ABA # 113000609 -- Account Number: 07000451724
Step 2: Prior to the transfer, please fax or email a
notice to BSA Cashier Services describing the stock transfer, any
specific use or purpose of the funds, and the anticipated date of the
transfer. Fax: 972. 580. 2108, or email email@example.com.
Donor should discuss with his or her advisor the tax
implications of selling stock and contributing the proceeds, rather
than contributing the stock directly to the BSA or other charity.
Questions? Please call the BSA at 972. 580. 2230.


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After the Sanibel Causeway was built to replace the ferry in May 1963, island residents fought back against overdevelopment by establishing the Sanibel Comprehensive Land Use Plan in 1974 to help maintain a balance between development and preservation of the island's ecology.
The Sanibel Alliance for Renewable Resources (SARR), a non-profit organization, was created to educate and encourage island residents and business owners to become leaders by example in the use of renewable resources. Its priorities include energy, nature and water.
"Sanibel takes the lead in sustainability," said SARR President Mark Anderson during a recent meeting at the Community House.
Article Photos
Photo by Shannen Hayes
Sanibel's groundwater is fresh, maintains a steady temperature year round and has great potential for thermal exchange, enabling both cooling and heating. Rainfall can also be stored and used for domestic purposes beneath permeable and impermeable surfaces. This system is installed at Benchmark, along McGregor Blvd, and created by Sanibel Alliance for Renewable Resources (SARR) President Mark Anderson.
More than 50 people, including members of the City Council, Planning Commission, city staff and representatives of "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge and Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation, attended the June 7 meeting on "The utilization and management of water on a barrier island."
Three distinguished speakers Dr. Simeon Komisar, environmental engineering program director at Florida Gulf Coast University, Leigh Gevelinger, a landscape architect with R.S. Walsh and Anita Marshall, head gardener at Sanibel Moorings spoke on the topic of water conservation on the islands.
Komisar provided an insightful view of the work being done at FGCU to explore the links between climate, water management and energy conservation. He spoke about the modern approaches to the efficient use of water and how islanders can make use of one of Sanibel's unique qualities its groundwater.
The water is fresh not saline, maintains a steady temperature year around and has great potential for thermal exchange, enabling both cooling and heating. Sanibel's rainfall can be stored and used for domestic purposes beneath permeable and impermeable surfaces with important long-term environmental benefits.
"Sustainability provides for now and the future," said Komisar. "My focus is on rethinking waste water as a way to recover energy."
Gevelinger described to the audience how many keen gardeners could take advantage of water detention. It collects rainfall naturally; filters out particles and pollutants from non-permeable surfaces; and creates micro sites in gardens for wildlife, butterflies and native plants. He talk was illustrated by photos of Sanibel properties that show many attractive effects achieved by planning for sustainability.
"Sanibel is amazing and always embracing sustainability initiatives," said Gevelinger.
Gardens, especially the botanical gardens at Sanibel Moorings, were highlighted by the Moorings head gardener Anita Marshall, who also writes the weekly "What's Blooming" column in the San-Cap Islander. She talked about the history of gardens, many and different contributions made by her predecessors as the gardens developed, and her own vision for the future of the environment created by a combination of nature and human skill.
"We are extremely grateful to our speakers for their original and insightful presentations," said Anderson. "And we are delighted that so many residents, dignitaries, representatives of island non-profits and city officials were able to come along to our meeting on this important topic for Sanibel."
For more information on SARR, visit www.sanibelenergy.com.


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More camwhores... So if we keep adding crap to a screen that for all intents and purposes should be nothing more then a dumb screen with maybe a pass though hub then how long till it ends up running some crap OS that gets hacked on an hourly basis allowing access to the cam to spy on everything in the room? Most people I know have several TVs, living room, bedrooms, home office, kitchen if they cook allot, basement if it's finished, I even know a guy with a TV in his bathroom...
This could allow someone to have the ability to spy on someone pretty much anywhere in their home since this would inevitably have access to every wireless spec available to the public...
Why do we have to keep tacking on more bullshit where it isn't needed again? Does every damn thing now require a camera and text messaging? Why can't a phone be a phone and a TV be a TV?
NSFW Samuel L. Jackson and Charlie Murphy on Texting http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thtsQb89Iu4
and Sam and Charles on Bluetooth headsets also NSFW http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4fJCUKA3Zk
Yeah yeah yeah, get off my lawn, up hill both ways, etc.