text:
Technical Paper
Development of Programmed-Fuel Injection for Two-Stroke Cycle Racer Engine
An electronically controlled fuel injection system for controlling the air/fuel (A/F) ratio has been looked forward as a means for improving drivability, output characteristics, and fuel consumption of two-stroke cycle motorcycle racer engines. However, actual installation of such a system on a high output two-stroke cycle engine (which utilizes exhaust gas pressure pulsation effects) has been considered difficult for the following reasons. Fluctuation in the delivery ratio (L) during firing and misfiring becomes great due to effects from the exhaust pipe. Applying the control method used for conventional four-stroke cycle engines (by which the delivery ratio (L) is measured) would necessitate a large and heavy system. The authors have eliminated such problems by developing an electronically controlled fuel injection system, the PGM-FI (Programmed-Fuel Injection) system, which employs basic intake air flow data according to engine speed (NE) and throttle opening (θTH).


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October 18, 2011
Help to heal: Expert in war zone-related traumatic stress to lecture Oct. 27
Submitted by Communications and Marketing
Victoria E. Bruner, a clinical director at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, specializes in war zone-related traumatic stress. She will lecture about what we need to know and why it matters at the third annual Kansas State University Institute for the Health and Security of Military Families, Thursday, Oct. 27.
The lecture, "Communities + Service Members and Their Families = Strong Societies," will be from 3:30-5 p.m. at the K-State Alumni Center ballroom. Bruner will review the trends in treatment, philosophy and the importance of communities in healing war-related exposures.
A panel discussion with combat service members and other providers will follow.
Being a war widow led Bruner in her professional mission to reduce the cost of war to service members and their families.
She was a first responder at the Pentagon on 9/11 and then joined Operation Solace to treat military and civilians in the Washington, D.C., National Military Region. Later, she coordinated a study, "Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Victims of Mass Violence," and was study therapist in U.S. Department of Defense/Veterans Administration major research study, "Women in the Military with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder."
Bruner then developed a three-week intensive outpatient specialized care program for combat related stress, serving as the trauma specialist, interim clinical director and director of clinical education and training. Bruner is working on an initiative to review and support other post-traumatic stress disorder treatment programs throughout the Department of Defense.
Before joining the Department of Defense, Bruner was a private practitioner and consultant for UNICEF, the Federal Emergency Management Administration and the International Chiefs of Police. She was assistant adjunct professor at the University of Iowa Graduate School of Social Work and the department of behavioral medicine and public health studies at Des Moines University's Osteopathic Medical School.
The lecture is part of the College of Human Ecology's Celebration of Excellence. For more information, contact Briana Nelson Goff, director of the institute, at firstname.lastname@example.com.

subset: commoncrawl


text: February 19, 2015 at 10:58 AM 3 getaways for this weekend, from Bellingham beer to Portland dragon dances Posted by Brian J. Cantwell Bored with February? Fed up with rock skiing in the Cascades? Get out of town. Here are three ideas to get you on the road: More Comments | More in List, weekend getaways | Topics: Bellingham beer tour, granville island, Portland Chinese New Year


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Cook with love...
Monday – Friday:
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"I have a dream. I dream that all the world will become peaceful. I dream that all the killing will stop. I dream that all the children will walk in peace and harmony. I dream that all the nations shake hands with each other, protect each other and help each other. I dream that our beautiful planet will not be destroyed. It takes billion, billion, trillions of years to produce this planet and it's so beautiful, so wonderful. I dream that it will continue, but in peace, beauty and love."
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text:
U.S. backs new genetic
research on infectious diseases
Send a link to a friend
[June 06, 2014]
By Will Dunham
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The
U.S. National Institutes of Health has awarded $25
million to the J. Craig Venter Institute to back an
initiative to study infectious diseases like malaria and
influenza at the genetic level to help find better
treatments and preventive measures.
The institute, with offices in Maryland and California, will use the
5-year grant from NIH to establish the Genome Center for Infectious
Diseases to study the genetic secrets of a wide range of bacteria,
viruses and parasites, officials said on Thursday.
The effort will include genetic sequencing of a number of pathogens
and research on genetic mechanisms behind the emergence of
antibiotic resistance, they said.
"It's a pretty big program," said Karen Nelson, president of the
non-profit institute, in a telephone interview.
Infectious diseases are among the leading causes of death worldwide.
Venter, the former NIH researcher who founded the institute, said in
a statement that the new work will be aimed at "enabling a more
in-depth understanding of pathogen biology and potentially aiding in
better treatments and preventative measures against infectious
The parasite research will focus on malaria, the mosquito-borne
disease that every year kills more than 620,000 people - mostly
African children, and also toxoplasmosis, which U.S. health
officials call a leading cause of death attributed to foodborne
illness in the United States, officials said.
"Malaria is a particularly high focus for the (NIH's) National
Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. The focus there is
really on exploring approaches to come up with malaria vaccines,
which are looking more and more like they're going to potentially be
a reality for managing malaria," Venter Institute researcher William
Nierman added.
[to top of second column]
Viruses to be studied include: influenza from human, avian and swine
sources, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), rotavirus, West Nile
virus and Eastern equine encephalitis virus.
In the bacterial research, the program aims to perform genetic
sequencing on more than 1,700 strains of three disease-causing
types: klebsiella, acinetobacter and enterobacter.
(Reporting by Will Dunham; editing by Gunna Dickson)
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
Copyright 2014 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Recent articles
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For over 20 years, Northern Lights College has been welcoming international students from around the world to our area of Beautiful British Columbia.
At Northern Lights College, international students enjoy studying English as a Second Language (ESL), university transfer classes, and vocational and trades programs.
While attending Northern Lights College many students complete certificates or diplomas and then successfully transfer to universities across Canada to complete their degree. Students choose Northern Lights College because we offer:
Please email email@example.com to obtain more information.Contact:Northern Lights CollegeInternational Education DepartmentBox 1000, Fort St. John, BCCanada, V1J 6K1Email firstname.lastname@example.com Fax 1-250-785-1294


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Latest Generation Intel Core i7 Quad-Core Technology: This powerful 16 monitor system utilizes the latest in CPU processing technology to provide you with the incredible speed and advanced stability that you deserve! This Z97 Chipset (Socket LGA-1151) desktop machine is virtually a super personal computer that will be able to handle just about any task you can throw it's way. Welcome to the cutting edge of computing!
SUPER PC | 16 Monitor Computer System | SUPERPC1610
- 4.0Ghz Intel Core i7 Quadcore CPU (4.4Ghz Turbo)
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- Windows 7 Professional 64-Bit OS with Recovery DVD
- FREE optional Upgrade to Windows 10 Included!
- CD/DVD Burner and BluRay Reader / Combo Drive
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- 6 x USB2.0 Ports and 2 x USB3.0 Ports (Blazing Fast)
- Ethernet LAN Network Port + Dual Band WIFI Card
- Plug and Play up to 16 x DP, HDMI,or DVI Displays
- 1920 x 1080p Maximum Resolution Per Screen
- 7.1 Channel 24-bit Audio (2 Front Audio Inputs)
- Premium 835 Watt Heavy Duty Power Supply
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- Logitech Powered Stereo Speaker System
- 2 Year Warranty (Covers Parts and Labor)
Plug and Play Display Capability: Our SUPER PC systems have plug and play display capability. All you have to do is plug the monitors into the back of the computer, turn them on, and your displays will become active. You will need to notify the computer of your preferred monitor arrangement in the Display Settings.
What type of monitors or displays will I need? This computer system is designed to support up to 16 Monitors, LCD TVs, Projectors, or any other type of display that supports a DVI, or HDMI connection.
Access almost any type of Media: CD, DVD, Blu-Ray, USB 2.0, USB 3.0, Compact Flash Card (Type I), Compact Flash Card (Type II), Smart Media Card, Secure Digital Card, IBM Microdrive, XD, Mini SD, MMC1, MMC2, RS-MMC, Memory Stick, MS ROM, MS pro, MS Duo, MS pro Duo, MS SELECT, T-FLASH, Magic Gate, Magic Gate Duo, MicroDrive, MagicStor, UltraII CompactFlash, Extreme Compact Flash, and external drives.
Unlimited Free Anti-Virus Software: Your SUPER PC computer will already be equipped with a complete Anti-Virus solution from Microsoft Security Essentials! We recommend this free, yet powerful software for the best performance of your system. We do not recommend using Norton, McAffee, and other mainstream anti-virus software, if you want the best protection and performance for your SUPER PC Windows machine!
Note: This computer is mainly designed for using independent multitasking windows and is not designed for professional video wall setups (where you will use all 16 monitors as one large screen) for playing video. Please see our Video Wall Computers and Video Wall Controllers for true full-span Video Wall performance.
This SUPER PC computer system will allow you to stretch your windows across all screens and will handle most applications well, such as: Google Earth, PowerPoint, Presentation Software, Charts, and Images. This PC is not intended for playing videos, stretched across all 16 screens. This system will support up to two simultaneous, yet separate 4k (2160p) Eyefinity Video Wall groups, consisting of up to Four Displays each.
Configured for Performance and Stability: All of our SUPER PC computers are expertly manufactured for professional grade computing and durability of life. The problem with your average system, is that the computing hardware is not balanced. Most mainstream PC brands use cheaply made, low wattage power supplies, which cause them to overheat and burn out much more quickly. This is the number one cause of computer failure. We only install premium grade, efficient PSUs, that have more power than your machine needs. This will keep your system running cooler and performing better! We always fasten heat spreaders on all RAM memory modules and install a cooling and ventilation system using multiple large and powerful cooling fans. Since adding more system memory is by far the most cost effective upgrade for performance boost in computing, we make sure our systems are stacked with more than enough memory to handle all of your computer's functions. This will keep you from having to experience frustrating processing bottlenecks!
Please take a look at all of our SUPER PC 16 Display Computer models below:


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Are you looking for Barcleycard Login Sign in? or searching for Barcleycard Login sign in then here are the official links provided below including resources.
If you want to Barcleycard Login, log in or sign up, create Barcleycard Login account then check below result given from where you can access official resources.
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You can create an account or reset the password by clicking the recover/reset password button.


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USN-1580-1: Linux kernel (OMAP4) vulnerabilities
21 September 2012
linux-ti-omap4 vulnerabilities
A security issue affects these releases of Ubuntu and its derivatives:
- Ubuntu 12.04 LTS
Several security issues were fixed in the kernel.
Software Description
- linux-ti-omap4 - Linux kernel for OMAP4
Ben Hutchings reported a flaw in the Linux kernel with some network drivers that support TSO (TCP segment offload). A local or peer user could exploit this flaw to to cause a denial of service. (CVE-2012-3412)
Jay Fenlason and Doug Ledford discovered a bug in the Linux kernel implementation of RDS sockets. A local unprivileged user could potentially use this flaw to read privileged information from the kernel. (CVE-2012-3430)
Mathias Krause discovered an information leak in the Linux kernel's TUN/TAP device driver. A local user could exploit this flaw to examine part of the kernel's stack memory. (CVE-2012-6547)
A flaw was discovered in the requeuing of futexes in the Linux kernel. A local user could exploit this flaw to cause a denial of service (system crash) or possibly have other unspecified impact. (CVE-2012-6647)
A flaw was found in Linux kernel's validation of CIPSO (Common IP Security Option) options set from userspace. A local user that can set a socket's CIPSO options could exploit this flaw to cause a denial of service (crash the system). (CVE-2013-0310)
Update instructions
The problem can be corrected by updating your system to the following package versions:
- Ubuntu 12.04 LTS
- linux-image-3.2.0-1419-omap4 - 3.2.0-1419.26
To update your system, please follow these instructions: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Security/Upgrades.
After a standard system update you need to reboot your computer to make all the necessary changes.
ATTENTION: Due to an unavoidable ABI change the kernel updates have been given a new version number, which requires you to recompile and reinstall all third party kernel modules you might have installed. If you use linux-restricted-modules, you have to update that package as well to get modules which work with the new kernel version. Unless you manually uninstalled the standard kernel metapackages (e.g. linux-generic, linux-server, linux-powerpc), a standard system upgrade will automatically perform this as well.


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The African Development Bank (http://www.afdb.org) hosted a High Level Policy Dialogue Seminar on Youth Employment in Lusaka, Zambia, focusing on the challenges and opportunities faced by countries in the Southern Africa Region.
Attended by Ministers from Zambia, Angola, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique and Mauritius, as well as representatives of international institutions and chaired by the Chief Economist and Vice President of the AfDB, Prof. Mthuli Ncube, the seminar created an ideal platform for discussion on the policy priorities available for countries to tackle the critical issue of youth employment.
In his opening address, the AfDB Chief Economist said, "Youth unemployment has become a potential source of social, economic and political instability of nations. Today's young people face a real and increasing difficulty in finding decent work. This was evident in the last two years, with youth-lead movements from Africa to Europe calling for social justice, freedom and jobs."
Addressing the delegates, Zambian Minister of Finance, the Honourable Alexander Chikwanda said, "Youth Unemployment is ticking time bomb for all of us." He added, "We need to create a healthy workforce with the right skills to meet the challenges of a modern economy, this can be achieved by encouraging productivity and entrepreneurship. This will require the joint efforts and solidarity of both the public and private sectors. As government, we need to provide the necessary governance and accountability, as well as building the credibility of the State."
The Honourable Fackson Shamenda, MP, Minister for Information, Broadcasting and Labour for Zambia, concurred, "There is a lack of co-ordination in our efforts to address the issue of youth unemployment. We need to find appropriate mechanisms to better co-ordinate our programmes if we are to achieve our goals."
With almost 200 million people between the ages of 15 and 24, Africa has the youngest population in the world and by 2030, nearly one in four young people will be African. This presents African with an enormous opportunity, which in turn also presents a significant risk to the social cohesion and political stability, should Africa and its governments fail to create sufficient economic and employment opportunities to support decent living conditions for its youth.
Some countries in the region are however putting policies in place. Mauritius has a National Human Resource Plan that provides a policy framework for education, training programmes and career development, to meet the skills demands of employers, and at the same time reduce the mismatch between supply and demand. In Zambia the government has put in place a National Youth Policy and Youth Enterprise Fund to accelerate poverty reduction.
Over the last decade, Africa has seen unparalleled and sustained improvement in growth, with six of the world's ten fastest growing economies in Africa. This however has not lead to the necessary job creation needed to absorb the 10-12 million young increasingly education people entering the labour market.
Government's need to find innovative ways in which to leverage this opportunity. This could include prioritising measures that target young people most at risk by strengthening apprenticeship and vocational training programmes for low skilled youth; the provision of incentives to small, medium and micro-enterprises (SMME's) that employ youth through apprenticeship and internship schemes, as well as encouraging SMME's to hire youth through the reduction of social security contributions or the introduction of wage subsidies.
President of the Zambian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Mr. Geoffrey Sakulanda added, "Job creation and employment is dependent on a vibrant private sector. If we are to increase business opportunities, we need to work together with governments, in order to find ways in which SMME's get greater access to capital and long term credit, whilst removing barriers such as over regulation and controls in the market."
During the past years, the AfDB's interventions have already geared towards employment creation on the continent. Some of the interventions address the unlocking of the infrastructure constraint in order to significantly reduce the cost of doing business for the private sector and facilitate regional economic integration; and improvement of government's capacity to implement economic reforms and deliver social services.
In conclusion the AfDB Chief Economist stated, "It has become clear that there are no quick fixes to ensuring that all Africa's young people get off to a good start. Stronger job creation mechanisms grounded in a deliberate strategy for inclusive growth and social development are needed."
Source: African Development Bank (AfDB) – Press Release – 11 July 2012


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Chongming Island in Shanghai is the third largest island in China. As the largest alluvial island at the estuary of a river and the largest sand island in the world, Chongming Island is also acclaimed as the "Door to the Yangtze River, Yingzhou Island (a celestial mountain in fairy tales of ancient China) in the East China Sea." The main attractions on Chongming Island are the Chongming Academy (one of the only ancient Confucian academies in Shanghai); Dongping National Forest Park (largest man-made forest in Eastern China); Dong Tan Migratory Bird Protection Area; and Jin'ao Mountain (a Buddhist site with East-China-garden-style landscaping).
Taking place in the western portion of Chongming Island, IRONMAN 70.3 Shanghai Chongming race will begin with a 1.2-mile (1.9-km) swim in freshwater Mingzhu Lake. The swim will be a single-loop rolling start format with expected water temperature to be mid-60 degrees Fahrenheit. Athletes will then embark on a generally flat two-loop 56-mile (90-km) bike course that finishes at Mingzhu Lake Park. Finally, athletes will take on a three-loop 13.1-mile (21-km) run course circling the lake in Mingzhu Lake Park that features plenty of shade. The swim-to-bike and bike-to-run transitions are both lakeside in Mingzhu Lake Park, with the finish line located near the entrance to the park.
The 2019 IRONMAN 70.3 Shanghai will offer 50 qualifying slots to the 2020 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in Taupō, New Zealand.
The 2019 IRONMAN Shanghai will offer 30 qualifying slots to the 2020 Vega IRONMAN World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawai'i.
Eligible athletes receiving a slot can either accept a slot to the IRONMAN World Championship or a slot to the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship (but not both).
The 2019 IRONMAN 70.3 Shanghai will offer 25 bonus Women for Tri qualifying slots to the 2020 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in, Taupō, New Zealand. (Details)


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Vinyasa Flow Yoga focuses on transition between postures, as well as alignment and strength. A moving meditation, each postures flows into the next cultivating a quieter mind during the session.
Open to all levels, but some Yoga experience is beneficial.
Mats and equipment are supplied. Bring a towel and some water. Please arrive 10 minutes before class.
Teacher: Kier
£7.00 online / £8.00 drop-in
Use discount code firstclass if this is your first yoga session at Cliffs to pay just £5
Plus 10% off food and drink after class!
Save pennies by buying a 5 or 10 class card:


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Earlier today, the final of Miss world 2007 competition took place in
Like many people in the world, I also watched the final competition of miss world 2007. I was not so thrilled with the whole ceremony. I felt like that the organizers have to think of bringing more variations in the program. After all, nearly 2 billion people watched the program. That is why it is very important to make the final competition of miss world more attractive and entertaining. Do not anything about Zi Lin Zhang? Are you interested to know about Zi Lin Zhang? Then you should visit the following articles:
Zi Lin Zhang is Miss World 2007


text:
Colorado lands San Jose St's Mike MacIntyre
DENVER – Mike MacIntyre turned around the San Jose State football program in short order and will be asked to do the same at the University of Colorado.
On Monday, MacIntyre signed a five-year deal to coach the Buffaloes and will be introduced at a 4 p.m. MST news conference at Folsom Field.
His hiring ends a two-week search by Colorado that included a rejection by its first choice, Butch Jones.
MacIntyre inherits a program that's had seven straight losing seasons, including a 1-11 record this year under Jon Embree that was the worst in the 123-year history of the program.
He's turned around a program before.
The Spartans (10-2) are ranked No. 25 in the BCS and are heading to the Dec. 27 Military Bowl in Washington, D.C. to face Bowling Green (8-4), two years after a 1-12 showing in McIntyre's first season. This is the first 10-win season in a quarter century for the Spartans, who are ranked 24th in both the AP and coaches' polls.
MacIntyre, the son of former Vanderbilt coach George MacIntyre, is 16-21 in his three years as a head coach at San Jose State after serving as Duke's defensive coordinator and working as a secondary coach for the Dallas Cowboys and New York Jets.
The 47-year-old MacIntyre took over a Spartans program still reeling from limited scholarships following academic penalties by the NCAA stemming from problems before previous coach Dick Tomey arrived. After the 1-12 season featuring a heavy schedule of ranked teams, the Spartans went 5-7 in MacIntyre's second season.
Last week, Jones rejected a five-year, $13.5 million offer that would have made him the highest-paid coach in CU history, and instead took the vacant head coaching job at Tennessee. Jones also had been promised upgrades at Folsom Field and the team's training center.
This marks athletic director Mike Bohn's third head coaching hire since he fired Gary Barnett in 2005. Embree had three years remaining on a five-year contract when he was fired after going 4-21.
The Buffaloes job isn't a glamorous one, with sub-par football facilities and a fan base and booster pool disenchanted by seven straight losing seasons – and now, as Embree's quick hook attests, an administration that wants immediate upgrades on the scoreboard and in the Pac-12 standings.
The new coach faces a truncated recruiting season and must try to keep defections to a minimum from a roster that's loaded with freshmen.
Start a dialogue, stay on topic and be civil.
If you don't follow the rules, your comment may be deleted.


text:
Creating an account with Tribecafilm.com gives you access to more features and services, like our weekly newsletter and other special features just for the film community.SIGN UP
We're making it easier than ever for you to stock up on Tribeca Film Festival tickets. Our revamped Wish List will save you time and effort in singling out the Festival titles you cannot wait to see.LEARN MORE
To take advantage of the Wish List, you must have a My Tribeca account. Creating a My Tribeca account gives you access to more features and services, like Wish Lists.SIGN IN
Creating an account with Tribecafilm.com gives you access to more features and services, like our weekly newsletter and other special features just for the film community.SIGN UP
We're ready to announce the winners of Tribeca's #6SECFILMS Vine Competition! After TFF's Programmer Genna Terranova created the shortlist, our illustrious jury members pored over it and came up with their choices. The winners will receive $600 each (a Benjamin for each second), and the honor of knowing their Vines were the best.
Thank you to everyone who entered - and stay tuned next week for notable honorable mentions!
Without further ado, here are the Vines that director Penny Marshall, actor/Viner Adam Goldberg, and short-short-short film experts/creators the 5 Second Films team chose as their favorites, complete with their effusive praise. Congratulations, winners!
Winner: @Matt Swinsky, for "LazerAndDonald Close Shave"
What Our Jurors Said:
Adam Goldberg: "Extremely inventive if not disturbing use of the form. By far one of the best Vines I've seen."
Penny Marshall: "The use of lighting is amazingly set for this 6 second vine."
5 Second Films: "Amazing execution within the Vine parameters, and succeeded at capturing the horror 'genre.'"
Winner: @KevyPizza, There Is No Sunny-Side to This Story
What Our Jurors Said:
Adam Goldberg: "A cute and well-done egg anime."
Penny Marshall: "I will never look at eggs the same - creatively comical."
5 Second Films: "Bottom line: it made us laugh. A lot. Sound effects were faces."
Winner: @Jethro Ames: "How to Clear Your Garage From a Scary Ghost"
What Our Jurors Said:
Adam Goldberg: "Nice incorporation of animation and sound into common Vine technique."
Penny Marshall: "Love the concept and the audio was added perfectly."
5 Second Films: "We were really blown away by the planning, trial and error that (we can only assume) went into this video."
Winner: Chris Donlon, The Book Beetle trilogy
1. The Burrowing
2. The Infestation
3. The Sapling
What Our Jurors Said:
Adam Goldberg: "Wonderful eye and fastidious animation."
Penny Marshall: "The time it took to animate this beetle paid off!"
5 Second Films: "The best of every world: it told a story, great animation, solid cinematography, engrossing and entertaining."
And that's a wrap! Thank you to everyone who submitted, to Penny, Adam, and the 5 Second Films team, to Rus Yusupov from Vine for his excellent tips, and to our own TFF programmer Genna Terranova (who has probably seen more good Vines than any other human), and stay tuned next week for those honorable mentions!


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Army Propaganda Unit Ordered To Illegally Target US Senators With Psy-Ops Propaganda
from the wrong-target,-general deptLast week, Rolling Stone broke the news that the US Army's team of psy-ops (psychological operations) specialists in Afghanistan were ordered to target their efforts towards visiting US officials rather than Afghanis. This is highly illegal. US law says that any sort of psy-ops/propaganda efforts can only be targeted at foreign citizens:
The incident offers an indication of just how desperate the U.S. command in Afghanistan is to spin American civilian leaders into supporting an increasingly unpopular war. According to the Defense Department's own definition, psy-ops -- the use of propaganda and psychological tactics to influence emotions and behaviors – are supposed to be used exclusively on "hostile foreign groups." Federal law forbids the military from practicing psy-ops on Americans, and each defense authorization bill comes with a "propaganda rider" that also prohibits such manipulation. "Everyone in the psy-ops, intel, and IO community knows you're not supposed to target Americans," says a veteran member of another psy-ops team who has run operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. "It's what you learn on day one."The army does have a public affairs team, who is supposed to help on domestic issues, but their focus is more of a PR type role, rather than overt propaganda and misdirection. However, it appears that some of the top Army brass in Afghanistan made it clear that the psy-ops team was to focus almost exclusively on visiting Americans, rather than influencing locals. The goal was to convince US politicians to keep sending more money and more men. The psy-ops team resisted and complained, but were continually ordered to do so. When the head of the team consulted a lawyer about the issue -- and was told by the lawyer that his concerns appeared valid -- the army retaliated by opening an investigation of the guy, Lt. Colonel Michael Holmes, with what appear to be ridiculously trumped up charges (such as accusing him of using Facebook too much -- something he'd been encouraged to do by his commanders).
And, of course, after all of this, the Pentagon and the Army appear to be working on ways to cover this all up by making it look legit. They've done away with the name "psy-ops," changing it to the bland and vague "MISO" (Military Information Support Operations). Also, a few months later, the entire psy-ops team was told, "effective immediately," that they were being renamed from an "information operation cell" to an "information engagement cell," and told their "sole purpose" was to now do public relations, targeting everyone, including the US. So, basically, after going against the law that forbids propaganda targeted at the US, the Army decided to paper it over by taking the soldiers specifically trained for propaganda and pretending they're just PR people.
Filed Under: afghanistan, propaganda, psy-ops, us army


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Top Gear is one of the BBC's most popular shows, with millions of viewers across a hundred countries. But one thing about the show that has remained a secret for some time now has been the identity of the mysterious driver known only as The Stig.
"The whole point of The Stig is the mystique — the bizarre characteristics he has, the wonderment created about what he might think, feel, do or look like. Kids adore the conceit, and I believe adults, although they know it's a man in a suit (or is it?) gladly buy into the whole conceit because they find it entertaining." says Top Gear producer Andy Wilman.
However, because of a lawsuit brought on by HarperCollins, the identity of The Stig is a no longer a mystery. According to HarperCollins, The Stig is actually a 33-year-old driver named Ben Collins. According to Collins' website, he has raced both Formula Three and NASCAR, and even drove James Bond's Aston Martin in the latest Bond flick, "Quantum of Solace."
So what's Top Gear to do now that The Stig has been exposed? Well, hire a new and unidentifed Stig! At least that's what they did when the identity of the Stig prior to Collins was revealed in 2003.
Despite the reveal of the white Stig, you can still purchase his T-Shirts from the BBC America online shop. The shirts are priced from $22.98 to $26.98 and I am sure that these will be pulled from the store soon so if you're a Stig fan, you better pick one of these up soon!


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- 1 can (10 3/4 ounces) Campbell's Healthy Request Cream of Chicken soup
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 1/4 cup skim milk
- 1/2 pound Yukon Gold potatoes, washed and peeled
- 2 ounces whole white mushrooms (about 2 large)
- 1 can (6 ounces) lump crabmeat, drained
- 2 tablespoons chopped red bell pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
In a 2-quart saucepan, combine soup, water, and milk and stir well to combine into a smooth mixture. Place saucepan on stove over medium heat. Finely dice potatoes (should yield about 1 1/4 cups) and add to liquid. Remove stems from mushrooms and wipe away visible dirt with a small brush or paper towel. Chop mushrooms and add to saucepan, along with drained crabmeat, bell pepper, black pepper, and onion powder. Bring to a gentle boil, then cover and simmer for approximately 15 minutes until potatoes are soft, then serve.
Yield: 4 servings.
Serving size: 1 cup.
Nutrition Facts Per Serving:
Calories: 122 calories, Carbohydrates: 18 g, Protein: 8 g, Fat: 2 g, Saturated Fat: 1 g, Cholesterol: 3 mg, Sodium: 485 mg, Fiber: 2 g
Exchanges per serving: 1 starch, 1 lean meat. Carbohydrate choices: 1.
Kathleen Stanley is a Diabetes Educator at Central Baptist Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky.


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You will receive the training and mentoring you need to launch a new and successful career in a dynamic and service driven industry. You will be supported by a team comprised of management and team associates who want and will help you succeed. Our KW philosophy is to build strength through mutual benefit. The service must work for both the client and the agent.
KELLER WILLIAMS® REALTY provides a learning based culture and addresses every aspect on the knowledge you need to start and build a valuable career in real estate. If you are an established real estate professional, you are going to love the difference KELLER WILLIAMS® REALTY offers. Your path to success comes with the full support and guidance of Keller Williams® Realty, and an income opportunity unparalleled in the real estate industry today. If you are looking for more reward from your hard work, and you have the drive and resources to take advantage of a win-win opportunity, you sound like the goal-oriented person we are looking for. You owe it to yourself to learn more about KELLER WILLIAMS® REALTY and the extraordinary real estate success model we have established. Fill out the form to the left.
KELLER WILLIAMS® REALTY treats associates as shareholders and partners. KW has created a unique profit sharing program through which productive associates in profitable market centers can participate in profits with the company they help build. If you want to build a new career in real estate OR you are an existing agent and would like to explore wealth building opportunities with KELLER WILLIAMS® REALTY, CALL NOW! KELLER WILLIAMS® REALTY is seeking career minded individuals who are willing to work hard, be trained and love servicing people and their community. The Real Estate Market is heating up with buyers and sellers! Interest rates and home prices are at record lows! Positions are available to professionals seeking a NEW CAREER in the dynamic industry, reigniting a previous career to a company with more to offer! We have more training, more benefits and more reputation throughout California.
• If you are interested in a NEW CAREER
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If you have ever considered an exciting and challenging career in a rejuvenating and dynamic industry OR if you are investigating a possible office change, KELLER WILLIAMS® REALTY wants to meet and get to know you! KELLER WILLIAMS® REALTY offers a wonderful tuition reimbursement program as well as an effective post license training system that will help you launch a career directed toward success!


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Green Bay Packers Black Leather Classic Sofa
Product Description
Imperial is proud to present its premium licensed NFL Green Bay Packers Black Leather Classic Sofa.
Grab some of your favorite friends and enjoy the game.
Very contemporary design, featuring black leather all over the sofa.
Custom manufactured for you, near the furniture capital of the world, High Point, North Carolina.
Embroidered patch logos are sewn on both center cushion and center frame.
A Green Bay Packers Black Leather Classic Sofa is the perfect fit for the fan with discernible taste!
Dimensions: 90"L x 39"W x 37"H, 150 lbs.
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Shipping Details
Shipping Information for Green Bay Packers Black Leather Classic Sofa
Standard Curbside Delivery
With curbside shipping, the freight company is not responsible for carrying the product into the building, unloading the package from the truck, or assembling your purchase. For heavier items, we strongly recommend you have the appropriate assistance available at the time of delivery. The freight company will notify you by phone to schedule a delivery date and time window. Typically, there will be a four-hour time frame for the delivery and someone must be home for the item to be delivered.
Lift Gate Service
Lift gate services adds a lift gate to assist in unloading the product from the truck. Driver is not required to carry the product into your garage or home, nor assemble the product. You should have appropriate resources on location for getting the product into your home or business.
Installation Services
We have an extensive network of installers throughout the country that can assist you with setup and installation of your new Green Bay Packers Black Leather Classic Sofa. Please contact us at 800-543-9020 for a custom quote on any special requirements.
Warranty Details
Warranty Information for Green Bay Packers Black Leather Classic Sofa
The Green Bay Packers Black Leather Classic Sofa carries a 90 day manufacturer's warranty against defects.


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The first snack featured on After School Snack week comes from Nancy at Real Food, Allergy Free.
Have hungry kids with bottomless stomachs? Here's an allergy-friendly snack that is sure to satisfy them. Even if your family is food allergy free, you will want to make these granola bars.
Here's why:
- They are delicious! They are chewy, chocolaty goodness with bursts of sour from the Craisins.
- They are satisfying. Unlike store bought granola bars, these guys stick to your ribs.
- They are made of real food. No preservatives, food coloring, corn syrup or soy products here.
Feel free to use "regular" oats, flour and chocolate chips if you can tolerate them and that's what you have on hand. You can even use butter instead of the coconut oil.
These granola bars freeze well, so go ahead and make a double batch!
Allergy-Friendly Chocolate Cranberry Granola Bars
Yield – 12 large bars
Preparation Time – 10 minutes
Cooking Time – 25 minutes
- ½ cup Coconut Oil, softened
- 1 cup Honey
- 4 ½ cups Gluten-Free Rolled Oats (aka, Oatmeal)
- 1 cup Gluten-Free Oat Flour (See how to make oat flour in the blender)
- 1 tsp Baking Soda
- ½ cup Craisins
- ½ cup Allergy-Friendly Chocolate Chips (I use Enjoy Life Brand)
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease a 9×13 inch pan with coconut oil.
- In a large bowl, beat coconut oil and honey until well blended.
- Add oats, oat flour and baking soda and beat until combined.
- Stir in Craisins and chocolate chips. Press mixture into baking pan. Press well or the bars will fall apart.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes until golden brown.
- Let cool 10-15 minutes before cutting into bars. Cool completely in the refrigerator before removing from pan or they might fall apart.
Cost $7.46 or 4.26 with "regular" ingredients
Note: You can substitute regular rolled oats and regular instant oats ground into oat flour if you are not dealing with food allergies.
Nancy is a God fearing, family loving, and homeschooling mom to four. You can find her at Real Food, Allergy Free where she shares her family's favorite recipes that are free of the top 8 common food allergens (egg, dairy, wheat, soy, fish, shellfish, peanut, tree nut).


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How Reliable will this Year's Test Plot Data Be?
areas. As a result of the early season saturated soils, corn and soybean planting was delayed across most ... The persistent rains and saturated soils caused localized ponding and flooding. These conditions ... are being compared. Stress conditions like the ponding and saturated soils this year coupled with ...
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benefits of membership listed below. Of course, you will also enjoy your many visits to the gardens in ... Imagine the fun you will have introducing the gardens to someone new during 2020. This gift will also ... perfect opportunity to grow Chadwick Arboretum and introduce others to our gardens, programs, and ...
Managing Phosphorus for Yield and Reduced Edge of Field Losses
A new factsheet highlights eight steps to reducing edge of field P losses while maintain soils for ... conditions prior to application of fertilizer and manure Take a representative soil test Use soil test as ... YIELD —Reduce risk of crop yield losses with nutrient application. A STP of 20 PPM defines the critical ...
New and Upcoming Episodes of the Agronomy and Farm Management Podcast Focus on Harvest and Compaction
conditions were not ideal increasing the risk of soil compaction occurring. Dr. Scott Shearer sits down with ... extremely wet fall in 2018 and spring in 2019 led to field operations needing to be conducted even when soil ... us to talk about soil compaction, what it is, the causes, how to avoid it, and how to mitigate it. To ...
Assessing the 2019 Production Year
be responsive to needs of the agricultural community. A short survey aimed at farmers to identify ...
Field Wilting Corn for Silage Harvest
However, windrows may offer less risk of soil contamination. Yield (bulk) of the material affects this ... severe soil contamination. Also, be sure to test the moisture content (using a microwave oven or Koster ... dry more quickly and uniformly, but it also exposes more of the crop to soil contamination (see ...
Nutrient Management Meetings Starting This Week
The Soil and Water Conservation Districts in Auglaize, Hancock, and Lucas Counties are offering ... nutrient management workshops starting this week. The Auglaize Soil and Water Conservation District will be ... include Soil Test Recommendations, Value of Manure, Cost of Hauling Manure, and Research on Side-Dressing ...
Surface Application of Manure to Newly Planted Wheat Fields
seeds were properly covered with soil when planted to keep a barrier between the salt and nitrogen in ... soil phosphorus levels, and the phosphorus in the manure being applied, so we don't grow soil ...
Ohio Certified Crop Adviser Pre-Exam Training Seminar
Specialty (4R NMS) Certification Precision Agriculture Specialty (PASp) Certification Resistance Management ...
Stalk Quality Concerns
rains through June caused unprecedented planting delays. Saturated soils resulted in shallow root ... systems. Corn plantings in wet soils often resulted in surface and in-furrow compaction further restricting ... and stalk infection by fungi. The stalk rot fungi typically survive in corn residue on the soil ...


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The Nissan Leaf is more than a very nice car. It is the car of the future we've been promised in countless sci-fi movies. It is spacious, smooth and silent, effortlessly whisking you along with only the whir of its electric motor. You almost expect to hear it make that doot doot dootdootdootdoot sound George Jetson's space car made.
Nissan Leaf
Throw down the shackles of internal combustion. LCD dashboard display provides more info than an Excel spreadsheet. Spacious, comfortable interior.
This car is not easy on the eyes. Not much cargo space. It's electric, so range will be an issue for some people. 120-volt charging is slo-o-o-o-o-ow.
How We Rate
- 1/10A complete failure in every way
- 2/10Sad, really
- 3/10Serious flaws; proceed with caution
- 4/10Downsides outweigh upsides
- 5/10Recommended with reservations
- 6/10Solid with some issues
- 7/10Very good, but not quite great
- 8/10Excellent, with room to kvetch
- 9/10Nearly flawless
- 10/10Metaphysical perfection
The Leaf is not without its faults, but Nissan is to be commended. The world's first mass-market mainstream electric car isn't for everyone, but a whole lot of people who might have never considered an EV ought to. The Leaf is that good.
We hear you back there muttering about range. Get over it. The feds peg the Leaf's 24-kilowatt-hour lithium battery at 75 miles, but we consistently saw 80s and 90s during a week of Bay Area driving. We never experienced "range anxiety," that nagging fear of being left far from home with a dead battery.
The Leaf was our sole transportation for one week. We drove it as often and as far as we typically drive a conventional car and never came close to running out of juice, even though we charged up only at home using a 120-volt socket and an extension cord.
Obviously that kind of range isn't going to work if you commute from the farthest exurban rings of a megalopolis, and you aren't taking any road trips in the Leaf. But it's perfect for urban commuting or a second vehicle. Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn once told us 95 percent of the world's population drives less than 100 kilometers [62 miles] per day, so the Leaf's range isn't the big hurdle that its critics suggest.
Frankly, only an idiot will run out of juice in this car. The Leaf's remarkable dashboard display clearly and concisely provides comprehensive real-time info regarding how much energy you've got, how much you're using and how far you can go. It will, for example, tell you how many miles of range you'll lose cranking up the heater or how much you'll gain switching to eco mode (more on that in a sec).
But wait. There's more. Push a button and a circle appears on the navigation screen showing how far you can go. Another button displays a list of public charging stations (eight within 62 miles of San Francisco). Pick one and the navi system directs you to it. An idiot light warns you when you're down to 4 kilowatt-hours of juice.
Keep going and the car will limit your top speed to 55 mph, then slowly reduce your top speed to maximize remaining range. About the only thing this car doesn't do is tap you on the shoulder and say, "Please plug me in."
Once you do plug in, you'll want to do it with a 240-volt line like your dryer uses. That means buying a charging station, which will run you $2,200, but a federal tax incentive covers half of it. (Nissan will help arrange installation and include the cost in your monthly car payment.)
Drain the battery completely and you'll need 7 hours to charge it. You can use the portable 120-volt trickle charger included with the car but you'll need up to 20 hours if the battery is dead. That said, we only used the trickle charger and had no problem topping off the battery overnight. The feds say you'll pay $561 a year for the juice, assuming you drive 15,000 miles annually and pay 12 cents per kilowatt-hour for electricity.
One day we'll have lots and lots of so-called Level 3 DC "Quick chargers" that will let you plug-and-go in as little as 25 minutes. We aren't there yet, but when we are, the Leaf will be ready. It is 440-volt capable out of the box. Nice.
OK, now that we've allayed any fears of range anxiety and told you how long you'll need to charge up, what's the Leaf like to live with?
Very nice, actually.
That big honkin' battery provides juice to an 80 kilowatt (107 horsepower) motor with 208 pound-feet of torque. While those numbers look paltry, electric motors provide all their torque the moment they start spinning. That makes the Leaf snappy off the line. Stomp it and the Leaf moves with the gusto of a V-6 up to about 40 mph. Top speed is limited to 90 mph, and Nissan says the Leaf will do zero to 60 in around 10 seconds or so. Slow, but then this is a compact that weighs almost 3,400 pounds.
A trackball-like gear selector on the center console lets you choose "eco" and "drive" modes. The Leaf feels like a conventional car in drive, with ample acceleration and minimal regenerative braking. We spent most of our time in eco, which Nissan says boosts range about 10 percent. It increases accelerator pedal resistance so the car speeds up a bit more slowly (acceleration eats up a lot of juice) and ramps up regen to return more energy to the battery. You can toggle between the two modes with a flip of the selector; we'd often use drive mode to, say, merge onto the freeway, then switch to eco once we were up to speed.
Speaking of brakes, the regen was unobtrusive even in eco mode, and the pedal lacks the mushiness often experienced in hybrids. Of course the Leaf has ABS and traction control.
Out on the road the Leaf is so smooth, it seems to float. Press the accelerator and you'll think you're gliding. There is none of the lag, vibration or noise associated with internal combustion.
The Leaf is so quiet, so serene, it's eerie. (A speaker at the front of the car emits a low whine up to 18 mph to warn pedestrians it's coming, and the car beeps like a truck in reverse.) After a week with the Leaf, our conventional car felt crude and primitive.
The suspension is soft and the ride comfortable. A 3,400-pound compact cannot be called nimble, and the 16-inch tires howl when pushed, but we were impressed by the Leaf's handling. The 600-pound battery is down low between the axles, which lowers the center of gravity. The electric power steering provides decent feel and feedback, though it is a bit slow.
The Leaf is a compact that doesn't feel compact. There's loads of room even if you're over six feet tall, and all that glass gives the interior a sense of spaciousness. There are, however, pretty nasty blind spots at the rear quarters. The seats are comfortable, even in the back. All of the controls fall readily to hand, and the menus for the audio and navi system are intuitive.
This car is packed with features. Cruise control, six-speaker stereo with XM radio, Bluetooth, power everything and navigation are standard. We drove an SL-E, which adds a backup camera and a small rooftop solar panel to trickle-charge the 12-volt battery. It also featured options like floor mats and the "eco design package" with "Zero Emissions 100 Percent Electric" decals on the side to out-smug Toyota Prius drivers.
As we said at the start, the Leaf is not perfect. There isn't much cargo room, even with the 60/40 rear seats folded down. The interior is awash in plastic, some of which feels cheap. Our car had a light beige interior to keep the interior cool and minimize the use of range-sucking A/C, but it'll get dirty faster than a toddler at the park.
This car's biggest problem is the styling. We found it ugly, but it grew on us. After a week, we found it odd but endearing.
There's a reason for the funky styling. Half the energy you're using at 55 mph is needed to push all that air out of the way. That's no big deal when you've got a 15-gallon gas tank and a gas station on every corner. But aerodynamic efficiency is paramount to maximizing range. Hence the Leaf's slippery shape.
There's another reason for the unusual appearance. The racket created by internal combustion hides a lot of noise created by the wind, the tires and so forth. Lose the engine and the sound of wind passing over the mirrors, for example, becomes obvious –- even obtrusive. Nissan's designers and engineers had to solve those problems, which explains things like the Leaf's weird LED headlights. They help direct air flow around the mirrors. It's the same story with that bulbous antenna.
But to get hung up on the Leaf's relatively minor faults is to miss the bigger picture. The Leaf is the first in the coming wave of EVs –- pretty much every automaker promises to have one by 2015 –- and it proves that an electric vehicle can be every bit as comfortable and practical as a conventional car. Nissan hasn't built a remarkable electric car. It's built a remarkable car that happens to be electric.
Author's note: Our test model came with a $35,430 sticker price. However after factoring in the federal EV tax credit, the cost drops to $27,930. Many states offer additional incentives.
Photos: Jim Merithew/Wired.com
See Also:
- Audi's Electric Car Gets Even Hotter
- Electric Car Race Slated For Barcelona
- Hyundai's 2011 Sonata Heaps Hurt on Other Hybrids
- Review: The Lotus 2-Eleven Super Sports Car
- Peak Oil: Bugatti Makes a Car for the Ages
When you buy something using the retail links in our product reviews, we earn a small affiliate commission. Read more about how this works.Go Back to Top. Skip To: Start of Article.


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Importing delimited text files from a Windows based server to a MySQL 5.1.41 instance (multiple databases) on a single Ubuntu 10.04.2 host.
The process is initiated on the Windows server via the MySQL exe using 'load data local infile'.
There are 20 databases total and we import 15 files per database – 1 file per table.
All tables use the MyISAM engine.
Prior to each import, we truncate the destination tables.
All processing is done sequentially.
The process will run fine for about 2 weeks then continues to increase significantly in overall processing time. For example, we'll see a 35 minute run-time for 2 weeks, then the next day its 55 minutes, then 80 minutes, etc, then without any changes, it will drop back to 35 after about a week (length of times vary.) It does not seem to be the result of any other processing requirements as the server is basically dedicated to MySQL only and there are no manually added CRON tasks.
Even the truncate table steps appear to be affected.
An comparison of 'show status' on a normal day vs a slow day does not appear to show any major issues other than a high volume of aborted_connects but this variable seems to increase regularly, outside of the actual import processing window.
Not sure if this is some sort of MySQL resource buildup or something related to the OS.
Any input would be greatly appreciated.


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Get eye to eye with a butterfly in the exhibit Butterflies & Blooms, coming to the Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park this fall. The popular exhibit returns by overwhelming demand to San Francisco's beloved Victorian greenhouse, transforming its Special Exhibit gallery into a beautiful and intimate cottage garden aflutter with hundreds of butterflies on the wing including magnificent monarchs, western swallowtails, painted ladies and more. Walk among a wide variety of brightly colored blossoms like zinnias and daisies while free-flying butterflies flit from flower to flower, drinking nectar and getting covered in pollen.
The exhibit will be featured through June 30, 2017. And anyone can become a member of the Butterfly Patrol for just a $20 donation to learn how to release a newly emerged butterfly into the exhibit. Patrol members receive complimentary people-sized antennae and a special badge to take home.
For more information, please click here.


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One reader wrote, "Thank you for the work you put into The Ultimate Diet Log. In a market that is saturated with diet tips, tricks and journals – yours stands out. It's easy to keep track of, fun to write in and easy to read. I purchased The Ultimate Diet Log at Barnes and Noble after flipping through each diet journal they offered. Yours was the only one with flexibility in meal times, an exercise log and tons of pertinent information. Thanks!!" -Sarah Berger
For this project, Cynthia teamed up with Suzanne Schlosberg, author of numerous health and fitness books including the best selling Ultimate Workout Log, Fitness for Dummies, Weight Training for Dummies and many others, to create a first-of-its-kind food and exercise diary.
The Ultimate Diet Log is a unique food and exercise diary that fits any weight loss plan or health goal. Whether you want to lose weight, drink more water, trade in refined carbs for whole grains or learn to overcome overeating, this personalized tool can help you succeed.
Research shows that a food and exercise log is, simply, the most powerful way to make lasting lifestyle changes. A recent study from Kaiser Permanente's Center for Health Research found that keeping a food diary can double your weight loss. The study's lead author called a food diary "hands down, the most successful weight-loss method."
You may have tried to keep a food diary before only to abandon it a few weeks later, but this log is much more than a journal for recording what and how much you eat.
Here are some key features
- A 5-day personal inventory: You'll start by tracking your habits in great detail for five days and then analyzing the results. Once you've identified your strengths and weaknesses, you'll narrow your focus to a few key priorities.
- A flexible format. The Ultimate Diet Log format is versatile enough to accommodate any healthy and reasonable eating plan. We help you figure out where to start based on your needs, on your terms.
- An emphasis on goal setting. We prompt you to record daily, weekly, and six-month eating and exercise goals and then to revisit these goals and take a good, hard look at whether you achieved them.
- Practical tips to implement your goals. Discovering that you're short on fiber is only a first step. You also need to know how to jack up those fiber grams, by learning, for instance, which foods have the most fiber and mastering simple ways to sneak fiber into your favorite dishes. As a bonus, this log features loads of useful tips, tricks, and tidbits for putting your plans into action.
Cynthia and Suzanne's goal isn't to shame you into eating less because you'll have to write it down. It's to coach, guide and support you through making changes that will help you look and feel great, inside and out; changes that last a lifetime (oh and to have some fun along the way!).
Here's an excerpt from the introduction
OK, folks, it's pop-quiz time!
- Question #1: How many grams of fiber have you eaten today? Eight? Eighteen? Thirty?
- Question #2: How many daily vegetable servings have you averaged this week? One? Two-and-a-half? Four?
- Question #3: How many sodas, lattes or sweetened teas do you sip, guzzle, or slurp in a typical month? Twelve? Twenty-four? Sixty?
If you haven't a clue how to answer these questions, welcome to the club! Most of us are simply not aware of how our eating habits stack up – life is too busy to sit around counting fiber grams, isn't it?
Yet this lack of awareness is precisely what's stopping many of us from losing weight or making the dietary improvements that will reduce our chances of developing heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. If you don't know what your habits are, how can you go about improving them?
The log you're holding is about to change everything. Monitoring your habits is like turning up the lights and peering into one of those magnifying mirrors that facialists use when inspecting your pores: You really see what's going on, in ways that simply weren't apparent before – and aren't always so attractive.
Food and exercise diaries work because they keep you honest. Suddenly, you can't fool yourself about how much saturated fat or how few whole grains you eat. What's more, your log will reveal patterns in your habits – clues that might explain why, after three months of dieting, you still can't zip up favorite jeans.
When you actually see on paper that you're eating sweets twice a day rather than a few times a week, as you assumed, the awareness strengthens the connection between your thoughts and your actions.
Think of it as a gradual process, what we call the Four Stages of Food Awareness.
- In stage one – before you start your diary - you aren't consciously aware of what you've eaten, much like the restaurant goers who said they didn't eat any bread.
- In stage two, a few days to a couple weeks after you begin self-monitoring, you realize what you ate after the fact. For example, as you toss an empty potato-chip bag into the trash, it hits you that you just polished off the entire bag in one sitting.
- In stage three, a few weeks later (if you're consistent about keeping your journal), you become aware of what you're eating in real time. Halfway through that maple scone, it dawns on you that you weren't even hungry when you ordered it.
- Finally, you reach stage four, when your mindfulness catches up to your actions. For instance, you're about to reach for a donut in the break room and you stop, because at that moment, you connect your pattern to your habit. You might think: I had a cake donut yesterday and that peanut-butter cookie after lunch and some frozen yogurt after dinner. Maybe I'll grab an apple instead. This is the point at which real change takes place...
To read more, check out the book, available at book stores everywhere.


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It's almost spring time and for lots of you that means prom! ? For others, there are formals, bar mitzvahs, quinceañeras, and sweet sixteens, and we have the latest prom dress styles and trends that will have you dancing the night away with an elegant flair and sophisticated style. The variety of prom dress styles for 2012 party dresses means you can find a special look that allows you to express your individuality. ? And ? you can also learn how to choose a prom dress for your body shape... and find prom dresses under $100. we'll be Plus more... so keep checking back! PromGirl.com has dresses for every occasion and they are giving away? $100 in Prom Dollars to? PromGirl!? ? Just leave a comment below telling us YOUR DREAM PROM DATE. It's that simple... and there are plenty of dresses under $100. Score! ? See below for details.
One shoulder dresses are always very popular. You have the look of a strapless, but without the worries. And the backs of the one shoulder dresses are to die for. CLICK FOR MORE INFO: 1. Peacock Print Dress, $398; ? 2. Short One Shoulder, $170; ? 3. Long One Shoulder, $338
Brights are on trends for this year and there is a rainbow of colors to choose from, so pick your favorite. We are seeing all lengths from short to high-low (short in front and long in back) to long. Choosing a bright color can lend a bit of whimsy to an elegant shape. CLICK FOR MORE INFO: 1. Short Beaded Dress, $660; ? 2. Ball Gown, $550; ? 3. Long Strapless, $500
Glass Beads are one of the most popular trends this year and they are on a variety of dresses. ? Selecting a style with glass beading is a great way to stand out and sparkle! CLICK FOR INFO: 1.? V-neck Short Tulle Dress, $408; ? 2. Beaded Prom Gown, $378; ? 3. Strapless Dress, $278
And for the daring, there are dresses with cutouts. This style is for the super-confident girl who wants something unique and unexpected! ? Just check with your school for any dress codes :) CLICK FOR INFO: ? 1. ? Cutout Prom Dress, $398; ? 2. Sequin Dress, $338
CONTEST CLOSED $100 PROM DOLLARS COUPON FROM PROMGIRL.COM GIVEAWAY: Winner will receive a $100 Prom Dollars coupon to be used on www.PromGirl.com,? shipping NOT included,? valid through Jan. 31, 2013. ? Contest open through 11:59pm 2/27, enter once daily per email address, winner contacted by email on 2/28. Winner must respond by 3/1 or another winner will be selected. Winner must provide a correct email address below (we only use emails to contact winners) & will be picked by random number using Random.org. ?
To enter, answer this question: ? WHO IS YOUR DREAM PROM DATE? (your crush, a singer, actor....) Good luck on the Prom Dress Giveaway!


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Do you sit all day at work? Here is the interesting truth about sitting for many hours and worth sharing in the office! Don't be alarmed, you can do something about it! Try to walk during the day and be more motivated to exercise after work! ;)Learn more
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Despite holes in his proposed budget, President Barack Obama is turning the US into a venture capitalist firm.
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton promised to spend $25 million for tools to help tech activists get around "thugs, hackers and censors."
Think Twitter and Facebook haven't changed the world?
Clinton's State Department has been actively trying to connect with dissenters in the Middle East following uprisings in Egypt, Tunisia and now several other countries.
Last week the State Department launched an Arabic only twitterfeed and this past weekend it unveiled its Farsi only feed.
Tuesday's speech at George Washington University was filled with references to the role of Bay social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter played in Egypt.
Ms. Clinton said the US would work with "technical and policy experts" to develop tools that can get around government sanctions in foreign lands.


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On Friday, March 18, in Dallas, after hearing oral arguments in the case, U.S. District Judge Royal Furgeson rejected a class action settlement under which independent broker-dealer Securities America would have paid $21 million to settle charges that it didn't conduct the proper due diligence on investments sold by Securities America reps from Provident Royalties LLC and Medical Capital Holdings Inc.
Both companies have been charged with fraud by the SEC, and plaintiffs in the case allege they had lost $400 million.
The judge's decision allows arbitration cases to proceed in separate states where securities regulators have brought action against Securities America and its management, including CEO Jim Nagengast (left).
"Investors and state securities regulators have won a significant legal victory," said David Massey of NASAA, the association of state securities regulators, who writes regularly for AdvisorOne. "This case could have had a chilling effect on all state securities regulators seeking restitution on behalf of investors. The court's decision means that defendants cannot use the federal courts to evade investors or state securities regulators."
An official from one of those states that had filed suit against Securities America weighed in as well. "We are very pleased with the decision," says Bryan Lantagne, director of the Massachusetts Securities Division. "It makes clear that the states have the authority that Congress intended them to have in these securities matters." He said that in rejecting the settlement, the judge negated the issue that the states were concerned about, which was preemption of state securities laws.
NASAA, where Massey (left) serves as president, had filed a brief with the federal court arguing that the proposed class action settlement would have stopped Massachusetts and Montana investors from bringing separate arbitration claims against Securities America. In January, a FINRA arbitration panel awarded $1 million to a claimant who had accused Securities America and one of its reps with breach of fiduciary duty and financial elder abuse over the sale of promissory notes of Medical Capital.
At that time, Janine Wertheim, Securities America Inc.'s senior VP and chief marketing officer, told AdvisorOne's Joyce Hanson that "The award was based on the specific facts of this investor's case, and we disagree with the outcome. Securities America does not believe it acted inappropriately in the sale of these investments."
In a statement released Monday, Wertheim said that "We are disappointed that the court in Texas did not approve the settlement on Friday, but remain committed to finding a solution to the Medical Capital and Provident Royalties matters for the company, its advisors and their clients."
The Associated Press had reported that attorneys for Securities America have said the broker-dealer would be forced to close if Friday's agreement was not approved. Some plaintiffs' attorneys agree, noting that the settlement is the only way for investors to recoup at least some of their losses. Others note that Securities America is well capitalized through its parent company Ameriprise Financial, and it is unlikely the Minneapolis-based Ameriprise would let its subsidiary fail.
In her statement released to AdvisorOne on March 21, Wertheim said "Ameriprise has reached out to us to determine whether it can help the parties to find a reasonable resolution for all constituents. We hope to develop a process in the coming days that
would facilitate exploration of such a resolution, and to have a good sense by the end of the week whether such a resolution is possible."
In Investment Advisor magazine's annual directory of independent broker-dealers, in 2010, Securities America ranked 11th in number of reps among independent BDs—1,906 as of April 1, 2010—and fifth in revenue, with $412 million in gross revenue. Securities America ranked 17th in average annual production per rep—at $167,961 gross production—and had $14.4 billion in fee-based assets under management. Securities America also reported in Investment Advisor's annual directory that 17% of its reps had their own RIA.
Lessons for Other Broker-Dealers
Whatever the outcome of the lawsuits and arbitration cases, industry watchers say the ruling has larger implications for independent broker-dealers as a whole.
"All the independent broker-dealers must be following this with mixed emotions," said Philip Palaveev in an interview with AdvisorOne on Monday. "I feel bad for the professionals and advisors at Securities America; they are one of the largest and most established firms and there's tremendous talent on board," said Palaveev, president of Fusion Advisor Network, and a regular contributor to AdvisorOne.
"Independent BDs all get involved with private placements; other BDs were participating in these deals," Palaveev (left) pointed out." Private placements are dangerous territory, and well-meaning firms and well-meaning advisors can step on a land mine. This goes to show how dangerous alternatives and hedge funds" can be. Because the broker-dealer is big itself and has an even bigger parent company, "Securities America has the deepest pockets; highest payout potential" to plaintiffs, Palaveev said. "Ameriprise is the most appealing target."
Could Securities America have done more due diligence on the products? "In retrospect," says Palaveev, "every BD has to have a comprehensive a process as possible" when it comes to due diligence
The Recruiters Swoop In
Broker-dealer recruiters are less careful in their reactions. "It's going to change the broker-dealer industry dramatically," says one recruiter for a small independent firm
who asked not to be identified. "Ameriprise has deep pockets, but we are talking about half a billion dollars to clean this up."
Like Palaveev, this recruiter pointed out that Securities America is not the only firm that sold these investments, and suggested other broker-dealers may face serious repercussions if Friday's ruling is upheld.
"If the ruling doesn't get overturned and individual arbitrations can't be bundled up into a single class action settlement by each broker-dealer, then the cost of claims, not to mention the cost of litigation, will crush every one of them," he said.
The recruiter claims he received seven unsolicited calls from Securities America reps within hours of the ruling. One producer group took 17 minutes to fill out and fax back the affiliation agreement paperwork.
"You can kick out the right leg or the left leg, but either way it doesn't look good for Securities America and many other firms," according to the recruiter. "Even if they survive litigation, their E&O costs alone will have advisors looking elsewhere."
Another recruiter who agreed to be quoted, Rick Peterson, based in Houston, said that "most recruiters recognize trends and would be calling advisors at Securities America to discuss the alternatives available to them." Peterson think other independent broker-dealers will be looking at the firm as well: "Securities America, and more broadly, other IBDs, are vulnerable right now as targets."


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|Gallatin, Tenn.
|High School:
|Hendersonville Christian
TEE TALK: Maxx is gaining valuable experience in his first season with the Golden Eagles...very coachable...striving to make an immediate impact on the team.
2011-12: Maxx played in two tournaments during the fall season, totaling six rounds of golf...shot a low round of 75 in the second round at the Murray State Invitational in October...finished with a stroke average of 77.8.
HIGH SCHOOL: Maxx played golf and was a forward on the basketball team at Hendersonville Christian Academy in Hendersonville, Tenn. He was named the MVP of the golf team three consecutive years from 2008-10 and posted a nine-hole stroke average of 36 over his career with the Crusaders.
PERSONAL: The son of Marc and Lynn Verble...born Jan. 30, 1992...full name is Kenneth "Maxx" Verble...majoring in exercise science, physical education and wellness with an emphasis in coaching.


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Explore Our Hotel
The Best of Hotels in Streetsboro, Ohio
The Holiday Inn Express® & Suites Cleveland - Streetsboro offers a central location for business and leisure travelers. Located just off I-80 (Ohio Turnpike) at exit 187, where I-480E becomes OH-14E, we're 33 miles from Cleveland Hopkins Airport (CLE) and 35 miles from Akron Canton Airport (CAK).
Business guests know that our hotel's location in Streetsboro, Ohio is within an 8-mile radius of corporate parks in Aurora, Ravenna, Hudson, Kent and Twinsburg. Hiram College is just 14 miles away. Our facilities include a business center that features copy and print services, as well as computer access. Our two meeting rooms total 1,500 sq ft of flexible event space. Hitachi Medical, L'Oreal, Parker Hannifin and TCP, Inc. are close to our hotel's location.
In Streetsboro, Ohio, our leisure guests appreciate being close to the state's best sights. They know we're just 24 miles from Cleveland restaurants and attractions. Families love exploring Hale Farm & Village, a working farm, or going on a scenic train ride in Cuyahoga Valley National Park. During the summer, Twinsburg hosts the popular Twin Day Festival. Inventure Place and Geauga Lake are nearby, as well.
Guests of the Holiday Inn Express® Streetsboro enjoy a complimentary Express Start Breakfast Bar each morning. Our fitness center and heated, indoor pool are great for keeping up a workout routine or relaxing. Book your room today!
- Black-out Shades
- Crib Available
- Iron/Ironing Board
- Separate Hanging Closet
- In-Room Heating and A/C Controls
Bathroom/Personal Care
- Private Bathroom
- Bathroom Amenities Available
- Hair Dryer
- Bathtub
In-Room Features
- Mini Refrigerator
- Microwave
- Coffee Maker
- Tea Maker
- Flat-screen TV
- Work Desk with Lamp
- Desk-level Electrical Outlet
- Free Local Calls
- Cable/Satellite
- Premium Channels
- Direct-dial Phone
- Phone with Voicemail
- Complimentary Morning Newspaper
Added Value
- Oversized Bath Towels
- Complimentary Coffee/Tea Supplies
- Full Breakfast Included
- Breakfast Buffet Included
- Continental Breakfast Included
- Complimentary Coffee in Lobby
- Kids Eat Free
Business Services
- 1 Meeting Room(s) Available
- On-Site Business Center
- Printer
- Copier
Internet Access
- Free High-Speed Internet in all Rooms
- Wireless Internet service is free for all IHG® Rewards Club members
Entertainment & Recreation
- Indoor Pool
- Heated Indoor Pool
- Indoor Pool Hours of Operation: 7:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Health & Fitness
Complimentary Fitness Center
1 Treadmill, 1 Elliptical, 1 Recumbent Bike
Fitness Center Type: LIMITED
Fitness Center Equipment:
- Elliptical Machines
- Treadmill
- Stationary Bicycle
Last Renovation of Fitness Center Equipment: 2011
Housekeeping & Laundry
- Daily Housekeeping
- On-site Guest Self-Laundry Facilities
Added Value
- Wake Up Calls
- Ice Machine
Hotel Details
9459 State Route 14
Streetsboro, Ohio 44241
United States
Check In: 3:00 PM
Check Out: 11:00 AM
Check-in Age: 21
Parking + -
- Complimentary Self Parking Available
Accessibility + -
- Public Entrance
- Guest Rooms
- Elevators
- Public Restrooms
- Registration Desk
- Business Center
- Pool
- Number of Accessible Meeting Rooms: 1
Accessible Hotel Areas
- Registration Area
- Accessible Guest Rooms
- Business Center
- Meeting Room
- Exercise Facility
- Pool
Hotel Areas with Accessible Routes from Accessible Public Entrance
- Accessible Self Parking
- Van Accessible Self Parking
- Closed Caption TVs
- Telephone with TDD
- Visual Alarm/Alert in Guest Rooms
- Visual Alarm/Alert in Public Spaces
- Communication Kits with Visual Alarms
Provided by Hotel
Pet Policy + -
- Service Animals Allowed
- Documentation required for Service Animals.
Facility + -
- Smoke-Free Facility
- Number of Floors: 3
- Total Number of Rooms: 68
- Number of Suites: 18
- Number of Non-Smoking Rooms: 68
- Number of Accessible Rooms: 4
- Public Spaces Renovated in: 2013
- Guest Rooms Renovated in: 2008
Credit Cards + -
- American Express
- Visa
- MasterCard
- Diners Club
- Carte Blanche
- Discover


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Species are Failing to adapt to Climate Change Fast Enough
Species living in mountainous areas depend on unique climate conditions, which vary with elevation, for survival. Climate change is modifying these areas and has already resulted in temperature increases, changes in precipitation patterns and more extreme climatic events such as droughts and heat waves. These changes are already having noticeable effects on Alpine fauna and flora and many international studies approach the question of how affected species are managing to adapt to climate change.
According to a study published in July 2019 in Nature Research, most common species, such as birds and deer, are unable to acclimatize to the speed of the climate change crisis. The report looked at 71 studies across 13 countries to access whether species' phenological changes or adaptive responses were adequate to deal with climate change. Out of the species studied, almost all species were unable to handle the changes.
Species rely on the timing of biological events to adapt their behavior to new environmental conditions. However, this is becoming a challenge as seasonal shifts are accelerating due to human activities. In the Alps, the early arrival of spring and summer is causing ecosystems to be out of sync, impacting animal reproduction and survival. For example, peak vegetation is happening before Alpine Ibex have their kids in Autumn, resulting in a higher mortality rate for their young. Climate change is also affecting migration patterns, as many species are forced to move upward an average of 100m to deal with rising temperatures. This dangerous lag between the natural world's ability to adapt is even greater for species that are already threatened by extinction.
"The fact that species struggle to adapt to the current rate of climate change means we have to take action immediately in order to at least halt or decrease the rate" –Viktoriia Radchuk
Human-induced climate changes has already caused irreversible damage to biodiversity. Without drastic cuts in CO2 emissions and habitat restoration, climate change could change the world as we know it.
More info: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jul/23/animals-failing-to-adapt-to-speed-of-climate-crisis-study-finds
Climate change impacts on the Alps: https://creamontblanc.org/en/climate-change-and-its-impacts-alps
France, Italy and Switzerland discussing Transboundary Wildlife Management
About 80 hunters from the three regions Haute Savoie (France), Val d'Aosta (Italy) and Valais (Switzerland) met in Chamonix to share their experience about their respective hunting practices and to evaluate the impact of hunting on ecological connectivity in the transboundary area, which is one of the Working Regions of the ALPBIONET2030 project. This meeting, organized under the framework of ALPBIONET2030 project by the Hunters Federation of Upper-Savoie, was the first time for many of the participants to discover how hunting is managed in the other regions across the border. A lot of similarities but also several big differences could be assessed in wildlife management practices. The picture was completed by the presentation of Jonas Kahlen from Veterinary University of Vienna, who presented an overview of hunting practices in the Alpine countries and its effects on wildlife. Moreover, the impacts of other outdoor activities (skiing, paragliding, trail running, biking, etc…) on wildlife populations were analyzed in the afternoon. Concrete proposals for a closer cooperation on various issues and a regular exchange between the actors of wildlife management in the three countries were defined in a plenary discussion and the foundation for this reinforced collaboration was laid. The Final Conference of the ALPBIONET2030 project will take place in Chamonix on October 8th and 9th, 2019 and will be the occasion to report the progress made on this cooperation.
"Climate and Protected Areas: 'Heat ahead! Adapting or letting it happen?'" – RNF Congress (France)
This was the emblematic title of the French Nature Reserves' 38th Congress that was entirely dedicated to a new way of managing protected areas in order to adapt to climate change.
When it comes to climate change the Alps are particularly effected. The French Nature Reserve (RNF) Congress, that took place in Le-Mônetier-les-Bains/Serre-Chevalier (France), carried out an extensive program over four days (from June 4th - 8th, 2019), starting with the official launch of the European project Pitem Biodivalp and concluding with on-site visits to surrounding protected areas.
The Congress had a technical approach with the general objective of raising awareness and inciting participants to take on the issues of climate change and its effects through managing protected areas in an innovative and climate resilient way.
During the Congress, the General Assembly of RNF took place allowing all the network members to discuss internal issues. Moreover, field activities to discover biodiversity in the nearby protected areas along with their climate change adapted management were organised. All of the outcomes of the conference were presented in a closing plenary opened to all participants.
Alparc took an active role in the session dedicated to exchanges within protected area networks and the RNF. It also attended the thematic session in order to enhance its knowledge on climate change and to gather some useful information on the degree of adaptation that can be implemented in protected areas.
Under the pression of the global phenomenon, protected areas have a fundamental role to play - enhancing nature as a strong measure to adapt to climate change.
More information at: https://congres-reserves-naturelles-de-france.fr/
A New Management Plan to Preserve Biodiversity within the next 10 years for the Queyras Natural Reserve
A new management plan for the preservation of the biodiversity in the Ristolas Mont Viso National Nature Reserve has been finalised. The Queyras Regional Nature Park, the managing authority of the Natural Reserve, has produced a massive 405 paged plan presenting a program based on 100 actions aiming to enhance life and biodiversity in the protected area within the next 10 years.
The experience gathered from the previous management plan of 2014-2018 allowed the agents of the natural reserve, with the support of the Scientific Board of the Queyras Park, to elaborate a more structured plan that is mostly based on the knowledge of the natural patrimony of the protected area. This second plan updates the Fauna Flora Habitats inventories plan, highlighting the high quantity of biodiversity within the nature reserve.
A management plan built on the knowledge of natural heritage
Thanks to the work of the park agents and of the Scientific Board, 30 new habitats were classified in the Queyras wetlands. Moreover, in regards to wildlife, if the number of mammals, birdsand reptile species remained stable, 478 new species of insects were inventoried. Concerning Flora, 130 more taxa were identified and classified than in the previous project's inventory (Management Plan 1). This included some species like the Pastel of the Alps, which are only found in the town of Abriès-Ristolas; a fact that underlines the responsibility of the park managers in preserving this rare biodiversity. The management plan also identifies the priority for the protection of certain endangered species: 33 for flora, 15 for vertebrate fauna
Conservation challenges
The conservation issues remain the same as for the previous Plan. They relate to visitor management, habitat and species conservation, information and knowledge sharing, the promotion of applied scientific research to management, and the administration and governance of wildlife and nature reserve. In this scenario, monitoring the impact of human activities is very important as well as observing climatic evolutions.
Some actions have already been launched. For instance, a collaboration with the French Alpine Club and the refuge of Viso will reduce the impact of the economic and touristic use of the site as the installation of a hydroelectric power station and waste management system are on the agenda.
For further information: https://www.pnr-queyras.fr/un-second-plan-de-gestion-pour-la-reserve-naturelle/
IPBES Biodiversity Report: 1 Million Species at Risk of Extinction
On May 6th, 2019, the Intergovernmental Science Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) published its report on the state of the world's biodiversity. 145 scientists from 50 different countries and over 300 experts, carried out research for a period of 3 years. The report, 1,800 pages long, is the most exhaustive publication on biodiversity, citing over 15,000 scientific articles and references. The IPBES, whose mission is to examine the state of nature, its ecosystems and its benefits for humans, published a summary of its 2019 biodiversity rapport specifically aimed at policymakers. This summary was adopted by the 132 member states of the IPBES on May 4th.
If there's one thing to remember from the IPBES report, it's this - Over 1 million species are threatened by extinction due to human-induced climate change.
Biodiversity loss is accelerating at a rate never seen before. According to the report, we are at risk of losing 40 percent of amphibians, 33 percent of coral reefs, 10 percent of insects, and 25 percent of land vertebrates and fresh and saltwater marine life. The same goes for over a quarter of mammals.
What are the principle causes?
Biodiversity loss is directly linked to human activity. One of the major contributors is the agricultural industry which has transformed more than one third of land and 75 percent of fresh water sources for the consumption of animals. Other activities that have a direct impact on biodiversity include modifying land and water habitats, exploiting natural resources (often through illegal fishing and hunting), industrial pollution (e.g. plastic, pesticides) and the increase in urban areas.
The IPBES report reminds us that we benefit from ecosystems services and if we continue as 'business-as-usual', this loss in biodiversity will have serious consequences for the environment and humans around the world. Furthermore, those who depend the most on the environment, such as indigenous populations, will suffer the most.
However, it's not too late to act. It we want to halt biodiversity loss, action must be taken immediately on all levels – local, national, and international, in order to save the planet.
Click here to find out more about the major findings of the report.
Submit your documentary for the Sondrio Film Festival 2019
The registrations are open for the documentary for the Sondrio Festival 2019 – International Documentary Film Festival on Parks (33rd edition, Sondrio, Italy, from November 11th to 24th 2019) !The Festival is open to film-makers of documentaries featuring naturalistic, ethnographic and managerial aspects of National Parks, Nature Reserves and other types of Protected Areas. Films selected for the Festival will be considered for the First Prize "Town of Sondrio" Award (4,000 Euros), the "Stelvio National Park" Award (3,000 Euros) and, for films shot in the European Union, the "Lombardy Region" Award (3,000 Euros). Other prizes include the "Audience Jury" Award, the "Students Jury" Award and the "Renata Viviani" Special Award (1,500 Euros), assigned by a special Jury of representatives of the Italian Alpine Club. The Festival organization may create new categories out of competition for films that address environmental, agricultural and conservation issues, as well as sustainable development and human activities. Films should be entered sent not later than 20th May 2019. There is no entry fee. The Festival is managed by ASSOMIDOP, an association comprising Sondrio Town Council, the Italian Alpine Club, the B.I.M. Consortium, the Stelvio National Park and Orobie Valtellinesi Nature Park.
Links4Soils summer school
The Links4Soils summer school will take place from June 10th of June to 14th 2019 on the Pokljuka Plateau, a part of the Triglav National Park in Slovenia (TNP) biosphere reserve.
Five exciting days of an interactive program with creative and inspiring minds on the Pokljuka plateau, Slovenia!
Members of the high school students in the alpine region are invited to join and learn about soils, how soil is vital for humans, nature, environment and entire life in terrestrial ecosystems. Soils, soil diversity, soil ecosystem services and protection are main topics that will be presented to the youth interestingly and understandably. Groups of five to six students with a school mentor will be hosted by the local organisers (the Agricultural Institute of Slovenia and the Slovenian Forest Service) and coached by an international group of professors of soil science and experts – Links4Soils project partners. Accommodation of participants (students and accompanying teachers, soil experts of international reputation as well as researchers from institutes and universities the school mentors) and meals will be arranged with the kind assistance of the TNP and the Slovenian Ministry of Defence.
For more information: https://alpinesoils.eu/summer-school/
Or contact: firstname.lastname@example.com
European Day of Parks: Our Natural Treasures
"Our Natural Treasures": in 2019, the European Days of Parks is a call to reconnect with nature, to highlight the natural treasures that make our Protected Areas so special.
Europarc invites all European Protected Areas to organise events in and around the 24th May to jointly celebrate our natural treasures. There are promotional materials available in 30 languages. Events should be register here.
All information and promotional material available at: www.europarc.org/european-day-of-parks
Connected – or not connected? That's the question!
You know about Ecological Connectivity, Fragmentation and Habitats? Well then, take up the challenge and test your knowledge in our picture quiz!
At this moment, a picture quiz is running to bring the topic of Ecological Connectivity closer to a wider public. In this perspective the project partners of the ALPBIONET2030 project have collected pictures and questions to set up an entertaining online picture quiz game and raise attention to the key topic of the project: ecological connectivity.
Let pictures speak instead of words: https://apps.facebook.com/fb-quizzes/ecological-connectivity
The International Bearded Vulture Observation Day
The International Observation Day (IOD) for bearded vultures have started in 2006 and consist in a one-day simultaneous count of bearded vultures across the whole Alpine arc, organised by the International Bearded Vulture Monitoring network (IBM), which is coordinated by the VCF. Since 2012, bearded vultures are also counted in the Massif Central in France, in Aude in the French Pyrenes and since 2017 the IOD have also expanded to Andalusia, Spain.
This year´s count is on the 6th October 2018.All over the Alps, the Massif Central, the department Aude and Andalusia, people will spend the day in the mountain and keep an eye on the bearded vultures and count them.
This count allows for a thorough monitoring of the bearded vulture population status and distribution in the Alps. Furthermore, the count produces many sightings of identifiable birds, thus generating baseline data for survival analyses and demographic modelling. Besides the valuable information about the dynamics of the reintroduced population, the IODs also play an important role in creating public awareness for the project.
This event has become an important date for ornithologist and bird-watchers, who are fascinated by this large bird species. The number of volunteer observers has been growing every year: last year over 920 participants logged in almost 530 bearded vulture observations.Crossing the observation data with expert knowledge about the presence of territorial and tagged birds, last year the bearded vulture population size in the Alps has been estimated to be between 208 and 251 birds. For the Massif Central 6 birds have been counted, 5 in Aude and between 22 and 33 in Andalusia. Among the observed birds last year 12% were identified as juveniles, 15% as immature, 4% as subadult and 59% as adult birds. Furthermore, it was possible to identify individually 70 bearded vultures, thus providing us valuable information on their life history.
If you are interested in participating in the International Observation Day, please contact the regional coordinators below or the International Bearded Vulture Monitoring network (IBM) for any other question:
Austria - email@example.com
France – Haute-Savoie: email@example.com
France - Mercantour: email@example.com
France – Vanoise: firstname.lastname@example.com
France - Écrins: firstname.lastname@example.com
France - Grands Causses: firstname.lastname@example.com
France - Vercors: firstname.lastname@example.com
France - Les Baronnies: email@example.com
France – Aude: email@example.com
Italy - Stelvio: firstname.lastname@example.com
Italy - Aosta: email@example.com
Italy - Alpi Marittime: email@example.com
Spain – Andalusia: firstname.lastname@example.com
Switzerland: firstname.lastname@example.com
The IBM is partially funded by their partners, and by funding contributions from the EU LIFE Fund through the LIFE GypConnect and LIFE GypHelp, as well as the MAVA foundation.


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