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To go to sleep I count antlers, not sheep.
Such is the grace of this common herbivore of the Indian wilderness, Popularly known as Chital, the spotted deer is India's most common and most visible deer.
About the Species
The Chital is even toed ungulate, which means that they have even toed hooves. Ruminants by nature, they survive by grazing or browsing. Gifted with a reddish brown coat that varies with terrain, the richness of coat varies according to geographic terrain. Deer of the Terai region are the largest with largest antlers. Both sexes display spots, a recognizable characteristic. The male have antlers which are typically three-tined, with one brow tine and two branch tines. Sexes can be differentiated by size and the presence of antlers.
Origins and habitat
Found originally throughout India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh (Sunderbans mangroves) and Sri Lanka, Chital were introduced to the Andamans during 1925-1930. Also introduced to other locations such as Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Brazil, CroatiaMoldova, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Ukraine, Uruguay and the USA. In India they demonstrate a high density, generally three to fifty animals per square km. The species enjoys an IUCN status of "Least Threat", however, factors such as poaching, hunting and reduction in carrying capacity of land due to direct competition with livestock has rendered reduction in populations since the early part of the century.
An inhabitant of grassland – deciduous forests, both moist and dry, the Chital thrives along the fringes of forests. Short grasslands are the best since they provide little cover to its predators such as the tiger, thereby increasing its survival chances many fold. Only in Andaman, re-habitation has it been seen to survive in evergreen forests, their natural preference seems to be dry forest which provide good grazing and foraging opportunities.
A unique feature is that the Chital easily habituates to human presence, hence herds are commonly seen congregating near forest camps or villages to spend the night. A possible reason for this is the greater safety from predators and poachers that avoid these areas.
Herbivores to the hilt, these are often seen grazing in open grasslands in herds of 10 to more than 100 individuals. Though not territory defenders, they seem to maintain a home range and males encroaching on territory put on a display of strength by horning, pawing and marking, possibly followed by a fight.Stags are often found standing on hind legs to reach leaves and also to display their strength through markings. Though typically silent grazers, their primary communication means is a "chuckling" sound while walking.
Chital breed throughout the year, with a gestation period of 210-225 days, they give birth to one or two fawns. An indication of the sexual maturity of males is the texture of antlers – Males sporting hard antlers are dominant over those in velvet or those without antlers.
Interesting Facts
- Chitalexhibit a unique association with Langurs. They are often seen grazing near trees inhabited by Langurs since Langurs are able to warn them about approaching predators. Moreover, they exhibit a shared feeding ritual where Langurs drop fresh fruits and leaves for Chital to feed on. So much so for sharing and caring!
- Males are often seen licking their shed antlers- this serves as a very good source of calcium for them, enhancing their strength and providing much needed minerals.
- When grazing, chital do a "courtesy posture" when they pass each other, a sign that they are highly social animals.
To go to sleep I count antlers, not sheep.
The largest deer native to the Indian subcontinent, the Sambar is known for its fine antlers that sometimes may reach up to 120 cms in height. The species is listed as status 'Vulnerable' thanks to
About the Species
An even toed ungulate, the sambar is identified by its size, long tail and color of the coat which ranges from dark brown to greyish. The coat is generally shaggy and coarse. The older the stags, the darker their coats becomes, older once almost tending towards black. Physiologically, Sambhar's have very well developed facial glands to attract the females by secreting scent and leaving the marks on the tree trunks. As in many other deer, only the male sambar deer has antlers. These antlers have three points, or tines, and can typically grow up to 120 centimetres in length in adults. The Sambar is distinguished from the Swamp Deer or Barasingha in having a darker coat and the absence of white hair inside the ears. The Sambar appears 'Ruffian' in appearance owing to its well developed throat mane, a characteristic feature of both males and females.
|Sub Species
|R. u. boninensis
|Bonin Islands
|R. u. brookei
|R. u. cambojensis
|Mainland Southeast Asia
|Not available
|R. u. unicolor
|India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka
|R. u. dejeani
|Southern and southwestern China
|Not available
|R. u. equina
|Not available
|R. u. hainana
|Hainan, China
|Not available
|R. u. swinhoii
|Not available
Origins and habitat
Native to India, the Sambar extends to Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, South China, Taiwan and South East Asia such as Myanmar, Thailand, Lao PDR, Cambodia, Viet Nam, West Malaysia. The species has been introduced to Australia, New Zealand and the United States.
In India, they are found throughout except the High Himalayas, deserts of Kutch and the coastlines. While it is flexible in its habitat requirements, it generally prefers denser forested landscapes with enough water since they feed on the water weeds in lowlying lakes and ponds.
The Sambar deer feeds on a wide variety of vegetation, including grasses, foliage, browse, fruit, and water plants, depending on the local habitat. Nocturnal or crepuscular (active during dawn and dusk) by nature, males live alone, whereas females may be seen in small herds. They often gather near waters and are seen feeding on the water weeds, a favourite food. This is also an enhanced defence mechanism since Sambars are excellent swimmers and prefer attacking predators while in water. Capable of bipedalism, they are often seen reaching out to higher branches in search of untapped leaves. Communication happens by scent marking and foot stamping. Though generally silent mammals, the Sambar gives out a distinct high pitched "ponk" alarm call to signal danger. The shedding of antlers takes place mainly in March end till mid-April.
Reproduction happens year-round, though it peaks during November-December. During this time, males are often seen sparring by locking antlers and pushing each other.A unique behaviour observed is that they also sometimes stand on their hind legs and clash downward into each other. The gestation period is about eight months, generally one calf is born at a time.
Interesting Facts
- The short "Ponk" alarm call of the sambar deer is considered to be almost 100% accurate, indicating the presence of a major predator in near presence. Hence sambar calls are used as a sure-shot tracking mechanism for locating tigers.
- Considered to be the favourite food of the tiger, the Sambar is often hunted down by large predators for its immense size, leading to a sumptuous meal!
- Stags are highly aggressive during "rut" of breeding season. When marking territory during rut, stags have been known to spray urine in their faceas an indication for other stags to stay away!
To go to sleep I count antlers, not sheep.
A medium sized deer, this beautiful deer of the grasslands has been categorized under "Endangered" owing to past reduction of 50% or greater in three generations. Major declines have happened in South East Asia and the Terai landscapes.
About the Species
An even toed ungulate, the Hog Deer is stouter and has shorter legs than the Chital and is larger and more rounded than the Barking Deer, giving it a pig like appearance. They are distinguishable by their speckled appearance due to white-tipped hairs interspersing the olive-brown coat. These may occur along the dorsal line or throughout. Like in most deer, males only possess antlers; these are typically three tined-brow tine with solid main beam terminating in inner and outer top tines
|Sub Species
|A. p. porcinus
|Indian Hog Deer
|From Pakistan to Myanmar
|A. p. annamiticus
|Indochinese Hog Deer
|Cambodia, and Vietnam. Extirpated from Thailand
Origins and habitat
Hog Deer historically occurred from Pakistan, throughout northern and northeastern India, including the Himalayan foothill zone and some parts of Southern China. Today they are found through the plains of the river Indus, the Ganga and the Brahmaputra in protected areas, from Punjab in the west to Arunachal Pradesh in the east
An indigenous inhabitant of lowlands, wetlands and tall grasslands interspersed with forest, swamp or riverine areas. It appears to reach highest density in floodplain grasslands. Hog Deer moves into higher-lying grasslands in response to monsoon flooding in India, Myanmar and presumably throughout their range
Hogdeer tend to be crepuscular, with significant day-time activity and some at night. Socially reclusive, they are not innate herd-dwellers, preferring to scout grasslands for grass, their main food source, as per their individual preferences. Social groups exist in the form of females and their fawns. Males are territorial and mark their home ranges by glandular secretions. Communication such as warning signals happens in the form of whistling vocalisation or a "barking" warning call. Escape from danger is by running away, "crashing", head first, through dense brush.
The Hog Deer ruts during September – October. Typical rutting behaviour is a display of pawing the ground. Unlike many other deer species, hog deer do not have a rutting call. Gestation period is 220-230 days after which generally one fawn is born.
Interesting Facts
- The Hog deer gets its name from the hog-like manner in which it runs through the forests with its head hung low so that it can duck under obstacles instead of leaping over them like most other deer.
- Two similar looking relatives of the Hog Deer exist – the Bawean Deer (Indonesia) and Calamian Deer (Philippines). These may have originally been part of a wider base of the Hog deer species itself.
To go to sleep I count antlers, not sheep.
Also called the Indian Muntjac, the Barking Deer is a much smaller deer than the Chital or even the Hog Deer. Do not be surprised if you hear the barking of a dog during your safari, look not for furry pups, but for this small ungulate full of substance for its size, for the Barking Deer is named after it's distinct "Barking Call". With an IUCN status of "Least Concern" this is the more common of the two Indian ruminants in the deer category.
About the Species
The Barking Deer or the Indian Muntjac has a glossy, reddish brown coat and greyish or white underparts. Males have long upper canines, a unique physiological feature, thought these are not always visible. The face prominently displays frontal ridges and two slits indicating a frontal gland. Males grow antlers with a single tine, these are the brow tines which are slightly curved inwards.
The genus Muntiacus has 12 recognized species:
|Sub Species
|Indian muntjac
|South Asia – Bangladesh, South China, North East India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malay Peninsula and Sumatra, Java, Borneo. This species is most densely located in Southeast Asia
|Least Concern
|M. reevesi
|Reeves Muntjac or Chinese Muntjac
|Native to Southeastern China and in Taiwan. They have also been introduced in Belgium, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom
|Least Concern
|M. crinifrons
|Hairy fronted Muntjac or Black Muntjac
|South Eastern China
|Endangered, possibly to few thosuands.
|M. feae
|Feas Muntjac
|Native to China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam
|Data deficient
|M. atherodes
|Bornean Yellow Muntjac
|moist forests of Borneo
|Least concern.
|M. rooseveltorum
|Roosevelts Muntjac
|Rediscovered in Laos and Vietnam
|Data deficient
|M. gongshanensis
|Gongshan Muntjac
|Native to the Gongshan mountains in northwestern Yunnan, southeast Tibet and northern Myanmar. Recently discovered in Arunachal Pradesh.
|Data deficient
|M. vuquangensis
|Giant Muntjac ( Largest sub species)
|Laos (Nakai-Nam Theun National Protected Area) and Cambodia
|Data deficient
|M. truongsonensis
|Truong Son muntjac (Smallest sub species)
|Truong Son mountain range in Vietnam
|M. putaoensis
|Leaf Muntjac
|Native to Myanmar, In 2002, it was reported also to exist in Namdapha Tiger Reserve, also in eastern Arunachal Pradesh, India
|Data deficient
|M. montanus
|Sumatran Muntjac
|KerinciSeblat National Park, Sumatra, Indonesia
|Data deficient
|M. puhoatensis
|Pu Hoat Muntjac
|Pu Hoat region in Vietnam
Recently the two muntjac species from the above list have been found in Arunachal Pradesh. Both have not been sighted in the wild, but skulls and jaws were recovered. This leads us to believe that two species existed – the Leaf Muntjacand the Gongshan/Black Muntjac.
Origins and habitat
Native to the Indian sub-continent, Barking Deer are found throughout most of peninsular India and the Terai, north-eastern India and the lower Himalayas.
The Barking deer are mostly seen inhabiting dense forests of India, preferring hilly and moist areas. dense forests.Occurrences have been reported in in plantations of coffee, rubber, sugarcane, cassava, coconut, and teak as well. Frequent sightings have been reported at salt lick locations.
The barking Deer is not overtly territorial, though it displays presence of home ranges upto 6-7 square kilometres that the deer scent marks regularly. In fact it is a very shy animal preferring to live in isolation or to the max in pairs or rarely in very small groups. Their diet comprises of mostly fruits, buds, tender leaves, flowers, herbs and young grass. Major activity takes place during the early mornings and evenings and afternoons are used for resting. Being the creatures of open, Hog deer have very acute sense of sight, smell and sound.
The rutting mainly takes place during winters and young ones are born on the onset of rains.
Interesting Facts
- The Barking Deer holds the record of being the mammal with the lowest recorded chromosome number, the male has a diploid number of seven and female has six chromosomes.
- Unlike other deer,an adult male Muntjac or the Barking Deer has very well developed canines which can be used as a weapon of self defense.
- They are prone to easy alarm calls, hence the alarm call of a Muntjac deer is taken seriously only when it is repeated endlessly.
To go to sleep I count antlers, not sheep.
Recognized as a sub species of the nominate species of the swamp deer of the Sub Himalayan Terai, the hard ground Barasingha is a food specialist with a narrow niche, and an exclusively graminivorous i.e. totally dependent on grasses and grassland. It derives its name from a unique feature of more than three-tined antlers. Majestic "twelve-tined" antlers are not uncommon to be seen in full grown adults.
About the Species
Known for its majestic 5-6 tined antlers, the Barasingha is reddish brown in winter and greyish brown in summers. Anatomy is characterized by a short tail, a dark dorsal line and rounded ears. The antlers are true showstoppers, branched dichotomously in the upper third of the beam and this branching continues till 10-12 tines develop. Full antler development takes up to three years. Females are without antlers, considerably larger than spotted deer does. They can be distinguished from spotted deer does by the color and pattern of the coat and presence of white instead of pink hair in the ears.
|Sub Species
|Wetland Barasingha
|Larger with splayed hooves
|Vulnerable (2013)
|Hard Ground Barasingha
|Larger antlers, smaller form than the Wetland
|Vulnerable (2013)
|Eastern Barasingha
|Smallest in both size and antlers
|Vulnerable (2013)
Origins and habitat
Much has been written about the preponderance of the hard ground Barasingha in the classic book "The Highlands of Central India" by the famed British naturalist Captain Forsyth. The deer was distributed far and wide in many districts of the Indo-Gangetic Plains, southern Himalayas, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Bihar and Orissa in India.Barasingha also occurred west to the River Indus, into Pakistan. Progressive decline of grassland habitats lead to rapid decline in Barasingha populations, by 1938, the census calculated numbers to be reduced to 3023. Till 1970 a mere 66 animals were left in the wild, restricted to the protected havens of the Kanha National Park, as is the current status after focussed conservation efforts by the national park.
For Wetland and Eastern Barasingha, the habitat is restricted to flooded tall grasslands and tall alluvial grasslands interspersed with swamps. The hard ground Barasingha, particularly is found only in Central India, where dry grasslands border Sal forests (Kanha National Park).
The hard ground Barasingha is a food specialist, feeding on select few grasses. No significant long distance migratory tendencies have been observed, putting the deer at risk. In fact, the species has relatively underdeveloped defence instincts, making them vulnerable to becoming prey, as compared to other deer. They are creatures of habit, tending to use the same tracks for long time and their vigilance is low; often entire herds are seen grazing with their heads down with no look-out mechanism/ role in place. The Hard Ground Barasingha is primarily a dry grazer, whereas the Wetland Barasingha and Eastern Barasingha is found to feed on water plants.
Highly social, they congregate during the dry season in search of water and food. Yet, males are territorial in nature, defending their home ranges.
Rutting starts for Wetland Barasingha in August–September, for the Hard Ground Barasingha in early December and for the Eastern species in April. Accordingly, antler shedding begins by mid-January, late April and early October respectively for the three races; fawning peaks in July–August, September-October, and March-April respectively for the three races. Gestation lasts 240 – 250 days and a single calf is born.
Efforts for conservation
A host of initiatives by the Kanha National Park has resulted in Barasingha number now increasing from a mere 66 to 1666 (2016). Habitat improvement through maintenance of tall grass plantations and grass enclosures and swamp creation. Creation of wallows i.e. muddy sites, which play an important role in courtship and mating is another step towards proliferating the species.
Interesting Facts
- Rudyard Kipling in The Second Jungle Book featured a Barasingha in the chapter "The Miracle of Purun Bhagat" by the name of "barasingh". It befriends Purun Bhagat because the man rubs the stag's velvet off his horns. Purun Bhagat then provides shelter to barasingh with his warm fire, along with a few fresh chestnuts every now and then. Later as pay, the stag warns Purun Bhagat and his town about how the mountain on which they live is crumbling.
- Barasingha is the state animal of Madhya Pradesh
The four-horned antelope or Chousingha, is a species of small antelope, the only member of the family Bovidaewhose male has four horns. It is the smallest antelope in Asia. The species is listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN due to habitat loss
About the Species
The species is the smallest of Asian bovids, standing 22 to 25 inches tall and weighing 17 to 22 kg. Similar in appearance to the Indian Gazelle or Chinkara (especially the females), the Chousingha is distinguishable by a cinnamon brown body and lighter underparts and a dark stripe running down each of its legs.The male has four horns—two slightly curved rear horns measuring 8–10 cm long and two straight front hornsmeasuring 2.5–4 cm long. Sometimes these front horns are reduced to knobs and can be spotted only through binoculars. Females are hornless. Horns develop only around one year of age and separating sexes in field observation in sub-adults is difficult. The hind hooves have a scent mark gland. Three sub-species of the Chousingha are recognized
Origins and habitat
Native to India, they extend roughly sympatrically with the Nilgai, from the sub-Himalayan Terai through Central and Peninsular India, to north of the Nilgiris. They also enjoy a presence in Gir National Park in Gujarat. They are also known to thrive in Nepal in the wild.
Adaptable to various habitats, their natural preference seems to be open,dry, deciduous forests in hilly terrain. Tall grass is also frequented for their good cover from predators. Often found near water bodies, due to their daily need for fresh water, the Chousingha uses the same 'latrine sites' for defecation for days together.
Socially shy and elusive, the Chousingha is a solitary animal and may be sometime spotted in small group of upto four individuals. They are sedentary and males are known to actively defend their home ranges. Communication happens through alarm calls sounding like a husky "phronk" and other minor vocalizations. Territorial communications also happen through scent markings and droppings. Herbivorous by food habits, these antelopes prefer feeding on soft leaves, fruits, and flowers. The animal prefers spending time away from human habitation.
Breeding season is from May to July beginning with an intense courtship ritual of the male and female kneeling and pushing at each other by intertwining necks. This is followed by a characteristic drill like strutting by the male, followed by copulation. Gestation is about eight months and generally one to max three calves.
Interesting Facts
- Despite close resemblance to the Chinkara or Indian Gazelle, the Chousingha is most closely related to the Nilgai or Blue Bull.
- It is the only species currently classified in the genus Both genetic and morphological studies, however, confirm it as one of only two living members of the tribe Boselaphini. This group originated at least 8.9 million years ago, in much the same area where the four-horned antelope lives today, and may represent the most "primitive" of all living bovids, having changed the least since the origins of the family
- They use "latrine sites" where they regularly come to defecate in groups, similar to Nilgais. This may be indicative of a form of communication unique to antelopes.
The Indian Gazelle or Chinkara, is arguably the most graceful antelopeowing to its tawny coat, white and rufous striations on the face and slender annulated horns. The IUCN has granted it a status of Least Concern owing to wide distribution and large numbers.
About the Species
Weighing about 23 kilos and reaching a height of about 65 cms, the Chinkara or Indian Gazelle is the epitome of elegance, thanks to its intricately annulated horns. Both male and females grow horns, through those of males are hard and thinner with distinct rings, while horns of females are soft and half the size of those of males. They are recognized by relatively straight horns, curved only at the tips. Another feature for recognizing this antelope is the presence of dark and white rufous streaks on the face, a dark nose- bridge and white fleck on the forehead. Three prominent species have been marked depending on their habitat preference.
|Sub Species
|Common Name
|G.b. christii
|Desert Chinkara
|Desert habitats
|Least Concern
|G.b. Salinarum
|Salt Range Chinkara
|Salt ranges
|Least Concern
|G.b. Benettii
|Deccan Chinkara
|Deccan plateau
Origins and habitat
Originating from a wide geographical base, the Chinkara'srange covers much of western and central India, extending through Pakistan, south-western Afghanistan into north-central Iran. The Thar Desert of western India remains a stronghold, which is a unique habitat for an antelope to flourish. Some presence continues to be seen in Pakistan and Iran, though drastically reduced owing to hunting.
Due to its ability to go for long hours without water, the Chinkara has perfectly adapted to the arid areas of desert landscapes including sand deserts, flat plains and hills, dry scrub and light forests. Distribution ranges across areas of western and central India from Punjab to Rajasthan, eastwards towards the Gangetic valley and southwards towards the Deccan plateau.
The Chinkara is a facultative drinker, a feature unique to the species. The animal derives much of its water requirement from forage, plants, dew and moist soil that it ingests along with its forage. Primarily a forger,diet include all types of vegetation and typically feeds on grass, leaves and wild fruits. Chinkaras are shy and avoid human habitation.
Mating happens throughout the year, though there exist two birth peaks the major one in April and the minor one in autumn. Gestation period lasts for 5 -6 months. Females give birth to one or two young ones.
Interesting Facts
- In parts of western India Chinkara are protected by villagers for religious reasons.
- Outside protected regions, the Chinkaras have been observed to be under threat due to attacks by stray dogs who have turned pack hunters. Instances have been observed where the dogs formed groups of five to seven and chased the gazelles in the countryside, then surrounding the animal and attacking it to death.
The Blue Bull or Nilgai, is India's largest antelope, though it resembles a horse more than a bull owing to its laterally compressed neck. The Nilgai enjoys the status of "Lease Concern" by the IUCN.
About the Species
The Nilgai is India's largest antelope, standing at a height of 1.2 to 1.5 metres and named so since the mature male appears ox-like with an iron-blue to light-grey coloration. Females and calves are sandy brown. Recognized by its typical horse-like gait and posture with taller forelegs and slouching shoulders leading to the low rump, the species is seen have an ungainly and awkward stance. Males and females both have white spots on each cheek and white near the lips, a white gular patch and white on the insides of the tail and belly. Both sexes grow a scraggly, low mane on the back of the neck, the difference between sexes being that the males have a long wispy beardcalled the hair pennant, which is rudimentary in females. Only the males grow horns that are short and conical; in and appear ringed at the base. An outright hefty build gives an impression that the thin legs may not be able to support the weight of this large animal!
Origins and habitat
Native to India, the Nilgai may be considered the most commonly sighted ungulate in the wild. Widely distributed across India and in the lowlands of Nepal, their habitat extends into border areas of Pakistan, though number here have reduced. It faced extinction in Bangladesh.
The Nilgaiis found inhabiting Indian grasslands and woodlands, avoiding dense forests in favour of plains and low hills covered in shrubs. Thanks to their ability to survive without water, they have made the desert districts of Western Rajasthan their home. In fact, many instances of blue bulls inhabiting fringe agricultural areas have been recorded, hence they are considered an agricultural pest, frequently destroying crops and stock.
The Nilgai shares much of its habitat with the Chousingha.
Habitat generalists, they feed by browsing and grazing and survive on grasses, leaves, buds, and fruit, showing a marked preference for the succulent Kader grass in the scrub-lands. They avoid dense forests. The Nilgai is a diurnal and social creature that prefers to live in herds, which may vary in composition with time, being same-sexed or single-sexed. In winter, male blue bulls of northern India are known to form herds of thirty to hundred individuals. Highly territorial in nature, both males and females mark territories by defecating in fixed locations on open ground, called "latrine sites". Sometimes the piles building up to reach at least 3 min diameter !
The breeding season starts from late autumn. Courtship starts by way of males proving their dominance through a display of strength – holding head erect, showing off its tassel and white patched neck and horned-clashes leading to head-butting and neck-fighting. A unique behaviour is that females also engage in such behavior, butting other female rivals. The gestation period is about eight months, generally one to three calves are born.
Interesting Facts
- Blue Bulls are pretty fast runners despite their size and bulky frame!
- In India, it is believed that the Nilgai antelope is a sacred animal (precisely a cow or a "gai" ) and it is protected against hunting.
- Introduces in Texan ranches in the 1920s, some of these have escaped into the wild. The US therefore harbors an "immigrant" Blue Bull population in the states of Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, and Texas!
"A groundnut field visited overnight by pig, looks like it has been freshly ploughed up.
– – M Krishnan
Such is the power and will of this large forest pig. The wild pig or wild boar or wild swine is one the most widely distributed ungulates in the world. Considered to be the wild antecedent of the domestic pig in the Indian sub-continent, the wild boar enjoys a status of "Least Concern' by the IUCN.
About the Species
The Indian wild boar is an even-toed ungulate with a greyish-black thick coat, short muzzle, no facial warts and large ears and a stiff main of hog bristles along the back. The face, cheeks and throat have whitish markings. Legs are long and narrow and the median false hooves are long. The distinguishing feature of the Indian boar is the presence of extended canines called tushes. These canines grow both upward as well as outward.
Males have distinct tusks called under-tushes. The sow is distinctly smaller than the male, has smaller tushes and four to six pairs of mammae. Piglets are born with stripes, which disappear in the first six months. Adults measure from 83.82 to 91.44 cm (33-36 inches) in shoulder height (with one specimen in Bengal having reached 38 inches) and five feet in body length. Weight ranges from 90.72 to 136.08 kg. Indian wild boars possess an acute sense of smell. Even their eyesight and hearing power is fairly strong.
The Indian boar in itself is a sub-species of the larger Boar family, it is a distinct cousin of the Eurasian boar. The India wild pig is believed to have three sub-species further depending on geography and minor physiological characteristics.
|Sub Species
|Common Name
|S. s. cristatus
|Northern Wild Pig
|Himalayas foothills from east to north east and till River Godavari in the south
|Least Concern
|S. s. affinis
|Southern Wild Pig
|Southwards of the River Godavari
|Least Concern
|S. s. davidi
|Western Wild Pig
|North west including Gujarat, Rajasthan and western Punjab and Haryana
|Least Concern
In addition, two indeterminate feral forms which are much smaller than these three are supposedly found in the Andamans and Nicobars.
Origins and habitat
The Indian Wild Boar has a wide distribution through India, Nepal and Sri Lanka.Theboar species enjoys a much wider range stretching across Europe and Asia.
A habitat generalist, the wild boar is adaptable to a host of habitats right from scrub, grassland, mixed deciduous and evergreen forests. Also inhabit areas adjacent to agricultural fields, frequently foraging on farmer crop and hence considered an agricultural pest.
The wild boar is a highly adaptable creature and a feeding generalist and omnivore, surviving on anything and everything from nuts, berries, carrion, roots, tubers, refuse, insects, small reptiles, etc. Young deer and lambs may also form a part of their diet. Though not gregariously social creatures, they typically exist groups known as sounders. The number of sows, in a characteristic sounder, is two or three and rest of the members are the young ones. Communication in the group happens through grunts and squeals as they wallow in water-side mud to cool off. A highly pugnacious species, the Indian boar or wild pig is known for never giving up, it rarely abandons a charge. The dorsal crest is erect during fierce fights as a sign of threat.
There is no fixed mating period of the Indian wild boar. Mating begins with establishment of dominance by the male, a formal contest between the males takes place to decide the dominant male. Thereafter, the dominant male mates with the female boar. Gestation lasts for four months with births typically happening in the spring and each litter consisting of four to six cubs.
Interesting Facts
- The boar enjoys mention in Vedic mythology. According to a story present in the Brāhmaṇas, Indra slaying an avaricious boar who had stolen the treasure of the asuras, then giving its carcass to Vishnu, who offered it as a sacrifice to the gods. In the story's retelling in the Charaka Samhita, the boar is described as a form of Prajāpti, and is credited with having raised the earth from the primeval waters. In the Rāmāyaṇa and the Purāṇas, the same boar is portrayed as an avatar of Vishnu
- The wild boar is a fierce and powerful animal and present a formidable challenge even to predators like the tiger and leopard, who generally avoid contact with a wild boar unless compelled by circumstance to hunt them.
The gaur also called Indian bison, is the largest wild cattle in the world, bigger than the the Cape Buffalo, Water Buffalo and Bison. Unlike the Elephants, the Gaur are essentially timid and avoid confrontations. The species is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List since 1986, as the population decline in parts of the species' range is likely to be well over 70% during the last three generations
About the Species
The Indian gaur is often called the Indian Bison though it is not related to the American Bison. It is a large, dark bovine with white stockings from hoof to hock. Both sexes have a massive head, muscular shoulders and distinct ridge along the back. Males can be differentiated from females by the arching of this ridge, a distinct step exists in the ridge midway between the back. Also, adult males have short, glossy black fur whereas females have coffee-brown fur. Males have a distinct dewlap or flap of skin from the neck to the chest. However both males and females grow horns that rise from a pale coloured temporal boss. The muzzle is moist and white in colour. The gaur has a head-and-body length of8 feet 2 inches to 10 feet 10 inches with a 28 to 41 inches long tail, and is 5 feet 5 inches to 7 feet 3 inches high at the shoulder. The average weight of adult gaur is 650 to 1,000 kg!
Three sub-species of the Indian Gaur are recognized.
|Sub Species
|India, Nepal and Bhutan
|B. g. readei
|Myanmar (Burma), southern China, Lao PDR, Viet Nam, Cambodia, and Thailand
|B. g. hubbacki
Origins and habitat
Native to South and South-East Asia, historically the Gaur occurred throughout mainland South and Southeast Asia, including Vietnam,Cambodia, Laos, China, Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Myanmar, India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal. Today, the species is seriously fragmented within its range, and regionally extinct in Sri Lanka.
In India they occur in three distinct populations – Western Ghats and the Nilgiris Plateau in south India, Vidarbha, southern MP, Chhattisgarh and Odisha southern ghats i.e. central India and also in north-east India.
Moist deciduous, bamboo and teak habitats with open grasslands seem to be the favoured habitat of the Indian Gaur, with some preference for semi-evergreen and evergreen forests. They are found to some extent in dry deciduous forest, scrubs and plantations. Maximum altitude of occurrence is 3000 m.
Very calm for a creature of its size, Gaur rarely attacks unless tormented. They have been seen allowing close presence of humans and possess an acute sense of smell. When agitated, it lowers its head and raises its tail as a warning signal. However the first response is flight and not fight, they crash into the jungle at an alarming speed when threatened. The animal is basically diurnal. During the dry season, herds congregate and remain in small areas, dispersing into the hills with the arrival of the monsoon. They are grazers and browsers, feeding on a large variety of grasses and plants with a preference for the upper portions of plants, such as leaf blades, stems, seeds and flowers of grass species. Many are also known to forage agricultural fields.
The gaur is a highly social creature, found in herds of generally eight to eleven individuals, typically one of the members is a bull. However the leadership of the herd rests with one of the adult females, the matriarch. To warn members of predators, they give out a high pitched whistling alarm call. April and May is the mating season, when more bulls may join the group for mating. Solitary adult males have been recorded, which may wander in search of females for mating, while calling out the mating call which may carry across for more than 1.6 km. Gestation lasts for 275 days after which one calf is born.
Interesting Facts
- When confronted by a tiger, the adult members of a gaur herd often form a circle surrounding the vulnerable young and calves, shielding them from the big cat.
- The gaur derives its name from Sanskrit. The Sanskrit word गौर(gaura) means white, yellowish, reddish. The Sanskrit word gaur-mriga means a kind of buffalo
- The gaur is the State Animal of Goa in India
- "Krating Daeng" today is a brand of energy drink named after and featuring a pair of charging red gaur bulls in the logo; also used on the licensed derivative, "Red Bull"


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Are you Looking to Improve Your Odds in the New Year? Wear Yellow, Eat Grapes, and Carry Lentils
I wrote this blog last year but I thought I should share these tips with you so you will be ready too. Who knows, it might works.Several members of my restaurant staff are from Mexico. I learned from them a novel way of celebrating the New Year. As the New Year approached and we were busy preparing for our lunch rush, I noticed my staff exchanging bags and handfuls of lentils. I had to ask what it was all about. I was told that in Mexico a person should wear something yellow which would bring him or her good luck in the New Year. They also recommended that I put lentils in my pocket which would bring in more money in the New Year. Another staff member told me that, because I love to travel, I should pull large suitcase all around my house at midnight.As I was discussing these rituals with the staff, one of my customers, who was listening in, said that if I would eat 12 grapes at midnight while at the same time making a wish for every month in the year, the wishes would come true.My mom would cook something white for the New Year–yogurt sauce–and make us eat it on New Year's day to ward off sorrow during the coming year.I decided to cover all my bases. I went to a New Year's party wearing a nice classy black dress a yellow scarf on my head. I had lentils in my purse–not exactly in my closed hand, but hoping it would nevertheless count. When midnight arrived and while everyone at the party was hugging and kissing, I ran outside the house with a suitcase I had retrieved from my car, and ran around the house. The temperature was -15 degrees Fahrenheit, which caused me to run and scream, trying to stay warm. The neighbors must have thought that I was a victim of excessive drinking. But I was merely fulfilling my New Year's destiny. I came inside the house drank milk and ate grapes. My hosts, who know I do not drink alcohol, must have concluded that the freezing temperature had affected my brain.Happy New Year and Let us pray for peace on earth.

subset: commoncrawl


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Jenanne K. Ferguson
Assistant Professor
PhD University of Aberdeen, 2013
Ansari Business 506
(775) 682-7629
Office Hours Fall 2019: Wednesdays 1:00-4:00 PM
Linguistic anthropology; sociolinguistics; indigenous and minority languages; the Circumpolar North (Russia: Republic of Sakha-Yakutia; Canada); multilingualism and code-mixing; language transmission and maintenance; urban-rural migration; language ideologies; linguistic landscapes; Northern globalization and language; verbal art; language and education
My current research deals with the maintenance and transmission of the Sakha (Yakut) language in northeastern Siberia, Russia, through the lens of mobility by and through language. My dissertation work dealt with ways of speaking Sakha among Sakha-Russian bilinguals living in urban and rural regions and the language ideologies shaping their language choices and practices. Ongoing and future work deals with the revitalization and transformation of Sakha oral literary genres and the local creation of new online spaces (e.g. social networking, SMS, Wikipedia) for Sakha language transmission and usage, as well as a project comparing the politics and aesthetics of indigenous storytelling in Canada and Russia.
I have also worked on questions and themes (language in education; language in the visual spheres) with Canadian indigenous languages in the past. I welcome inquiries from students interested in similar themes and approaches to language, regardless of geographic area!
- Anth 101: Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
- Anth 281: Introduction to Language
- Anth 405/605: Language, Religion and Politics
- Anth 439: Special Topics- Indigenous and Minority Languages
- Anth 480/680: Anthropological Linguistics
- Anth 485/685 Language and Culture
- Anth 709: Graduate Seminar in Linguistic Anthropology
Selected Publications
(to appear 2018) Words Like Birds: Sakha Discourses and Practices in the City. undercontract with University of Nebraska Press.
(2017) Introduction: Language
Journal of the Canadian Anthro
(2016) What does Sakha advertise?
Online first: DOI 10.1007/
(2016) Code-mixing among Sakha-Russian bilinguals in
(2016) Language Has a Spirit:
(2015) Is it bad that we try to speak two languages? Language ideologies and choices among urban Sakha bilingual families. Sibirica14(1):1-27.


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Girls' Ruffled Halter Top and Skirt
Pullover halter style top has six overlapping ruffles on front, and elastic in casing at top edge of back. Neckline and armholes are finished with bias cut bindings that extend, forming ties that tie at back neck. Three ruffles are from contrast fabric. Pull-on skirt has four overlapping ruffles and elastic in casing at waist. Bottom edges of ruffles are finished with narrow rolled hems.
Item shipped worldwide.


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Old Fashion Candy
How to Select the Best Fundraiser
November 11, 2015
How do you select the best fundraiser for your group? Do you base your decision on profit percentage, the type of item to sell, what cause you are working for, how many sellers you have, or simply base it off what you like? There are so many ways to go about selecting a fundraiser it can seem overwhelming or even difficult to choose what item to sell. We've gone through and outlined all the high points on how to select the best fundraiser for you.
Choosing a fundraiser based on the profit margin is probably the first thing that comes to mind when fundraiser shopping. We stock a variety of profit points for you to choose from, all at varying selling price points. While higher profit is always a good thing, be sure to consider everything else about a particular fundraiser. You can quickly determine how much each seller needs to raise with this simple formula: "Your profit amount" divided by "number of sellers" = "amount each student needs to make."
From there, you can take a look at each cases' profit and determine your course of action for the type of fundraiser and the quantity.
- Determine your profit goal so as to figure out how much each seller needs to make in profit.
- $2 fundraisers bring you more profit in fewer sales than typical $1 fundraisers.
- Take your timeline into consideration. How quickly do sales need to be made?
Considering where you will be selling and even what your group is might play a part in your decision-making process. If your primary source of sales will be a table or stand, you might consider having several case varieties for the optimum section. If youth sellers are in charge of selling a case each, you can order the same fundraising variety for everyone since you will have a wider market spread.
- No minimum order makes it easy to order a few cases of several fundraisers for maximum sales variety.
- All varieties come in convenient and sturdy carry cases.
- If possible, make individual sales as well as a larger group table set up at an event or busy location to maximize exposure and sales.
No matter what group/organization you are with, chances are you will not be the only one fundraising. If you cannot schedule your fundraiser so as not to be competing for sales with other groups, there are several ways to help you stand out and ensure you make as many sales as possible. Select products that your competition is not selling, that way you do not oversaturate your selling market with the same items and risk losing out on sales.
- Try to coordinate your fundraiser not to overlap with other fundraisers.
- If there are other fundraisers at the same time as yours, choose a fundraising product different from what others are selling.
- Provide variety in pricing. With no minimum order, you could sell items at several price points to increase your sales and profit opportunity
Relying on previous fundraising experience is always a good thing to do, or at least keep in mind. Maybe you've consistently sold the same item, and it is always done phenomenal, or maybe you want to try something new.
- Draw on what has been successful for you in past fundraisers. Keep what has worked and try something new for things that didn't work as well as you would have liked.
- If you've typically done $1 fundraisers, change it up and try a $2 or premium fundraiser.
- Don't be afraid of new. You can apply your experience to new situations or products and be extremely successful.
There's no right or wrong way to determine what fundraiser to go with, but doing a little research can go a long way in reaching your profit goal. Whether you are an experienced fundraising manager or brand new to running one, our experts are here to answer questions, help you select a fundraiser based on your situation, or take orders 800-500-1234.
Hauntingly Good Halloween Printables
October 6, 2015
If you are fundraising between now and Halloween, try working that spooktacular theme into your fundraiser and watch it take off! Coordinating with a holiday or event can dramatically boost your sales by adding even more relevance and incentive for customers to spend money.
- Download and print our Halloween wrapper and tag pdf click here.
- Scissors or paper cutter
- Hole punch
- Ribbon (if you will be tying the tags on)
- Double-sided tape
Once you've downloaded our Halloween printables click here, print off as many of the designs of your choosing. We have three designs each for our $1 chocolate bars, $2 Chocolate Lover's Bars, and tags for lollipops or other candies. Full instructions are also included in the pdf.
When all of your designs are printed off, cut them out according to the pdf directions. If you are pre-wrapping the bars prior to sales, simply apply a piece of double-stick tape to the underside of the upper flap and adhere to the underside flap. Make sure you clearly divide any flavors of bars if you are pre-wrapping them, so customers get the flavor they want. Clearly label the flavor of the chocolate bar on a sign near you if you are only selling one type of chocolate bar. It could also be beneficial to have stacks of the bar wraps set out at your sales stand and have patrons select their design as well.
For lollipops, you will want to use the tag designs and can attach the tags in one of two ways.
TAG METHOD #1: Punch a hole at the top and the bottom of the tag and slide the lollipop stick into the two holes.
TAG METHOD #2: Punch a hole at one of the upper corners of the tag and cut a length of ribbon. String the tag to the center of the ribbon and tie the ribbon onto the lollipop stick up by the candy. This method will also work if you would like to tie the tags to other candy and snack items like Snickers bars, Reese's, Starbursts, etc.
New For Fundraising
September 8, 2015
Happy new school year everyone! By now you are at least a few days, if not a few weeks, into the new semester. The kids have settled in, a good routine is going, and it is time to start thinking ahead (if you have not already). If school fundraisers are in your future, or you see the need to raise an extra bit of cash for supplies, trips, etc. then you've come to the right place! We would like to introduce some of the "new kids" on the fundraising block to you:
Brand new cases have popped up in our shop this year, full of new products.
Making big waves is the Pouch Variety. Super large, shareable, AND resealable snack pouches full of candy favorites like Butterfinger® Bites and Skittles® . This variety brings you a premium profit of $45 per case so you'll be the biggest and best fundraiser around! Another top profit making newbie is the Chocolate Collection Variety. Each case is full of premium chocolate treats like caramels and covered nuts.
A super unique variety is the Cotton Candy. Each bag is filled with a fluffy pink and blue spun treat that is pulled straight from your favorite carnival.
The Nut Variety has bags of deliciously salty and sweet nut assortments. From butter toffee peanuts, cashews, and chocolate covered peanuts, it is a great snack alternative fundraiser to make you stand out.
The Cracker Variety is sure to make waves. The ever popular Keebler® snack crackers fill this case with four different sandwich varieties.
Custom Engraved Key Chain Flashlights shine brightly with high profit to you. A whopping $72 per case profit is what you make! Have up to 32 characters of text engraved on your flashlights - personalize with school, group, or club names, anything you want! Flashlights come in an assortment of colors per case and are in an easy carry tub.
There are some new items being added to our cases this year to change things up and give you even more variety in your sales.
- Sour Punch® Watermelon bits $1 variety: Supreme Selection®, A Plus Variety
- Dove Chocolate Bar: Supreme Selection®, Dynamic Candy, All Star Candy
- Black Forest Gummy: Supreme Selection®
- Golden Grahams Cereal Bar: Smart Variety
Both of our brochure order takers are back with new looks and new items.
Both of these brochures are completely free to order for your sellers, so it costs you nothing up front to get started. You only pay for what you sell and make 50% profit on every sale in the process!
If you have any questions regarding any of these new fundraisers or fundraising, in general, please give us a call at 800-500-1234. Our no pressure, friendly fundraising experts are happy to assist you in your quest to raise money for your cause.


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D.L. Hughley Offends Everybody. No Politician, Athlete Or Doctor Is Safe (Video)
King of comedy D.L. Hughley recently visited Sway's Universe for an interview that played like a set from the celebrated stand-up. As great comedy is prone to do, topics that are often uncomfortable to talk about are brought right to the surface, where Hughley poked and prodded through astute observation and hard-hitting jokes. At the 12:38 mark, Hughley asks a question that serves as a good barometer for the tone of the comedy in the conversation. As he turns to the women in the studio, he says "Who would you rather have a drink with: Bill Cosby or Cee-Lo?"
As his fans are well aware, Hughley often broaches the topic of politics in his comedy, but also on his short-lived but fantastic CNN show D.L. Hughley Breaks the News. When asked if he's following the current political news, Hughley begins by saying "I like Hillary, and I know it ain't cool to like her. If she wasn't a chick, people wouldn't even have the problems they have," he surmises. "I like Bernie, but that mothafucka don't look like he strong enough to make it. How you gon' talk about the future and you won't see it?" The Democrats are just the beginning, as he then launches into his thoughts on the Republicans. "Donald Trump. If he say 'nigga' they'll swear him in tomorrow," he says. "He wants to kick out the Muslims. Ten percent of American doctors are Muslim. Ain't no American doctors no more. My doctors always smell like curry." He keeps going, telling Sway et al that sometimes he has to ask his doctor "is that your last name or the shit I got?"
Over the course of the interview, Hughley manages to clown everything from autism to Zika. With a grown autistic son now dating a White woman, Hughley says he's discovered the cure for autism ("pussy"). The Zika virus – which can be sexually transmitted and result in birth defects – is terrible, according to Hughley, because "I can fuck around and then have a baby that looks like Beetlejuice." There are very few moments in the 20-minute discussion to catch one's breath, and cohost Heather B can be seen turning her mic away from her face several times, while Sway often makes remarks ensuring the audience "these are not words coming out of our mouths." He also broaches the topic of Lamar Odom's coma, why he'll his future half-White grandkids better than the Black kids, and much more. "No chill" just got a whole new meaning. And it's hilarious.
Related: Eddie Murphy Received the Nation's Highest Prize for Comedy & Proves Why He Deserves It (Video)


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Keep Me Informed
Ford Leasing and Contract Hire from CVC
With a good-looking and well-reviewed range of vehicles to choose from, it couldn't be easier to get a Ford on personal lease or business contract hire. From the Ford Ka, the smallest in the range, all the way to the Galaxy and S-Max for those who need more space, there's certainly something for everyone.
If you're looking for a corporate vehicle, the Ford Mondeo has plenty of fans, and is still a great car in its class. Affordable, comfortable and reliable, it's one of the best choices for family or fleet. The Ford Focus remains one of the most popular cars on the road, and with sleek styling and engines from 1.0 to 2.0 litres, it offers great performance and design. Take a look at the Focus C-Max too, which offers a little more space, or the Grand C-Max which is bigger still, but easy to handle.
For other Ford models, the Kuga is available in 2-wheel drive and 4-wheel drive models and is affordable to run. There are plenty of smaller, nippy models to consider too, like the always-reliable Ford Fiesta and the new B-Max which is a cool mini-MPV designed for urban driving


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A dramatic opening round at Brands Hatch two weeks ago saw Scots Steve Kershaw and Stuart Clark leave Kent leading the British Sidecar Championship for the first time in their career.
Their 1000cc Santander Salt Kawasaki was freshly rebuilt after a crash testing in France, and they were still sorting the geometry.
That however, did not stop them following the Birchall Brothers home in race one, and claiming third behind the Founds brothers Peter and Alan in a wet second outing.
At Oulton Park for round two, there will be plenty of crews lining up for revenge, so Kershaw and Clark will have their hands full.
However, the aforementioned Birchalls (Mitchells of Mansfield Yamaha), who along with John Holden/Lee Cain (Barnes/Silicone Engineering Kawasaki) left Kent early ahead of the opening World Round in France, have withdrawn from Oulton Park. They initially entered the event, but for reasons best known to themselves have opted not to go.
They are though, lying second in the World rankings after Le Mans, with the Holden/Cain duo bagging fourth ahead of former British Champions Ricky Stevens and Ryan Charlwood (Quattro Plant JG Speedfit Kawasaki).
As yet, there is no planned appearance either, by defending champion Tim Reeves. He won in France, so his year has started well, and seems to be concentrating on the FIM World series having achieved unbeatable domestic success in 2017.
The 600cc bikes now score on level terms with their big brothers for 2018, and Oulton Park has proved to be popular with all sidecars regardless of engine size over the years.
The undulations and fast bends, coupled with what is a fairly long lap, provides a great platform for close racing.
John Holden and Lee Cain will certainly fancy their chances on the 600, and must be relishing the prospect of doing battle with Kershaw/Clark at the front.
Another crew determined to be in the hunt are reigning 600 Cup Champions Todd Ellis and Charlie Richardson. They had issues at Brands, but sit fifth in the overall title chase, and third in class.
The Santander Salt Honda is bound to be fast in Cheshire, so keep an eye on these youngsters.
Ricky Stevens and Ryan Charlwood return here to Oulton Park intent on making up lost ground from a dismal opening round. They have just eight points to their credit to date.
The Quattro Plant JG Speedfit 600 Kawasaki appears to be settled in, and a solid ride in the first Grand Prix will have boosted their confidence.
Other "big-bike" exponents who will shine include Gary Bryan and Phil Hyde (GBR Kawasaki), Rupert Archer/Tom Bryant (Hannafin Adolf RS Suzuki) and Phil Bell/Stuart Ramsay (Marin Motorsports Kawasaki). Add to these the series leaders Kershaw and Clark (Santander Salt Kawasaki) and the sparks are bound to fly between these 1000cc monsters.
With just one race on the programme for the charioteers, you can be sure that everyone will be wanting to make it count.
Eurosport will show the race live, and the highlights show can be seen on Motorsport TV and Frontrunner in the UK. Check the schedules and TV guides for information.


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But the realities of war intrude and Linus realizes that being grown-up isn't as easy or simple as he thought. What difference does Mister Orange's art or Albie's imagination in his superhero drawings make? Could they have made things worse? With some help from Mister Orange, Linus regains his hope for the future, although he's lost his naivety and childhood innocence.
This is different from any other historical fiction title about World War II that I've read. It focuses on both the art and vision of Mr. Orange (Piet Mondrian) and the inner imaginative life of Linus as he grows up. Linus' interactions with his family, Mondrian, and friends are interspersed with dreams and daydreams about Mister Superspeed. It's very introspective, focusing on how Mondrian thinks his art envisions the future and how Linus interacts with that art and it becomes part of his new maturity. End notes about Mondrian and his life and work are included.
Verdict: This isn't going to be of interest to most middle grade readers. It presupposed a certain amount of contextual knowledge of life in New York during World War II and the story moves at a slow, steady pace. Most kids are going to want stories with more action and less inner thought. However, for the thoughtful child and those who like historical fiction, this would be a good choice. It's not something I'd add to my small library, but would definitely be a good purchase for a larger library with more space and variety.
ISBN: 9781592701230; Published January 2013 by Enchanted Lion; Galley provided by publisher for review; Added to summer reading prizes.


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When: May 2 - 8Where: MUN Botanical Garden, 306 Mt. Scio Rd., St. John's
Come to MUN Botanical Garden May 2-8 and celebrate composting! Admission to the Garden will be free all week. Activities will include free lunch-time workshops, compost displays and demonstrations, family activities, and lots of composting information.
Free Lunch-time Lectures: Attend free lunch time compost and gardening information demonstrations, offered weekdays, noon – 1 p.m. (Registration is not required).
- Monday, May 2 – The ABC's of Composting by Cathy Parsons, MMSB
- Tuesday, May 3 ‑ Vermicomposting (Worm Composting) by Anne Madden, Education Coordinator
- Wednesday, May 4 - Getting the Most From Your Soil by Roy Stares, Assistant Gardener
- Thursday, May 5 ‑ Waking Up Your Spring Garden Bed by Carl White, Head Gardener
- Friday, May 6 – Spring Gardening Q&A – Be sure to bring your gardening questions for our staff to answer.Family Program: On Sunday, May 8, bring the family along to a special Three Cheers for Composting Family Program. In addition to exhibits and information, there will be children's compost crafts and activities, nature hikes, duck feeding, story time and healthy snacks.
For more information please visit www.mun.ca/botgarden or call 864-8590.


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By bsocial
Website URL: bsociallaw.com
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I thought this was dealt with? Can we please squash this bug once and for all? It has been weeks since it was first reported. It did disappear for a while but now it's back.
By ndw81
I've moved my site onto Xampp to develop locally.
I have two problems that don't exist when I change to Twenty Twelve Theme or on the live site.
I'm using Wordpress 3.5.1 & Pagelines 2.4.1 & Woocommerce 2.0.3.
I'm getting a Warning message on the product page and the product page isn't styling properly. See attached.
Other pages on the site are still styled correctly.
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class=""> When I deactivate the Beardwell theme it disappears.
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Many thanks,


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call for free assistance anytime
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open 24 hours – 7 days a week
Getting the dental care you need can help you prevent damaging teeth and gum conditions. In fact, a huge part of your oral health regimen should be to go through regular teeth cleaning in Thornton, CO. When you make a consultation with your dental specialist in Thornton for basic care, you must expect services like check-ups and cleanings. By making sure that you get this kind of dental check up in Thornton, CO every 6 months to a year, you can avoid lasting conditions like gingivitis or a broken tooth.
If it has actually been some time given that you last went through a routine oral cleaning in Thornton, CO, however, you may doubt where to discover a service provider who can perform a routine dental exam. You may also be unsure of exactly what ones in Thornton, CO are taking new clients. Rather than call these dental specialist offices or browse the Internet, you can call a complimentary 24 hour dental referral service. This 24/7 service in Colorado is also readily available on the weekends and vacations. You can call it to find locations where you can get teeth cleaning in Thornton, CO without being charged or held to any responsibility. You could then be seen for an oral check up in Thornton, CO and undergo a screening for other oral issues you may have.
Nevertheless, when you use this totally free service, you can call that very same day to the dental service providers provided to you. In as low as a few days, you could be seen by a dental hygienist for a consultation. This professional can likewise make sure you get an oral x-ray taken, along with get details about the teeth cleaning expense that could be connected with your care. Once you know about exactly what to anticipate as you undergo this therapeutic care, you can prepare to satisfy the dental specialist cleaning cost on your own or by utilizing your insurance coverage.
If you choose to go through with the prescribed preventative services, you may then anticipate exactly what will occur throughout your very first main oral treatment. Most of the times, the hygienist will remove plaque that is on your teeth. You also might have teeth scaling done if you have a lot of accumulation on your teeth, in addition to go through a fluoride treatment to prevent new cavities from developing. If you have no substantial problems that have to be attended to by the dentist in Thornton, CO, the hygienist will then talk with you about how to brush much better. Even if you know how to clean teeth from a fundamental standpoint, the hygienist who sees you first will make certain you know how to floss and take care of your mouth properly. He or she might end up this part of the exam with a tooth polishing.
After the hygienist is done, you will then see the dental specialist for a more extensive assessment. When you call the service to refer you to a provider, you can ask if the company in Colorado can take care of tooth fillings and or do a tooth extraction during this very first appointment. If you have loose caps or crowns, for instance, it can be crucial for you to obtain those issues attended to, especially if it has actually been a long period of time since you last saw a dental practitioner. If the problems you are experiencing are more severe, the service might advise you that it might take a few consultations for the dental specialist to finish a root canal for a bad toothache or to perform more substantial cosmetic services like putting in dental implants. Nevertheless, this service can match you with a company who can fit your accurate oral requirements. Whether you want to raise spots from your enamel with lightening or bleaching, or you want to fill out obvious spaces with dentures, you can call this service to locate a company. Within a matter of days, if not earlier, you could be seeing a dental expert in Thornton for emergency dental services and more, depending upon your specific circumstance.
When it concerns paying for your services, you might utilize your group or personal policy through popular companies like Anthem BCBS Dental, MetLife, Cigna, Tricare Dental, or Union. This service can inform you if an office welcomes Delta Dental, Lincoln Financial, Humana, First Dental Health, and Guardian. You may also learn where you can utilize policies in Colorado from companies like Aetna and Liberty Dental.
If for some reason you have no insurance, this service can still match you with a company. When you meet the dental specialist, you can inquire about money discounts or dental funding. You can also set up payment plans with the billing office if needed. Numerous service providers want to help you stay on budget by using the most reasonable choices that will assist you best conserve loan.
This free service can offer you examines that can assist you discover a dentist. It even has a list of Spanish speaking dentists who se habla espanol for your convenience.


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Scott Fowler
What time is this year's Super Bowl?
The 51st Super Bowl will kick off at 6:30 p.m. Eastern time on Sunday, Feb. 5. The game between the Atlanta Falcons and the New England Patriots will be televised on Fox Sports.
NFC champion Atlanta has never won a Super Bowl. AFC champion New England has won four previous Super Bowls – with all of the victories directed by current Patriots quarterback Tom Brady.
Brady was also New England's quarterback the last time the Super Bowl was played in Houston, following the 2003 NFL season. New England edged Carolina in that Super Bowl, 32-29.
Last year's Super Bowl – in which Carolina lost to Denver 24-10 – lasted three hours and 43 minutes. The extended halftime show always makes the game run longer than a typical NFL contest (this year's halftime show will be headlined by Lady Gaga).
If this year's Super Bowl runs exactly as long as Super Bowl 50 did, it will end at 10:13 p.m.
Scott Fowler: 704-358-5140, firstname.lastname@example.com, @scott_fowler


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How do I track what I eat to Fitbit?
Connecting your Fitbit is easy! You can connect from your Account Page on desktop or mobile web (not available on the mobile app).
- From a web browser (not the mobile app), visit your Account Page and click "Connect Fitbit."
- Allow PlateJoy to post nutritional information to your account.
- If you have multiple family members associated with your PlateJoy account, select which person to associate with this wearable.
Here's a visual step-by-step guide:
You can associate additional Fitbits with other family members by connecting additional devices.
Once you have connected one or more Fitbits, it's easy to track what you eat.
On any recipe page, click "Track to Fitbit" to track nutritional information to all connected Fitbits. PlateJoy will send different values to different accounts based on each person's portion size!


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Amazing looking, live endives also called chicory at the market in Croix Rousse – Lyon.
Tag Archives: catering ireland dublin
Frank Hederman's smokehouse – smoked Irish mackerel
Totally Delicious Clementine Cake
The Essence of Real Cooking – Lobster Bisque
One of the most magnificent meals in all the World is Lobster Bisque. If you pushed me I could probably tell you where and when I have head all the ones i have ever had. The great ones because of just that and the disappointing ones because they are morally disgusting. I couldn't tell you how many lobster carcasses are wasted each year but if Mother Nature is to be answered to there will be severe retribution for such scandalous waste.
Lobster carcasses just like their crustacean cousins are routinely binned but there is a Meal, yes, a Soup so sublimely deep and luxurious to be made from them that throwing them away should be as shameful as smoking in a car with Kids.
To do this justice takes a hack of a lot of effort and time and if you have them there are tools that can really help. This is a labour that truly pays off because if you are the type to put your self through this you will reap the rewards. This is the Cooks equivalent of Hunting, in this case Flavour ( which should go without saying ) but also texture. They are only taken with my ailing Phone but i think you can even see it in these pictures. There is nothing in this but Waste Shells, carrot, onion, tomato and a little seasoning. The lobster had been the Main Course the day before, yes they had been eaten, yes they were headed for the bin. The heat of cooking a Stock will clean anything you may be afraid of e.g. your hairy lipped Aunt Mabel's germs but if you prefer you can fast track her one to the bin.
Now for the procedure:
Step 1. Go to a dinner party and have Lobster with 9 other people
Step 2. Say, You are not throwing those out when your host is throwing out the carcasses
Step 3. Get your booty home and in a really large pot cook shells, brains, body legs and all and some aromatics gently for 45 mins.
Step 4. Take out the shells etc. and in someone you don't like's blender, blend! Or in any Blender that can do Ice and Hot stuff add shells and a little liquid.
Step 5. Repeat, Repeat, Repeat…
Step 6. Place it all, blended lobsters and liquids back in the large Pan and simmer for 20 minutes.
Step 7. Pass through a Mouli's medium blade/sieve, you could use a coarse sieve but I'm too old for that and always have been. It will be like coarse sand.
Step 8. Pass through the fine blade/sieve. It will now resemble fine but not very fine sand. Meanwhile all the soft tissue is getting worked into the liquid and this sand is doing much of the work, think polishing stones in a cement mixer.
Step 9. I use two sieves now one medium and one very fine double mesh. The idea is not to clog the second too quickly.
Step 10. Tapping the farthest part of the sieve from your hand with a ladle will greatly speed up the passing of liquid
Step 11. When you are down to a slurry roll the bottom of the ladle around in circles until the rest of the liquid has passed and the dryer paste starts to stick to the bottom of the ladle. Getting this right will clean the sieve for you, dump what sticks to the ladle.
Step 12. see step 5.
Step 13. Pass this liquid through a double layer of cheesecloth or a Muslin. You can skip this by letting it sit for enough tome fro the heaviest of the particulate to fall out of the suspension. Then you just have to make sure not to pour all of it our when you are using it, as for sediment in a bottle of Wine.


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The Full 90
The Morning Kickoff: The march toward March 19
Expect everything MLS and Sporting Kansas City to ramp up exponentially now that March has finally begun.
Speaking of "exponents," here are some numbers: In 19 days, Sporting Kansas City will take the field for the first time in 2011. In just 21 days, Spring will be here and outdoor soccer will get rolling. In 45 days, it will be April 14. In 101 days, it will be time to open up "Sporting Park."
Today is the roster cut-down day for MLS teams. Anybody you want to keep (like, say, Scott Lorenz, Adda Djeziri, Julio Cesar Santos Correa or Milos Stojcev), you've got to sign to a contract. They can still be cut later of course. When news breaks, we'll have something to say about it.
Speaking of us having something to say, have you listened to the second episode of
? Well, please do.
Speaking of podcasts,a new Byline to Backpost is up.
Check it out.
A few area soccer players are training with the US National Team in Spain: Lee's Summit's (and Notre Dame player) Mandy Laddish is with the US U-20 team. Her teammate, Lauren Fowlkes (also from Lee's Summit) is with the U-23s. Goalkeeper Adriana French (of Salina, Kansas) is also on the U-23 team.Sporting KC captain Davy Arnaud gives fans an update on the training camp so far. Sporting KC's U-16 and U-18 academy teams showed well over the weekend.
This was spotted at Thirsty's bar in the River Market last night:


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Pulitzer Prize winner Elizabeth Strout gives us the scoop on the Emmy Award-winning HBO series based on her book Olive Kitteridge and shares her thoughts on Frances McDormand as the title character. We celebrate the paperback release of her renowned novel Anything is Possible.
Roxanne also talks to super-fan, Kim Nelson-Layman, who got a special surprise when she heard who else was on the phone!
Books in this episode:
Anything Is Possible by Elizabeth Strout
My Name Is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout
Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
Sons and Lovers by D.H. Lawrence
Winesburg, Ohio by Sherwood Anderson
Check out Kim Nelson-Layman's Blog!
Daphne Merkin opens up about her battles with depression and offers advice on supporting loved ones struggling with the disease as we welcome the paperback release of her acclaimed memoir.
This is a fascinating conversation with the novelist and critic you won't want to miss.
Books mentioned in this episode:
This Close to Happy: A Reckoning with Depression by Daphne Merkin
Darkness Visible: A Memoir of Madness by William Styron
Just in time for the paperback release of The Late Show introducing Det. Renée Ballard, a driven young detective trying to prove herself in the LAPD, we reflect on the best-selling author Michael Connelly's discussion with Roxanne at an exclusive live event.
The wonderfully entertaining former crime reporter dished on what's it like being the Executive Producer of the hit TV series, Bosch, inspired by one of his famous characters. Connelly also talked about jazz, how he chose writing over engineering, and of course, his brand-new book series.
Books in this episode:
The Late Show by Michael Connelly
The Long Goodbye by Raymond Chandler
In part two of Roxanne's sit-down with James Forman Jr., the two dive further into James' first book Locking Up Our Own: Crime and Punishment in Black America.
Forman tells us his first-hand story of the criminal justice system from his experience as a public defender and shares his incredulity over his results of Harvard's Implicit Association Test in this season finale.
Help Us Shape Season 2 & Take Our 5-Minute Listener Survey!
Books in this episode:
Locking Up Our Own: Crime and Punishment in Black America by James Forman
The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander
Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson
Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
The Power of Their Ideas: Lessons for America from a Small School in Harlem by Deborah Meier


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Business & Real Estate
Largest recall program in U.S. history expands due to faulty Takata air bag inflators
Two major automakers are extending recalls due to faulty air bag inflators.
Honda and Toyota are issuing recalls on more than 1 million more U.S. vehicles to take care of air bag inflators made by Takata. The company has already filed for bankruptcy protection over its faulty inflators that have been blamed for at least 20 deaths and 280 injuries worldwide.
Since recalls began on Takata airbag inflators in 2008, 19 automakers have been affected. According to The Associated Press, 69 million inflators in 42 million vehicles have needed to be repaired. The inflators can explode during a crash, sending shrapnel into people as the air bag deploys.
More than 600,000 Toyotas and over 460,000 Hondas are part of this latest round of recalls. In all, the largest recall program in U.S. history is being expanded by 3.3 million inflators, according to Consumer Reports.
Check here to see if your Toyota or Honda vehicle is subject to this recall.


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Root Samsung Galaxy S2 Free
by: Nor-Cal-Apps • 40
평가 등급
by: Nor-Cal-Apps • 40
Root Samsung Galaxy S2 is a clean and easy tutorial with files, to rooting
The difference between the free and pay are: The free version only provides the documentation now at the root of your phone. Paid version: provides a link to the site to download all required files. This app is not the root of your phone simply provides step-by-step how the root of your Samsung S2 Galaxy.
If you could leave your comment, it would help provide a better service, along with an understanding how what the public is looking for....
Please no rude comments, if you have a problem please email me directly and I'll be glad to assist you.
Note: this only works for the gingerbread Samsung S2 Galaxy 2.3.5 Note: The roots, Jailbreak or customizing of your device can be risky, and you may end up bricking your device! Follow the instructions noted here at your own risk and we take no responsibility for your actions, as TnT Apps N Games shall not be liable for any damage to your device. I decided to create this application, because I know how frustrating it can be searching the web for more information. I also realized that one of the guardians first instructions for the Samsung S2 Galaxy News.
I myself with the following instructions have successfully rooted my phone Samsung S2 Galaxy. In return, I share the information and tools. However, this is the free version, and provides a form of education based on the root of your phone, if you like our application, please help support us by purchasing our full version, which contains all the necessary files to the root of your Samsung S2 Galaxy successfully.
: 40 리뷰
다운로드 Root Samsung Galaxy S2 Free
무료 - 8.1 ***Freeware*** - 6M
이 앱 공유


text: Ladies, adding a dose of classy style to your wardrobe has never been easier than with specs from Stepper Eyewear. Slip on a pair of these gorgeous frames and you'll instantly look seriously sophisticated. A palette of tortoise, metallic gold and bronze, and deep purple hues, not to mention minimal details like elegant cutouts and subtle crystal embellishments, keeps the collection understatedly chic. To boot, semi-rimless and traditional softened rectangular and oval silhouettes are utterly flattering and will pair perfectly with all kinds of garb.


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Unlocking motivation: Do you really know what makes your employees tick?
When it comes to corporate giving programs, there really is no universal approach that works for every organisation. Every business has its own culture, model, mission and philosophy – and their CSR efforts should reflect this.
But it's not just that, whatever corporate giving programs are in place should actively engage employees and be something they want to partake in willingly and enthusiastically. However, this is often easier said than done.
So, how do you unlock motivation in your staff?
Here are a few points to consider as we move into a new work year.
I'm an individual
Kimberley Downes, Head of Benojo Melbourne, explains that people are motivated by different reasons, these include:
1. Those who are motivated by pro-social reasons volunteer purely for the benefit of others.
2. Those motivated by belonging volunteer as a way to develop personal relationships.
3. Those motivated by self-enhancement reasons volunteer to feel better about themselves.
4. Those motivated by development reasons volunteer to gain knowledge and skills.
5. Those motivated by self-protective reasons volunteer to distract themselves from something that troubles them in their own lives.
6. And those motives for career reasons volunteer to increase their job prospects.
Come together
Considering the diversity of reasons that motivate employees to volunteer, it is worth collaborating with them to develop (or rework) your business's corporate giving program.
This could be through surveys; feedback forms on existing programs; asking for suggestions; or gathering members of each team or department for a workshop of brainstorming session. Other factors to note could be giving employees more options as to how they are involved or choice as to what charities their efforts support.
Working with the feedback from the staff sessions, look at how it can be integrated into a program/s that addresses employee motivations, alongside the agenda and goals of the business.
Finding the right method
The methods that form the basis of corporate giving programs are another avenue to addressing employee motivation. Downes explains that there are eight models businesses can explore.
These are:
Loaned employee: An employee is granted a sanctioned and compensated leave of absence to pursue a probono project.
Functional coaching and mentoring: Employees match up with their nonprofit peers, form a relationship and share functional expertise.
Marathon: A company pools human capital resources on a probono project within a short, predetermined timeframe to deliver a mass volume of deliverables.
Standardised team projects: Individuals are placed on teams, each with specific roles and responsibilities. Each project is scoped and structured around a standard deliverable based on the needs of the nonprofit partners.
Open-ended outsourcing: A company makes its services available to a specific number of non-profit organisations on an ongoing, as needs basis.
Sector wide solutions: A company creates a deliverable pro-bono that can be applicable to all nonprofits across the sector.
General contracting: An entity coordinates and oversees internal and external resources, promoting cross sector collaboration to address a specific social problem.
Signature issue: The combination of formal pro-bono work with additional corporate assets for the purpose of leveraging significant internal resources against a specific social issue.
Employee motivation is an integral ingredient to the success of your organisation's CSR efforts.
Talk to Benojo about how we can help your business get it right.


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紅蘋果 Red Apple (Half Year - School Rate)
The magazine in Chinese to enjoy reading and become a reader for life! This magazine allows children from 6 to 9 to discover the pleasure of reading on their own. Each month, there is a long story divided into manageable chapters as well as reading and writing games. Children will also discover the world through illustrated facts about history and science, and have fun with hilarious comic-strips!
Red Apple encourages children to read on their own, with rich contents in every issue which include an exciting illustrated story, divided into manageable chapters for newly independent readers, scientific or historical topics with clear illustrations and fascinating information, hilarious comic-strips, and fun games and activities.
Suitable for boys & girls aged 6-10 years.
- Half year subscription: 6 issues
- For full year subscription: click here


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Penn State
Ex-Penn State lawyer kept off witness stand during hearing
The grand jury testimony of the former Penn State lawyer who is at the center of a criminal case against three university administrators has been unsealed and soon will be made available to the public.
A transcript of the October 2012 testimony from Cynthia Baldwin will be among the documentation a Dauphin County judge said Tuesday would be admissible in his decision on whether to drop some charges against former university administrators Graham Spanier, Tim Curley and Gary Schultz, who are accused of covering up abuse allegations against Jerry Sandusky.
Baldwin was subpoenaed by the defense lawyers to testify during a court hearing Tuesday, but Judge Todd A. Hoover rejected the subpoena. The hearing, which had been scheduled to extend over four days, ended quickly Tuesday morning after attorney conferences behind closed doors in the judge's chambers Monday and earlier Tuesday.
The defense lawyers have said their legal rights were violated twice by Baldwin, and that is the reason they're seeking a dismissal of the charges. But Baldwin's lawyer has defended her involvement, saying she fulfilled her duties to Penn State.
The lawyers have said their clients thought Baldwin was representing them when they testified to the grand jury in 2011, though Baldwin has said she was representing Penn State's interests.
The defense also contends Baldwin violated attorney-client privilege when she testified to the grand jury Oct. 26, 2012, about discussions she had with the men regarding subpoenas issued in late 2010 and 2011 that pertained to the Sandusky investigation.
Her testimony was used in a grand jury presentment released less than a week later, on Nov. 1, 2012, that included conspiracy and obstruction and other charges against Spanier and new conspiracy, obstruction and endangerment charges against Curley and Schultz.
In addition to Baldwin's grand jury testimony, the judge will base his decision on letters previously under seal that were sent back and forth among the defense lawyers for the men, a Penn State lawyer, Baldwin's lawyer and the judge supervising the grand jury.
The newly unsealed documents were not made available immediately Tuesday, and a state court spokesman said the records would be included with a transcript of the proceeding when it is released next week.
The judge told the lawyers they would have to submit some additional legal documentation called findings of fact and conclusions of law, and the prosecution from the Attorney General's Office will have a chance to respond.
The judge said there could be an evidentiary hearing to follow the written arguments.
Spanier was the only one of the former administrators to appear in court for the hearing.
After the proceeding, Spanier's attorney, Elizabeth Ainslie, signaled disappointment in the way the court date turned out. She said she had hoped to offer testimony from Baldwin and from Jonelle Eshbach and Frank Fina, two former prosecutors in the Attorney General's Office who were involved in the grand jury investigation.
The judge rejected the subpoenas for them to testify.
When asked what Ainslie expected to hear from Baldwin, Ainslie declined to comment.
Spanier, Curley and Schultz are charged with perjury, obstruction of justice, conspiracy, child endangerment and failure to report abuse. Their lawyers have maintained that their clients are innocent and have vowed to fight the charges on all fronts, including appealing the Baldwin issues if the judge rules against them.
Ainslie said Baldwin's lawyer, Charles De Monaco, told her that his client was not offered immunity from prosecution for her grand jury testimony.
De Monaco defended his client during a brief news conference after the hearing Tuesday and refused to take questions from reporters.
"She at all times fulfilled her duties and obligations," he said.


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This eBook will serve as a guide to the core strategies that need to be put in place in order to build a seamless customer experience strategy. We spoke with four industry experts in order to give you an exclusive insight into the challenges being faced and the solutions on hand to drive CX initiatives in the utilities sector.
Please note: That all fields marked with an asterisk (*) are required.


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Deck building is in our heritage. It is a craft that has been passed on in our family for multiple generations and we invite you to become part of the story.
We believe in beautiful aesthetics and elegant details complimented by functional quality. Our master deck builders have spent year honing their craft, developing an understanding for material and refining their skills. We bring a wealth of knowledge, experience and expertise to the table, ensuring that every project is completed with the highest level of craft, durability and timeliness. You will feel comfortable knowing that your project is in the hands of people for whom deck building is their handiwork.


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LAWRENCE — When, in the afternoon of Sept. 13, Lawrence Fire Chief Brian Moriarty first got the call about house explosions and fires across the south side of his city, he was driving back up to the Merrimack Valley from Boston after taking an emergency medical service class, hoping to meet a few guys after work.
"I'm on my way," Moriarty said, and immediately shifted gears.
He turned on his radio, and listened to the transmissions as they started to come in quick succession.
The fire department called North Andover and Andover — the first communities Lawrence turns to for mutual aid — only to find out they were dealing with the same thing: overpressurized gas lines caused multiple fires that day, injured dozens, and killed one young man from Lawrence.
Moriarty picked up his radio. Through the cacophony of transmissions from dispatchers and first responders, his voice remained unflustered.
"I just said: 'Stay calm, we're going to have a lot of calls,'" he recalled. "We deal in catastrophe. I knew I had to stay calm if they were going to be calm."
A massive response
Moriarty, the head of emergency management for the city, issued a full recall for firefighters to come in to work, and coordinated the response from hundreds of additional resources in mutual aid.
Thursday evening, he worked with a crew to contain a fire at a triple-decker on Springfield Street, gave his mask to an off-duty firefighter who came in as soon as he heard what was happening, and planned to head to fires with no chief officer responding, when Mayor Daniel Rivera called him to the command center at the former Showcase Cinema on Route 114.
He left for work Thursday morning, and didn't see his wife, Kim, until Sunday night. He is the fire chief, and she is the director of emergency services at Lawrence General Hospital — they both had work to do.
They kept in touch via text. After he appeared on TV for a press conference, he would check his phone and have messages from her, telling him to smile more.
That first weekend, Moriarty said 339 different resources from across the state came to assist Lawrence, Andover and North Andover: 180 engine companies, 68 ladder companies, 50 chief officers, more than 50 ambulances and 10 rehab units.
The response continues
Those are all gone now, replaced by plumbers, electricians, gas workers, and construction crews racing against the weather to get thousands of people back to relative normalcy.
"It's pretty much been a nonstop event, even though the fires have stopped," he said.
Most of those who live and work in South Lawrence — and thousands of people in the Andovers — remain without gas.
In the weeks after the initial blasts, Moriarty said the fire department has been inundated with gas-related calls.
Just Thursday, the fire department fielded two calls for gas odor in the city.
"There is a heightened awareness," Moriarty said, "but they're also not illegitimate. ... Most of them, there's some smell of gas from something, whether it's bad or minor, or part of the venting process."
And, as gas crews replace 45 miles of pipeline and continue work inside homes, Moriarty said his department is dealing with the logistics of that.
"Mobility in South Lawrence is worse than it ever was for any Ben Affleck movie," he said, referring to the 2015 film shoot in the city.
"We're preparing for the fact that we may not be able to park at the house, we may have to stretch longer lines, we may have to carry ground ladders in," he said. "I have more crews on the south side, we're staffing more trucks."
A different kind of disaster
Moriarty is no stranger to major events. He began his career in 1980 as a crash and structural firefighter in the United States Air Force, joined the Haverhill Fire Department in 1987 — rising in the ranks to deputy fire chief — before joining Lawrence as chief in 2015.
He's been to oil refinery fires during his time in the service, responded as a paramedic to the Malden Mills textile plant fire in 1995, and has responded to countless major fires in the Merrimack Valley since then.
Still, he said the gas fires and their aftermath have presented different challenges to the people of Lawrence.
"This is a major logistical undertaking by gas professionals, civil engineers, but we're trying to also make sure everybody stays safe. Their vast, major project is making our task just that much more difficult," he said. "It's getting cold; people need to stay warm ... we've got trailer parks on South Common and Pemberton Park and people there need to be protected."
Heroic actions and a resilient community
At least three firefighters were injured in the initial response, and in the days that followed. Faced with chaotic scenes and long hours over the past weeks, Moriarty did not hesitate to sing praise of the fire department's efforts.
"The guys have been awesome, and really stepped up. I'm very proud of their actions, some of them have been very heroic," said Moriarty. "They've done an excellent job, and continue to do an excellent job."
Moriarty said the people in South Lawrence have been gracious and patient, and thanked them for that.
"People on the south side, really people in the city and region should be commended," he said. "There's been donations, people working together, camaraderie ... this is the worst thing I've been through for a community, and it's not over," he said.
To those who continue to be affected by the gas disaster, Moriarty had one message: "We're here for you, and we'll do everything we can to keep you safe."


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Behind the Scenes, the Manager's Role…
Posted by: Emma Trenier
When new teams come together, there are many reasons why they either succeed or fail to gel. In my experience, this gelling rarely happens by accident. There is a usually a good manager behind the scenes setting the tone, steering, giving feedback here and there in a multitude of ways in addition to their visible core activities. I have recently worked with a team manager who seems to be doing everything right…
He is a strategic thinker and knows that he finds it hard to translate his big complex ideas into words. He has found that complementary partnerships really work, and so he relies on his team leaders to explain many of his ideas to the team.
He consciously sets an example to others of work-life balance, generates a positive climate through daily banter and encouraging participation. Everyone takes their turn at chairing team meetings and they all enjoy coming into the office.
He not only understands the skill sets of each team member, but also understands their strengths. To identify their strengths, every team member has taken Realise2, Capp's online strengths assessment tool, and shared their profile with the rest of the team.
He understands the emotional impact of change on his team and is continually observing where each individual is on the change curve. His aim is to move people forward, but only as fast as they are able to go.
As this team has begun to build its own identity, he has worked with them to create a team vision and strategy that is aligned with corporate strategy, but that is also meaningful to each individual.
Finally, through discussion with other leaders, he has found a way of setting goals and objectives that enable each person to use their strengths to fulfil their part in the team in a meaningful way.
High profile psychologist Martin Seligman talks about the five factors that lead to flourishing with his PERMA model. These are Positive emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning and Accomplishment. This team manager, who is doing pretty much everything right, has found a way to incorporate all of these elements within the life of his team. Seligman would certainly be impressed.


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Where Do I Get an Owner's Manual?
Hi John,
Spoke to you on Sunday on Tim Webster's afternoon show on Radio 2UE. What I am looking for is the owner's Manual for a Hyundai Getz 2007 1.6 TB upgrade.
Hyundai quoted me $65. Is this fair? And what is your opinion of this vehicle.
Hi Syd,
I remember. Thanks for calling in. As I understand it, you wanted to make sure you had the code in case the battery was ever disconnected and the radio went into security shutdown mode.
The new manual will not have the applicable security code, because this varies from vehicle to vehicle. Your code is forever linked to the 17-digit VIN code for your vehicle. This is a unique identifier for your Getz, which separates it from every other Getz. Any Hyundai dealer can retrieve the code for the radio if you supply the VIN. (The VIN is on the rego papers and also on a plate under the bonnet.)
You can prevent the radio from thinking it's been stolen by getting cheap 12V battery and connecting it to the vehicle's power system while the main battery is being replaced. The two standard ways to do this are to use a cigarette lighter plug and insert it into the cigarette ligher aperture, or simply to use some light temporary leads and connect one to the main positive lead coming off the battery and the other to the vehicle's body (negative/ground). Make sure you get the polarity right in either case, and power everything down in the car otherwise the demand on the small battery will be too great once the main battery is disconnected. If you don't understand how to do this, do not attempt it yourself because it is potentially risky. In this case get a battery replacer to do it for you, professionally.
I think $65 is outrageous for a replacement manual. You can get an aftermarket software copy of the entire workshop service manual on eBay for about $8.
Here's one Getz manual on eBay for $7.90.
Here's another Getz manual on eBay for $7.50.
The Getz is a cheap, cheerful little car that's a no-frills runabout. It costs very little and runs on the smell of an oily rag. Its sales were prolific, which means there's a plentiful supply of parts out there, new and used, and everyone knows how to work on them. Affordable and basic, but part of the DNA that has made Hyundai an international success story.
Good luck with it Syd.
Thanks for listening.