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Get Rid of Ants In Your Minnesota Home
Introduction To Ant Control
Ants are one of the most common pests in and around homes in the north central states. Ants are social insects and are divided up into three castes: workers, males, and queens (figure 1).
Figure 1. Typical ant castes, from left to right: queen, winged male, major worker, minor worker
Workers are sterile, wingless females which range in size from 1/20 inch long to about 1/2 inch long. The workers of some ant species vary in size and are divided into major (large) and minor (small) workers. Ants vary in color from yellow to red to brown and black and various combinations of these. Like all insects, ants have three distinctive body parts: head, thorax, and abdomen. All ants have a pair of elbowed (bent) antennae on the head and a constricted area between the thorax and abdomen called the petiole. The petiole has either one or two nodes (bumps) (figure 2).
Figure 2. Typical ant body parts
The reproductive members of the colony are the males and queens. Males are generally the same size or larger than the workers, are winged, have a small head with proportionally large eyes. They are produced in older, large colonies and their sole purpose is to mate with the new queens; they die shortly afterwards. Queens are the largest members of the colony, often two to three times larger than workers. Queens possess wings but break them off after mating. They have very large abdomens and can live for a number of years. Males and queens will swarm (i.e. fly) from their nest to mate. A given species will mate during a specific time of the year. After mating, the female seeks a proper nesting site and begins a new colony. The presence of swarming winged ants inside buildings is an indication of an ant nest indoors.
Ants are sometimes mistaken for winged termites that are commonly called swarmers. Ants differ from termites by having a narrow, constricted waist, elbowed (bent) antennae, and hind wings shorter than front wings (figure 3). Termites have a more rectangular shaped body with no constrictions, straight, beaded antennae and four wings of equal size and shape that are much longer than the body (figure 4). Termite wings fall off very easily and are usually found on the surface from which the termites have emerged. Ants are commonly seen in the open, as are winged termites when they swarm. But termite workers, which are creamy white and wingless, avoid light and are rarely seen unless disturbed.
Figure 3. Winged ant
Figure 4. Winged termite
Ants have a wide variety of nesting habits and food preferences. Some ants build nests in soil, producing characteristic mounds while others nest in homes behind moldings, baseboards, countertops, and similar places. Still other ants nest in decaying or moisture damaged wood. Ants feed on different types of food, including starches, meats, fats, and sweets. Many ants also feed on honeydew, a sweet liquid produced by aphids and scale insects. Knowledge of ant food and nesting preferences is very important in controlling ant colonies.
Damage from ants varies. Most are primarily a nuisance and cause little damage. Some, such as Pharaoh ants, may infest food. Others, like carpenter ants, can weaken wood in structures. Generally, there are no disease problems associated with ants. In hospitals, Pharaoh ants can transmit disease organisms, such as Staphylococcus.
Knowing what species of ant is present helps to determine the nesting site, food preference, and the best method of management. In most cases, the most effective, permanent solution is to find and treat the nest; queens must be killed to properly eliminate a colony.
Nonchemical methods
Trying to discourage ants from invading the home can be frustrating. Proper food storage and waste management will reduce the food that often attracts workers indoors. Clean all kitchen surfaces, vacuum daily, and rinse recyclable containers before storage. Ant trails can be temporarily disrupted with a mild solution of vinegar and water. Sticky barriers using commercially available materials, such as Tanglefoot or Stickem, or water moats containing soapy water, can be used to prevent ants from reaching plants or other items. Caulk cracks that ants are using to enter the home.
Many ants enter homes from outside nests as they forage for food. To find their nest, follow the ants. You can encourage foraging by setting out attractive food. Ants usually take regular routes to and from their nest and the food source by establishing a chemical (pheromone) trail. The nest may be found by watching where the ants go; for some ants, such as carpenter ants, this works best at night. If the nest is discovered, it can be treated or removed (in the case of rotted wood).
Common insecticides for treating ant nests in the lawn are listed below. Be sure to select a product that is labeled for treating lawns:
- permethrin as a liquid or granules
- carbaryl (e.g. Sevin) as a liquid or granules
- bifenthrin as granules
- cyfluthrin as granules
- acephate as a liquid
(Note: Liquids work best if they are drenched in. You may need 1/2 gallon or more of mixed material to treat large nests.)
Retreatment of nest sites may be necessary if above ground activity resumes after the initial application.
In cases where the nest is not found, ants can be kept out of the house by applying an insecticide barrier around the exterior of the building. Careful observation may reveal the ants are entering only through one area of the house; this would allow a spot treatment of that area. If it is not clear where the ants are entering, then treat a 2 4 foot wide area around the entire building. This control method is temporary and retreatments may be necessary.
Common insecticides for treating the building exteriors are listed below. Be sure to select a product that is labeled for treating the perimeter of buildings' exteriors:
- permethrin as a liquid or granules
- bifenthrin as a liquid
- carbaryl as a liquid or granules
- cyfluthrin as granules
- deltamethrin as a dust
CAUTION: Read all label directions carefully before buying insecticides and again before applying them. Information on the label should be used as the final authority.
Outdoor nests can be very difficult to eliminate without chemicals. Using water to flood nests is usually not effective. Use of gasoline also is ineffective and dangerous and causes environmental pollution. Repeated drenchings of a nest with an insecticidal soap solution is sometimes effective in forcing an ant colony to relocate. There is no scientific evidence that spearmint gum, red pepper, orange peels, or various herbs repel ants effectively. Remember you must kill or relocate the queen to manage an ant colony.
When possible, find the nest and treat it with an insecticide. When the nest is concealed, e.g. behind a wall, it may be necessary to drill small holes, about 1/8 inch diameter, and apply an insecticidal dust (be sure it is labeled for indoor use). These products may come in ready to use applicators. If not, use a plastic squeeze bottle or some type of flexible plastic container with a tube tip to apply the insecticide. Fill the container about 1/3 or 1/2 full and squeeze a small amount of dust into the desired location (note: applying too much material will cause ants to avoid contact with the dust). Return the unused insecticide back to its original container and thoroughly clean the applicator.
Common dusts for treating voids/cracks/crevices are listed below. Be sure to select a product that is labeled for indoor household use.
- deltamethrin
- permethrin
Another tactic is the use of baits. Workers feed on the bait and take it back to the nest where they share it with the rest of the colony. An advantage of baits is that they are is delivered into inaccessible areas that insecticide sprays cannot reach. However, baits act slowly and may take several weeks to several months to eradicate a colony. Ant baits sold in stores for public use are generally labeled for many common household ants, although ants will not be equally attracted to all baits. It is important to identify what ant species is present so the appropriate bait can be used.
Common insecticides in ant baits are listed below. Be sure to select a product that is labeled for ants.
- abamectin
- fipronil
- sulfluramid (may be listed as N-ethyl Perfluorooctanesulfonamide)
- disodium octaborate
- orthoboric acid
- propoxur (e.g. Baygon)
Spraying foraging ants is only temporary and has little impact on the nest. Spraying may be useful for seasonal ant problems, when ants enter from outside nests.
Common aerosol ready to use insecticides for treating ants found indoors are listed below. Be sure to select a product that is labeled for indoor household use.
- permethrin as an aerosol or a liquid
- bifenthrin as liquid
- cyfluthrin as a liquid
- cypermethrin as an aerosol
- deltamethrin as a liquid
- tralomethrin as an aerosol or a liquid
CAUTION: Read all label directions carefully before buying insecticides and again before applying them. Information on the label should be used as the final authority.
Pest management professionals have the training and experience to deal with household ant problems. Contact a reputable pest management company if you want to have your ant problem handled by a professional.
The following descriptions, biologies, and management tactics of ants you may encounter can help you identify and understand their proper treatment. Ant identification can be challenging; if you encounter an ant that you do not recognize, submit it to someone who can properly identify it.
Common Household Ants
Carpenter Ants, Camponotus spp.
Carpenter ant, Camponotus pennsylvanicus
Carpenter ant, Camponotus nearcticus
Description: Some species of carpenter ants are the largest ants in the north central states. They are black, or red and black; workers range in size from 3/16 to 1/2 inch. Colonies consist of major and minor workers. Carpenter ants have the following characteristics: 1) petiole with one node and 2) a thorax with an evenly rounded upper surface (workers only) [compare with field ants].
Foods: Other insects, both living and dead. They also feed on meats or sweets, including honeydew, syrup, honey, sugar, and jelly. Carpenter ants DO NOT eat wood; they chew wood into sawdust in the process of creating galleries and tunnels.
Nesting Sites: All types of moist or rotting wood, including trees or tree stumps, indoors behind bathroom tiles; around tubs, sinks, showers, and dishwashers; under roofing, in attic beams, and under subfloor insulation; in hollow spaces such as doors, curtain rods, and wall voids; and in soft polystyrene and other forms of insulation. Carpenter ant tunnels are clean and smooth, making the wood appear that it has been sandpapered. In contrast, termite tunnels are not clean looking, but are packed with dirt like material.
Mating Swarms: April through June. Occasionally swarms may emerge indoors earlier during late winter on warm, sunny days.
Management: The best treatment is to apply an insecticide directly into the nest. It is also important to replace damaged or decayed wood, and if possible to eliminate any moisture problems. Baits may also be effective if applied where ant activity is seen.
Cornfield Ants, Lasius alienus
Cornfield ant
Description: Cornfield ants are very abundant outdoors. They are light to dark brown; workers are about 1/10 inch long. Cornfield ants have the following characteristics: 1) petiole with one node, 2) thorax is uneven in profile (workers only), 3) relatively large eyes compared to head, and 4) first antennal segment (also called scape) is not considerably longer than head [compare with false honey ants].
Foods: Sweets, including honeydew (they are sometimes found feeding on honeydew from insects infesting houseplants) and live and dead insects.
Nesting Sites: In soil, forming small craters, especially in lawns. They also nest in soil under stones, bricks, sidewalks and other concealed sites, as well as rotting logs and stumps. They rarely nest in homes.
Mating Swarms: July through September, especially on sunny afternoons.
Management: Check for and treat nests in the lawn and other nearby areas. If nests are not obvious, treat the building perimeter with a residual spray. Commercial baits available to the public may be effective.
Larger Yellow Ants, Acanthomyops interjectus
Larger yellow ant
Description: These ants give off a pleasant citronella or lemon smell when crushed. Yellow ants are yellowish to reddish brown; workers are about 3/16 inch long. Workers do not come indoors for food and are rarely seen. They are most commonly seen when the reproductives swarm in homes. Queens are about 5/16 inch long and often reddish and darker. Yellow ants have the following characteristics: 1) petiole with one node, 2) thorax is uneven in profile (workers only), and 3) compound eye is small in proportion to head.
Foods: Honeydew, rarely other sweets.
Nesting Sites: In soil under stones, logs, bricks, patio blocks, concrete and other concealed areas. They also can nest in rotting wood. Yellow ants can nest in and around foundation walls and in soil under buildings on slab construction. Workers may be seen throwing out dirt or cement particles, but they do not damage masonry or wood.
Mating Swarms: April through September. Swarms are also common indoors during winter if ants are nesting under heated concrete slabs.
Management: Eliminate winged yellow ants by physical means, e.g. with a vacuum, or by hand. Large numbers can be treated with an application of an insecticide that is labeled for flying insects, such as pyrethrins; these products are found in aerosol ready to use containers. Detection of yellow ants nesting under concrete slabs is difficult and control is rarely practical or justified.
Pharaoh Ants, Monomorium pharaonis
Pharaoh ant
Pharaoh ants are an imported species, probably from the tropical regions of Africa. They have readily spread through the world along commerce routes. Although they can nest in any heated building in the north central states, Pharaoh ants are most commonly found in hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and apartments. Seeing persistent numbers of very small ants during winter suggests Pharaoh ants.
Description: Pharaoh ants are light yellow to red with their thorax darker colored; workers are about 1/16 inch long. Pharaoh ants have the following characteristics: 1) petiole with two nodes, 2) thorax lacking spines, 3) 12 segmented antennae, 4) antennal club composed of 3 segments, and 5) normal sized compound eyes in proportion to the head [compare with thief ants]. It is best to have these ants identified by an expert.
Foods: They feed on a wide variety of foods, especially those containing grease or fats. They also feed on many types of sweets, dead insects, toothpaste, soap and other foods that other ants rarely attack. They often seek out water in kitchens and bathrooms.
Nesting Sites: Pharaoh ants nest strictly indoors in the north central states; because of their tropical origins, they do not survive outdoors. They take advantage of their small size and nest in a wide variety of small spaces, cracks and crevices, including behind countertops, baseboards, in wall voids, and many other small voids. They often nest near dark, warm sites and near sources of moisture. Pharaoh ant nests are very difficult to find.
Mating Swarms: Pharaoh ants, unlike most ants, do not have a mating swarm but produce new nests through a process called budding. When the colony becomes too large or is under stress, a group of workers take brood (i.e. larvae and pupae) and move to a new site. One or more queens often go with them to the new nest.
Management: Elimination of Pharaoh ants is difficult and the service of an experienced pest management service is recommended. Insecticides can cause Pharaoh ants to bud, creating new colonies. The use of baits is strongly recommended. Baits available to the public usually are not effective against Pharaoh ants. Professional pest management services have the experience and access to effective baits needed to successfully eliminate Pharaoh ants.
Thief Ants, Solenopsis molesta
Thief ant
Also referred to as grease ants, thief ants are the smallest household ants in the north central states. Thief ants are so named because of their habit of nesting near the nests of larger ants and stealing their larvae. They often have well defined trails.
Description: Thief ants are easily confused with Pharaoh ants. Identification is very important before pest management steps are taken and it is best to have these ants identified by an expert. Thief ants are yellow to light brown; workers measure about 1/20 inch long. They have a tendency to curl up when they die. Thief ants have the following characteristics: 1) petiole with two nodes, 2) thorax lacking spines, 3) 10 segmented antennae, 4) antennal club composed of 2 segments, and 5) small compound eyes in proportion to their head [compare with Pharaoh ants].
Foods: Prefer protein and greasy foods, such as meats, cheese and peanut butter, and nuts, but will also eat sweets. They are small enough to enter almost any type of food container.
Nesting Sites: Thief ants commonly nest in soil and rotting wood. They can nest indoors in small spaces, such as under countertops, in wall voids, cabinet voids, behind baseboards. Nests are often difficult to find.
Mating Swarms: July through September.
Management: Thief ants are especially common during mid to late summer when they enter homes from outside nests. Locating and treating nests is not practical. Treat the building perimeter when thief ants are foraging into buildings from outside nests. When nests are located indoors, baiting is the most effective management method. Use commercially available baits effective against grease-feeding ants.
Pavement Ants, Tetramorium caespitum
Pavement ant
Description: Pavement ants are reddish brown to black; workers are about 1/8 inch long. Pavement ants have the following characteristics: 1) petiole with two nodes, 2) head with furrows (lines) running vertically (top to bottom), and 3) a pair of spines on the posterior portion of the thorax [compare with acrobat ants].
Foods: Variety of foods including meats, pet food, sweets, bread, nuts, and insects.
Nesting Sites: In soil under sidewalks, driveways, stones, logs and other concealed sites. Also commonly found under homes with concrete slab construction; ants enter homes through cracks in the concrete.
Mating Swarms: May through July. When the nest is under a heated slab foundation, swarms can also occur indoors during winter.
Management: Look for and treat outdoor nests. When the nest is not found, treat the building perimeter with a residual spray. When pavement ants are nesting under heated concrete slabs, baiting is the most effective control tactic. Use commercially available baits effective against grease-feeding ants.
Less Common Household Ants
Field Ants, Formica spp.
Field ant
Description: Field ants can easily be confused with carpenter ants but they are not as likely to forage indoors. They are black, brown, red, or combinations of these colors. Workers range in size from about 1/8 to 1/4 inch long. Colonies consist of major and minor workers. Field ants have the following characteristics: 1) petiole with one node, 2) thorax is uneven in profile (workers only), and 3) distinct simple eyes (ocelli) on top of its head [compare with carpenter ants].
Foods: Household sweets and honeydew. They also eat live and dead insects.
Nesting Sites: Build mounds in soil in exposed areas. Some species make extremely large mounds. They do not nest inside buildings.
Mating Swarms: July through September.
Management: Look for and treat outdoor nests. Multiple treatments may be necessary. When the nest is not found, treat the building perimeter with a residual insecticide.
False Honey Ants, Prenolepis imparis
False honey ant
Description: False honey ants are light to dark brown; workers are about 1/8 inch long. False honey ants have the following characteristics: 1) petiole with one node, 2) thorax is uneven in profile, looks 'pinched' (workers only), and 3) first antennal segment (also called scape) is considerably longer than head [compare with cornfield ants].
Foods: Prefer sweets, especially honeydew.
Nesting Sites: In soil in open, well shaded sites. Their nests are rarely concealed under logs, stones, etc. They do not nest indoors.
Mating Swarms: April through May. Sometimes they may also be found indoors during winter.
Management: Check for ant mounds in open, shaded areas and treat. If nests aren't found, treat the building perimeter with a residual spray. Use commercially available baits effective against sweet-feeding ants.
Odorous House Ants, Tapinoma sessile
Odorous house ant
Description: Odorous house ants give off an unpleasant smell when crushed; some people compare it to rotten coconuts. Odorous house ants are brown to dark brown; workers are about 1/10 inch long. Odorous house ants have the following characteristics: 1) petiole with one node; node is hidden by abdomen, and 2) thorax is uneven in profile (workers only).
Foods: Sweets, especially honeydew, and insects. When honeydew is in short supply, odorous house ants can forage indoors for sweets and other foods, including meats.
Nesting Sites: In soil under stones, boards, patio blocks, mulching plastic, and nearly any other object laying on the ground. They can nest in homes in walls voids and under floors. Odorous house ants do not cause structural damage to buildings.
Mating Swarms: June through July.
Management: Check for outdoor nests, especially under stones, firewood, bricks, and other objects; treat any that are found. If nests are not located, treat the building perimeter with a residual spray. Use commercially available baits effective against sweet-feeding ants.
Acrobat Ants, Crematogaster spp.
Acrobat ant
Acrobat ants get their name from their habit of holding their abdomen over their thorax, especially when they have been disturbed.
Description: Acrobat ants range in color from yellow brown to black; workers are about 1/8 inch long. Acrobat ants have the following characteristics: 1) petiole with two nodes; the petiole is attached to the top of the abdomen, 2) head lacks distinctive furrows (lines), 3) a pair of spines on the posterior portion of the thorax, and 4) heart shaped abdomen [compare to pavement ants].
Foods: A wide variety of food, including sweets, meats, and insects.
Nesting Sites: Dead or rotted wood, including logs, stumps, dead tree branches. They occasionally nest in soil under stones. Indoors they nest in wall voids and rotted wood, especially window frames. They do not cause structural damage to buildings.
Mating Swarms: July through September.
Management: Check for nests, especially in rotted wood. Remove and destroy infested wood when possible. Nests can also be treated with an appropriate insecticide (do not treat firewood). If the nest is not obvious, treat the building perimeter spray with a residual insecticide. For acrobat ants found indoors in voids, inject an insecticidal dust. When possible, replace rotted wood and correct moisture problems.
MN Ant Control Services
The potential damage of carpenter ants to a home, building or other structures may depend on the number of nests that are present within one area. Although the damage caused by carpenter ant nests is not as severe as that caused by termites, the longer the infestation remains untreated the more damage can result. For that reason, it is important to locate carpenter ant nests early.
If you positively identify a carpenter nest infestation in your home, it is best to contact a Minnesota pest control expert to assist you in getting rid of them permanently. They can also repair any damages they may have caused in a way that the pests will not be able to enter again.
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As Rainier's glaciers recede, debris chokes rivers
The fallout from Mount Rainier's shrinking glaciers is beginning to roll downhill, and nowhere is the impact more striking than on the volcano's west side.
"This is it in spades," said Park Service geologist Paul Kennard, scrambling up a 10-foot-tall mass of dirt and boulders bulldozed back just enough to clear the road.
As receding glaciers expose crumbly slopes, vast amounts of gravel and sediment are being sluiced into the rivers that flow from the Northwest's tallest peak. Much of the material sweeps down in rain-driven slurries called debris flows.
"The rivers are filling up with stuff," Kennard said from his vantage point atop the pile. He pointed out ancient stands of fir and cedar now up to their knees in water.
Inside park boundaries, rivers choked with gravel are threatening to spill across roads, bump up against the bottom of bridges and flood the historic complex at Longmire. Downstream, communities in King and Pierce counties are casting a wary eye at the volcano in their backyard. There are already signs that riverbeds near Auburn and Puyallup are rising. As glaciers continue to pull back, the result could be increased flood danger across the Puget Sound lowlands for decades.
"There is significant evidence that things are changing dramatically at Mount Rainier," said Tim Abbe, of the environmental consulting firm ENTRIX. "We need to start planning for it now," added Abbe, who helps analyze Mount Rainier's river systems.
Similar dynamics are playing out at all the region's major glaciated peaks, from Mount Jefferson to Mount Baker, said research hydrologist Gordon Grant, of the U.S. Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station in Corvallis, Ore.
Climate experts blame global warming, triggered by emissions from industries and cars, for much of the ongoing retreat of glaciers worldwide.
North Cascades National Park has lost half of its ice area in the past century. Mount Rainier's glaciers have shrunk by more than a quarter. "Every year it's been either bad or really bad," Kennard said. "This year it was really, really bad."
Glaciers buttress immense moraines and stabilize steep slopes. As they pull back, the vulnerable terrain is exposed to weather and tugged by gravity. All recent debris flows on Mount Rainier have occurred in recently deglaciated areas, Grant said.
"The whole mountain is covered with unstable debris, it's steep -- and then you put a lot of water on it," he said.
Most debris flows are triggered by heavy rain. Climate scientists disagree on whether the entire Northwest is being hit by significantly stronger storms than in the past, but there's no doubt that's the case at Mount Rainier, Kennard said.
Precipitation records show more intense rainfall. According to stream-flow data, what was once a 100-year flood on the Nisqually River now occurs every 14 years. In 2006, a November storm dumped 18 inches of rain on the park in 36 hours, sweeping away a campground and closing the park for more than six months.
"Even without climate change, you've got to say: 'Whoa, something is going on here,' " Abbe said.
Debris flows can carry boulders the size of buses and sweep staggering amounts of gravel and sediment into rivers. The bed of the Nisqually River below its namesake glacier has risen by 38 feet since 1910, largely as a result of debris flows from the margins of the rapidly retreating ice, Kennard said.
The park visitor center at Longmire, with its stone buildings and National Park Inn, now sits more than 30 feet below the Nisqually River. The park constructed concrete-reinforced berms to keep the water at bay.
Every river bed in the park is rising, or aggrading, because of the influx of gravel, Kennard said. The rate of buildup has increased nearly tenfold over the past decade.
The result is a constant and costly battle to keep popular recreation areas throughout the park open. It's a battle that's being lost in many places, like the Westside and Carbon River roads, which are partially closed.
Like conveyor belts, the rivers move the gravel downstream toward more heavily populated areas. A surprise flood that hit the city of Pacific in January 2009 can at least partly be blamed on volume reduction in the White River caused by accumulation of sediment, U.S. Geological Survey hydrologist Chris Magirl said.
Magirl, who has examined aggradation rates and historical records for downstream river stretches, sees similar buildup in several locations. But channels appear to be deepening in other places, including portions of the Puyallup and Cowlitz rivers. That type of variation is expected in such a complex system, Magirl said. But the long-term outlook for the rivers is not good.
"The potential for glacial retreat to add new sediment is historically unprecedented," he said. "Clearly, water and rock are going to flow downhill."
Glacial retreat may be aggravating the flow of sediment, but the basic process is as old as the volcano itself. Past eruptions have unleashed mud flows that smothered surrounding valleys and reached all the way to Puget Sound.
From the 1930s through the 1980s, Pierce County dredged gravel from the Puyallup River system almost every year to reduce the risk of floods, said Lorin Reinelt, program manager for the county's flood-management plan.
Most dredging ended by the early 1990s, as concern for fish habitat took precedence. Officials also realized that digging out gravel provides only a brief fix, at best, Reinelt said. "In many cases it just fills back up during the next event."
Communities now are trying to figure out what rising levels of gravel and sediment from Mount Rainier will mean for future flood risks -- and what they can do about it.
Short of relocating Longmire, dredging is the only obvious way to keep the river from swallowing the park complex, Kennard said. Downstream, Reinelt said, a more effective approach might be to move levees back to give the rivers more room to spill their banks, meander and deposit gravel without impacting homes or businesses.
"This is a pretty significant issue," he said. "It seems like we're on a trajectory that's not likely to reverse any time soon."
(c) 2010, The Seattle Times.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

subset: commoncrawl


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TOKYO (AP) — Now it's official: Toyota is once again the world's top automaker.
Toyota Motor Corp. released its tally for global vehicle sales for last year Monday at a record 9.748 million vehicles — a bigger number than the estimate it gave last month of about 9.7 million vehicles.
It was already clear Toyota had dethroned General Motors Co. as the Detroit-based automaker fell short, selling 9.29 million vehicles.
GM had been the top-selling automaker for more than seven decades before losing the title to Toyota in 2008.
GM retook the sales crown in 2011, when Toyota's production was hurt by the quake and tsunami in northeastern Japan.
The latest results show Toyota's powerful comeback.
Global vehicle sales for the maker of the Camry sedan, Prius hybrid and Lexus luxury model surged nearly 23 percent from the previous year. Overseas sales jumped 19 percent, while sales in Japan, where the economy has been troubled, recovered a whopping 35 percent.
Volkswagen AG of Germany, the world's No. 3 automaker, sold a record 9.1 million vehicles around the world.
All three automakers play down the significance of the sales ranking and say they are focused on making attractive products.
"Rather than going after numbers, we hope to make fine products, one by one, to keep out customers satisfied. The numbers are just a result of our policy. And our policy will continue unchanged," said Toyota spokeswoman Shino Yamada.
Still, the recovery for Toyota is impressive. Like other Japanese automakers, Toyota's production was devastated by the March 2011 disasters, which disrupted supplies of crucial components. Flooding in Thailand, where Toyota has factories, also hurt car production.
Before that, it struggled against a crisis of massive recalls in the U.S. over defective floor mats, gas pedals and brakes, involving millions of vehicles, some recalled over and over, that hurt its reputation for quality.
Toyota officials have vowed to scrutinize quality, and have held back product development to minimize recalls.
From the middle of last year, it was hit by another kind of problem — a widespread boycott of Japanese products, including Toyota cars, in China over a territorial dispute.
But sales growth in other parts of the world, including the U.S. and Asian nations such as Indonesia and India, was more than enough to offset such losses.
Toyota is planning to sell 9.91 million vehicles globally in 2013, putting it back on track toward its earlier goal of 10 million vehicles — a target that it had made a special effort to play down after its recall crisis.


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Whenever you read a science-fiction novel, words become images in an instant. All classical limits are defied, and therefore a never-ending land of possibilities is thus revealed. Here are 3 amazing SF movies you probably didn't know were inspired by books. Before the film industry learned how to do so many wonderful things as far as special effects are concerned, our parents and grandparents and grand grand parents were mesmerized while spending their summer holidays reading Jules Verne's amazingly adventure SF novels. They needed no movie to show them how to imagine everything they were reading about, despite the fact that Jules Verne was talking about worlds nobody had ever heard of.
But as cinema evolved, SF books had to, just had to be screened.
Arthur C. Clarke and Stanley Kubrick's 2001: Space Odyssey
Movie director Stanley Kubrick shook hands with writer Arthur C. Clarke, and had written a SF novel together that was instantly turned into a film. The result of their teaming up is none other than 2001: Space Odyssey, which was released in both forms in 1968. Kubrick's intention was of sheer penetration of the audience's subconscious, with no verbal distractions in the way. The emotional and conceptual content was to be transmitted through images only. Not classical SF ones representing sticky aliens and huge spaceships. He worked with Douglas Trumbull from NASA in order to render the exact movements of a human body in space. He also hired over 40 people on the set who had to make sure that every detail and density described in the book existed in the movie as well. All this grace is enriched by Richard Strauss' music, underlining the grandeur of the space in such a sensitive, yet grand perspective. This is definitely one of the most amazing movies ever made.
Ray Bradburry and Francois Truffaut's Farenheit 451
The novel Farenheit 451 was written by Ray Bradburry and turned into a film by Francois Truffaut. This short novel began as a love letter that Bradburry wrote to books. From here it turned into an anti-totalitarianism and anti-censorship critique. The movie, starring Oskar Werner as inquisitor Guy Montag and Julie Christie as Clarissa, the one true free and fragile spirit that makes Guy question his own non-liberal ideas and beliefs. The movie is less faithful to the book as far as the romance story is concerned so that the audience can have something more obvious reason to cry. Nevertheless the bleak atmospheres of the book, as well as the never-ending tension are faithfully contained in the film, too.
Despite the fact that it was written 61 years ago, Farenheit 451 is a steadfast cultural bench and Michael Moore's Farenheit 9/11 is a clear statement underlining this tribute.
Anthony Burgess and Stanley Kubrick's Clockwork Orange
Yes, Stanley Kubrick again! But this time with a different writer and not such a perfect coordination than his other movie mentioned above. The Clockwork Orange dispute is an eternal one because of the fact that no one has enough arguments to sustain which one was better. They are works of genius, but taken separately. There's something different about them. Burgess' book was released in 1962 and Kubrick's movie in 1971 and they both are absolute masterpieces.
While Burgess accepted he felt frustrated because of the fact that none of his following books had the same success, Kubrick has no regrets whatsoever. Malcom McDowell was definitely the only man form this planet who could have portrayed the malefic Alex and his ultra-violent deeds in an unknown future with familiar references. It's hard to talk about this book or about this movie using concrete words. It's all about the atmosphere, the strange language they use, the tension and the incredible paradoxes. This time we have Beethoven's 9th symphony to sharpen our emotions.


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What you're getting
1 x Candie Shell in either minky or PUL
1 x Snap in Trifold 1 x Lay in Booster
How Candies work
Bubblebubs candies are one sized but do not have rise snaps, to see how they fit click the how to fit tab below These gorgeous Bubblebubs Candies one sized all in two (Ai2) nappies are specifically designed to grow with your baby. They are made from soft polyester PUL or super soft minky laminated with PUL and with an inner layer is made from smooth soft suedecloth, which wicks moisture away from the skin.The snap in 2 layer trifold has a suedecloth panel in the centre which helps keep your baby dry. There is an additional 3 layer lay in booster. The booster can be folded in half and positioned exactly where it is needed.
The booster set is made from 450gsm bamboo fleece giving 9-12 layers of super thick bamboo, which is super thirsty.The fabrics used in our nappies are custom milled to the highest standards offering you quality that is second to none.
The shells will fit from approx 4kgs to 15kgs, which will see most children fitting them from around birth-4wks through to toilet training. The best part about our Bubblebubs Candies is the 2 row side snap configuration. It is this configuration that allows the nappy to fit comfortably on the smallest baby right through to chunkiest of toddlers. As it is side snap wing droop is non-existent and the 2 rows of snaps allow for a great fit around the legs and the waist which will ensure that everything is contained. It also means there are no rise snaps to adjust making it the easiest one size nappy on the market to use.
Features at a glance One Sized fitting from 4kgs to 15kgs Side Snapping giving a great fit around legs and waist Outer of super soft minky and inner of smooth suedecloth Can be used with our Snap in Bamboo Booster set that gives up to 12 layers of absorbency, or as a cover over our fitted nappies. If aired out between uses, the covers can be used multiple times during a day.
Category: AI2, All in two, Bubblebubs, Nappies, One size fit most, Shop, Shop All


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Does A Head in the Polls really prove that there are more robots on Earth than humans? Nixon won by one vote on the strength of robot support, but the human vote was already split between Johnson and Jackson, so Nixon could have won with a little over a third of the total vote. Add to this the fact that aliens resident on Earth can also vote (like Zoidberg, and Leela, who was believed to be an alien at the time), plus the fact that we don't know if every robot voted for Nixon (although that did seem to be implied)... and you can't infer that much about the human/robot balance from that episode. 18.104.22.168 05:28, 5 May 2008 (PDT)
- True, we cannot be entirely sure how many robots there are. However, there are probably more robots than humans. But that may be a reference to the fact that even today, people have more than one computer. And since a robot is basically a computer, it is undoubtedly there is more humans than robots in the future. You are just forgetting that all robots aren't like Bender (see Mother's Day for instance). The real question is, are all of these robots allowed to vote? Or only those who are not labour bots? I agree with you though, the argument for more robots than humans should not be the election of 3000, but rather the plausibility. --SvipTalk 06:49, 5 May 2008 (PDT)
However, there was an incredilbly low human voter turnout (like 11% according to Linda, however i havent seen it in a while) so that means that there could be more humans.Sir Mr. Dr. Professor FutureFan 07:29, 23 May 2010 (CEST)
Shouldn't this page be named "Robots"? --Farnsworth 21:20, 15 July 2011 (CEST)
- What are you talking about? This page is named robots. 22.214.171.124 01:30, 26 June 2012 (CEST)
- Look at the date of his comment. It was not called 'Robots' at the time. --Sviptalk 11:56, 26 June 2012 (CEST)


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Sizzix Ink-its Letterpress Plate - Stockings
Ink-its Letterpress Plates combine style and ease to create artful ink-debossed impressions. This easy process impresses paper, cardstock, chipboard, mat board and other soft, thick materials. Elegant enough for any occasion, they provide the perfect accents for cards, invites, scrapbook pages and more.
The plate perfectly creates a border to an A7 card. Simply ink the plate using an ink pad and place your material carefully on top of the plate. Ink-its Letterpress Plates are for use with the BIGkick, Big Shot and Vagabond machines only (used with one Cutting Pad and the machine's included platform).
Use pigment ink layered over clear watermark ink and medium weight (or heavier) watercolor paper – 100 lb. or more – for best results. Craft metal can also be impressed, but using shiny, non-porous materials with ink is not recommended because the ink will not dry. If using regular cardstock and not getting the impression you desire, place a thin piece of craft foam between the Cutting Pad and your paper. Water and a paper towel will remove most inks. For tougher cases, we recommend stamp cleaner for cleaning your Ink-its Letterpress Plates.


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Score A Sidekick LX For Just $39.99, No This Isn't A Late April Fools Joke
I've really got nothing to say about this other than don't buy it…it's useless, the Sidekick platform as we once knew it is dead. You can't use data, like at all. Don't purchase it…but feel free to point and laugh and spread it around among your friends. Well, I take that back, feel free to buy it and hang it on your shelf as a T-Mobile memento for days gone by. This "deal" ends at midnight.


text: MousePlanet publishes brand new articles every weekday. As a result, it doesn't take long between visits before you'll have missed new articles that have left our home page. On this page we provide several different ways for you to find what you've missed, or to track down something you know you've seen before.


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Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
Safdie, Moshe
Download1A1-SM-MB-A10_cp.jpg (400.7Kb)
Alternative Titles
Musée des Beaux-Arts de Montréal
Jean-Noël Desmarais Pavilion
Entry, side view looking east at street level; The museum is housed in two buildings: the 1912 Michal and Renata Hornstein Pavilion, a marble-encrusted building in the classical style designed by the architects Edward and William S. Maxwell and the modernist Jean-Noël Desmarais Pavilion across the street, designed by Moshe Safdie, built in 1991. The building stands on the south side of Sherbrooke Street, facing the one built in 1912. Safdie wanted to give the new entrance to the Montreal museum a monumental appearance that would match that of the Maxwell brothers' neoclassical portico but at the same time signal a radically different concept of the museum. The 1912 portico frames a set of heavy oak and bronze doors that stand as a bulwark protecting treasures contained in a temple to art. Safdie's great arch in white marble, on the other hand, opens onto an entrance-hall flooded in light from a huge glazed roof. Source: Montreal Museum of Fine Arts; http://www.mmfa.qc.ca/ (accessed 11/23/2007)
Type of Work
art museumSubject
architectural exteriors, contemporary (1960 to present), Art museums, Postmodern
Rights Statement
Licensed for educational and research use by the MIT community only


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You've Got Spam: How to "Can" Unwanted Email
As more people use email, marketers are increasingly using email messages to pitch their products and services. Some consumers find unsolicited commercial email—also known as "spam"—annoying and time consuming; others have lost money to bogus offers that arrived in their email inbox.
Typically, an email spammer buys a list of email addresses from a list broker, who compiles it by "harvesting" addresses from the Internet. If your email address appears in a newsgroup posting, on a website, in a chat room, or in an online service's membership directory, it may find its way onto these lists. The marketer then uses special software that can send hundreds of thousands—even millions—of email messages to the addresses at the click of a mouse.
The FTC suggests that you treat commercial email solicitations the same way you would treat an unsolicited telemarketing sales call. Don't believe promises from strangers. Greet money-making opportunities that arrive at your inbox with skepticism. Most of the time, these are old-fashioned scams delivered via the newest technology.
Tips to Reduce Spam
Try not to display your email address in public. That includes newsgroup postings, chat rooms, websites, or in an online service's membership directory. You may want to opt out of member directories for your online services; spammers may use them to harvest addresses.
Check the privacy policy when you submit your address to a website. See if it allows the company to sell your address. You may want to opt out of this provision, if possible, or not submit your address at all to websites that won't protect it.
Read and understand the entire form before you transmit personal information through a website. Some websites allow you to opt out of receiving email from their "partners"—but you may have to uncheck a preselected box if you want to opt out.
Decide if you want to use two email addresses—one for personal messages and one for newsgroups and chat rooms. You also might consider using a disposable email address service that creates a separate email address that forwards to your permanent account. If one of the disposable addresses begins to receive spam, you can shut it off without affecting your permanent address.
Use a unique email address. Your choice of email addresses may affect the amount of spam you receive. Spammers use "dictionary attacks" to sort through possible name combinations at large ISPs or email services, hoping to find a valid address. Thus, a common name such as jdoe may get more spam than a more unique name like jd51x02oe. Of course, there is a downside—it's harder to remember an unusual email address.
Use an email filter. Check your email account to see if it provides a tool to filter out potential spam or a way to channel spam into a bulk email folder. You might want to consider these options when you're choosing which Internet Service Provider (ISP) to use.
What Can I Do With the Spam?
Report it to the Federal Trade Commission. Send a copy of unwanted or deceptive messages to firstname.lastname@example.com. The FTC uses the unsolicited emails stored in this database to pursue law enforcement actions against people who send deceptive spam email.
Let the FTC know if a "remove me" request is not honored. If you want to complain about a removal link that doesn't work or not being able to unsubcribe from a list, you can fill out the FTC's online complaint form at www.ftc.gov. Your complaint will be added to the FTC's Consumer Sentinel database and made available to hundreds of law enforcement and consumer protection agencies. You can also call the FTC toll–free: 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261.
Whenever you complain about spam, it's important to include the full email header. The information in the header makes it possible for consumer protection agencies to follow up on your complaint.
Send a copy of the spam to your ISP's abuse desk. By doing this, you can let the ISP know about the spam problem on their system and help them to stop it in the future. Make sure to include a copy of the spam, along with the full email header. At the top of the message, state that you're complaining about being spammed.
Complain to the sender's ISP. Most ISPs want to cut off spammers who abuse their system. Again, make sure to include a copy of the message and header information and state that you're complaining about spam.


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Colt Ford Announces 2012 Tour.
Colt Ford has announced he will be kicking off a tour this Spring, titled The Declaration of Independence Tour 2012. It will kick off in Albany, GA on April 6th, and Ford will be joined on the road by JB an The Moonshine Band, Lenny Cooper, Rehab and The Lacs. The tour will run through June 6th and cover considerable territory from Florida to Texas to Kansas to all over! A special detail added by Ford at each concert will be a area specifically for families.
"I have the most die-hard, rockin' country music fans and they come in ALL ages…When I look out in the crowds I see people anywhere from six to sixty years old. I really wanted to set up an all ages tour and create 'family friendly' zones to play for everyone that enjoys my music. This 'Declaration of Independence' tour will offer just that… fun for the whole family and then some!"
Be on the lookout because pre-sales will start Wednesday, February 15th.
Colt Ford's Declaration of Independence Tour 2012, Complete Dates
4/6/2012: Albany, GA
4/7/2012: Florence, AL
4/13/2012: Forest, MS
4/14/2012: Monroe, LA
4/15/2012: New Braunfels, TX
4/20/2012: Hiawassee, GA
4/21/2012: Florence, SC
4/27/2012: Danville, VA
4/28/2012: Beckley, WV
5/4/2012: Fort Smith, AR
5/5/2012: Shelbina, MO
5/12/2012: Blytheville, AR
5/18/2012: Pinnacle, NC
5/19/2012: Cookeville, TN
5/26/2012: Lake Wales, FL
5/27/2012: Perry, FL
6/1/2012: Lake Charles, LA
6/2/2012: Pensacola, FL
6/8/2012: Wichita, KS
6/9/2012: Blevins, AR


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The main map here shows the assortment of landforms near the location of NASA's Curiosity Mars rover as the rover's second anniversary of landing on Mars nears. The gold traverse line entering from upper right ends at Curiosity's position as of the 705th Martian day, or sol, of the mission on Mars (July 31, 2014). The inset map shows the mission's entire traverse from the landing on Aug. 5, 2012, PDT (Aug. 6, UTC) to Sol 705, and the remaining distance to long-term science destinations near Murray Buttes, at the base of Mount Sharp. The label "Aug. 5, 2013" indicates where Curiosity was one year after landing.
Curiosity spent much of July 2014 crossing an upland area called "Zabriskie Plateau," where embedded, sharp rocks presented hazards for the rover's wheels. The traverse line enters the main map at the rover's location as of Sol 692 (July 17, 2014). A near-term science destination is the "Pahrump Hills" feature near the lower left corner. Scientists anticipate that outcrop rock there may provide a preview of a geological unit that is part of the base of Mount Sharp, rather than floor of Gale Crater. Between the Sol 705 location and Pahrump Hills, the rover's anticipated route dips into sandy-floored valleys.
Scale bars are 50 meters (164 feet) on the main map and 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) on the inset map. The base images for the map are from the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. For broader-context views of the area that Curiosity is crossing within Gale Crater, see PIA16064 and PIA15687.
Before the first anniversary of the landing, NASA's Mars Science Laboratory Project, which built and operates Curiosity, achieved its main science objective of determining whether Mars ever offered environmental conditions favorable for microbial life. Rock-powder samples drilled from two mudstone rocks at Yellowknife Bay and analyzed onboard yielded evidence for an ancient lakebed with mild water, the chemical elements needed for life and a mineral source of energy used by some Earth microbes.
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a division of the California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, manages the Mars Science Laboratory Project and Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Project for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, Washington.


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Life depends on exchange. To this end, and on the cellular level, molecules are continuously secreted for the purposes of signalling, strengthening, transporting, protecting... Sometimes, the primary role of a molecule can bring about an unforeseen consequence which - if positive - is gladly preserved for the benefit of the species. This seems to be the case for a particular form of a polysaccharide known as hyaluronan: high molecular mass hyaluronan, or HMM-HA. The polymer is secreted in large quantities in a rather peculiar animal - the naked mole rat, or Heterocephalus glaber - and is thought to be responsible, at least in part, for the animal's exceptionally long life span, because of the total absence of any form of cancer. Consequently, understanding how HMM-HA achieves this - and particularly the enzyme which synthesizes it, hyaluronan synthase 2 - could pave the way to therapies able to fight off the formation of malignant tumours.
Naked mole rats are peculiar creatures that live in the plains of East Africa. They were first described by Eduard Ruepell (1794-1884), a German naturalist and explorer, who thought he had come across a diseased or mutated rat. The species does, indeed, seem to be one of Nature's freaks. They are one of the very rare mammals who live in colonies that are organised like those of ants. There is one queen and two or three sexually active males, while the rest of the colony is busy burrowing away or fighting off predators. They are very short-sighted, move backwards and forwards with equal ease, are unable to regulate their body temperatures and spend their whole life underground, squeezing their way through dark narrow tunnels in oversized elastic skin, as though they were all wearing handed down sweaters. And, last but really not least, they have a lifespan of about 30 years - 20 times longer than that of other rodents, and the equivalent of 600 years for a human being...
The elasticity of the rats' skin is important for the surroundings in which they live and is the makings of the polysaccharide HMM-HA. HMM-HA is a very large version of hyaluronan (HA), which is secreted by fibroblasts into the extracellular matrix, and coats the outer plasma membrane along with other extracellular macromolecules such as collagen. HA participates in giving tissues their shape, and skin its elasticity, but also regulates fundamental cell behaviours such as cell adhesion, cell migration and cell differentiation. Naked mole rat fibroblasts synthesize a very long and large (5 to 6 times larger than in mice) version of HA - or HMM-HA - by building a thick cushion of goo around the cell's surface. It is thought that this special form of HA evolved in naked mole rats to help them squeeze more easily through their narrow tunnels. It is this thick protective layer that prevents tumour cells from replicating by literally nipping would-be cancers in the bud.
HA is synthesized by three different hyaloruonan synthases in mammals - each of which produce HA of a different size, with different properties. HA which coats the cells' membranes are synthesized by hyaluronan synthase 2, or HAS2. It is a transmembrane protein; its product, HA, is synthesized inside the cell and then secreted. In naked mole rats, HAS2 has a unique sequence change: two asparagine amino acids - which are conserved 100% in all other mammals - are replaced by two serine amino acids. These two Ser are located in the middle of the cytoplasmic loop which contains the enzyme's active site. The exchange of asparagine for serine is enough to direct the production of HMM-HA, which gives the extra goo to the naked mole rats' cells.
In what way does HMM-HA protect naked mole rats from cancer? HA has a role in the regulation of cell proliferation. When the level of polysaccharide is high, cells stop multiplying. And when it is low, they don't. This is the consequence of a phenomenon known as contact inhibition, i.e. when cells come into contact with each other or the extracellular matrix. When HMM-HA is secreted, it binds to receptors on cell surfaces which, in turn, trigger off anti-mitotic signals, thus preventing the cell from multiplying. It is then easy to understand that contact inhibition is a powerful anticancer mechanism - which malignant tumour cells have lost. The accumulation of HMM-HA in naked mole rats is caused by an overexpression of HAS2, weak expression of HA-degrading enzymes and good binding affinity. The result is a mass of hyaluronan in the rats' tissues, which - though first meant for elasticity and viscosity - acts as a barrier to cancer almost as an afterthought.
Rats and mice are used as laboratory models because of their relatively short life span of about 4 years due, in part, to their tendency to develop cancer. Hence, rats and mice must have fewer anticancer mechanisms than naked mole rats. This is why it would be informative to inspect these creatures more closely.
HA is already administered by injection to treat arthritis and wrinkles. But how would you administer HMM-HA to every tissue? Engineering each cell type in a human body would be problematic. Therapies could also target HMM-HA's receptor or the downstream signalling pathway. Besides anticancer remedies, in the future it may be possible to modify human skin, brain, eyes and blood vessels - tissues in which HA production decreases with age, making them lose their elasticity. A greater knowledge of HMM-HA and its accidental role in preventing cancer and extending life may well help lengthen the lives of humans in the future. But there is more to a long life than molecules. Bestowed with infinite patience and a peaceful social organisation, naked mole rats go through life under - what seems to be - little stress...


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HowTo:Blow a dog
How to blow a dog? is a question I've often asked myself. Realizing this, I suddenly knew that everyone else alive has often asked themselves the same question. After literally minutes of research I learned that Cosmopolitan magazine has never fully addressed this important topic, nor have any other girly, sporty, or scientificy magazines. And, most surprisingly, pet magazines catering to pet owners and dog "lovers" have never presented their target audience with the complete answer to, apparently, the most popular unasked question in the world: "How do I blow a dog?"
Well, guess what. I don't take no for an answer. I went out and found out firsthand how to blow a dog, and now I'll tell you so you won't have to reinvent the wheel.
Find a dog
First, find a dog. You may have one at home. Or the neighbors usually have some. This is an easy first step, as dogs are everywhere. And I've come to learn that all of them want to be blown.
Get the dog alone
This is easy if you have a dog at home. If you live alone with the dog, Bingo! Even if you live with other people, just get the dog to follow you into a room where nobody else is, or take it into the basement. Getting it there is as easy as putting a treat in your hand, making one of those little sounds that the dog knows means either "come with me" or "food", and walking while patting the outside of your hip or thigh. The dog will follow. Even that Dog Whisperer guy will tell you that this stuff works. Pure gold, this information I'm giving you.
Romance the dog
You don't have to romance the dog. The dog wants to be blown as soon as you dim the lights and start the process. Give the dog a pat or a kiss on the head and you'll have it standing at attention and eating out of your hand. That's all you really need to do in the "romance" department.
Gender of the dog
Makes no difference. You know what to do either way.
Okay, just blow the dog already
Just blow the dog. Start to apply hot air and friction to whatever's down there. There you go, you've got the hang of it.
The two biggest problems as you blow the dog
I've found that there are two main problems you have to work around. First and foremost, pull away quickly when the dog starts to pee. They love to play this joke on you. I've learned that. All dogs do it. You will be going along nicely, both of you enjoying the experience, and the dog will start to pee. The dog just lets it flow. Why? I dunno. But this is just what a dog likes to do if you are blowing it properly, so be prepared for it.
The other main problem is that if you are really blowing the dog, well, it will scream like a banshee. People within hearing range will think that you are pulling out the dog's insides with freakin' pliers or something. And all you're doing is making the dog happy. They all do this. I don't know what to tell you. Just be prepared.
After you blow the dog
Let it outside. By this time it will be all superior and taking on the alpha role, and you're going to have to get it outside and watch it poop to put it back in its place. And leave it out there for awhile. At least for a few minutes after it starts to bark to be let back in, just to show it who's boss. If you don't do this you'll going to have a renegade dog on your hands, one who thinks that you're going to blow it every time it rubs its pretty tail in your face.
Well, okay, I wanted to answer the one important question that everyone's afraid to ask their friends, family, or even some college undergrad working at one of those sick "Ask Me Your Most Embarrassing Question" Internet freak sites. I went in, did the experiments, and have clarified any remaining ambiguities. Now you know what I know. And if any of those doggy magazines or one of the fancy-pants plagiarizing columnists over at Cosmo suddenly starts to give out the same advice, you'll know where they got it. So, yeah, if you have any questions or some praise to bestow, take them to the source. Me. I did the work. I blew the dogs. And now I should reap the rewards.
Seems only fair.
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La Payunia, Campos Volcánicos Llancanelo y Payún Matrú
Permanent Delegation of the Republic of Argentina to the UNESCO
Provincia de Mendoza, Departamento Malargüe
The Tentative Lists of States Parties are published by the World Heritage Centre at its website and/or in working documents in order to ensure transparency, access to information and to facilitate harmonization of Tentative Lists at regional and thematic levels.
The sole responsibility for the content of each Tentative List lies with the State Party concerned. The publication of the Tentative Lists does not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever of the World Heritage Committee or of the World Heritage Centre or of the Secretariat of UNESCO concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its boundaries.
Property names are listed in the language in which they have been submitted by the State Party
The proposed site includes two protected areas: the Provincial Reserves Llancanelo Lake and Payunia
The first has 90,000 ha. of protected reserve, of which 65,000 ha., have been declared a Ramsar site in 1996. It is one of the few areas in the country with a participatory management plan, developed jointly with the residents, and is unique in the world with volumetric limits (600 m high and 600 meters deep), and so the conservation takes into account both, the air and its underground water reservoirs.
The reserve occupies a large depression (endorheic basin) modeled by volcanic processes and is fed by groundwater seepage (Menuco, Cari-lauquen, Carapacho) and surface contributions coming from the Andes (Malargüe River). Its size varies according to season but generally the lagoon is 50 km long from north to south and about 10-12 km wide east-west with a depth less than the meter.
In its environment highlights the Cerro Carapacho an ancient volcano and two other volcanoes known as Trapal and Coral. The most prominent feature are the aquatic birds, highlighting the concentrations of flamingo austral that nest regularly in the area, and the big and small threatened parinas that nest occasionally. It also highlights more than 10 species of waterfowl anatidae such as black-necked swan and coscoroba. It is also migratory route for many species of plovers, sandpipers and terns.
The Payunia Reserve covers 192.000 ha and is reserve since 1982, in the future will be expanded to 450,000 ha using available public land and other private lands with owners arrangement. In this part the volcanic territory reaches its peak focusing in its greater variety of volcanic landforms and creating a stunning landscape.
As distinctive features stand out in the relief the Payún Matru volcano with a huge caldera of 8 km in diameter which includes a semi-permanent lake inside the volcano and the Payún Liso volcano with a crater 400 m in diameter and 90 m deep. In addition, there are steppes with very low coverage among which we highlight the black solupe, jarillas, pichanilla, melosa and grass as the tupe and flechillas. Its concentrations of more than 11,000 individuals of guanacos, are remarkable as the density and diversity of fauna with two species of fox, Patagonian piche, puma, grassland cat, wild and the Andean cat, and the chinchillón occupies the edges of the plateaus. Among reptiles, various kinds of lizards are able to be seen and is where have been detected totally exclusive species or endemic in the site.
The flora and fauna have adapted to the volcanic soil and arid climate.
Justification of Outstanding Universal Value
Criteria (vii)
Payún Matru and Llancanelo Volcanic fields are situated in the south of Mendoza province in the La Payunia recently described by Martínez Carretero (2004). They form a continuous area, with exclusively volcanic landforms, framed on the west by the Andes.
The diversity of volcanic forms is unique in the world, because of the coexistence of efusive and explosive eruptions, uncommon scenario on our planet. Volcanoes show a striking scenic beauty of outstanding aesthetic importance. In Llancanelo Volcanic Field there are more than hundred monogenetic basaltic cones, responsible to have closed the drainage network of the Malargue river hydrological complex, generating the Llancanelo lake endoreic basin, wetland that provides an outstanding biodiversity for the region. Morover, the Payún Matru Volcanic Field is dominated by the occurrence of two giants volcanoes: Payun Matru, 3.350 masl and Payun Liso, 3.680 masl.
The beauty of this area is unique because of the major extensión of volcanic area, the wide variety of landforms and the contrast of its landscapes, from the wetlands of Llancanelo lake to the highlands moore of Payún Matru volcano. Thus, the diversity of environments for flora and fauna is remarkable ranging from lake habitat of flamingos in a depressed area to the domains of the condor in the high peaks.
Criteria (viii)
The volcanic activity of selected Site occurred during the Pleistocene-Superior and the Holocene. Because of the extreme youth of last eruptions (less than 10.000 years) volcanoes, their lavas and ashes are slightly eroded, maintain the landscape as it existed when the violent eruptions occurred. The preservation of this landscape brings us back to the time when the intensity of volcanic activity changed the geographical scene.
The diversity of eruptive styles conditioned forms of volcanoes: monogenetic cones, decapitated volcanoes due by gigantic volcanic explosions, stratocones with edifices of more than 2000 meters, huge calderas, variable morphology of lavas, from tens of kilometers long and a few meters thick to very short and thicknesses of over 200 m, some totally glassy, of singular beauty. This variety of volcanic landforms occur in very few places in the world because in volcanic fields worldwide the volcanism is always dominated by a single style eruption, either effusive or explosive. That is why we consider the site selected as unique in the world.
Statements of authenticity and/or integrity
The nominated property to be included on the Tentative List, covers an area of 8,000 km2 (approximately), and has all the necessary elements to express its outstanding universal value, being the most representative area of the Llancanelo and Payún Matru volcanic fields, containing all the varieties of volcanic landforms in this large district of 36,000 km2 and being the only place where are concentrated the younger eruptions, of less than ten thousand years old.
From a volcanology point of view it can be found all varieties of products and types of eruptions, frequent in volcanic fields of our planet. The eruptive styles range from effusive eruptions, called Hawaiian, to the explosive or plinian and sub-plinian style. Intermediate eruptive styles like Strombolian and Vulcanian are also frequent in the nominated property. The rocks composition range from olivine basalts, which magmas rise quickly from generation zone in the base of the lithosphere, about 100 kilometers deep, to trachytes, from magma chambers located very near the surface, within 1and 5 kilometers deep.
Small monogenetic volcanic cones, resulting from Strombolian eruptive phases, alternate with large stratovolcanoes (like Payún Liso) and giant shield volcanoes, such as Payún Matru. The lava flows range from low viscosity, eg., basalt, a few meters thick, to the highly viscous, such as trachyte, with thickness of more than 200 m. Consequently given all varieties of lava flows, from coulées, blocky lava, pahoehoe (smooth surface) and aa (rough surface) (both terms of Hawaiian origin.) The volcanoes are aligned along fissures of several kilometers in length. There are also many volcanoes whose morphology is caused by powerful explosions, known as phreatomagmatic volcanism, where the magma rises to reach the surface and interact with groundwater or surface water, and as a result of the rapid heating occurs a huge explosion (volcanoes Carapacho, Malacara, located in the Llancanelo volcanic field).
As detailed earlier, the property it is emphasized proposed to be incorporated into the Tentative List, is of adequate size, which allows a complete representation of the characteristics and of the eruptive processes, thus guaranteeing the integrity of the nominated site. He already has two cores inside formed by the two provincial reserves located a short distance and with a high potential to join in the future as one large unit, in addition to other planned extensions that become even more important and effective. In addition they allow the development and seasonal movements of many species represented since the depression of the Llancanelo Lake to the highest peaks of Andean influence, including territories of several and unique species worldwide
The site is one of the world areas that presents minimal human activity and most of the volcanic area is well preserved even today. In some areas there are small flocks of goats belonging to the few people who live there (0.05 inhabitants per km2). In the Payún Matru volcano and surrounding areas there are no permanent rivers and water is a limiting factor, these features make it into an almost uninhabited region, and so the landscape, flora and fauna remain unchanged. Furthermore it is noteworthy that the Secretary of Environment through the Dirección de Recursos Naturales Renovables of Mendoza province permanent handles the area through the rangers, and in this case, are effective reservations with management plans, facilitating the integrated management of the whole proposed as World Heritage.
Comparison with other similar properties
The proposed site has a wide range of eruptive styles, ranging from the extreme effusive to the extreme explosive, which can not be compared with other volcanic sites on the list of World Heritage Sites of UNESCO.
A comparison of the salient features that distinguish Payún Matrú and Llancanelo Volcanic Field with other volcanic sites known worldwide.
a) Teide National Park is a volcanic district which includes a large stratovolcano and several minor volcanic centers, located in the Island of Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain). It´s a World Heritage Site since July 28, 2007. The Teide stratocone, with a height of 3,718 m above sea level, is the largest volcano on this site. Its height is similar to those of Payún Matru and Payún Liso, the volcanic features of this site are dominated by the active volcano Mount Teide, as well as lava and pyroclastic products. The big difference is that the island of Tenerife is inhabited, however Llancanelo and Payunia have no anthropogenic modifications due to the sparse population that inhabits keeping a pristine state such in morphological and geological aspects as in those of an environmental nature.
b) The Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, located in the Hawaii Archipelago, is characterized by an effusive basaltic volcanism, with a great variety of pahoehoe and aa lavas, lava lakes and lava tunnels, covered by a dense vegetation, this situation does not occur in Llancanelo and Payunia where the volcanic forms are very clearly exposed enhancing the scenic beauty of the Site.
For all these reasons, we hold that the Site proposed is unique in the world in terms of volcanic diversity in the same area.


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We've covered Amphibious Houses in the past, and the Dutch seem to be the masters of designing floating homes — for obvious climatic reasons having to do with their wet marshy landscape. Now Dutch developer DuraVermeer adds their rendition of water-bound living with the addition of 26 amphibious homes in Massbommel in the Netherlands. Each of the brightly colored homes are built on the hollow concrete cube base that is anchored to the land by a single vertical pile. All utilities, including electricity and water are brought into the house through flexible pipes that allows each house to adapt to a 13 foot rise in the water table.
While the houses are not exactly cheap, starting at $310,000, DuraVermeer says the demand is still high and gaining international interest. Officials from New Orleans have visited Maasbommel to take a closer look at the floating houses and see how they might take the concept back home to address the similar climatic issues on the gulf coast.
A developing company in the construction and innovative industry, DuraVermeer continues to look for new ways of co-operation between different markets and governments. The design of the floating houses was an innovative and provocative challenge for the company to take on. + DuraVermeer's Amphibious Houses
+ WaterStudio's Amphibious Houses + Interview with Floating Architect Koen Olthius


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Enesco Cherished Teddies Ornament
Angel With Harp
Piece #: 912980H
Series: Christmas
Introduced: 1993
Status: Suspended 1996
Angel Bear With Harp
Part of the Enesco Cherished Teddies Ornaments Collection
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Cherished Teddies figurines and other Cherished Teddies collectibles.
You'll find many Retired, Suspended and Limited Edition pieces, as well as current issues!
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Earlier this month, Facebook made some waves in the mobile world when it acquired Pryte, a platform for carriers to sell bite-sized (byte-sized), cheaper, data for specific apps or other services. Facebook's interest was for its Internet.org push into developing markets, but it's not the only one interested in a la carte data: a similar model is also getting rolled out in the U.S.
FreedomPop, the U.S. mobile carrier that offers users "free" mobile services (coming soon to Europe, too), is planning a Pryte-style "pay as you app" feature where users can buy data allowances for specific apps. On top of that, it's also launching a "sponsored" service that will give people free data allowances for specific mobile apps for a period of time. The service is set to go live in Q3.
This will sit alongside FreedomPop's basic mobile service, with gives users 500 megabytes of free 4G usage each month, either on phones they purchase via FreedomPop or bring in to use on the network.
The screenshot above shows how the service (now in test mode) currently looks, and what kinds of offerings will be on it.
For example, users can buy Facebook usage for one hour for $1, or pay $7 to get it for a whole month; or get "sponsored" access to CNN's app for free.
From what I understand, the placement of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and CNN is more hypothetical than actual — FreedomPop has not yet confirmed what apps will be in the mix but says there will be at least three sponsored apps at launch, as well the option to pay by the hour/month for 50 of the most popular apps.
Since the sponsored data usage is effectively a kind of mobile advertising, I wouldn't be surprised to see gaming companies, which are strong users of mobile ads, among them.
FreedomPop will also include add-ons for its own services as part of the offering. They will include one-off purchases of unlimited voice, or "anything data" options that people can use for whatever they want.
More transparency
FreedomPop's move will give the carrier a clearer way to sell its own services — possibly a response to some of the criticism that it has faced over its lack of charging transparency, with some users accruing extra charges when they've unwittingly exceeded their "free" allowances.
This is partly to do with the disconnect between "bytes" and actual usage. "The biggest issue we see is a majority of users that don't really understand how data is measured or consumed, e.g. 1 MB vs 1 GB, or what apps consume what. They burn through 500MBs on 30 mins of YouTube," the company says. So instead it's working out charges for data usage based on particular apps.
That will likely mean that data-heavy options for a YouTube app package may be charged somewhat higher than, say, monthly package for Twitter. It's an interesting development, given the currents around net neutrality, although FreedomPop says that while it's a supporter of net neutrality, this is less about that "and more about an alternative model to our current 'freemium' model to try and make access free."
It's also interesting for a couple of other reasons.
For one, it points to how mobile data is evolving as we move from early and mid-stage adopters to more ubiquitous use of smartphones.
Those who have shied away from spending hundreds of dollars every month on mobile phone plans could be more likely to buy into mobile data use if it's offered in smaller segments and cheaper prices — or so the thinking goes. This trend's also being played out in devices themselves, with handset makers moving to offer low-cost smartphones targeting the same users.
"Currently, wireless access is a commodity that users pay a large premium for. However we see no reason why the access model can't look more like TV or the internet where advertisers essentially subsidize the "basic" content creation (e.g. NBC or TC) and users only pay for premium (e.g. HBO or WSJ.com)," the company tells me.
All the same, it's not guaranteed that a la carte will be to everyone's taste.
"From a user perspective, we will need to see if demand is significant enough to deliver real traction," the company says. "But, if you step back, a menu model is actually a more intuitive way to consume mobile data for a large segment of the population. It gives more control to the user and delivers more savings for a large segment of users who do most of their data consumption on a small segment of apps. Ultimately, it should allow an average user the ability to spend $10-$20 per month all in and fluctuate that up/down with actual consumption."
Although a la carte offerings may bring in lower average revenues per user, at least it gets those later adopters spending a little, with he hopes that it will eventually lead to more over time. It's a trend that is also being applied in other areas like streaming video, where some providers (like Wuaki in Europe) are playing around with how to charge for individual films and TV shows.
The other interesting point is that this is another step in how mobile advertising is changing.
It doesn't necessarily mean that invasive display ads on your mobile screen will be disappearing, but app sponsorship becomes another part of the ad inventory on offer. ESPN might sponsor an ESPN feed, but in theory LG or Samsung could sponsor it, too.
The idea will be to offer this in a programmatic way to advertisers: letting them sponsor data use of an app on a particular day (e.g. Monday nights), for a particular demographic (e.g. 21-34 year-olds), or in a particular region (e.g. in L.A.). "We are investing a lot to build out the capability for any app developer or company to sponsor data with pricing determined by an apps' 'proximate data consumption,'" a source at the company says.
FreedomPop is also going to offer "blitzes" of free app usage, which will tie sponsored data usage into SMS ads as well. For example, if, during the World Cup, ESPN or another brand wants to sponsor ESPN's app for the duration of a game, FreedomPop would send out paid SMS to users that says something like "Use of ESPN is free for the next two hours and your data plan will not be charged."
FreedomPop's user base of one-quarter of a million subscribers is tiny compared to the size of carriers like Verizon Wireless, which has nearly 125 million subscribers. FreedomPop says it's growing subscribers at a rate of 20% month-on-month.
It's also planning to make its first move outside the U.S., and it will announce its first carrier partner in Europe in the next two months.


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This week, community leaders came together to announce a new partnership and next steps for an important initiative helping fight homelessness in Maricopa County.
Thanks to a new partnership with Clear Channel Outdoor Americas, led by Phoenix Councilwoman Debra Stark, Healthy Giving billboards debuted today, ahead of the holiday season.
The Healthy Giving Council, now in its second year, builds on the network of goodwill and giving that exists in Maricopa County by adding sustainable ways to make a difference in the lives of those experiencing homelessness. The billboards will continue to spread that message to a larger, more diverse audience.
"The Healthy Giving Council is bringing people and resources together with the goal of providing lasting, long-term help to people experiencing homelessness," said Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego. "Phoenix is a proud partner in spreading the message of this important cause. "
"Phoenix residents are generous and want to help those in need—but we encourage people to give in a way that will help individuals end their homelessness," said Councilwoman Debra Stark. "I am grateful for the partnership with Clear Channel Outdoor Americas and their support of this campaign, as well as the joint efforts of the City, Maricopa County, faith-based organizations and the entire community."
"Maricopa County works with dedicated and experienced partners across the Valley to provide critical services to those experiencing homelessness," said Maricopa County Board of Supervisors' Chairman Bill Gates, District 3. "The Healthy Giving campaign is perfectly aligned with the County's approach. It's about encouraging people to give in a way that has a long-term positive impact on the community and can help people end their homelessness."
Thanks to Clear Channel Outdoor Americas generously donating time and space on digital billboards throughout the Valley, the Healthy Giving billboards will run in both English and Spanish through the holiday season, and in to 2020.
Background on the Healthy Giving Campaign:Each holiday season, cities across Maricopa County experience a rush of faith-based groups, non-profits, and individuals who want to help those who are experiencing homelessness. Food, clothing, and other supplies are often handed out on the streets. While this generosity is incredible, there are unintended consequences including wasted food, unsafe and unsanitary conditions in neighborhoods, and fewer individuals turning to established non-profits for services that could help them end their homelessness.
What is the alternative?Healthy giving, all year long. This is giving that takes the long-term needs of the individual and the community into consideration. The Healthy Giving campaign encourages you to direct your time and resources to community service organizations that prioritize building personal relationships with those they serve, relationships that can improve quality of life and can lead to housing, employment, and greater independence. This can mean volunteering or donating to groups that ensure your gifts are received by those in need and will have a lasting impact.
Learn more about healthy giving at: GiveSmartAZ.org.


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The One Brief is Aon's weekly guide to the most important issues affecting business, the economy and people's lives in the world today.
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Foxy Land 2
Have you ever played anything like Foxy Land 2 before? This game is so cool and entertaining, that you will have to play it a lot to see how it all ends. Young fox character struggles to solve an issue with a help of his friends, when suddenly they were kidnapped by wolves. Can you bring them back and collect coins?
Game Statistics
- Rating
- Rated 21
- Played 634