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Aquaculture: Opportunities in the Fastest-Growing Food Production System in the United States
July 2011
Almost half of the seafood we eat comes from aquaculture - seafood farming, which is the fastest-growing food production system in both the United States and the world. According to the World Wildlife Fund, when done responsibly, aquaculture's impact on wild fish populations, marine habitats, water quality, and society is minimal.
Fish Farming Operations and Equipment
Fish farms - producing fish as well as aquatic plants - are a sizable industry in many states; e.g., there are approximately 170 fish farms in Texas. Some aquaculture companies operate in multi-state locations; e.g., Aquaculture of Texas has facilities in 10 states.
Catfish farming is the nation's leading seafood farming industry. It is one of the most important agricultural activities in the South. Fish farms in more northern states tend to focus on coldwater fish species such as trout.
Salmon are farmed in Washington State and Maine. They are hatched in fresh water ponds and grown to maturity in ocean (salt water) pens. American Gold Seafoods operates two hatcheries near Rochester, Wash., and operates 120 pens in the Puget Sound. Cooke Aquaculture, Inc. has invested $60 million to increase Maine 2010 salmon production to 24.5 million pounds from less than 9 million pounds in 2007. Many fish farms also operate their own food processing plants.
A considerable amount of equipment is used to increase fish farm productivity. Manufacturers are small and mid-size firms, often family-owned. BA Products (Grand Prairie, Texas) produces fish feeders. Besides providing nutrition that promotes fish growth, many of these products have unique, patented features.
Outdoor Water Solutions (Springdale, Ark.) and other firms manufacture windmill aeration systems. Aeration is a process that pumps air bubbles into a pond to increase the oxygen content of the water. This enables a larger number of fish to be raised in a given pond.
Another manufacturer, Superior Windmill, Inc., has manufacturing facilities in Albion, N.Y., and Regina, Saskatchewan. Morgan Winds, LLC operates out of Oconto Falls, Wisc. Some of its systems are designed to prevent northern ponds from icing over, which increases fish mortality. Located in Prescott, Wisc., Kasco Marine provides floating de-icing equipment.
Pharmaceuticals: Keeping the Fish Healthy
Fish ponds densely pack fish in a small area creating an environment that promotes the spread of fish diseases. Aqua Ultraviolet's manufacturing plant located in Temecula, Calif., produces filters that help control the spread of fish diseases. Fish farms also use a significant number of antibiotics and vaccines to reduce fish mortality. Like human drugs, drugs to treat fish diseases have to be approved by the U.S. FDA.
The most destructive fish disease is furunculosis, a skin disease. Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health Corp. (Summit, N.J.) produces Aquaflor® (florfenicol), the first new FDA drug approved for use during furunculosis outbreaks in more than 20 years. Another recently approved drug is Terramycin® 200 (oxytetracycline) produced by Phibro Animal Health Corp.
(Ridgefield, N.J.). This product is used to treat fish ponds raising salmon, trout, and whitefish to reduce fish mortality. And Eka Chemicals, Inc. (Marietta, Ga.) recently obtained approval for 35 percent PEROX-AID® to treat fish eggs to prevent bacterial gill disease.
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Ergonomics is the scientific discipline of designing according to human need. Ergonomics at the workplace makes sure that every individual has a comfortable and efficient work position, which allows for movement as appropriate. This can help prevent muscular and skeletal problems, which are a substantial drain to society costing billions of pounds every year. A large amount of these problems and this cost is from bad workplace ergonomics.
Different types of work give different ergonomic challenges. In jobs involving heavy lifting, one can reduce the risks of injury by using specialized equipment. However, for most people, heavy lifts and hard manual labour are not representative of a normal day at work. More than half of the workforce sits for most of their workday. Thus, office ergonomics is to a large extent defined by the office chair you sit on and is now a very important part of healthy, workplace ergonomics.
The Back App chair will provide a dynamic sitting position that increases the blood flow and has both preventive and soothing impact on back pain. - Our surveys show that most of our customers use their Back App at work, and as much as 80% have experienced a positive health effect from sitting on the chair. This shows that the Back App chair can contribute to an environment with better workplace ergonomics.

subset: commoncrawl


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Property Management Fined After Tuesday's East Charlotte Apartment Fire
UPDATE: Officials say property management has been fined $5400 for "missing/nonexistent" documentation of smoke detectors for each apartment at the complex.
CHARLOTTE, NC– Tonight we know a heating unit caused a fire that burned through some apartments in east Charlotte. 19 people have been displaced including seven children.
The fire broke out around 5:30 this morning at the Park Creek Apartments off Milton Road.
One neighbor describes the scene as she and her children were forced to evacuate.
"It was just going into flames, the whole building. It was a disaster."
10 apartments were affected. The Red Cross is helping those displaced. The Charlotte Fire Department estimates the damage is around 200 hundred thousand dollars.


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Wes: It's hard to pick the ugliest debate in America these days. There are so many nominees: racial disharmony, income inequality, gun violence, wall building, Muslim banning, rich people tax cutting. I could keep on listing until Gabe and I reached our quota for the week.
But it's the issue of sexual assault that keeps me up at night. It's odd that it's become such a hot topic lately, when it's been a serious problem forever. As Sarah Lieberman and I have been working on our book "Consent-Based Sex Education," I'm reminded again of the statistics on young adult sexual assault and how those numbers underestimate the level of low- and no-consent sex going on around college campuses and beyond.
Putting your health firstVisit WellCommons.com for more of the latest local and national news on health, wellness, diet and exercise.
It is a rare young woman I encounter who has not had low-consent sex. Many have had no-consent sex. Yet quite often, what I would consider a sexual assault is seen by them to be just another bad night.
At the core of this problem lies a topic that begs controversy: drinking culture. I don't mean socializing with friends, I mean binge drinking. Black-out drunk drinking. Drinking that would under any other circumstance be referred to as alcoholic, but in the campus culture is a natural part of the social milieu.
Former Republican presidential candidate John Kasich recently advised students that to avoid sexual assault they should not to go to parties where there was a lot of alcohol. That went over well (heavy sarcasm) because it sounded like he was blaming the victims and affirming the offenders. Yet, as we can see in the backlash to his dumb comments, any slight hint that alcohol plays any role at all in campus sexual assault is panned and mocked and dismissed. And as anyone who talks intimately with college students knows, that's also dumb.
Intoxication is never an invitation to sexual incursion. Never. Nobody is getting what they deserve when they are assaulted under the influence of alcohol. Imagine if you were hit and injured by a drunk driver. Would you be culpable because you were out on the road? Of course not. Not even if you weren't wearing a seatbelt or you were texting at the time of the accident. Not even if you were over the legal limit of alcohol. The drunk still ran the stop-sign and T-boned your car.
And yet, from a practical, nonpolitical standpoint, if you control for seatbelts, texting and your own alcohol consumption, you make yourself a lot safer. The same is true for alcohol-related sexual assault. When going out, teens and young adults need to do the party equivalent of "defensive driving." In the end, the goal isn't just to raise political awareness. It's to protect people from harm. When it comes to consent and non-consent, moderate drinking is always safer for everyone concerned.
Gabe: It's hard to talk about realistic prevention without coming off as victim blaming. It's true that the best way to stop rape would be to teach assaulters to stop assaulting. Unfortunately, the Brock Turners of the world either do not care that what they did was wrong or they don't see it as assault. The best educators and parents can do is stress the key importance of consent.
A common metaphor for sexual consent is making someone tea. If someone does not want tea, don't force them to drink it. If someone wanted tea earlier and doesn't want it now, respect that change of mind. If someone is incapable of telling you whether or not they want tea, DO NOT give them tea. The more people that accept this simple idea, the better.
Sadly, we live in a world where some people who understand consent don't care. Much like the Stanford assaulter, they feel entitled to other people's bodies and no amount of education will change their outlook. It is wise to take precautions to make sure that they can't make their bad intentions materialize.
When going out, make sure you aren't alone and you stay that way. If someone remains sober, they can get anyone who doesn't feel safe out of harm's way in a hurry. Be aware of your surroundings. Serve as a lookout for others. If you see something worrisome, NEVER be afraid to say something. Speaking up can save the day. Carry some form of defense. It's better to be safe than sorry.
Awful people do awful things. Reading the letter of the Stanford victim was a punch in the gut for me. Even though she took precautions, she was brutally assaulted. In these cases, the best that can be done is to ensure justice is served and victims treated with compassion. Far too often that isn't what happens.
— Wes Crenshaw, Ph.D., ABPP, is author of "I Always Want to Be Where I'm Not: Successful Living with ADD & ADHD." Learn about his writing and practice at dr-wes.com. Gabe Magee is a Bishop Seabury Academy senior. Send your confidential 200-word question to firstname.lastname@example.com. Double Take opinions and advice are not a substitute for psychological services.
Copyright 2018 The Lawrence Journal-World. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. We strive to uphold our values for every story published.


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Today, I would like to introduce Muneki Takasaka's solo project "Paniyolo".
He has released 5 albums from schole records. All highly recommended. But today, I would like to mainly introduce his latest full album "Tama no Koto" released in May 2015.
"Shoryoko" from "Tama no Koto"
The whole album was recorded at "guzuri recording house" with an old friend of his, Hirofumi Nakamura, as the guest guitarist (momo Tsubaki, tricolor, etc).
The studio building used to belong to US army and now has a cafe next to it. Different from regular recording studios that are built in terms of the sound-proof quality and the reverb, the organic interior reminds you of the importance of the environmental vibe in the creation.
"Kazoku no Ji" from Tama no Koto
The melancholic melody sounds like a nursery rhyme. It's so soothing. Every single note is produced from his finger, without any intention to show off playing skills or chord knowledge.
Would you like to be indulged in this warm guitar sound?
Enjoy all the great 17 songs.


text: I currently get 2 + 1. Seniority date is 6/15/01. I can take 4 weeks next year correct? Just so long as one of them is after my 8 year mark? They handed out new vacation sheets and it didn't say the number of weeks on there. When I asked he said "i don't know" . Silly PT sups.


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View full details at EstateSales.NET: https://www.EstateSales.NET/LA/Opelousas/70570/1381635
Three Bedroom House, Former Gift Shop & Woodworking Shop Full of Treasures as Follows:
Lovely Formal Dining Room Table with 6 Matching Chairs, 2 China Cabinets,
Tell City Dining Room Table with 6 High Back Chairs,
4 Beautiful Sidebaords, 3 Dropleaf Tables, One Gated Table,
4 Wooden Rockers, Antique Iron Bed, Huge Dresser with Mirror, Nitestands,
Wicker Sofa with Matching Chair, 5 Wooden Trunks,
Antigue Wicker Baby Stroller, Trundle Iron Daybed
Over 100 Pieces of Crystal, Glassware, Depressionware, Fine China,
Can't wait to see you at our sale. Setup was 3240.
Tea Sets, Well Over 100 Pieces of Milkglass & Imperial Doeskin Milkglass,
Beautiful Silverware, Wooden Italian Trays, Lenox Pieces, Miniature Shoe Decor,
Lots of Blue & White Pieces, Large Collection of Mudmen (entire village),
Over 25 Antique Candleabras, Stained Glass Firescreen,
3 Large Cast Iron Cracklin Pots, Large Collecrion of Cast Iron Pots,
Set of Sterling Silver Flatware
3 Large Magnalite Roasters Aluminum Ware & 6 Freshalators, Coffee Perculators,
Old Ceramic Bowls, Pyrex, Brandnew Turkey Fryer & Burner, Large Upright KitchenAid Mixer,
Keurig, Lots of Cookbooks, Tons of Crafting Supplies & Sewing Supplies,
3 Sewing Machines, Lots of Fabric, Several Comforter Sets,
VIntage Linens, Designer Clothes (Bob Mackie, Christian Dior), Designer Shoes, Men's Designer
Suits, Gorgeous Ties, Vintage Hats, Vintage Clothes,
Vintage Priest Robe from Italy,
Lighted Display Case, Refrigerator/Freezer, Kenmore Upright Freezer,
Large Kenmore Chest Freezer, 2 Solid Oak
Kenmore Washer n Dryer, Filing Cabinets, Metal Filing Cabinets,
2 Color Printers - Lexmark X7550 & hp psc2175 All in One Printer, Copier & Scanner,
Craftsman Direct Drive Scroll Set, Craftsman 2" x 4" Belt 8" Sander Grinder,
Craftsman 8 1/2" Multifunction Drill Press, Craftsman Confracfor Series Tablesaw,
2 Craftsman Woodworking Benches, Tools on Top of Tools, Gardening Tools also,
Winchester Gunsafe, Aluminum Ext. Ladder, Alum. 6 ft Ladder,
5500 Power Boss Generator, Workout Bench,
Well Over 100 Collectible Santas, Gorgeous Christmas Ornaments (Fitz & Floyd)
Camera Collection (Canon, Lynx, etc) Vintage Brownies & Vintage Polaroid,
Huge Adora Porcelin Doll Collection ( Brand New Still in Box)
100's of Minature Pocelin Dolls (still in box), Minature Tea Sets,
Several Elegant Doll Chairs & Furniture, 100 Rare Beanie Babies,
6 Vintage, Wooden Highchairs, Vintage Cribs
Huge Civil War Collection, Baseball Cards
Lots of Vintage Jewelry and so much more. BIggest Sale Ever!!!!!
I hope to see all of you here🙂🙂🙂
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On Wed, 13 Dec 2006, Luis Villa wrote:
Luis (everyone wish me luck on my Torts exam tomorrow.)
Ooo! I recommend a walnut raspberry tort. I'm sure that will wow the judges. My wife has some recipes she'd be glad to share.
--g ------------------------------------------------------------- Greg DeKoenigsberg || Fedora Project || fedoraproject.org Be an Ambassador || http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Ambassadors -------------------------------------------------------------


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Ali Tennant
The long-awaited return of one of the UKs finest soul voices responsible for the club smash 'Feeling You'. His new highly acclaimed album is already being hailed as one of the strongest Soul Albums for years. This is an exclusive VIP event hosted by JM Soul.
More Information:
Saturday 28th January 7 PM – 2 AM
Century Private Members Club, 61-63 Shaftesbury Avenue, W1D 6LQ London
Adv Tickets Only
A Hideaway debut for the UK soul man who first hit the charts with his debut album 'Unbreakable' featuring the Top 20 hit "Love Makes The World Go Round".
More Information:
Doors 7pm
2 Empire Mews, Stanthorpe Rd, Streatham, London SW16 2BF
Swing & Dine: Dub Organiser
Dub Organiser kick off 'The Swing & Dine' Sessions @ The Rum Kitchen Brixton Sun 29th Jan & bi-weekly thereafter. D.O's Keith Lawrence & Stu Tolhurst & guests play classic & vintage revival Reggae from the 60's,70's,80's with a touch of 90's thrown in.
More Information:
Sunday 29th January
437 Coldharbour Ln, Brixton, London SW9 8LN
Funky Nation Upstairs At Ronnies
The very best guest and resident DJs playing a mix of Jazz, Funk, Soul and Boogie every Saturday night. This week it's Mike Vitti and Phil Baker.
More Information:
Saturday 21st January
Advance Tickets Only
Ronnies Scotts, 47 Frith Street, Soho
Big Stuff
SupaSexiStylishHappiSmileyPeopleLooseSimpleFunkiMusic. Last Saturday Of The Month
More Information:
Jan 28 10PM – 3AM
10pm til 5am
Westbank Gallery 3-5 Thorpe London W10 5XL
£10 entry – £5 before 11pm – no entry after 1am.


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Vote for the Winning Photo
Mardi Gras is like a mecca for photographers. Bright colors, costumes, larger-than-life parade floats, and an abundance of beads make for plenty of great photos.
This year we need your help to decide who will win our 6th Annual Photo Contest.
It's simple. Just vote for your favorite picture below and the image with the most votes on Friday, March 31st will win a fabulous package to visit New Orleans.
But wait, there's more! You get to vote every day so set a reminder to cast your vote daily.
We have a winner!
The winner will be announced on Monday, April 3.
Note: The final number of votes shown is the accurate number after duplicates per day were removed automatically based on an algorithm used for this purpose.


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March 9 - April 2, 1997
Hello from Mel once again!!
We are now sitting on a beautiful beach in Thailand and Rob is enjoying the topless scenery, so I thought I'd catch up. As usual, Rob will go into the details and I'll give a quick update.
Singapore was a nice, clean city. As the budget accommodation turned out to be horrid (dirty with bed bugs, etc.), we treated ourselves to a real hotel with a TV and air-con. Aside from exploring the sights such as museums, shops, etc., we spent a rainy afternoon at the IMAX theater, then to the movies to see "Mars Attacks" (great movie) with a McDonalds hamburger to end our western day.
Malaysia was special for us as we met so many great travelers there. Most had come from the north and could offer their insights and advice. As a side note, I am writing this from China on the computer of Andy and Tina, a wonderful couple we met in Malaysia while they were on holiday. We are visiting their home in China, They are here on a 3 year contract. Also, thanks to Katie and Pat for your Vietnam Guidebook and all the hours of notes you poured into the margins. I can't emphasize enough how happy we were to meet such wonderful people.
In Malaysia we explored only four areas, I'll highlight each a bit:
Malacca (straights of Malacca) - Full of history and every bit of it meticulously detailed. The culture is diverse as there was Portuguese, Dutch, British, Japanese and now Malaysia rule coupled with a population of Chinese, Indian, European, etc. On top of all this, people worship many different ways - Muslims, Buddhist, Taoist, Deity Worship, Judaism and Christianity all co-exist. This made for a great mix of foods, cultural shows and shopping.
Kuala Lumpur - The two highlights for me were seeing "Hootie and the Blowfish" in concert and meeting Kwan and his family. The concert was excellent. We were on the floor with standing room only, or rather dancing room. Every type of culture, with traditional dress to jeans and T-shirt, surrounded us bee-bopping along. The usually shy Asians really let their hair down. Rob will talk of Kwan but I'd like to say thank you again for your hospitality.
Taman Negara - This is the largest national park in Malaysia. The rainforest here is unique in that it has changed little in 130 million (!) years. To explore the jungle, we decided to do a 3-day hike into the heart of it. To begin the hike we took a boat ride up the river to a drop off point. We began the hike back down river from there. On the boat trip we met a great couple from New Jersey doing the same hike so we spent the next several days with them. The hike itself wasn't difficult but the 99% humidity and heat made it more challenging. We drank about 4 liters of water each per day!! Along the trail, aside from the lush vegetation, we saw beautiful butterflies and birds. We heard monkeys but never saw them. In one cave we saw thousands of bats. As the floor was covered in several inches of guano and associated insects we didn't explore too far into it. At the entrance there was elephant poop and tracks. I didn't know what was more exciting, the bats or signs of elephants. The park has a lot of wildlife, but you have to be very lucky to spot it. Although there are some tigers here, one local guide said he had seen 3 in over 10 years in the park.
Kota Bharu - We ended up in the best guesthouse we've found in Asia. Our room was on the roof-top and one wall had large windows along the front. The roof was full of plants and flowers as the owner's wife has a green thumb. We felt so at home in our private garden we ended up there 8 days! Kota Bharu is the last strong hold for many of the Malaysian cultural dances and games. The Muslim dominated government has banned most activities throughout the rest of Malaysia. They are slowly doing away with the few that are allowed here. We enjoyed the cultural shows and found it sad that whole generations of people will lose their ancestral heritage because of fear and ignorance. Rob learned the old game of top spinning and I played the large wooden drums. The food in Kota Bahru was wonderful. We found a great curry house and a night market where we could sample a lot of different dishes. Some of the things we just pointed to so I have no idea what we ate. I am not so sure I would want to know.
One little story that illustrates the bargaining hassles in Asia: we get a cab at the airport, our driver is Chinese and the total is supposed to be 3ORM. We start off, meter is running and I am watching. Content it is a fair meter I turn away. Meter is at 5RM. I check it several minutes later and it is at 5O RM. Here goes---
"Excuse me, I think the meter is not working."
Cabbie's hand to forehead and very dramatically, "Oh, I's sooo unlucky today. Soooo unlucky to have you in my cab.'
'The fare is supposed to be 3ORM all the way there. Please check the meter."
"Okay, okay. I go - only 7O RM for you."
"No, we pay the fair price."
Ohhhh, I soooo unlucky. Soooo unlucky today. I not eat tonight."
"We will call the police and let them deal with it."
The meter gets erased. "Okay, okay 5O RM."
Back and forth this goes for 20 minutes.
We paid 35RM.
We were definitely ripped off.
***This goes on all the time, even for an apple. You really have to have patience.
Our health is still good and we've had only minor stomach trouble so we are lucky.
Take care of yourselves!
MALAYSIA and SINGAPORE ACCORDING TO ROB!!
We flew into Kuala Lumpur (KL), Malaysia from Manila in the early afternoon and made our way to the City. We stayed in Chinatown, cheap hotels, good eats, shopping, etc. We figured our strategic plan would be to head down to Singapore and explore our way up north into SE Asia and beyond. After a day of taking care of routine big city stuff (American Express office, mail, photo developing, etc.) in KL, we headed to Singapore by air-con bus, a great way to travel in Malaysia.
Singapore is a sparkling city in SE Asia though the Government is a bit authoritarian. It is what the rest of the region wants to be, DESPERATELY. Apparently it was part of Malaysia for a short period of time after the Brits left, but decided to go its own way. This makes sense as it by far more prosperous and mostly populated by ethnic Chinese rather than Malays. Although Manila was modern in some parts, Singapore was a breath of first world air after our initial foray to developing countries.
There are a lot of shopping opportunities in Singapore, but the prices are about the same as in the USA. A few expensive items (like watches) may be cheaper, but that's about it. We splurged on the "New 7th Story Hotel" with a double room for about $4OUSD. The place is pretty good and just down the street from the Raffles Hotel. Price was becoming a factor fast, and shopping was a bust, so we saw most of the main sights and headed back to Malaysia. The one thing we really regret not doing in Singapore was breakfast with the Orangutans at the Zoo.
Apparently, the Orangutans are orphans that were taken from people in Borneo (Sabah and Sarawak) who tried to raise them as their children. As they got older they couldn't handle them any more and gave them to the zoo. There are two sittings for breakfast, and at one you actually eat with them at the table. You get cereal and they get fruit. Their manners are pretty good and they hold your hand while you eat or look through your hair for tasty morsels. We met a couple who did this and they said it was a scream.
Costs: About the same as in the States for everything. You could spend a lot of money here. There are lots of western food available. We even saw a Hooters Restaurant. We didn't make it to the Long Bar at Raffles for a Singapore Sling. Next time. We spent about $70+USD per day.
We bailed out and took a bus to Malacca March 14.
MALAYSIA (again).
Malacca was great. We had the opportunity to learn about the history of the town and Malaysia from the days before European settlement to the present. I found it interesting that there was thriving trade between the Arab States, India, China, Indonesia, and the Philippines long before the Europeans made it over here. Of the Europeans, the Portuguese were the first, arriving around 1500. The Dutch booted them out about a hundred or so years later (Dutch East India Trading Co.), and then the British (who took over for the Dutch when Napoleon was giving them trouble), moved all trade to Singapore by giving incentives (an early enterprise zone?). This pretty much signaled the decline of Malacca as a trading port, with most trade moved to Singapore. Lots of old cargo is still found by fishermen and divers who snare onto old wrecks and debris left over from a 1000 + years of trading. W.W.II saw the arrival of the Japanese then the end of colonial rule when Malaysia was granted independence. After a few days, we headed up to KL.
On arrival we found a place to stay and went out to check mail at AMEX and ate dinner at TGI Fridays!! I had a chance to go meet Kwan, one of the participants at the IAEA meeting in Manila, and visit with his family and at his hospital.
HP ALERT*** Technical info inserted
Kwan taught at U of Wisconsin and had just returned to his old job in Malaysia. I had the opportunity to visit his facility and attend a lecture on imaging. Once again, I gave my lecture on ThD. As usual, it was helpful as they had just bought a Harshaw/Bicron 4 element TLD reader and were getting it on line. We discussed some of the experiences I had with the system and I got to meet with the technicians.
Kwan discussed his desire to form an association of HPS in the region. This is one of the areas that I think HPS in the States can help with. Many of the professionals in this area have plenty of training, but little in the way of reference material. Perhaps a way could be found to transfer old textbooks and journals over to some of these countries. The expense of subscribing to journals and purchasing reference materials can be astronomical for people in this region.
***Back to your regular programming
From KL we decided to get remote and head for Taman Negara, peninsular Malaysia's large national park. I will attempt to add a bit more REALITY to Mel's account. The hiking was great as we spent three days and two nights out in the jungle. The trail was reasonable, but unfortunately there were no reliable maps telling you how far to go from sight to sight. Supposed 10 minute walks took about 2 hours. The first day's hike took about 5 hours and left us at the "fishing lodge". The lodge was great and the 4 of us were the only ones there. We spent the later part of the afternoon lazing by the riverside and cooling off in the water. We used our binoculars to spot a few birds. The next morning we watched some flying squirrels play in the tree next to the hut before heading out for the Caves.
The trail was good, but it was very hot. Unfortunately, the air was not dry, and we spent the next day totally soaked in sweat and stinking. Every once in a while we could smell some kind of wild animal scent on the trail (above our own funk). We replenished our water and rinsed our clothes in the many streams we crossed. Fortunately, Joshua and Cathy (our travel companions) had a good water filter.
The trails had only a few hazards to speak of. The trees had huge roots that you had to climb over and there was the small problem of the leeches. We had been warned about the leeches and had bought some bug spray for our shoes. This worked if you didn't touch the ground with anything but your shoes. Each stop required a leech check. While resting or walking you could see the leeches stretching with all their might trying to catch hold of you. When you sat down they seemed to know you were there and would come inching along.
If one got on your shoe, you could watch them slow down as the poison got to them and they would drop off. A few would make it past the first barrier and you would find these when you took your shoes off. Your socks would be covered with them. We fared much better than most as there were relatively few (?) leeches and none seemed to live to make it to our skin. Many people we met said they had to get them off with matches and their legs would be covered with blood and their shoes filled with bloated leaches when they took them off. Fun stuff.
The bat cave was great, and we camped (after 10 hrs hiking in the jungle) in another cave that was about 50 meters in diameter. In the center was one giant stalagmite that stretched to the 30- meter ceiling. Elephant dung and footprints were everywhere and you could see where the elephants had climbed over the rocks (they must be remarkably agile) to get in. Exactly what they were doing in there I can't even guess. We had no visitors that night, and hiked the last 7km out the next day.
The park is a great place. There are a few upscale lodges and one restaurant in the park along with camping facilities. Across from the park is a small village with a couple of hostels and floating restaurants. The Restaurants take you back and forth across the river for free in hopes you will eat at their place. A great setup. The only animals we saw were a bunch of either pigs or Tapirs wandering along the fringe of the campground at about 3am. We heard a lot of things in the jungle, but didn't see much. All the obvious animals had been eaten by the local tribesman. We didn't see any of them either, but their lean-to shelters were all along the trails.
From here, it was up to Khota Bahru, then onto Thailand.
**Mel again-we also saw 2 different kinds of wild monkeys that make it their habit to come into the camp and steal food. Also a very testy hornbill bird, like a black and white touscan.**
Malaysia is a strange place. Of course, that phrase seems to sum up Asia so I will expand. The population is mostly Muslim (About 1000 AD some missionaries from Arabia arrived) with a few Chinese thrown in. Bangladeshis are imported for the hard labor. The Chinese are industrious and control wealth disproportionate to their population. For this reason, the Malays aren't entirely happy with them. Government positions are meted out depending on ethnic group and the Chinese are required to achieve higher scores than the Malays for entry to University and such. Probably for this reason, there are a lot of Malaysian Chinese students in American Universities. I even had a Chinese roommate from Malaysia at college.
There is a trend toward Muslim conservatism in the country and there seems to be calls for stamping out everything not invented on the Arabian peninsula. The society is still in transition
and this always leads to problems. Visitors, especially women should be conscious of dress codes in society. Men generally wear long pants and at least short sleeve shirts around town. Women should always wear long pants or preferably a skirt and cover their stomachs and shoulders. Bikinis will lead to a lot of stares at a crowded beaches.
The Government is much like others in the region in that they believe that spending money on glamour projects will increase their prestige in the world. In KL, the tallest buildings in the world are being finished off. The twin towers are visible from the many open sewers along major roads in the city. Don't drink the water.
That said, we really enjoyed our time in the country. We missed Borneo (States of Sabah and Sarawak), Penang, and the Pyrinthian Islands, places with a lot of history and unspoiled island scenery respectively. We heard a lot about these places from other travelers and would definitely give them a look next time around.
Costs: (2.5 Ringit (RM) = $ 1USD) Food generally costs about $4RM per meal in the markets, beer (thank God for the Chinese) about 2.5RM, and a room ran about $25RM. We spent about $3OUSD per day.
Malaysia and Thailand Photo Gallery Phillipines and Singapore Photo Gallery
Other Journals:
Copyright © 2002 by Robert and Melissa Gunter. All rights reserved.


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The chance that growth in St. Johns County is going to significantly decrease in the foreseeable future is pretty remote.
That was the message from St. Johns County Commissioner Henry Dean when he spoke Friday at a St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce event in St. Augustine. And it was backed up by data from county growth management director Suzanne Konchan and her staff.
"We're going to have growth," Dean said. "If anybody thinks we're not going to have growth or we can adopt some rule or ordinance or law to stop growth, that ain't going to happen.
"We cannot have a wall between Duval and St. Johns counties and give people day passes to come down and be tourists. We have to deal with the growth."
That was the topic of discussion at the Historic St. Augustine Area Council meeting, and it's been one of the major topics of discussion among almost everyone in the county at least through the 2000s — if not before.
Konchan presented guests with a look at what is coming for a county that has already added 45,000 residents since 2010.
She showed that permits for new single-family homes in the county are on pace with the 2004 fiscal year (which runs October to October) of about 4,000. That would be behind the record pace of 4,800 in fiscal year 2005.
In the latest monthly building report, the county recorded 351 permits for single-family homes in April. That's higher than any April since the recession and higher than all but one monthly total prior to the current fiscal year.
For the calendar year, the county issued 1,370 single-family home permits in 2017, through April. That pace suggests there will be more than 4,000 permits issued this calendar year. In 2016, the total was about 3,400.
"It has been a steady and more sustainable level of permits that we've had these last four years," Konchan said. "We'll see that go up but not that spike and hopefully not that trough we saw leading up to the Great Recession."
Why does this pace appear sustainable? Part of it is the economy, although that can always change.
But the main reason is the constant influx of more development applications. Konchan said about 10,000 new housing units have been approved in the last five years. Another 8,400 new units are currently somewhere in the review process.
And that doesn't count older developments that have rights to build thousands of homes and are in the process of doing so.
"We could hit 4,000 (new homes) this calendar year," Konchan said. "Time will tell. We'll see how the economy and demand continues."
Konchan added that commercial permits are also up, including a marked increase in applications for self-storage facilities.
With the increased building activity and rise in population here, Dean and Konchan were asked about ways to mitigate traffic congestion, school overcrowding and other growth-related issues. They were also asked about the potential impact of expanding the homestead property tax exemption by $25,000.
Dean said transportation, always a great concern among those who live and work in downtown St. Augustine, was the biggest growth issue facing the county and the city.
"I just think we need to continue working together, the city and the county working together to see what options we do have," Dean said. "Maybe the county should look at expanding its somewhat nominal public transportation system, the Sunshine Bus."
Making any improvements to roads is going to be difficult, though, especially if the homestead exemption goes through. Dean said that would result in the loss of about $10 million per year to the county's general fund.
One of the few bright spots is the extension of State Road 9B into St. Johns County to relieve some stress on Race Track Road. But other than that, the cupboards are bare.
"We're struggling to meet ongoing operations and maintenance and repair of our existing facilities," Konchan said. "To the best of my knowledge, there are very few dollars in the 2018 budget — probably zero dollars — for new road construction out of the county's general fund.
"We have impact fees that will go to some projects, but they're not high enough to build significant amounts of new roadways. So every dollar lost through homestead exemption or any other means puts that much more challenge on the county."
Dean agreed that the county was "already behind" but did not offer any solutions as to how to counter the potential loss of revenue.
At the same time, Dean said he supported projects that paid for themselves, like the recent ICI Homes project called Middlebourne. The 450-home development at the intersection of Longleaf Pine Parkway and Veterans Parkway came before the County Commission in April and was continued. Other commissioners said they were concerned about lack of school capacity in the area.
The homes there would have cost an average of about $500,000, providing a wealth of property tax revenue, Dean said. The status of the project is still uncertain.
"I thought that was a really good project to go forward," Dean said. "If we don't look at those as good projects and approve them, if we just stop approving those kinds of developments, we have a huge backlog of entitled lots in this county … there will be a strain in our ability to go forward."
Moving ahead, it's clear growth is likely to remain the No. 1 topic for Dean and all local politicians for some time.
"Personally, I want to see sound, well-planed, orderly economic growth in this county, both in the residential and from a business standpoint," Dean said.
He pointed out that the state's population has gone from just less than 7 million in 1970 to about 20.6 million in 2016. Meanwhile, the county has gone from about 31,000 in 1970 to 235,000 residents.
"While the state has grown three fold, the county has grown as of today nine fold since 1970," Dean said. "So it's little wonder that we have transportation issues, school classroom issues, traffic issues.
"Growth can be wonderful, but it brings its own set of problems, as we learn."


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Gifted Children: FAQs
I am wondering if my toddler is gifted. What are the characteristics of gifted children?
Many parents would like to believe they are raising a budding Einstein but wonder if their toddler is truly gifted. Such analysis makes sense as only about 2% of the population is gifted. Identifying gifted children…Read More here: Bright or Gifted?
How can I challenge my gifted child at home?
As a teacher of gifted children parents have often asked me what they can do to challenge their gifted child at home. Before the parent looks for outside activities, they may want to look at… Read more here: Challenging the Gifted Child at Home
I can't seem to get along with my child's teacher. Any ideas?
There may be a time as a parent or as a teacher, where regardless of the other person's behavior; you have to take the high-road for the sake of the child. It is not always about winning, but rather doing the right thing. Read more here: Solving Parent Teacher Communication Problems
My child is constantly complaining about being bored in class. Should I step in and tell the teacher?
What does it mean when your gifted child tells you they are bored in school? To some parents it may mean their child's teacher is not doing their job. Read more here: When the Gifted are Bored in School
I would like to request that my child be moved to a different class because my child is not clicking with the teacher and frankly, neither am I. Any tips of how to go about this?
It is important to note your child's happiness with the assigned teacher has limited value. However, if the selected teacher is someone your child "hates" but likes most of the other teachers, you will want to pursue a change aggressively because if your child genuinely dislikes the teacher, learning will be compromised. Read more here: How to Request a Different Teacher
gifted children


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The end of the year is a time for reflecting– a time to remember the ups and downs of another year gone by. But if you're on social media, it's a time to remember all of the times you were lit this year! In that same spirit Instagram launched the #2015bestnine hashtag. This hashtag helps users reflect and share their 9 most liked photos of 2015.
But what's a little fun without the social media fun police? Slaughterhouse group member, Joe Budden decided to kill the fun and let his followers know just how much their best nine photos of 2015 doesn't matter.
Joe went in on how people should "post nine goals or lessons learned" instead of pics and how no one cares to see the same "cute" pictures again.
See the post below for Joe's full grievance. Do you agree with Joe?
Hate to be the voice of reason (again), but if u step outside of your ego & vanity, you'll quickly see we don't give a fuck what your 9 best pics of 2015 were. We know we know, u think it's cute cuz u think you're cute & idiots all year have told u "you're cute"… Y'all keep trying to make being cute an accomplishment, it's not… So if u care about some of the cerebral folk, then let's see 9 things you've learned this year, 9 goals u made & reached, 9 goals for next year, etc… ANYTHING but 9 pics of yo lame ass we've already seen but u so thirsty for thirst you've managed to bring back them same ass pics lol.. #ThatIsAll #ImJustTalkinShit #IfYouDontKnowImAlwaysJustTalkingShit #MaybeItsMe #YallWontBeHappyTilTheUglyHoesGiveYouNinePicsOfUgly lol


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Peel back the pages of a dusty, old dictionary and scour them for 'dog.'
If you're meticulous in your search, you will discover that 'dog' is defined as: "a domesticated carnivorous mammal that typically has a long snout, an acute sense of smell, and a barking, howling, or whining voice. It is widely kept as a pet or for work or field sports."
However, there is another definition of 'dog' that more accurately describes senior Giancarlo Santoro.
It goes like this: "he is sure to cause trouble and be loud but at the end of the day, people like who he is."
Santoro has been stirring up trouble recently, but it's the good kind of trouble — if there is such a thing.
While attending a communication class in one of the many ancient rooms in Ingram Hall, Santoro was glued to his seat.
He wasn't fastened to his chair because of the professor's riveting teachings, but because of what he saw greeting him in his email inbox.
There, in front of Santoro, was an email from Ron Smith.
Smith's name might not ring any alarms for popularity or uniqueness, but Smith had a simple message for Santoro: he had been selected to join the USA Division 3 All-Star Soccer Team.
Santoro is among 16 players to be selected nationwide for this prestigious squad, which will travel down to the soccer-crazed country of Brazil. This year, Brazil has the privilege of hosting the World Cup, an international spectacle.
The USA Division 3 All-Star Soccer Team's tour will run from May 27 through June 5. The squad's tour will commence in Orlando, Fla.
There, the team will practice for two days before flying down to Sao Paulo, Brazil for multiple games in the City of Jundiai and the state of Sao Paulo May 29, 30 and 31. The team will end its tour in Rio de Janeiro for one more competition June 3.
The team will compete against top U-22 club teams from Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Sean Helliwell, who coaches at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, Ind., will be the USA Division 3 All-Star Soccer Team's head coach.
"When I opened up the email [from Smith], I was so excited," Santoro said. "I didn't know what to think about it at first."
The fact that Santoro made the USA Division 3 All-Star Soccer Team is no fluke. Soccer has been in Santoro's blood long before he contemplated attending Pacific Lutheran University.
Growing up in an athletic family in Hartford, Conn., Santoro was exposed to a variety of sports at a young age.
Santoro's father didn't just play one sport. Instead, he played nearly every sport conceivable — including basketball, baseball and football — with his athletic, bulky frame contributing to his success.
Contrary to his father, Santoro focused on honing his skills in soccer.
Santoro's love for soccer began earlier than most adolescents. Starting in kindergarten, Santoro became infatuated with soccer because he said he loved winning games.
His recreational kindergarten team was quite talented and proved victorious in many matches, unlike the lacrosse and tee ball teams he was also involved with.
Those teams were the exact opposite, in that they could never win a game and lacked the athleticism to truly compete with other teams.
"I'm very competitive in sports and hate losing," Santoro said.
His hunger to win more games carried over to his high school years, where Santoro was a member of the Skyline Spartans soccer team.
In Santoro's senior year of high school, the Spartans advanced to the Washington state quarterfinals, only to lose to Lake Stevens 2-1.
In Skyline's 2010 season, Santoro accounted for six of the team's goals as the team boasted a 12-6-2 record. By earning more wins than losses and draws combined that season, Santoro had reached his goal of "winning games."
But he wasn't done.
Once Santoro made the decision to attend PLU in the spring of 2010, head coach John Yorke knew he had a prized recruit in his arsenal.
"When he first came to PLU, he wasn't very sure of himself, but over the course of these past four years, he's become much more confident," Yorke said. "He's very good on his feet, and he's strong and quick. He's a very talented soccer player."
Santoro made an immediate impact on the soccer pitch when he arrived at PLU. As a first-year in 2010, Santoro scored two goals, including one game-winner, and tallied five assists in his initial collegiate season.
Santoro's soccer success didn't cease after that. His yearning for winning games only grew.
While Santoro accounted for seven of the Lutes' goals in his first three seasons on the PLU squad, his goal scoring potential came to full fruition in his senior year.
As one of four seniors to start every game during the 2013 season, Santoro found the back of the net seven times.
The 2013 season was undoubtedly one of the more successful seasons in team history, as the Lutes set a program record by going undefeated in the first 12 games.
With a 13-4-3 final record, the Lutes tied for the fourth-most wins in a season in team history.
Standing at 5 feet 11 inches and having the lung capacity of a horse, Santoro has matured into a physical specimen.
His ability to run himself ragged and provide teammates with nice setups has made Santoro one of the premier soccer players in the Northwest Conference.
As important as winning is to Santoro, living with some of his best friends, otherwise known as "dogs," for the last two years, has far outweighed seeking victory on the pitch.
Surrounded by some of his closest friends in their cozy living room, Santoro tosses his head back and lets out a howl. Fellow senior Jeff Piaquadio tells a joke, causing every "dog" in the living room, including Santoro, to break out in hysteria.
The content of the joke is irrelevant. What is relevant, however, is the fact that Santoro is putting on a masterful display with a soccer ball.
The fact that the ball is a replica of the Adidas Jo'bulani World Cup ball is barely noticeable. Tears adorn the sides of the worn ball, but that doesn't stop Santoro from gently maneuvering it around the room.
With a tap of his right foot, the ball takes a high bounce and lands directly on his left foot. The aerial tricks are one thing, but Santoro's dribbling expertise is exemplified with his deft touch.
Seemingly dancing around the room, Santoro caresses the ball with his feet. It's as if he were born with a soccer ball in his grip.
Santoro's group of "dogs" consist of seniors Sam Watkins, Cameron Veres, Piaquadio and junior Justin Manao. All of them share Santoro's passion for soccer.
The term "dog" or "dogger" is often used around the Brown House, the abode where the five reside. That's because they view themselves as guys who are "sure to cause trouble and be loud."
For the most part, that statement is accurate.
"It's been incredible to live with these guys for the last two years," Santoro said. "They're my best friends, and I don't know what I would do without them. They're a crazy bunch of guys."
Santoro is the group's outlier in that he is usually reserved and quiet. He does have his momentary outbursts however.
"He's a lot crazier than most people think he is," Watkins said. "He may be quiet, but once you get to know him, he's a dog."
Soon enough, Santoro will depart May 27 for Orlando to prepare for the USA Division 3 All-Star Soccer Team tour in Brazil.
This could be the final time Santoro plays soccer competitively. All of the skills and lessons Santoro has learned over the course of his 16-year soccer career will come down to this momentous occasion in Brazil.
Temporarily leaving his "dogs" will be emotionally hard for Santoro.
However, playing soccer on an international stage in a country known for its soccer prominence is definitely something to bark about. ◼


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Local shuttle on the cheap? Quick taxi? We give you all the options for any trip, time, budget, and amount of travellers!
View options specific to Ghanzi Airport (GNZ). Don't worry about different zone pricing or service areas. If there's a local shuttle serving your particular Downtown San Francisco region, we will make sure you see it!


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Picture: Jack Osbourne is photographed outside a friends house in Beverly Hills Los Angeles, California - 16.08.12
"literally the most BS article ever. I wish someone brought us groceries and chef prepared meals!" Jack Osbourne's fiancee Lisa Stelly dismisses reports the star's mother Sharon delivers pre-made meals to the couple.


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I teach corporate, academic and casual students in the New York City area.
- We engage in good, interesting, inspiring, exciting and humorous conversations–about subjects that interest you.
- We use lesson material I make or in books.
- Look at the menu on the top of this page; see how much I enjoy ideas. There are many videos there, linked from my You Tube channel–featuring my video essays, humor and poetry.
(a limited list)
⏺I have worked for:
(in The US:)
□Kaplan, NYC
•as a proctor
•as a level-tester
•as an academic assistant
•as a Guide
•as an activities director
■Embassy Center for English Studies, NYC
•as a registrar and substitute teacher
□Berlitz Language School, NYC
•as a teacher
•as an assistant to Asian co-director professors
□Carrot English, Nonhyun, Seoul
•as a teacher
■Jung Chul, Gangnam, Seoul
•as a teacher
■The Korea Herald
•as a teacher
•as a writer
•as a voice actor
□Actor Park Joong-hoon (and tens of privates)
•as a teacher to his children
■The Korea Deposit Insurance Agency
•as a teacher
□Hanmi Bank
•as a teacher
■Arirang (Korea National Broadcasting Federation)
•as a voice actor and narrator
□TBN/CJ E&M Entertainment
•as a voice actor ( see website for voice: http://carlatteniese.org/voice/ )
•as an actor
•as an actor
□Brooks Brothers, NYC
•part time/temporary
■Creative Designs, NYC
full time -drafting, rendering & sales
□Rainbow Room, Rockefeller Plaza, NYC
•as a page, host, waiter and union delegate
•saw, met and/or served:
♤His Holiness The Dalai Lama
♤President Nelson Mandela
♤President William Jefferson Clinton
♤General William S. Westmoreland, US Army, Ret.
♤Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara (JFK)
♤The Queen of Thailand
♤Gloria Steinem, Writer
♤Geraldine Ferraro, Senator
♤Glenn Close, Actor
♤Meg Ryan, Actor
♤Oliver Stone, Director
♤Harrison Ford, Actor
♤Richard Dreyfus, Actor
♤Michael Douglas, Actor
♤Martin Sheen, Actor, Activist
♤Liza Minnelli, Actor, Singer
♤Harry Conic Jr., Musician, Singer
♤Lanie Kazan, Singer
I have eighteen years of intercultural experience.
I was fifteen years in South Korea.
I visited Japan many times.
I have a method that is very much original and amazingly helpful, called Rhythmomnumonics, which helps you remember clauses, phrases and sentences without grammar (but I teach that, too).
Students, parents and educators say I am:
- fun
- creative
- kind
- diligent
- humorous
- well-written
- well-spoken
- compassionate
- a good conversationalist
- interesting
- knowledgeable
- entertaining
I help you with:
- style
- phonics
- culture
- grammar
- conversation
- pronunciation
- I can inspire you to learn!
- I make custom lessons for you….
I am multi-cultural–especially regarding Asia and America (n I have lived in these places) and I use original methods to assist your progress.
I offer:
- voice skills (I'm a voice actor and comic)
- listening skills ( I have near-perfect pitch)
- drawing skills (I'm an artist)
- I even even write upside-down (this allows me to transcribe notes for you from across the table, so you can read as I teach you.
- I am familiar with basic Korean and some
- I focus our lessons on your speech and culture.
- I teach you the culture of English-speaking locales, so;
- You you can learn the language comfortably and naturally.
The advice and attention I give you alone will build your skills if you listen to me.
I look forward to helping you.
Call: (516) 655 – 2478.
Dear Visitor, I apologize for the ads on this site.


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Sales of high-end homes lifted prices to a six-month high in Southern California in March, as the region's housing market remained in a gradual recovery, a research firm said Tuesday.
There were 19,953 new and existing homes and condos sold in a six-county region, up 2.8 percent from a year earlier, DataQuick said, marking the third-straight annual increase and the seventh in eight months.
The median price was $280,000, down 0.2 percent from the same time last year and matching the highest level since September.
Sales rose sharply from February, reflecting a usual seasonal increase as spring begins.
"The year is young and lots could still change, but the results from the first big sales month of 2012 suggest the market is stuck in low gear. This remains a very gradual, not to mention fragile, recovery," said John Walsh, president of the San Diego-based research firm.
Sales of homes for at least $500,000 jumped 36 percent in March from February, outpacing the total sales increase of 28.1 percent for those months, DataQuick said.
DataQuick said about half of the purchases of existing homes were distressed sales. Homes that were foreclosed upon in the previous year made up 31.1 percent of existing home sales. Short sales – where the seller owes more than the purchase price – accounted for 18.9 percent.
Absentee buyers – largely investors and second-home purchasers – continued to drive the recovery, buying 28 percent of all homes. That's down from 29.9 percent in February but up from 26.2 percent in the year-ago period.
Results varied between coastal and less expensive inland areas. In Orange County, sales jumped 9.2 percent while prices dropped 7 percent. In Riverside County, sales slipped 2.3 percent while prices rose 1 percent.
Homes are selling more quickly near the coast than they did last year, while it's taking more time in some inland areas, according to the California Association of Realtors. In Orange County, it has taken a median of 70.2 days to sell a home, down from 79 days last year. In Riverside County, it's taking 58.5 days, up from 52.5 days last year.


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The new 2014 Nike VRS Covert 2.0 Tour driver improves on 2013's groundbreaking Covert Tour cavity-back driver thanks to Nike's golf research and design team. They're introducing a different club head shape with new design elements that make this a long distance driving machine. Let's take a look at what makes the Nike VRS Covert 2.0 Tour driver the best driver that Nike has made to-date.
The VRS Covert 2.0 Tour driver has a 460cc pear-shaped club head. This is an increase in size compared to prior Nike tour drivers that were previously no bigger than 440cc. In the address position the driver's footprint is a mere eleven percent larger. This increase in head size was necessary to create even more forgiveness.
The new driver features a unique fly-brace technology, which ties the sole to the crown of the golf club. With this technology, when a golf ball is struck, the rear portion of the golf club stiffens up creating more stability in the golf club. The stiffened rear portion of the club then transfers energy back to the face and then to the ball. The fly-brace technology increases the amount of total energy restored to the face, with the high-speed cavity back design aiding the process. Both of these features are design elements that create longer and straighter golf shots.
The NexCOR face technology has been reengineered by Nike to create a 15% larger sweet spot. The enhanced face has also yielded an 11% higher moment of inertia (MOI) over previous drivers. The new NexCOR face produces faster ball speeds that lead to increased distance.
The Flexloft adjustability is returning to the 2014 Nike product line. The Flexloft lets the golfer customize the driver to their specific needs. It allows an adjustment of loft and face angle separately from each other. The loft can be adjusted in one degree increments between 8.5 and 12.5 degrees and the face angle can also be set to three different positions: left, neutral or right. The driver comes with a wrench that makes all of the changes simple and easy. The ability to adjust the two will create the optimal launch needed for maximum distance and accuracy.
The Nike VRS Covert 2.0 Tour driver features a Mitsubishi Rayon Kuro Kage Silver graphite shaft. The shaft weighs 60 grams which lends itself to faster swing speeds for increased distance. The new shaft has a titanium nickel fiber shaft tip for additional reinforcement. The reinforced shaft tip adds stability and reduces spin for a penetrating ball flight that produces maximum distance. These shafts are available in various flexes.
This year Nike has made a tour driver that can be played by any skill level. The fly-brace technology showcases state-of-the-art technology that produces superior energy transfer throughout the clubhead for extreme distance. The Flexloft adjustability allows the golfer to take command and custom fit the driver to their specific needs. The driver's club head size and reengineered NexCOR face achieve maximum playability and forgiveness resulting in longer shots off the tee.
So go ahead—Just Do It and grab the Nike VRS Covert 2.0 Tour driver.


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Lemon Lime Delivery is fun and friendly delivery service of premium organic produce and natural groceries to homes and offices. They deliver to most of the Eastern and Midwest United States. Delivery is FREE and there are never any hidden fees. There is no commitment. You can try them once or be a lifelong customer. You can see the organic produce they offer for delivery at www.lemonlimedelivery.com
See their complete rules HERE.


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When you see where these little bear cubs got stuck you won't believe it. First I thought the little guys hibernated in there for the winter and in the spring they found out they were too big for the hole they came in through, but actually the truth is way more dramatic.
The mischievous baby bears were unable to move and let themselves free, but lucky for them, their cries for help were eventually heard and the local fire department had to come and cut a little door in the tree for them to get out. I hope they'll think twice before venturing into another adventure.
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