text:
Florida Saltwater Fishing in the Gulf of Mexico
Updated: March 10, 2010, 10:23 AM ET
(reprinted from ESPN: http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/saltwater/news/story?id=4975762 )
Culled out
Public input period for federal fishery strategy has ended
This is a column from Robert Montgomery for ESPN Outdoors and the opinions represented are not necessarily those of ESPN.com. As a Senior Writer for BASS Publications, Montgomery has written about conservation, environment, and access issues for more than two decades. It's part of a series of articles from Montgomery on the issue.
The Obama administration will accept no more public input for a federal strategy that could prohibit U.S. citizens from fishing some of the nation's oceans, coastal areas, Great Lakes, and even inland waters.
This announcement comes at the time when the situation supposedly still is "fluid" and the Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force still hasn't issued its final report on zoning uses of these waters.
That's a disappointment, but not really a surprise for fishing industry insiders who have negotiated for months with officials at the Council on Environmental Quality and bureaucrats on the task force. These angling advocates have come to suspect that public input into the process was a charade from the beginning.
"When the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) completed their successful campaign to convince the Ontario government to end one of the best scientifically managed big game hunts in North America (spring bear), the results of their agenda had severe economic impacts on small family businesses and the tourism economy of communities across northern and central Ontario," said Phil Morlock, director of environmental affairs for Shimano.
"Now we see NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) and the administration planning the future of recreational fishing access in America based on a similar agenda of these same groups and other Big Green anti-use organizations, through an Executive Order by the President. The current U.S. direction with fishing is a direct parallel to what happened in Canada with hunting: The negative economic impacts on hard working American families and small businesses are being ignored.
"In spite of what we hear daily in the press about the President's concern for jobs and the economy and contrary to what he stated in the June order creating this process, we have seen no evidence from NOAA or the task force that recreational fishing and related jobs are receiving any priority."
Consequently, unless anglers speak up and convince their Congressional representatives to stop this bureaucratic freight train, it appears that the task force will issue a final report for "marine spatial planning" by late March, with President Barack Obama then issuing an Executive Order to implement its recommendations — whatever they may be.
Led by NOAA's Jane Lubchenco, the task force has shown no overt dislike of recreational angling, but its indifference to the economic, social and biological value of the sport has been deafening.
Additionally, Lubchenco and others in the administration have close ties to environmental groups who would like nothing better than to ban recreational angling. And evidence suggests that these organizations have been the engine behind the task force since before Obama issued a memo creating it last June.
As ESPN previously reported, WWF, Greenpeace, Defenders of Wildlife, Pew Environment Group and others produced a document entitled "Transition Green" shortly after Obama was elected in 2008. What has happened since suggests that the task force has been in lockstep with that position paper.
Then in late summer, just after he created the task force, these groups produced "Recommendations for the Adoption and Implementation of an Oceans, Coasts, and Great Lakes National Policy." This document makes repeated references to "overfishing," but doesn't once reference recreational angling, its importance, and its benefits, both to participants and the resource.
Additionally, some of these same organizations have revealed their anti-fishing bias by playing fast and loose with "facts," in attempts to ban tackle containing lead in the United States and Canada.
That same tunnel vision, in which recreational angling and commercial fishing are indiscriminately lumped together as harmful to the resource, has persisted with the task force, despite protests by the angling industry.
As more evidence of collusion, the green groups began clamoring for an Executive Order to implement the task force's recommendations even before the public comment period ended in February. Fishing advocates had no idea that this was coming.
Perhaps not so coincidentally, the New York Times reported on Feb. 12 that "President Obama and his team are preparing an array of actions using his executive power to advance energy, environmental, fiscal and other domestic policy priorities."
Morlock fears that "what we're seeing coming at us is an attempted dismantling of the science-based fish and wildlife model that has served us so well. There's no basis in science for the agendas of these groups who are trying to push the public out of being able to fish and recreate.
"Conflicts (user) are overstated and problems are manufactured. It's all just an excuse to put us off the water."
In the wake of the task force's framework document, the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation (CSF) and its partners in the U.S. Recreational Fishing & Boating Coalition against voiced their concerns to the administration.
"Some of the potential policy implications of this interim framework have the potential to be a real threat to recreational anglers who not only contribute billions of dollars to the economy and millions of dollars in tax revenues to support fisheries conservation, but who are also the backbone of the American fish and wildlife conservation ethic," said CSF President Jeff Crane.
Morlock, a member of the CSF board, added, "There are over one million jobs in America supported coast to coast by recreational fishing. The task force has not included any accountability requirements in their reports for evaluating or mitigating how the new policies they are drafting will impact the fishing industry or related economies.
"Given that the scope of this process appears to include a new set of policies for all coastal and inland waters of the United States, the omission of economic considerations is inexcusable."
This is not the only access issue threatening the public's right to fish, but it definitely is the most serious, according to Chris Horton, national conservation director for BASS.
"With what's being created, the same principles could apply inland as apply to the oceans," he said. "Under the guise of 'marine spatial planning' entire watersheds could be shut down, even 2,000 miles up a river drainage from the ocean.
"Every angler needs to be aware because if it's not happening in your backyard today or tomorrow, it will be eventually.
"We have one of the largest voting blocks in the country and we need to use it. We must not sit idly by."
This is an opinion column from Robert Montgomery. As a Senior Writer for BASS Publications, Montgomery has written about conservation, environment, and access issues for more than two decades.


text:
Our oldest started kindergarten this year. Gulp. I don't think I have fully come to terms with that yet. How does time fly so quickly? Because I love reading about other families routines I thought I would share what has been working for us this last month in regards to our kindergarteners after school routine.
As soon as we get home school clothes go into the hamper and afternoon showers, baths, or swimming happens for the kids. I figure this is one of the best ways to minimize shared germs as much as possible. We don't have a swimming pool at home but have had great luck with this inflatable pool and this at home spray pad.
We are trying to keep all the kids immune systems boosted to prevent as much sickness as possible because it seems once one person becomes sick it isn't long before we are all down for count. In addition to this the kids also take SmartyPants vitamins and a probiotic daily.
Once the heat starts to dissipate I would like to add in 15-30 minutes of playtime at the park before showers/baths to get a little extra vitamin D. The extra outdoor playtime is great after sitting in a classroom for several hours.
Homework is next on the agenda and comes home Monday – Thursday. As soon as homework is done the rest of the day can be spent focusing on quality family time. We will have a dance party (thank you Greatest Showman Soundtrack), color, build with blocks, and somewhere in there I throw a freezer meal into the Instant Pot for an easy dinner.
After dinner, if time allows, we play a little longer or we get to work picking up the house before story time and our nightly Bible lesson. Our kindergarten will read us all a story using either these BOB books or this Curious George sight word set. Each child gets to pick a book to be read aloud to them and then we end with our Bible lesson. We are still working our way through the New Testament and are currently in the book of Acts with them. We use Old Story New for our lesson along with New City Catheshim for basic theology.
And that is our after school routine. All the kids are in bed between 7pm and 7:15pm and most of the time fall asleep fairly quickly.
I would love to hear your routine or anything you have found to keep your kids healthy during school :).

subset: commoncrawl


text:
The voices of protectionism in the US are getting shriller. Particularly the US. But what they are missing is that the US is now symbiotically linked to China, and vice versa.
The US needs Chinese cash to fund its deficit, and Chinese investment funds to help buoy stock prices, and cheap Chinese products to keep inflation down.
Many of the serious captains of US industry are said to get it, but the power of the Republican Party is such that they are not willing to speak out about it. Meanwhile, in China debates on policy in general are becoming more and more open. A complete flip in roles in taking place here, which reflects the dynamism of China and the failure of the Bush administration to recognise reality in any of a hundred ways.
The future is not mutual protectionism, but the realization of mutual dependency. China is ahead in the awareness race. The US needs to catch up.
I now see that at least one US CEO has come out and said what needs to be said. This from today's FT:
The head of Caterpillar on Wednesday warned that deteriorating trade relations between the US and China could plunge the global economy into recession and called on Congress to back away from protectionist measures.
Good for him.


text:
Vintage Northland Brand Toboggan
Wood, Metal (screws, rivets), Leather, Rope
15"w x 60"tall x 9"d
Vintage Winter
Condition: Very good, decorative; sleddable/usable
This toboggan has its original Northland Logo and looks like its never crashed into a tree! Minty... as one of our favorite antique dealer friends likes to say. Classic design and look. Very decorative for cabin decor or as a ski condo accessory. Still VERY usable.


text:
Christopher Boots Oracle Pendant
- Brand Christopher Boots
- Materials Brass, gallium, polymer
Sculptural in presence & resonating with symbolism, the Christopher Boots Oracle Pendant brings a touch of the Bronze Age crossed with the 21st century. Interlocking rings inlaid with LED create optical effects of dancing mid-air in a weave of the simple and highly complex.
In classical antiquity, an oracle was a person or agency considered to interface wise counsel or prophetic prediction of the future. As such it was a form of divination. Oracles were thought to be the medium through which the gods spoke directly to people.


text:
Low enthalpy heat recovery potential from coal mine discharges in the South Wales Coalfield
Farr, Gareth; Sadasivam, Sivachidambaram; Manju, ; Watson, Ian.A.; Thomas, Hywel.R.; Tucker, David. 2016 Low enthalpy heat recovery potential from coal mine discharges in the South Wales Coalfield. International Journal of Coal Geology, 164. 92-103. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coal.2016.05.008Before downloading, please read NORA policies.
1-s2.0-S0166516216302002-main.pdf - Accepted Version
Download (1MB) | Preview
Fossil fuels generate the majority of space heating and hot water demand in the UK, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and energy security issues. Concerns about the long term availability of traditional fossil fuels are recognised by the UK government and sustainable, low carbon supplies are being actively investigated. One such option in the renewable energy mix is the use of low enthalpy heat, using open loop ground source technology to recover heat from abandoned flooded coal mines. To assess this potential in the South Wales Coalfield we measured annual temperatures and chemistry at sixteen mine water sites. Mean monthly temperatures ranged from 10.3 to 18.6 °C with an overall mean of 13.3 °C, proving their suitability for low enthalpy heat recovery. Collated data shows the geothermal gradient can vary within the South Wales Coalfield. Exothermic chemical reactions within abandoned mine workings can also contribute to the overall temperature of mine waters. Using discharge and temperature data we estimate that 42 MW of potential heating energy could be generated from currently monitored mine water discharges, however historic dewatering data from operational mines suggests that 72 MW could be generated, enough to heat about 6500 homes. The true potential, if new pumping wells were drilled to exploit flooded workings is likely to be much greater. The use of low enthalpy mine water for space heating and hot water indicate a total emission reduction of around 59% and 76% compare to main gas and electricity heating respectively.
|Item Type:
|Publication - Article
|Digital Object Identifier (DOI):
|Date made live:
|18 May 2016 14:34 +0 (UTC)
Actions (login required)
|View Item
Document Downloads
Downloads for past 30 days
Downloads per month over past year


text:
Discover more from Wonkette
If you want a vision of the future, imagine a hand sneaking into everyone's pocket...forever
From Providence, Rhode Island, comes this tale of what Donald Trump's glorious infrastructure plan might look like: much, much higher costs to states and municipalities that want to improve their roads and bridges and tunnels. You see, the Rhode Island Department of Transportation needs to replace bridges and a freeway interchange on Route 95, smack in the middle of Providence. They had already applied for a federal grant to help fund the project under the Obama administration, under a program called "FASTLANE." But that program was killed off by the Trump administration and replaced with something called "INFRA," which sounds like it should be based in a dormant volcano and headed by a guy with a monocle and a Persian cat. The big difference between the programs is that INFRA is a "public-private partnership," meaning that instead of financing the road and bridge project with government bonds, the state will have to get financing from private equity, because the private sector does everything with maximum efficiency.
And how maximally efficient is the new scheme? To build what's essentially the same project, the cost will go from $226.1 million under the original plan to $342.9 million with the new one. The biggest chunk of the increased costs will go to cover interest on a $45-million private loan and a "15-percent return to the private partner," as mandated by the new Trump rules.
The bridges are in terrible shape, carrying a lot more than their original design anticipated, and need constant maintenance to keep them from a critical failure. Beyond being old, they're badly adapted to current traffic needs, and a complete redesign of the interchange is needed to reduce congestion. All that was accounted for in the grant submitted last year, but the new funding from the federal Department of Transportation is only available with an assist from a for-profit equity funder, which means it will be far more expensive -- even with the elimination of a $15 million pedestrian bridge that had been included in the design from last year. Just as well, since as everyone knows, pedestrians and bicycles are part of the UN agenda for world domination.
DOT spokeswoman Lisbeth Pettengill explained the higher costs in a memo:
"When the [Trump] administration came in, they stopped the FASTLANE process and redefined the grant guidelines. The new guidelines encourage states to find private partners and to take more of a role in funding projects," Pettengill wrote. "With these guidelines in mind, we redefined the project to fit those new grant requirements" [...]
"This delivery method created additional costs, particularly due to the costs associated with private sector equity funding the project," she wrote. "We are seeking the new grant to offset those costs."
While the Trump administration hasn't yet put forward a formal plan for its promised trillion-dollar infrastructure bill, Trump has said from the campaign going forward that it will largely rely on public-private partnerships for funding, to reduce the amount of federal outlay for infrastructure. That sounds great until you realize it translates to much higher costs for the states and cities that want to upgrade roads, bridges, and tunnels, all so that some private equity firms can get a piece of the action. You might almost get the impression that Trump is less interested in fixing the nation's infrastructure than in steering hundreds of billions of dollars to middlemen, huh?
For a detailed 'splainer on why public-private partnerships are not the wonderful deal the name implies, check out this fine piece from the Center for American Progress. Rhode Island may be getting off easy, it turns out, since equity capital can cost "300 percent to 500 percent more than capital raised through traditional municipal bonds." And unlike a direct transportation bill, the traditional way of getting infrastructure done, public-private partnerships aren't usually aimed at funding maintenance, just construction of beautiful new expensive projects that have to be paid for with user fees or tolls. And if you're in a rural area that can't generate the toll revenue to pay back those big loans, tough luck -- you'll just have to keep patching the potholes and hoping the bridge holds a few more years.
On the plus side, maybe local governments can take a lesson from Donald Trump and save some money by simply not paying contractors once the work is done. Just say you didn't like the job they did.
Yr Wonkette is supported by reader donations! Click here to pay your user fee and keep our writers from collapsing.
[ Providence Journal / Center for American Progress via Stephen Miller (not the icky one) on Twitter]


text:
"As young boy, I found a 1919 Wheat Cent while working in a garden, that started me on a life-long quest of coin collecting and dreaming of finding lost treasures. Many years later I walked past a hobby store that had a large display of coins and interesting item. A sign stated they were all found with a metal detector. I went into the store and walk out with a top of the line detector. Over the past 26 years I have bought many top of the line detectors and just recently got the XP ORX with a water kit and hard case. I am excite to take the ORX to the lake and try out the specially designed gold and deep programs."
Jim and his wife LaNeta are retired and live in a very rural area of northern Minnesota – The Land of 10,000 Lakes. Jim and his wife enjoy spending time with their family, 8 grandchildren and friends. They both enjoy metal detecting and RVing. Jim has been metal detecting for 26 years and for the last 13 years he has been an avid water detectorist.
Favorite Features of the XP ORX: There are two qualities of the ORX that stand out for me. First, I really like the idea of a high tech, high performance machine that has an intuitive menu format that is simple to navigate. Secondly, having experienced chronic neck and back pain since my military service, the fact that all the power and technologies of the ORX are contained in a very light weight, comfortably designed machine make it a joy for me to use. It's simply the best of both worlds!


text:
Kay DiBianca
November 18, 2019
"Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise" – Proverbs 13:20a
Six times in 2019 we had the opportunity to walk with the wise, experts in various areas of writing and publication. It was a great pleasure and privilege to have welcomed these folks to my blog: James Scott Bell, Kathy Ide, Steve Laube, Randy Ingermanson, Renni Browne, Dave King, and K.M. Weiland.
I encourage you to read or re-read the complete interviews and their comments. Here's a sample of the responses each person gave when I asked what single piece of advice they would give to new authors.
James Scott Bell (Plot & Structure) "It's the same answer every time: write to a quota. Get in the habit of writing a certain number of words every week, week in and week out. You have to practice what you learn in craft books and classes. You have to exercise your imagination. You have to produce the pages if you want to make it in this game."
Kathy Ide (Proofreading Secrets of Best-selling Authors) "View what God has called you to write as a calling—every bit as important as if He had called you to be a pastor or serve on the mission field."
Steve Laube (The Christian Writers Market Guide) "To quote a line from the movie "Galaxy Quest": Never give up. Never Surrender. Seriously. This is an industry that demands excellence. Few writers are born as a perfect writer. Instead, most writers are marked by a dogged determination to improve their craft, learn the industry, build relationships, and create great ideas."
Randy Ingermanson (How to Write a Novel Using the Snowflake Method) "Create a habit of writing every day. You can analyze author success mathematically, and there are four crucial factors. One of the factors of a successful career is production. A habit of writing every day drives production. One of the other factors is quality. A habit of writing every day builds quality. So write every day. Every single day."
Renni Browne (Self-editing for Fiction Writers) "Don't self-edit your first draft. Let the story pour out, unimpeded by self-editing points, grammar, anything you've read or heard from famous writers, and so on. Story first, style later."
Dave King (Self-editing for Fiction Writers) "Writing is hard. It doesn't take long to learn the basics of writing well enough to write competently, especially if you have the help of a professional editor (ADVT). But to really develop the writer's gifts – the insight into people you need to create layered characters, the awareness of how your readers will react to your story, the ability to make all the different aspects of your novel work together – takes time to develop."
K.M. Weiland (Creating Character Arcs) "Find the process that works best for you. Explore and experiment and figure out what best unleashes your creativity. For example, outlines aren't one size fits all. My outline won't look anything like someone else's outline. So just because one outlining approach doesn't do it for you, don't give up right away. Play around and see if you can find the right blend of tools and techniques for you."
That's a lot of great information! And there's so much more in each of the interviews.
Now it's your turn.
What did you enjoy about these interviews and comments?
Would you like to see more Craft of Writing blog posts in 2020?
Would you like to hear from new authors as well as experts?
Do you have any suggestions or recommendations for the blog for the coming year?
I look forward to hearing from you and continuing this blog as we grow together to become great writers!


text:
Cloud-based accounting software platform Xero has announced that it will partner with Shopify to help better support small businesses. By joining the Shopify Plus Certified App Program (PCAP), Xero has entered into a group of partners that supports the advanced needs of Shopify's global merchants.
Xero says that this partnership will help ease the difficulty of common customer pain points within businesses and further highlight the company's commitment to help eCommerce sellers get started, grow, and increase efficiencies.
The new integration aims to help small business owners save time on admin by reducing the amount of manual data entry that is required and giving them up-to-date, on the go reports relating to their financial and business needs.
Xero's EGM ecosystem Nick Houldsworth says that while navigating the current eCommerce climate can be challenging, the partnership acts as a step towards helping small businesses expand their market and work more efficiently.
"By partnering with Shopify we aim to support our small business community to not only weather tough economic conditions, but manage and grow their businesses via one of the world's largest eCommerce platforms. This, in turn, enables them to enhance their own customers' online shopping experience."
Shopify VP revenue Mark Bergen says the partnership is ideal and combines great ideas and innovations.
"The Shopify Plus Certified App Program is designed to meet the advanced requirements of the world's fastest-growing brands. We're happy to welcome Xero to the program, bringing their insight and experience in accounting and finance to the Plus merchant community."
There are a number of benefits that the integration will use to help small business owners, including:
- Data management and sales breakdowns, with Xero being able to show Shopify sales on a daily basis and also allowing customers to see profit.
- Less manual data entry, with Shopify sales sent automatically to Xero to reconcile against bank data.
- Real-time cash flow performance data and forecasts to help enable important business decisions.
Already servicing over 3 million subscribers globally, this new venture aims to enhance Xero's innovative portfolio and reach a variety of new audiences in the global eCommerce market. In 2020, Xero was recognised by IDC MarketScape as a leader in its worldwide SaaS and cloud-enabled small business finance and accounting applications vendor assessment.
Shopify hosts more than a million of the world's most successful brands and businesses, with a broad portfolio of features ranging from digitalisation, cloud integration and management solutions.
The current Xero - Shopify integration is available globally in the Xero App Store and the Shopify App Store, with customers using existing Xero-Shopify integrations unaffected by the change.


text:
The nanny called in sick Wednesday through Friday so work went to my business partner (thanks Bob!) and I got the kids. That means morning quality time with my youngest son while the other two are at school.
|This area of the conservatory houses the holiday flowers and 3 train sets.
We spent a peaceful morning at the Lincoln Park Conservatory's Holiday Flower and Train Show. We arrived Friday just after the doors opened at 9:00am and had the place practically to ourselves for awhile. The show runs through January 5th.
This way to the fish pond!


text:
Police examine Prince Andrew sex files after prompting from abuse charity
SCOTLAND Yard is examining documents about sex allegations involving Prince Andrew after a child abuse charity urged police to determine if a crime had been committed.
Prince Andrew is embroiled in a sex scandal involving convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein
The National Association of People Abused in Childhood sent the documents and urged officers who worked on the Jimmy Savile sex abuse scandal to investigate claims by Virginia Roberts that she was "procured" by billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein to sleep with the Duke of York in London when she was 17.
I regard Ms Roberts as an adult who suffered abuse in her childhood and those are the people NAPAC supports
Peter Saunders, chief executive of the charity, said: "I regard Ms Roberts as an adult who suffered abuse in her childhood and those are the people NAPAC supports."
A Scotland Yard spokeswoman said police were considering the matter. "Our current activity does not constitute an investigation," she added.
Andrew, 54, confirmed yesterday that he will attend the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on January 22 and 23, his first official engagement since the scandal erupted.
He plans to meet the costs of his travel and accommodation himself but UK taxpayers will still fund his police protection there.
Critics, including a group of MPs, have urged the Duke to stay away from Davos while the allegations swirl around him but aides have said he intends to resume his normal routine of official duties, particularly specialising in promoting British technology and education and training for young people.
Ms Roberts, now 31 and a mother of three, has lodged papers in a Florida court and is expected to give further airing to her claims that she had sex three times with Andrew in 2001,
Buckingham Palace has denied the allegations.
- Support fearless journalism
- Read The Daily Express online, advert free
- Get super-fast page loading


text:
Our first reading today is from 2 Kings 5. It is a story about a man named Naaman. Naaman was not a child of Israel. He was a commander in the army of Aram. He was a Syrian. In the Gospel reading today from Luke 4, Jesus recalls to the people that Naaman, a foreigner, was the only man of his time to have faith to be healed of his affliction.
Naaman was a leper. One of his wife's servants was a young Israelite girl. She told them of a prophet in Samaria who could cure Naaman's leprosy. Naaman goes to Samaria and is told by Elisha that to be cured he must "wash seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will heal, and you will be clean." Naaman was furious, and wondered why he couldn't just wash in the waters of his homeland. Were not they better than all the waters of Israel? After some cajoling and convincing, Naaman does what Elisha prescribed, and he was cleansed.
In order to receive his healing, Naaman had to put away his pride. He couldn't imagine that this river in Israel was superior to the rivers in his native land. He knew better! This prophet had to be nuts! Once he set aside his own prejudice, he opened his mind to another way. Isn't this too often how it is between us and God? We know what we're doing! All this God stuff is no more than silly rules and regulations! Bah! That kind of thinking will surely get us nowhere. When we open our minds to the possibility that we could be wrong and God may have an inkling of what He's doing, then the floodgates of healing will open wide.
Father, help us to put away our pride, to stop thinking that we know it all. Open our minds and our hearts to your ways. Amen.
Would you like to become a more Magnetic Christian? When you order a copy of Magnetic Christianity today, you'll get a free copy of A Minute in the Church, too! Order today at www.GusLloyd.com.


text:
I was sent The Lilac House to blurb, and I think I was enraptured by the second paragraph. About grief, recovery and the way two people make a connection, The Lilac House is as engrossing as it is haunting. I'm honored to host Anita Nair here.
I began writing The Lilac House in October 2006. The idea was to write a light novel but eventually I decided that I couldn't waste the next few years writing a book that would mean nothing to me. Perhaps it was that thought that drove me to seek new dimensions, a fresh texture, and in due course found myself working on this rather complex narrative.
I was really interested in the structure, how you told Meera's story, and then Jak's and slowly the two converge. Was this by original design or did this happen during the writing? And do you map out your novels before you begin or are you the kind of writer who simply discovers the story as you are writing it.
The cyclone happens when a hot steam of air and a cold stream of air converge. Hence I wanted to carry this phenomenon into the narrative structure as well and so arrived at two streams of thought namely Meera and Jak's. This was part of the original design as the novel came into its own when I decided to use the cyclone metaphor. In fact in many ways that has become the pattern of my writing. First the idea, then the metaphor that captures the idea the best and from it stems the writing.
I don't really map the story out but somewhere in my head is a beginning and an end…. The exciting thing for me to get from that point A to point Z
Can you please talk about the role of Greek myths in the story? And how you came to write the knockout Thereafter... ending. I'd also like to know if you feel we can ever make peace with our pasts.
I was reading Robert Grave's The Greek Myths and suddenly it occurred to me that the gods and goddesses of Greek myths are probably just as human as we are with none of the guilt we seem to be burdened with. Their depths of degradation are as low as they are triumphs. It makes a great metaphor. And Hera seemed the capture all that Meera was and hoped to be.
The Lilac House would have ended very bleakly for both the reader and me if it had ended without The Thereafter. And so I decided that I would work in that final image of hope. No rainbows and tinsel streaked horizons but a glimmer of hope which is enough for most of us to move on. I am not certain that we ever make peace with our pasts. But we need to make that effort to come to terms with it.
What is obsessing you now?
A crime novel that I began on a whim. I am not even a reader of crime fiction in general. Nevertheless some strange power drove me into writing a first chapter and thereafter I had to delve within and around me to be able to carry it forward. It was a world that I was not familiar with. But sheer doggedness in terms of research has propelled the novel forward. It's also writing out of the comfort zone which makes me that much more satisfied with every chapter written. Especially as very few crime novels have emerged from India. So going into territories that others haven't makes me feel a bit of a pioneer and super sleuth.
What question didn't I ask that I should have?
Well, you have asked me all the important ones so there isn't any I can think of either…


text:
Evidence over the last decade has shown that ecological change in response to climate change is likely to be unavoidable, widespread and substantial.
As a result, some of our approaches to biodiversity conservation may need to change – including not just the actions we take now but also the overarching goals of what we aim to achieve.
Here we present the second part of the story of bringing biodiversity and climate change into NRM planning. Helping Biodiversity Adapt supports the strategic and implementation phases of planning, including discussion of climate-ready goals for biodiversity conservation and potential options to achieve them.
What to expect
This Module of the National NRM Impacts and Adaptation project suggests new approaches to biodiversity…> Learn more
New principles and approaches
We will need new principles to guide biodiversity conservation given the pressure for biodiversity to…> Learn more
The Biodiversity Adaptation Toolbox
New or revised strategic goals and actions will be needed to align with new principles…> Learn more
Measures for helping biodiversity adapt
We introduce new measures to inform the design of adaptation options. Using the community-level modelling…> Learn more
Planning examples
Practical examples of embracing new principles, deciding on new or revised strategic goals, and planning new…> Learn more
Helping Biodiversity Adapt campus
In this section we provide a summary of the resources used in the Helping Biodiversity…> Learn more


text:
A Guide to Getting a Second Opinion on Breast Cancer
Jan 13
Most women who are diagnosed with breast cancer usually feel a sense of urgency to jump right in and start treatment immediately. In most cases though, there's enough time to do some research to ensure that your diagnosis is correct and that your treatment plan makes sense – and this process may include getting a second opinion. However, just the mere thought of getting a second opinion can feel overwhelming at the start, especially when you've just been diagnosed with this serious condition. No need to worry though, since we're here to walk you through the whole process of getting a second opinion.
Why Get a Second Opinion
Being diagnosed with breast cancer is already a good reason to seek a second opinion. Most people don't consider shopping around before buying a car, or making other major purchases. In the case of breast cancer diagnosis, it's critically important to seek another opinion before making a decision about the treatment you'll have.
You'll likely be advised to change your treatment plan after seeking a second opinion from a group of Singapore oncologists, surgeons, pathologists and radiologists. Understand that even the most qualified and skilled doctors have different opinions about the best treatment option for your breast cancer type and situation.
When to Seek a Second Opinion
It's possible to get a second opinion at any point of your breast cancer care process. Still, it's a much better idea to seek one before starting any cancer treatment, since getting a second opinion will likely change the details of diagnosis, breast cancer screening tests, treatment options, or even the course of your entire treatment plan.
Getting a second opinion usually takes up to a few weeks. In most case though, this delay won't be a problem and won't interfere with your treatment's efficacy. Just make sure that you confirm with your specialist that waiting a bit before undergoing a particular treatment is completely fine.
How to Ask for a Second Opinion
Most breast cancer patients are not comfortable about asking their for another doctor's second opinion after doing a breast cancer screening test in Singapore. They're afraid that they might offend their current doctor and damage their relationship that's just beginning to take shape. After all, he or she's a highly qualified person to help you in your moment of crisis – so it's no wonder you'll feel nervous about asking to consult another health expert. But do remember though, that specialists are used to having patients who seek second opinions, and in most cases, welcome the information other doctors provide.
Getting your doctor involved in this process is essential, since your second doctor will want to see all your medical records, breast cancer screening tests results, as well as your imaging studies to date. You'll need your doctor's help in getting health records that you can show your second health specialist. Also, some health insurance agencies require your specialist to get a second opinion on your condition, than by you.
Where to Go for Second Opinion
After informing your doctor, your next step is to find a doctor (or group of doctors) who'll review your case and give you the second opinion that you want. Your best bet is to look for a breast cancer doctor that works as a part of a multidisciplinary group composed of pathologists, medical oncologists, surgeons, radiologists, and radiation oncologists. That particular specialist will become your point person for getting second opinions from other health experts. However, there may be times where you'll need to approach the individual experts on your own.
If you're concerned about the costs of getting second opinions, then you may want to limit your search to Singapore specialists who'll accept your health insurance, or to those who are part of your health plan. Also, make sure to investigate on what your insurance covers because some plans pay for certain types of second opinions but not for others. For instance, your plan may cover a pathology second opinion but not a treatment second opinion. If cost is no issue, however, then find the doctor whose expertise seems to perfectly fit your situation and needs.
How to Make Sense of a Second Opinion
In general, you can expect getting a second opinion to do one of these three things:
• Confirm Your First Doctor's Opinion. One of the best things that seeking a second opinion does is to confirm your specialist's opinion. This can reassure you and increase your confidence in your original breast cancer screening Singapore tests, diagnosis, and treatment plan.
• Provide More Information Without Repealing the First Opinion. Similar with confirming your doctor's initial opinion, getting a second opinion that provides more information about your breast cancer diagnosis or other treatment options available for you can be reassuring. This way, you get to open up to other options that were not included on your first opinion, such as various treatment approaches.
• Differ or Contradict From the First Opinion. Initially, having a second opinion that completely contradicts the first opinion that you got can be quite worrisome. However, getting a different opinion from another health expert is an opportunity to ensure that you have the right diagnosis and appropriate treatment plan for it.
Make sure that you stay objective as you weigh the information from your first and second opinion. It can be tempting to agree or assume that the 'friendlier' doctor is right, or to believe whoever gives the better news. You may also reach the point in this process where you and your family need to make the final decision about what course of action is right for you. But whatever you decide on, its rest assured that you made one of the most informed decision possible by seeking a second opinion.


text:
Category: Fencing
Making Sports Visible: Italian Sports Logos from M...
Posted by Marco Giani | Jul 23, 2020 | Archival Research, Athletics, Cycling, Fencing, Football, General, Leisure, Rowing, Società Italiana di Storia dello Sport [SISS], Sport & Leisure History, Sport & Politics, Swimming & Diving, Team Sports, The Great Outdoors, Winter Sports | 0
Shining a Light on Arthur!
A New Film Explores the Legacy of the World's First Black Professional Footballer
by Bill Williams | Oct 31, 2023 | Football, Team Sports | 0
Arthur 'Kwame' Wharton is perhaps not a name that is as renowned as it should be in the history...Read More
The Catalyst: Forty years since Mark Brown became Wales' first black Rugby Union international
by Bill Williams | Oct 13, 2023 | Rugby, Team Sports | 0
When Wales play Argentina in their RWC 2023 Quarter Final on Saturday 14th October in Marseille...Read More
Welshman, Cuthbert Taylor and the abolition of Boxing's 'Colour Bar!'
by Bill Williams | Sep 28, 2023 | Boxing, Olympics, Physical Culture | 1
This year ( 2023), will mark 75 years since the 'Colour Bar' in British boxing was...Read More
Once Upon a Time in the West Of Wales:
How a Game Invented in an English Public School became a National Obsession
by Bill Williams | Sep 7, 2023 | Rugby, Team Sports | 0
When Wales take to the field in Bordeaux on Sunday 10th September, in their opening match of the...Read More
The Bourton River Match and other forms of 'Mob Football' still played in the UK today
by Bill Williams | Aug 28, 2023 | Football, General, Team Sports | 0
On August Bank Holiday Monday each year at around 4pm, the usually calm River Windrush , which...Read More
Sisters with Drive:
Early Women Golf Coaches and Professionals
by Jodie Neville | Aug 25, 2023 | British Society of Sports History [BSSH], Golf, Women in Sport | 2
Towards the end of the long nineteenth century there was an expansion in leisure pursuits for...Read More
by Bill Williams | Aug 21, 2023 | Cricket, Team Sports | 0
The period 1890-1914 has long been referred to as 'Cricket's Golden Age' with the formidable...Read More
The History of the 'Scudetto'
by Marco Impiglia | Jul 30, 2023 | Uncategorised | 0
Introduction The scudetto is the symbol that most represents the Italian-speaking communities in the world. Generally, we tend to believe it is an ancient symbol, and instead it has a recent birth that does not go beyond the...Read More
When Americans played cricket:
150 years since the birth of Bart King,'The King of Swing'
by Bill Williams | Jul 27, 2023 | British Society of Sports History [BSSH], Cricket, Team Sports | 0
Nowadays, everyone knows that Americans don't play cricket. It may then be surprising to know that...Read More
"The Dagenham Invincibles"
Part 2
The Chelmsford Scene
by Steve Bolton | Jul 22, 2023 | British Society of Sports History [BSSH], Focus on Fodens: History of Women's Football, Football, Team Sports, Women in Sport | 2
36 Games Undefeated In Part 1 of this series [to read click HERE] I gave an overview of the...Read More
Briton seals First Boys' Wimbledon win since Stanley Matthews!
by Bill Williams | Jul 20, 2023 | Tennis | 1
British teenager, Harry Searle from Wolverhampton has ended a 61 year wait for a Junior Boys'...Read More
Douglas Jardine:
Sixy-Five Years since the Death of England's Bodyline Captain
by Bill Williams | Jun 26, 2023 | Cricket, Team Sports | 0
It is now 90 years since England Cricket Captain, Douglas Jardine, known by many as , 'The Iron...Read More


text:
Our twelfth blog of the week this week is the must-read Get Lippie, online home of the brilliant Louise. She's infinitely eloquent and interesting, and she constantly surprises with her creative posts.
My very favourite thing about Louise's blog has to be her makeovers. There's nothing more reassuring than a lady who admits that she needs some help with her eyeliner, and Louise's step-by-step transformations of her friends and other bloggers details every single technique used. She not only suggests products to the readers, but also allows them to match up their own face shape and skin tone to those who are having their makeup done. If I can see that a dark eye can work for her, then I'll definitely try it myself. It's deceptively simple, but that really captured my imagination.
We're big on perfume here at Escentual and another feature that is a firm favourite is her epic Project Perfume fragrance trialling run, for which we've given a little helping hand. Her quest is educating us on some of our older scents, and is helping us to rediscover some forgotten classics.
Louise's recent retrospective post about how her perception of beauty was heavily influenced by a tumultuous childhood was one of the most thought-provoking, deeply emotional posts that I have ever read. It served as a sound reminder of how deeply personal and transformative beauty products are; not just for the face, but for the mind, too.


text:
I Believe
What do you believe in? This question may be hard for some people to answer. Some may believe what they are told. Others may believe in nothing. I believe in God. I also believe He has a reason for everything, and he wants nothing but good things for us. There may be points in our lives where our faith may waiver because we don't understand why God allows certain things to happen. I know when I go through a hard time my faith can waiver, but there are also points in my life when my faith has gotten stronger after I have gone through a difficult time. I believe God has a purpose for everything that happens, whether it's good or bad. I know that in the end everything will work out if I trust in God. I just need to have that confidence in God.
There have been times in my life when I have questioned why God let something happen. I don't understand why there are devastating hurricanes and terrorist attacks. I don't understand why there are people who get murdered and kids who die from cancer. Recently, a family friend passed away. He was 45. He had a disease called ALS. The motor neuron cells along the spinal cord deteriorate. Your muscles stop working resulting in paralyzation and eventually death. A person with advanced ALS can only sit there and wait for the inevitable. This disease is difficult to diagnose. Doctors diagnose it by testing for a lot of similar diseases and if those tests come back negative then you have ALS. Our friend's disease developed very rapidly and within about a year he couldn't walk. Most people live at least three years after they are diagnosed; he died after two years. He was a husband and the father of two young kids. He died on April 15, 2009.
It was hard for me to grasp why God wanted to take him to heaven with Him. It was hard for me to understand why God wanted to take him away from his family and friends at such a young age, and why he had to suffer like he did. Having my faith and knowing that our friend knew God, helps me. Someday, I will see the big picture and understand God's plan. For now, I just have to put my faith in Him because He knows what He's doing.
Your cart is currently empty.


text:
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS
Michael Fairbrother from Moonlight Meadery joins me this week to discuss honey varieties and mead making. Michael is owner and founder of the award winning Moonlight Meadery.
You can find show notes and additional episodes on my blog here.


text:
If you're visiting this market town, don't miss the chance to experience the surrounding countryside—there are parks and green spaces galore. Dunstable also has some good shopping and places to eat too.
Hotels in Dunstable
Show more
Show less
What to do in Dunstable
Visit Whipsnade Zoo
A fifteen-minute drive away is Whipsnade Zoo, the UK's largest zoo. Set in 600 acres of beautiful parkland, it's home to more than 2,500 animals.
Walk the Dunstable Downs
Within the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the Dunstable Downs are simply stunning. Take a picnic, watch the kite fliers on windy days, and take a walk around this beautiful area.
See Whipsnade Tree Museum
Free to get in, the Tree Cathedral, made from trees, shrubs and plants, was created after the First World War in the spirit of 'faith, hope and reconciliation'.
Show more
Show less


text:
Forged Steel Globe Valve -> SW/Threaded End Forged Steel Globe Valve
For globe valves smaller than 2"(DN50), forged steel valves are recommended. Compared with castings, forged valve bodies offer the advantages of more uniform structure, greater density, higher strength integrity, enhanced dimensional characteristics and closer dimensional tolerances.
The design of forged steel globe valves are also various: Full port, conventional port / reduced port; bolt bonnet, welded bonnet and pressure seal bonnet; socket weld (SW), threaded, butt welded (BW) and flanged end. Special designs include bellows seal globe valve, cryogenic globe valve , extended body globe valve, per customers' requirements.
Features of Forged Steel Globe Valves (SW/Threaded End):
Straight Pattern Body Design
Swivel Plug Disc Design Standard
Flat and Regulating Type Disc Available
Outside Screw & Yoke
Bolted Bonnet, Welded Bonnet or Pressure Seal Bonnet
Socket Weld (SW), Butt Weld (BW), Threaded End Available
Applicable standards of Forged Steel Globe Valves (SW/Threaded End):
a) Design & Manufacture: API 602, BS 5352, ASME B16.34
b) Face to Face: ASME B16.10, EN 558
c) Connection End: ASME B1.20.1, ASME B16.11, ASME B16.25, ASME B16.5, EN 1092
d) Test and Inspection : API 598, EN 12266
Sizes: 1/2" - 2" or DN12 - DN50
Pressure Rating: Class 150 - Class 2500 or PN 16 - PN 420
Material of valve body: A105, LF2, F11, F22, F5, F304, F304L, F316, F316L, etc.
Operated by: Handwheel
Would you like to get more products information or order it, please call me, or click Inquiry Now to fill in the Form.
It helps you get more informations you need to trade confidently with suppliers.
Related products : Gate Valve | Ball Valve | Check Valve | Globe Valve | Butterfly Valve | Knife Gate Valve


text:
Bullying is a situation when a person intentionally and repeatedly uses actions and words against someone to harass them physically or emotionally. This kind of behavior is generally shown by influential people to those who may feel helpless and less powerful.
Workplace bullying has become a debatable topic these days. In fact, there is a lot of pressure on lawmakers to take legislative actions against the culprits.
What is Workplace Bullying?
Bullying in the workplace can be verbal, social, psychological or physical by your employer (or some high authority) or group of people at work. Bullying can happen at any kind of workplace, despite the type. We have seen cases within small shops, cafes, community groups, restaurants, and even governmental agencies. Some kinds of workplace bullying can even be considered as criminal offences.
Some Examples of Workplace Bullying
- Someone gives you an unnecessary task that has nothing to do with your job.
- When someone ignores your opinions.
- When someone constantly blames you for problems caused by others.
- When your employer or your senior shouts at you in front of your colleagues.
- When someone threatens you with guns, knives or any kind of equipment that can be turned into a weapon and can harm you.
Effects of Workplace Bullying
Bullying inculcates the feeling of guilt among employees as a result
- They feel isolated.
- They start feeling that they don't fit in a group.
- They feel confused and ashamed all the time.
- They feel depressed and rejected by their colleagues.
Tips to Eliminate Workplace Bullying and Improve Company Culture
Being an employer, sometimes it becomes difficult to eliminate workplace bullying and most of the employers have no idea how to deal with it. Not only can it hamper the progress of the organization, but it can also impact employees' mental health.
So, below we have shared some effective tips to maintain a cordial environment in your company.
- Be Attentive
You should know the signs of workplace bullying. Some of the common bullying behaviors are demeaning comments, unreasonable workloads, ignoring requests and gossiping among employees. Regularly solicit feedback from employees to learn if they are comfortable and not suffering from any kind of bullying.
- Listen to the complaints
Maintain such an attitude that your employees would not hesitate to come to you if they face any kind of difficulty. An employer should follow a standard process of investigation to assess every complaint. Set up a universal disciplinary policy for the offenders.
- Train employees
Many organizations these days are taking initiatives to train their employees to prohibit, recognize, and respond to if someone behaves rudely, aggressively, or bully them at their workplace. This will help to stop bullying and lend support to victims.
- Conduct an employee opinion survey
An employee opinion survey is one of the best ways to learn if any of your employees are being bullied. It is even more beneficial to ensure anonymity as many victims of bullying may be hesitant to come forward due to fears of their identities being revealed.
These are some of the effective tips that can help you to monitor and eliminate workplace bullying and improve company culture.


text:
Have Questions? Need help with your order?
Call Toll Free 888-260-8458
In indigenous cultures, elders serve as a bridge across time: they are connected to the past, they live in the present, and they offer wisdom for the future. In these fascinating biographical essays, twelve First Nation and Native American elders share stories from their lives and tell what it was like to live in a time before television, cell phones, or video games. Their stories explain how their humble childhoods shaped the adults they became and the lessons they share as elders.
All of the elders profiled here work to ensure that their Native culture is passed down to members of their tribe. Whether through language lessons, ceremonies, or their ways of life, elders unlock the past and bring it to the present.
Settle in with this book and "listen" to the stories of these elders' lives. As you take in their history, you just might gain wisdom that could make a difference in your own life.
Featured elders:
La Donna Harris Comanche
Ernest Siva Morongo
Jacqueline Guest Métis
Percy Henry Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in
Nella Heredia Cahuilla
Jim Northrup Anishinaabe/Ojibwe
Judy Gingell Kwanlin Dun
Christine Jack Xwisten
Mark Bellcourt Ojibwa
Bert Crowfoot Siksika
Louva Dahozy Navajo
Faith Davison Mohegan
A glossary of terms found in the chapters is included, along with resources for discovering more information about each elder.


text:
Welcome to Ventura County
With near-perfect weather year-round, ocean and mountain landscapes, endless outdoor recreation, a thriving arts community, dining, and entertainment options – Ventura County is truly the iconic Southern California community. Ventura's ability to retain its close-knit atmosphere while continuing to reinvent itself is evident just about everywhere you turn. Williams Homes has long been a part of this evolution by building a range of new home offerings throughout Ventura County that cater to its diverse people – a mix of young and old, from life-long farmers to hip artists, singles, couples, and families of every shape and size.
Today, Williams Homes' Shoreline in Oxnard brings 50 brand new single family homes to Ventura County. Less than a mile from the beach, Shoreline's three and four-story coastal-contemporary designs feature modern interiors, two-car garages, second and third floor decks, and expansive rooftop decks with select homes offering ocean views. Residents will enjoy private community amenities, including a pool, patio, and a multi-purpose room. We know you're going to love Shoreline for so many different reasons. Register to join Shoreline's VIP Buyer list today to be among the first to receive special invitations and updates as they become available.


text:
Early in my corporate career, I was masterful at replying to emails instantaneously and staying on top of the multitude of requests I received from..Read More
For many people, giving and receiving feedback can be incredibly stressful. When you have poured your heart and soul into your work, having someone offer..Read More
A reader asks: I recently got a new job in HR at a small (under 100 people) company. This is my first job in the HR..Read More
It's time to face the situation and to find out what you can do in order to break the dangerous cycles. Here are 5 main..Read More
Should you stay in your current role in hopes of a promotion or make a lateral, internal job change? That question will be familiar to..Read More
What does it take to become a successful entrepreneur? Vision, forward-thinking, risk-taking abilities, determination, hard work, dedication, a good game plan…. Most of us are aware..Read More
There's that project you've left on the backburner – the one with the deadline that's growing uncomfortably near. And there's the client whose phone call..Read More
Talking about office disasters is key to better productivity and healthy competition. We all have our share of office-related horror stories. From the incorrect market..Read More
Leading and living with empathy has never been more important in our world than right now. Empathy is the ability to identify with the challenges that..Read More
Whether you're looking to leave your current position for an opportunity that your company couldn't offer, or perhaps for a completely new career, or a..Read More


text:
OxyContin maker and executives plead to misleading public
ROANOKE, Va. - The maker of the powerful painkiller OxyContin and three of its current and former executives pleaded guilty Thursday to misleading the public about the drug's risk of addiction, a federal prosecutor and the company said.
ROANOKE, Va. - The maker of the powerful painkiller OxyContin and three of its current and former executives pleaded guilty Thursday to misleading the public about the drug's risk of addiction, a federal prosecutor and the company said.
Purdue Pharma L.P., its president, top lawyer and former chief medical officer will pay $634.5 million in fines for claiming the drug was less addictive and less subject to abuse than other pain medications, U.S. Attorney John Brownlee said.
The plea agreement settled a national case and came two days after the Stamford, Conn.-based company agreed to pay $19.5 million to 26 states and the District of Columbia to settle complaints that it encouraged physicians to overprescribe OxyContin.
"With its OxyContin, Purdue unleashed a highly abusable, addictive, and potentially dangerous drug on an unsuspecting and unknowing public," Brownlee said. "For these misrepresentations and crimes, Purdue and its executives have been brought to justice."
Purdue spokesman James Heins objected to any suggestion of ties between the plea agreement and the abuse of OxyContin.
"We promoted the medicine only to health-care professionals, not to consumers," he said in a statement.
Privately held Purdue learned from focus groups with physicians in 1995 that doctors were worried about the abuse potential of OxyContin. The company then gave false information to its sales representatives that the drug had less potential for addiction and abuse than other painkillers, the U.S. attorney said.
Ken Jost of the Justice Department's Office of Consumer Litigation said this case should put pharmaceutical companies on notice that they won't be able to get away with breaking the law to make a profit.
"The things that they plot in their boardrooms, the things that they do behind closed doors will not stay behind closed doors," Jost said. "We have the people, we have the resources. We'll take the time and we'll take the effort to find out what they did and how they did it."
Purdue Pharma said it accepted responsibility for its employees' actions.
"During the past six years, we have implemented changes to our internal training, compliance and monitoring systems that seek to assure that similar events do not occur again," the company said in a news release.
OxyContin, a trade name for oxycodone, is a time-release painkiller that can be highly addictive. Designed to be swallowed whole and digested over 12 hours, the pills can produce a heroin-like high if crushed and then swallowed, snorted or injected.
From 1996 to 2001, the number of oxycodone-related deaths nationwide increased fivefold while the annual number of OxyContin prescriptions increased nearly 20-fold, according to a report by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. In 2002, the DEA said the drug caused 146 deaths and contributed to another 318.
The U.S. attorney said the guilty pleas were entered Thursday morning in U.S. District Court in Abingdon, about 135 miles southwest of Roanoke. In an unusual move, Brownlee said, company chief executive officer Michael Friedman, general counsel Howard Udell and former chief medical officer Paul Goldenheim each pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of misbranding the drug. Of the total fine, $34.5 million was levied on those three.
The fines will be distributed to state and federal law enforcement agencies, the federal government, federal and state Medicaid programs, a Virginia prescription monitoring program and individuals who had sued the company. About $5 million will go toward a six-year company program to monitor compliance with the agreement.
When he took office in 2001, Brownlee said, his office was handling a number of cases related to OxyContin abuse, including crimes by addicts seeking to support their habits and arrests of street dealers and even pharmacists and physicians.
"But it always seemed, I think to me and to the investigators, that there was more," he told a news conference.
Investigators from a number of state and federal agencies worked together on an investigation of Purdue Pharma and began to subpoena company records in 2002, Brownlee said.
"From these millions of records, they picked out probably 300 to 500 documents and pieced together a case," he said.
The Food and Drug Administration was part of the investigation. A spokesman for Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said the agency had not acted on a citizen petition Blumenthal's office filed more than three years ago. The petition raised concerns about misbranding and called for stronger warnings and fuller disclosure about OxyContin's dangers.
Kim Rice of the FDA told the news conference that over time the agency has mandated increasingly stronger warnings on labels about OxyContin's abuse potential.
Purdue Pharma recruited high-profile help in 2002 as the nation's number of oxycodone-related deaths rose dramatically. It hired former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani's firm, Giuliani Partners, to try to prevent smuggling and abuse of the drug.
"Purdue has demonstrated its commitment to fighting this problem in launching practical and novel solutions including the provision of tamper-resistant prescription pads to over 10,000 physicians and implementing its highly acclaimed 'Painfully Obvious' teen education program," Giuliani said at the time.


text:
Nanomachines have not yet reached a stage where they are applied in a clinical setting, but that is one of the many goals in the field of nanotechnology. Developers can often look to nature for inspiration, since there are so many natural micro machines already in use in a variety of biological settings. One example are the carboxysomes of cyanobacteria, natural protein micromachines that utilize photosynthesis. New work, reported in the journal Nanoscale by researchers at the the University of Liverpool, has described the structural and physical characteristics of these machines.
Cyanobacteria are a specialized kind of bacteria that use photosynthesis to produce energy and oxygen, like green plants do. These ubiquitous microbes are the most abundant organism in both fresh water and in oceans. Within cyanobacteria are carboxysomes, working to convert carbon dioxide into sugar. Their numbers create an impact on global biomass and the environment, and you can learn more about that in the above video.
Carboxysomes, which are polyhedral structures on a nanoscale and are comprised of a few different kinds of enzymes and proteins. There is not much known regarding how the carboxysomes are created or maintained, which is crucial to continued carbon fixation.
Royal Society University Research Fellow Dr. Luning Liu of the Royal Society worked with scientists at the Institute of Integrative Biology at the University to learn more about the native structure and probe the mechanical stiffness of carboxysomes utilizing advanced microscopes and biochemical methods.
The scientists were the first to extract purified active carboxysomes from cyanobacteria and were thus able to determine their protein composition and their carbon fixation activity. Using electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy, the investigators then got a look at how the proteins were organized in the structure, and could describe the morphology of these bacterial machines.
It turns out that carboxysomes are much more flexible structurally and more pliable than thought. Although they are similar to polyhedral biruses, they turned out to be a lot softer. That connects to their formation process and regulation in bacteria. This was the first time the mechanical nature of these three-dimensional nano machines have been described.
"It's exciting that we can make the first 'contact' with these nano-structures and understand how they are self-organized and shaped using state-of-the-art techniques available at the University. Our findings provide new clues about the relationship between the structure and functionality of native carboxysomes," commented Dr. Liu.
Different features of carboxysomes are notable, like self-assembly and modularity. That may make them especially interesting to people trying to design new nanomachines, like nanoscientists, synthetic bioengineers and biologists.
"We're now just starting to understand how these bacterial machines are built and work in nature. Our long-term vision is to harness the knowledge to make further steps towards better design and engineering of bio-inspired machines," continued Dr Liu, "The knowledge and techniques can be extended to other biological machines."
Sources: AAAS/Eurekalert! via University of Liverpool, Nanoscale


text:
Development Is My First And Foremost Agenda Says Sanjay Dina Patil
The elections are the main agenda for our country today but do we know the agenda of our representatives. The Mumbai north east constituency has a fight between NCP's Candidate and Ex-MP Sanjay Dina Patil with BJP's corporater and first time candidate Manoj Kotak. Manoj was the last minute replacement for Kirit Somaiya who is the sitting member of parliament from the area whereas Sanjay Dina Patil has been an ex-MLA and Ex-MP from the constituency.
When we tried to contact them, we were unable to contact Manoj Kotak but could manage to have a brief chat with Sanjay Dina Patil. When asked about his main agenda for the elections, he said, "Development is my first and foremost agenda and shall always be." He further elaborated that his focus will be on getting A/C local trains to make sure that the people of his constituency have a better ride and also it shall help in saving fuel and de-congesting the roads.
He added that, "Currently the metro work has created a lot of difficulties for the common man. Before stating such work the government should have made some alternative plans to ease the traffic and the congestion. If A/C local trains would have started, many would have opted to travel by it. It will benefit the common man to save fuel, save time and give a more comfortable journey."
The other development plans of Sanjay Dina Patil include developing an educational complex in the salt pat area that gives the students various universities under one roof. Similarly to build a health complex including public and private hospitals and medical facilities so that people of Mumbai north east get all emergency health treatments in their neighborhood.


text:
The annual VSF Charity Golf Day, sponsored this year by i-paye, proved to be a phenomenal success in every way - thank you to everyone who attended!
On Friday 16th June 2017 Hillside Golf Club hosted the 2nd Annual Charity Golf Day in support of the Vital Signs Foundation (VSF).
In total 92 players (23 teams) competed for 3 main team prizes – Mens, Ladies and Mixed.
The day started briskly with the wind and the course presenting the golfers with a real challenge. Tight and hard fairways, together with punishingly deep rough and rapid greens brought even the most talented and experienced golfers to their knees at times! No wonder Hillside Golf Club is the Final Open Qualifying course for this year's Open Golf Championship!
After the golf, everyone was entertained by the magic and slight of hand magician Dave Burgess along with our keenly contested 5 hole putting competition, once again, on the lightening fast HGC putting green.
Our evening entertainment was once again delivered by the hilarious and talented Jed Stone.
The auction prizes at this year's event were unique and keenly bid upon, making our fundraising evening a huge success.
The Trustees would like to thank everybody who attended the event and also our volunteers who were amazing by giving their valuable time to us so graciously.
It is our immense pleasure to announce that we raised in excess of £10,000 and that figure is directly down to you, the people who attended our day and supported our evening.


text:
Trade name for Trilostane. This drug blocks the synthesis by the adrenals of adrenal hormones. It is used in the treatment of hyperadrenocorticism (Cushings disease). In order to live a healthy life animals need some adrenal hormones – glucocorticoids mineralocorticoids – so we have to create a balance whereby some is still produced but the excess is blocked. We usually achieve this by regular blood testing.
If your dog is on Vetoryl and you notice any adverse effect phone us directly please.


text:
With so much important information to share with the community, BCBS Louisiana Foundation needed a comprehensive website employees could easily maintain and update.
The Project
Blue Cross Blue Shield Louisiana Foundation's mission is to promote wellness for Louisiana residents by offering support to health-and education-related causes. To support this mission, a web presence is critical to communicate grant details and volunteer opportunities to the community. With this in mind, Gatorworks designed and developed a website showcasing the site's main pillars of grants, awards, and volunteers, as well as ongoing news and blog posts.
Key Features
BCBS Foundation has a robust database of content—including 16 years of Angel Award recipients and blog posts detailing program success stories—press and media attention and more. Building an organized and easy-to-update content management system (CMS) was a main priority for Gatorworks.
Ordered Page Parts
Without having to learn HTML code, the BCBS Foundation team can easily move and order entire sections of content (including maps, statistical data, forms, and pictures) on the new site. By building editing blocks within the CMS, Gatorworks gave the client freedom and flexibility to manage the pages.
Angel Award Database
In addition to ensuring the user-facing portion of the Angel Award database was organized and easily digestible, Gatorworks created a back-end custom post type. Using this sophisticated filing system, BCBS Foundation can keep a fully detailed record of all past Angel Award recipients.
News Posts Filtering Capabilities
The website allows users to choose between two different types of news—blogs and press. The option to filter by date, program, or region enables users to find the desired content without having to scroll through content irrelevant to their location or interest.
Project Summary
With a highly intuitive and sophisticated backend, BCBS Louisiana Foundation's new site is easily updated with all the latest news and important information needed for grants, award programs, and volunteer opportunities.


text:
Thanks to a "dovish pivot" from the Federal Reserve and a risk-on quarter, high-yield bond strategies took half of the top 10 spots for the year ended March 31, according to Morningstar Inc.'s separate account/collective investment trust database.
There was a lot of stress in the market in the fourth quarter of 2018. Funds with larger exposures to high yield were hit hard. But in early 2019, the Federal Open Market Committee decided to keep rates steady and signaled it was not likely to raise rates in 2019.
"The central event that drove what we're seeing is this dovish pivot from the Fed," said Gabe Dennis, associate analyst, fixed-income strategies at Morningstar in Chicago. "The market consensus became 'let the good times roll.' "
Following that decision, Treasury yields fell, credit spreads tightened and riskier assets, including high yield and emerging markets, did well during the first quarter.
"It was a risk-on quarter, the Fed assumed a dovish tone, so the first quarter looked particularly healthy, especially when you contrast it with the fourth quarter of 2018," said Emory Zink, senior fund analyst, fixed-income strategies, at Morningstar.
The Morningstar analysts said in a phone interview that energy made a comeback in the first quarter after doing so poorly in previous quarters.
"Oil prices, which have been very low, came back in the first quarter," Mr. Dennis said. "This had to do with the rise in high yield as well. Companies with exposure to oil and energy industry did pretty well."
The median return for domestic high-yield strategies in Morningstar's universe was 5.43% for the one-year period ended March 31, while the median return for Morningstar's entire domestic fixed-income universe was 4.48%.
The Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Corporate High-Yield index returned 5.93% for the 12 months ended March 31 and the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond index returned 4.48% for the year.
Although high-yield strategies reigned supreme for the year ended March 31, the strategy that topped the list was a municipal intermediate-term bond strategy. Thomas J. Herzfeld Advisors Inc.'s tax-exempt composite bond fund posted a gross return of 11.84% for the 12 months ended March 31.
Ryan Paylor, portfolio manager of the Herzfeld bond fund, Miami Beach, Fla., said the fund specializes in buying closed-end funds that invest in municipal bond strategies.
"We take advantage of the inefficiency that we see in the closed-end funds market where we can generate alpha regardless of how the underlying munis are performing," Mr. Paylor said. "Munis were an attractive asset class in the first quarter."
Mr. Paylor added that the strategy "picked a slate of" funds managed by Pacific Investment Management Co. LLC, which "did really well in the first quarter," with one fund — PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund II — up 16.6% in the first quarter.
Also, Herzfeld's fixed-income composite bond fund was the top strategy for the five years ended March 31, with an annualized gross return of 8.74%.


text:
Worship with us Sunday at 9:30am, 10:30am, 5:00pm and Wednesday at 7:30pm
Paul Blake
- Sun AM
← Go Back
Get the latest sermons delivered right to your app or device.
Subscribe with your favorite podcast player.
Home | AM I SAVED? | About Us | Sermons | Bible Classes | Online Resources | Bible Videos | Contact Us | Members
Powered by Congregate
Trilacoochee church of Christ
20300 US Hwy 301 N
Dade City, FL 33523


text:
Biomarkers of Whale Shark HealthPublished on 15. November 2012
Biomarkers of Whale Shark Health: A Metabolomic Approach
Alistair D. M. Dove, Johannes Leisen, Manshui Zhou, Jonathan J. Byrne, Krista Lim-Hing, Harry D. Webb, Leslie Gelbaum, Mark R. Viant, Julia Kubanek, Facundo M. Fernández
In a search for biomarkers of health in whale sharks and as exploration of metabolomics as a modern tool for understanding animal physiology, the metabolite composition of serum in six whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) from an aquarium collection was explored using 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and direct analysis in real time (DART) mass spectrometry (MS). Principal components analysis (PCA) of spectral data showed that individual animals could be resolved based on the metabolite composition of their serum and that two unhealthy individuals could be discriminated from the remaining healthy animals. The major difference between healthy and unhealthy individuals was the concentration of homarine, here reported for the first time in an elasmobranch, which was present at substantially lower concentrations in unhealthy whale sharks, suggesting that this metabolite may be a useful biomarker of health status in this species. The function(s) of homarine in sharks remain uncertain but it likely plays a significant role as an osmolyte. The presence of trimethylamine oxide (TMAO), another well-known protective osmolyte of elasmobranchs, at 0.1–0.3 mol L−1 was also confirmed using both NMR and MS. Twenty-three additional potential biomarkers were identified based on significant differences in the frequency of their occurrence between samples from healthy and unhealthy animals, as detected by DART MS. Overall, NMR and MS provided complementary data that showed that metabolomics is a useful approach for biomarker prospecting in poorly studied species like elasmobranchs.
PLoS ONE 7(11): e49379. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0049379


text:
The Andromax Difference
Unlike other testosterone boosters and men's health supplements, Andromax is not about hype. It has been formulated and used clinically as part of a comprehensive men's health program by a physician specialist.
Give it a try. And remember, best results are achieved with continuous use and as part of a comprehensive lifestyle approach.


text: Barrow upon Soar is a larger village in the Soar Valley between Leicester and Loughborough. It is part of the Charnwood district and famous for a plesiosaur excavated there in 1851. It lies on the east bank of the River Soar which attracts fishing, boaters and water enthusiasts alike. The village is well serviced with a supermarket, gift shops, various takeaways and public houses to suit. There is a childrens nursery, primary school, secondary school and community centre, football club and cricket ground and host of other clubs and groups.The village benefits from it's own train station and the Ivanhoe Line gives access to Loughborough, Leicester and Nottingham. Nearest Airport: East Midlands (11.9 miles). Nearest Train Station: Barrow. Nearest Town/City: Loughborough (3.4 miles). Nearest Motorway Access: M1 (J23)


text:
I say "Credenza" and you think I'm babbling Italian. Well hello! I was only talking about sideboards...Brag much? I think so! - I recently learnt that a sideboard is also called a credenza, don't you just love the sound of it? Wait till you hear the Italians say it.
So moving on from my obsession with the word, I think I'v got the most fabulous looking Mid-Century style credenzas lined up for you. Go ahead and take a peek!
The idea is to have a piece of furniture that doesn't blend with the rest, which looks out of place yet adds that fun element to your space. So I think quirky is the way to go with these lovely mid century styled pieces and this is how...
In case you want color but not too knocked out of proportion than the rest of the set up then how about these...
While I try to get one of these custom made for myself (I know ill never get a ready made one to my exact liking) why don't you ponder over the kind you'd like for yourself and share with me via the comment box below.
Till I see you again...Salve!
All Images: Houzz


text:
Mesoscale models are numerical tools which resolve atmospheric processes of spatial scales between 2 and 1000 km. They solve the conservation equations of mass, momentum, internal energy and diverse air constituents (for example water vapour, trace gases or aerosol) with different physical approximations (incompressible, anelastic; hydrostatic, non-hydrostatic). Small-scale physical processes that are not resolved by the chosen temporal and spatial discretization (mesh width, time step), such as boundary-layer turbulence or convective exchange processes, are parameterized by ad-hoc approaches, i.e. they are approximately described by resolved parameters.
Mesoscale models are mostly specialized for distinct applications (e.g. regional or local weather forecast or process studies). Therefore, different mesoscale models are applied at the Institute for Atmospheric Physics to different problems. Three examples are
Further important applications of mesoscale models are, for example, local heavy precipitations events, convective storms, and regional climate studies.


text:
The 24-hour stomach flu? No, it's Gastroenteritis caused by Novovirus Norovirus, Stomach Bug
The myth of the 24-hour stomach flu | Gastroenteritis caused by Novovirus Norovirus, Stomach Bug
Every flu season, millions of people who get their flu shots still come down with a nasty stomach bug that puts them in bed for up to 48 hours. The cause of their suffering is not the flu, which is a respiratory disease transmitted by airborne viruses that can survive up to a month and cause severe or even life-threatening illness.
If you're sitting on or kneeling in front of the Porcelain Throne, what you're suffering from is not the flu.
Chances are it's a case of gastroenteritis, which many people call a stomach bug or food poisoning. It's an inflammation of the stomach and intestines caused by ingesting a virus or microbe. The associated nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramps often subside within a day.
The likely culprit is the highly contagious norovirus, which accounts for half of food-borne diseases, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Norovirus Infection often causes large outbreaks, and on occasion has sent the majority of passengers on cruise ships to their sick beds for a day or two. The vomit and stools of those infected are highly contagious. The virus can linger on the surface of objects for weeks. Approximately 30% of stomach bugs are caused by two similar viruses, the rotavirus and the astrovirus.
Other stomach bugs are triggered by bacteria including salmonella, shigella, staphylococcus, clostridium, and E coli. Exposure usually occurs through the consumption of contaminated food or water. Most people don't associate their illness with something they ate or drank though, because 24 to 72 hours usually pass before they feel sick.
Worldwide, inadequate treatment of gastroenteritis kills 5 million to 8 million people per year, and it is a leading cause of death among infants and children under the age of five.
flu, 24 hour flu, stomach flu, stomach bug, food poisoning, 24 hour vomiting, vomiting and diarrhea, contagious stomach bug, norovirus, food borne disease, can food poisoning kill you, is food poisoning deadly, can you die from food poisoning,


text:
SANTA CLARA – Alex Smith was interviewed by Bay Area reporters on a conference call Wednesday afternoon. Here's a transcript.
Q: Is it weird it to be game planning and studying the 49ers' defense as an opponent?
AS: It is and it isn't. It's so far removed. I feel like a lot has happened since then and we played them last year in the preseason. A lot has gone on. In the football world a year and a half is a long time. Also, though, for the guys who are still there, it's funny to be watching Justin on tape and Patrick and those guys I played so long with. It is funny to be watching it a little bit. But there also is a bunch of new faces too and a new stadium that I've never been to.
Q: What is your perspective when you view them now as a team you're trying to beat?
AS: It's no different than what I knew then. They have a pretty, pretty, pretty good, pretty stout…it's tough to find much there. They're a stingy defense. They're physical up front. They're smart. They're well coached. Certainly a big challenge this week.
Q: Do you have any inkling about how you'll be received by the fans when you come here?
AS: Haven't thought about it and I guess no idea. I don't know. I guess we'll find out.
Q: You've talked about the pressure you put on yourself being the No.1 pick. The Chiefs gave up a fair amount to get you. Did your past experience prepare you for that pressure?
AS: Yeah, that certainly played a part in it. I think a lot of stuff played into that, even what happened there at the end of the year, losing my job, a little bit of it. Worrying about anything that was outside of your control and dwelling on any of that stuff is only going to have a negative impact. As much as that stuff is there, good, bad or indifferent, you just try to focus and you eliminate all that clutter and distractions and you focus on the things you can control, and that's going out there and trying to be prepared and play good football. So, yeah, certainly in a much better frame of mind to handle the opportunity last year.
Q: Was it like, this is the type of quarterback I am, this is the type of person I am, take it or leave it?
AS: Oh, for sure more comfortable with who I am as a person and a player. And at the same time that's not to say you're stubborn or not going to change. You certainly are constantly working on your weaknesses and trying to improve. I think you also have a far better understanding of what wins football games from the quarterback position. And for me, it was so many little things that went into playing winning football. It's not always the big impressive throw. It's some of the little things you do over and over and over again over the course of 60, 70, 80 plays in a game that are winning football. So I think I have a better understanding of that.
Q: Is there a common thread among the coaches that you've had – Urban Meyer, Jim Harbaugh and now Andy Reid?
AS: It's hard to compare any of those guys. Everybody comes at it their own way and their individual style. It's tough. Certainly the common thread between Coach Reid and Coach Harbaugh is they're both quarterback-guys as head coaches, so that's different. You have a head coach that's in your quarterback meetings and coaching you on the field. I think other than that, though, it's tough to compare them. Certainly they're all very detailed in how they coach the position. Success and execution, it certainly comes down to the details and how the plays are coached. It's less about X's and O's at that point.
Q: What do you like best about playing in Andy Reid's offense?
AS: That's tough. I think the attitude and the environment that he sets as the head coach. He's one of the best teachers that I've been around in the sense of really teaching the details of smaller things and developing that, not only in the classroom but on the field. He really creates an environment of cutting it loose and we'll fix mistakes as we go and we'll roll. Coaches coach and players play and it's your job to go out there and be yourself and play football.
Q: Even though you didn't win a Super Bowl, do you feel like you finished your business with the 49ers?
AS: I do, yeah, to be honest. I really did kind of feel that. Felt like it was complete. Felt like we had rebounded. Took a lot longer than I ever thought. Got the organization back where it needed to be and better than when I came here. So yeah, in a sense, definitely. Didn't have any regrets when I left.
Q: Do you have any bitterness about the way things went down?
AS: I don't. I don't at all. No, I was so excited about this opportunity when that happened. I felt like that chapter was done for me and I was really excited about moving on to this next opportunity. I think because of everything that happened over the course of my career I was so much more appreciative of how fragile the opportunity is to get to start and play in this game and, for me, I was just full go on it and going to do everything I could to take advantage of it and run with it and not look back. So, no, bitterness at all.
Q: Did you actively try to make sure that the guys that were loyal to you didn't do anything and kept with the team, the team, the team mentality?
AS: I actively tried to be a good teammate and do what was right. I felt like coaches coach and they have to make their decisions and do it. Players play and those are things outside of my control. This is a team game. I wasn't going to put myself or my situation ahead of any of that. I know I said that at the time. I still feel the same way. There is no one bigger than the team. That certainly was my frame of mind.
Q: Jim Harbaugh said there would be no pregame butt slapping and hugging with you. Is that accurate? Is that something you guys had talked about in advance?
AS: I haven't talked to anybody. I haven't given it much thought, no.
Q: He made it sound as if he'd had this conversation with you.
AS: No.
Q: Do you guys talk much anymore.
AS: I have not talked to Coach in quite a while.
Q: Did the 49ers make the right choice in going with Colin over you or did they possibly make a mistake?
AS: I'm not even going to answer that, man. I haven't thought about it. At this point it is not even relevant.
Q: Did you ever talk to Kaepernick during that time?
AS: Yeah, Kap and I talked and sent text messages. It's been a little while as well. It's tough to talk to anybody in the middle of the season.
Q: How is A.J. Jenkins doing?
AS: He's doing well. A.J. is doing great. Working hard. He's developed a lot over the last few years here in this system. Very excited for him.
Q: How have you improved since you've been on the Chiefs?
AS: A lot of it is getting more reps and you're getting better. It's certainly a whole other coaching staff and a way of doing things here, and Coach Reid has coached a lot of great quarterbacks. Seems like an endless supply of knowledge. Every day I try to soak it up and take in something. The more games you play in and the more practice reps you get, you're constantly learning and trying to get better.
Q: You signed a contract extension with the Chiefs. Does that give you some assurance that they you view you as their quarterback now and deep into the future?
AS: In a sense. Maybe just for this year. You realize even though, yeah, you end up signing a multi-year deal, you learn how fragile this thing is. It's a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately business and you've got to go out every single week and prove it. And that's the deal. I've played long enough to know that. The contract extension was nice in the sense that I really didn't feel like I had to go out there, that this year was done and I wasn't going to be…there wasn't that unknown at the end of the year. But at the same time, I really feel like every week you've got to go out there and re-prove yourself.


text:
1. Name
The pandas name means "black and white cat-foot." This comes from their distinctive black and white coloring. Pandas have black ears, eyes, and legs, with white heads and bodies. They are referred to as giant pandas to separate them from red pandas. Giant pandas, unlike red pandas, are bears.
2. Diet
In the wild, pandas eat 99% bamboo. They will occasionally eat birds or rodents, or other types of grasses. In captivity, however, they receive eggs, honey, fish, yams, oranges, bananas, and specially prepared foods, as well as their favorite bamboo.
3. Population
Giant pandas are endangered, with only about 2,000 remaining in the wild. Only about 300 pandas are currently living in captivity, making their worldwide population dangerously low.
4. Where do they live?
Pandas are native to China. They typically live in mountain ranges in central China. They used to live in lower land, but because of deforestation they have had to move to the mountains. This is part of why the population is so low. Those in captivity are also mainly located in China, however there are a few spread out through the world.
5. Life span
In the wild pandas are believed to live about 20 years. In captivity this can be extended to an average of 30 years. The oldest known panda is Ming Ming, who was 34 years old. Ming Ming was a captive panda.
6. Life style of the Panda
The panda spends most of its time roaming and eating. They are solitary creatures and do not tolerate other pandas in their territory. They do not make permanent dens, but remain on the move. They also do not hibernate like most bears. Instead they seek warmer shelter during the cold months.
7. Raising Young
Male and female pandas only meet for mating season, after which the male leaves the female to raise the cub. Female panda birth live cubs. The cubs are born blind, toothless, and defenseless. The mother must care for the baby much like human mothers care for babies. The cub stays with the mother for 1.5-2 years. A mother typically has one cub every 2 years.
8. Size
When standing on all 4 legs, pandas are about 2-3 feet tall. They are about the same size as black bears. Males get larger than females, reaching about 250 pounds. Females typically weigh 220 pounds or less.
9. Water intake
A panda does not drink much water. They get most of the water they need from the bamboo they eat, which is about 90% water. They do need more than the bamboo can provide, so almost every day they must also drink from a river or stream. However, without the water the bamboo provides, the panda would never be able to leave the stream because it would need so much water.
10. Danger!
Pandas are often thought of as being cuddly and harmless. They are, however, bears, with all the teeth and claws that come with other types of bears. They have been known to attack humans, although it is thought to be out of annoyance than malice. One should still exercise extreme caution around pandas. They are large dangerous animals.


text:
By Jo Mathis/news.a2schools.org
Forsythe Middle School science students are learning there's a lot going on right in their own back yard—and that they can become good stewards of that land.
Since becoming involved last year in Place-based Education (PBE) last year, Amie Snapke has introduced her students to ways they can help solve real problems while they learn more about the environment. This means her students occasionally get outside to learn more about the land surrounding their school, and the ways they can be good stewards of it.
For more information about PBE, go to Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative or Southeast Michigan Stewardship Coalition.