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You need the following prerequisites:
1. Eclipse J2EE IDE 2. Open LDAP 3. Tomcat 5.5 4. Java 1.5 (make sure you already have this installed)
From http://www.eclipse.org/downloads/download.php?file=/technology/epp/downloads/release/ganymede/R/eclipse-jee-ganymede-win32.zip download eclipse-jee-ganymede-win32.zip. Unzip the file into C:\Dev so that the following tree is created - C:\Dev\Tools\eclipse-jee-ganymede-win32\eclipse\eclipse.exe. Eclipse is now installed.
From http://tomcat.apache.org/download-55.cgi, download apache-tomcat-5.5.26.zip. Unzip the file such that you have the following directory tree - C:\Dev\Tools\apache-tomcat-5.5.26\bin. Apache is now installed.
Open LDAP
From https://camelot.parityinc.net/STSDocs/openldap-2.2.29-db-4.3.29-openssl-0.9.8a-win32_Setup.exe download the .exe file. Install the program by double clicking on it. Install into the default location (C:\Program Files\OpenLDAP\). OpenLdap is now installed. We will configure later.
Configure Eclipse
Open Eclipse by clicking on C:\Dev\Tools\eclipse-jee-ganymede-win32\eclipse\eclipse.exe. Choose c:\Dev\Code\STSServer as your workspace.
Configure Tomcat in Eclipse:
Go to Window --> Preferences
Click on 'Server' Tree, then click on 'Runtime Environments'
Click 'Add', then select Apache Tomcat v5.5
Click 'Create a new local server'
Click 'Next'
Click 'Browse' and select C:\Dev\Tools\apache-tomcat-5.5.26
Click 'Finish'
Make sure the java runtime is pointed towards your Java 1.5 installation. Go to Window --> Preferences. Click on 'Java' --> 'Installed JREs'. Make sure the java runtime (on the right hand side) corresponds with your Java 1.5 installation. If not, add and select it.
Download some setup files, but first setup connection with CVS server. Go to Window --> 'Open Perspective' --> 'Other' --> 'CVS Repository Exploring'. Right click --> 'New' --> 'Repository Location'. Host: dev.eclipse.org Repository path: /cvsroot/technology User: anonymous (or your user name) Connection type: pserver From the cvs server tree, drill down thru org.eclipse.aperi, thru STSServer, right click 'SetupFiles' --> 'Check Out'
-Dcatalina.base="C:\Dev\Code\.metadata\.plugins\org.eclipse.wst.server.core\tmp0" -Dcatalina.home="C:\Dev\Tools\apache-tomcat-5.5.26" -Dwtp.deploy="C:\Dev\Code\.metadata\.plugins\org.eclipse.wst.server.core\tmp0\wtpwebapps" -Djava.endorsed.dirs="C:\Dev\Tools\apache-tomcat-5.5.26\common\endorsed" -Dorg.eclipse.higgins.sts.conf="C:/Dev/Code/org.eclipse.higgins.sts.binding.axis1x.service/WebContent/ConfigurationFiles" -Dorg.eclipse.higgins.sts.conf.file="ManagedConfiguration.xml"


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I've recently returned from a filming trip in Arizona where I have been working on a production for National Geographic on Harris's (Harris) Hawks. During the filming of this production, I got to experience "dirt hawking". Dirt hawking is a form of falconry that involves hunting rabbits and other small game with Harris Hawks (other hawk species also qualify). One of the primary reasons that these hawks make such excellent falconry birds is because they are one of only two raptor species (the other is the Galapagos Hawk) that hunt cooperatively. There are many examples in the animal world of pack behavior. Take lions, wolves, hyenas to name a few. But in the case of Harris Hawks, this mentality jumps the species barrier and they form a strong bond with their human partners, readily accepting their non-avian hunting companions as members of their pack.
A pair of Harris Hawks allow a close approach
Prior to experiencing falconry first-hand, I must admit to being a little bit skeptical as to the merits of the sport. I have never been one to advocate the needless killing of animals for whatever purpose. But after spending time with experienced falconers in the field I have come to respect and admire the responsible practitioners of this, the sport of kings. Consider the following quote, "Falconry involves the use of birds of prey to kill other birds and animals for sport. The League Against Cruel Sports believes that in the interests of raptor welfare, no further licences should be issued. The League believes that the bloodsport of falconry should be banned." League Against Cruel Sports. Whilst one cannot dispute the initial description, it is my opinion that it is stretching the truth to label falconry as a "bloodsport". My reasons for this are as follows:
1. Raptors are wild animals that are driven by their instinct to find food. In the case of fox hunting (a true bloodsport), dogs are domesticated animals that are killing, not for food, but for sport.
2. Falconry birds are essentially free to come and go as they choose when they are hunting (unlike bloodsports like cock fighting and dog fighting). It is only due to the strong bond (and association with food) between falconer and raptor that the birds return after a hunt.
3. The odds are pretty much even between raptor and prey – as it would be with a wild bird and a prey animal. If anything, it could be said that falconry strengthens the gene pool of prey animals. Survival of the fittest.
4. Falconers are the primary reason why the Peregrine Falcon was brought back from the brink of extinction – by supplementing the dwindling wild population with captive birds. All the falconers I have met are caring conservationists who treat their birds – and nature – with the utmost respect.
5. Many falconers use their birds to educate children as to the importance of raptors. This contribution to the education of our children is invaluable.
I will admit that there are legitimate concerns that have been raised about falconry – birds that are not native to an area sometimes escape and become feral; humans should minimize their influence on nature. And these are just a few of the arguments against falconry. But I believe the overall benefits outweigh the negatives. And it is a fantastic way to enjoy and appreciate the outdoors as I hope my account of a morning's hunt will relay…
A pair of Harris Hawks get ready for the morning hunt
We arrive at a beautiful piece of the Sonoran Desert just as the sun is blanketing the earth in her warm light. This is a transitional ecosystem, validated by the mixture of low altitude saguaro cacti and high altitude juniper trees. The party comprises our film crew, four local falconers and three eager Harris Hawks. This is the very best time to be in the desert with the sounds of Black-throated Sparrows, Curve-billed Thrashers and Cactus Wren permeating the still air. These desert inhabitants are waking up, whilst others, like a pair of diminutive Elf Owls, are settling down after a night of reveling. But what really strikes me is the smell – fresh, clean and without comparison.
A Harris Hawk takes up the sentry position
The hawks are relaxed, confined for now in the trunks of the two SUVs. There is no wind and the habitat is perfect for cottontail rabbits and the much larger jackrabbits (actually hares), the preferred quarry of this group of three birds. They have hunted together before, this pack of sky wolves. The deadly trio comprises one male and two larger females. I am reminded by the falconers that each bird has its own distinctive personality. They also have their own distinct roles when hunting together as a pack.
The falconers remove the birds from their crates, take off their hoods and we're all set to go. My job is to move ahead and kick bushes in the hope of flushing a rabbit or hare. We set off and within minutes, we flush a large jackrabbit. "HO!! HO!!!" comes the signature cry of the falconers, an indication that prey has been flushed. But the aerial assassins require no notification as they instantaneously set off after it at lightning speed. The hare zigzags amongst the cholla cactus, desperately aware of its impending fate. It disappears into a thick stand of vegetation. The birds have missed. Moments later the male bird swoops towards a large cactus. I catch a glimpse of a small rodent disappearing into a burrow. "Ground-squirrel" shouts a falconer, thankful that the bird has missed as they can consume a squirrel in a minute or two, limiting their willingness to hunt further.
Fifteen minutes later the male birds puts in on a cottontail and the two females hurry over to him. Being smaller, he is perfectly suited to a ground attack. The male walks towards the bush where the cottontail disappeared. The two females wait patiently perched on top of a saguaro. I can feel the adrenalin coursing through my veins as I watch the male disappear down a hole. Within seconds a grey blur bolts from the other side of the bush, straining to reach the next bit of cover. One of the females crashes into a cholla cactus and I can see her struggling. Its over in seconds. With pieces of cholla cactus imbedded in her thighs and wings, the large female straddles the lifeless rabbit as the other birds move in for their share. Primal, staggering, breath-taking. I stand with my jaw open, stunned by the rawness of nature.
The rabbit is dispatched in seconds
Although I'm sure that there are readers that will disagree with my sentiments, I must confess to being enthralled by my experience with Harris Hawks. The thrill of the hunt, the smell and sounds of the desert in the early morning, the ability to see a finely-tuned hunter up close. All these factors contribute to my opinion that falconry, if conducted respectfully and responsibly, is an alternative form of birding.
All photos by Charlie Kaiser.
James, I've been a falconer for nearly 20 years and I wanted to thank you for the kind comments on our sport. I've always found that negative comments usually come from those that have never experienced the sport.
I see you're in Florida, if you would ever like to get out with local falconers I'd be happy to put you in touch with someone near you. Thanks again,
Eric Edwards
Florida Falconers' Association
I stumbled across this site while searching for a solution to a problem I have. And I saw that you're in Florida, so hopefully you can give me some advice. My elderly father raises pigeons. It's his passion. Well, a couple of hawks moved in next door and, well, you can imagine how that's going. The hawks are beautiful, and I know they are only doing what comes natural to them, but I'm hoping someone can take them off our hands. Is this possible?? We are located in Deltona, FL
I hope next time you come to Arizona you will visit us up here in the mountains of Flagstaff. Lovely, lovely birds await!
Hello james,
As a falconer for 6 years, I wanted to thank you for your honest depiction of our sport. It is rare that a non-falconer can express what we do with such clarity and understanding. You are a welcome addition to the wider falconry family. We can always use more supporters of this beautiful and exciting sport.
King James I called falconry "an extreme stirrer up of passions." I've also been a falconer 20 years and am glad you ended up on the pro side. I hunted with Harris hawks for 15+ years and they are great companions, not just for hunting but you sense they actually like you.
One minor note: the ground squirrel has a fierce bite and razor teeth. Taking the edge off a hawk's appetite is nothing compared to taking off a hawk's toe.
Thanks for the great post.
great post, as usual. Watching these hawks hunting together has to be quite a sight!
As a side note, I don't completely agree with the "survival of the fittest" point you made :
– the prey might be extremely well adapted (or fit) to avoid predation by the local raptors, but might be powerless when introduced with an unknown predator. Hunting with Harris Hawks in Midwest, for instance, might actually very unfair to the local (fit or not) prey.
– It is not often that, in nature, Hawks have a telegenic human who is beating the brushes around to help them flush the rabbits….
Nature is Nature. There is no "cruelty" in the way things are here. It only becomes so if we make a judgement rather than just enjoying the unedited, non-intentional happenings.
Erika Lantry,
Lover of all of Nature
I have to second Eric's sentiments. (And admit he's a longtime friend). I too have been a falconer for 16 years and am constantly writing to explain the seeming contradiction of our art as hunting. I can go on about it forever, but to have someone such as yourself articulate it is so much more powerful. Thank you!
Nice post! I enjoyed reading it. Very informative.
I hope you were able to get to Portales while you were in AZ–lots of good birding there during the winter months; but, you probably know this.
I really enjoyed reading about your experience. If you were out with Charlie Kaiser you were in great company.
Laurent – I'd like to follow up on a couple points you raised.
"the prey might be extremely well adapted (or fit) to avoid predation by the local raptors" This seems, on the surface, to be a very valid statement. However, the raptors in the world fall into some small sets of "types", and these "types" occur all over the world even if exact species dont. A prey animal in the midwest that is used to defending itself against a redtail hawk is perfectly suited to defend itself against a harris hawk because they are so similar.
"It is not often that, in nature, Hawks have a telegenic human who is beating the brushes around to help them flush the rabbits…." Actually, raptors, all raptors, instintively follow ground animals and use them to flush prey for them. Humans doing it on purpose is not very different from an elk or a moose doing it on accident. Its certainly no different from the point of view of the animal flushed.
Just because an animal is in the open and being chased does not mean it will be caught.
Most falconers have a keen sense of fair play and fair chase. If the prey animal makes it to safety, we pay our respects and look for another. If it is caught, we pay our respects and feed our hunting partner.
The downside on falconry is that it allows for the commercial trade of birds of prey that are taken out of
their habitats. Peregrines, Harris, Merlins, Ghost Hawks, Eagles are seen in TV shows, movies and most
of the media. The only justifiable falconry used today is to rehabilitate birds.
The Harris Hawks in the first picture are exhibiting "Mantling Behavior" a common practice by birds of prey
to protect their catch. When, the breeding of wild animals for the pet trade is allowed, the door for the illegal trade is opened wide. People like to collect wildlife of al sorts, even if they do not know the first thing about the creature they acquired.
Having trained hawks and eagles myself, I do not condone the former art (not a sport) as one has to really create a bond between one´s bird and oneself. No human can provide the well being of a wild animal´s needs. Birds should be allowed to fly when they desire and go about in their lives as they please. No matter how much the "Pros" argue, a free bird will always be a more beautiful site, than one whose subdued spirit y bent by man's ego.
How many of the captive birds are released into the wild, and how many are "retired" because on old age. The Mongols, the initiators of the art release their eagles after 5 years of work. The eagles are captures as young adults, just as they are looking for new territories. This guarantees, that they have been trained by their parents, their personalities are well developed, and they are ready for the most dangerous year of their life, the year of their independence.
Jeff, I am a naturalist guide and have been a professional for nearly 25 years. We have to be responsible with our audience, as they look up to you as role model and a public figure. There is a fine line one has to walk, the one between what is right and what is part of the show…Congruency may be lacking when branding gets in the way, but its up to the well known individual what road to take. A wild animal is a free spirit and there are no justifications to get them out of their homes and their preservation of their lineage (Gene Pull) so I may be involved in the showing debate between the "Falconers" and those who oppose them.
Best regards
Leopoldo "Leo" García
Leo, I have been a falconer for some time…I have not seen wild birds enter commercial trade. I may be naive or not as entrenched as you are. Could you share with us how birds from the wild are bought and sold for commercial purposes? I do believe birds that are unable to be released to the wild due to injuries sustained in the wild are often used as ambassadors for the species…but I can't recall wild birds being traded commercially. I thought that was illegal. Jason bever
Great blog, James. I very much enjoyed your story of the hunt, and appreciate your insight regarding emotional opposition to falconry. Most falconers (and for that matter hunters) I know also find bloodsports offensive. A true bloodsport, IMO, is one in which one domestic animal is pitted against another in a confined space, thus leaving each animal no choice but to fight for its life.
Personally I feel that hunting by any method is ethical when the prey population is biologically sound, and when the prey animal is used for food. That does not mean that I would seek to prevent hunters from legally taking a non-food trophy. It would be inappropriate for me to impose my personal feelings on someone else who is practicing legal hunting of a biologically sound population.
While it is true that wild hawks do not have humans to flush quarry for them, they do have time. The wild hawk can wait all day for the rabbit to move. When a falconer flushes a rabbit for his hawk, he is merely changing the timing of the event.
Each ecosystem, for the most part, has a range of raptors from small to large, hawks to falcons, etc. Using a non-native raptor to practice falconry does not necessarily put the native quarry at a disadvantage. Midwestern rabbits know how to avoid redtails, and avoiding a Harris requires the same skill set. Avoiding multiple Harrises would be new to them, of course. The success rate of a group of Harrises would go up from a single bird. But as long as the rabbit population is sound, and the rabbits go into the freezer to feed the hawks through the molt, then there is no logical reason to oppose it.
Finally, predators are generally capable of taking the fit animals among their prey. If they were not they would not be able to survive. However, predators tend to be opportunistic, because conserving energy is always in their best interest. Thus when presented with the opportunity to take a "less-fit" prey animal, they will often take advantage of it. Over the long-term, predators may well weed out those individuals with less than ideal genetics. On the short-term, they certainly improve the health of the local population, as prey that are slower are often sick, or heavily infested with parasites.
Thank you, again, James. Looking forward to seeing the NatGeo show in the fall. Happy birding to you!
Falconry is a wonderful pursuit for all the reasons above, and also as a way for the public to learn to fall in love with these birds, as falconers often take them as "ambassadors" to festivals. Once you've seen a hawk up close, you gain a new respect for them.
There is one downside to falconry that hasn't been mentioned. It happened last year to a Canadian friend of mine and his bird, a Prairie Falcon. Unfortunately, falconers have to obey the hunting laws, and hunt in season. They share the land and the air space with dozens of brainless yahoos with shotguns. This gentleman found his bird at the end of the day, dead of a gunshot. A real tragedy for all involved, and although the falconer probably knew the shooter (it was a small community), he could do nothing.
Leopold, yes, in the best of all worlds these hawks would be better left alone to be free, and to pass on their genes unimpeded for eons.
But this is not the best of all worlds. Consider also the plight of Harris' Hawk. It lives in certain states where firearms are king, and "you can't tell me what to do" is the mantra, and plinking birds sitting on telephone poles (as Harris' do) is a time-honored tradition. All that the Nat Geo entertainment product has to do is to induce one or two 2nd Amendment types, and his kids, to give the next few hawks they see a break, and maybe even some respect, and you have increased the gene pool by that many birds. Human involvement isn't always bad.
By the way James, if you do go out with a falconer, may I come?
I felt that your post was excellent. Approaching the art of falconry from a skeptical viewpoint, but learning that it is a partnership with these birds, not domestication. I have collected sites about how falconers were the ones who saved the peregrine from the brink of extinction: http://www.seeaperegrinethankafalconer.blogspot.com Check it out.
Another form of green pest control is the use of falconry trained birds to deter pest birds and mammals. Falconry based bird and pest abatement.
BTW: I've been a falconer since 1974. I fell in love with the birds and it has not changed.
Thank you again.
Human and animal partnerships for hunting and companionship go back further than written history itself. It seems "natural" to me that such partnerships exist.
I am always amazed at the skill of the birds of prey used in falconry, just as I am watching a Border Collie herd sheep. The animals seem right in their element and "happy" (Dare I use that word for animals?)
As in everything good and praiseworthy, there is an opposite. I have heard terrible stories of wild birds being poached for the falconry trade. I hope that is not the accepted and known, but unspoken, culture among falconers. All of the falconers I've met have been very strong advocates for the wild birds and educating the public. Just look at the example of Morley Nelson for whom is named my beloved Snake River Birds of Prey area in Idaho.
When it comes to hunting, I still believe what my Scout Master taught me as a boy "If you kill it, you eat it" which for me means that the killing of any animal must have a reasonable purpose and utility either for food or clothing for us, or even for other animals.
It will be interesting to know if those opposed to falconry also have a domesticated cat, dog, or pet fish. How many animals die to feed them?
Dear Leo,
I would respectfully argue this… in a world where human beings believe that food comes unharmed from the grocery store, it isn't as simple as you imply. I don't say this off-handedly. Yesterday someone on facebook who runs a parrot "sanctuary" had a fit over the idea that I would hunt introduced European starlings (I'm in the US) to a Cooper's hawk I am rehabilitating as opposed to feeding it the "chickens you can buy in a grocery store."
I agree. This isn't a show. However, we no longer live in a world where people are only one or two degrees of separation from the farm or ranch where there food is raised. Falconry is intriguing. Falconry makes people ask questions. It is a fantastic way to engage once more in the conversation of what it costs the environment for you to live. In a world where children grow up in front of television or TV screen, anything that can be done to engage them to get dirty and see nature is a boon. It's a delicate balance. I experienced falconry through the spectacle of the media and now 16 years later my worldview is balanced — nature is harsh, but I add humanity where I can. I am a Director of Development, fundraising for Ducks Unlimited to restore and create wetlands habitat. Were I not a falconer– I would be working for corporate America. I kill ducks with my peregrine. I want my wonderland and those amazing creatures to exist in perpetuity.
There is give and take. There always has been.
@Leopoldo Garcia-errizbeitia
"The downside on falconry is that it allows for the commercial trade of birds of prey that are taken out of their habitats."
This is absolutely false. By federal law no wild taken raptor may be used for commercial gain. They may be transferred, but not for consideration, and only to someone who is licensed to receive it. What you see on TV and in raptor abatement are captive bred birds, their "habitat" is captivity. As far as human intervention in a hunt being "unnatural" I am a farmer and have been for my whole life. I can assure you and the readers of this blog that wild hawks definitely learn to take advantage of a field being mowed and the local rodent population's exposure. All without any intervention. I can't count the number of redtails I have see so gorged with mice and voles that they can hardly fly after I cut a field.
Some further thoughts: James and others commented on the idea that humans have every right to participate in nature. Those of us who do actually participate, rather than skim across the top of it, have a far deeper respect for her than most others.
I hunt nearly every day of the hunting season with my falcon and/or my hawk, from early September to early March. Weekends from September to February see me spending time in the field with my Browning Silver shotgun and my fine Wirehaired Vizsla. Hunting is hunting, death is death. Whether you eat a chicken from the grocery store, feed your cat or dog kibble, eat a quail you shot this morning, or feed your hawk some jackrabbit she killed last season, something had to die for that to happen. Falconers are not better than other hunters because they use raptors, nor are they worse. They are just different. Use of a shotgun to take legal quarry does not make one a "brainless yahoo."
Use of a weapon of any sort to intentionally take illegal game is poaching, not hunting. Poaching is a criminal activity, and poachers should be penalized accordingly. Most wildlife rehabilitators will tell you that the numbers of gunshot raptors have dramatically declined over the past two decades. One hopes this is due in some small part to the efforts of falconers who volunteer their time for educational events.
Regarding a black market for falconry birds: no, there isn't one. That would be comparable to a black market for cigarettes. Falconry birds are bred in captivity all around the world and are available for very reasonable prices. It is possible that occasionally a falconer, or someone calling himself a falconer, commits a crime by poaching a raptor from the wild. Within any group there are, unfortunately, immoral individuals. The falconry community does not turn a blind eye to such behavior. The vast majority of licensed U.S. falconers, besides being law-abiding citizens, would have no desire to risk losing their falconry permit if caught. And here in the United States, most of us have very reasonable seasons within which we can legally capture an immature bird to use for falconry. A falconer poaching a raptor here would make as much sense as a wealthy actress shop-lifting clothing.
This is an engaging and enjoyable group of posts. Thank you, James, for getting it started.
Thanks for a very interesting post. I recently had the pleasure of seeing a LeConte's Thrasher at its nest in a cholla cactus. When telling this story to friends, I got several responses suggesting that maybe the bird "pruned" up the entrance to the nest by breaking of some cactus spines. Have you ever heard of such behavior? Then you mentioned that one of your Harris's Hawks got stuck with cholla needles. I'm wondering if you helped the hawk get the stickers out or whether they can do it themselves. Before you dismiss these questions as off the wall, please notice that I avoided all controversy and simply accepted your expertise.
Hello James,
As you have noted, there are always many sides to any story and a story about the love of raptors is certainly no exception. Pam and Charlie are good friends and I have to say I have never heard them refer to their experience with raptors as a "sport" or even to themselves as "falconers". Both of them are committed to the preservation of native birds to the birds' specific natural habitats. I have also never known them to remove birds from a nest just to "collect" a different species, nor have they ever even considered selling a bird. Every bird that they have raised or taken care of was either orphaned or was found injured. I believe that this is a very improtant distinction.
Just my two cents.
Really interesting post, although I think its very safe to say that falconry is not an alternative form to birding. To play Devil's Advocate, I think falconry can seem more of a bloodsport if you watch falconer's Golden Eagles duking it out with foxes or deer (just check Youtube)…it can truly look like a brawl sometimes, and does not look "fair" to either the hunter or the hunted. That said, I think its hilarious that a League Against Cruel Sports even exists. So…has anyone been stabbed by cholla needles? It sucks.
Great blog post, perfect pictures. An art form of the most natural sense, I enjoyed reading the article AND the comments, you done well to stir these souls and bring us Falconry.
Thanks for the fantastic article.
You speak of being "responsible with our audience" yet you yourself seem to cross that "fine line" rather freely. If you're going to preach responsibility please do some research prior to publically denouncing a specific topic.
Several of your objections to the sport/art have already been acknowledged in preceding posts so I won't go into those but I am curious about your statement regarding the Mongols & their eagles. I'm guessing that paragraph was to object to the current practice of falconry but if you had knowledge of current falconry regulations in the United States you would see a very similar system has been devised. This system, in fact, is one I am very proud of as a falconer in the U.S. It is called passage take & specifies that all wild raptors taken for the use of falconry in the U.S. are to be passage or first year birds. As a naturalist I'm sure you've heard the statistics of passage raptor mortality (70%-80% of raptors don't make it through their first year), So, we take our passage bird, hunt it, feed it & see to its welfare during a time that would have been its most perilous & then either keep the bird for another year or, as most U.S. falconers do, release it as breeding stock for future generations of wild raptors.
James, thank you for a considerate post about your falconry experience. I was asked by another falconer on a forum to re-post here my response to the question, "why are you a falconer?"
"…I found myself lost in the question yesterday after a phone conversation with my former [falconry] sponsor. We were talking about technology, the internet, etc. It somehow lead me to tell him how the more days go by the more disenchanted I become with modern reductionism, instant gratification, and the sense of entitlement by which the majority of us seem to be anchored. It's hard not to notice as you walk or even drive around….people look miserable. We bury ourselves in distractions to the point of misery. I said "without getting too terribly philosophical while I'm working, I'm so much more focused these days on experiences and it's hard not to want to withdraw from all of that." He said "that's why you're a falconer."
So that got me stirred up for the rest of the afternoon while building a garage for a client. What brought me to this place, falconry? And moreover what sustains my being here? What drove me so hard that I would snowshoe through deep snow for 4-5 hours until I could provide my redtail with a single hare slip [opportunity]? What made me lay there in a fetal position on the forest floor day after hot, humid summer day as hordes of mosquitoes ripped into me, as my young goshawk took her sweet time- up to an hour- picking away at the meal she was so sure she had discovered on her own? What about the hundreds of hours roaming the forests in search of a goshawk in the first place? Apart from the aesthetics and the beautiful movements of both hawk and prey, why have I found myself so immersed?
Falconry, as I'm certain many of its practitioners have felt for longer than my limited mind can conceive, is so much more than "killing shit" and impressing others. For me, one potential of falconry is to actually help combat the ego, which has so many notions of its own and is hardly to be trusted. The pursuit of experience in falconry, with its unpredictably wild actors and typically natural conditions, tends to open my eyes and ears and shut my mouth. Actually, at times the mouth is simply left gaping.
In pushing the falconry experience further along I have found that my patience is pushed to its extremes. There is no denying that increased patience, which in my opinion is like a muscle that needs to be exercised, can only improve my relationships with people and events. Falconry tells me that it's ok to not be in control of every thing. It's ok to simply be amazed. And humbled.
The training of hawks teaches me the complexities of raw fear, and increases my sensitivity to it. When I consider how big a motivator is fear in all things living, I have to think that the opportunity to dispel another being's fear should be embraced. The practice, like the exercising of patience, can only benefit us in all of our relationships.
The last, but most powerful reason for my falconry that I'll mention is the life and death struggle. Every animal that one of my birds captures inevitably offers me a glimpse of my own mortality. The effect this awareness has on my entire way of thinking can't be overstated. I welcome it, and why not? If that's what it takes to see life for the unlikely but oh so temporary gift that it is, then I'll continue to do it as long as my bones will carry me through the woods, the fields and the marshes. As I thought about this yesterday I remembered what I wrote in my goshawk's journal on her last hunt of this past season:
'I lay there with gloved hand on the squirrel looking eye to eye with my goshawk, completely breathless in the February cold, waiting patiently for three heartbeats to become two.'"
Blood sport?
@ Tom.
Nicely done.
I am the editor for the Arizona Falconers Association annual journal, The Unicinctus. Would you consider putting your article in our 2011 edition? I am in the process of gathering material for it now.
email@example.com is my email if you're interested.
As a falconer of many years, the above all evokes a strong sense of deja vu and shows how difficult it is to alter any long standing opinions. The fact is that many many people who may be anti falconry, are seriously converted after a real-life introduction and experience. Even serious vegetarians and anti-cruelty diehards. One of the most enjoyable facets of falconry is that it brings one right up close with a lot of seriously interesting aspects of nature, which you may otherwise never see, or only at a distance, or only once in a lifetime. Its a bit like macro photography in that it opens up a 'new' world that was always there, but that you were never part of. But to someone not intersted in nature or birds of prey, or other animals 'of prey', it is very difficult to explain. The above dialoge covers most or the fields though perhaps does not delve into the 'tradition' aspect which is also noteworthy. Falconry in some places has achieved the status of a lost art that has been practiced traditionally since time began and when people were more close to their roots. To deny that man was a hunter by necessity and by nature is as preposterous as it is to deny that our modern methods of ensuring a supply of wholesome food is less damaging to life or nature than hunting or falconry. Falconry is to an extent simply bringing something closer, that is happening out there anyway. Hunters and falconers cause enormous species conservations that would not otherwise happen, as they are in the forefront of aspects of nature that we are losing rapidly due to other aspects of our lifestyles. Legislation nowadays tends to get falconers to give more than they take, so in many instances nature is served and not robbed by the practice of this 'activity'.
Its apleasure James, your eloquence got me going.
I realize there is a share button on this article but I was asked to add your article to our website and I wanted to formally get your permission to do so. May we reprint this (with attribution, of course) at www lastchanceforever.org ?
© 2013 10,000 Birds. All words, images, and opinions are the property of their respective authors unless stated otherwise.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
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Cartilage and bone health are important for long term wellbeing. Jointace Collagen has been developed by Vitabiotics nutritional experts and provides unique combinations of trace minerals, vitamins and nutrients, ideal for those with an active life, in sport or in later life.
Jointace Collagen provides a high-grade collagen which is hydrolysed to improve absorption and unlike some sources of collagen it contains high levels of the key amino acid hydroxylysine.
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Along with trace minerals, Jointace Collagen provides Glucosamine present in the preferred potassium form, and a high quality LMW (low molecular weight) form of Chondroitin.
Jointace Collagen is available in the UK from Boots, Superdrug, Tesco, Waitrose, supermarkets and pharmacies, health stores including Holland and Barrett. Alternatively you can order online here.
Micronutrient supplement with collagen, glucosamine, chondroitin, vit D, minerals & ginger extract
|Nutritional Information
|Av. per 2 tablets
|Collagen Type II Complex
|300 mg
|Glucosamine Sulphate KCl†
|1000 mg
|Chondroitin Sulphate†
|100 mg
|Vitamin D (as D3 800 IU)
|20 µg
|Vitamin E
|40 mg α-TE
|Vitamin C
|60 mg
|Folic Acid
|400 µg
|Vitamin B12
|20 µg
|10 mg
|1000 µg
|4 mg
|120 µg
|Ginger Root Extract equivalent to:
|80 mg
*NRV = Nutrient Reference Value,
Glucosamine Sulphate (from Crustacean) (as Potassium Chloride) USP† , Maltodextrin, Hydrolysed Type II Collagen, Bulking Agent: Microcrystalline Cellulose, Chondroitin Sulphate Sodium (from Fish) USP† , Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid [Carrier: Hydroxypropylmethylcellulose & Tartaric Acid]), Tablet Coating (Hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, Polydextrose, Talc, Maltodextrin, Medium Chain Triglycerides, Natural Source Colours [Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides]), Anti-Caking Agents: Silicon Dioxide, Stearic Acid & Magnesium Stearate, Vitamin E (D-Alpha Tocopheryl Acid Succinate)(from Soya), Vitamin B12 (Cyanocobalamin [Carriers: Trisodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Maltodextrin]), Zinc Sulphate, Manganese Sulphate, Vitamin D3 (Cholecalciferol [Carriers: Acacia, Sucrose, Corn Starch, Medium Chain Triglycerides Antioxidant: DL-Alpha Tocopherol]), Ginger Root Extract, Copper Sulphate, Folic Acid (as Pteroylmonoglutamic Acid), Sodium Selenate. †USP = United States Pharmacopeia Allergy Advice: For allergens, see ingredients in bold.
TWO TABLETS PER DAY WITH YOUR MAIN MEAL. Swallow with water or a cold drink. Not to be chewed. Do not exceed the recommended intake.
Jointace Collagen contains glucosamine sourced from natural chitin. Diabetics and those taking anti-coagulants (blood thinners) should consult their doctor before using this product. This formula replaces other Jointace supplements. A regular intake is recommended. Jointace Collagen is recommended with a balanced diet, rich in fish oil.
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Allergy Advice: For allergens, see ingredients in bold. Made in a site that may handle nuts. Food supplements must not replace a varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.
Store below 25°C in a dry place, out of sight and reach of children.
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Jointace Collagen tablets are a food supplement and contain only moderate levels of vitamins and minerals. For specific advice on taking Jointace Collagen tablets with medicines, we recommend that you contact your doctor or pharmacist first. Diabetics and those using blood thinning medication (e.g. blood thinners) should consult their doctor before using this product. Top
Jointace Collagen contains 30 tablets per pack. It is recommended to take 2 tablets per day. Top
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Jointace Collagen tablets have no known side-effects when taken as directed. Do not exceed the recommended intake. In case of overdose, seek medical advice immediately. Jointace Collagen tablets may not be suitable for use by those allergic to fish or shellfish. Diabetics and those using blood thinning medication (blood thinners) should consult their doctor before using this product. Top
Difficulty in swallowing tablets is quite a common experience. Vitabiotics have researched this extensively and recommend after chewing some food (e.g. banana), just before you swallow, pop the tablet into your mouth and swallow it together with the chewed food, followed by some liquid. The throat opens up wider to swallow the chewed food and so the tablet should go down with greater ease. Alternatively, the tablets may be swallowed with thicker liquids such as yoghurts or smoothies. Top
Please see nutritional information click here Top
Results vary amongst individuals. There is no maximum length of time over which Jointace Collagen tablets may be used. A regular intake is recommended. Top
The benefits of Jointace Collagen tablets may be enhanced by use alongside other topical (external use) products in the Jointace range, such as Jointace Patch & Gel. Jointace Collagen is also ideal in combination with a calcium supplement, such as Vitabiotics Osteocare, and/or additional fish oil, such as Vitabiotics Ultra range. Top
Calcium is an essential mineral as it is needed for the maintenance of normal bones. However, it has not been included in the Jointace Collagen formula as it is not possible to include the right amount in one or two tablets as well as the other ingredients in Jointace Collagen. Rather than including a token amount of Calcium, Jointace Collagen has been designed so that it can also be taken with Vitabiotics Osteocare tablets, chewable tablets or liquid. Top
Certain vitamins are very safe at levels tens or even hundreds of times the NRV, whereas for others the safety level is much closer to the NRV. For this reason every vitamin and mineral needs to considered on an individual basis in terms of its upper safe level.
The Nutrient Reference Value (NRV) is the amount of a vitamin or mineral which has been calculated to help prevent basic deficiency states in the general population. However, certain vitamins and minerals at optimal levels, above the NRV, have consistently been shown to have positive benefits in specific areas of health. This is why some Vitabiotics formulas have certain nutrient levels greater than 100% NRV.
All Vitabiotics products have been developed using the latest research and contain effective levels of vitamins and minerals, while avoiding any excessive amounts, in accordance with official upper safe limits for vitamins and minerals.
Vitabiotics avoids 'mega dose' levels of isolated nutrients and instead we have always stressed the importance of safe, moderate and sensible levels of vitamins and minerals, carefully balanced to maximise their combined effect; an approach which has been supported by many experts and researchers over the years. Top
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Always read the product directions before use. Do not exceed the recommended intake. As with other food supplements seek professional advice before using if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or suffer from food allergies. Jointace Collagen & MSM is a food supplement that contains glucosamine sourced from natural chitin. Do not take if you are allergic to fish or shellfish. Consult your doctor or pharmacist before using this product if you have an underlying medical condition (e.g. epilepsy, hyperthyroidism), or if on medication. Diabetics and those using blood thinning medication should consult their doctor before using this product. Vitamin supplements are not intended to treat or prevent any disease. Food supplements must not replace a balanced and varied diet, and a healthy lifestyle.


text:
GREATER SANFORD AREA — Members of several local churches meet at 6:30 p.m. on the second Sunday of each month for "Singspiration," a chance to sing hymns. Anyone who enjoys singing is welcome to attend. "Singspirations" will be held next at the Pleasant Street Free Baptist Church at 10 Pleasant Street in Springvale on Jan. 13, 2013.
SANFORD — Curtis Lake Church at 38 Westview Drive serves free community meals every Monday at 5:30 p.m. A church service follows the meal at 6:15 p.m. For more information, call 324-0652.
SPRINGVALE — The Sanford-Springvale Historical Museum at 505 Main St. is open from 2 to 8 p.m. on Thursdays, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Fridays, and from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturdays.
SPRINGVALE — The Nasson Community Center at 457 Main Street will host a New Year's Eve gala with a buffet, live music from the band Spectrum and dancing on Dec. 31 from 7 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. For the buffet, there will be shrimp and scallop sautéed in garlic wine sauce; beef tenderloin with mushroom sauce in burgundy sauce; chicken breast with spinach and three kinds of cheese; salad; mashed potatoes; glazed carrots; chocolate and vanilla mousse; and coffee. A champagne toast will occur at midnight. Tickets are $45 per person. This event is to benefit the community center. For more information, visit online at www.nassoncc.org or call 324-5657.
Calendar of Events


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JACKSON, Miss.—Senior Zac Richards led the Birmingham-Southern men's basketball team with a career-high 33 points on Saturday in a 65-60 overtime win against Millsaps on the road.
The Panthers move to 4-2, while the Majors fall to 2-5.
BSC opened the game with a 15-2 lead, but the Majors responded with a 13-2 run to cut it to 17-15 with 6:41 left in the first half. Millsaps tied it up 19-19 at the 4:09 mark, and then pulled ahead for the first time since the first minute of the game, 24-23, with 1:25 left in the half. The Majors led 26-25 at halftime.
Sophomore Larry Thomas hit a three-pointer to open the second half and put the Panthers back ahead, 28-26, and the rest of the second half was a battle, with the teams playing to several ties, including a 50-50 knot with 2:40 remaining, after which Millsaps pulled up 57-52 with 36 seconds left in the game.
Richards made a layup 12 seconds later to cut it to 57-54, and Thomas recorded a steal with 13 seconds left to give the Panthers a chance to tie it up. After a missed layup and offensive rebound by Richards, senior Kevin Kegarise nailed a three-pointer as time expired to tie things up 57-57 and send the game to overtime.
Millsaps pulled ahead within the first minute of overtime, hitting two free throws, but the Panthers responded with a Richards layup to tie it up again with 3:12 left. Thomas made a layup after that to put BSC up 61-59, after which the Majors went to the free throw line and made one of two to cut it to 61-60. Thomas went to the line after that and made both, increasing BSC's lead to 63-60 with 1:48 left. Millsaps turned the ball over after that, with Richards recording a steal, but the Panthers missed a layup and the Majors pulled down the rebound for another chance to score. After a missed three-pointer, BSC junior Colin Henry rebounded the ball and Kegarise made a layup with 13 seconds left to put the Panthers up 65-60. Millsaps turned the ball over after that on a steal by Thomas, sealing the win for BSC.
Richards led all players with 33 points on 14-20 shooting, and also pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds. Thomas recorded 11 points and four steals and junior Schylar Freeman scored nine points off the bench.
BSC tied its season-low field goal percentage, hitting 24-53 (.453), and shot a season-low 2-13 (.154) from three-point range. The Panthers hit 15-20 (.750) from the free throw line.
Millsaps shot 22-53 (.415) overall, 4-16 (.250) from long range, and 12-15 (.800) from the line.
The Panthers won the rebounding battle, 30-28, while turning the ball over 11 times, three less than the Majors, for a season-low.
BSC returns home this Monday, Dec. 17, facing Rust College at 7 p.m. in Bill Battle Coliseum. It will be the first home game for the Panthers since Nov. 17.


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The FBI has joined the investigation into last week's jewelry heist at an Atlantic City casino.
On July 1, three men walked into the Borgata casino and walked out with nearly $200,000. But, the money wasn't won, rather it was stolen in the form of high-end watches from a jewelry store inside the gambling resort.
Investigators say three men stole Rolex watches worth just under $200,000 from the "Jewels" store around 8:45 p.m.
Police originally valued the jewelry at $500,000, but corrected the amount a day after the heist.
The theft was a smash-and-grab where the men broke the cases, grabbed what they could and left as quickly as possible, according to investigators.
Police say one suspect was dressed in a blue jacket, one in a gray hooded sweatshirt and one in a dark-colored jacket. The suspects fled on foot before entering a dark-colored vehicle, according to police.
No one was injured during the incident. Police reviewed surveillance video and released photos of the three men who pulled off the heist. A fourth person -- believed to be the getaway driver -- is also wanted.
On Tuesday, officials announced that the FBI had joined the investigation and that they believed they were a step closer to tracking down the culprits.
"The people that are doing the active investigation have a good idea of the background of some of the people that are involved," Commander Thomas Gilbert of the A.C. Tourism District said.
Police are exploring the possibility that the culprits are part of an organized group or copy cats of such a ring. Gilbert says the "transient nature" of some of the suspects prompted the FBI's involvement.
"They bring extra tools and skill sits," he said. "Jurisdictional boundaries get eliminated somewhat when the FBI gets involved."
The Borgata opened July 2, 2003. At the time it was the first new casino in the resort town in 13 years. It has various restaurants, 11 retail shops, 2,000 guest rooms and suites, nearly 200 gambling tables and more than 3,400 slot machines.


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Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning - Varani
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America is often described as a nation of religious diversity and pluralism. But in a speech at the Newberry Library in Chicago, Martin Marty, the emeritus scholar of American religion, suggested that we err when conflating diversity and pluralism. Pluralism, Marty said, is "an energetic engagement with diversity." Religious pluralism defines how Americans deal with religious diversity. Resting on the notion that one particular religion does not possess a monopoly on the truth, religious pluralism entails a dynamic process of dialogue, education, and mutual understanding.
Religious pluralism fosters a cultural environment in which choice, freedom and innovation thrive, said Marty, the Fairfax M. Cone Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus at the University of Chicago Divinity School, author of over fifty books and past winner of the National Humanities Medal. Pluralism requires an "active seeking of understanding across lines of difference," he said. "Most of us could go along a long time and never have to do any active understanding of these differences usually until somebody else moved in in the neighborhood, and then you suddenly had to turn active and think it through."
Marty's speech was a focal point of the NEH-funded Summer Seminar for Community College Faculty, "Out of Many: Religious Pluralism in America." Participants gathered at the Newberry Library at the end of June for the first component of the multi-year seminar. The seminar is a part of the NEH's Bridging Cultures at Community Colleges program, launched in 2011 to advance humanities teaching at community colleges nationwide through sustained faculty and curriculum development.
Continuously, new people move into the great American neighborhood, a phenomenon that is not new, according to Marty. Religious diversity and the struggle to embrace religious pluralism are older than the nation itself. Seminar speakers illuminated connections between the past and present and demonstrated how issues in contemporary religious discourse have rich historical backgrounds.
Marty suggested that disparate religious traditions permeate the cultural geography of America, defining the identity of large and small communities alike. Lest we think we can pinpoint the home of America's religious tradition in one particular locale, perhaps a centuries-old church in a small town in Massachusetts, or we think that the American religious tradition has no meaning whatsoever, in fact it lives in all places of worship, each as critical to the character of religion in America as the next.
Understanding the importance of localized religious traditions and places of worship and engaging with local and regional religious histories forms a foundation for pluralistic thinking. Such issues were of special significance to the twenty participants in the NEH-funded seminar. The participants shared the goal of building strong intellectual communities at their respective community colleges. Six community colleges -- College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, IL, El Paso Community College in El Paso, TX, Georgia Perimeter College in Clarkston, GA, Ivy Tech Community College in Indianapolis, IN, McHenry County College in Crystal Lake, IL and Wilbur Wright College in Chicago, IL -- sent teams of faculty members to the program. One component of the program involved utilizing the extensive resources of the Newberry Library for individual research. Many of the teacher-scholars investigated the religious histories of their local areas and some plan to continue these research projects upon returning home.
But the impact of the NEH-funded program will extend beyond research. Each academic year, the twenty participants in the program teach nearly 5,000 students combined. Many participants plan to use the program as the foundation for improving and expanding the selection of religion classes and, in some cases, to create departments of religion at their respective community colleges.
Marty ended his talk with a brief commentary on the Jewish commandment to open one's doors to strangers. "You won't become the other," he said. "You don't give up what you are. But you open the door, you serve the meal, you learn, and you hear each other's stories."


text:
Doughnut... healthy. Did you ever think you'd see that in the same sentence? Probably not! If you've joined the Pinterest craze, you may have seen the fat and sugar-laden versions to this recipe floating around. I used the King Arthur Flour recipe and modified the heck out of it.
Honestly, they are really, really good. The secret is definitely the nutmeg. It makes it taste like a doughnut. My husband even loved them too. I won't disclose how many he ate, but I will tell you the dozen muffins were gone in a few days! What better way to sneak in whole grains? The kids will love these too.
Added bonus: They are gluten-free (if celiacs use uncontaminated oats) and dairy-free.
Healthy Doughnut Muffins (gluten-free, dairy-free)
Makes 12 muffins
1/4 cup vegan margarine, could also use butter if not dairy-free
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/2 cup Stevia baking formula (or any Stevia/sugar substitute meant for baking, or 13-14 packets stevia)
1/3 cup Sucanat (raw brown sugar)
1 egg
2 egg whites (I used 1/4 cup carton kind)
1 1/2 tsps baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1 tsp nutmeg
3/4 tsp sea salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 cups oat flour (grind up quick or old fashioned oats into flour with your food processor or blender)
1 cup milk (I used unsweetened almond milk)
Preheat oven to 425 F. Spray a muffin tin with cooking spray, or use paper cups.
In a medium sized bowl, mix together vegan margarine (or butter), applesauce, stevia, sucanat (I used an electric mixer/egg beater) and beat together until smooth. Add the egg and egg whites and beat some more until combined.
Stir in the baking soda, baking powder, nutmeg, salt and vanilla with a spoon into the butter/sugar mixture. Stir the oat flour, alternating with the milk, stirring well after each addition.
Spoon the batter into the muffin tins and bake for 14-15 minutes, until they are a pale golden colour and a toothpick comes out clean.
Serve warm, or cool on a rack. Eat them plain, or add the cinnamon/sugar or glaze them (see below). Store in an airtight container. They will last a few days at room temp. Will freeze well too.
*You could also use this recipe for mini muffins, which would be like cute little doughnut holes! Cooking time will be around 8-10 minutes.
Optional Toppings
Lightly brush the tops of the warm muffins with melted vegan margarine (or butter) and sprinkle with Stevia and cinnamon. This would be a low calorie add-on.
If you're a glazed doughnut fan, you can mix a tablespoon of melted butter, coconut oil or vegan margarine, 3/4 cup powdered sugar, 1 tsp vanilla and 1 tbsp of water. Mix into a glaze and dunk the warm muffin tops in it. For a sugar-free glaze, blend your favorite sugar substitute with cornstarch, and use that as your powdered sugar.
Nutrition (per muffin, plain) Calories: 157 Fat: 6.4 g Carbs: 23.9 g Fiber: 4.2 g Sugars: 5.6 g Sodium: 289 mg Protein: 4 g
For more great recipes, visit www.busybuthealthy.com


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Mr. Normal Suburbia
Normal Suburbia
My experience into piercing, beyond the average ear gun procedures, is pretty limited. I had my left ear done twice about two years ago. I thought two holes in my ear was pretty cool and about as far as "Mr. Normal Suburbia" would go, especially at 40 plus. But for some reason I was always looking for a heavier, more substantial look. And those dainty little earrings sold in department and jewelry stores just didn't do it.
Well after many of those thicker "looking" earrings I decided to call the local piercing store. He explained to me that perhaps what I was looking for was a thicker gauge ring. "What do you mean thicker gauge?" He then proceded to explain how the hole could be stretched to accept a thicker ring. Yes!!!!, that is the look that I wanted. I made an appointment, he showed me the piercing jewelry, and did my first ear stretch!
Well of course that first stretch meant that we just stretched the ear gun hole up to a 16 gauge. Dave, the piercer, suggested waiting for a month, see how I liked it, and maybe stretch up another size. Dave's policy, I have come to find out, is to stretch up very gradually. After a month I decided this was the look I wanted. Made another appointment. Had the lower hole stretched up 12 gauge, because 14 went thru without any effort. And put the 16 gauge ring in the upper hole.
This was the procedure about every four to 6 weeks until I reached 6 gauge in the bottom hole, and 8 gauge in the next hole. And some where along the way, when I had the now extra 12 gauge ring, I had a third hole added.
For about the last month, I've been hinting around to my wife about getting a nipple done. Well she thought it would be "kinda neat". And then last week I told her that I had an appointment to get it done. She thought I was kidding. "No, I'm really serious". After having it done, she decided she really did like it.
Of course everyone wanted to know if these piercings and stretchings hurt.
Well the first few stretchings were nothing. But because the piercer was in my small town, he had done very few stretchings, and believe it or not, had never done anything as large as an 8 gauge. I was sort of his guinea pig. He has been in this area for over two years but had no requests for the "larger" sizes. He was very up front with all this and exercised extreme caution with every step. The drawback was that the last stretch, the 6 gauge, did hurt...a lot! Because of his inexperience, and perhaps lack of more equipment. It took three tries to get the jewelry in. By that time I was feeling flush. He finally succeeded. It looks great and I may have to go up to a 4. This last time was the only time it really hurt. And the pain from having my nipple done was nothing of what I expected. Especially after reading some of the experiences on bme.
My wife sometimes wonders if she married a strange man, but then I ask her if she would rather I was more like one of our friends--very conservative and afraid to do anything different. She agrees that life with me is a lot of fun, and not very boring, at least not most of the time.
Return to ear piercing
submitted by: Anonymous
on: 01 Jan. 1997
in Ear Piercing
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Tracking and Reducing Your Credit Card Debt
Are you losing sleep because of debt? Are you wasting money on finance charges and feel like you can't get ahead? With an aggressive debt-reduction plan and persistence, you can wipe out that debt — sooner than you might imagine.
You don't need a computer or Internet access to develop and follow a debt-reduction plan. You can accomplish the same outcome by following the steps in the worksheet provided here. Eliminating debt takes focus and persistence, but no complicated math. For this exercise, focus only on your credit-card debt. To use this worksheet, complete the following steps:
List all your credit-card debtors.
To get a clear picture, list them in order of highest interest rate first.
List the current balances on each of these accounts.
You can get this information on your monthly statement.
List the minimum required monthly payment for each account.
Do this even if you usually pay more.
Total the minimum required monthly payments.
This tells you how much you have to pay each month.
Enter the total amount you have available each month to apply toward your debt-reduction plan.
This is income you have left over after necessities like food and housing.
Generally, it's wise to apply only the required minimum payment to each credit card other than the one with the highest interest rate. However, you need to consider other factors as well. One of the most important factors is how the amount of debt on a card compares to the available credit on that card. A high debt balance to available credit ratio really hurts your credit score. Focus on maintaining no more than a 30 percent balance to available credit on any card. Pay down the high interest credit cards most aggressively and focus on reducing debt ratios if the interest rates are fairly similar.
Record actual payments made and date of payment in the far right column.
Just listing all of your debt and seeing how much you can pay helps you assess your situation.
Click here to download and print the Debt Reduction worksheet.
As you work through your debt-reduction plan, track your progress in the Debt Reduction Progress Log:
Click here to download and print the Debt Reduction Progress Log.


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Better Business Bureau says it's possible Mass Effect 3's ending was "false advertising"
The Better Business Bureau's Marjorie Stephens has said it's possible Mass Effect 3 was falsely advertised due to the lack of "radically different ending scenarios" the public was promised.
Advertising headlines
Sony spends £1.5m on Vita ads for Easter
Sony is putting forward a significant £1.5m in advertising for the PlayStation Vita over the Easter period, it has been revealed.
Harrison Ford stars in Japanese Uncharted 3 commercials
It's not unusual for famous Hollywood types to appear in commercials overseas, especially in Japan, and below the break you can see one with Harrison Ford hocking Uncharted 3.
Gears of War 3 UK TV ads to display live in-game stats
Microsoft looks set to play on the principle of herd mentality by displaying the number of players online during its Gears 3 TV adverts in a bid to entice you in. Herd 2.0, anyone?
Japanese AR pop star comes to smartphones to sell cars
Want your very own blue-haired virtual popstar in your pocket? We're sure you do. And Toyota is apparently convinced of the same thing, releasing an augmented reality application for your smartphone that will put Hatsune Miku right in the palm of your hand – or anywhere else you care to put the card.
Deus Ex: Human Revolution now features Star Wars
We've all seen real-world advertising into the in-game world. Racing games put real brands onto trackside billboards and collect a pretty penny for the pixels. Often, they're well-placed and subtle, almost slipping into the background. Other times, they're really not.
Sony trademarks "move into the action"
Sony has trademarked the words "move into the action" in the US, suggesting that this will be used as a slogan in future Move advertising.
Dille: Sony to reposition PS3 as "a total entertainment solution"
Sony's Peter Dille has said that the company is repositioning PS3 as the "total entertainment solution". The massive ad campaigns rolling out in September will focus more on the Blu-ray, movie download capabilities, "mums and families," and less on games. "We have been a game company for years and we would never walk away from […]
Ubi to spend £4 million on Christmas Wii and DS ads
Ubisoft will spend £4 million on Christmas ads for Wii and DS products in the UK, Brand Republic reports. "From now until Christmas we are targeting various different demographics. We are putting a sizeable chunk into TV ads given the current economic climate," said Ubi UK marketing boss, Jon Rosenblatt. More through there.
Microsoft announces massive "Live your Moment" casual campaign
Microsoft's announced the largest ad campaign in Xbox's history this morning. Titled "Live your Moment," it's aimed at the "the casual and social segments," according to a press release. The ads will appear on TV, billboards, in print and everywhere else you can buy space, and is apparently about "real people having emotional and connected […]
Advertising latest
Better Business Bureau says it's possible Mass Effect 3's ending was "false advertising"
Dille: Sony to reposition PS3 as "a total entertainment solution"
Microsoft announces massive "Live your Moment" casual campaign


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Bah, Humbug: 6 Anti-Holiday Holiday Movies to Entertain Your Inner Scrooge/
by Rod Armstrong
Rather than revisiting feel-good family classics It's a Wonderful Life or Miracle on 34th Street for the millionth time, why not ring in the holidays with one of these violent, scabrous, not-suitable-for-family-viewing faves?
Bad Santa (2003) — Billy Bob Thornton is unforgettable as an alcoholic con man who uses a Santa suit as distraction for various acts of thievery and bad behavior. Directed by Essential SFer Terry Zwigoff and holds the record for most profanity in any holiday-themed film.
Black Christmas (1974) — Regarded as one of the first slasher films, this seminal Christmas-themed horror pic influenced Carpenter's Halloween four years later. Around ten years later, director Bob Clark would make the far more wholesome holiday favorite A Christmas Story. (Ed: Plays tonight on the big screen at the Roxie with Margot Kidder in person!)
New Year's Evil (1980) – Underrated early slasher film details the bad deeds of a man who calls himself Evil and who plans on murdering someone from each U.S. time zone as the clock strikes midnight. Happy New Year, indeed.
Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale (2010) — It's the eve of Christmas in northern Finland, and an archeological dig has just unearthed the real Santa Claus. But this particular Santa isn't the one you want coming to town! A blackly comic gem.
Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984) — After his parents are murdered by someone in a Santa suit, poor Billy is forever traumatized and the holiday season will never be the same for him. Followed by four terrible sequels. Due to parental protest over Santa depicted as a killer, the movie was pulled from theatres after only two weeks.
Strange Days (1995) — Cult favorite from Oscar-winning director Kathryn Bigelow (currently receiving raves for Zero Dark Thirty), this is a stylish and nutty murder mystery set just before New Year's in 1999. Bay Area band Testament is one of the featured groups during the Millennium party scene.


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Isabelle L'Amour
Low cost photographic studio hire in Ryde on the Isle of Wight near Portsmouth. Suitable for photographers and artists from enthusiastic amateurs to seasoned professionals, our facility is ideal for creative photographic shoots and can be booked on an hourly basis for just £15 per hour.
This is a great opportunity to use a fantastic space and some professional photographic equipment at an inexpensive price. Studio2 is however much more than your regular photographic studio; it is an extension to our graphic design, website and print businesses and aims to be creative environment for all photographers, artists and designers to enjoy.
Studio2 Ryde | The Coaching House, 13B Union Road, Ryde, Isle of Wight PO33 2JW, United Kingdom


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Normally I don't do stories that are off the subject of romance and scandal here on HollywoodHeartbreaker, but my gawd, how could all this bashing on Kylie Minogue be anything less than scandalous? Personally, I'm so not a fan. I prefer people who can sing, to those who can't, and rely on modern technology to […]
Entries Tagged 'Kylie Minogue' ↓
Everybody Vs. Kylie Minogue
February 23rd, 2008 — Ian Brown, Kylie Minogue, Sinead O'Connor


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The holidays are a wonderful time, aren't they? You get to sit around and eat. Hopefully at someone else's house, where they cook and you don't have to clean up afterward.
The below is a combination of the actual dishes served based on actual Presidential menus we've located, known favorite recipes of the presidents and their wives, and, you know, a little mischievous daydreaming of our own. We made several of the recipes and served them to family and friends--and so, without further ado, here's a summation of several of our favorite Presidential-inspired dishes, going in chronological order:
Washington's Great Cake: Our journey of delicious started with the big man, that Cherry-tree killa George Washington (OK, so maybe he did it, maybe not). Though George Washginton did have a Thanksgiving dinner, what we found much more entrhralling was Martha's famous "Great Cake" (read more here!), one of her favorites which was traditionally served at Christmastime. This cake truly was great--especially in size, as it called for 40 eggs, 4 pounds of butter, and a variety of fruits including 2 pounds of apples, and plenty of cream sherry. While tempted, the materials just seemed like a bit of a wast, so ultimately we did the recipe in 1/8 scale and it actually worked out ok; we ended up swapping egg-white icing (an acquired taste in our opinion) for a rich cream cheese frosting with some festive stars. George would approve, we think. If you want to try the actual recipe for THE great cake though, check out this site.
Thomas Jefferson's Corn Pudding: TJ was certainly a renaissance man, and in addition to a great deal of hobbies and interests, he was quite the gourmand--he's even credited with introducing the greater US culture to the île flottante (which he served at a New Year's fete). Though Thanksgiving wasn't technically a holiday yet, we like to think that he'd serve something like this sweet corn pudding at his table--a popular recipe during his Presidential years. At our table, we found it to be a pleasant-tasting dish--like some types of cornbread, gently skirting the line between side dish and dessert.
- 2 c. whole kernel corn (1 16 oz. can) drained
- 1 tbsp. flour
- 3 tbsp. sugar
- 2 eggs
- 3/4 tsp. salt
- 3/4 c. milk
- 1/2 stick butter
Madison's Gingerbread: While to many, the Madisons (namely, Dolley) are linked to ice cream, Dolley also had a much warmer, but equally delicious, favorite for the holidays--Soft Gingerbread. Apparently hers got its unique and delicious flavor from beef drippings, but call us chicken, we decided to use butter instead and while we have no point of comparison, this one was very moist and delicious, so the butter seemed to have worked just fine. If you'd like, though, be the judge yourself!
- 1 cup molasses
- 2/3 cup fresh beef drippings
- 1 rounded tsp baking soda
- 1/4 cup hot water
- 1 cup very hot water
- 2 and 1/4 cups flour
- 1 rounded tbsp ground ginger
- 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
- Powdered sugar (to top)
Martin Van Buren's Doughnuts: Well, we didn't actually make them, but we were fascinated to learn two facts about MVB: first, he and his wife spoke Dutch at home (he was American-born but of Dutch heritage); the second, that his favorite food was doughnuts. Here's a recipe for an 1800's era Dutch doughnut (oliebollen) that we bet he would have loved on Christmas morning.
*Mischievous note* William Henry Harrison Might have Liked it: well, he wasn't president for long. but, he did prompt us to learn more about Funeral Pie.
*Mischievous note* James K. Polk might not have had much of an interest in food, but we'd officially like to dedicated the Bûche de Noël and the millefueille to him--after all, he was Napoleon of the Stump.
Abraham Lincoln / Mary Todd Lincoln's Vanilla-Almond Cake: It's said that this is the one Mary made when courting Lincoln in the early days. Since they both met and later married during the holiday season--not to mention that Honest Abe declared it to be the best cake he'd ever tasted-- we figure it's a good holiday offering to represent Lincoln's era.
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 3/4 cups sifted cake flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 1/3 cups milk
- 1 cup almonds, finely chopped
- 6 egg whites, stiffly beaten
- White Frosting
- Cream together sugar, butter, and vanilla extract.
- Stir together the cake flour and baking powder; add to creamed mixture alternately with milk. Stir in almonds.
- Gently fold in the egg whites.
- Pour into two greased and lightly floured 9 x 1 1/2-inch round baking pans.
- Bake at 375 degrees F for 28 to 30 minutes. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans. Fill and frost with White Frosting.
In mixing bowl place 2 egg whites; very slowly pour the hot sugar syrup over, beating constantly with electric mixer until stiff peaks form, about 7 minutes. Beat in 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
Cakespy Note: Though it's not strictly dessert, we couldn't help but notice that Andrew Jackson, FDR, Calvin Coolidge, and LBJ all had an admitted penchant for pancakes. We'll bet these carb-lovin' presidents would have enjoyed this Christmas tree composed of crepes like this one.
William Howart Taft: It takes only a mere glance at the man to tell that he was as serious about sweets as he was about politics (it's true--he weighed well over 300 pounds). Apparently above all he had a soft spot for pumpkin pie; while we found the recipe below online for a "William Taft Pumpkin Pie", it seems a little bit suspect (we're not sure if they had canned milk then...does that sound ignorant?) we've gotta believe that in a different era, he'd have enjoyed the one at the bottom of this post even better.
- 9 Inch pie crust
- 1/4 c Granulated sugar
- 1/2 c Brown sugar
- 3/4 c Canned milk
- 3/4 c Fresh milk
- 1 1/2 c Pumpkin
- 2 Eggs; separated
- 1/4 ts Allspice
- 1 ts Cinnamon
- 1/2 ts Ginger (if you wish)
- 1/2 ts Salt
Line a 9-inch pie pan with pastry. Mix sugars, salt and spices. Add
pumpkin. Add egg yolks and milk. Add more spices, if desired. Last, fold in
beaten egg whites, not too stiff. Pour filling into unbaked pie shell. Bake
at 450 degrees for 10 minutes, then turn down to 350 degrees until done,
about 30 to 40 minutes (depending on your oven). Pie ready when knife comes
out of filling clean.
Herbert Hoover, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Richard Nixon (his menu below) and Lyndon B. Johnson were apparently huge fans of the sweet potato casserole; happily, there's an official White House recipe. We doubled the marshmallow for added awesomeness. The founding fathers would approve, we think. We sure dug into this one with relish--er, sweetness.
- 8 medium sized sweet potatoes,
- roasted, peeled and passed through
- a fine mesh sieve
- 3 whole eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 cup half and half
- 1 tablespoon vanilla
- 1 tablespoon turbinado sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ bag miniature marshmallows
- cooking spray
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, lightly mix all the ingredients except the marshmallows. Spray a 9 inch casserole dish with cooking spray. Pour the custard and top with a half bag of mini marshmallows. Bake for about a half hour. Keep warm for service.
Harry S. Truman's Light Pie: Via The Old Foodie, we discovered this excerpt from a 1946 edition of the New York Times:
WHITE HOUSE MENU GUARDS WAISTLINE.And so, we figured that it would be in keeping to make a pint-sized (diet friendly) pie for Harry--so, with an extra bit of filling from the Mesnier recipe (bottom) we made a single-serve piece in a cupcake cup, with a low-fat marshmallow topping. Still yummy, and mos' def cute!
The White House announced today an ample menu for the Thanksgiving dinner which President Truman will sandwich in between two diplomatic dinners, but he's still dieting.
The continued waistline-reduction regime is on the authority of Mrs. Mary E. Sharpe, White House housekeeper, who counts the Presidential calories. She declined to elaborate other than to say: "When I make up menus I keep it in mind."
Mrs. Sharpe gave the Thanksgiving menu as follows: clear bouillon, curled celery and olives, roast stuffed turkey, cranberry sauce, giblet gravy, candied sweet potatoes, buttered peas, cauliflower au gratin, orange and cress salad, pumpkin pie with whipped cream and cheese, candied fruit, nuts, coffee.
Kennedy's Hot Fruit Dessert Pies: It's known that assorted pies and ice cream always played a role in the Kennedy Thanksgiving dinner. However, we took it a step further by combining the pie idea with Jackie Kennedy's famous Hot Fruit Dessert (click here for the recipe)--her signature dish. We made the dessert but then baked it in as a pie filling; we used extra pie crust from the recipe at the bottom of this post and used it to line cupcake cups, filling them with the fruit slurry and topping it all off with a brown sugar glaze on top. Though we're not usually fruit pie fans, this one had enough of a rich kick from the buttery glaze and sour cream that even we were impressed. As seen below, we think JFK approves as well. Of course if you don't care for fruit pies, you could always try to replicate these cookies.
Johnson's Lemon Cake: Behind every great President is a great First Lady, and behind at least one first lady--Ladybird Johnson--was a great arsenal of awesome cake recipes. We went for one of her (and the President's) favorites--taking a modern twist and making them into cupcakes. The result? A cupcake that is light, fluffy, and simply delicious--so refreshing, it provides a nice foil to all of those other holiday foods!
- 3/4 cup butter or margarine (at room temperature)
- 1 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 8 egg yolks
- 2 1/2 cups cake flour
- 3 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon grated lemon rind
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
Icing Ingredients
- 2 cups confectioners' sugar
- 1/4 cup butter or margarine (at room temperature)
- 1 lemon, Grated rind only
- 1 lemon, juiced
- 2 teaspoons cream (or more, until spreading consistency)
- Yellow food coloring, if desired
Cream butter and sugar until fluffy. In a separate bowl, beat egg yolks until light and lemon-colored; blend into creamed mixture. Sift together flour, baking powder and salt; resift 3 times. Add sifted ingredients to creamed mixture in thirds, alternating with milk. Beat the batter thoroughly after each addition.
Add vanilla extract, lemon rind and lemon juice; beat 2 minutes. Bake in greased 10-inch Bundt pan in preheated oven at 325 degrees F for 1 hour or until cake tester inserted in center comes out clean. You can also can use three 9-inch round cake pans and bake at 350 degrees F for 25 minutes. Double the frosting recipe for a layer cake.
Lemon Icing
Combine ingredients and beat, adding cream until desired consistency.
Jimmy Carter's Pecan Toffee Tassies: Now, Jimmy Carter did have holiday meals at the White House, duh, but even more importantly, he was the first Presidential figure to ever bake with Paula Deen--so we'd say that these cookies are a step above. We'd serve these at any Christmas party. Ours were stickier and less pretty than Paula's, but man, were they rich and delicious. Needless to say, they disappeared really fast.
Pecan Toffee Tassies (Via Paula Deen)
- 1 (15-ounce) package refrigerated pie crusts
- 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, melted
- 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup finely chopped pecans
- 1 (10-ounce) package almond brickle chips
- Directions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Unroll the piecrusts onto a lightly floured surface. Roll into 2 (15-inch) circles. Cut out 48 circles using a 1 3/4-inch fluted or round cookie cutter, re-rolling dough as needed. Place in 1 3/4-inch muffin pans, pressing on the bottoms and up the sides of each of the mini-muffin cups. Combine the melted butter, brown sugar, flour, and eggs in a large bowl, mixing well. Add the vanilla. Stir in the pecans and brickle chips. Spoon the pecan filling evenly into the pie shells. Bake for 25 minutes, or until filling is set and crust is lightly browned. Cool in pans on wire racks.
And now, to the modern day. What better to get into the spirit of the holidays than with some holiday spirits? For 11 years spanning the Clinton and George W. Bush presidencies, this eggnog recipe has ruled. In White House Chef, author Walter Scheiber describes how
every year, the holiday season was kicked off with the "running of the 'nog", our playful way of referring to the tour of the House we made with the eggnog (and a riff on the "running of the bulls" from Pamplona, Spain).What can we say? This is the real deal--it certainly packs a punch, and even if it was just thanksgiving, it certainly put our crew in a celebratory mood. (Though for full disclosure, we didn't have Cognac so just doubled up on the rum. *hic*)
- 5 ounces egg yolks (6-7 yolks)
- 1 cup sugar
- 3/4 cup bourbon
- 3/4 cup Cognac
- 3/4 cup dark rum
- 7 ounces egg whites (6-7)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 quart milk, plus more if needed
- Nutmeg, for serving
- Put the yolks and sugar in the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with whisk attachmen; whip until pale yellow ribbons form, 5-7 minutes.
- Add the cognac, bourbon, and rum, whip well, scrape down the sides, and mix again. Transfer the mixture to a 6-qt bowl.
- In separate, clean mixer bowl, whip the egg whites and salt until very stiff peaks form. Fold into eggnog mixture.
- Wipe out the mixer bowl, pour in the cream and vanilla, and whip until very stiff peaks form. Fold this into the eggnog mixture. Add the milk and whisk until smooth, 3-5 minutes.
- Chill, garnish with nutmeg (and cinnamon, in our case!) and enjoy!
And for the past 25 years or so, apparently one pie has risen above all others in the White House: Raymond Mesnier's Ginger Pumpkin Pie. So we made it--here's one thing we wouldn't mind passing on to the next administration, we must say.
Ingredients for the Pie Crust
Makes enough for 2 12-inch pie shells.
- 3 1/2 cups cake flour
- 1/2 cup water
- 4 Tbsp. sugar
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1 1/2 cups shortening, plus some for greasing parchment
Ingredients for the Pumpkin Filling
- 2 egg yolks
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 Tsp. salt
- 1 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
- 3/4 tsp. ground ginger
- 1/4 tsp. ground cloves
- 18 ounces milk
- 2 2/3 cups plain canned pumpkin puree
- 1 baked 12-inch pie shell (recipe below)
- 1/2 pint heavy cream
- Candied ginger, finely cut
Directions for the Pie Crust
1. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Place ingredients in mixing bowl. Then using paddle attachment of an electric mixer, mix until well blended, about 3 minutes.
2. Divide dough in two; shape each into a ball. (Dough balls can be wrapped and frozen.)
3. Roll out on floured surface into a round to fit a 12-inch glass pie plate. Trim crust at edge of plate. (It will be covered with whipped cream.)
4. Prick crust with fork on bottom and sides. Crumple a piece of parchment paper; open up and grease one side of the paper. Place greased side down in crust; fill bottom and a little up the sides with dried beans.
5. Bake 15 minutes; remove from oven, and carefully remove paper and beans. If crust tears, patch it by pressing together with your fingers. Bake another 10 minutes, until crust is brown, and remove. It is not necessary to wait for crust to cool before filling.
Directions for the Pumpkin Pie
1. Heat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Beat whole eggs and yolks lightly.
3. Cream sugar and eggs, and beat in salt, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and milk until thoroughly blended. Stir in the pumpkin. Pour into pre-baked pie shell.
4. Bake about 1 hour, until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Do not jiggle. Cool pie on wire rack, then chill.
5. To serve, whip cream and pipe around edge of pie; decorate with candied ginger.
(Eggnog and pumpkin pie Recipes courtesy of Roland Mesnier, Chief White House Pastry Chef, copyright 2001.)
As for a grand finale? How about a sculpture of Mt. Rushmore rendered in sugar cookie dough and cake? OK, it sounded great in theory--but alas, our chef d'oeuvre turned out to be a major chef don't. And yet...while eating hunks sugar cookie dough molded into a vague visage of a President, one can't help but be slightly dazzled by all that sweetness--regardless of whether the outcome looked more like an unholy mashed potatoes and peas combination. Hey, you win some, you lose some.
In closing? Have a sweet Holiday Season, and thank you again to Foodbuzz for letting us have fun with the 24, 24, 24 project--and do check out the other entries here!
For suggested further reading, check out the sources we used for this post:
Dessert University: More Than 300 Spectacular Recipes and Essential Lessons from White House Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier
The White House Cook Book : A Comprehensive Cyclopedia of Information for the Home Containing cooking, Toilet and Household Recipes, Menus, Dinner Giving Table, Etiquette, Care of the sick, Health Suggestions, Facts Worth Knowing Etc.
Presidential Tidbits & Trivia by Sid Frank and Arden Davis Melick
The President's Table: Two Hundred Years of Dining and Diplomacy
Hugging the Coast