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Alien Plants May Thrive on Many Wavelengths of Light
Everyone knows that we as humans literally owe the air we breathe to the greenery around us. As school children we learned that plants (as well as algae and cyanobacteria) perform the all-important biological "magic trick" known as photosynthesis, which helps generate the atmospheric oxygen we take in with every breath.
Plants, algae and cyanobacteria alter our planet in a way that only life can: they use photosynthesis to completely change the composition of the Earth's atmosphere. Since the days when dust devils on Mars were suspected to be the seasonal variation of vegetation, photosynthesis has been considered a key to identifying the presence of life on other planets.
Both atmospheric oxygen (in the presence of liquid water) and the reflectance spectrum of plant leaves produce signs of life — dubbed "biosignatures" — that can be seen from space. Therefore, photosynthetic biosignatures are a priority in the search for life on planets in distant solar systems. The big question is, will extrasolar photosynthesis use the same pigment as on Earth?
A broader range of light wavelengths
The process of photosynthesis is obviously more than simple magic. In basic terms, photosynthetic organisms take in CO2, water (H2O) and light energy to produce sugars (i.e. the food that makes plants a staple of our diet). During this process, photosynthetic organisms use a photopigment called chlorophyll a (Chl a) to split water molecules and produce oxygen. [Top 10 Poisonous Plants]
Until recently, scientists thought Chl a was the only photopigment used in oxygenic photosynthesis. Chl a uses photons in visible light at wavelengths of 400-700 nm.
According to NASA postdoc Steve Mielke, lead author of a new study, "It was assumed that, due to the stringent energy requirements for splitting water molecules, longer wavelengths of light (which have lower energy) could not be used for oxygenic photosynthesis."
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That assumption changed in 1996 when Hideaki Miyashita and colleagues discovered a cyanobacterium named Acaryochloris marinathat uses chlorophyll d (Chl d) instead ofChl ato perform oxygenic photosynthesis with photons from visible light through to wavelengths up to 740 nm in the near-infrared (NIR).
This discovery raised many questions about the wavelengths of light required for photosynthesis. Scientists wondered how difficult it was for A. marina to power biochemical reactions with low energy photons. It survives in environments where there is little visible light, because it gets the photons left over by Chl a organisms.
However, could A. marinabe regularly unsuccessful in using the longer-wavelength photons, and could its ability to use NIR be inefficient, at the edge of what the molecular mechanisms of oxygenic photosynthesis are able to handle? Or could these unique organisms actually thrive on low-energy photons?
New research has shown that A. marinadoesn't struggle at all when living on low-energy photons. In fact, the cyanobacterium is just as efficient or more so in storing energy as organisms that rely on Chl a for photosynthesis.
Mielke and collaborators used a technique called pulsed time-resolved photoacoustics (PTRPA)to compare the photosynthetic abilities of A. marinato a Chl a cyanobacterium named Synechococcus leopoliensis. PTRPA involves laser pulses at controlled wavelengths and allowed the team to measure the efficiency of photon energy storage (energy stored vs. energy input) of cyanobacterial cells.
When testing Chl d and Chl a at the wavelengths they each need to split water molecules, the team showed that whole-cell energy storage in A. marinawas just as — and sometimes more— efficient than the S. leopoliensis cells using Chl a. For the first time, the team showed that oxygenic photosynthesis can operate well at longer wavelengths.
Alien photosynthesis?
This discovery makes A. marinaand Chl d very interesting for scientists trying to find life on extrasolar planets that orbit stars beyond our solar system. [The Strangest Alien Planets]
Nancy Kiang of the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) explained, "Chl d extends the useful solar radiation for oxygenic photosynthesis by 18 percent — meaning life can use more wavelengths of light (i.e. more types of light-producing stars) to survive. This implies a lot of cool things."
Kiang emphasized the implications that the findings could have in the search for life on alien planets, and the future of life here on Earth. For instance, Kiang said that A. marinaappears to have evolved relatively recently, occupying a light niche that is produced by leftover photons from Chl a organisms. Since it can use more solar radiation than Chl a organisms, might our planet evolve to have Chl d outcompete Chl a?
Also, "Planets orbiting red dwarf stars may not get much visible light, but they'll get a lot of NIR light," she said. "So, now we know it would still make sense to look for oxygenic photosynthesis on such planets, and we could look for pigment signatures in the NIR."
Finally, Kiang said the discovery could have implications for the development of renewable energy sources.
"Biomimicry of photosynthesis continues to be a quest in the development of renewable energy, but no one has yet developed an artificial system as good as Nature to split water," she noted. "For renewable energy that depends on sunlight, do the lower energy photons used with Chl d mean that we don't need such strong artificial catalysts for producing hydrogen fuel and biofuels?"
The findings could completely change our understanding of a biological reaction that is essential to the modern biosphere of Earth, researchers say. The results may also open new doors for the future of humankind in areas like renewable energy. But for NASA, the study could also have implications for the future of life on Earth and beyond that are truly far out.
This work was conducted by NASA Postdoctoral Program fellow Steven P. Mielke, under the advisement of Nancy Y. Kiang at GISS, in the laboratory of David Mauzerall at Rockefeller University in New York City, and in collaboration with Robert Blankenship at Washington University in St. Louis, MO, and Marilyn Gunner at City College of New York.
This story was provided to SPACE.com by Astrobiology Magazine. Follow SPACE.com for the latest in space science and exploration news on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.
Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Cutie Katie Couric Brings in the Tonight Show Ratings
The "Today" show co-anchor made the numbers as guest host of "The Tonight Show," as the program received a 42 percent ratings gain over its Monday night season average, according to Nielsen.
Appearing in a sexy black gown that showed off a lot of leg, Couric took over the "Tonight Show" on Monday in a one-day job swap with Jay Leno. In the monolouge, she told jokes she heard from her kids and got big laughs.
Her guests were comic actor Mike Myers, "American Idol" judge Simon Cowell and British pop star Robbie Williams. Self-help guru Dr. Phil McGraw also made a surprise walk-on appearance.
The May "sweeps" stunt made "Tonight Show" history, marking the first time someone other than Leno presided over NBC's late-night proceedings since he succeeded Johnny Carson as host in 1992.
Leno's stint on the "Today" show, however, did not do so well posting only a 9 percent uptick in ratings over regular Monday night averages. Leno conducted interviews with Secretary of State Colin Powell and former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani.
Joking about his "Today" show performance on the syndicated TV show "Access Hollywood, Leno said Powell was a "good sport," adding, "Why get a hard-hitting journalist when you can get softball Leno to ask you the questions?"

subset: commoncrawl


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Inviting to live in a vivid and active community, this neighborhood is perfect for career-driven, self-development-oriented individuals who don't mind being surrounded by people. The area is not only located in the center of the city, but it's also simply a great place to live.
When purchasing a property in the town's heart, knowing you want to buy in one metro area over another isn't enough in this era of hot housing markets and internet listings.
You need to narrow down your search to a specific neighborhood that fits your lifestyle and your household's future, whether you're a single artist seeking a studio apartment or a family of four hunting a single-family home.
Things you'll love
Proximity to countless business parks and international headquarters of leading companies is definitely something you'll appreciate if you're dreaming about a fast-growing career. What's more, commuting, which once could be your nightmare, won't be a problem anymore! The same goes for nightlife - we're convinced boredom won't hunt you down in this vibrant neighborhood.
The area is called 'home' by many families which stays in correlation with a constantly increasing number of schools in the district. In the walkable distance, you'll find public and private elementary and high schools, and there are even more options to discover if you decide to take a bus or drive a car.
Being a center of professional life, there's no problem with finding a suitable subway line to get wherever you need to. Proximity to multiple services makes this neighborhood very desirable and popular, ideal for busy professionals heading back home after a long day at work. Expressways and highways are easily accessed for those who prefer traveling by car.


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Executive Summary
While having a salesforce that can deliver your company's message to physicians and other health care professionals is critical to effective performance, the true key to success is having a salesforce that can adapt that message to the needs and preferences of those they call on. Our research shows that versatile salespeople can be over 50% more successful than their less adaptable counterparts.
This was effectively demonstrated in a study with a large U.S.-based pharmaceutical company. Development of versatility skills had a significant impact on a product line's market share. When compared to pharmaceutical representatives who did not receive versatility skills training, the versatile pharmaceutical representatives' market share was significantly higher and continued to improve every month of the yearlong study.
Helping pharmaceutical representatives learn how to recognize health care professionals' preferences and styles, and to adapt their strategy to more directly meet those preferences, has proven to be the key to pharmaceutical sales performance.
What is Sales Versatility?
There are two things almost all pharmaceutical representatives know:
- All things being equal, we really only "connect" with about 25% of health care professionals.
- It is easier to influence those health care professionals with whom we "connect."
When people say they "connect" with someone, they are referring to the similarity of their communication preferences and styles. We feel more comfortable with people who like to talk at the same pace we do—who are not too pushy or too pliable and who want to get to know about us at about the same time we are ready to share that kind of information.
Decades of research indicates that people are divided equally across four primary communication styles. We call these the four Social Styles: Driver, Expressive, Amiable, and Analytical. When a physician is easy to work with, it is often because you and the physician have the same Social Style. When a physician seems difficult to work with, it is because your styles are different.
Because each style represents about 25% of all health care professionals, most pharmaceutical representatives only share Social Styles with one out of every four health care professionals, and a majority of their sales will tend to come from those health care professionals. But what if pharmaceutical representatives could learn to "connect" with the other 75% of health care professionals? Would they be able to sell more effectively to them as well?
These were the key questions asked by Wilson Learning and a large pharmaceutical company. This study shows that by teaching pharmaceutical representatives their preferred style of communicating, how to recognize the style of health care professionals, and, most importantly, how to adapt their style, pharmaceutical representatives connect with a broader base of health care professionals and their performance goes up.
The Study
The Performance Measures
The first step was to determine what performance to measure. To prove the impact of versatility skills on the company, a strategically important performance metric was needed—not just a change in perception or attitude, but a real bottom-line outcome.
For this study, the company chose to measure market share of a product line. This product line was in a market with a large number of strong competitors. Because of the market size, even a modest increase in market share would be worth millions of dollars in revenue. And, because of the strong competition, just holding on to current market share was a difficult task. For this company, if more versatile pharmaceutical representatives could increase market share, it would be more than worth the expense and effort.
The Pharmaceutical Representatives
We selected a region of 40 pharmaceutical representatives to test our ideas. This was an already highly successful group. In order to prove that versatility was a cause in the improvement in market share, we divided this group into two subgroups:
- Normal Control group: These pharmaceutical representatives received the normal training typically provided (more traditional sales skills, product training, etc.).
- Versatile Pharmaceutical Representative (VPR) group: These pharmaceutical representatives received, in addition to the normal training, specialized skills in how to identify a health care professional's Social Style and how to be versatile in their sales approach based upon Social Style.
Short-Term or Long-Term Effect?
Improving versatility would not have much value if performance improved for only a few months and then diminished. This is the fate of many training programs—once the initial "shot" wears off, the improvement goes away. So, for this study we collected the market share performance data not just for three months following the training, but for a full nine months following the training.
There were two groups of pharmaceutical representatives; one was given versatility skills training, the other was not. Market share information for a key product line was collected just before training and then for each of the next three quarters (nine months) after the training. Without the normal control and the long-term performance data, there are a number of things that could have explained the performance increase. So, by studying versatility in this way, we now have proof that the versatility skills were an independent factor in the increase in market share.
Results of this study provide convincing evidence that versatility skills caused a significant increase in market share. The graph at right summarizes the market share changes and can be used to answer a number of questions.
Were the groups really equal to start?
There was always the possibility that the VPR group was better to begin with, so we measured market share for the three months just before the training. As the graph shows, the two groups had virtually the same performance, 7.75% and 7.96%. Therefore, any change in market share after the training is not due to differences before the training.
Did performance improve after versatility training?
There was a profound improvement for the VPR group over the normal control group in the first quarter after the training. As the chart shows, the normal control pharmaceutical representatives actually lost market share, down 26%. This was in part due to the introduction of a new product by a competitor. But, for the versatile pharmaceutical representatives, not only did they avoid the market share drop, they actually increased market share by 11%, despite the new competitive product on the market.
Thus, when you compare the VPR group to the normal control group, the versatile pharmaceutical representatives' market share was 54% higher than the normal control group's after the first three months. But improvement did not stop there.
Was the performance improvement sustained over time?
Market share continued to climb for the VPR group across all nine months of the study. After the 11% improvement in the first quarter, market share in the second quarter was up more than 17% from the pre-training period, and up 21% in the third quarter.
The normal control group regained some of the market share they lost, but not much—they ended down 19%. This means that when you compare the VPR group to the normal control group, versatility skills produced a 53% improvement in market share.
What is a 53% improvement in market share worth to your company?
As described at the beginning of this article, because of the large market for this product, this kind of improvement was worth a great deal. We cannot tell you exactly how much as it might expose proprietary information.
Put in another way, if a pharmaceutical company has a product currently used by 500,000 patients, each purchasing $500 of the product a year, improvement from a 6.29% market share to a 9.65% market share is the difference between $250,000,000 in revenue and $380,000,000 in revenue. Of course, your results will depend upon your current market, market share, and revenue. But, for this pharmaceutical firm, creating versatile pharmaceutical representatives was a profitable return on investment.
And the ROI did not end there. Performance continued to increase over the entire time we tracked it, and most likely well beyond. Thus, this is a sustained improvement. As pharmaceutical representatives apply their versatility skills, they perform better and better. So one year, two years, or more after training, versatility is still increasing your performance and profitability.


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Adrenaline Regulator by PowerHouse - Long Body - Carnage
|Out of stock
The Adrenaline Regulator by PowerHouse in Dust Carnage is based on the PowerHouse TKO, the most advanced paintball regulator ever made. We sound like a broken record sometimes when we say things like that but facts are facts. We worked with PowerHouse for a very long time to take the already best-in-sport TKO to the next level.
The entire Adrenaline Regulator body features Adrenaline's 5-axis Tryamid pattern just like on the Adrenaline Luxe. We spent a TON of effort to ensure the machining features of each regulator body line up with the regulator cap. How is that possible with thread locations being different on every single unit? Simple, we machined each unit as one-piece (threading together each blank) at a rate of two (2) Adrenaline Regulators per hour vs. a normal speed of more than thirty. This also means that in anodizing each matched pair is kept together at all times and polished and finished by themselves to maintain the perfect match. It's just how we do things.
Speaking of anodizing, normally regulators are anodized right off the machine because there are virtually no machine marks. In our case each unit is either dusted or polished by hand and then anodized in the United States by the same shops that anodize our guns. Want a matching pattern for your Adrenaline Luxe or Shocker? That's completely possible at a full custom shop like Adrenaline.
Each Adrenaline Regulator ships pre-configured for an Adrenaline Luxe at 450 psi but the PowerHouse Pressure Adjustment Insert allows adjustment from 400 psi to 700 psi with a simple internal adjustment. For Adrenaline Shockers we recommend 650 to 700 psi.
Other features include:
- Titanium Cartridge with dual O-rings - normally a $65.00 add-on from PowerHouse
- New 2022 Model TKO Regulator with Power Puck System
- Real GLASS Adrenaline Gauge
- 3/4" longer than standard body units for a more extended firing position.
- Wave Spring Technology, precision woven flat wire spring for improved consistency and reliability to get back to setpoint pressure fast
- Dedicated setscrew pockets to prevent galling and slipping in your guns ASA threads
- Low Profile Burst Disks for a smooth clean look
- Dedicated Direct to Tank fill port, eliminates damage and over pressurizing from rapid filling at fill stations
- Interlocking parts to prevent incorrect assembly
- Quick disassembly for easy servicing
- Dyno Tested by PowerHouse before and after completing a 24 hour pressure test
- 100% Made in the USA


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Radial - EXTC™ Guitar Effects Interface
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The Radial EXTC™ is a 500 series module that lets you incorporate guitar effects into the realm of pro-audio recording. Just imagine… add a touch of grit to a vocal track, some wah on a kick drum, maybe flange a violin…The EXTC is a creative tool made for your esoteric-inventive side, ready to unleash fresh new sounds that will make your recordings stand out from the crowd.
And it's super easy to use: connect a line level signal from the recording system. The EXTC unbalances the signal and converts it to high impedance where guitar pedals can be inserted at will. Front mounted ¼" send & receive connectors provide easy access. Turn track on, set levels, adjust the blend for just the right amount of magic. Be prepared for instant amazement. Legalized ecstasy.
Features include Radial's award winning 100% discrete class-A guitar buffering for ultimate audio integrity, transformer isolation to eliminate buzz and hum caused by ground loops, 180º polarity reverse to keep effects and balanced signals in phase, plus a separate patch bay insert point to add studio effects into the fun.
The Radial EXTC is without a doubt one of the most innovative effect manipulating devices ever made. And it opens the door to new sounds by taking Reamping™ technology to an all new level.
Be prepared for wild & wonderful!


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Introducing the Jabra Sport Pulse and Jabra Sport Coach Special Editions with improvements in fit, sound, durability and smart new sports features
LOWELL, Mass., Aug. 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — Jabra extends its range of wireless sports headphones and continues to innovate in the sports audio sector with the launch of two new Special Editions. Just like the existing line-up of Jabra sports headphones (Jabra Sport Pulse, Jabra Sport Coach and Jabra Sport Pace), the new editions offer quality calls, music for motivation and intelligent in-ear coaching to help enhance your training effectiveness, whether you're an experienced runner or just getting active. In addition, these next generation versions deliver innovation in all areas, with passive noise cancellation, a broader choice of fitting options, improved durability and world-first intelligent sports features for fitness enthusiasts of all standards.
World's First Smart Sports Features
Jabra Sport Pulse, launched in September 2014, brought in-ear biometric heart rate monitoring to sports headphones for the first time. Two years later, the Jabra Sport Pulse Special Edition takes another innovative step by using the in-ear heart rate monitor (together with the Jabra Sports Life app) to constantly calculate your VO2 Max level – a globally recognized and established test of aerobic fitness – and automatically measure your fitness level.
Whether a seasoned athlete or just trying to get fitter, the personalized VO2 Max data generated by the Jabra Sport Pulse Special Edition allows you to track your fitness development and get the most out of your workout. It uses intelligent in-ear coaching to provide real-time feedback based on your heart rate and fitness level. When you've finished your run, the Jabra Sport Life app provides a range of information to help you improve your fitness level in the future, including distance covered, pace, route, calories burnt and training effect.
The Jabra Sport Coach Special Edition are the world's first sports headphones to feature automatic repetition counting through the TrackFit™ motion sensor. With in-ear coaching, they give you the freedom to plan, track and concentrate on your workout.
Developed to help you make the most of your time at the gym, the Jabra Sport Coach Special Edition works in combination with the Jabra Sport Life app. The TrackFit motion sensor detects your movement and the app counts and logs your repetitions, and advises when to move on to the next exercise. From launch, the app will be able to automatically count ten of the most commonly performed exercises, including push-ups, lunges and burpees, with updates to the app increasing the number of new exercises available over time.
Enhanced sound and additional fitting options
No matter what conditions you train in, or how hard you train, both new Special Editions work just as hard. In addition to a choice of different sized ear gels and ear wings, the headphones now come with COMPLY® Foam Tips as standard, keeping the earbuds securely locked in-place throughout your workout. They also provide improved sound-quality for calls and music, with passive noise cancellation and enhanced bass.
Improved durability
Both Jabra Sport Pulse and Jabra Sport Coach Special Editions offer certified dust and water resistance (to IP55 standard) and are tested to US military standards against wind, rain, sweat and shock impact. Reinforced by a three-year extended warranty against sweat*, you can be confident that both sets of headphones will perform, no matter how challenging your workout.
Extending the sports audio range
Together with the existing Jabra Sport Pulse and Jabra Sport Coach, and the recently launched Jabra Sport Pace, the Special Editions reinforce the position of Jabra as a leading expert in intelligent sound solutions, particularly for those with an active lifestyle. As part of the GN group, pioneers in sound from sports headphones to hearing aids, Jabra continues to offer superior sound engineering and unrivalled expertise.
René Svendsen-Tune, CEO at Jabra says: "We have made great strides with our sports headphones over the last two years. And from a strong start I'm really excited that Jabra can now deliver next generation sports headphones with better sound, more options for a perfect fit and a host of world-first sports features. Jabra Sport Coach and Pulse Special Editions are evidence of our commitment to lead in the field of intelligent sound solutions."
Features and product details
- Jabra Sport Pulse Special Edition
- NEW automatic (continuous) VO2 Max fitness testing
- In-ear biometric heart rate monitoring
- Advanced planning and tracking based on heart rate
- Resting Heart rate test
- Orthostatic Heart rate test**
- Smart in-ear audio coaching
- Jabra Sport Coach Special Edition
- NEW Automatic repetition counting with TrackFit™ motion sensor
- Smart in-ear audio coaching
- Superior sound and secure fit (both Special Editions)
- NEW Comply Foam Tips
- Superior ergonomic in-ear fit
- Make and take calls
- Passive noise cancellation and enhanced bass
- Ergonomic and resilient design (both Special Editions)
- Dust and water resistant (IP55)
- Lightweight (16 grams)
- Up to 5 hours of talk/music time
- Up to 10 days stand-by time
- NEW three-year extended warranty against sweat*
Jabra Sport Life app – innovation for existing users
Automatic fitness testing and automatic rep counting will also be freely available as upgrade features on existing models of Jabra Sport Pulse and Jabra Sport Coach, respectively. The additional functionality is available with a software upgrade to the supporting Jabra Sport Life app, and is part of a commitment from Jabra to enhance their intelligent sound solutions throughout the life of their products.
Find out more about this upgraded functionality and further improvements to the new Jabra Sport Pulse Special Edition and Jabra Sport Coach Special Edition at: http://www.jabra.com/sports-headphones
Pricing and availability:
The Jabra Sport Pulse Special Edition (RRP $159.99) and Jabra Sport Coach Special Edition (RRP $119.99) will be available in select retailers from Q3 2016.


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On the Media
As if last week's bombshell wasn't enough, there's more in the pipeline... until the pieces are sufficiently sewn up, though, this scribe's on special assignment, and your insights are the ones in focus.
Over the coming days, the pages will be mostly dark as I'll be in Texas, giving a convocation to priests. The topic is the proverbial wheelhouse -- the church on the digital continent, the New Evangelization, new technology and what it brings to the table, with a side-order of buzz to keep anybody's eyes from glazing over. (At least, one can hope.)
Much as eight years at the desk has made for its fair share of findings, lessons, pitfalls and memories, the sum total is still only one guy's experience. Part of the exercise of these days, meanwhile, is to lay out what the tools of our time, many as they are, can and do bring to ministry and church life in the trenches.
Ergo, church of all stripes, pray tell: what does all this stuff -- blogs, Facebook, Twitter, Tumblrs, etc. -- do for you? How do they help on the ground? When are they at their best (and, indeed, their worst)? What more could they do to live up to their highest potential? Or, conversely, what difference would it make if they all just up and vanished?
For everybody's fun, the combox is open... and, well, jump right in. Just one ground-rule request: for purposes of context, please say where you're writing from, and note your state of life, age range, the basics. Beyond that, just keep it clean and on-point and the conversation will be all the better for it.
For the record, contributions will be moderated to keep things from descending into an LCWR/SSPX/AOCA (Any Other Charged Acronym) food-fight. Aside from that, per usual, it's all an experiment, so let's see what happens. With another World Communications Day soon upon us -- and this year's emphasis on balancing silence and perspective with the din -- perhaps the topic is particularly worthwhile to the moment.
Lastly, the diversity and thoughtfulness of this readership has never ceased to amaze me these years in the notes you've sent and conversations we've had. That's a very moving gift, and because of that -- because of you -- there seems to be no better spot for this kind of exchange. No pressure.
As ever, all thanks in advance for everything you bring to the table, both here and elsewhere... and with that, the floor is yours -- have at it.


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There are five Airports within two hours drive, so ski weekends, snowboard breaks and short ski holidays to Interlaken are perfectly feasible. Berne Airport is just one hours drive away, in good driving conditions, so you can be on the piste quickly.
To learn more about how to get to Interlaken call, or chat with, one of Ski.com's knowledgeable Mountain Vacation Specialists.


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Khalidiya Palace Rayhaan by Rotana provides guests with five-star luxury layered with fabulous dining, family-friendly fun and premium accommodation for an unforgettable stay.
Located on Abu Dhabi Corniche, this stunning hotel overlooks both the spectacular Qasr Al-Watan (Presidential Palace) and the mesmerising Arabian Gulf.
Upon arrival, you'll be struck by the beauty of the Khalidiya Palace's surroundings – from the exclusive beach and its pure, white sands, to one of the largest pools in Abu Dhabi. Whether you're a couple looking for relaxation, or a family seeking adventure, you're sure to have your needs catered for at this versatile retreat.
Children are also welcomed with open arms as soon as they arrive with a kids' club and a shaded pool designed for little ones. Comfortable rooms for families are available, as are classic and premium options and luxury suites to unwind in after an exciting day of holiday bliss.
Spend days tackling water sports at the private beach, dominating the tennis courts and fitness centre or enjoying spa treatments to your heart's content.
After taking on the hotel's activities, satisfy your taste buds with four fantastic restaurants, including a poolside bar. Alternatively, order to your room from a treat-filled, 24-hour menu.
Couples, families and thrill-seekers alike will adore both the location of this beautiful hotel and its unrivalled activities and facilities.
Being just a few paces from the private beach, the delicious dining options and proximity to Abu Dhabi's fantastic attractions.
Guests will settle straight into the modern rooms and suite options at the contemporary Khalidiya Palace Rayhaan.
Select from Classic, Premium and Family rooms or stunning suites, all of which offer 24-hour in-room dining and views of either Qasr Al-Watan or the Arabian Gulf.
The hotel's range of 443 rooms provide something for everyone – whether you need a family room with added space and a private balcony or a writing desk for catching up on emails at the end of the day.
All classic rooms feature a bathtub and walk-in shower, along with cosy bathrobes and slippers. Premium rooms offer an incredible upgrade with extra space and an open-plan dining area, while suites present guests with separate bedrooms for an opulent experience.
At the heart of the action on Abu Dhabi's Corniche, this is one of the area's most sought-after five-star hotels. Take in amazing views, sink into a signature Rotana bed and even dine from the comfort of your room's sitting area.
Ensure you book a holiday everyone can enjoy with the promise of fun for all at Khalidiya Palace Rayhaan by Rotana.
Select from babysitting services or watch your little ones make friends in a safe setting at the Flipper's Kids' Club. From Saturday to Wednesday, the club is open from 9am until 8pm, and on Thursday and Friday from 10am until 10pm.
The children's pool and play area is available from 7am until 7pm every day where kids can splash around in a covered and shallow pool in full view of the adult pool.
You'll be spoilt for choice when it comes to water-based activities. The hotel's gorgeous private beach is overflowing with family-friendly water sport options, from kayaking to banana boats.
Corniche Beach is also nearby, where children can play games on the sand and splash around in the glittering water. The beach is divided into sections – head to gate two or three for the best family experience.
Authentic Arabian cuisine, international dishes with a pinch of Eastern spice, tempting tapas and more await guests of the Khalidiya Palace Rayhaan by Rotana.
Kamoon provides a world of Arabic authenticity, from the flavourful food to the mesmerising atmosphere and views of the Arabian Gulf.
The all-day menu at Horizon has something for all tastes and allows patrons to opt for international, Asian or Arabic dishes.
Horizon also hosts special weekly events with a seafood evening each Thursday where you can enjoy the catch of the day, fresh from the local fish market.
Take in views of the pool while sipping coffee and sampling sumptuous cake in The Lounge. Meanwhile, the Sunset Bar serves delicious snacks and something sweet for those reclining by the pool.
From tennis and squash courts, exercise classes and a fully equipped fitness centre to a bountiful wellness calendar, Khalidiya Palace Rayhaan ensures everyone is cared for.
Work up a sweat with the hotel's Bodylines Fitness and Wellness Club from 7am until 10pm. Spend some time in the gym with a personal trainer or sign up to a class in one of the two group exercise rooms.
For lovers of racket sports, there are two floodlit tennis courts to play a few sets in and two indoor squash courts. All four courts are open from 6am until 10pm, meaning players have plenty of opportunity to play.
After a workout, the wellness centre's opulent oasis has six treatment suites and two rejuvenating relaxation rooms open from 10am to 10pm offering perfectly personalised experiences.
The spa's specialist team tailors treatments and massage therapies to suit the needs of each guest, designed to rebalance both body and mind.
Boasting one of the largest swimming pools in Abu Dhabi, plus a 650-foot stretch of private beach, Khalidiya Palace Rayhaan by Rotana allows guests to dive straight into the action.
The hotel's exclusive beach is open from 7am until sunset every day so visitors can watch the sun go down with the sand between their toes.
Al Nashmi Water Sports are located behind the Sunset Bar where guests can sign up for an abundance of water sports from 9am until 6pm. Discover something for the whole family and make memories that will last a lifetime.
The expansive pool is accessible every day from 7am to 7pm, making it ideal for both early risers and those who like to wind down with a leisurely swim. The good news for parents is the children's pool is right next to the adult pool and open during the same hours, so your little splashers will never be out of sight.
For those searching for a touch of serenity from their stay, the steam room, sauna, jacuzzi and plunge pool are open from 6am until 10pm.
The interior of this incredible five-star hotel is certainly jaw-dropping, however it's also been created to allow guests to embrace the outdoor wonder of Abu Dhabi.
Surrounded by green spaces, palm trees and a white sand beach, this location is perfect for those looking to soak up the beautiful surroundings.
A glorious draw of the Khalidiya Palace is its views over the glittering Arabian Gulf. Admire the sunshine sparkling on the surface of the water from a balcony room as you sip a fresh mango smoothie from the in-room dining menu.
Kick off your sandals and open a pool or beachside umbrella to immerse yourself in a holiday read, or pop on a podcast while you watch your family enjoy the sunshine.
The Khalidiya Palace Rayhaan by Rotana is also ideally placed to join the walkers, joggers and cyclists on the Corniche boardwalk enjoying exercise and views across the water.
The Khalidiya Palace Rayhaan by Rotana has a few famous neighbours.
Adjacent to the hotel is the Al Ras Al Akhdar peninsula, which is home to Qasr Al Watan, the Presidential Palace. A ten-minute drive away, this building offers a fascinating insight into UAE history.
Branch out a little further and you'll find Qasr Al Hosn – this is the oldest stone building in Abu Dhabi and is a 15-minute drive along the Corniche.
On Al Kasir island, just under two miles and a ten-minute drive from the hotel, you'll also find the Abu Dhabi Heritage Village where you can admire Bedouin dwellings.
Also on Al Kasir Island, check out Marina Mall – browse the designer outlets or even give zip-lining a go.
Energetic youngsters in tow? Make a splash at Corniche Beach and dry off on the mile-long walk back to the hotel – ideally with ice cream in hand.
This stunning building is home to the offices of the UAE's President and Vice President and the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi. Take a guided tour of this majestic cultural attraction or visit at night for a wonderful light and sound show.
Discover more
Whether you want to walk or run along the beachside boardwalk, feel the soft, white sand between your toes or dive into the turquoise water, Corniche Beach is the perfect location to enjoy Abu Dhabi's glorious sunshine.
This stunning shopping mall offers both high-end and high-street shopping experiences along with jaw-dropping entertainment featuring an indoor trampoline park and VOX cinema.
Abu Dhabi international Airport is 22 miles (36 kilometres) from the magnificent Khalidiya Palace Rayhaan by Rotana. The journey takes around 30 minutes.
A transfer from the airport with Etihad will provide unmatched post-flight comfort and convenience. Book ahead of time and a driver will be waiting when you land in Abu Dhabi.
This is correct – the hotel does not serve any kind of alcohol. This is due to 'Rayhaan' being a brand of Rotana, which re-establishes contemporary Arabian culture and its values. In replacement of this particular offering, the staff at Khalidiya Palace have created spectacular healthy options.
Yes, a taxi to Marina Mall from the hotel will take less than 10 minutes. Hotel staff are always on hand to help with arranging taxi services for any guests, call reception from your room or ask in the lobby.
Guests will discover universal plug sockets located to the right of the bed in their room. The hotel also provides universal adapters to guests upon request – these are subject to availability.
From one Rotana hotel with fantastic views to another – experience Yas Island's attractions along with the hotel's pool and wellness centre.
Searching for a family-friendly resort? The gorgeous Beach Rotana is just that. Guests also enjoy direct access to Abu Dhabi Mall.
Another amazing beachfront location, the Saadiyat Rotana Resort and Villas welcomes little ones with open arms to the kids' club.
Theme parks
Arts & Culture
Dining & Nightlife


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Matthew 5:43-48
Love for Enemies
43 "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor[i] and hate your enemy.' 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.


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There are many benefits of a regular exercise program. This is true even for people who have joint pain, back pain, arthritis, or osteoporosis. And it's true for people who are recovering from an injury or from surgery such as joint replacement or arthroscopy. Exercise has also been shown to help people of all ages by lowering blood pressure. It also lowers the risk of falls and serious injuries (such as hip or wrist fractures). Exercise can slow the body's loss of muscle and bone mass. Exercise also helps to do the following:
Increase flexibility
Tone muscles
Build stronger bones
Improve mobility and balance
Boost self-image
Relieve insomnia
Ease tension and stress
Offset feelings of anxiety and depression
Improve thinking ability
Improve balance
Stay at a healthy weight
Enhance cardiovascular fitness
Increase HDL (good) cholesterol levels
Reduce the risk of chronic diseases (such as type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer, such as breast cancer and colon cancer)
Provide fun and enjoyment
Live a longer, healthier life
Reduce joint and muscle pain
It's never too late to start an exercise program. With today's medical technology and scientific advances, more people are living longer. And with longer lives, people are looking for a higher quality of life. Greater importance is placed on independent, healthy living. Exercise is a great way to keep older people active.
The CDC lists the following physical activity guidelines for older adults:
Move more and sit less. Some activity during the day is better than none.
For the most benefit, do at least 150 minutes (2 hours and 30 minutes) of medium-intensity exercise a week.
Gain more benefits by doing 300 minutes of medium-intensity physical activity a week.
Experts advise doing muscle-strengthening activities that involve all major muscle groups on 2 or more days a week for more health benefits.
Balance training is advised as part of weekly physical activity to prevent falls.
Approach exercise carefully. It doesn't have to be vigorous to be helpful. Even a walk around the park can be positive for any age body and mind. So can 30 minutes of working in the garden. You also don't have to do 30 minutes of exercise all at one time. Research now suggests it's just as helpful to do 3, 10-minute periods of exercise spread out over the day.
Talk with your healthcare provider if you have an existing health condition, have had a recent surgery, or you are just starting an exercise program. Your provider can help make sure the exercise program that you choose is designed with your health and wellness in mind.


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By P. Joseph Potocki February 13, 2008
Against a backdrop of increasing public alarm over the power and reliability of corporate news sources, more than 300 progressive media activists, professionals and academics gathered in Santa Cruz over the weekend of Jan. 25-27. The task of the Independent Media Strategy Summit: to bust up corporate media domination by envisioning and launching a reliable, grassroots, equally powerful "main street media" alternative. So what happened and just how well did they do?
Great White Way
It's Friday morning, Jan. 25. I'm bending into a monsoon downpour, slogging toward Stevenson Hall on the Sonoma State University campus. I'm here to snag a ride to Santa Cruz. My backpack's weight shifts and shimmies, causing me to spaz out on the wet walkway. I nearly land on my ass, twice, before arriving at the office of media summit organizer and Project Censored chief Peter Phillips. Nobody's home. Down the hall I hear a radio weather guy say that six more inches of rain is heading for the Santa Cruz Mountains by noon, which is exactly when we're to cross them. Peter Phillips walks up the hallway and asks me if I'm John.
Students start arriving. It's your typical pre-outing anarchy. Peter tells me to ride with Mark. Mark tells me to ride with Peter. I hop in Peter's car, along with John. On the way, Peter outlines the upcoming summit and tells me he's paying $59 a night to stay at a nearby motor lodge. I'm paying twice that at the University Inn.Once in Santa Cruz, we pull up to the University Inn. Scores of prog-folk mill outside the front door. Peter is greeted by many.
Wandering into the main room, I situate myself at one of a couple dozen large round tables filling the main conference room. It's your typical ultrafluorescent, soulless rectangular space. The room fills up and everyone seems to be rarin' to go. The place reeks of leftist cool. Me, I'm wearing basic black. It hides the fat.
I meet Michael Masley. He's a master cymbalom player who has recorded with both Tom Waits and Ry Cooder. This self-described "Artist General" was voted the East Bay's best street musician in 2007. Masley's here, he tells me, to mount his case against Bush and Co. regarding war profiteering. A series of short addresses commence. Academy Award-winning documentarian Barbara Trent steps to the lectern, hoisting the Oscar she received for1992: The Panama Deception. Trent invites us to come up and touch it. Great photo op, but I forgot my camera.
Dennis Bernstein of KPFA radio's Flashpoints show advocates for "real tough reporting." He and his team are here to broadcast their show live. Four Flashpoints contributors flank Bernstein like a pride of fierce media lions.
These collaborators are precisely what's in short supply here. The foursome are all relatively young. They include a Native American/Chicano, a black man and two young women, one of whom is Mexican-American. Each points to what we can't help noticing: that the 300-plus attending this summit are overwhelmingly middle-aged and elder white folk.
Butterflies and Bumblebees
Summit co-organizer and former 911Truth.org director David Kubiak explains how the next three days are supposed to work. "Rather than have famous people restate their expertise, we're gonna suck the juice out of you guys, getting stuff from the outside in."
I'm excited about this grassroots beat-the-bushes approach, but wonder whether a sufficiently wide progressive net has been cast. We've noted the dearth of young people and minorities. And famous people can, after all, participate as equals by lending ideas and expertise without being placed atop a pedestal. Moreover, well-established progressive media sources seem an essential component for any broad-based media network to gain traction. Publications like In These Times, Mother Jones and The Progressive lend immediate credibility to any such effort. So where are they? Flashpoints is a welcome presence, but why we don't have Democracy Now!, and perhaps Air America Radio's Tom Hartman broadcasting from the summit, too?
Kubiak's famous people reference notwithstanding, the summit does feature an impressive roster of journalists, publishers and documentary filmmakers, and even notable activists and politicians like Cindy Sheehan, Cynthia McKinney and the disembodied voice of Dennis Kucinich. But where's MoveOn.org, Daily Kos.com, the ethnic minority and labor movement pubs? Where are the emerging youth techies, podcasters and bloggers? It seems natural that all these folks be here. I'm sure the organizers have done their best with limited promotional resources. Shortcomings noted, there's still plenty of intellectual firepower here, and should we deliver the network goodies, chances are nonparticipants will hop on board as the network develops.
Kenoli Oleari and Mark Tognotti are our paid summit facilitators. They explain that we'll be breaking into randomly selected "Affinity Groups" to generate ideas and write them down on a board. Oleari addresses self-selected misfits. Butterflies get to flit around. Bumblebees take pollen from one group to another. "The Law of Two Feet applies in any case if your group isn't working for you," he says.
I'm assigned to Affinity Group No. 12. We are: two film documentarians, Masley, an AM radio host, media advocates, concerned citizens and me. Six women, five men. Salome Chasnoff, a documentary producer from Chicago, is our moderator. We're talking up personal summit goals. It's all pretty vague. I offer, "We are witness-participating in a birthing or a socioevolutionary step forward addressing all nature of old and emerging media, and replacing those rusty old media pipes with a new media conduit so our juices freely flow." They all stare at me like I'm nuts.
The Reptilian Arts
Saturday morning breakfast time, and I'm famished. Bagel and cream cheese, a banana, an apple, cottage cheese, fruit salad, OJ, milk, coffee and one big-ass blueberry muffin. I meet Lenny Charles, whose INN World Reportgoes head to head with Amy Goodman's Democracy Now! in New York City. Charles is doing good television work and doing it not on a shoestring but on a shoestring thread. He's anxiously hunting down investors. I let him know I'm broke.
Charles wonders how it's possible to coalesce disparate progressive media sources into timely, trustworthy, mutually cooperative and still fiercely independent pieces of a cross-media network puzzle. Take, for example, Amy Goodman'sDemocracy Now!Charles says his INN World Report competes for the same audience, though his operation's budget is a fraction of Goodman's. So does the progressive universe have room for the INNs of this world? Compared to network news, or even cable network news,Democracy Now!itself works on a shoestring budget. So, beyond mere coexistence, can the two competitors mutually assist one another in the name of progressive diversity? Perhaps by the end of the summit we'll find out.
During the morning's session, antiwar activist Cindy Sheehan relates a vignette illustrating corporate media sensibilities. Sheehan was camped out in Texas, hoping for an audience with George Bush. "People in Crawford kept talking about the media circus. One day [the media] followed me to the bathroom and I asked, 'Is this the media circus yet?' And they said, 'Yes, this is it.'"
Comments ensue. Investigative reporter Kristina Borjesson suggests we create a think tank charged with monitoring, deciphering and countering masters of "the Reptilian Arts," by which she means the machinations of mainstream media. She claims, "I'm the reporter with the prize for 'most likely to have her piece killed.'" Borjesson also points out the obvious: "Our problem is what makes corporations successful. They're organized." Meaning, of course, that we're not.
Danny Schector calls himself "The News Dissector." He's a journalist and founder of the Media Channel. Schector's new film is In Debt We Trust. Schector points out that we here at the summit risk the "danger of only talking to people who agree with us." I particularly like his trog-prog comparison. "The right wing is like the Marine Corps. The left is like the Salvation Army."
During breaks an comment periods, conversations swirl, indicating that references to 9/11 may not be mixing so well with fundamental media restructuring. My read is that while 9/11's a legitimate investigative issue anchoring the involvement of a significant number of people here, media restructuring is a step-by-step envisioning process. Many feel this process has little to do with investigative inquiry per se, and don't want to collate the two. I wonder if this rub has kept any potential participants away.
A Reptile on Main Street
We're back in Affinity Group 12 for a working bag lunch. Musician Masley bows out. Our focus, says he, isn't his. He should know, but I'm wondering just what our focus actually is. All bid Mike a fond adieu. Billy Sunshine from KRXA-AM (Monterey 540), too, has left. Later Billy comically contends he's neither flitting butterfly nor pollen-spreading bumblebee but rather big pigeon flying around dropping shit everywhere. We who remain in Group 12 discuss citizen journalists, consensus vetting, organizing into news/opinion forums and like vagaries, but we're still struggling to bring things into focus.
We break from our Affinity Groups and head for one of three themed breakout sessions. I opt to cover "Network/Technology." Russ Baker has taught journalism at Columbia, writes for The Nation and is the author of The Bush Dynasty. His take on news gathering differs from the proponents of "citizen journalism," or what some call "community journalism." Baker says if everyone is a journalist and everyone is equal, then journalism itself becomes suspect, leading to a shortage of trustworthy information, and that "we need to get back to funding real investigative reporting."
Baker's lefty credentials aren't enough for this crowd. He may as well have suggested a return to child slavery.David Rubinson, former producer of Moby Grape and the Pointer Sisters, asserts that we need more "peer-to-peer communication, not through the gatekeepers, like you"he points to Baker"and the mainstream media, but through Napster, through servers. That old gatekeeper model, give me a break. Let's take the knowledge from the young people."
Baker responds that he's no gatekeeper and that "anecdotal reporting can lead to a lynch mob mentality. …We need to distinguish between different forms of journalism."
David Mathison is a former VP at Reuters and an advocate of community-access television. He backs Rubinson. "We could see the print industry was going to be destroyed by the Internet. Their business model is obsolete," Mathison insists. "Let's not wait for some future date for this to take place. It's happening now."
The question of who is and who is not a legitimate journalist prompts recurring debate throughout the summit. Can or should a citizen (read "amateur") journalist be expected to meet accepted standards of the profession? Various components come into play. There's the training, edit/vetting and experience pieces. Also, the fundamental reliability of the information and the relative quality of its presentation need be addressed.
Then there's the money issue. Some contend that the journalist not paid for his work, has, necessarily, a personal agenda. Others claim that no journalist, paid or not, writes without bias. Concerns are raised that accepting citizen journalists into a network risks inaccurate reporting. Countering this, it's suggested that if on-site breaking news "amateurs" aren't given a platform to report what they witness, important events may never get reported. This seems particularly true in this age of ever-shrinking local media newsroom budgets.
INN's Charles chimes in, "We've created our own parallel media on the cheap. It's growing, and point people to it!"
It all has me wondering: will main street America support in-depth, well researched and hard-hitting investigative news reporting? Will it read and tune into fact-based analysis and opinion? Or do we, as a mass culture, really prefer infotainment? Our Group 12 meets again. Activist Jeri Bodemar has just returned from the Narrative Breakout Group. She summarizes what she experienced there. Bodemar cites fear promoted by media playing on our insecurities, the emergence of main street media and the wholesome triad of Connection, Compassion and Community as issues the Narrative Group tackled. They espouse the creation of a fact resource center and stress the need for theater, art and humor. This all comes down to placing "the Democracy Frame" around the rapacity of corporate power. I'm scribbling, and so is filmmaker Penny Little.Saturday's session ends. I'm squeezed dry, hopeful and fitfully confused. But I'm down for that theater, art and humor.
Penny's Thoughts
On Sunday morning, academic and journalist Bill Densmore makes his case for professional journalists, echoing previously expressed concerns. "If they're not being paid to cover something, they're doing it for free, and probably have an agenda." He favors the patronage model. Densmore presents his five ways of grading the news, including rendering all stories traceable and sourced. He asks why blogs don't include attribution. "Until you establish credibility with your audience you should always over-attribute."Richard Greene, host ofClout!on Air America Radio, insists, "We are the mainstream. The other is the corporate media, and they have the corporate agenda."
Peter Phillips feels we must "build our own network, but keep relations with established media." The questions Phillips poses are, "Can we build an independent, noncorporate news source in the United States that is open to everybody? Do we have adequate, truthful resources? and Do we have the will?"
In the afternoon, Affinity Group 12 meet for our final session. Filmmaker Penny Little proposes a progressive newswire concept, a sort of Google-News-gets-vetted-via-Wiki, "using available online technology."
The entire summit reconvenes. We listen to a series of final reports. Toward the end, Peter Phillips gives the Building A Grassroots Media Networks report. Phillips prominently cites Penny Little's Progressive Newswire concept as a key attainable goal. It makes sense. It's cheap and doable. It works with existing technology and seems to me a fine baby step forward. Our work in Affinity Group 12 is affirmed.
Seeing Clearly
At 5pm that afternoon, I'm riding home with my newest good buddy, Gary Evans. He's a pediatrician, but we don't talk kids. I offer to buy him dinner at some exceptionally cheap dive, but Gary's wife has a hot meal waiting at home. Our excited conversation covers lots of ground. We turn back at a wreck on Highway 1, and then get lost twice, because we're not paying attention to road signs. We're both high on a weekend of mind-expanding plotting and scheming. It's still pouring like hell when he drops me off at home. I wonder if this is what Dylan meant when he said, "A hard rain's gonna fall."
So, did our weekend media powwow achieve its stated aim to "transform the way Americans perceive and defend their world"? Doubtless, no. But, sometimes, with everything raining down at once, it takes waiting out the deluge of grand planning before the entirety of our path forward is clearly seen. Seems to me the Independent Media Strategy Summit was like that. One can only hope for what Johnny Nash sang:
I can see clearly now the rain is gone I can see all obstacles in my way Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind It's gonna be a bright, bright sunshiny day.
Source URL: http://www.metrosantacruz.com/metro-santa-cruz/02.13.08/features-0807.html


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Fashion videos from the original style bible.
Stories from the edge.
Documentaries about all things sex.
VICE Sports is dedicated to the game beyond the game, where the unbridled passion of the true fan shines through, for better or for worse.
We hear the anonymous confessions and insights of people on the inside of different industries, institutions and events.
Child's Play follows the lives of children from diverse backgrounds immersed in the most intense, niche, and controversial subcultures around the world. We'll get to know them and their families as they fearlessly pursue their unique lifestyles despite al
Our Favorite Skaters Ever.
Britain takes more drugs than any other country in Europe, so we've made a documentary series about just that.
How to make our favorite dishes with our favorite chefs.
2 Chainz uncovers all of the extravagant ways the 1% enjoys blowing its load.


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Walking Dead Daryl Wings Dog T-Shirt Medium is backordered and will ship as soon as it is back in stock.
All orders leave the warehouse within 1 business day.All Shipments are shipped via USPS. Tracking numbers will be provided with every order.
Returns are easy! Any product purchased from ThinkCoolToys may be returned within 30 days for an exchange or full refund, as long as it is unused, tags attached, and in its original condition. Follow this link here to read more about our return policy.


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5 ways to avoid dangerous toys
Are you killing your kids? If you read the news or this blog, apparently most of us are one bad purchase away from doing just that without knowing it. Whether it's lead-contaminated paint or date-rape dots or collapsing toy shelves, toys - of all things - have become a source of serious concern for parents.
So what can a parent do? Try running through this simple checklist before buying a toy:
- Does the toy have batteries or moving parts? Batteries are toxic. Noise-producing toys stifle the imagination and annoy parents and other adults who have to listen to repetitive beeps and shrieks. Steer clear of electronic toys.
- Skip the plastics. As a general rule, plastic toys are made from plastic for one reason: cost containment. Plastic is a cheap material, and toy companies are already squeezed by licensing and manufacturing costs. Seeking out toys made from non-plastic materials (wood, in particular) is difficult. I have spent a long time in Toys R Us looking for non-plastic toys for our son. They are out there, though. Melissa & Doug toys are (for the most part) non-plastic toys that can be found at major retail stores.
- Think twice before buying a brand instead of a toy. Branding is the primary selling point for toys. If you don't believe me, go to a toystore and tell me how many toys you can find which are NOT associated with a television show, a movie or a musical group. These toys are often created with the intention of reinforcing the child's desire to buy more toys branded in the same way rather than creating an educational experience. Many of the branded toys are built cheap and fast in countries with questionable safety standards. Buying non-branded toys does not guarantee safety, but many of them are made with more care to compete with the Dora and Buzz Lightyear and Finding Nemo toys.
- Do your homework! Most of the recent recalls were from, frankly, cheap toys or toys of questionable quality. You can consult the Consumer Product Safety Commission or the U.S. PIRG, the federation of state Public Interest Research Groups (PIRGs) who maintain a website on toy safety.
- Keep it simple! You will often hear parents laughingly talk about how their children pass by all of the fancy beeping whirling toys to bang on a pot with a wooden spoon or throw a tennis ball endlessly. This is simple, straightforward advice: despite what you may think, your children don't need a lot of fancy toys. Simple toys like building blocks and simple dolls and wooden cars are going to be the best for your child, both educationally and in terms of safety. They inspire imagination and creativity and at the same time are not usually made from toxic materials and do not contain poisonous batteries or small moving parts.
I don't agree with everything Brip Blap says, but he makes some very good points. For example, we've found that most wooden toys (including Melissa & Doug, which he mentioned) just aren't interesting enough for Alex. But I avoid all toys in the dollar section at Target, since the risk that something so cheap is contaminated seems so great. And, in fact, for the holidays, we've asked for Lego Duplo sets to encourage the imagination and creativity that come naturally to Alex already. - Cathy


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Kat Hasty 2020 Lips Bullet T-Shirt Size S,M,L,XL,2XL unisex for men and women
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Unscented Baby Shampoo & Body Wash
An extra gentle and tear free baby shampoo & body wash formulated with certified organic plant, vegetable, flower and tree extracts and scented with organic sweet pea essence. This formula lathers less, rinses easily, and leaves no irritating residue, making it gentle enough for even a newborn's delicate scalp.
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Apply and lightly massage onto scalp and skin. Rinse thoroughly. Synthetic Free Tear Free Hypoallergenic Cruelty Free Vegan 100% Biodegradable (safe in rivers, lakes and oceans) Paraben Free Soy Free Gluten Free Dye Free
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Behind the Random NTP Bizarreness of Incorrect Year Being Set
A few people have written in within the past 18 hours about their NTP server/clients getting set to the year 2000. The cause of this behavior is that an NTP server at the US Naval Observatory (pretty much the authoritative time source in the US) was rebooted and somehow reverted to the year 2000. This, then, propogated out for a limited time and downstream time sources also got this value. It's a transient problem and should already be rectified. Not much really to report except an error at the top of the food chain causing problems to the layers below. If you have a problem, just fix the year or resync your NTP server.
Just goes to show how reliant NTP is that it is all but a "fire and forget" service once configured until "bad things happen".
John Bambenek
bambenek \at\ gmail /dot/ com
Bambenek Consulting
D4 would have asked do you really want to change your time by -8xxx days, 0 hours, 0 minutes, and 0 seconds.


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If you think your tree needs to be removed, contact a professional tree removal service today. A diseased, dying or overgrown tree is more than just an eyesore. It is a safety hazard that requires an expert tree removal service.
Do Your Tree Service Research First
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By performing an online search for "tree removal near me," you will no doubt see multiple tree removal companies in Harris County like Clear My Land. You should visit each company's website and carefully read the tree removal services provided. Take the time to read through the customer reviews and testimonials. It's always good to invite a selected company to your property for an official evaluation. The local professionals in your area can provide you with tree removal estimates. One suggestion is that you do not simply select the lowest estimate. You need to select the company that you believe will provide you with outstanding service and get the job done to your satisfaction.
Clear My Land offers safe, outstanding service and affordable pricing in Harris County. The team is always ready to tackle big and small tree removal projects.
Hire a Tree Removal Service To Help Keep Your Property As Safe As Possible
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Select a Company That Will Offer Landscape Advice For Better Aesthetics
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A professional landscaping company like Clear My Land will happily provide tree advice when asked. The team knows just what needs to be done to spruce up the aesthetics and add curb appeal. There's nothing like neat, well-trimmed landscaping to make your property stand out for the right reasons.
If you are considering listing your property for sale, it's a good time to remove overgrown foliage and landscape hazards. A properly maintained landscape may even help to increase property value. A potential buyer will no doubt be pleased not to have to invest money in landscaping upon taking ownership of your property in Harris County.
Select a Qualified Company That Understands The Importance of Tree Health
From the perspective of a homeowner or commercial property owner, it may be hard to determine whether a tree is diseased or just old. With that being said, it's important to select a landscape company from your "tree removal near me" online search, who cares about a tree's health and not just suggests cutting down the entire tree. Oftentimes, sick trees can be saved if the problem is addressed quickly.
A professional, caring landscape company like Clear My Land has the training and experience to examine the tree and give you a prognosis. A simple branch pruning allows experts to detect disease. If a branch is infected, it can be removed and the disease spreads to the other parts of the tree. The Clear My Land team will do everything in their power to save a tree prior to suggesting removing the entire tree.
If your property has mostly healthy trees, it's still a good idea to trim a tree regularly. Trimming strengthens the tree's roots, stimulates new growth, and helps with balance. Pruning on a regular basis is known to promote flowers and fruit because it increases airflow.
Select a Tree Service That Includes Tree and Stump Removal As Part of Tree Removal
When searching for tree removal near me in Spring Branch Gardens, TX, you will be surprised at how many local tree companies do not include stump removal as part of their services. In fact, some companies will leave a stump in place unless the homeowner or commercial property owner specifically requests its removal. Tree removal is a high-risk, multi-person job. It should only be attempted by trained professionals with the correct equipment. The tree experts at Clear My Land not only remove a stump but also perform stump grinding.
For Land Clearing, Hire a Highly Experienced And Specialized Service
It's always an exciting venture to purchase a large piece of property in Spring Branch Gardens, TX. The first step to your vision is the clearing of the land. A professional cleaning service like Clear My Land is excited to take on a big clearing job to prepare the land based on your needs. The process includes clearing away and removing trees, stumps, and brushes. The Clear My Land team specializes in land clearance and groundskeeping on large properties including estates. Their ultimate goal is to make every property look neat, trimmed, attractive, and be as productive as possible.
Professional Tree Service is Safer Than a Do-It-Yourself Landscaping Effort
Are you in need of tree removal near me in Spring Branch Gardens, TX? Whether you need trees trimmed, trees removed or land clearing from your residence or commercial property, Clear My Land is the recommended tree service to call in Harris County.
The team is made up of expert crew members with solid work reputations and outstanding dedication. Homeowners and commercial property owners in the area consistently rely on Clear My Land to perform outstanding tree service Spring Branch Gardens and get it done safely and efficiently. For tree removal near me, call 281-330-9170 today.
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The KTV Drive+ Rear is a compact yet powerful rear light that ensures optimal visibility and safety on your rides. With a maximum output of 40 lumens, an impressive 45-hour runtime in Femto mode, and six different output modes, including Daytime Flash, this rear light provides reliable illumination.
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By Dennis and Mary Jo Weiss
Dennis and Mary Jo Weiss write from their home in Hamburg, New York. Over 30 years ago, as a couple of starry-eyed kids just out of college, they made a promise to love and honor each other "all the days of their lives". With the blessings of five children and now grandchildren, their journey continues.


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What Is a Reformed Understanding of the Gospel?
How would you share a Reformed understanding of the gospel with a nominal or modern American evangelical Christian?
What makes a Reformed understanding of the gospel is the desire and the passion that God the Father, God the Holy Spirit, and God the Son receive the fullest measure of the glory they should receive in saving me.
God will not get the fullest glory that he should have as the Father unless we come to terms with the fact that he chose me apart from anything in myself. The glory of the Father's grace in choosing me will not shine as brightly as it ought to until we realize that I was chosen before I was born or had done anything good or evil, according to Romans 9:11.
The Holy Spirit will not get the fullness of his glory if we do not say to him, "We know that by your power alone I was so conquered in my dead, rebellious heart that Christ was made to appear irresistibly beautiful. It was by your work alone and by nothing in me!"
Nothing in me contributed to the fact that Jesus became irresistibly beautiful to me. That's all the work of the Holy Spirit illumining my mind, stripping away the blindness, and giving me eyes to see. So let the Holy Spirit have the fullness of his glory for my seeing Christ as compelling so that I freely fly to him for forgiveness.
And Jesus Christ will not get his glory if we do not realize that on the cross he bore my sin in such a way that he secured that privilege that the Holy Spirit worked in my heart.
So the point to stress in sharing the gospel is, "I want you to hear the best news in all the world, namely that Christ died for your sins such that if you will believe on him you will be saved. And the way that God gets all the glory in that is for you to realize that he chose you, the Holy Spirit decisively overcomes your deadness, and Christ really did cover all of your sins such that he secured for you even the faith that you are now about to exercise. Would you not believe in this glorious Christ?"


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For nearly three years now, China has had incredible success at keeping its number of COVID deaths relatively low. So far, the country has recorded only about 6,000 deaths among 1.4 billion people. By comparison, the U.S. has recorded more than a million deaths in a population of only 330 million.
China has accomplished this feat with what's known as a "zero COVID" policy – using strict lockdowns and community-wide testing and other measures to keep case counts close to nil.
But in the past few weeks, this strategy has begun to show signs of faltering – and some scientists think it could be crumbling.
Cases are surging to record numbers in parts of the country. On Nov. 29, China recorded an all-time daily high of more than 71,000 new cases. COVID restrictions have sparked protests and dissent in major cities at levels not seen in a decade.
Is "zero COVID" even possible with omicron? What will happen if China reopens and SARS-CoV-2 begins to transmit freely across the country? Is China prepared for a surge? Those are questions that epidemiologists and public health experts are considering. Here's a look at the key queries – and what we know so far about the possible answers.
Let's start with the basics: What does a zero-COVID policy involve? Does it really mean aiming for no cases at all?
The idea is to stop transmission of the virus inside a country. That's a tremendous challenge with a highly contagious virus like the omicron variant. Even in a country with a zero or remarkably low case count, foreign travelers may import cases and spark outbreaks from time to time. The government tries to limit both of these occurrences by severely limiting the number of people who can enter the country. And when outbreaks do occur, the government uses a combination of quarantining, contact tracing and mass testing to stamp the virus out as quickly as possible.
Since the pandemic began, about 16 countries or regions have attempted this zero-COVID approach, including Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Taiwan.
But as SARS-CoV-2 evolved to become more transmissible, this approach has become harder and harder to carry out, says epidemiologist Jennifer Nuzzo at Brown University.
"Omicron moves through a population really quickly," she says. "It runs around the traditional public health measures that the world has used over the last two years, such as masking and quarantining."
So to maintain a zero-COVID policy, China has needed to implement extremely harsh and severe restrictions on people's movements. And they launched enormous amounts of testing on a massive scale.
For example, earlier this week, the government once again began testing millions of people in Shanghai on a daily basis. And back in the spring, the government locked down essentially all 26 million residents of the city – for a stunning two-month period. Sometimes during the lockdown, people couldn't even leave their homes to go on a walk. (Imagine New York City completely locked down for that long during the third year of the pandemic.)
So is "zero COVID" even possible with omicron? Is this approach going to work for China?
For most of the pandemic, the zero-COVID policy has worked for China, says computational biologist David Welch, at the University of Auckland. "Many countries showed that zero-COVID policy does actually work," he says. "New Zealand ran a successful zero-COVID policy for a good couple of years."
China has held case counts to remarkably low levels throughout the pandemic. The country has recorded only about 1.6 million cases since 2020, or only 0.1% of the population. And what many people don't realize is that the vast majority of those cases are asymptomatic cases detected through mass testing, says global health researcher Yanzhong Huang, at the Council on Foreign Relations. "In November, more than 90% of the 300,000 cases [in China] were asymptomatic," he says. "There are very few severe cases."
(If you're wondering why so many asymptomatic cases – it's partly because the mass testing uncovers cases that would otherwise have gone unrecorded, but otherwise ... it's a mystery.)
The problem with the zero-COVID policy, however, is that it's not sustainable year after year, both Huang and Welch say, because COVID can be found now in virtually every corner of the world. "The point of a zero-COVID policy is to use the time when you have few cases to prepare for when COVID does arrive," Welch says. The key preparation is vaccinating people to protect them against severe disease but also ensuring hospitals can handle large surges.
Over the past year and half, every other country that attempted the zero-COVID approach has abandoned it, says Jennifer Nuzzo of Brown.
Right now, it looks like the zero-COVID strategy might be starting to fail in China as well.
"Despite very aggressive measures such as high levels of mask usage, massive testing efforts and quarantining, China is still dealing with what's probably more community transmission of SARS-CoV-2 than the country is recognizing," Nuzzo says.
So is it inevitable that China will have to abandon the zero-COVID policy and stop these massive quarantines and restrictions?
"There's no sign the government is abandoning the approach," says the CFR's Yanzhong Huang. In fact, in some cities, officials have doubled down on restrictions and quarantines in the past few weeks.
"But the government may be forced to give up the approach in the coming year, I believe, if not in the coming weeks or months," he says.
"People are simply tired of the restrictions," Huang says. "Once people began to understand the nature of the virus – that it's typically mild [when you're fully vaccinated] – they started to question the zero-COVID policy" – a policy that's had huge consequences on people's lives. There have been food shortages. People have lost jobs. The country, as a whole, is cut off from the world.
If China ends these restrictions, does that mean it will likely see a massive omicron surge as other countries have?
Analysts at Bloomberg have speculatedthat if omicron hits in China as hard as it did in the U.S., a full reopening may lead to nearly 6 million people admitted to ICUs and more than 600,000 deaths.
One reason for this severe toll is that less than 60% of the population has had three doses of the vaccine – which is needed to give excellent protection against severe disease. Vaccination rates for elderly people in China are quite low, Huang says. On Tuesday, Chinese officials announced that 68% percent of people over age 80 have received three shots. That percentage still leaves at least 10 million at high risk for severe COVID and death.
"It's precisely this concern about the worst case scenario – with rapid increase of cases nationwide and potentially a mass die-off – that the government uses to justify zero-COVID policy," Huang says.
No country has been in this particular situation before, where they've held off the virus for so long. If China can reopen extremely slowly to limit transmission, it could possibly avoid a massive crisis.
Nonetheless, China is preparing for a big surge in severe COVID cases. The government is building more hospitals and ICU beds across the country. And it's ramping up vaccinations among the most vulnerable.
"I can't predict what will happen when the government relaxes the restrictions," Huang says. No country has been in this particular situation before, where they've held off the virus for so long – and have the tools to slow down transmission so quickly.
If China can reopen extremely slowly, to limit transmission, the country could possibly avoid a massive health crisis.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


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Thursday, December 22, 2011
Sirocco the Kakapo: What to do about Parrot Aggression
Sirocco finally did show some of his undesired behavior. But it wasn't sexual behavior, it was aggressive behavior. Every night after a pleasant session in the public display area of his enclosure, Sirocco would be released to roam about the larger off-exhibit section. At the top of the hill in the off-exhibit area is where Sirocco had a supplemental feeding station. Each night we had to climb the hill to clean and restock the station.
Kakapo are inactive and slow moving during the day. At night they are an entirely different creature. They can run through brush with incredible speed. When Sirocco heard us at the top of the hill, he raced to meet us. Although Sirocco does many things that are very parrot like, kakapo are at the same time so different from any other parrot I have encountered. I studied his body language as he approached us, trying to determine if he was interested, sexual or was it something else. There were three of us there trying to understand what this bird was communicating. When he tried to bite my boots it finally became clear. We definitely witnessed our first full on display of aggressive behavior. In addition to getting a better handle on body language associated with aggressive behavior we also needed to determine the triggers. We came up with a long list of things we thought caused Sirocco to aggress. (Movement, darkness, squatting down, location, and later I learned that male kakapo will also defend their bowls/territory.) In the end we decided the best thing to do is to have one person prepare his feeding station while he is being trained in the display away from the area where he aggresssed. Then when it is time for him to go explore we wouldn't be near his bowl to trigger aggressive behavior.
However we knew there might be other situations in which avoiding him might not be possible. After Zealandia he was going to return to Maud Island. He would have free range of the island and would likely be coming to visit the rangers at their houses. This meant there could be a situation in which Sirocco might show aggressive behavior. Knowing this we decided it would be worthwhile to train him to do a behavior that is incompatible with attacking. We decided upon stationing. In the display on Zealandia we had already been training this behavior. A series of logs and stumps made for great training stands and stations for our evening sessions. Our plan was to make several stations near the houses on Maud. If Sirocco had enough history for being reinforced on a station he may very likely choose to go there to get reinforced rather than aggress. Also rangers could redirect Sirocco to his station prior to any undesired behavior being exhibited.
To reduce the likelihood Sirocco would show aggressive behavior near his feeding station we started training him in the daytime. As I like to say he was a "rock star." He immediately grasped the concept and proved once again how eager and ready he was to learn. As you can see in the clip we gradually added criteria to his stationing. For example we increased the amount of time between delivery of reinforcers. We added some of his known triggers such as movement, squatting down and turning our back to him. By training in the daytime we took away one of the factors that seemed to contribute to aggressive behavior. This allowed us to have successful interactions that we could reinforce. Overtime we could gradually add training this behavior closer to sunset and finally in darkness. As you can see from the video, Sirocco was all about it and ranger Linda did a great job training him. Next time: Sirocco Talks!
Barbara Heidenreich
Good Bird Inc
Copyright Good Bird Inc 2011
11 comments:
- Unknown said...
What a beautiful bird! And so well behaved...Now if only I could follow your examples with my birds.
- December 22, 2011 at 2:49 PM
I'm GOING to follow your example with my bird. It's clever yet so simple! Thanks so much Barbara. And it's so cool to see these amazing tools used with such a rare and magnificent NZ bird. What a treat!
- December 22, 2011 at 5:22 PM
wow. the focus that bird has is astounding! so intelligent.
I also liked the way he just sat there and waited...he did a really great job of training you guys to deliver the goodies. LOL
Ranger Linda was very astute with her observations -- you were lucky to have such excellent students :)
cb - December 22, 2011 at 6:58 PM
- Joanna said...
This whole situation is really awesome and it is really amazing to watch conservation in action. But honestly, all I can think of when I watch these vids is how stinkin CUTE Sirocco is!!! I want to squish his little face! (possibly not the most effective training technique though ...)
- December 22, 2011 at 9:44 PM
- Theresa said...
I love your work, Barbara. I can only hope that Sirocco realizes how lucky he is! I can't even imagine what it would be like to work with such a magnificent parrot - I really should have discovered my passion for parrots much earlier in life - I do rescue work now and I'm just fascinated with their behavior.
- December 22, 2011 at 11:27 PM
- Theresa said...
I love your work, Barbara. I only wish I had discovered my passion for parrot behavior earlier in life but I'm happy with doing parrot rescue work now and having the opportunity to work with and be around these magnificent creatures! Thank you so much for sharing your experiences.
- December 22, 2011 at 11:29 PM
Wow! That is fantastic! I do have a question...do you believe it was easier to begin working with him because he was a bit lethargic in the day time hours? If so, how would that translate to working with our parrots that are on a normal daylight schedule?
- December 23, 2011 at 12:24 AM
I noticed how he's so well camouflaged in his natural environment, not just the colors but also some feathers look just like ferns... he's beautiful, thanks for sharing.
- December 23, 2011 at 12:58 PM
I noticed how he's so well camouflaged in his natural environment, not just the colors but also some feathers look just like ferns... he's beautiful, thanks for sharing.
- December 23, 2011 at 12:59 PM
- Barbara Heidenreich said...
I hear you Joanna! It is hard not to fall for that face. And he definitely has a personality. Thanks for making me giggle ; )
- December 23, 2011 at 2:47 PM
- Barbara Heidenreich said...
In regard to the working the bird in the daytime question. For Sirocco we dont know for sure, but we think because kakapo are so well adapted for nightime he was more in his element and more likely triggered to present aggressive behavior at night. If we trained in the daytime it was because he came down on his own (we didnt wake him intentionally to train). I would say if a diurnal bird was intersted in a session and showed more calm body language as the sun goes down, it could be an option. Ultimately it would depend on the details of the situation and the individual birds response. I guess a lenghty way of saying I would need more information to decide if that would help or not for the bird in question. lol.
- December 23, 2011 at 2:54 PM


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