text:
World Ozone Day
The scientific community estimates
that the ozone layer, which filters the ultraviolet
rays of the Sun, could recover its density by the
middle of this century. Recent studies show an improvement,
a closing of the so-called ozone hole, but only in
the upper stratosphere.
Efforts to limit production and
use of ozone depleting gases must continue, and that
is the point of World
Ozone Day, observed every Sep. 16.
A report from the American Geophysical
Union (AGU)
found that the depletion of the ozone in the upper
stratosphere -- 35 to 45 km above the earth's surface
-- has slowed since 1997.
But the authors state that only
a small percentage of ozone is located at that level,
and the problem of ozone depletion remains serious.
Ozone is a harmful contaminant
in the atmosphere closest to earth, but in the stratosphere,
it protects the planet from excessive solar radiation.
The process of restoring this protective shield should
continue with the progressive elimination of ozone-depleting
gases like chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).
The Montreal Protocol, signed
Sep. 16, 1987, limits the use of substances that damage
the ozone layer. In 1985, the international community
agreed on the Vienna
Convention to protect the ozone layer from CFCs,
and other gases like methyl bromide, halons and carbon
Since the scientists Mario
Molina, of Mexico, and F.
Rowland, of the United States, warned of the role
of CFCs in the depletion of stratospheric ozone, concern
about environmental and health consequences have led
to international campaigns, and the Nobel Prize for
Chemistry was awarded the two experts in 1995.
The United Nations Environment
OzonAction website underscores that the international
fight to protect the ozone layer is a success story
among global environmental campaigns.
Since 1985, studies have revealed
the existence of the ozone hole over Antarctica.
In 2000, the U.S. National Aeronautics
and Space Administration (NASA)
reported that the hole had reached a record size of
28.3 million square km, three times bigger than Australia
or the United States, including Alaska.
But in 2002, abnormally warm
climate conditions produced the smallest ozone hole
since 1988.
- Ozone Secretariat
Geophysical Union
about Ozone
Total Ozone Mapping
Protected Areas
There are 100,000 protected areas
around the world, which together would cover an area
larger than China and India combined. But very few
provide benefits to the communities that inhabit them.
Some 2,500 delegates are meeting in Durban, South
Africa until Sep. 17 to discuss the problem, under
the auspices of the Fifth
World Congress on Protected Areas.
Organized by the World Conservation
Union (IUCN), it
is the largest forum for drafting an international
agenda on protected areas. The main objective is to
promote national policies to preserve biodiversity,
with "benefits beyond borders."
Land and water ecosystems of
biological importance -- due to their species diversity
-- have been included in the category of national
parks, landscapes, reserves, or natural monuments,
set aside to protect a country's biological heritage.
But the latest concept of "protected
area" takes into account wildlife areas and the
notion of sustainable use reserves, according to the
Commission on Protected Areas, comprising a network
of environmental experts.
In May 1997 the first Latin American
Congress on National Parks and Protected Areas was
held in Santa Marta, Colombia, where participants
assessed progress and limitations in applying the
concept of the Biosphere Reserve in Latin America.
In March of this year, the First
Congress on Protected Areas took place in Managua,
Nicaragua, under the theme of "promoting conservation
for development and integration."
Congress on Protected Areas
IUCN - World Conservation
Commission on Protected Areas
Mesoamerican Biological
Bank - on protected areas
WTO on the Road to Cancun
The August 30 agreement on granting
poor countries access to low-cost medicines was among
the few items of good news on the rocky road towards
the World
Trade Organization's Fifth Ministerial Conference,
to begin in the Mexican city of Cancun on Sep. 10.
Disagreements persist in nearly all other areas of
the ambitious negotiating agenda, including agricultural
trade, services and investment. The environment, meanwhile,
is but a marginal issue.
The WTO, founded in January 1995
as a result of the accords of the Uruguay Round of
trade talks (1986 to 1994), will gather the trade
ministers from its 146 member states in the Caribbean
coast city of Cancun, Mexico. The officials have four
days to try to overcome the obstacles standing in
the way of achieving the goals set out in the Doha
Development Agenda.
Previous ministerial meets took
place in Singapore, Geneva and Seattle. The latest
was in the Qatar capital, in late 2001, and now the
ministers are getting ready to head to Cancun to continue
the WTO-led process of global trade liberalization.
The WTO has no agreement specifically
dedicated to the environment, but it does have a Committee
on Trade and Environment, which discusses, for
example the trade provisions in multilateral environmental
accords, "green" labels on export products
and the representation of environmental groups in
trade talks.
The United
Nations Environment Program and representatives
from some international environmental agreements will
have an ad hoc presence at the Cancun conference.
In the UNEP document on Trade
and Environment, the agency's director, Klaus
Toepfer, calls for more active UN participation in
trade negotiations, and urges greater emphasis on
issues such as trade in environmental goods and services,
as well as curbing the negative environmental impacts
of agricultural trade subsidies.
The compatibility of WTO rules
and the standards set by environmental treaties is
a crucial matter. There are some 20 multilateral environmental
accords, such as the Montreal
Protocol on reducing ozone-depleting gases, which
sets restrictions for the production, consumption
and trade of aerosols that contain CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons).
Likewise, the Basel
Convention monitors trade and transport of toxic
waste, and the Convention on Trade in Endangered Species
of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES),
regulates commerce in wildlife.
Multilateral organizations like
the World Bank,
specialized groups like the Trade
Forum, and the Institute
for Agriculture and Trade Policy, as well as representatives
from a broad spectrum of civil society groups will
also be on hand in Cancun, proposing different approaches
and alternatives to the international trade negotiations.
Fifth Ministerial Conference
Development Agenda
Committee on Trade and Environment
United Nations Environment
Document on Trade and Environment
Protocol on Ozone-Depleting Materials
Secretariat of the
Basel Convention
for Agriculture and Trade Policy
World Bank
Social Forum
Trade Forum
The Cockroach
The evolutionary
persistence of the cockroach over hundreds of
millions of years -- in which it hasn't much changed
in appearance -- while the planet has undergone dramatic
transformations is an impressive feat, but not enough
to win people's affection.
Indeed, the feeling of disgust
towards cockroaches is practically universal. Perhaps
contributing to the negative image is the fact that
cockroaches carry bacteria and microorganisms that
cause illness among humans.
Geologists from the University
of Ohio, in the United States, reported in 2001 the
discovery in a mine of the largest complete fossil
of a cockroach that inhabited the plant 300 million
years ago, 55 million years before the first dinosaurs.
The " Artopleura apustulatus" measured 8
cm long.
These resistant bugs play an
important ecological role by incorporating nutrients
into the environment. Cockroaches consume organic
matter, and their waste in turn feeds microscopic
organisms that turn it into humus, enriching the earth's
But their resistance is just
what makes them so frustrating. Scientists in many
countries are at work to develop insecticides to control
cockroach populations where they have become a problem.
The Agricultural Research Service
the research arm of the U.S. Department of Agriculture,
identified the key mechanisms for insecticide resistance
developed by the German cockroach, Blatella germanica,
one of the most common cockroach species around the
world, measuring 12 to 16 mm.
The female produces 18 to 48
eggs every 20 to 25 days and, like all cockroach species,
it can carry bacteria and viruses that cause diarrhea,
hepatitis, salmonella and tuberculosis, and the insect
itself can trigger allergies.
entomologist Steven M. Valles discovered a substance
called esterase in several cockroach species that
made them resistant to pesticides.
Valles's studies revealed that
mutations in the proteins of the insect's nervous
system were related to the ability to tolerate poisons.
It is of little comfort
to know that of the more than 4,000
cockroach species that inhabit the planet, only
a handful choose to share our homes.
Agricultural Research Service - cockroach resistance
Cockroach Home Page
and evolution
Addictions - Tobacco
The death toll from tobacco use
could reach one billion this century, according to
estimates by the International Union Against Cancer
(UICC), a network
of 30 organizations from around the world.
If current rates of consumption
continue, the number of deaths attributed to tobacco
-- 100 million in the past hundred years -- will skyrocket,
says the World Health Organization (WHO).
The alarm was sounded during
the World Conference on Tobacco, held in Helsinki
Aug 3-8. Around 2,000 experts from more than 100 countries
studied international policies and proposals from
anti-tobacco groups. They also took a look at the
possibilities of achieving the goals set by the Convention
on Tobacco Control.
The Convention, signed in May
by 192 countries, includes among its objectives the
total ban on advertising of cigarettes and other tobacco
A study by the Pan-American Health
Organization (PAHO),
explains that tobacco consumption has been a part
of human cultures for hundreds of years, but it wasn't
until the past century that cigarettes began to be
manufactured on a massive scale.
Smoking became widespread and
today one out of three adults in the world smokes.
The U.S.-based center Science,
Tobacco and You explains that nicotine is the
cause of tobacco addiction. Nicotine is an active
ingredient in cigarette smoke. It is an alkaloid that
produces pleasant sensations and affects the chemistry
of the brain, says the center's website.
In 1492, when Christopher Columbus
reached the New World, he didn't pay much attention
to the tobacco plant, native to the Americas. He was
focused on finding gold. But some of his crew quickly
developed the habit of smoking… and the rest
is history.
Health Organization - Tobacco Free Initiative
International Union
Against Cancer
Convention on Tobacco Control - final text
Health Organization
Tobacco and You
ASH - Action on Smoking
and Health
- report
The Telescope
Since Galileo Galilei developed
the telescope in 1610, ongoing efforts to perfect
this technological tool have been key to advancing
knowledge of the Solar System and of the cosmos. For
many, the giant steps modern science has made as a
result feed the fantasy of conquering outer space.
The U.S. National Aeronautics
and Space Administration (NASA)
is currently building a telescope that will be capable
of detecting the first light of the universe, which
appeared an estimated 11 billion years ago.
The James
E. Webb space telescope, named in honor of the
man who led NASA's Apollo missions to the moon, is
under construction and slated to be up and operating
in 2010.
Costing 824.8 million dollars,
the Webb telescope will be used to peer into farthest
regions recorded by the Hubble telescope, a distance
of between 10 billion and 11 billion light years.
The telescope will be placed 1.5 million km from Earth
at the Lagrange Point 2, a site of equilibrium between
the gravitational pulls of the Earth and Sun.
Many astronomers believe the
new Webb will shed light on the big mystery of how
the stars and galaxies were formed hundreds of millions
of years after the Big
Bang, the explosion that theory says gave rise
to the universe.
The Webb project began eight
years ago, and is to replace the Hubble,
the world's most important space telescope to date,
and bearing the name of U.S. astronomer Edwin Hubble,
considered the father of modern astrophysics.
Data gathered by the Hubble helped
scientists to locate the oldest known planet, estimated
to be 13 billion years old.
The Hubble was placed in orbit
in 1990 for a 20-year mission to end in 2010.
There are several other space
telescope projects underway around the world. Next
year the Canary Islands Telescope is slated to begin
operating, financed by Spain, Mexico and the United
Telescopes have helped astrophysicists
get to know the cosmos, including the discovery of
giant black holes, the formative stages of solar systems,
and other phenomenon that contribute towards dating
the origins of the universe. But not all seen through
the telescope are wonders of the cosmos.
But not all seen through the
telescope are wonders of the cosmos. There is plenty
of space garbage too -- artificial objects like defunct
satellites and used rockets, and other material that
has come from humanity's exploration of what lies
E. Webb Space Telescope
- Big Bang, deep space timeline
Bang Theory
Hubble Telescope
Canary Islands Telescope
The bat is not a blind flying
rodent, like many people seem to believe. It is a
mammal of the Chiroptera order and serves many essential
functions in nature: the bat pollinates plants, distributes
seeds and controls insect populations.
Social rejection of bats is unfounded,
says one website, stressing that this flying species
controls pests in crops and in forests and adds diversity
to the world's fauna. Destruction of bats' natural
refuges, alteration of their habitat and widespread
use of chemical pesticides are among the main threats
they face.
To date, 1,075 bat species have
been registered around the world, 150 more than were
known to exist in 1990.
The "new" species,
identified thanks to DNA sequencing techniques, have
mostly been found in Latin America, Southeast Asia
and the Pacific islands.
The most ancient fossils of bats
date back 50 million years, but they were not all
that different from the bats we see today.
These members of the Chiroptera
order range greatly in size and appearance, and there
is even a hairless species.
Some scientists maintain that
primates (lemurs, monkeys and humans) and bats share
a common ancestor similar to a shrew.
In tropical zones, seed dispersal
and pollination by bats are vital for the survival
of rain forests, says the website of UK-based Bat
Conservation International.
The guano bat, which measures
some 93 mm long and weighs 15 grams, relies on its
big ears to locate its prey. This species inhabits
caves ranging from the southern United States, through
Mexico, Central America, and down into central Chile
and Argentina.
The U.S.-based conservationist
Wildlife Trust says the largest known colony of guano
bats is found at Bracken Cave, north of San Antonio,
in the state of Texas. It is home to around 20 million
bats that are capable of consuming 250 tons of insects
each night.
In the northeast Mexican state
of Nuevo León is La Boca Cave, which at one
time held the largest guano bat colony, but 95 percent
of its population has been lost in the past decade,
says the Wildlife Trust website.
Bats are nocturnal and use a
specialized system known as echolocation to navigate
the dark skies. They emit a high-pitched sound, which
bounces off even the tiniest objects and reaching
the bats' sensitive ears, allowing them to capture
their insect prey.
Conservation International
Reach National Monument
Birds of Prey
With their powerful hooked beaks
they tear the meat from the kill, which they capture
thanks to incredibly keen eyesight. These attributes
apply to vultures, eagles and hawks, as well as other
species known as birds of prey, or raptors.
Through the 1960s, human activities
took a tragic toll. The birds' nests were destroyed,
the hatchlings were killed, adult birds hunted down
-- an apparent attempt to exterminate them.
According to the World
Wildlife Fund, "Raptors have existed for
75 million years and today there are over 450 species
including eagles, hawks, falcons, vultures, buzzards,
ospreys, harriers, kites and owls. They live in most
habitats in virtually all areas of the world."
The website of the World
Center for Birds of Prey tells the story of the
"triumphant return" to Panama of "Ancon",
a harpy eagle that the Central American country loaned
to the U.S.-based Peregrine Fund.
For 10 years, Ancon -- alongside
his mate "Olafa" -- was the focus of a team
of scientists who developed techniques for raising
endangered birds in captivity.
Experts consider the harpy eagle
an indicator species, because the fate of the bird
reflects the health of the ecosystem in which it lives.
Because it is a predator, it is at the top of the
food chain. The bird's disappearance means that it
does not have the food sources or habitat necessary
to survive.
Birds of Prey
Peregrine Fund
Audubon Adopt-a-Bird
The Raptor
Directory - Birds of Prey
Peyote, a bitter plant containing
some 60 different alkaloids, has been revered as sacred
by many indigenous Mexican cultures throughout the
centuries. Today, however, the plant is far better
known for the hallucinogenic effects it produces once
is a flowering plant of the Cactaceae family, commonly
found in dry regions of the Americas. The plant is
a light blue-green, bears small pink flowers, and
has a carrot-shaped root. Unlike other cacti, the
peyote has spines only as a young plant. However,
its areola —the area on the stem that usually
produces flowers and spines—is well-pronounced
and is identified by tufts of hairs.
There are more than 100 species
of plants with psychoactive properties, says a study
by Mexico's National Commission for the Knowledge
and Use of Biodiversity (CONABIO),
and the ancient cultures of the Americas have a long
history of using these hallucinogenic plants.
"These plants contain chemicals
– alkaloids – capable of promoting abnormal
states of awareness, altering the senses of sight,
sound, touch, smell and taste. For this reason some
cultures see them as bringers of knowledge, as divine
instruments, sources of a profound and mysterious
wisdom, of beauty and inspiration, as well as a means
of maintaining cultural integrity," the study
Through rituals using hallucinogenic
plants, ancient civilizations sought "to induce
initiation into certain mysteries and to cure illnesses
of the body and soul." Some types of mushrooms
and plants are consumed by traditional healers, priests
or shamans, says CONABIO.
The Tarahumaras, Tepehuanes,
Coras and Huicholes are some of Mexico's indigenous
groups that have preserved their ancient rituals and
whose legends and history are associated with the
use of plants like peyote.
An Internet site for the Imaginaria
magazine shows the work of Frenchmen Antonin Artaud
and Gerard Tournebize, authors of the two-volume "A
Trip to Tarahumara Country". According to that
work, the religious ceremonies of the Tarahumara encapsulate
all the knowledge that this group possesses of the
world. All the elements in these rituals, like peyote,
are symbolic, it adds.
For the Tarahumara, peyote is
a being that has the ability to teach humankind how
to walk the righteous path. The peyote ceremony represents
the curing of the soul.
Peyote has been a controversial
plant since the time of the Spanish colonizers, according
to the magazine El
Mercurio. The Spanish chroniclers said that "those
natives who ate peyote were possessed by a terrifying
demonic vision." The consumption of peyote was
outlawed by the Holy Inquisition after 1617.
"On the basis of several
historical events recorded in Indian chronology, Fray
Bernardino de Sahagun estimated that peyote was known
to the Chichimeca and Toltec at least 1,890 years
before the arrival of the Europeans. This calculation
would give Mexico's 'divine plant'
a history of some 2,000 years," the magazine
There are at least 30 species
of cacti known as peyote, but not all have a recorded
history of having been used as hallucinogens, says
one article
on psychoactive plants of the New World.
Much of what is known about peyote
came from the chronicles of Francisco Hernandez, physician
to King Phillip II of Spain, who traveled several
times to Mexico to study the sacred use of peyote
in indigenous cultures.
Regarding its toxicity,
the botanical site states that there are no known
cases of death from ingesting peyote. The site also
notes that the peyote has hallucinogenic and psychoactive
properties that influence perception, in particular
the sense of sight.
German pharmacologist Arthur
Heffter extracted mescaline from peyote in 1896, the
first known hallucinogenic compound isolated by humankind.
Consuming mescaline alters the
sense of consciousness. This substance is toxic in
doses higher than 0.5 grams and produces symptoms
such as severe nausea, vomiting, rapid heart rate,
anxiety and hypertension. Some people develop psychosis
after consuming mescaline.
Tradition has it that peyote
possesses medicinal
properties, and it is used to treat influenza,
arthritis, diabetes, intestinal problems, the effects
of snake bites, scorpion stings and other types of
National Commission for the Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity
of the Peyote
Mercurio Magazine
Guide to the Cactus World
and Hallucinogenic Cacti of the New World
Uses of the Peyote
Desertification and drought leave
in their wake severe economic, environmental and socio-political
troubles around the world. Every year, six million
hectares of productive land disappear and millions
of dollars in income are lost due to land degradation
and declining agricultural yields.
The United Nations Environment
Program (UNEP) says
that after a great deal of study and debate experts
defined desertification as a phenomenon of land degradation
in arid, semi-arid and sub-humid dry areas arising
from the negative effects of human activities.
Although this serious problem
dates back centuries, it took on global importance
when in the early 1970s hundreds of thousands of people
died as a result of the severe drought that hit sub-Saharan
Africa. The International Conference to Combat Desertification
was held in Nairobi, Kenya, in 1977.
The United
Nations Convention to Combat Desertification entered
into force in 1996 after more than 50 countries ratified
it. The Convention's objectives are to fight desertification
and to curb the effects of drought through effective
measures at all levels.
In 1994 the UN General Assembly
designated Jun. 17 as World
Day to Combat Desertification and Drought. The
date marks the anniversary of the Convention.
According to the UN Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO),
arid lands cover nearly 30 percent of the planet's
land surface and are inhabited by around 900 million
The FAO cites various factors
that contribute to desertification: climate fluctuations,
poor use of land, inappropriate farming methods, increased
demographic density, economic pressures and changes
in land ownership structures.
The impacts of desertification
are felt on all continents. In Latin America and the
Caribbean, which cover 20.18 million square km, more
than 25 percent of the territory is arid land. Of
that total, 70 percent shows signs of advanced stages
of desertification.
Nations Environment Program
UN Convention
to Combat Desertification
Day to Combat Desertification and Drought
and Agriculture Organization - on desertification
Development Bank - Chronicle of a Drought Foretold
- Afghanistan's Wetlands and Birdlife Bear Brunt of
War and Drought
Bank - key desertification issues
Development Communications Network - desertification
Nations Environment Program
UN Convention
to Combat Desertification
Day to Combat Desertification and Drought
and Agriculture Organization - on desertification
Development Bank - Chronicle of a Drought Foretold
- Afghanistan's Wetlands and Birdlife Bear Brunt of
War and Drought
Bank - key desertification issues
Development Communications Network - desertification
Iguanas have a look that seems
to hark back to a life in the very distant past of
this planet. These reptiles are found primarily in
the Americas, and in modern times have become a sort
of cult object, and in some cases the source of concern
for the very survival of certain species within the
extensive family.
Iguanids constitute a family
that covers 650 to 700 species, says the Familia
iguanidae website, which also notes that nearly
all of them inhabit the "new world" of the
Americas, save for the exceptions in Madagascar and
Fiji. Iguana species vary greatly, giving the lie
to the large reptile stereotype.
From the point of view of scientific
classification, iguanas
are of "complicated design" and the various
species range from a mere 7.5 cm to a full 2.0 meters
long. They can be insect-eaters, carnivores, herbivores
or omnivores.
Most iguanas reproduce by laying
eggs, but there are some exceptions, which give live
birth, such as the Phrynosoma douglassi, says another
The most popular face of these
reptiles belongs to the green
iguana, which is the preferred species among enthusiasts
who raise these reptiles. Their dinosaur looks but
docile character have conquered the hearts of many
But beyond interest in iguanas
as unique reptiles or as pets, there are many who
are involved in fighting for their protection. These
animals can be victims of habitat destruction as well
as hunting, as there are people who deal in the unregulated
trade of iguana meat and eggs.
On the Internet, the cases of
the Mona
Island iguana and the Utila
iguana are highlighted in campaigns underway to
protect them from extinction.
look at the Iguanids
Iguana: biology
Island Iguana
Project Utila Iguana
Iguana links
The areas of the world categorized
as wetlands have one element in common: water. These
are highly productive ecosystems, essential for preserving
biodiversity. So it is no surprise that there are
numerous campaigns to defend wetlands from degradation
and protect them from disappearing.
The Ramsar
Convention on Wetlands, an international treaty
signed in Iran in 1971, defines these ecosystems as
areas where water is present all or part of the time,
and maintains a depth of less than six meters.
The Convention has 136 signatories,
which in their national territories hold a total of
1,284 wetlands covering 108 million hectares, reports
the Ramsar website.
The United Nations Environment
Program (UNEP) web page on wetlands highlights its
definition that these include swamps, marshes, rivers,
saltwater pools, estuaries and shallow coastal waters.
Wetlands cover an estimated six percent of the earth's
land surface.
Wetlands are one of the most
productive ecosystems in the world, sustaining 40
percent of fish species and many other species, including
aquatic birds. Together with rainforests, wetlands
are also among the most threatened ecosystems, due
to their transformation, development and contamination,
says the Ramsar
website on biodiversity.
Under the auspices of the Ramsar
Convention, since 1997 World
Wetlands Day is celebrated every Feb. 2 with the
aim of raising awareness about the importance of these
ecosystems. This year, the theme was: No Wetlands!
- No Water!
The dire situation of these natural
sites has triggered reactions around the world. The
organization Wetlands
International states that its mission is to "maintain
and restore wetlands, their resources and biodiversity
for future generations."
Various human activities require
the natural resources provided by wetlands and therefore
depend on maintaining their ecological conditions,
says the Argentine Secretariat of Environment and
Sustainable Development website.
The U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA)
further reminds us that wetlands are to be found everywhere,
"from the tundra to the tropics, on every continent
except Antarctica."
The fate of these ecosystems
is on the agenda of debate on sustainable development
and environmental protection. And in early 2003 experts
sounded the alarm about the devastation that would
be caused Iraq's
wetlands as a result of the U.S.-led war.
Convention on Wetlands
Wetlands Day 2003
Wetlands International
system for wetland types
in the Line of Fire: Wetlands in Iraq
What are wetlands?
Regional Office for Mesoamerica: wetlands, water and
coastal zones
World Environment Day
World Environment Day 2003 is dedicated to a crucial
element for the survival of civilization and nature
alike: water. The message for this awareness-raising
event is that we must do everything possible to conserve
this natural resource and to improve its distribution
among the world's people.
Celebration of World Environment
Day every June 5 are taking place in cities and other
locations around the world with events and activities
that share the aim of urging people to get involved
in protecting nature and work towards sustainable
Each year, the United Nations
Environment Program (UNEP) chooses a country to serve
as the global host of the event. This year, the honor
goes to Beirut, Lebanon -- the
first time in an Arab country.
UNEP's main web-page on World
Environment Day 2003, dedicated to water, states
that the objective is for all of us to contribute
to conserving this most valuable source of life on
our planet. Two billion people around the world lack
regular access to safe drinking water, says the website.
The choice of this theme for
World Environment Day coincides with the UN's designation
of 2003 as International
Year of Freshwater. The call
to action for sustainable use of this resource
states that this is "a year of opportunity."
World Environment Day began with
a United Nations decision in 1972, the same year that
Sweden hosted the UN
Conference on the Human Environment, the first
global meeting dedicated exclusively to the degradation
of Earth's natural resources and habitats.
Among the many governments taking
special action for this year's event is Argentina,
whose Secretariat of Environment and Sustainable Development
issued a communiqué: "We must look at
the state of our environment. We must carefully consider
the actions that each one of us must take in directing
our shared duty of preserving life on Earth with resolution
and confidence."
Environmental organizations,
like the World Conservation Union (IUCN),
are also taking advantage of World Environment Day
to call citizens to action, particularly to protect
water resources, which are key to ensuring a sustainable
World Environment Day
Arab country hosts World Environment Day
WED program of events
International Year of Freshwater
Official website
for Year of Freshwater
UN.org - Special
commemoration of World Environment Day
on UN Conference on the Human Environment (1972)
U.S. Environmental Policy
The environmental policy of the
United States is relevant to the entire world, both
because of the ecological impact of that country's
huge economy and high level of consumption, and its
role as the world superpower.
But what is the U.S. environmental
position? And what is unique to the George W. Bush
administration? What kind of legislation is in place
or will prevail in that country? A good place to begin
to answer these questions is the Internet.
The Bush government has already
been at the forefront of several environmental controversies.
Perhaps the most contentious was Bush's refusal to
sign the Kyoto Protocol, an international treaty that
establishes actions and goals for reducing the global
process of climate change.
Bush argues that "our air
is cleaner, our water purer and our lands and natural
resources better protected" than 30 years ago,
according to the presidential commentary posted on
the U.S. government's website for Earth
Day, celebrated Apr. 22.
The principal U.S. body for this
sector is the Environmental
Protection Agency, which has some 18,000 employees
to carry out its mission: "to protect human health
and to safeguard the natural environment -- air, water,
and land -- upon which life depends."
Details on the Bush administration's
environmental policy can be found on the official
White House Internet site, with a special section
dedicated to the president's
view on the environment, as well as related decisions,
speeches and other materials.
The White
House Council on Environmental Quality is active
in defining strategies and policies in that area.
On the legislative side, in the
U.S. Congress, there is plenty of specialized information
provided by the House of Representatives Energy
and Commerce Committee, and the Senate's Committees
on Environment and
Public Works and Energy
and Natural Resources. It is here that lawmakers
study and debate draft legislation.
And if even more information
is sought, there are Internet
links on environmental policies, as well as news
sources like the Environmental
News Service (ENS), and basic documents like the
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
House - President's Commitment to the Environment
U.S. Government
on Earth Day
White House
Council on Environmental Quality
Environmental Policy Act of 1969
House of
Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee
Senate Committee
on Environment and Public Works
Senate Committee
on Energy and Natural Resources
links on U.S. environmental policies
on Environment
Environmental Legislation and Law
The need to protect the environment
produced the emergence worldwide of an environmental
legal framework in the form of laws,
agreements, regulations, decrees and treaties,
of national or international scope, requiring a high
level of expertise among environmental lawyers.
A large portion of this legislation
was produced during the past 30 years, the response
to growing concern about the fate of planet Earth.
And although the effectiveness of some of the legal
tools is questionable, their mere existence provides
a basis, a motive, for the thousands of pro-environment
campaigns that in a not-so-distant past lacked even
that simple reinforcement.
In today's world there are numerous
international agreements, laws and other legal documents
related to the use and conservation of natural resources
and to the environment in general, and this is reflected
in the Internet, where resources
abound, generally aimed at experts in environmental
There are services like ECOLEX,
an international database run with the backing of
the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and
the World Conservation Union (IUCN), which offers
information about environmental legislation the world
Part of the resources in the
database are provided by FAOLEX,
of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO),
described as "a comprehensive and up-to-date
computerized legislative database, the world's largest
electronic collection of national laws and regulations,
as well as treaties, on food, agriculture and renewable
natural resources."
As occurs in other legal spheres,
the application of environmental law is not easy.
That is why there also exist support mechanisms, like
the UNEP's Environmental
Law Program for Latin America and the Caribbean,
which provides technical assistance and training.
In the case of the Center for
International Environmental Law (CIEL),
in addition to facilitating searches of legislation
from around the world, it aims "to solve environmental
problems and promote sustainable societies through
the use of law."
Environmental Law Program
Environmental Law in Latin America and the Caribbean
Environmental Treaties and Resource Indicators
Gateway to environmental law
CIEL: Center for International
Environmental Law
Hieros Gamos:
links on international environmental law
One hears the word "hydrogen"
today and thinks of the future. Research being conducted
around the world explores the possibility of using
this simple element to generate energy. Hydrogen is
abundant and its utilization as an energy source,
many say, would not be harmful to the environment
like non-renewable fuels are.
Hydrogen is a chemical
element with one atom. At room temperature it
is an inflammable, colorless, odorless gas. It is
also the most plentiful chemical element in the universe,
and forms part of a multitude of substances, including
Its abundance, which stands in
contrast to the finite amounts of fossil fuels available
in the world, and its environmental qualities are
generating a great
deal of excitement about hydrogen's potential,
which in turn creates an enormous amount of information
available on the Internet, ranging from academic conferences
to the pioneering companies in the sector.
Although hydrogen is utilized
as a fuel for space travel, new studies are seeking
ways to extend its use to other areas. Because hydrogen
can be obtained from a broad range of sources, it
could ultimately reduce the economic, political and
environmental costs of energy-producing systems.
There are websites extolling
hydrogen energy's environmental benefits, with claims
that it does not produce pollution or consume natural
resources. There are no byproducts or toxins associated
with hydrogen energy production, say some specialized
Internet sites.
Its use in carrying out modern-day
activities as common as driving
a car takes place through a special fuel cell,
similar to a battery, though it does not "lose
its charge", but continues functioning through
a cold combustion process based on… you guessed
it, hydrogen.
"A fuel cell consists of
two electrodes sandwiched around an electrolyte. Oxygen
passes over one electrode and hydrogen over the other,
generating electricity, water and heat," says
one of the principal sources of information on this
topic, Fuelcells.org.
A wide array of actors are participating
in the search for ways to make hydrogen use economically
viable, including oil companies and automobile
manufacturers. One of the biggest challenges is to
find a way to separate this element from other substances
at a cost that would allow its use
on a major scale. It must also be proved that
massive use of hydrogen fuel is safe for the environment
and human health.
In order to bring to fruition
the promise of this "petroleum of the future"
will require vast investments, which in the United
States alone should reach 100 billion dollars, according
to a report by the Worldwatch
never-ending fuel source
Hydrogen fueled cars
How Hydrogen Can Save America
Institute: Hydrogen
Jeremy Rifkin on the hydrogen economy
the hydrogen economy works
A Hydrogen Economy Is a Bad Idea
U.S. National
Hydrogen Association
is hydrogen?
Birds in Danger
Birds are present around the
globe, represented by some 9,700 known species, and
are an important part of the Earth's biodiversity.
The bad news is that approximately 12 percent are
in danger of extinction.
An organization dedicated to
promoting the protection of birds, BirdLife
International, reports that 1,186 species are
categorized as "endangered". Further details
about various birds from different regions can be
found through the BirdLife website's search
Another website on threatened
birds warns that 182
species are in critical danger, meaning they have
just 50 percent chance of surviving the next decade.
And reminds us that extinction is forever.
Deforestation, expansion of farmland,
hunting, wetlands deterioration, illegal trade in
wildlife and the introduction of new predators can
all pose threats to the survival of bird species.
The Red
List published by the World Conservation Union
(IUCN), seen as the leading source of information
on species threatened by extinction, includes in its
Internet version a list of more than 2,000
entries under "birds".
The plight of our feathered
friends is well documented in many sources available
on the Internet,
with websites specific to birds found in specific
countries, or representing conservation societies,
like the well-known Audubon.
species search
Red List of Threatened Species - background
List: threatened bird species
Royal Society
for the Protection of Birds
Birds of the World
Yourself: The Art of Flying
In Mesopotamia, which means "land
between rivers", the earliest human civilizations
flourished. Thousands of years later, that territory
is known as Iraq, a place where the echoes of war
threaten the last vestiges of a millenniums-old history.
The ancient story of Mesopotamia
became a current topic of interest through the dissemination
of news, including televised images of the destruction
and pillaging of invaluable archeological sites and
historic collections, including those of the Iraqi
National Museum in Baghdad.
Since the beginning of the conflict
Mar 20, UNESCO
(United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization) urged special protection for the historic
wealth found in Iraq, but all signs are that the history
of humanity was not a priority in this modern-day
UNESCO underscores the importance
of the artifacts of Mesopotamia, as they represent
the cradle of civilizations that marked the transition
from pre-historic times in the history of humanity.
Mesopotamia's geography was a
determining factor in the emergence of the first cultures
in that area 9,000 years b.c. The Tigris and Euphrates
Rivers, which encircle the territory, provided optimum
conditions for a development capable of changing the
course of humanity's path through time: agriculture.
The fertile plains of Mesopotamia
began to transform the previously wandering, nomadic
groups of humans into the first sedentary and "civilized"
society, says one specialized website.
Beginning some 3,500 years b.c.,
the Sumerians, Acadians, Assyrians and Babylonians
began to make
their mark on the region. We know it was there
that writing, mathematics, the wheel, architecture,
astronomy, money, irrigation and laws were developed.
In different periods, city-states flourished, and
of course, for thousands of years it has been the
scenario for war.
The names of cities like Ur or
Nippur, of legendary heroes like Gilgamesh, of the
of Hammurabi, of the amazing buildings known as
ziggurats, come from ancient Mesopotamia. And mythic
events, like the flood and the loss of languages in
the Tower of Babel were set in that ancient land.
For the curious, there
is much to be discovered about ancient Mesopotamia
on the Internet. A good starting point is a set of
on the topic, allowing us to use cyberspace
as a bridge to the past…
resources about Antiquity: Mesopotamia
a chronology
Internet links to history pages
Code of Hammurabi
Mesopotamia: basic facts
SARS - Atypical Pneumonia
The outbreak of atypical pneumonia,
with the first cases appearing in Asia, in just a
few weeks has become headline news around the world,
largely because the illness remains a mystery, because
it is potentially deadly, is highly contagious, and
seems to like air travel.
This new form of pneumonia is
technically known as severe acute respiratory syndrome,
or SARS, terminology that is utilized by international
health bodies like the Pan-American
Health Organization (PAHO) and the World
Health Organization (WHO), the latter likely the
Internet's leading source of information on the subject.
The WHO is coordinating efforts
to provide epidemiological, clinic and logistical
support for the countries where the disease is most
prevalent. A mission from this United Nations agency
traveled to China in early April to try to find the
origins of this atypical pneumonia, which in a matter
of weeks has claimed more than 100 lives around the
world, though mostly in Asia.
News of the outbreak of this
illness immediately had an impact on the Internet.
Web sites with information on SARS have proliferated,
as evidenced by a specialized
directory of links set up in Canada, the country
outside of Asia that has reported most cases.
The U.S. Centers
for Disease Control web site states that patients
with SARS can transmit the disease to others through
casual contact. It is known how long before or after
the symptoms appear that a SARS patient is contagious.
A special Internet site of the
of Hong Kong, one of the areas hardest hit by
the disease, calls upon citizens to take precautionary
measures to avoid contracting the illness, such as
wearing a mask that covers the nose and mouth.
The continued spread of the disease
and rising death toll have filled the news, leading
the New
York Times to set up a special section on SARS,
while the Yahoo!
directory is replete with information and Google
gives web surfers some 50,000 results to choose from
to satisfy curiosity about the illness.
on SARS
information resources on the Internet
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
Warning on Pneumonia
U.S. Centers
for Disease Control: SARS precautions
Directory - SARS
New York Times: special on SARS (free registration
News: SARS
Kong: atypical pneumonia
Humanitarian Emergency
The war in Iraq has caused a
humanitarian emergency affecting 27 million people.
The conflict has obvious repercussions for a civilian
population that is already suffering the lack of health
care, food, water and housing, even if they are not
directly threatened by bombs and bullets.
The humanitarian crisis in Iraq
has triggered an international mobilization to gather
support and resources for operations aimed at alleviating
the suffering. The United
Nations has announced that efforts to benefit
civilian Iraqis will require at least 2.2 billion
Of that sum, 1.3 billion dollars
would be earmarked for a gigantic operation to distribute
essential items under the auspices of the World Food
Program (WFP).
On its web page about the war
in Iraq, WFP
warns that this could become the largest humanitarian
operation in history.
The alarm created by the scope
of the humanitarian emergency is evident on the Internet,
where specialized agencies of the UN, international
organizations and a veritable avalanche of news items
cover the issue, providing details of its emerging
characteristics and potential magnitude.
The web site of the Center for
Humanitarian Information on Iraq provides some of
this data, while the Yahoo!
directory allows web surfers access to a special
section on links to humanitarian organizations.
The Office of the UN
High Commissioner on Refugees has special operations
under way in neighboring countries, awaiting up to
600,000 people who could be displaced from Iraq by
the war.
Children's Fund) has also issued a global
alert: The children of Iraq have been trapped by war
for the third time in 20 years. Nearly half the population
of that country is under age 20. At least 166 million
dollars are needed to provide them the assistance
they need.
The World
Health Organization (WHO) also has a special section
of its web site dedicated to Iraq. There it announces
that resources totaling 300 million dollars will be
needed to confront the health challenges created by
The International Red Cross is
present on the Internet, underscoring the need to
respect international treaties in regards to treating
prisoners of war. Human
Rights Watch, meanwhile, expresses concern about
the human rights violations occurring in the context
of the U.S.-led war against Iraq.
Food Program: Crisis in Iraq
Emergency in Iraq
the situation in Iraq
Rights Watch: Iraq
Iraq – Humanitarian Relief
The Maya
The Mayan civilization for more
than 3,000 years shone throughout Mesoamerica, which
continues to be inhabited by its descendants. The
imprints, achievements and mysteries these ancient
peoples left can also be explored via cyberspace.
A great number of web sites in
various languages delve into this civilization and
its incredible culture. Some web sites focus on archeological
projects and invite interested browsers to join the
excavations -- if only virtually.
From this wondrous landscape
emerged a highly developed civilization, one that
flourished while Europe remained submerged in relative
darkness, comments the Mundo Maya portal.
Another site in Spanish, "a
light in the Mesoamerican jungles", says that
the "basis of Mayan philosophy was built upon
harmony: creativity and receptivity, earth and sky,
life and death, day and night, masculine and feminine,
good and evil."
The architectural
development of the Maya allowed them to erect
enormous structures as part of their cities
in the middle of the jungle. The structures have endured
centuries -- even millennia -- and today remain a
source of constant awe.
Archeologists have also discovered
the great mathematical abilities of the Maya, their
very precise calendar,
details about their political organization into city-states,
and about their daily lives, including the games they
played. Some of these discoveries are explained on
the web site "Rabbit
in the Moon".
But we still do not know everything
about the Maya because a large portion of their legacy
was destroyed after the arrival of Europeans in the
"new world". Their history
becomes all the more interesting with the resulting
mysteries. How did the peoples who lived in the Mesoamerican
region achieve such a high level of development? What
caused the decline of this civilization?
The Mayan influence extended
over what are today southeast Mexico, the territories
of Guatemala and Belize, and western Honduras and
El Salvador. There are some 4.5 million people of
Mayan descent in the region, speaking languages that
are a legacy of that distant past.
Rabbit in the Moon
The Maya Calendar
of the Maya
- Maya culture
Anti-personnel landmines are
deadly devices that, hidden underground, lie in wait
of victims. Each year, thousands of innocent people
are maimed or killed by these "conventional weapons",
lethal objects whose threat is not diminished at the
end of a war. Although there is a major international
effort to eliminate landmines, the menace persists.
A great deal of information on
landmines and their impacts can be found on the Internet.
One web site, titled "The
Silent Shout", of the United Nations Children's
Fund (UNICEF), explains -- by the numbers -- the scope
of the problem: in 68 countries there are 115 million
landmines in the ground. Once these devices are in
place, they can remain active for decades.
There are as many as 100 million landmines in stock
and an average 2.5 million are "planted"
each year. The creation of a minefield renders land
useless and complicates efforts to establish peace
processes. But worst of all, landmines cause an estimated
2,000 injuries or deaths each month. And 30 to 40
percent of victims are children. UNICEF calculates
that, worldwide, there is one anti-personnel mine
for every dozen children.
Landmines can be manufactured
for a mere three dollars each, says the UNICEF web
site. But to eliminate these devices requires an outlay
of about 1,000 dollars apiece.
A landmine can be described as
a hollow object with an explosive charge inside and
a detonator that is activated under the pressure of
a minimum weight.
The landmine problem is characterized
by its magnitude, which has led to the signing of
the Convention
on the matter, which according to the information
available on its related web site had 146 signatory
nations and 131 ratifications
as of January 2002.
The Convention commits the states
party to the treaty to not use anti-personnel mines
and to eliminate or to verify the elimination of all
such existing weapons.
International Committee of the Red Cross stresses
that the countries which have adopted the Convention
have two key dates to remember: by the end of 2003
most will have to destroy all of their antipersonnel
mine reserves, and by the end of 2009 they must have
cleared all minefields within their territories.
The main Internet clearinghouse
for information on the humanitarian crisis caused
by the indiscriminate use of landmines is the International
Campaign to Ban Landmines.
Campaign to Ban Landmines
Ban Treaty text
Committee of the Red Cross - landmines
Council of Churches: landmines campaign
The silent shout
© 2003 Tierramérica. All Rights Reserved
A special reserve of the Monarch Butterfly
Biosphere, in Mexico. / Photo credit: Semarnat
Tobacco's death toll will skyrocket if consumption
patterns hold. /Photo credit: Agencia Brasil
The oldest known planet in our galaxy
A wetland in the United States. Source: U.S. NOAA
Photo source: White House/ Tina Hager
There are laws, rules, agreements, treaties and
decrees to protect the environment. Credit: M. Griffin / FAO
Photo source: Energy.gov
Photo source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Hong Kong government website announcement about
Children in northern Iraq. Source: UN Oil for Food
Mayan city of Calakmul. Photo source: UNESCO Heritage
of Humanity
The cover of "The Silent Shout". Source:


text:
"Texas Tech Head Men's Basketball Coach Billy Gillispie has submitted his letter of resignation to Director of Athletics Kirby Hocutt, citing health concerns as his reason for leaving the men's basketball program. Hocutt has accepted the resignation.
Billy has decided to focus on his health and we wish him a full recovery," Hocutt said. "We are proud of the young men that he has brought to this campus. Billy's decision allows him to concentrate on his well-being and allows us to turn our attention to preparations for the upcoming season."
Gillispie, who was named head coach on March 20, 2011, will be paid for the remainder of this contract year that runs until April 30, 2013.
Chris Walker, associate head coach, will continue to handle day-to-day operations of the men's basketball program until an interim head coach for the 2012-13 season has been identified."
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I am SUPER proud of my latest creation! My boyfriend and I have been taking ballroom dancing lessons for a few weeks (we are THE WORST, but we have fun), so I finally have a reason to wear some of clothing I make. I was looking for some inspiration pattern-wise when I saw this one (it's V8908), and I fell in love. The best part is that it turned out exactly how I imagined!
I was really brave with this one. I've previously had bad experiences working with knit, but I just took my time, and that made all the difference. The Chantilly lace and knit are also separate fabrics that I basted together, so that added a lot of time and little bit of worry to the project. It ended up turning out just fine, though. The last step is to French tack the lining, but I actually love the look of the satin peeking out. What do you guys think? Does it look like it's meant to be that way, or should I tack it?
A friend of mine is dancing the Cha Cha in a showcase dance, and she wants me to make her one in red (I think I'll recommend black lace). I'm a little nervous, because I've never had to extrapolate a pattern before. But I think I know where to start. Wish me luck!


text:
Join the 'Urex' group to help and get support from people like you.
Urex Support Group
Our support group for Urex has 3 questions and 5 members. Updated 7 Mar 2012.
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text:
Featuring a modern and unique design, this Frater glass ball 10 light pendant will nicely light up your room in every direction.
*Free delivery over £50 refers to home delivery orders placed on diy.com only. Charges refer to the value of goods being delivered and excludes delivery from stores or services. Excludes bulk delivery.
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text: Close Underdogs: Beyond Borders -- Prepa Tec 0 0 0 More 0 0 0 View Gallery Next Previous Next 1|10 2|10 3|10 4|10 5|10 6|10 7|10 8|10 9|10 10|10 Next up More Sports Clemson's Andre Ellington dives over Boston College's Steele Divitto to score a touchdown in the second half during Clemson's win on the road. 19 Leading Off: Pictures of the Week October 2, 2012 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 More Recommended Galleries High School Tottenville defensive tackle Paul Sciascia (76) is introduced to the crowd during pregame ceremonies of the PSAL 2013 Championship Game played between Abraham Lincoln High of Brooklyn and Tottenville High at Yankee Stadium on Dec. 10. The Abraham Lincoln Railsplitters won 28-27. 10 N.Y. Public Schools Football Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 More High School In recognition of this week's McDonald's All-America Games, here's a look back at some former McDonald's All-Americas who made an impact in the NBA. 40 History Of McDonald's All-Americas 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 More High School SI.com's selection from the user-generated Underdogs submissions is Adams City High School in Commerce City, Colorado. A suburb of just under 46,000, Commerce City, Colorado is home to the largest oil refinery in Colorado and the home stadium for the MLS's Colorado Rapids. But away from the booming industry and glamour of professional sports is the community of Adams City, where several immigrant families live under the poverty line and struggle to make ends meet. With a significant Latin American population, soccer is the dream for most, and as a result the football team has not won a game in four years. The losses continue to pile up, but the community still mobilizes around the team despite its struggles. 10 Underdogs: Adams City High School 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 More


text:
Pankow is a lively, bohemian district on the northernmost edge of Berlin. With wide airy streets lined with chic cafes and quaint restaurants, the streets of Pankow could easily be found in the finer parts of Paris. It is a real favourite with those that know Berlin well, and is an especially good district in which to rent a Berlin apartment for anyone wishing to explore the city at a leisurely pace.
Many visitors to Pankow holiday here so as to not do much at all! Pankow is the "trendy" sector of the city, where long cups of coffee and leisurely lunches are the order of the day. There are almost endless terrace cafes and little restaurants to explore. Shopping in the many quality little boutique shops is also a very popular activity, and in the evenings, the bars spill happy people into the warm, clean streets.
If you would like to explore the main attractions of Berlin, the U-Bahn takes you directly into the city centre in around 10 minutes. The world-famous sites and attractions of Berlin-Mitte, including Museum Island, the Brandenburg Gate and Alexanderplatz are very easily explored during a Pankow holiday.
Berlin is a popular destination year-round. The summer months are the most popular time to take a self catering Berlin apartment, especially from June until August. A fantastic time to visit is May or September, as the good weather remains, yet most of the tourist crowds have gone, leaving you to roam the streets without the tourists!
Berlin's Tagel Airport (TXL) is the closest to a self catering Pankow apartment or townhouse. There are regular flights arriving from London Heathrow. If London Heathrow (LHR) is not a convenient departure point from the UK, Berlin's Schonefeld Airport, on the other side of the city, receives a huge range of flights from eight British airports located across the country.


text:
The Kansas Supreme Court upholds consecutive sentences for a Labette County man convicted of killing a toddler.
Mark Anthony Baker pleaded guilty in July of 2011 to felony murder, child abuse, obstruction of officials duty and marijuana possession. He was convicted in the death of a 19 month old parsons boy. Baker requested concurrent sentences but the district court gave him 4 consecutive sentences including life without the possibility of parole for 20 years.


text:
Children's Vaccines Health Center
Report: Vaccines Generally Safe, Cause Few Health Problems
Aug. 25, 2011 -- Nearly two decades of research on vaccine safety has found that serious side effects are rare and that vaccines do not cause autism, diabetes, asthma, or Bell's palsy.
Although fears about vaccine safety are common, the new study from the nonprofit Institute of Medicine finds that vaccines cause few health problems.
"The findings should be reassuring to parents that few health problems are clearly connected to immunizations, and these effects occur relatively rarely," says Ellen Wright Clayton, MD, JD, director of the Center for Biomedical Ethics and Society at Vanderbilt University. "And repeated study has made clear that some health problems are not caused by vaccines."
"MMR [measles, mumps, rubella] does not cause autism, MMR does not cause type 1 diabetes," she says. "DTaP [diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis] does not cause type 1 diabetes.
"The flu vaccine does not aggravate asthma, and the flu vaccine doesn't cause Bell's palsy," she says. Bell's palsy is a disorder of a nerve controlling facial muscles on one side of the face.
The Institute of Medicine panel looked at more than 1,000 research articles for the study. It was done at the request of the federal Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP). The findings will provide a scientific basis when the VICP, administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, reviews legal claims about vaccine injuries and decides whether to compensate people who file those claims.
Vaccine Side Effects: Report Details
The committee looked at eight vaccines given to children or adults:
- Varicella (for chickenpox)
- Influenza
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- Human papillomavirus (HPV)
- Diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis
- Meningococcal
The committee reviewed the medical literature to see if there was any evidence that the vaccines were associated with 14 different health outcomes. These outcomes include seizures, inflammation of the brain, fainting, and other problems.
For each health outcome, the experts looked at scientific studies and other evidence. They decided how strong the evidence was and whether it pointed to a cause-effect relationship.
For instance, the experts considered 22 studies that looked at the risk of autism after MMR vaccine but found no evidence of a link between the two.
The panel did find some links between vaccines and serious side effects.
"Several vaccines do cause anaphylaxis," Clayton says. Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening reaction that can occur within seconds or minutes after exposure to the allergen.
"Among them," she says, "are MMR, varicella, influenza, hepatitis B, tetanus toxoid, and meningococcus."
When these vaccines are given, it's common practice to instruct the patient to wait in the office for a few minutes, Clayton tells WebMD. Typically, the anaphylaxis reaction occurs quickly, she says, and treatment can be given.
Clayton says another possible serious side effect of the MMR vaccine is a type of seizure called a febrile seizure, triggered by fevers. "That's been known for two decades. As a mother and a pediatrician, it's scary."
However, she says, there are almost never long-term consequences of febrile seizures.
Children with compromised immune systems, such as those receiving chemotherapy for cancer, can suffer a variety of side effects from vaccines, Clayton says.


text:
- Mikayla Kovacik '17
- Hometown: Jewett, OH
- Major: Religious Studies and Music
A liberal arts education is preparing me to be well rounded, and I believe that will be a great attribute when looking for a job.
- Dekota Toot '15
- Hometown: Alliance, Ohio
- Major: Philosophy and Psychology
- Additional Files and Downloads:
Religious Studies Major
The nature and place of religion in human experience - this is the foundation of our program in Mount Union University religious studies. In wrestling with religion's role in human life, you will examine the scriptural, historical, theological and ethical traditions of the world's religions and grow your understanding of the cultures of the world through knowledge of their spiritual beliefs. A flexible curriculum and the opportunity to pair classroom studies with hands-on experiences through work with churches, service organizations and trips abroad is what makes our religion major unique.
Religious studies graduates have found success working for churches in the United States and Abroad as well as organizations such as the Peace Corps.
Students of this program have also chosen to pursue graduate study at institutions including Talbot School of Theology and Columbia University.
The major in religious studies is administered by the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, which also offers a program in philosophy and a pre-professional program in pre-ministry.
You may also want to check out Africana studies, American studies, gender studies, international affairs and diplomacy, psychology and sociology.
Become a student at The University of Mount Union. Click here to apply online.


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SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) - The Spokane City Council has approved new ordinances to give police more authority to maintain order in the downtown area, at the emergency dispatch center and at health care facilities.
The measures approved Monday forbid interference with health care providers and making 911 calls about non-emergency matters. They also bar disruptive conduct on transit buses and riding a skateboard on downtown sidewalks.
Another measure decriminalizes the failure to remove graffiti and sets up a civil fine to encourage its removal.
(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)


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Light up your skin with this instant complexion enhancing moisturizer inspired by Dr. Brandt's in-office ruby laser procedure. Formulated with skin illuminators, optical diffusers and micronized ruby crystals to transform light into energy providing a smoother, more even look and a healthy glowing complexion.
(based on 10 reviews)
Every formulation in Dr. Brandt's line of top skin care products is a dedication to beautiful and younger looking skin. For ultimate anti-aging power, try Dr. Brandt's latest innovation, Do Not Age with dr. brandt™ or Xtend Your Youth for the most potent anti-oxidant protection. If it's luminous and glowing skin you are after, try out Glow by Dr. Brandt®. Manage pores and blemishes like no other with Pores No More® and Blemishes No More®. Light Years Away lets you whiten, lighten and brighten your skin with its powerful blend of marine extracts, anti-aging properties and potent botanicals. Get instant results with our house calls products that mimic in-office procedures - it's as good as taking Dr. Brandt home!


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Zagg, Inc.
Plastics Products Not Elsewhere Classified UT, United States
| Nasdaq: ZAGG
Similar to: Myers Industries, Inc.
Zagg, Inc. designs, manufactures and distributes mobile device accessories. It offers screen protection, keyboards for tablet computers and mobile devices, keyboard cases, earbuds, portable power, cables, cases, Bluetooth speakers, and mobile device cleaning accessories for mobile devices under the family of ZAGG and invisibleSHIELD brands. Its products are distributed worldwide under the following brands: invisibleSHIELD, ZAGGskins, ZAGGsparq, ZAGGbuds, ZAGG LEATHERskins and ZAGGmate. The company was founded by Robert G. Pedersen II on April 2, 2004 and is headquartered in Salt Lake City, UT.


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Recently in the New York Times Book Review, historian and journalism professor David Greenberg lamented a recurrent feature of the social criticism genre — the disappointing ending. That's when authors lay out a fantastically intricate explanation of what went wrong, only to fall short in suggesting a fix.
Maybe Greenberg hadn't come across Fault Lines: How Hidden Fractures Still Threaten the World Economy. Raghuram G. Rajan, a professor at the University of Chicago and former chief economist at the International Monetary Fund, proves the exception to Greenberg's rule of unsatisfactory endings. Where others have delved into the personalities and perverse systems that led to the financial crisis and then summed up with a half-baked list of policy ideas, Rajan puts a premium on policy. In fact, nearly half of Fault Lines is dedicated to policy choices that Rajan believes are not only realistically achievable but likely to be quite effective. He makes a good case.
Rajan writes with the authority of his credentials: He is both a top-flight economist and one of the few skeptics who raised frequent and grave concerns about the world's overleveraged financial system in the years building up to the crisis. His recollection of the 2005 Jackson Hole Conference, where he delivered a stern warning about mounting financial risks to an audience of disbelievers, is both amusing and disturbing: "I exaggerate only a bit when I say I felt like an early Christian who had wandered into a convention of half-starved lions."
For the most part, however, Fault Lines is not a behind-the-curtain look at the personalities behind the financial crisis. Rajan sees the financial crisis through an economist's prism: He follows the incentives. There are no villains, per se; just systems, and institutions, and us. "Somewhat frighteningly," he writes, "each one of us did what was sensible given the incentives we faced."
So the first half of Fault Lines proceeds with a sequence of head-slappers. Rajan notes that on-the-job happiness tends to be associated with the ability of people to see tangible results from their work. For a house builder, the satisfaction comes from the house. But what of the banker? His satisfaction comes chiefly from making money, and lots of it.
When subprime lending looked like a stream of unending profits, everybody jumped in. Meanwhile, widening income inequality brought pressure to boost middle-class consumption with easy access to credit. How else would Americans be able to afford their proverbial flat-screen TVs and SUVs? That the Federal Reserve kept interest rates low for so long leading up to the crisis was no coincidence, by Rajan's way of thinking. After all, it was just trying to fulfill its dual mandate of achieving price stability and maximum employment.
It should be noted that the Federal Reserve comes under quite an attack in Fault Lines, at one point likened to a gigantic hedge fund. In Rajan's story, the Federal Reserve joined with the private sector to drive subprime lending toward "its disastrous conclusion."
Scores of other financial crisis analysts have more or less stopped their stories right there. Rajan takes the trouble not only to explain what's wrong with the system, but to describe some fundamental ways to change it for the better. Chief among these are ways to ensure that market players fully appreciate the tail risks they are taking — that is, risks whose consequences don't manifest themselves immediately and aren't apparent to others in the short term. Tail risks may be quite unlikely, but if they come true can be devastating. Investors know that if everybody fails, nobody fails because the government will bail everybody out. As Rajan puts it, "failing in a herd rarely has adverse consequences."
What gives Rajan's recommendations force is their place in a coherent, overarching strategy. "Clawbacks" would force bankers to give up some of their earlier earnings — or have a lot of income deferred — until the tail risks had faded. Continuous sharing of financial information with supervisors would fit better with today's fast-moving financial markets. Beefed-up capital cushions would keep institutions safer. The value of this book lies in its whole.
Between these policy recommendations and detailed observations about the problems in our global economy, Rajan takes time to outline the biggest problems — the fault lines. These are indeed wide and dangerous. The fault lines include the housing crisis, widening income inequality, trade imbalances, and the way these imbalances are financed across national borders. Any story that identifies such gaping chasms must of course offer remedies, and that's where Fault Lines stands out.
Rajan is careful not to demonize the financial sector. After all, finance provides substantial benefits — think credit cards and money market accounts. Some innovations may not provide much value. The only safe financial system doesn't take risks, and then it ceases to be a financial system at all. The risks go away, but so do the benefits.
This is a wholly expected premise from a Chicago School economist, the kind that will have progressives complaining that Rajan's book is just more of the same. But how to account for Rajan's call for universal healthcare? Or early childhood education? It's clear that Rajan is interested in being intellectually consistent. If you identify income inequality as a fault line, you can't very well ignore it. An honest approach has to take into account the need for both advancing opportunities so that incomes are less widely dispersed, and then acknowledging that the financial system requires us to build a stronger safety net for those who find themselves victims.
Fault Lines was published almost a year ago. While it received its share of accolades, I don't recall much of a buzz around it at the time, though it did win a number of awards. Its critique and policy suggestions remain powerful today.
So to Rajan's list of recommendations toward a better world, I add another: Read Fault Lines. And make sure to stick around for the ending.


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Riggs Tradesman Jeans - 32 in. Waist - Inseam 34 in. - QTY:1 - 8MRN3
Riggs Workwear® is designed with tradesmen in mind. Even the jeans come with an exclusive technology known as Durashield™. Rather than fade or become worn through wear and washings like most jeans, Durashield™ denim fibers are allowed to move during wear and washings to reduce abrasion and to protect that new denim color. The result is a pair of jeans that will feel and look good long after others would have developed holes or faded.
In addition to Durashield, these Tradesmen pants have other benefits you'd expect from Riggs® including smart features such as reinforced knees, 13" deep front pockets, a smart (and patented) leather tape measure reinforcement on the right front pocket, Cordura®-lined back pockets, triple needle stitching, an oversized watch pocket, and a right side hammer loop. Available only in 14.5 oz. Antique Indigo denim and made in Mexico. See size chart for waist/inseam combinations.


text: Description Facilities Map Jopfan Country Hotel is a modern hotel located less than a kilometre away from Kabale town centre on Makanga Hill, bordering the golf course. The hotel boasts the most darling, cool and quiet location with an exclusive view of the beauty of Kabale and its surrounding terraced hillsides. On offer are a variety of comfortable bed and breakfast room categories ranging from singles and twins to doubles and deluxe units; all self-contained with satellite televisions at affordable rates. The rooms are suitable for leisure, families and business travellers. They give you a wide view of Kabale's nature and are a stone's throw away from town where you can spice up your stay. Our on-site restaurant serves English breakfasts and a variety of mouth-watering delicacies. Our cuisine is both local and Continental with a variety of beverages to quench your thirst. Jopfan is also an ideal venue for small gatherings, evening events, graduation parties, birthdays and family parties. All our services are professionally delivered by friendly staff. By staying at Jopfan, we do not do you a favour to serve you, but rather you will have done us a great favour by giving us the opportunity. Type: HotelSleeps: 33 Check-in: 02:00 PM Check-out: 10:00 AM Reviews: 0 Languages SpokenEnglish Toggle Street View * We rely on Google's mapping service, and the location information supplied to us to show street view images. Please use street view as a guide only as we cannot guarantee its accuracy.


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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The University of Alabama has been selected to play in the BCS National Championship Game scheduled to be played on Monday, January 7, 2013. All BCS ticket requests taken by 5 p.m. CST on Monday, December 3, will be evaluated according to established priorities (TIDE PRIDE membership, Faculty/Staff, and former lettermen) relative to the total allotment received by the University.
The Athletics Ticket Office will send notification via email no later than Wednesday, December 5, confirming if requests can or cannot be filled. The information below outlines the established allocation priorities for TIDE PRIDE, Lettermen and Faculty/Staff.
Each category below will be fulfilled upon the following:
TIDE PRIDE Requests will be fulfilled and allocated based on Tide Totals priority points. The ability to request tickets does NOT guarantee that the person making the request will receive tickets.
FORMER LETTERMEN If requests received exceed the lettermen allotment, requests will be filled based on the individual's last year lettered.
UA FACULTY/STAFF If requests received exceed the faculty/staff allotment, requests will be filled based on years of service.
-University of Alabama-
844 Government
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
(225) 383-9999
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The manufacturer of this item has mandated a minimum price at which we may advertise the product. To see our price, please add the item to your cart or contact a sales representative.
List Price: $189.00
The Cortelco C62 is a 4-Line Executive IP Phone. With a range of features and stylish appearance, the C62 is an affordable option for those who demand quality.
Phone Features:
C62 User Manual
© 2004-2014 iFAX Solutions, Inc


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The Dougherty County jail inmate population is down to its lowest average level in three years, and that's Good news for taxpayers.
Sheriff's Office officials and prosecutors say they're making the justice system more efficient. The numbers show that effort is working.
The jail is the biggest budget item in Dougherty County's general fund at $13.2 million. Officials say cooperation to cut the inmate population is a big help in fighting that huge cost to the community.
Behind those locked doors at the Dougherty County jail, in August 2010 the average inmate population was close to one thousand people, almost one percent of the entire county population.
But in December 2012 that average inmate population was down to "Most jails are overcrowded, or at least at capacity. We're well below capacity. We're charging fewer dollars to taxpayers than just about any time in my career," said Jail Director Colonel John Ostrander.
Dougherty District Attorney Greg Edwards says all the court officials, law enforcement, and state agencies involved, are working together to speed up justice. "We can get the most efficient court time and move people out of the pre-trial detainee stage that costs the county and citizens money, to a stage from that point where they are part of the state system."
Today the jail is well below its maximum population of 1230. One of their 15 pods is empty, so maintenance is being done on the empty one at a much reduced cost. The District Attorney says reducing the jail population during tough budget times has to also keep public safety first.
"It's a balancing act," Edwards said. "We want to make sure all the people who need to be incarcerated, those who are a direct threat to the safety of our population and property, be in jail."
Sheriff's officials say they know taxpayers see the jail as a necessary expense, but one they would love to reduce. "It they had a choice where their tax dollars are going to go, they would much rather it go to education," Ostrander said.
And both the D.A. and Sheriff's officials say drug addiction and mental health issues are the biggest factor for inmates that repeatedly end up locked up. They agree getting the community better educated, with better jobs, is the best way to reduce the jail population even further.
With state law changing many more felony crimes to misdemeanors, the population of county jails is expected to increase soon, as more offenders serve their time in county jails rather than state prison.
But Dougherty County officials say they are optimistic they can continue to reduce the jail population here. Every month the average jail population is sent to court and law enforcement officials to keep them up to date on how their efforts are working.
Copyright 2013 WALB. All rights reserved.
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text:
42 U.S. Code § 27 - Definitions
Source(July 9, 1918, ch. 143, ch. XV, § 8,40 Stat. 887.)
References in Text
This chapter, referred to in text, means chapter XV of act July 9, 1918, ch. 143, 40 Stat. 887, which, insofar as classified to the Code, enacted sections 24 to 27 of this title and amended section 28 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables.
The table below lists the classification updates, since Jan. 3, 2012, for this section. Updates to a broader range of sections may be found at the update page for containing chapter, title, etc.
The most recent Classification Table update that we have noticed was Tuesday, August 13, 2013
An empty table indicates that we see no relevant changes listed in the classification tables. If you suspect that our system may be missing something, please double-check with the Office of the Law Revision Counsel.
|Description of Change
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LII has no control over and does not endorse any external Internet site that contains links to or references LII.


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SmartWool Snowboard Medium SockItem Number: 20389516
Price: $23.99
Free Shipping Eligible on Qualifying Purchases Over $49! Up to $15 Shipping Credit. (See Promotion Details)
Product Information
Customer Reviews
Size Chart
Take on all the outdoors has to offer and fly down the slopes in Snowboard Medium sock. With a 4-Degree Fit System, this SmartWool® snowboard sock delivers on performance and fit with every wear. To keep you cool, dry and comfortable, the SmartWool® Snowboard Medium sock comes with strategic mesh ventilation for breathability while a reinforced heel and toe ensures durability in a snowboarding sock that you'll love.
- 4-Degree Fit System delivers on performance and fit
- Reinforced heel and toe maximizes durability
- 1x1 ribbed welt for a secure fit
- Strategic mesh ventilation zones ensure you stay cool, dry and comfortable
- Over-the-calf height
- Flat knit toe seam
- Fabric: 63% Merino Wool, 35% Nylon, 2% Elastane
- Style: SK045
- SmartWool
- Sock Size: Small = Shoe Size: Men's 3-5.5, Women's 4-6.5
- Sock Size: Medium = Shoe Size: Men's 6-8.5, Women's 7-9.5
- Sock Size: Large = Shoe Size: Men's 9-11.5, Women's 10-12.5
- Sock Size: X Large = Shoe Size: Men's 12-14.5
Country of Origin: United States
Customer Reviews
Rated 5 out of 5�by 1 reviewer.
Rated 5 out of 5�by knut26 great for winter hiking! I bought these socks for snowshoeing and they worked great! My feet were very warm and the socks didn't slide down my calf at all while snowshoeing for about 4 hours. I will definitely be buying more SmartWool products in the future. March 9, 2014
1-1 of 1


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By Alicia Lutes, Hollywood.com Staff
Poor Penny, Max, Jane, Brad, and Alex. Could there really not be a happy ending in Happy Endings' future? And don't forget the kids over in Don't Trust the B in Apt. 23, either. (The 'Beek deserves a chance at happiness, always!) For shows on the bubble over at ABC, life is pretty tough these days. But not all hope is lost! After a recent announcement that both series would go to a two-new-episodes-a-week airing schedule of Tuesdays and Sundays, fans were convinced their favorite shows were being shuffled out to pasture.
And what does one do with news such as this? Well, panic is one, but Paul Lee, ABC Network Group's President, extrapolated further on the shows' place within the ABC family and left a lot of room for speculation both good and bad. ""We haven't made any decisions [regarding the future of Happy Endings and ], but I can tell you that these are shows that we love,"" Lee explained at a Television Critics Association panel on Thursday.
It seems as though Lee is erring on the side of rooting for both shows' place to stand firm in their Tuesday comedy block of programming, when his own opinions of them shone through: ""We love those two shows. They're incredibly distinctive and they're water cooler shows.""
Still, both show's schedules have suffered significantly at the hand of uncontrollable situations, which may hinder the shows' chances to bounce back in the ratings. ""We had an incredibly disrupted launch schedule,"" Lee explained, referencing huge 2012 events that dominated airwaves: the Presidential election, live debates, and Hurricane Sandy. And while people turned out in droves to watch coverage of the aforementioned goings-on, it meant episodes of both series were kept away from airwaves for an extended period of time. Sometimes, those sort of disruptions are hard to rebound from as evidenced by both Endings and Apt. 23's lower-than-ideal-but-steady ratings numbers.
And so comes the reasoning behind the twice-a-week airings of the series, which can be seen by some fans as a way for the network to wrap up the shows earlier than expected to make way for more popular programming or as a way to help audiences discover (and re-discover) the shows. ""We think it's a great way to sample [the shows],"" Lee purported, no doubt hoping to quell the nerves of fans convinced ABC is ready to lay down the gauntlet, but also serving as a reminder that tune-in is vital to success.
""We know [Happy Endings] has to stand on its own,"" Lee acknowledged, adding that he thought ""it did a great job [when it aired alongside] Modern Family."" The scheduling move, Lee suggested is more of a ""cable play,"" hopefully serving to bring in the new viewers the shows so desperately need to stay afloat.
As far as the rumors of cancellation that have sprung up on the horizon? Lee stayed mum, explaining that they ""haven't made any of those decisions yet, but I can tell you those are shows that we love."" There's hope yet, you guys! Stay strong.
Do you watch Happy Endings or Don't Trust the B in Apt. 23? Let us know in the comments!
Additional reporting by Jean Bentley.
[Photo Credit: ABC]
Follow Alicia on Twitter @alicialutes
'Happy Endings' Recap: Picking the Show's Funniest Duo
10 Bitchiest Moments From This Week's Don't Trust the B---- in Apt. 23
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PUMA Race Off - Sergio Agüero
Sergio Agüero takes on Nico Rosberg and the world of sport to see who is the fastest sportsman in a MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS F1 Simulator. Watch his lap and see how well he did.
PUMA is on a sustainability journey to improve our business and the lives of generations to come.


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The Mormon pioneer trek began in 1846 when, in the face of conflicts with neighbors, Brigham Young decided to abandon Nauvoo and to establish a new home for the church in the west. That year Young's followers crossed Iowa. Along their way, some were assigned to establish settlements and to plant and harvest crops for later emigrants. In the spring of 1847, Young led the vanguard company to the Salt Lake Valley, which was then outside the boundaries of the United States and later became Utah. The Mormon Trail or Mormon Pioneer Trail is the 1,300 mile (2,092 km) route that members of The Church traveled from 1846 to 1868. Today the Mormon Trail is a part of the United States National Trails System, as the Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail. The Mormon Trail extends from Nauvoo, Illinois, which was the principal settlement of the Latter Day Saints from 1839 to 1846, to Salt Lake City, Utah. From Council Bluffs, Iowa, to Fort Bridger in Wyoming, the trail follows much the same route as the Oregon Trail and the California Trails.
As a result of the formation of the Mormon Battalion and the longest military march in U.S. history during the Spanish American War, Mormon Trails were established in the south west. The toll on the people and the livestock was incalculable. But the important thing is that they persevered and the trail or road - whether it is called the Old Spanish Trail, the Santa Fe Road, Mormon Road, Salt Lake Road or the California Road. These Pioneers and the roads they made and preserved played a significant and historic role in the way the west was formed.
The immediate reason for the creation of this website is for the purpose of stopping a pending action by the Federal National Forest Service. A very important local US and Mormon historical site is being threatened by a off road motorcycle track and we need your participation and help (Read More) Click here to see Satelite View of the Site


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Learn, Network and Grow.
Register for the AAO-HNSF Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO℠, the premier education and networking event for the specialty!
Formal comments were submitted to CMS with a suggested alternative to the Medicare DME proposed rule to continue coverage of osseointegrated implants for Medicare patients.
Legislators will soon return to their districts to meet with voters before the November elections. Plan your local I-GO event today to educate them on issues impacting the specialty and your patients!
Visit the AAO-HNS/F Marketplace, where we offer products and services that can help you deliver excellent patient care and better manage your practice. Please browse our selections and learn about these valuable resources available through the Academy.


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Saitek P3200 Rumble (PC Gamepad)
Posted by Jim Cook, Jun 30, 2009 05:41
Edited on July 3, 2009: The Linux results on page 2 have been updated with more info, as the pad works better than the author initially knew at the time this review was originally submitted.
Special Notes: The "SST" Profile software that comes with this gamepad is an old version. I strongly recommend you visit Saitek's download page and pick up the new version, as it makes programming this pad much easier. Also, this review covers the PC gamepad; Saitek also offers a similarly-named "PP35 P3200" that is a PC and Xbox 360 pad; that one is not being reviewed in this article.
Evaluating a general purpose gamepad like this is a little odd, since the only thing that absolutely has to be determined is simply, "Does it work with most typical games?" After a little tinkering with this pad, the answer is yes. It requires a little effort to get it working with some titles, but once you do you'll find this pad is comfortable to hold and works great.
The P3200 Rumble as a retail package consists of a box with the controller itself, and a driver CD which may not even be needed depending on your OS. The controller feels solid and has good angles to fit your hands, and most of the buttons and analog sticks are the same way. The only real complaint about this is that the USB cord is a little short, but not to the point of being a major problem. The gamepad itself has a 8-Way POV Switch as a directional pad, two analog sticks (which can be pressed in as additional buttons), six buttons on the front (though only four are close enough to be used in conjunction with one another), two shoulder buttons, and two triggers. Force feedback is also included, and feels pretty solid.
So how did it do? I ran it through a variety of game types, with interesting results.
Rating: 5.0, votes: 1


text:
- Sam Ash Gift Guides
- Hot Deals
- Guitars
- Bass
- Accessories
- Live Sound
- Keyboards
- Microphones & Wireless
- Recording
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- Drums
- Books/DVDs
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RTOM Moongel Drum Muffle Gel (Pack of 4)
Roc N Soc NR Nitro Gas Lift Drum Throne
Pearl CH70 Boom Arm Cymbal Holder (with Gear Tilter)
Vic Firth 5A American Classic Hickory Wood Tip Drumsticks
Kaces 46" Hardware Bag w/Wheels
KickPort Sonic Bass Drum Enhancer in Black
Drum Dial Precision Drum Tuner
(9 reviews)
Vater 5A Los Angeles Hickory Drumsticks
Vic Firth Stereo Isolation Headphones
(11 reviews)
Wuhan Cymbals 8" Splash Cymbal
Wuhan Cymbals 12" Wuhan China Cymbal
(6 reviews)
Evans 22" Clear EMAD2 Bass Drum Head
HQ Percussion Real Feel 12" Practice Pad
To automatically re-order this item before you run out, select the recurring order option during checkout.
Endorsed by Blink 182's Travis Barker, this version of the Danmar 1027 Wicked stick holder features some flashy graphics courtesy of the Famous Stars and Straps Company! Holds four pairs of sticks and has the heavy duty Danmar chrome steel clamping system.null
|1027 Travis Barker Wicked Stick Holder


text:
Venture capital and private equity firms today face increased international exposure to currency fluctuations. They look to foreign exchange services as a way to protect the value of a transaction against sudden shifts in currency value – whether for an immediate and urgent deal, or as part of a longer-range strategy.
North America
1.800.774.7390 | 1.408.654.4636
5:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Pacific Time(Monday - Friday)
United Kingdom
0800.023.1441 (toll free) | 0207.367.7881
8:00 a.m. – 1:30 a.m GMT
Audit Confirmation Requests
Cards Issued in North America
Lost or Stolen Cards1.866.563.1335
001.408.654.1039 International
Card Services1.866.553.3481
001.408.654.1039 International
Cards Issued in United Kingdom
Lost, stolen, fraud, and general enquiries 0800.023.1450 from within the UK
+188.8.131.527.7899 from overseas
Current-day Information Reporting on SVB Online Banking
• Check print: 8:00 p.m. Pacific Time
• Check to ACH: 7:00 p.m. Pacific Time for next day check print/ACH
• Virtual card numbers: Real-time processing
SVB Holiday Schedule
– U.S. (Federal) and U.K. (Bank of England) holiday schedule
U.S. Domestic: 1.866.238.0872
International: 001.650.926.0499
Contact your relationship manager
Commercial Bank
Incoming Wire Payment Instructions – U.S. Dollar (USD) and Foreign Currencies
Outgoing International Wire Formatting Tips
Private Bank
Private Bank Wire Transfer Instructions
Obtain credit reference forSVB clients
Fax 1.408.654.6234
SVB Securities
1.800.303.7371 | 1.408.654.7367
SVB Repo
1.800.303.7371 | 1.408.654.7367
SVB Asset Management
Find the cutoff times for incoming and outgoing wires, payments, investment and internal transfers, and other activities.
Contact Client Services for help with any SVB product or service.
Hours of Operation: 5:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Pacific Time (Monday - Friday)
1.800.774.7390 1.408.654.4636 email@example.com