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Pioneer construction on schedule; under budget
PLYMOUTH — The construction project to widen Pioneer Drive and cut back on Oak Road traffic which began in May 2010 is well on its way to completion, reported Ron Wireman from DLZ Engineering in the Marshall County Commissioners meeting Monday. The new Pioneer Drive will provide Marshall County residents with an easier route from Indiana 17 to the industries and retailers on U.S. 30.
"Last year we did basically half the project," said Wireman, noting that S.R. 17 to Lincoln Highway is now open.
The rest of the road, including Jim Neu Drive, will remain closed until construction is complete Sept. 14. When completed, Pioneer Drive from Lincoln Highway to Miller Road right next to the LifePlex will have three lanes; two driving lanes and one center turn lane. Workers are currently placing pipes and removing peat to prepare for cutting ditches and placing additional fill on the roads.
"Due to extremely bad soil conditions, we are having to use two times the amount of sand material than what was originally planned for bridging," said Wireman.
Although the project was originally estimated to be completed one to one-and-a-half months early, the additional work caused by bad soil will push the project back to the original completion date, Wireman said. Large amounts of rainfall are one condition that may affect the final outcome of time and money spent on the road. Wireman noted that the construction has been slightly delayed by record amounts of rainfall recently. The project was originally estimated to be $10,000 over budget, but is currently under budget because a section of road was discovered where no de-mucking was necessary.


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Yesterday HTC told us the EVO 4G LTE launch was delayed and now Sprint is confirming the device will not be in stores on May 18th. A post on the Sprint Community Forums says that HTC is working to resolve this issue and they can't provide specific timing for product availability at this time.
Sprint goes on to say that you can cancel your pre-order, but we wouldn't recommend it. The EVO 4G LTE offers a nearly identical experience to the HTC One X that we loved, and it will be the best smartphone available on Sprint for the next couple of months.
Hopefully HTC can resolve the issues with US customs and get this awesome device into Sprint customers' hands soon enough. We have a demo unit in house, so be on the lookout for our full review coming in the coming days.

subset: commoncrawl


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PANDORA 14K Angel of Hope Charm RETIRED ONLY 1 LEFT! 278904
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PANDORA 14K Angel of Hope Charm.
We were moved by the tragedies from Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana and Mississippi, and would like to do our part to support the people who have been displaced and are rebuilding these communities. PANDORA Jewelry has decided to take action and help with an initial donation of $100.000.00.
Please help us to provide continuing support to the relief efforts through the purchase of the Angel of Hope Charm. Approximately one third of the proceeds from the Angel of Hope bead will be sent directly to the Mississippi Diaster Recovery Foundation. Through this effort we aspire to raise $1,000,000.00 to $2,000,000.00 in additional funds for these foundations.
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Tuesday, August 30, 2016, 8:00-9:00 p.m. ETCheck your local listings
Learn how Lincoln exerted control through the telegraph and its effect on the Gettysburg Address.
In 1863, Abraham Lincoln proved himself a master of a new frontier — not on the battlefields of the Civil War, but in his high-tech command center: the War Department Telegraph Office. The internet of the 19th century, the telegraph gave Lincoln new powers to reshape leadership and wield personal control across distant battlefields. It also connected him to the country in new ways, as information poured in, and allowed him to feel the pulse of the country faster than before. The results of Lincoln's pioneering experiment in communication led to the rebirth of America on the fields of Gettysburg … both in the battle that turned the tide of the Civil War and in the few words that recast the American ideal as a national creed: the Gettysburg Address. David Strathairn (Lincoln) narrates.


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Spring Into Good Health First held in Broward County Parks in 2012, the Walk With Ease program is a partnership between the Parks and Recreation Division and the Health Foundation of South Florida (HFSF). This evidence-based program encourages adults 55 and older to start walking for their health. Improving overall health begins with the first step!
Through HFSF's five-year, $7.5 million initiative, the Healthy Aging Regional Collaborative, launched in 2008, the organization is helping older adults to achieve and maintain strength. Walk With Ease was created by the Arthritis Foundation and is designed to increase physical activity for those 55 and up, regardless of whether they have arthritis. Participants meet with a trained leader three times a week during this six-week session and will also receive a guidebook with chapters on health education, stretching and strengthening exercises, and motivational strategies. At the completion of their session, walkers will receive a Walk With Ease T-shirt.
HFSF is a nonprofit grant-making organization dedicated to improving health in Broward, Miami-Dade, and Monroe counties. By advancing health solutions, the foundation makes a measurable and sustainable impact in ensuring access to affordable, quality health services for all residents, especially the underserved. Since 1993, the foundation has awarded more than $95 million in grants and program support.
For more information on HFSF, call 305-374-7200 or visit www.HFSF.org. For information on the Healthy Aging Regional Collaborative, visit www.HealthyAgingSF.org.
PARTICIPATING PARKS *Plantation Heritage Park, 1100 S. Fig Tree Lane, Plantation 33317; 954-357-5135 Roosevelt Gardens Park, 2841 N.W. 11th St., Fort Lauderdale 33311; 954-357-8700Sunview Park, 1500 S.W. 42nd Ave., Fort Lauderdale 33317; 954-357-6520*T.Y. (Topeekeegee Yugnee) Park, 3300 N. Park Rd., Hollywood 33021; 954-357-8811*Vista View Park, 4001 S.W. 142nd Ave., Davie 33330; 954-357-8898
*The parks' regular gate entrance fee of $1.50/person is in effect on weekends and holidays.


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Highly touted junior college defensive lineman Ben Bradley from Hutchinson (Kansas) Community College has signed a letter of intent to attend Auburn University, head football coach Gus Malzahn announced Tuesday. He will have two seasons of eligibility remaining.
The 6-3, 315-lb., junior college transfer, rated as a four-star prospect for a number of national recruiting services, recorded 43 tackles, 9.5 TFL and five sacks last season, helping the Hutchinson Blue Dragons to a 9-3 record, a No. 12 national ranking and the Salt City Bowl championship. His Hutchinson teammate offensive tackle Devonte Danzey signed with Auburn last month.
An outstanding run blocker, the talented Bradley is from Norcross, Ga., where he attended Norcross High. A December graduate of Hutchinson, Bradley will begin classes at Auburn when the spring semester commences later this week.
INFORMATION SOURCE: Auburn Athletics Dept.


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Views: 747
to perform what act? Burning a book in general to protest something? Or burning a book for the sole and specific reason of inciting people to act out violently and possibly kill other people?
Because that is the difference we are talking about here.
People will act violently and possibly kill other people no matter the intent of the person who burns it. Therefore, any intent of the person burning must take into concideration as the highly likely outcome, and thus must inentionally cross this boundry.
If I justify to myself it as acceptable on a subject which clearly is more important than the well being of one mass produced book and fanatics going off in a frenzy, i.e. previous example, I will not have the right to do so because I will intentionally incite people to violence on a subject which must have more coverage, following your own logic.
People will act violently and possibly kill other people no matter the intent of the person who burns it.
That is not what I asked, though. Of course other people could react in any number of ways to what Terry Jones did. The ideal reaction would have been if other people did exactly nothing in response to Terry Jones.
But I am talking about what Terry Jones' intent was. Or to use you as you did in your example. If YOUR intent is to incite imminent violence with your speech, then your speech is not protected by the first amendment.
There is nothing that says that you must try to imagine all of the possible ways that others *might* react to your words/actions, but if YOUR PURPOSE is to get them to act out violently, then it is not protected free speech.
I seem to recall that you are Norwegian living Denmark (?), so perhaps the laws are different where you are. Terry Jones is an American citizen acting on American soil, so American laws would govern. And I maintain that under our laws, his act is not protected free speech.
So if I incite to violence against neo-nazism while burning Mein kampf in front of the gates of Auswitch, I should not be legally allowed to do so?
I think the point of departure is that I wish to reserve my right to hate certain things and incite to violence if I believe it to be a danger grave enough to warrant it. If other people choose, by their own free will, to follow my recommendation, it is their choice and responsibility.
This was the whole point of the Nurnburg trials, even if those who hold power over you asks you to committ a crime, you are morally obliged not to do so. Those who ordered atrocities are judged because they held the power to see their orders fulfilled.
Terry does not hold any power to order muslims anything, they are fully and wholle responsible for their own actions because they choose to do them. Their leaders are responsible because they do not do nearly enough to curtail the violence.
He's protesting against Islam, that should be obvious; there's plenty about Islam deserving of protest. Ultimately he doesn't have to be right when he protests and he doesn't have to be nice; but he does have to be afforded the right to protest against what he considers evil...as do we all.
You mentioned that he admitted that his goal was to incite violence. If true I think that would potentially make what he did a crime; however I would have to read his remarks before I came to such a conclusion. Would you, if possible, direct me to those remarks?
BTW-I do feel that I should apologize for my previous racism remark, it was total BS and I'm embarrassed by it in hind site.
Terry Jones next stunt is going to be to put Mohammed on (mock) trial and burn him in effigy too.
Haha, oh no, I missed that juicy story.
Ok, how about if we ask Terry if he would consider burning a cross with a bloody (but dead) Jesus nailed to it, as a way to advertise the wonderful Christian version of martyrdom, and then mock up a resurrection!
More Detail about Pastor Jones
"Broadcasting live on a Coptic satellite channel, available throughout the Middle East, Jones and his followers put the Koran on mock trial, and eventually convicted it on murder, rape, and terrorism charges. Visitors to the church website got to vote for the appropriate penalty and overwhelmingly chose incineration. The Arabic channel broke off its live stream for the incendiary portion of the proceedings, but Jones made sure the scene was available on his website. Assistant pastor Wayne Sapp doused the book in gasoline and set it on fire with a stove lighter."


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We reviewed the first version of Norton 360 back in issue 102 at the end of 2007 and were blown away by the new direction of the software. At that time Norton had a shocking reputation for producing enormously bloated suites that slowed your laptop to a crawl.
Norton 360 turned that around (hence the 360 name) with a compact and slick package that positively zipped along. Version 4.0 continues in the same vein and only requires a tiny 45MB RAM footprint.
Until recently the price of Norton 360 v4.0 was £60, which looked a bit steep despite covering up to three computers. Norton has reduced the price to £48, which brings it into line with the competition, as it includes 2GB of online backup. If you want more, you have to select the Premier Edition which comes with 25GB of backup, but the price is £70.
At first glance, 360 v4.0 looks like a simple piece of software, with its four large user-friendly buttons for PC Security, Identity Protection, Backup Protection and PC Tuneup. After the initial setup, we were faced with four reassuring green 'Protected' legends.
Clicking on any of the buttons opens a new screen to tell you all the good things that Norton is doing behind the scenes. It is all very reassuring. If you mouse over the buttons instead of clicking you'll see a drop-down menu that gives you access to the settings for each section, so you head to Protection to configure the Firewall, or Backup to select the files you wish to protect.
At this point the software takes on a similar appearance to more hardcore packages such as Kaspersky, offering plenty of options. Less experienced users can treat Norton 360 v4.0 as a sealed box, while the more technically able can dive in and reconfigure to their heart's content.
By reducing the price of the 360 v4.0 to bring it in line with the competition, Norton has removed our only potential complaint about this excellent security suite.
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Bryan's Sunny Studio
Like this entry? Favorite it below!
- Name:
- Bryan
- Location:
- San Francisco, CA
- Square Feet:
- 300
- Division:
- Teeny-Tiny
- What I Love About My Small Home:
- I like that there is nice sunlight during the day. I love the exposed brick wall(paper); it's actually wallpaper. I also like the fact that there is a separate kitchen, closet and a small nook for dining.
- Biggest Challenge of Living in a Small Space:
- The biggest challenge was to fit all the furniture I have and at the same time be a multifunctional studio. I still want to make the room feel spacious and be able to have friends over. What I did was I pushed the furniture to the sides and tried to create an open space in the middle. I picked a yellow sofa to brighten up the room and have a walnut lounge chair on the side so there is a good contrast. I also used the brick wallpaper and wooden blinds to bring texture, help define the space and create depth.


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Join the Nation's Conversation
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Reformist Rowhani surprises with Iran election win
Moderate candidate Hasan Rowhani has won Iran's presidential election, in a result seen as a victory for reform-minded Iranians. AP
In a sea of hard-liners, Rowhani's victory could be a win for reformist sentiment in Iran.
ISTANBUL — The moderate-conservative candidate and victor in Iran's presidential election, Hasan Rowhani, is known for his negotiating skill over the country's nuclear weapons program and a reformist some hard-liners in Iran previously saw as too liberal and conciliatory, analysts say.
As a result, analysts predict Rowhani, who was declared the winner Saturday by Iran's interior minister, might take the country's top political post and bring hope to the country's liberal classes but not wield any real power, especially on the nuclear issue.
"A president Rowhani would probably try to persuade the supreme leader that a deal on the nuclear issue would be in the interest of the Islamic Republic, especially if Rowhani believes that it is the only way to avoid a war," said Bruno Tertrais, a senior researcher at Foundation for Strategic Research in Paris. "But (Supreme Leader) Khamenei will remain the ultimate decision-maker."
Even so, the win for the reformist-backed presidential candidate is surprising in a race that most believed would go to candidates backed by Tehran's ruling clerics, who promised economic recovery in a country impacted by Western-imposed economic sanctions.
The Interior Ministry said Rowhani took 50.7% of the more than 36 million votes cast, well ahead of Tehran Mayor Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf with about 16.5%. Hard-line nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili came in third with 11.3%, followed by conservative Mohsen Rezaei with 10.6%.
COLUMN: Iranian elections a theater of the absurd
On Sunday, Iran's president-elect said the country's dire economic problems cannot be solved "overnight," as he took his first steps in consulting with members of the clerically dominated establishment on his new policies.
Iran suffers from more than 30% inflation as well as 14% unemployment linked to Western sanctions for Tehran's suspect nuclear program.
The semi-official ISNA agency said Rowhani discussed inflation and unemployment as well as possible members of his cabinet with Ali Larijani, speaker for Iran's conservative dominated parliament.
"Today, we took the first step for cooperation between two branches of power," Rowhani was quoted as saying. Rowhani will take office in August and needs parliament to approve his proposed nominees for 18 ministries.
In a sea of hard-liners, Rowhani's victory could be a win for reformist sentiment in Iran, observers say. During his candidacy, he attracted thousands to his rallies over his calls for an end to the repressive atmosphere prevailing in Iran — including the lifting of economic sanctions that have crippled the economy and led to a spike in food and fuel prices — and his pledge to open the door to more individual liberties and better relations with the West.
"We won't let the past eight years go on," Rowhani told crowds attending a pre-election rally. "(President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's administration) brought sanctions for the country and they are proud of it. I'll pursue a policy of reconciliation and peace, we will also reconcile with the world."
Still, even as his words lean liberal, Rowhani's background is firmly based in the political establishment of Iran.
A cleric, Rowhani first studied religion before graduating with a law degree in 1972, eventually earning a master's degree in law at Caledonian University in Glasgow, Scotland. He was swept up in the 1979 Iran's Islamic Revolution as a firm opponent to the shah and became an ally and part of the inner circle of revolutionary leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, serving in various roles in the government following Khomeini's ascension to power.
Regardless, some Iranians hold out hope that he will fulfill his promises due to his background as a skilled negotiator and conciliator. Rowhani served as head of the Supreme National Security Council during the presidency of Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani from 1989 to 1997. Following that, he was the country's top nuclear negotiator with the West from 2003 to 2005 during the administration of reformist leader Mohammad Khatami as the U.S. and other European allies grew concerned over Iran's nuclear program. He negotiated a temporary suspension in Iran's uranium enrichment activities.
When hard-liner Ahmadinejad — who is barred from seeking a third term — took office in 2005, Rowhani resigned after arguments with the new leader.
Since then, Rowhani has remained in the background of reformist causes until earlier this year when the Guardian Council approved his candidacy and he earned the backing of Khatami and Rafsanjani who represent the liberal strain of Iranian politics.
Some Iranians remain hopeful that Rowhani's win could sway Iran to become more open and liberal.
"It's a victory for those who are moderate and a ray of hope for those who are reformist," said Ali Sanaei, 37, an Iranian author and expatriate based in Istanbul.
However, others say that it doesn't change the power structure in which the country's ruling clerics — led by Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and the military through the Revolutionary Guard — hold the real control.
Unlike in 2009, when reformist and opposition leaders challenged conservative leader Ahmadinejad's bid for second term in elections that saw massive protests and mass arrests including those of opposition leaders Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mahdi Karroubi, observers say that a Rowhani win is not a threat to Iran's current establishment.
Alireza Nourizadeh, a Iranian scholar, literary figure and senior researcher and director at the Center for Arab and Iranian Studies in London, says he doesn't buy into the Rohawni's spiel.
"He as always pretended to be a moderate, played the game really well and convinced voters he is a reformist by promising a different kind of conversation and behavior in the future," he said. "But I know this man — he's the same man that served in the Supreme National Military Council for 24 years and called for the execution of student protesters (during the 1999 protests)."
Contributing: The Associated Press


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Discover the undersea beauty of Guam in a real submarine.
• View a variety of coral reef developed over 1800 years.
• Atlantis Submarine takes you to depths of 20 to 40 meters underwater.
• When the submarine rises up to the surface from underwater, it will be surrounded by beautiful air bubbles.
• Comfortable air-conditioned room without worrying about air pressure
• Enjoyable tour of the family, including children and even elders.
• Enjoy the shuttle boat cruise that takes you to board the submarine located off the beautiful shores of Guam.
• Fantastic driving course along shore side to Apra Harbor
• Atlantis submarine operates even in rainy or windy condition
• High safety standard for maintenance and operation


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According to Hollywood Street King (HSK), Coco was allegedly up to no good the night that pictures were taken of her cuddled up next to rapper AP.9. There were various pics that hit the web of Coco posing with AP.9 inside of a nightclub, which were in essence very inappropriate considering the fact that she is married to Ice-T. Now a new photo has come forth from that very night of Coco cuddled up with a man named Mustafa Abdi, a.k.a. Moose Diesel, inside of the same nightclub where she was photographed with AP.9.
The real problem with this new picture is that is Coco poking her butt out towards the camera while Moose grabs it with his left hand. Apparently he posted the picture on his Twitter account and she tried to DM (direct message) him, asking him to take the picture down, but he refused and slayed her and Ice T a bit in the process.
AP.9 apparently spoke to HSK exclusively, claiming that he and Coco really did share an intimate night together despite the fact that Coco has been denying anything further went on besides them taking pictures.
"I took Coco out on a date to Haze nightclub. She brought some friends…some of the crew from Ice Loves Coco even showed up too! We had a steamy one night stand. I hate being called a liar…cuz I'm not."
Rumors have also spread that multiple pictures of Coco and AP.9 along with a polygraph test (lie detector test) results are currently being shopped around to various media outlets. We'll have to wait and see if there is any truth to these claims from AP.9. Hopefully no further photographs will surface of Coco in suspect situations with other men.
Source: allhiphop.com


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Write a News Story
Meet a Pioneer Pilot
Amelia Earhart Home
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Story List
How well can Earhart swim????????
By: Dustin G.
Florida, Age 13
Yesterday as Amelia Earhart was attempting to fly all the way around the world she was pronounced lost. She didnt come up on any radar. Experts say she probably was thrown into the ocean.
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You'd think it would be easy to adapt Stephen King to film or television, but history has proven otherwise. King's work is as much about mood as it is monsters, and that's a tough combo. For every masterpiece ("The Shining," "Carrie," "Misery"), there's a mess ("Christine," "Children of the Corn," "Bag of Bones").
Still, my own deep and abiding love for King began with television; my friends and I watched the 1979 miniseries "Salem's Lot" literally on the edge of our seats, pillows in hand for the moments when we Could Not Bear to watch.
So there are worries and expectations for "Under the Dome," which premieres Monday night on CBS. And not just regarding King — concerning the nature of adaptation as well.
Although "Under the Dome" is based on the 1,100-page book of the same name, it is a full-fledged, open-ended dramatic series. Graphic novelist Brian K. Vaughan, brought on as executive producer and writer, was given King's blessing to take the story of a small Pennsylvania town suddenly trapped by a mysterious barrier wherever he felt it needed to go.
Which is under that wacky dome as quickly as possible. For a story of such wide and possibly allegorical ambitions, the pilot seems in an unnecessary rush to get the party started.
Opening with a shot that manages to make the hatching of a baby bird seem ominous, we get right down to evil-doings. One man burying another in the middle of the woods, a young couple whose summer fling clearly cloaks something darker. A local drunk calls the sheriff to complain about some commotion, and a surprisingly lucid American hoarder tips off the comely local newspaper editor to a mysterious stockpiling of propane.
Then boom, down comes the dome, deadly and dramatic. After a cellphone call to his employer reveals he probably killed the guy he was burying in self-defense, Dale "Barbie" Barbara (Mike Vogel) runs his car into a field to avoid hitting some cows. Good thing too: As the earth trembles and the birds take off, an invisible barrier slices down right where his car would have been, cutting a cow in half.
As he is joined by young Joe McAlister (Colin Ford), whose family owns the field and the bifurcated cow, a private airplane smashes against the same invisible force, showering wreckage and body parts.
Right down the road, Sheriff Duke Perkins (Jeff Fahey), whose pacemaker suddenly goes dodgy, realizes that electricity and phones are out all over town. Showing up at the scene of the plane crash, Perkins immediately concludes that the whole town is trapped (it's like he read the Wiki page). He is quickly joined by Big Jim Rennie (Dean Norris), an Al Haig-like car dealer, and that titian-haired investigative editor, Julia Shumway (Rachelle Lefevre).
All of whom seem to instantly understand that Chester's Mill, Penn., is completely cut off from the rest of the world, probably for quite some time.
Many other things are established with equal rapidity and all-cap importance: Carolyn (Aisha Hinds) and Alice (Samantha Mathis) are passing through town when their troubled teenaged daughter Norrie (Mackenzie LIntz) has a fit that will no doubt Prove Significant (she mutters something about stars falling in straight lines). Big Jim commandeers the hip 'n' groovy radio station in a Most Fascist Way (although he does show life-saving foresight) and quickly asks to be deputized. The trysting couple seen earlier is revealed to be Rennie's Obviously Psycho son, Junior (Alexander Koch), and young Joe's Sweet but Feisty sister, Angie (Britt Robertson); their mother is on the other side of the dome so they are perilously On Their Own. Meanwhile, Sparks Fly between Julia and Barbie, although Julia is married to the town doctor, who is Inexplicably Missing.
Every pilot is burdened with establishing character, jump-starting the narrative and hooking the audience, but "Under the Dome" unnecessarily force-feeds us its first hour to its own detriment. What made King the master of his genre was patience and attention to detail — here is a town just like yours, here are people similar to the ones you know; they're drinking coffee, they're eating pie and chatting — except, whoops, a vampire has just moved into the house on the hill.
Perhaps Vaughan and his colleagues were afraid a quieter, more suspenseful opening would seem too trite, or maybe CBS figured the point is what happens under the dome so let's get that dome in place tout suite.
This was, perhaps, King's most overtly political novel, illustrating how quickly the social order we take for granted can erode when people are isolated and afraid — "Lord of the Flies" with grown-ups. Even so, order begins unraveling here at such a break-neck pace that it's swiftly predictable.
Which isn't to say "Under the Dome" won't wind up being fun to watch. All of the performances seem promising — and what's not to love about "Twilight's" Lefevre proving that print journalism is alive and well and drop-dead gorgeous? It's summer, it's Stephen King, it's small-town Pennsylvania, and it's a great concept; I'm in.
I just hope the creators take a breath between Episodes 1 and 2 and remember that when you're telling a scary story, it's best to tell it slow.
'Under the Dome'
Where: CBS
When: 10 p.m. Monday
Rating: TV-14-LSV (may be unsuitable for children younger than 14, with advisories for coarse language, sex and violence)


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You're using an old version of Internet Explorer. Please upgrade to IE 10 or above; or try using a different browser
Turkey Travel Planning & Travel Tips:
Entry Requirements and Embassy Contact Information: A passport and visa are required. Holders of all types of passports can purchase a 90-day sticker visa at the port of entry for $100 cash, if they are traveling to Turkey as tourists. For further information, travelers in the U.S. may contact the Embassy of the Republic of Turkey at 2525 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20008, telephone: (202) 612-6700, or the Turkish consulates general in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, or New York. Information may also be found on the embassy website. Overseas, travelers may contact a Turkish embassy or consulate. Holders of official and diplomatic passports on official business must obtain a visa from a Turkish embassy or consulate before arrival in Turkey. Holders of official and diplomatic passports on private travel may receive a visa free of charge from a Turkish embassy or consulate, or obtain one upon arrival at the port of entry for $100 cash.
All those who are planning to stay more than three months for any purpose are required to obtain a visa from a Turkish embassy or consulate. Such travelers must also apply for a residence/work permit or Turkish ID card within the first month of their arrival in Turkey. For example, this would include anyone who plans to spend more than three months doing research, studying, or working in Turkey. All travelers are advised to obtain entry stamps on the passport page containing their visa at the first port of entry before transferring to domestic flights. Failure to obtain entry stamps at the port of entry has occasionally resulted in serious difficulties for travelers when they attempt to depart the country.
Climate: The best time for touring is April-May and September-October, when the day temperatures are most comfortable and the least amount of rain falls. For the beach worshipper, June-September is best. Turkey is a big country, and the climate varies from region to region. The coasts are generally temperate, warm and fairly humid in summer with chilly, rainy winters. Central Anatolia has hot, dry summers and cold, rainy winters with snow. The Black Sea gets the most rain, while southeastern Turkey is very dry and very hot (100+ F/38+ C) in summer. Eastern Turkey has short summers and bitterly cold winters with lots of snow. Whenever and wherever you go, take a sweater for cool evenings.
Calling Internationally: From the United States to Turkey: 011+ 90+ City Info. From Turkey to United States: 00+ 1*+ State Info.
Electricity: The electric current used in Turkey is 11/220 Volts.
Travel Insurance for Turkey Trips: You should consider the benefits of travel insurance as part of your Turkey travel planning. Most travelers look for travel tips that discuss the importance of travel insurance and travel insurance through Travel Guard can provide important coverage for your trip.
Whether you're taking a family vacation or business trip, Travel Guard has a plan for your Turkey travel. These plans may include valuable medical expense coverage, trip interruption, medical emergency assistance and treatment services and more. And with Travel Guard's 24-hour assistance line, your coverage can act as a travel guide should your plans change.*
For more than 20 years, Travel Guard's plans have covered millions of travelers throughout the world. We're America's leading provider of travel insurance plans and assistance programs and we're here to help you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Coverage provided through Travel Guard is easy to buy and with our 24-hour emergency travel services it's even easier to use.
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Two People Seriously Injured in Oil Tank Explosion in East Texas
Two people have been seriously injured when an oil storage tank exploded and caught fire this morning in Van Zandt County.
The Van Zandt County Fire Marshall reports both victims a 24-year-old female, and a 24-year-old male have been transported to Dallas Parkland Memorial Hospital. The female victim is on life support and the male victim is suffering from burns to his face, chest and arms.
Sheriff officials say both individuals were smoking on top of the storage tanks, when one of the tanks exploded.
Van Fire Department along with Grand Saline, Tyler Fire Department Haz Mat and Lindale Fire Department are either on scene or responding to the incident. The incident is still an active scene on Highway 110, north of Van.
There is five large storage tanks, in which two had already exploded and was on fire. Fire was impending on the other tanks and firefighters were using a foam blanket to attempt to prevent the other storage tanks from exploding and catching fire.
The names of the victims are being with held at this time due to notification of next of kin. The Fire Marshal is working to identify which company owns the storage facility. The victims are reported at this time not to be employees of the oil company responsible for the storage facility.
The Fire Marshal is being assisted by Van Police Department and the Van Zandt County Sheriff's Office.


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This time of the NFL season is interesting for teams such as the Dolphins and Lions only in that we can look toward the future.
And in looking at the future of the Dolphins and Lions, today's opponent, we know that both teams have much work to do to become playoff relevant. But their work must come in vastly different areas because the rosters are constructed so, so differently.
The Dolphins, you see, are a team of plow horses. They have a bunch of guys that can play pretty well, play pretty hard, and usually try to give a good performance when they step on the field. The Dolphins don't have a lot of terrible players, which is good.
But the Dolphins also do not have a lot of incredible, superstar players. And that is bad.
That is why after last week's loss to Buffalo at home, Tony Sparano lamented his team making no dynamic plays. What do you expect when you don't have many dynamic players? That is why offensive coordinator Dan Henning during the week echoed those remarks and expanded on them, saying the Dolphins lack dynamic players on offense, defense and special teams.
Hence, no 80-yard bombs or runs on offense, no fumble or interception returns 60 yards for a score on defense, no punt or kickoff TDs.
The Dolphins are a solid, but not a big-play, big-results team. And that is why they are 7-7.
The Lions?
They have a different makeup.
The Lions have a lot of holes in their roster. Their offensive line is leaky. Their running back corps -- traditionally a team strength -- is a weakness. And, quick, name me that young up-and-coming star linebacker on their roster? Ain't got one.
The Lions have myriad holes.
But the Lions have something the Dolphins lack: Dynamic players.
Ndamukong Suh? Dynamic.
Calvin Johnson? Dynamic.
Matthew Stafford? You might not agree, but trust me, he's dynamic.
Louis Delmas? Dynamic.
Brandon Pettigrew? Dynamic.
Stefan Logan? Dynamic on special teams.
The Lions have budding superstars at very important play-making positions and they have a freak in Suh who has turned the defensive tackle spot into a play-making position.
I'm not here to sing the praises of Detroit's dynamic players. You can look up their accomplishments for yourselves. But I know some of you will argue Stafford is not dynamic because, after all, he cannot even finish an NFL season without getting injured.
That's true. But perhaps if he had a solid offensive line in front of him he wouldn't be getting used like a rag doll by opposing defensive players and that might keep him in games.
When he is in games -- not today because he's still injured -- Stafford has shows signs that, frankly, Miami's young QB Chad Henne has not. Stafford has 6 TD passes this year to only 1 INT.
With Stafford in the lineup, the Lions scored TDs in nine of 10 trips into the red zone. Compare that to the FG kicking Dolphins and you see the difference.
He's got much work to do. But if he can stay healthy, he's got the goods. Compare that to Miami where the Dolphins have a QB that is hard to keep out of the lineup due to health concerns, but everyone is asking whether or not he has the goods.
I figured you might have questions about Logan as well. He is the only NFL player ranked in the top four in both kickoff returns and punt return average. His 105-yard KO return TD against St. Louis earlier this year is the longest in the league so far in 2010. He had a kick return of 50 yards or more in three of four games in October. He is, um, dynamic.
So here is the question: Is it easier to fill a roster of good-but-not-great players around your handful of dynamic players? Or is it harder to find a handful of dyanmaic players to lift your roster of good-but-not-great?
Is it harder to find a dozen or so plow horses or a handful of thoroughbreds?
I don't know.
I do know the Lions (4-10) are going to be drafting much higher than the Dolphins (7-7). I don't know it is easier to find plenty of plow horses and even more thoroughbreds higher in each round than it is to find superstars in the middle of the draft.
I know it is not impossible for Miami to find stars -- I mean, serious, honest-to-goodness dynamic stars -- in the middle of rounds, but I cannot remember the last time that happened. And sorry guys, Vontae Davis is a good player. He's solid. But dynamic?
Not so far.
We can discuss this further during the live blog. It will be going on during Miami's sold out meeting with the Lions. It begins in the comments section below just before game time.
Follow me on twitter.


text:
When I first showed the new "Talking
Dollar" cartoon feature of
al-Ummah to some acquaintances, they began
laughing. However, after a day or two, I received a call
from one saying: "You know, there is no need to
stoop to this low level to make your point. I showed the
cartoon to some 'Salafi' brothers and they were very
offended." Caught off guard I replied, "well,
perhaps the tone seems harsh, but we have not targetted
any individual with these cartoons, and you must admit
they make the point extremely well without long-winded
Later I thought about my answer. I
realized that I had fallen for the usual neo-Salafi
trick, which my acquaintance had also fallen for.
"Bait-and-switch" I believe it is called in
used-car sales parlance. OK, given a cartoon is not the
most scholarly or sophisticated way to make a point. But
think about it. Were the 'Salafis' scholarly or
sophisticated when they denounced those who ask for the
intercession of the Prophet (s) as mushriks,
declared the common Muslims who practice Mawlid as mubtadi`,
and when they declared those who follow imams, shaykhs
and awliya as kaafir? The great thing
about a cartoon is that it gets the point across in a
very succinct manner. And that is the point.
We could spend man-years arguing, from
one electronic forum to another, from one magazine to
another, from one mosque to another. But no one ever gets
it through arguments. 'It' is that the
declaration of someone to be outside of Islam is one of
the greatest of sins--it makes either the caller or the
callee a kaafir! Think about that. Yet, this
statement "you are committing kufr"
is on the tongues of so many hundreds and thousands of
imams, regular college students, Muslim activists and
young people, that one is left wondering "who will
be left within the fold of Islam after they are done with
their declarations?" These young people,
unfortunately, with their lack of Islamic knowledge and
their "Reader's Digest" approach to learning
from a single source, whose propaganda and free booklets
now fill our mosques and Islamic centers, are in many
ways no different than the rabble-rousing crowds who
attacked Sayiddina `Uthman (r), and those who had Imam
Ahmad imprisoned.
So before the gentle reader jumps to
the conclusion that we at al-Ummah are
unnecessarily attacking a certain group or set of people,
let them examine the actions of those who are addressed
by these cartoons: those who would, with one sentence,
put the majority of Muslims outside of the fold of Islam,
by declaring them to be mushrik, kaafir or
the Editor
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text:
CHICAGO (AP) -- State officials say this
is a good time of year to keep a close eye on older family members who may need
November is National Family Caregivers Month. Illinois Department on
Aging Director John Holton says it's also the kickoff to the holiday season and
a good time for families to use the time they spend together to look for signs
that older relatives may need more help.
Those signs include decreased mobility, change in appetite, unfilled
medical prescriptions and not paying bills.
The department is reminding people that there are more than 100
resources centers statewide for caregivers.


text:
AT&T's HTC One X finally updated to Android 4.1
After months of waiting, the Android 4.1 update for the HTC One X has finally been released. Back in October, we heard that AT&T had received the code from HTC to begin their testing process, but things had been extremely silent until now.
From what we can gather, the 630 MB Android 4.1 update for the AT&T HTC ... Read More »


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Throughout Amazonia, overfishing has decimated populations of fruit-eating fishes, especially the large-bodied characid, Colossoma macropomum. During lengthy annual floods, frugivorous fishes enter vast Amazonian floodplains, consume massive quantities of fallen fruits and egest viable seeds. Many tree and liana species are clearly specialized for icthyochory, and seed dispersal by fish may be crucial for the maintenance of Amazonian wetland forests. Unlike frugivorous mammals and birds, little is known about seed dispersal effectiveness of fishes. Extensive mobility of frugivorous fish could result in extremely effective, multi-directional, long-distance seed dispersal. Over three annual flood seasons, we tracked fine-scale movement patterns and habitat use of wild Colossoma, and seed retention in the digestive tracts of captive individuals. Our mechanistic model predicts that Colossoma disperses seeds extremely long distances to favourable habitats. Modelled mean dispersal distances of 337–552 m and maximum of 5495 m are among the longest ever reported. At least 5 per cent of seeds are predicted to disperse 1700–2110 m, farther than dispersal by almost all other frugivores reported in the literature. Additionally, seed dispersal distances increased with fish size, but overfishing has biased Colossoma populations to smaller individuals. Thus, overexploitation probably disrupts an ancient coevolutionary relationship between Colossoma and Amazonian plants.
1. Introduction
Long-distance seed dispersal enhances regional population persistence and gene flow between distant plant populations, enables range expansion and colonization of remote patches, and may facilitate species coexistence [1–5]. It is, however, difficult to quantify this critical process as long-distance dispersal events are thought to be rare [1]. Nevertheless, if fruit consumption coincides with periods of high mobility, frugivores may routinely disperse seeds long distances. Unlike frugivorous birds and mammals [1,6–8], we know little about the role of fruit-eating fishes as vectors of long-distance seed dispersal [9,10].
During annual floods that can exceed half a year in duration, frugivorous fishes consume fruits that fall into the water in Amazonian floodplain habitats, which occupy an area of more than 250 000 km2 [9,11–16]. Fruiting generally coincides with flooding and seeds are highly adapted to dispersal by water and/or fishes [9,17–21]. Massive quantities of viable seeds have been encountered in the digestive tracts of fruit-eating fishes and fish-mediated seed dispersal may be crucial for plant regeneration in flooded habitats [9–11,17,22,23]. Despite the extensive mobility of fruit-eating fish [10], no study to date has assessed whether fish provide long-distance seed dispersal to habitats suitable for seedling recruitment.
Animals have complex movement patterns in heterogeneous landscapes, and frugivores clearly disperse seeds to habitats that differ in quality from the perspective of the seed [6,24–28]. Nevertheless, models of seed dispersal distances do not account for the loss of seeds to inappropriate habitats, despite the often stringent conditions necessary for germination and recruitment to later life-history stages [24,29,30]. In wetlands, effective dispersers (sensu [26]) must deposit seeds in seasonally flooded habitats to prevent their demise in permanent bodies of water, such as rivers and lakes.
Colossoma macropomum Cuvier (Characidae; hereafter: Colossoma) is widely distributed throughout tropical South America and is an extremely commercially important fish [9,13,31,32]: in the 1970s, 36–40 per cent of the fish for sale at the major Manaus (Brazil) fish market were individuals of this one species [31,32]. Overfishing has reduced population sizes by 90 per cent in some areas over the past several decades, decreased individual fish size and altered the age structure of populations [31,33,34]. Colossoma individuals consume enormous numbers of seeds of a diverse array of plant species across the range of the species [9]. For example, we discovered nearly 700 000 intact seeds from 22 tree and liana species in the digestive contents of 230 Colossoma individuals, representing up to 21 per cent of the flora fruiting during the flooded season at our field site in Peru [11].
Our objective in the present study was to test the hypothesis that Colossoma is an effective vector of long-distance seed dispersal; this study is timely owing to the declining populations of this and other formerly abundant species of frugivorous fishes. We integrate data on the movement patterns, habitat preferences and gut retention times of Colossoma individuals over three flood seasons to generate a spatially explicit mechanistic model of seed dispersal for five species of trees and lianas. We compare seed dispersal curves generated by Colossoma with those produced by 11 other animal dispersers, based on a review of the literature. Finally, we investigate how seed dispersal distance by Colossma varies with fish size and we make inferences on how seed dispersal effectiveness is likely to be influenced by overfishing in the Amazon.
2. Material and methods
(a) Study site and focal species
We conducted this study during three flood seasons (2004–2006) in Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve (5°21′ S; 74°30′ W), a 21 924 km2 area in northeastern Peru [11,35]. Approximately 90 per cent of this reserve consists of floodplain forests, other wetlands, rivers and lakes; flooding occurs annually from January to June and floodwaters can reach up to 6 m deep [11,35]. Colossoma is among the largest species of fishes in tropical South America, and can weigh 20–30 kg and measure more than 1 m in length [31,33]. Colossoma is common at our field site primarily because fishing pressure is low within the reserve.
(b) Radiotelemetry
To study fine-scale spatial movement patterns, we inserted radio transmitters in the opercula of 24 wild sub-adult and adult Colossoma over three flood seasons (2004: n = 5; 2005: n = 7; 2006: n = 12) and released fish at the point of capture. In 2005 and 2006, individuals were weighed and standard length was measured prior to insertion of the radio transmitter; measuring the fish and inserting the transmitter took less than 3–4 min, during which time, we gently moved water over the gills to minimize stress to the fish. The flat transmitter (15.5 × 50 mm, Advanced Telemetry Systems) was attached with monofilament line to the outer operculum to diminish interference with the gills [10] and to avoid bacterial infection that could arise from surgical implantation. The transmitters weighed less than 1 per cent of the average body mass of Colossoma individuals included in this study (transmitter weight in air = 17 g; Colossoma weight in air: average ± s.d.: 1790.8 ± 815.4 g; range 750–2900 g; see the electronic supplementary material, appendix table S1 for individual weights), and should therefore not have interfered with fish movement [36]. Low-frequency (40 mHz) coded transmitters were equipped with a 30 day battery [37,38]. We followed radiotagged individuals in canoes to reduce behavioural disruption that could have occurred from boats with outboard motors.
Every 30 min from 07.00 to 17.00, we located fish by triangulating radio signals from two to four positions (i.e. bearings), recorded their coordinates with a hand-held global positioning system (GPS) unit [37] and noted the habitat from which the radio signal originated. To calculate error around bearings, we took three to four bearings at three or more locations during each follow. We estimated the errors for all other bearings for each individual fish using standard deviations calculated for these locations in the program Locate III (Pacer Computing, Tatamagouche, NS, Canada; http://www.locateiii.com/), and incorporated error into our simulation models (see below). Triangulation was not used during the pilot 2004 season when we were perfecting the technique for following fish in dense flooded forests; instead, locations were determined by approaching the signal until it was strong enough that the fish was likely to be within 15 m and then recording a GPS location. Telemetry accuracy was also tested by attaching a radiotransmitter to fishing line, and hiding it in the water up to 500 m from the telemetry crew. In all cases (n = 5), the exact location of the transmitter was determined, and the device was retrieved.
When we could not locate a fish, we searched extensively for 2 days before capturing a new individual for telemetry. Radiotagged individuals were followed an average of 8.5 ± 6.5 days (mean ± s.d.; range: 2 h–29.5 days; see the electronic supplementary material, appendix table S1) before being lost. To date, no published study presents data on the fine-scale movements of fruit-eating fish [10].
(c) Gut retention times
To gather data on gut-passage rates, we fed known quantities of five species of seeds to captive Colossoma individuals housed in individual tanks at the Instituto para la Investigación de la Amazonia Peruana in 2005 and 2006 (IIAP, Institute for the Study of the Peruvian Amazon; n = 5 in 2005, n = 3–5 adults and 4–5 juveniles, see the electronic supplementary material, appendix table S2 for more detailed information): Duroia duckei (Rubiaceae; tree), Cecropia latiloba (Urticaceae; pioneer tree), Cayaponia cruegeri (2005 only; liana) and Cayaponia tubulosa (2006 only; Cucurbitaceae; liana), and Annona muricata (2006 only; Annonaceae; tree) [11]. Seeds of these five species are a major component of the diet of Colossoma, and germinate rapidly after defecation [11].
Hourly, we recorded the number of seeds defecated by each fish, and removed all defecated seeds. Gut retention times were longer than expected (see the electronic supplementary material, appendix figure S1); in 2005, we only monitored captive Colossoma during the day, but in 2006 we monitored them by day and night. From the 2005 data, we cannot accurately determine the time that fish defecated seeds at night, so we assumed conservatively that all seeds found in the tank each morning were defecated at a constant rate the previous night. We fed each fish 4–200 seeds from each seed species (depending on the size of the seed), replicated each feeding trial two to three times per fish, and calculated the proportion of seeds defecated during each hour interval (see the electronic supplementary material, appendix table S2 for sample sizes, duration of experiment and number of intact seeds defecated). Fish were fed only one species of seed during each feeding trial. Fish were monitored until they no longer defecated intact seeds, which ranged from 2 to 12 days depending on the species of seed; fish ingested intact 92.4 per cent of the seeds they were fed (see the electronic supplementary material, appendix table S2). During these trials, fish were supplemented with an extruded diet, consisting of 25 per cent protein, designed to meet their dietary needs [11]. Further details about these feeding trials are presented elsewhere, along with results of experiments in which we compared the germination rates of seeds defecated by fish in these trials with seeds in several control treatments [11].
(d) Simulation model
We developed a spatially explicit, individual-based simulation model in C (Microsoft Visual Studio 2005; code available in the electronic supplementary material) that integrates data on movement patterns and habitat affinities of wild fish, and the gut retention times of captive fish. We generated dispersal kernels for the five tree and liana species whose seeds we fed to Colossoma: D. duckei, Cecropia latiloba, Cayaponia cruegeri and C. tubulosa, and A. muricata [11]. The input data for the model are telemetry locations from fish and gut retention times for the different species of seeds. Telemetry locations include a time stamp and a habitat classification. The distributions of seed dispersal distances (i.e. the dispersal kernels) were modelled separately for each species.
The distance a seed disperses is a function of time in the digestive tract and distance the fish moves over that interval from the point of origin. From a random forest or savannah starting location from the fish telemetry data with time stamp t, the model selects a random deviate T from the cumulative distribution of gut retention times to follow the fish. The model then tracks the fish until time stamp t + T in the telemetry data is reached. If the end of the fish's telemetry data is reached before elapsed time T is reached, the model starts over with a new fish and starting location. Telemetry measurement error associated with each telemetry location is added to locations at time t and t + T and the distance between these two points is calculated to determine the dispersal distance of the seed. The model flagged dispersal to permanent bodies of water. For each of the five seed species, the model was run for 100 000 iterations to characterize the dispersal shadow for that species. We determined median and 95th percentile dispersal distances for each seed species.
(e) Individual-level variation in movement patterns
Individual fish vary in their movement patterns, with some fish moving great distances and some apparently moving only locally. To quantify effect of individual variability in movements, we ran the model for 100 000 iterations separately for each of 15 fish that accumulated at least 100 h of observation with at least 100 individual locations. Gut retention times were from the full Cecropia dataset. The effect of individual variation in movements was quantified as the standard error of the median and 95th percentile dispersal distances. We tested the hypothesis that dispersal distances increase with fish size (Proc GLM, SAS v. 9.2).
(f) Comparison with other dispersers
We compiled data from studies that quantify movement patterns and gut retention times to compare seed dispersal by Colossoma with dispersal by other frugivores. We used data from seven studies of large-bodied frugivores [7,8,39–43], one classic study of two passerine and one piciform bird species [44], and one study of European jays that accounted for habitat [28] (for additional details on data from these studies, see the electronic supplementary material, appendix table S3). We have included dispersal data from the longest distance seed dispersers studied to date: African hornbills [7] and Asian elephants [8]. We gathered data on the proportion of seeds dispersed to different distance classes using the program Engauge Digitizer (v. 4.1; http://digitizer.sourceforge.net). Data for spider monkeys [39] were supplied by S. Russo. When dispersal curves were given for more than one seed species, or congeneric species of frugivores (e.g. two species of hornbills [7]), we calculated average dispersal distances. We include average dispersal curves from this study and curves from seeds with the minimum (Cayaponia cruegeri) and maximum (Cayaponia tubulosa) gut retention times.
3. Results
(a) Radiotelemetry
We followed 24 radiotagged Colossoma individuals for an average of 8.5 days (see the electronic supplementary material, appendix table S1), which resulted in 1751 h of continuous fine-scale movement data. These highly mobile fish moved at a rate of 50.7 ± 26.7 m h–1 (average ± s.d.; summary telemetry data in the electronic supplementary material, appendix table S1). These fish moved up to 5.9 km away from the location at the beginning of the telemetry follow, suggesting that they could be vectors of long-distance seed dispersal.
(b) Gut retention
Colossoma individuals retained seeds in their digestive tracts for long periods of time, up to 212 h (electronic supplementary material, figure S1 and appendix table S4). Gut retention differed significantly by seed species (Cox Proportional Hazards Model; χ2 = 404.7, d.f. = 4; p < 0.0001). Average gut retention time ranged from 34.7 h (±0.97 h s.e.) for seeds of Cayaponia cruegeri to 147.3 h (±10.3 h s.e.) for seeds of Cayaponia tubulosa; across species of seeds, gut retention time averaged 74.0 h (see the electronic supplementary material, appendix table S4).
(c) Simulation model
Our seed dispersal models were multimodal and had fat tails, i.e. dispersal distances did not drop sharply to zero as would be expected based on short-distance movements. These models predict long-distance seed dispersal for all species of seeds (figure 1 and the electronic supplementary material, figure S2). Dispersal to floodplain forests and savannahs (suitable habitat) was substantially greater than dispersal to permanent bodies of water (unsuitable habitat). Only 7.8–9.2% of the seeds in our simulation models were deposited in rivers or lakes (table 1).
Excluding seeds lost to sink habitats, our models predicted that Colossoma dispersed seeds a mean distance of 337–552 m and 5 per cent of seeds were predicted to disperse more than 1707–2114 m, depending on plant species (table 1). All dispersal curves exhibited one peak representative of local seed dispersal within approximately 600 m of the origin (i.e. the maternal plant), and additional peaks representative of interpatch movement: from approximately 600 to 2700 m, and from approximately 4000 to 5500 m.
(d) Individual variation in gut retention times and movement patterns
We found substantial variation in estimated seed dispersal distances due to individual differences in movement patterns (see the electronic supplementary material, appendix table S5), indicating that seed dispersal distances may vary with inherent properties of the individual, such as size and age. Larger fish had significantly greater median seed dispersal distances (excluding the potential outlier: β = 0.06 ± 0.02; F1,12 = 9.87, p = 0.0085, R2 = 45.1%; figure 2). Similarly, we detected a suggestive trend that long-distance dispersal (95th% percentile dispersal) may also increase with fish weight (F1,13 = 3.47, p = 0.085, R2 = 21%).
(e) Comparison with other frugivores
As with other well-known large frugivores, Colossoma dispersed the majority of seeds within 200 m of the maternal plant (figure 3). However, the long gut retention times, in concert with high mobility, resulted in a fat tail, and estimated maximum dispersal distances were similar to those produced by African hornbills [7] and Asian elephants [8], and exceeded those of white-tailed deer [40] (figure 3).
4. Discussion
Enhanced germination following defecation [11] in conjunction with long-distance movements, affinity for habitats favourable for germination and long gut retention times translated into very effective long-distance seed dispersal by Colossoma (figure 1). Modelled dispersal distances greatly exceeded 100 m, which has been defined as 'long distance', [5] (table 1). Indeed, seed dispersal by Colossoma surpassed the extent of dispersal provided by most abiotic and biotic vectors and rivaled the maximum dispersal distances produced by the longest distance seed dispersers studied to date: African hornbills [7] and Asian elephants [8] (figures 1 and 3; electronic supplementary material, figure S2 and table S3).
Colossoma achieved long-distance seed dispersal via a combination of long gut retention times and long-distance movements between patches of flooded habitats. Whereas gut retention times in birds tend to be short (from minutes to hours) [44,45], Colossoma had very long retention times for seeds, on par with the 152–157 h retention of Cecropia seeds by a Doradidae catfish [46]. Gut retention time varied significantly as a function of plant species (electronic supplementary material, figure S1) and strongly influenced seed dispersal distance. For example, Cayaponia cruegeri seeds had the shortest gut retention time, and Cayaponia tubulosa seeds had the longest gut retention time. This difference resulted in estimated median dispersal distances of Cayaponia tubulosa (the slow species) being twice as far as Cayaponia cruegeri (the fast species; table 1). In contrast, African hornbills [7] achieved long-distance dispersal of seeds via frequent long-distance movements but short gut retention times; hence, interspecific variation in gut retention times of seeds is probably less important for species being dispersed by birds than by fish or mammals, which typically have longer gut retention times (references in the electronic supplementary material, table S3).
Our models predict minimal seed loss to permanent bodies of water as Colossoma individuals spent the majority of their time in flooded forests and savannahs during the flooded season. This activity pattern is congruent with Saint-Paul et al. [47] who captured more Colossoma in floodplain habitats than rivers, despite greater sampling effort in rivers. In heterogeneous landscapes, mechanistic models of seed dispersal need to account for the loss of seeds to habitats that are unsuitable for germination and seedling growth. Abiotic vectors, such as wind, disperse seeds indiscriminately across the landscape, which results in large numbers of seeds landing in inappropriate sites [3]. In contrast, frugivores have complex behavioural patterns and often exhibit strong habitat affinities [6,25], which may increase the probability of seedling establishment. The preference of Colossoma for floodplain forests and savannahs during peak fruit production (flooded season) resulted in more than 90 per cent of seeds being dispersed to appropriate habitats (table 1 and figure 1).
Many species of Amazonian fruits have morphological structures that enhance buoyancy, which can result in long-distance seed displacement (e.g. [17]). However, for species adapted to fish-mediated dispersal, secondary dispersal by water following defecation is likely to be minimal because seeds generally sink once fruit pulp is removed [9–11,17]. It is likely, therefore, that after defecation by fish, seeds are only locally re-distributed within floodplain habitats, e.g. seeds could aggregate around obstacles like fallen logs as flood waters recede. Furthermore, Colossoma and other frugivorous fishes can disperse viable seeds upstream, downstream and between tributaries within the floodplain to hospitable habitats, replenishing seed banks of plant populations whose seeds are moved unidirectionally downstream by rivers [10].
The dispersal curves of our five Amazonian plant species are multimodal, which has a behavioural explanation: Colossoma disperses most seeds while foraging within a patch of floodplain forest or savannah (figure 1). However, most fish moved to at least one other patch, and a few fish moved to very distant patches, resulting in intermediate and extremely long-distance seed dispersal (figure 1). Frugivorous fishes have been observed to congregate beneath fruiting trees [9,10,15] and could therefore rapidly deplete the local patch of fruit, compelling interpatch movements. Moreover, multimodality may be a common pattern for seeds dispersed by vertebrates. For example, spider monkeys disperse seeds long distances during the day, and shorter distances at night when they are in the same sleep tree for extended periods of time, resulting in a bimodal dispersal pattern [39]. Multimodal dispersal results from more than one process operating on the seed population [48]. For example, Nathan et al. [49] describe a bimodal dispersal pattern for wind-dispersed seeds that results from a combination of relatively local dispersal under canopy-level winds combined with rare, long-distance dispersal due to updrafts. In the present study, there were at least three modes in the dispersal distribution, regardless of plant species: one clearly produced by local movements by all fish, one clearly produced by intermediate-scale movements of some fish, and one clearly produced by large-scale movements of a few fish. The shape of seed dispersal kernels may become more predictable when complex animal behaviour is considered (e.g. [39]).
Impressive as these dispersal distances are, our seed dispersal curves are conservative for several reasons. First, the dense vegetation within floodplain forests decreased the range of the radiotelemetry devices, thus underestimating the time that fish spent in this habitat. Second, three individuals were lost early during our telemetry work and were not rediscovered. Fishing pressure within the reserve was low during the flood season; it is therefore likely that these fish rapidly travelled outside the 5 km range of our 2 day long searches. Third, overexploitation throughout Colossoma's range has reduced average fish size: individuals we followed were substantially smaller (average weight = 1.7 kg) than the 20–30 kg maximum reported size [31,33]. In our study, larger individuals had significantly greater median seed dispersal distances (figure 2). Bigger fish also very likely have longer gut retention times owing to longer digestive tracts. Thus, older and larger individuals should disperse seeds noticeably farther than we present here.
5. Conclusions
Colossoma macropomum fossils have been discovered in Miocene formations [50], suggesting that this species has been dispersing seeds for at least 15 million years. Owing to their extensive mobility and long gut retention times, fruit-eating fishes like Colossoma macropomum probably contribute considerably to seed-mediated long-distance gene flow, the spatial genetic structure, and colonization of distant patches in Amazonian wetland plants. Overexploitation of fruit-eating fish has caused massive declines in population sizes since the 1970s [31,33,34]. Simulation models suggest that dispersal distances depend, in part, on the density of frugivores: when frugivores are more abundant, dispersal kernels exhibit longer tails because food patches are more rapidly exhausted and frugivores must travel farther to find food [51]. Hence, reduced density of Colossoma could decrease the need to travel long distances and, therefore, diminish seed dispersal distances. Furthermore, overfishing has shifted natural Colossoma populations to younger, smaller fish [31,33,34], which are less effective seed dispersers than their older and larger counterparts [11,17,22] (figure 2). Overharvesting of frugivorous fish has myriad effects on seed dispersal effectiveness (sensu [26]) in Amazonian floodplain forests, including a reduction in the quantity of seeds dispersed [22], the viability of consumed seeds [11,17] and the spatial extent of dispersal (figure 2). Thus, overfishing probably compromises long-distance seed dispersal in Amazonian forests.
We thank M. Geber, P. Marks, P. McIntyre, M. Vellend, K. Flinn and R. Harris for valuable discussions and S. Russo for data. M. Goulding, E. Schupp, A. Manzaneda, M. Horn and S. Russo critiqued previous drafts. We thank associate editor J. Hastings and two anonymous reviewers for their constructive criticism of a previous draft. C. del Busto Rojas, J. Barrera Macedo, J. Vásquez, R. Rosales, S. Vázquez, S. Pérez, L. Ramírez, E. Yumbato, A. Sima, O. Yumbato and V. Saldaña assisted with field and laboratory work. All protocols were approved by Cornell University Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. We are indebted to the Instituto Nacional de Recursos Naturales and the Ministerio de la Producción (Perú) for permits and the Instituto para la Investigación de la Amazonia Peruana for logistical support. Funding was provided by the Wildlife Conservation Society, the National Geographic Society (grant no. 7979-06), and Cornell University's Center for the Environment.
J.T.A. and A.S.F. acquired funding for the study. J.T.A., T.H.P., J.S.S.R. and A.S.F. designed experiments. J.T.A., T.H.P. and J.S.S.R. conducted fieldwork. T.N. designed, implemented, and wrote the methods for the simulation model. T.N. and J.T.A. analysed results. J.T.A. wrote the first draft of the manuscript, which was edited by T.N., T.H.P. and A.S.F.
- Received January 24, 2011.
- Accepted March 4, 2011.
- This Journal is © 2011 The Royal Society


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LevLab explores uncharted regimes of strongly correlated and topological matter by pushing the experimental state-of-the-art in ultracold atomic physics, quantum optics, and condensed matter physics. At a billionth of a degree above absolute zero, laser-cooled and trapped gases of neutral atoms are among the coldest objects in the universe. Informed by quantum many-body theory, we employ quantum gases as versatile testbeds for exploring the organizing principles of novel quantum matter such as quantum glasses and quantum liquid crystals. See this website for more info on AMO activities at Stanford.
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Mail letters for Prof. Lev to:
Ginzton Laboratory Box 305
Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-4088
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452 Lomita Mall - Physics/Astrophysics Rm 109
Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-4088
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Rieko Sasaki


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16 minutes ago as of this posting.
Colonel Meow passed away yesterday evening. I will post more about the details when I've had a few days to grieve. Thank you so much for your understanding, Minions. Your love and support has meant the world to us both. -Slave Beast
He had PU surgery not that long ago - or perhaps it was for megacolon. Just shocking and sad.
Play free at the Bridge, dear Colonel Meow.


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The entire list
After Mr. Adnan Oktar's several years of discourse on the subjects that there isn't violence in the essence of Islam, and that protecting the rights of the People of the Book is the responsibility of the Muslims, now the Pope has also included these subjects in his booklet.
August 16th , 2013: A9 TV
Adnan Oktar: Companions' understanding of Islam is the best solution against anarchy. It is the system that will allow Christianity to be in ease. It is the system which Jews will be at ease. They still open the gates for Jewish bigotry, Christian bigotry, Muslim bigotry. Especially Muslim bigotry continues to surround Muslim countries. And they continue to watch this.
August 30th, 2013: A9 TV
Adnan Oktar: They don't agree on the Unity of Islam, nor do they involve themselves in this business. They don't have respect towards their own citizens. In Egypt, for example, Muslims are killing each other mercilessly, they hate themselves, they see themselves vile. In order to end hatred for each other, again the Companions of Islam, the Islam of the Qur'an has to be held up high. So obviously wrong methods have been used until now. So, the methods of Mahdi is essential, insha'Allah.
January 30th, 2009: Kral Karadeniz TV
Adnan Oktar: The Turkish Islamic World should constantly emphasize their good faith, love, compassion and affection; especially WE MUST MAKE OUR CHRISTIAN AND JEWISH BROTHERS UNDERSTAND OUR DEEP LOVE AND PASSION ABOUT PROTECTING THEM. We must make them clearly understand that there will be no separations and they are our dear brothers.
Albaghdadi TV, April 30th, 2008
Adnan Oktar: I am all for preaching and practicing religion and Islam within a secular system, and I think that everyone would find peace in that BECAUSE IN ANY SOCIETY THERE ARE UNBELIEVERS, THERE ARE JEWS AND THERE ARE CHRISTIANS. THEY ALSO HAVE RIGHTS. THEY ARE ALSO FIRST -CLASS CITIZENS and there are also different sects. For example, there are Alawis and Jaffaris and they are all our brothers: We feel deep compassion for all of them and we would never wish any harm to them. I consider Alawis and Jaffaris as equals and brothers. They are the People of the Book as described in the Qur'an. But they are our brothers, sisters and friends in the Qur'an. They also have rights. We have to live in friendship and love with them.
26 Nov 2013, Vatan
Pope Francis prepared a booklet for the clergy to benefit from his preaching and he made the following statement in his booklet : "The real Islam and correctly interpreted Qur'an is opposed to all forms of violence." He appealed to Islamic countries at the same time and said:
"Humbly I beg to these countries, just as Muslims living in Western countries are feeling the joy of freedom, please ensure the Christians in your countries can worship freely and ensure that they can freely fulfill the requirements of their beliefs."


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Sofya Poger, PhD
Dr. Poger's Post Doctoral Research at Stevens Institute of Technology included Computer Vision, Computer Graphics, and Graph Theory. At Felician College, Dr. Poger has developed a variety of new on-ground, hybrids and online courses. She conducts research in Computer Science, Mathematics, and Educational Technology. She has extensive industry experience in system design, development, implementation, testing, and delivery different software system.
Courses Taught at Felician University
CS 101 Introduction to Computer Applications
CS 102 Computer Applications for Educators
CS 103 Introduction to Advanced Computer S
CS 120 Introduction to Computer Science
CS 270 Introduction to Programming II
CS 290 Theoretical Foundations and Principles of Computer Science
CS 317 Computer Informatics, Privacy, and Security for Health Care Professionals
CS 350 Introduction to Operating Systems
CS 380 Data Structures and Algorithms
CS 420 Software Engineering
CSEC 425 Managing Information Security in Information Systems
CS 460 Senior Project Development Practicum
CSEC 460 Senior Project Development Practicum
CS 720 Advanced topics in Nursing Informatics (NUR/CS 720)


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Western Cape Dam levels have been steadily improving in the past two weeks and will most likely continue after the upcoming storm. The South African Weather Service warned that an intense cold front was headed to the province as well as the Namakwa District of the Northern Cape on 14 and 15 June.
MEDIA RELEASE: Please be advised of the intense cold front resulting in wet and cold weather for the WC 14-15 June 2018 and Gauteng, FS + Mpu will be affected in max temp. Visit https://t.co/82W3dwn2P1 for full view of the document. Follow us for updates & Take care. @ReenvalSA pic.twitter.com/MNUGZqk2gS
— SA Weather Service (@SAWeatherServic) June 12, 2018
Gales reaching up to 70km/h along the coastline can be expected. This means Cape Town will also be affected by heavy downpours leading to flooding over the city, the Winelands, the western parts of the Overberg and the West Coast District.
As the cold front makes its way to South-Eastern parts of the country on 16 June strong-to-near gale force winds at 50km/h can be expected along the Eastern Cape coast. Temperatures in the Western, Eastern and Northern Cape are set to drop significantly.
By the weekend, the cold front would've exited the country but cold dry air will spread to the interior of the country resulting in cold daytime conditions in Gauteng, North West Province, The Free State and Mpumalanga.
Here are the rainfall figures of the past 24 hours.
Good day! Here is your 24 hour rainfall figures. Hope you are enjoying the weather. Please remember to share with us the amount of rain received whenever you got sole drops. @ReenvalSA pic.twitter.com/6sE1t3yuD1
— SA Weather Service (@SAWeatherServic) June 12, 2018
Here is your weekly dam update:
- The Vaal River System consisting of 14 dams serving mainly Gauteng Sasol and Eskom is at 100%.
- The Cape Town Dams System consisting of six dams serving mainly City of Cape Town this week is at 26%.
- The KwaZulu-Natal Dam System is at 65.8 % this week while the Eastern Cape Dam System sits at 65.5%.
Here are the latest dam percentages throughout the country:
For a more in-depth rainfall update, visit WeatherSA or click here. For more information on the water storage levels across the country, visit the DWS site. For a comprehensive drought status report from the Department of Water and Sanitation, click here.


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While I do like eye candy, the plot is WAY more important to me. If the Anime has a fabulous story, I'll watch it even if the art is ugly. I can get used to "ugly" animation if the story is good.
My backlog...
no, i don't mind the ugliness
i might have pica
I say anime like Hayate No Gotoku! Can't Take My Eyes Off You it has quite a good story line but the characters look so weired i cant watch it
I have to admit, I have passed on a few shows here and there because the art was so bad it made my brain hurt. I try not to, because I know some shows have bad art, but amazing stories, it's just sooo hard for me to sit there and stare at something so poorly animated. I've done the same thing with video games, unfortunately. A few friends recommend some older games for me to play, but the art is so bad that I never give it a shot. I'm working on fixing that flaw in myself though lol
Lets see sometimes I do get annoy about how an anime looks. Yet, when I do take the time to watch it then I come to relize that the art really fits the anime take Mind Game and Reline art for example. Mind Game being out of whack but fits the whole energy of it. And Relines art [which was drawn for 7 years] look quite western to me but it still was detail to the point I loved it myself, really help to get my adrenaline pumping.
I absolutely cannot watch an anime if I don't like the artwork. There used to be a time I would watch anything as long as it was anime but now I've become picky and I refuse to watch shows with unappealing art/ character styles. Shows with characters that have large round eyes, or bad hair, or odd bodily proportion get to me. I like anime drawn in the style like Cowboy Bebop, Death Note note or even Kids on the Slope.
I sense a sacred jewel shard!
I've can say that art isn't that big of a deal for me as long as the series interests me in some way.
I'm the best in the world at being me;why would I give up such a great position?
If the art keeps me from being able to concentrate on the show, I probably won't keep watching it. Just today I kept getting distracted by the side view shots of Hiiro No Kakera's main character Tamaki. From the side her eyes were drawn so that they appeared freaky, bulbous and downright disturbing, at least in the first few episodes. Not even sure if I like the show yet, all I can see are those eyes....
On the other hand, I started watching Vampire Knight even though I thought it wouldn't be an anime I'd like because it looked so pretty, so it's safe to say the art has a pretty big effect either way.
Balzack wrote:
I'm not hugely particular about art style, though I do prefer certain things. The only anime that I can think of off the top of my head that I couldn't stand the art so much that I had to stop watching was the Count of Monte Cristo. But the animation in that isn't really anime style in the first place.
I had the same prob with The Count of MC . ^^
I give it a chance, other elements have to carry it be good plot, characters, etc.
An example, Shrine of the Morning Mist series (anime works/media blasters) was really good, despite the fact it looked like it low budget when it came to production.
I will fully admit I usually don't pay much attention to Animes if I'm not caught by the artwork. Usually I'll see the cover artwork and I'll decide if I like the atmosphere. However, I have run into some that had great artwork, but I wasn't caught by the storyline. It's amazing how that can happen. But we all do have different preferences.
I just got finished with Gosick, and when I first saw the cover artwork, it didn't look too interesting to me. That 'darker' atmosphere has always been a turn off to me. But a friend recently told me to watch Death Note, and I really enjoyed the story and the artwork, even though I thought it wouldn't be my type of Anime. So I decided to give Gosick a try, and I really enjoyed it, too.
I think that I'm becoming less focused on the visuals and more focused on the content. Because I've watched some great looking Animes with mediocre storylines. And I'm learning to critique these more based on the story and not by the way they look.
Add me! :D
I kinda want to watch dragon ball, but I just can't... I know I'll hate it ._.
"Darkness is light turned inside out" -Beelzebub
Art is something that can attract or distract.
Usually I dislike it when they go to much into water-coloring style or do something totally concept-art-ish (like Kafka Inaka Isha) *creeps*
Searching a demoness from hell or goddess from heaven...
The storyline has to be REALLY good for me to watch it, even if it has bad art.
But if the art is fantastic and the storyline is just good or ok, I'll watch it.
XxGothicDemonGirlxX wrote:
I kinda want to watch dragon ball, but I just can't... I know I'll hate it ._.
*falls on his knees*
Oh.. at least someone else also feels this way... REJOICE
Searching a demoness from hell or goddess from heaven...


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The Pacific women's basketball team earned a matter-of-fact victory at Cal State Fullerton on Saturday afternoon.
The Pacific women's basketball team earned a matter-of-fact victory at Cal State Fullerton on Saturday afternoon.
The Tigers played well enough to overcome some sloppiness, and their starters powered them to a 67-55 victory at Titan Gym. Pacific (16-3, 6-1 Big West Conference) strengthened its hold on first place, while the Titans (7-12, 3-4) lost their third consecutive game.
Senior forward Kendall Rodriguez and junior point guard Gena Johnson led Pacific with 13 points apiece as four of the five starters reached double-digits. The Tigers led 38-22 at halftime and withstood a few minor runs by the Titans in the second half.
"We weren't our best, but it was good enough," Pacific coach Lynne Roberts said. "I thought we played well in the first half and started strong in the second half. We didn't play that well the rest of the way, but sometimes you have to win ugly. It's always good to get a road sweep, and that's what we came to do."
Johnson said the Titans were the most physical team Pacific has faced in Big West play so far. Sophomore center Kendall Kenyon posted her third consecutive double-double, with 12 points and 10 rebounds, while also getting a block and a steal. Pacific was outrebounded 44-34 and allowed 16 second-chance points, but it wasn't enough for the Titans.
"Kenyon has a motor that wouldn't quit," Roberts said. "We're starting to count on a double-double from her and that's a lot to say."
Brianna Barfield had 12 points in 20 minutes off the bench to pace Cal State Fullerton, while Mya Olivier had 7 of her 11 points from the free-throw line. Pacific made 15 of 16 from the line.
Pacific returns home for a four-game homestand to host UC Irvine at 7 p.m. Thursday and Long Beach State next Saturday. The Tigers are 9-0 at Spanos Center so far this season.
"We now have a target on our backs," Johnson said. "So we can't afford to take a day off."


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When an organ donor dies in the Mid-South Transplant Foundation's geographic territory, hospitals are able to procure an average of 4.24 organs per donor.
That's the No. 1 rate in the nation for the number of organs transplanted per healthy donor by the United Network for Organ Sharing.
The results were released in the organization's most recent quarterly report. The report also ranked the Mid-South Transplant Foundation as the No. 1 organ procurement organization in the U.S. for the percentage of African-American donors in 2012.
"We have great relationships with the hospitals," said Wendy Garrison, a manager of organ recovery at the Mid-South Transplant Foundation. "It's not only our staff, but having the hospitals fully on-board to help us."
The time between when a patient begins to die and when that same patient is declared brain-dead can be critical. Organ donation abides by a paradox: a person has to be declared dead before any organs can be removed, but the organs must be alive to be transferred to a living recipient. Usually, that means an organ donor dies in a hospital on life support, and those deaths represent only a small portion of deaths in the U.S. Once patients are declared brain-dead, the organs quickly begin to deteriorate and become unfit for transplantation.
"If they aren't managed correctly up until that time, you are very limited," said Ken Sellers, the medical director of the Mid-South Transplant Foundation. "The body starts to shut down very rapidly in the process of brain death."
Because of those factors, the Mid-South Transplant Foundation and other federally designated organ procurement organizations work closely with hospital staffs to teach best practices for managing dying patients who have opted to donate their organs. Organ procurement organizations are nonprofit organizations responsible for evaluating and procuring organs for transplantation in live patients.
Each organ procurement organization spans a geographic territory, which are designated by the federal government. There are currently 58 in the U.S. The Mid-South Transplant Foundation serves West Tennessee, Eastern Arkansas and North Mississippi.
Sellers says the overall health of a donor and the donor's age also can influence the number of organs that can be procured and transplanted. But even organs from relatively healthy donors can't be used if the patients aren't properly managed when they are dying.
Usually, the organ transplantation team has less than 24 hours from when a patient dies to procure the organs and then transplant them in a living recipient.
"There are very critical time elements," Sellers said. "A heart may only have four to six hours."
Because of those time elements, the Mid-South Transplant Foundation works closely with hospitals, but also with the public to increase awareness and participation in the organ donation process.
To raise local awareness, The Mid-South Transplant Foundation is holding its Annual Linking Hands for Life Event on April 21 to celebrate National Donate Life Month. The celebration will be held at Memphis' Levitt Shell inside Overton Park, and will include a concert featuring David Parks, a native Memphian who was on the MTV show "Making His Band."
"We need to spread the word that donation changes lives every day; however, many more lives need to be affected, especially in the Mid-South," said Erskine Gillespie, community development coordinator for the Mid-South Transplant Foundation. "Many are saved, but many continue to suffer."
The Memphis region is No. 1 for hypertension, obesity and diabetes in the state of Tennessee. Those factors contribute to a high rate of kidney disease in the area. Kidneys are the most-waited for organ in Memphis and elsewhere in the nation.
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by The Daily News Publishing Co. Inc. - All Rights Reserved


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- Polka Dot Quilting Fabric Fat Quarters: Purple, 18 x 21 inches
Craft Basics
Create striking quilt patterns with a purple polka dot fat quarter. With a classic dotted design, this fat quarter can add a pop of color and texture to your favorite quilting and sewing projects. Great for individual use or mix and match with other complementary fabric squares.
- All Things You™ purple polka dot quilting fat quarter
- Fabric square measures 18 x 21 inches
- 100% cotton fabric
- Do not prewash


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Ark. attorney general warns of phone scams
LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel is warning about two phone scams going on in the state.
McDaniel says his office has received a number of reports that people claiming to be with credit card companies or the government are trying to obtain credit card or bank numbers.
McDaniel says one scam involves a person alleging to be with a credit card company and saying the would-be victim's credit cards are locked and that their credit numbers are needed to unlock the cards. He says credit card companies would already know the customers' card number.
McDaniel says the second involves someone posing as a government employee and offering grants to people with good credit and asking for checking, savings or debit card numbers. He says there is no such grant program.