text:
Career Biography
Debra A. Goldstein has been an Associate with Zarwin Baum since October 2001, focusing her practice on insurance defense, PIP liability, insurance coverage issues and commercial litigation.
Debra was admitted to the Bar of the States of New Jersey and New York in 1988. From 1988 to 1995, she was an Associate with the firm of Edward P. Papalia, Jr. in Parsippany, NJ, practicing in the field of insurance defense. During her employment, she handled numerous bench and jury trials with the majority of the latter reaching jury verdicts.
From 1995 to 1998, Debra worked for a variety of attorneys on a per diem basis while beginning to raise a family then joined the firm of Kalmus & Martuscello in New York City where she handled New Jersey and New York insurance defense, contract and credit cases. In 2001, Debra left the firm of Kalmus & Martuscello to work for Zarwin Baum.
Debra attended Pace University in Pleasantville, New York, graduating in 1985 with a BBA Degree, and Pace Law School, graduating in 1988.
Representative Matters
Defended a major retailer and distributor of propane heaters. Plaintiffs alleged property damage as a result of a defect in the heater used during Hurricane Sandy in plaintiffs' home. Debra successfully showed that the damage was caused by plaintiff's improper use of the heater. The court encouraged plaintiffs to settle for nuisance value.
Retained by a California law firm to subpoena the records of a New Jersey company in a restrictive covenant matter. When the New Jersey company provided deficient responses, Debra successfully moved for attorney's fees for failure to comply.
Defended a property owner in a lawsuit brought by a driver who claims she was struck by another car due to the insured property owner's failure to maintain bushes and shrubbery at the intersection. Debra argued at arbitration that the township had a right of way and the responsibility to maintain the area. The arbitrator found 60% liability upon the town and 10% upon the insured property owner.
Assisted at trial with Ted Schaer in Hudson County, defending bus driver. Plaintiff alleged the bus struck her parked vehicle while she was sitting in it. Bus driver alleged he was cut off by a phantom vehicle. The jury no-caused the plaintiff.
Represented a supermarket chain. After the case settled, plaintiff's counsel advised he wanted to structure the counsel fees. Debra filed a motion to enforce the settlement as did plaintiff's counsel. At oral argument, Debra argued that the case had been settled prior to counsel's request to structure the fee, which is improper. Counsel withdrew his motion and accepted the original settlement amount.
Represented a supermarket chain. Plaintiff allegedly tripped on a rolled up mat. The store alleged that the night cleaning crew did not unroll the mat after cleaning. The co-defendants consisted of various cleaning companies who subcontracted the work at the store. Each contract contained an indemnification agreement. Each defendant planned to file a summary judgment motion. At a status conference, Debra orchestrated an early settlement with each co-defendant contributing, prior to depositions taking place.
Represented a supermarket chain. Plaintiff left the store during icy conditions and fell, requiring a knee replacement. At the time she fell, store employees were applying de-icing materials at one of the store's two doors. Debra assisted Joseph Toddy at trial. The jury found plaintiff was 50% liable.
Represented a truck rental company. Plaintiff claimed he was injured when he tripped over a wire at one of the company's retail facilities. At plaintiff's deposition he was shown surveillance video where no wire was seen. After his deposition, plaintiff agreed to settle for nuisance value.
Represented an insurance company that no longer writes policies in New Jersey. Several cases were brought against the insurance company. The accidents occurred in New Jersey. The plaintiffs had basic out of state policies and wanted to reform the PIP benefits to the New Jersey limits. Debra successfully argued in each case that the Deemer Statute does not apply as the company no longer writes in New Jersey and the plaintiffs' PIP limits applied.
Represented a snow contractor brought in as a third party defendant by the property owner where plaintiff allegedly slipped and fell. The third party defendant was brought in just prior to the arbitration hearing. Debra successfully argued that the insured should be severed from the case as the case was scheduled for arbitration. The case against the snow plow contractor was dismissed.
Represented a supermarket chain. Plaintiff, an elderly woman, tripped over a case of water in the middle of an aisle. During investigation, Debra learned that an employee of a bank located in the supermarket moved the cases of water to surround a prior spill. The bank was brought into the case and it settled 50/50.
News & Events:
Recent Successes:


text:
Top navigation
Main navigation
Each application is supported by a spectre of participants from a wide geographical range. From outside the Nordic region, there are applicants from UK, the Baltic region, Canada and Russia.
A main objective of the marine innovation program is to have businesses take ownership and an active role in the projects.
– We wished for businesses to set the agenda and influence the development of these projects, and we seem to have accomplished this, as a large number of businesses have taken on the role of leader, owner and active contributors to the proposed projects. Over all the applications are of a high standard. It's also very interesting to see how international teams have come together to apply for funding, says innovation adviser Sigridur Thormodsdottir at Nordic Innovation. Thormodsdottir is in charge of the Nordic effort for innovation in the marine sector. The Nordic marine innovation programme has a particular drive to encourage more trans-Atlantic cooperation.
The applications are to be evaluated during the following weeks by Nordic Innovation and the funding consortium for the Nordic marine innovation programme. The project financing will be finally and formally concluded by late September or early October 2011.
The total value of the proposed projects amount to 230 903 mill. NOK. The applications are connected to two modules of the marine innovation programme; 6 mill. NOK have been allocated to module 2 "Meeting future challenges" and 24 mill. NOK have been allocated to module 3 "Reputation enhanced by innovation". Module 2 generated 7 applications, and module three generated a total of 26 applications.
Nordic Innovation and the Nordic marine innovation programme
Nordic Innovation works together with several important Nordic actors on the marine innovation programme; Innovation Norway, AVS, NORA, Icelandic ministry of agriculture and fisheries, Nordic working group for fish (AG fisk), Ministry of food, agriculture and fisheries in Denmark and Fiskimalaradid on the Faroe Islands are all part of a consortium working to build a common Nordic initiative on marine innovation across the Nordic and West-Atlantic borders
The main goal of the project is improved innovation capability, increased profitability and competitive edge within the Nordic marine sector.
Nordic Innovation rarely finance more than 50 per cent of a project and requires a business participation of 50 per cent. Participants from several Nordic countries (three countries at the least) is also required.
Nordic innovation is an institution under the Nordic council of ministers, initiating and financing innovation projects in cooperation with businesses actors, governments and academics.
Copyright © 2019 Nordic Innovation. All rights reserved. webmaster @ nordicinnovation.org. Privacy and data protection.
Stensberggt. 27, 0170 Oslo, Norway | Phone +47 47 61 44 00 | info @ nordicinnovation.org | Org. nr. 971 516 577 | Nordic Innovation is an organisation under the Nordic Council of Ministers.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Another Black Mirror Trailer Has Dropped And It's Messed Up
The first trailer for Black Mirror's fourth season dropped just two days ago and the internet couldn't wait for another peak at the upcoming season. Luckily, Netflix sensed the thirst and have hit us with another sneak peak.
This trailer teases the first episode of the upcoming season and is titled "Crocodile". In the trailer we follow Andrea (played by British actress Kiran Sonia Sawar) in her attempt to piece together a vehicle accident. However, when she encounters a witness who cannot remember what happened, she uses a glowing cube device to examine his memories.
One quote that stands out in a creepy and dubious way is when Andrea says, "I don't care what you do in your time. Private stuff is private stuff."
What does it all mean? The trailer is so secretive!
The episode is directed by Aussie John Hillcoat and was written by Black Mirror creator Charlie Brooker. Show producer Annabel Jones revealed, "Crocodile is a beautiful, more personal study. It's set in Iceland which introduced a totally new palette - one of the privileges of doing Black Mirror is the opportunity to create different worlds and moods and tones. It's a film set in the near future where your memories are no longer private so they can be dredged - sometimes in helpful ways. It's very different to [seasons one episode] 'The Entire History Of You' in that they're not accurate - they're memories rather than recordings. We follow Andrea Riseborough, a woman trying to solve a dilemma."
Memories can be subjective. pic.twitter.com/QS3wwnVafW— Black Mirror (@blackmirror) November 26, 2017
Season 4 still has no release date and fans are getting rather impatient! However, since two trailers have now dropped within days of each other I'm going to guess the whole season will be released very soon!


text:
Riverwash 1k invitro
I've just finished a tiny (1k) invitro for the Riverwash party as an experiment. It was a real challenge to squeeze in all the usual text for an invitro (name, date, place, compos, website) into a 1k and present it in an interesting way. Its no work of art but it does the job quite nicely. I don't know any other invitros of this size so I think its the smallest one ever done.
The concept is very simple: an infinite zoom on text. At Evoke 2006,'Die Ewigkeit schmerzt' by neuro won the demo compo using a version of this technique. Neuro and Farbrausch then won Breakpoint 2008 demo competition with a very advanced and beautiful version.
Getting it into 1k would have been impossible without the '+' sign. The technique relies on one item being displayed inside another as you zoom. So things have to be carefully placed. However, by using the plus sign, I was able to guarantee a character in an area of the screen that would always be placed correctly for the next text. Its not always necessary (capital P, R and so on do not need it as they have horizontal bars in the right place), but it often is. This simple trick meant I did not need to store text co-ordinates or interpolate as I zoom from one place to another.
Download it here.
Incase you are wondering, the extreme colours are because Riverwash takes place in Poland.
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
Retro-Gaming and Emulation about a long time favorite of mine, Stranger's Wrath (Xbox, 2005). It has recently been remade for the PC as part of the Oddboxx and has a PS3 remake imminent. But, in my opinion, this is one of timeless games that really doe not need a remake (they did not get much wrong with the original, and it doe not feel dated at all).
It is a action adventure/platformer/first-person shooter, and it even manages to fill all of these roles without becoming a confusing mess. And heavily mixed in is a great plot with a message very relevant to our turbulent times; A message warning of the evils of capitalism, consumerism, corporations, and industrialization.
So if you have a Xbox available (or would rather go with one of the remakes), I highly encourage you to checkout Stranger's Wrath.


text:
The Girls of Atomic City is a fascinating fact-based novel about the women who unknowingly built the atomic bomb while working in the small town of Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Author Denise Kiernan was recently in Cincinnati and came by our studio to talk with Lee Hay about these women and this little known part of WWII history.
Lee Hay told her mother, Jacklyn Hay, about reading this book and learned from her that she had lived with her parents and brother in Oak Ridge when it was being built. Stories that she hadn't heard before, so she asked her mother to come into the studio and share her experience. You'll find the audio here to listen to.


text:
- or '… through a glass, darkly'.
Someone in a supermarket coughed a cold over my husband and the result has been a few weeks of 'life on hold'. I'll spare you the details, other than to mention that when I inevitably catch any germ which comes into the house, as an asthmatic the results can be very boring. This time the doctor prescribed what amounts to a blast of steroid tablets to clear the asthma. The resulting improvement in my lungs was so fast it almost – quite literally – took my breath away. But the shock to my metabolism has been an episode I would prefer not to repeat.
When you read the 'leaflet' which unfolds from the box of tablets like one of those pocket maps, the information is shocking and depressing. You can research these drugs on the internet and there are forums in which people complain about side effects. Nothing can quite prepare you for the sudden, total exhaustion which felled me like a tree the day after I finished the course of steroids. More sinister still was the insidious darkness which penetrated my thoughts and put paid to any writing I had lined up. And it's taken me a couple of weeks to get back on track, although even now I'm not quite ready to continue with my current book.
I had forgotten how chemicals change one's way of thinking. Let me try to describe it. The whole world shifts very slightly so that a different facet is presented. It's a bit like looking through a window at dusk when the view is shadowy and incomplete. Instead of standing directly in front of the window, it feels as though one is positioned far to one side of it, thus foreshortening the frame of vision and blocking most of the outlook. Colours and scents are falsely displayed. The mind races to exaggerated conclusions, following a path in the wrong direction, from which there is no apparent way back. The effect is stifling and paranoia sets in.
Days pass and I am on the road to recovery, my brain gathering together its severed parts and putting them back in order and my exhaustion less severe. I'm lucky – I have wonderful support in my life and time in which to fester. Others have neither of these vital components and it seems, right now when there is so much talk about being positive in our attitudes towards mental illness, as though there is a huge gap between what we say and what we do. This is not all the result of a chronic lack of resources, as we are so often informed. I am more inclined to consider the way in which our lives race out of control so easily in these pressured times. There is never 'enough time', and we cannot find spare hours in the day – let alone a couple of days - for the luxury of 'recuperation', a vital part of recovery which used to be taken for granted.
Last week I was looking at photographs of railway stations and happened to remember a wistful little song by Flanders & Swann called 'The Slow Train'. This highly nostalgic piece dated 1963 laments the loss of many small stations and railway lines due to the so-called 'Beeching cuts' in that era. It started me thinking about choices and how they have been slashed from our lives. We no longer have time to take the 'slow train' – and even if we did, it no longer runs. If we find time for leisure, we become frantic in our desire not to waste it – which misses the point. How often have you longed to have 'just one more hour/day/spare moment'?
But what is the rush all about? Yes, we have deadlines to meet, rules to which we must adhere and expectations to fulfil. Would it be the end of the world if we took a few hours or even a day off to take the slow train, to walk along the beach or simply to sit in the sun and do nothing? Perhaps not. And perhaps such moments in time are what we need, as human beings, to make our lives better.
Well, if I'm rambling on a little, you'll forgive, I hope, the fact that I haven't quite got there yet….
If you are interested in listening to 'The Slow Train' - here is a link (be warned - it's a little sad):


text:
Form submitted successfully, thank you.
Error submitting form, please try again.
Friday, May 29, 2015 at 9:39am Posted in cesarean births, homebirths, hospital births
View full post »
Tags: birth photographer, birth photography, christy martin, fort worth birth photographer, harris midwives, jamie hinton, maria pokluda, unt midwives
Monday, May 25, 2015 at 10:50am Posted in homebirths, waterbirths
Tags: birth photographer, birth photography, christy martin, dfw homebirth, doula, fort worth birth photographer, jamie hinton, waterbirth
Tuesday, May 12, 2015 at 1:34pm Posted in cesarean births, hospital births, twins
Tags: birth photographer, birth photography, fort worth birth photographer, preemies, twins
© 2009 Lynsey Stone * All violaters will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.


text:
"Visitors to the future National Art Gallery, Singapore can expect not just to view art, but can also watch films or create their own versions of exhibits" (Get Sneak Preview Of Art Appreciation Centre, Miss Rachel Chan).
I applaud the excellent proposals made by the National Art Gallery, as highlighted in the report "Get Sneak Preview Of Art-Appreciation Centre" (April 9, 2010) by Miss Rachel Chan, which would certainly go a long way towards increasing the levels of art appreciation in Singapore: especially amongst students and young Singaporeans. At the same time, the efforts also highlight the dearth of concerted movements in our country targeted at heightening awareness of an assortment of artistic and cultural aspects on the educational and societal platforms.
Nevertheless, it is not hard to comprehend the low importance and priority given to art appreciation and education, given the relative emphasis given to academic pursuits and co-curricular commitments. Pragmatically and realistically, parents and students generally have not seen the need to visit museums and indulge in a field that yields no tangible takeaways. On the ground – at least between the common man – art is perceived as being overly niche that is inaccessible to novices who do not have prior knowledge or education in the area. Therefore, in addition to the current efforts to reach out to the younger ones, specialised introductory programmes should be catered for the general populace to generate initial interest and sustained appreciation towards art in Singapore.
There are a few ways the aforementioned can be achieved or enhanced.
Bring parents and children together for art appreciation initiatives. The home is the best starting point for education in art. Since many parents themselves are not well-versed in art appreciation, joint programmes could go a long way in family bonding and increasing comprehension.
Enhance and increase involvement in institutions. There have been many events and festivals organised; hence, the National Arts Council (NAC) could consider encouraging respective art clubs and programmes to build up events from the school-level. Coordinated events would heighten both breadth and depth of approaches
Expose individuals to digital art pieces. Dispelling the idea that art pieces are merely physical presentations, the tech-savvy generation can be attracted to digital art pieces they might be able to better connect with.
Make active use of the Internet for promotion and awareness. With the advent of the Internet and technology, and the assortment of online mediums, they can be used to reach out to a greater audience.
Highlight the uniqueness of Singaporean culture and art. Certainly, to differentiate from the multitude of art that is present all around the world; showcase the specialities and distinctiveness of Singaporean art.
Art might not bring about immediate benefits, but the takeaways can only be determined by an individual's willingness and receptivity towards the art pieces and installations. As areas of knowledge and education diversify, and the fields of specialisation open up for students, Singapore might have much to gain if it begins to increase the standards of art appreciation for its citizens in time to come.
A version of this article was published in My Paper.


text:
Join us at The Dirty Grind Independent Artist Community for three hours of 100% live music from our family of artists! During your auditory feast, be sure to enjoy the art of our new featured artist, JudiLynn!
• 4 Gweeb •
Gweeb delivers a high energy, full solo sound, presented with off-the-wall humor. His humor, singing style and his musical talent will make you a fan from the first song!
• 5 The Matthew Show •
Matthew takes an irreverent look at everyday life and writes songs about it, or finds ones that say what he wants to say.
• 6 Effinjay •
Frogg was a vocal jazz minor at college, while Jay studied piano for 14 years, and together as singer/songwriters they have produced a comprehensive range of heartfelt and memorable melodies and poetically lyrical songs.
See you tonight! @
"…one of the friendliest communities around."
-Linden Lab about Jasmine's Hollow and The Dirty Grind from Highlights from the Second Life Destination Guide
Winner of Showtime Magazine's Live Music Award for Best Unique Venue
Winner of Showtime Magazine's Live Top Ten Venue
Nominated for three Avi Choice Awards 2015
Nominated for seven Avi Choice Awards 2016
Featured in the Sim Street Journal #16: Visual Music
Featured in Windlight Magazine January 2016 Edition
We are a not-for-profit service organization to promote. encourage, and provide community to independent artists
Have a great day and happy listening!


text:
Some time ago, a year or so back, evolutionary psychology was established as a separate subject at the University of Turku. This immediately raised controversy, at least from a few people trying to shout loudly. Some were apparently religiously motivated, but never mind them. Others were afraid of a reductionist program enforcing existing power structures by explaining them as biologically determined. That, I know, can be a real thing.
After that hassle, it was sobering to now read what Richard Dawkins had written about the myth of genetic determinism as far back as 1982 in The Extended Phenotype. Because some people still haven't got the memo — and I'm not sure to what extent these are found among evolutionary psychologists and to what extent their critics, although in this last controversy it seemed like critics were missing the point more — I want to quote some of this to make it easily available. I will add a little commentary of my own. Continue reading


text:
- Post below with a comment on an idea for something you would like to start seeing on the site
- Ideas can be, more How To's, New types of posts, Games, Contests, or anything, those are just to get your mind started!
- Also, please link this site on your own blog to help bring back some fans, they have been slowly dropping out, and my support is dying :/
Monday, September 20, 2010
Cool Newz Update: 9/20
12 comments:
mmmm what would be cool?.. free holidays? blog that and you're on to a winner!ReplyDelete
Yeah, I have a couple dozen loyal followers but everyone else seems to have died.ReplyDelete
hope you still aint sick :(ReplyDelete
Most of my followers aren't doing much... At least not clicking on anything, I only read and comment on the blogs that update at least every 3-4 days, those that do less than that are on the bottom of my list. Have "blogs I follow"-list on the bottom of my blog, sorted by last updated. And I check out those that has new stuff on them :-)ReplyDelete
Have a nice day, showing daily support!
Wallpapers & How-Tos are always appreciated. :>ReplyDelete
You should do a series of webcomics, or maybe a sample of creative writing!ReplyDelete
nice post man =)ReplyDelete
keep it up!
very important stuff here! i like itReplyDelete
Hope you got better.ReplyDelete
Thanks for the great ideas! I've read all of them and hope to be using some shortly! By shortly I mean sometime tomorrow. We'll see ;)ReplyDelete
Also, thanks for those who wished me well while I was sick, I'm feeling much better now!
Wallpaperssss yeaaah! Also lifehacks are great.ReplyDelete


text:
Winning the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence is a true source of pride for the entire team at Indian Zing and we'd like to thank all of our past guests who took the time to complete a review on TripAdvisor.
There is no greater seal of approval than being recognised by one's customers. With the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence based on customer reviews, the accolade is a remarkable vote of confidence to our business and our continued commitment to excellence.
Manoj Vasaikar
Tripadvisor reviews
- "The Best…" Indiasno1
- "Superb!" Iain P
- "Excellent Experience" A_Fellow_Pilgrim
- "Great find" Smudla
Get in touch with Indian Zing: +44(0)20 8748 5959
- Indian Zing restaurant, 236 King Street, Hammersmith, London, W6 ORF, UK
- Nearest tube: Ravenscourt Park
- Click for menus | Click to find Indian Zing


text:
Unless otherwise noted, information contained in each edition of the Kansas School Naturalist reflects the knowledge of the subject as of the original date of publication.
Volume 5, Number 4 - April 1959
Life in a Stream
by Carl Prophet
PDF of Issue
THE COVER PICTURE and other photographs, taken by various members of the biology staff, were taken incidental to field trips. The drawing on page 8 was taken from the "Pond" issue of KSN; all other drawings were made by Nancy Unruh, Emporia State sophomore.
Published by
The Kansas State Teachers College of Emporia
Prepared and Issued by
The Department of Biology, with the cooperation of the Division of Education
Editor: John Breukelman, Department of Biology
Editorial Committee: Ina M. Borman, Robert F. Clarke, Helen M. Douglass, Gilbert A. Leisman, Carl W. Prophet, Dixon Smith
The Kansas School Naturalist is sent upon request, free of charge, to Kansas teachers and others interested in nature education. Back numbers are sent free as long as the supply lasts, except Vol. 5, No.3, Poisonous Snakes of Kansas. Copies of this issue may be obtained for 25 cents each postpaid. Send orders to The Kansas School Naturalist, Department of Biology, State Teachers College, Emporia, Kansas.
The Kansas School Naturalist is published in October, December, February and April of each year by The Kansas State Teachers College, Twelfth Avenue and Commercial Street, Emporia, Kansas. Second-class mail privileges authorized at Emporia, Kansas.
Life in a Stream
by Carl Prophet
The value of an aquatic freshwater habitat, the place where an organism lives, as an outdoor laboratory for demonstrating relationships between organisms and their environment has been emphasized in an earlier issue of The Kansas School Naturalist (Life in a Pond, Vol. 3, No.3) . However, differences between organism-environment relationships are apparent when a pond habitat is compared to a stream habitat. The present issue of The Kansas School Naturalist covers some of these differences and describes some of the more common stream organisms.
Kansas is divided into two major drainage basins, the Missouri River basin, draining the approximate northern half of the state and the Arkansas River basin draining the southern half. Kansas youngsters are familiar with the role our major rivers and streams have played in the exploration and development of our state, and an ordinary road map reveals that most of our major cities are located near the larger river and streams.
As one travels westward across Kansas, he sees changes in the dominant vegetation; more grass and fewer trees are seen. To one from eastern Kansas the sight of fairly large natural stands of trees is common, but in the western counties trees are restricted primarily to moist banks of meandering streams or near edges of springs and ponds.
Approximately 1500 rivers and streams in Kansas have been named, but there are an additional 50,000 or more as large as the smallest of the named streams, each with countless thousands of still smaller streams and gullies serving as tributaries. It is readily seen that there is an abundance of these excellent outdoor laboratories waiting to be utilized by an alert teacher.
Limnologists, scientists who study the physical, chemical, and biological features of fresh waters, separate aquatic habitats into two categories, standing-waters such as ponds or lakes, and running-waters such as streams or springs. Although it is sometimes difficult to determine into which category a particular body of water should be classified, a definite continuous current is regarded as a characteristic of streams. However, conditions in parts of certain streams might more nearly duplicate those of a pond; and on windy days ponds with barren shorelines are often subjected to much wave action, during which time their shallow margins might more closely resemble the banks of a stream. With these similarities in mind, one is able to distinguish two major zones which alternate throughout the length of a stream, a rapids or riffles zone characterized by shallow water flowing rapidly over rocks, and a pond zone characterized by deeper water whose velocity is reduced, thus allowing silt and other loose materials to accumulate on the bottom.
That the current is an important environmental force is evident when one compares a rapid mountain stream of Colorado to a sluggish prairie stream of Kansas. For example, trout, which abound in many mountain streams, would not survive long in a prairie stream. What are some possible explanations? Water of a mountain stream comes from melting snow, therefore, it is usually colder than the water of the prairie stream. The gradient (amount of fall per linear unit) of a mountain stream is greater than that of a prairie stream, and as a result, the speed of the current of a mountain stream is greater. A given amount of cold water can contain more dissolved oxygen than warm water. This combination of current and water temperature results in a greater supply of dissolved oxygen for the animals of a mountain stream. Also, a rapid current prevents the accumulation of silt which might cover the trout eggs and stop their development. We can see that many environmental conditions are involved in our example, however, current is probably the principal factor. Even in our sluggish prairie streams the influence of current can be demonstrated. One need only compare organisms from a rapids zone with those from a pool zone to notice many differences in shape, structure, and occurrence.
Because of current and lack of depth in most Kansas streams, the water is usually so thoroughly mixed that marked variations in temperature, concentrations of oxygen and carbon dioxide, minerals, and other dissolved materials from surface to bottom do not occur. Thus in a stream the surface and bottom temperatures are usually within a degree or two of each other, and samples of surface and bottom water show almost exactly the same chemical composition. On the other hand, ponds often vary considerably from surface to bottom in respect to these same conditions. A farm pond may easily be eight or ten degrees warmer at the surface than at the bottom.
Considering the mass of water present in relation to its shoreline, a pond may be thought of as a closed natural unit in which the living and non-living components of the pond interact. Little interchange occurs between pond and surrounding land. However, because of its tremendous shoreline in relation to volume of water, a stream is more closely associated with the immediate land environment. The close association between these two different environments results in considerable interchange between them in respect to minerals and nutrients contributed to the stream and cover and food provided for some of the land organisms.
Streams usually contain a higher concentration of dissolved oxygen than do ponds. The lack of depth, large surface area exposed, and the mixing effect of the current in streams usually results in an adequate absorption of oxygen from the atmosphere. On the other hand, stream organisms generally cannot tolerate as great a reduction in the amount of available dissolved oxygen as can pond organisms.
Streams are often victims of municipal and industrial pollution. Decay of the organic materials causing the pollution uses excessive amounts of oxygen, thus pollution may kill many desirable organisms. Certain environmental conditions may be such that they prohibit the occurrence of an organism in a habitat; such conditions are said to be limiting. Thus a stream may be so muddy that trout cannot live in it, while carp thrive. Floating plants such as duckweed cannot establish themselves in the current, but only in the quiet pools - if such plants happen to drift into the current they are at once carried downstream. To the trout the limiting factor is the mud suspended in the water; to the duckweed the limiting factor is the movement of the water.
Most stream organisms have structural adaptations which better equip them for living in currents. Some of these adaptations are so apparent that we tend to overlook them. Others are less easily seen and may require some careful observation.
Almost without exception stream organisms have streamlined shapes. That is, their body shape is such that the least possible amount of resistance to the water develops as the organism swims. Also, many adaptations occur in external appendages to facilitate swimming and for exchange of respiratory gases. Some aquatic animals are covered with a slimy coat of mucus which might play a role in reducing friction between the body and the water, but it is perhaps even more important in helping to maintain a stable internal environment within the animal. Because of differences in the concentration of dissolved salts contained in their body fluids as compared to the water medium in which they live, water tends to enter most aquatic animals through their body surfaces. The animal must constantly eliminate this excess water or it becomes "waterlogged" and dies. The presence of a mucous covering slows the rate of diffusion of water into the animal's body. Other animals have hard exoskeletons rather than mucous coats which prevent the entrance of water.
Many stream animals that commonly live in riffles have flattened bodies which enable them to live under rocks and in tiny crevices; such shapes offer but a minimum of resistance to the current. Other animals have hooks or suckers which enable them to anchor to a rock or log. Even plants must have some means of attachment if they occur in rapidly flowing water. Most stream animals show a positive response to current; that is, they orient themselves so that their front ends face the direction of the current.
Streams differ from ponds in another interesting aspect, that of succession. Succession may be defined as a series of successive changes (seral stages) in respect to the vegetation and animal life occurring within a community; it is an orderly process of directional change resulting eventually in a final mature stage termed the climax which will remain stable under existing climatic conditions. The process of ecological succession is slow, usually requiring a period of many hundreds of years before the climax condition is reached.
In ponds, succession is predominantly horizontal as shown in the diagram. The youngest seral stage shown in this diagram is the open deep water or limnetic zone which is characterized by the absence of rooted plants. As one progresses through the littoral zone, water becomes more shallow, sunlight is able to penetrate to the bottom and certain submerged rooted aquatic plants are able to grow. As the water becomes still more shallow, the vegetation again changes with rooted, floating plants occurring. This zone of floating plants in turn gives way to a zone of emergent plants. As one leaves the shore and moves inland other differences in vegetation occur until finally the climax community is reached. The climax community is determined by the prevailing climatic and soil conditions of any geographic region; in the diagram, tall mixed grassland represents the climax condition. Theoretically, as silt slowly fills the pond, the younger seral stages are gradually replaced by older stages until finally all of this area would become grassland. It should be kept in mind that as the vegetation of each zone or community changes the associated animal life also changes.
In streams, succession occurs in a longitudinal direction, that is from source to mouth. As one travels from the mouth towards the source of the stream, it is as though he were passing backwards in time. In other words, the younger or pioneer stages of the stream are those areas nearer its source, while the older, more mature regions are those near its mouth. Unlike most ponds, streams do not have a continuous uniform change from region to region. It is not uncommon for specific communities to reoccur at intervals throughout the length of a stream. In general, it can be said that changes are more distinct near the source than near the mouth. Study the photographs on pages 7 to 9; they show how communities may vary along the length of a stream.
"pioneer" stage of stream, near source
"older" or more mature stage, farther downstream
water flowing from pool into riffle
farther downstream, water flowing over riffle into another pool
Depending on the role each organism plays in any community, the ecologist classifies organisms into one of three categories. Those organisms containing chlorophyll and therefore capable of producing their own food from inorganic (non-living) materials are termed producers. Other members of the community are dependent upon the producers for their food; without producers the basic link of the food chain is broken and there would be no way to replenish the food supply of a community. Animals of the community constitute a second category, the consumers; depending upon their feeding habits, consumers obtain food either by feeding directly upon the producers of a community or by preying upon other animals. Bacteria and fungi comprise the third category, the reducers. These organisms obtain their food from the dead organic matter in a community and in the process return valuable and essential compounds, minerals, and elements to the community so that they can be utilized once again by the producers. It is helpful to the student to become aware of these categories for it enables him to develop a better understanding of the interdependence of the plants and animals of a community.
Water primrose, Jussiaea, forming a boundary between current (above) and marshy pool (below)
Flood water-swift current instead of the normally quiet pool
Collecting salamanders in a rocky stream bed
Mountain stream with rocky bottom, forming continuous riffle
Small grassland creek undercutting sod
Space does not permit an extensive discussion of all plants which occur in Kansas streams, but a few of the more commonly occurring plants are mentioned. Those who are familiar with the Life in a Pond will no doubt recognize many of these plants as also being common in ponds. Additional references for the identification of aquatic plants are listed on page 15.
- CLADOPHORA (No common name)
This branched filamentous green alga is perhaps the most common of stream algae and is characteristically found in riffles attached to stones by special structures called holdfasts. Each cell is elongated, cylindrical, and contains many nuclei; unlike Spirogyra, Cladophora is not slimy. During spring months its long dark green filaments are easily observed streaming in the riffles' current and often become so abundant that it looks like a thick green carpet.
2. SAGITTARIA (Arrowhead)
This plant gets its name from the shape of its leaves. It is commonly found growing along the margins of many of our streams. A perennial, arrowhead spreads by means of an underground stem called a rhizome. Arrowhead is utilized as food by waterfowl, and in the past the potato-like underground stems were roasted and eaten by Indians.
3 . TYPHA (Cattail)
Cattails are commonly found growing in continually moist spots in Kansas. The cattail is characterized by long sword-shaped leaves and a long stalk bearing the "cattail" or female flowers. Like Sagittaria, cattails spread by means of underground stems, which also may be eaten.
4. SALIX (Willows)
Willows are among the most commonly occurring trees along the banks, sand bars, and flood islands of Kansas streams. In that they are often so abundant along our stream banks, willows play an important role in the prevention of erosion. The leaves are simple, alternate, with long-pointed, usually curved tips, and finely serrated margins.
5. HYDRODICTYON (Water Net)
This green alga is often found in still pools of many streams. It forms a fine green net which can easily be recognized. If the colony is not disturbed, the nets may attain lengths of one foot or more, but when the nets attain this size, new nets are formed by the breaking up of the old. Each net contains about one hundred cells.
6. SPIROGYRA (Pondscum)
A common fresh-water green alga, Spirogyra forms bright green, unbranched strings (filaments) which feel characteristically slimy or slippery. With the aid of a microscope, one may see one or more coiled, springshaped green bodies (chloroplasts) in each cell of a filament. Spirogyra often occurs as floating or attached masses which appear as a greenish scum upon the pond surface. This scum is sometimes called "frog spit." In streams, Spirogyra appears mainly in pool zones.
7. CAREX (Sedges)
This large group of moist soil plants may be found growing in shallow water along the banks of streams and on mud flats that are covered by water in late fall or winter. The leaves are more coarse and rough than those of most grasses; and the fruits are usually borne on the solid, triangular stems which are characteristic of all sedges. Sedges are important to man as soil anchors and land builders in lowlands.
8. LEMNA (Duckweed )
These midget seed plants are among the smallest flowering plants in the world. Duckweeds are free-floating on the surfaces on ponds and streams throughout the state; they form dense mats late in summer. Leaves are but two to five millimeters (from one-twelfth to one-fifth of an inch) long, radiating from a center point which bears tiny roots. In a classroom aquarium they offer good examples of quick vegetative reproduction. They are used as food by wildlife.
9. JUSSIAEA (Water Primrose)
This conspicuous prostrate, yellow flowered plant is found spread out on moist banks or floating in shallow water near the edges of some ponds and the pool regions of some streams. Its horizontal stems bear roots at the nodes. In water both descending fibrous roots and roots held near the surface by air-filled intercellular spaces are produced. Jussiaea is scattered in range, occurring chiefly in the eastern half of the state.
Both invertebrate (without backbones) and vertebrate animals abound in Kansas streams. Since most of our streams are shallow, except when in flood, it is often easier to collect the aquatic plants and animals which commonly inhabit streams rather than those occurring in ponds. Although a myriad of animal forms can be found in our streams, it is impossible to mention more than a few of the most frequently observed and most easily collected forms. Additional references which are helpful in the identification of aquatic animals are listed on page 15.
- BRYOZOA (Moss Animals)
Colonies of these tiny delicate animals may be found attached to stones and twigs primarily in riffles of many Kansas streams. Each individual of the colony is surrounded by a limy protective case secreted by the animal. Hydra-like, bryozoans feed by extending their ciliated tentacles which produce a current to drive microorganisms towards their mouths located within the ring of tentacles. At the slightest disturbance, bryozoans withdraw into their protective cases and appear more plant-like than animal-like.
2. DINEUTES (Whirligig Beetle)
Found in "flocks" on the surface of both ponds and streams, these common beetles are characterized by a flat, oval body up to one-half inch long, blue-black or brown and black, with four compound eyes. Forelegs extend forward in a reaching position, rear two pairs of legs flattened for swimming. Whirligig beetles swim in erratic paths, some species give off an odor of apples. They are primarily animal feeders and are valuable in mosquito control.
3. GERRIS (Water Strider or Pond Skater)
These are usually found in groups on the surface of quiet waters. They have elongated bodies about one-half inch long, first pair of legs short for grasping, other two pairs of legs long, spider-like. Both winged and wingless species occur. Even though they feed on other insects, water striders are of no significant value to man. Although this insect literally walks on the water's surface demonstrating surface tension, it is a poor aquarium specimen.
4. LlBELLULA (Ten-spot Dragonfly)
Dragonflies are distinguished from damselflies in that the former always keep their wings horizontal when at rest while the latter fold them vertically over their backs. Libellula is identified by three blackish-brown spots on each wing of the adult. Wingspread of the adult may exceed three inches. Metamorphosis is incomplete, the egg develops into an immature aquatic stage called a nymph which eventually develops into the adult. The nymph is approximately one inch long and like the adult, devours many less desirable insects such as mosquitoes.
5. ARGIA (Damselfly)
Like the dragonfly, damselflies belong to the insect order Odonata, have characteristic nymphs, and are beneficial to man, feeding on mosquitoes, flies, and gnats. The nymph of the damselfly differs from that of the dragonfly by having a more elongated body about one inch long and three leaflike tracheal gills on the posterior end of their abdomen. Note the three pairs of jointed walking legs of the nymph which are typical of adult insects.
6. CORYDALIS (Dobson Fly)
The predaceous larvae of the dobson fly, sometimes called "hellgrammites," "crawlers," or "toe biters," are often found under stones in riffles. The life cycle of the dobson fly requires three years to complete. Hellgrammites are easily identified by their brownish segmented centipede-like appearance. Often reaching a length of two or more inches, hellgrammites have strong conspicuous biting jaws and paired lateral abdominal gills; they are frequently used as fish bait.
7. HEXIGENIA (Mayfly)
Although mayfly nymphs are sometimes found in ponds, they are in Kansas more typical of running water. The nymph is about one inch long, respires through feathery gills attached somewhat dorsally on abdominal segments, and has three tail filaments. Mayflies pass the winter in the nymph state emerging as adults during spring and summer months. This is the only group of insects to molt after reaching the adult winged state. It might be said that the only function of adult mayflies is to reproduce, for they never feed and live only a few days. Metamorphosis is incomplete (egg.....nymph..... adult); nymphs feed only on plants and are eaten by other consumers of the stream.
8. ACRONEURIA (Stonefly)
The stonefly larva is an abundant inhabitant of Kansas streams. Like most other aquatic insect larvae, the body of the stonefly is flat, adapted to its existence under stones in riffles. BaSically, the stonefly nymph resembles that of the mayfly, hut it may be distinguished by (1) two claws on each foot, (2) two divergent tail filaments, (3) thread-like gills on the underside of the body. Stonefly nymphs feed on other insects and in turn fall prey to fishes and other stream consumers.
9. ORCONECTES (Crayfish)
The crayfish, or "crawdad," is a familiar inhabitant of ponds, ditches, streams, and marshy areas. This crustacean plays an essential role in the food chain of many ponds and streams for it is utilized as food by many fishes and amphibians and often by man.
10. LEPOMIS (Sunfish)
Sunfishes are characterized by deep bodies and three spines in the anal fin. Sunfishes are typical pool fishes and are often called "sun perch" by many persons, however, the true perches belong to a different family of fishes. Sunfishes may reach 8 to 10 inches in length and weigh over one-half pound. Among the more commonly known sunfish, the blue gill is a favorite pan fish.
11. ETHEOSTOMA (Darter)
Darters are as typical of riffles in Kansas streams as sunfish are of pools and are another example of animals well adapted to their existence under stones in riffles. Unlike the deep bodied sunfish, darters have slender elongated bodies with maximum lengths of 3 to 4 inches. Because darters have a narrow range of tolerance for temperature and oxygen, they are not suitable aquarium animals, although these sometimes colorful fishes would be an attractive addition to any aquarium.
12. NECTURUS (Mudpuppy)
The mudpuppy or water dog is a common salamander (tailed amphibian) in streams and ponds. Often attaining a length of 12 inches or more, the mottled brown mudpuppy spends most of its life on the bottom of ponds and streams feeding on worms, insects, and small fishes. Its large broad,flat head bears two large gills which are retained throughout its life time. Contrary to public belief, the mudpuppy is harmless and certainly not poisonous.
13. ACRIS (Cricket Frog)
This tiny amphibian occurs throughout Kansas and is a common inhabitant along the margins of streams and ponds. Slate gray above with a dark triangular spot between its eyes, usually with four prominent dark strips on its upper lip and extensive webbing on its hind feet. It is most often confused with the chorus frog, a common inhabitant of marshy areas.
14. NATRIX (Common Water Snake)
The common water snake is found in both standing and running water habitats throughout most of Kansas. This snake, like most others found near the water, is often called a "moccasin" but should not be confused with the poisonous Cottonmouth. Although non-poisonous, water snake are usually vicious and can inflict painful though minor wounds and therefore are not good classroom pets. The common water snake may be distinguished from other species of the genus Natrix by the presence of four or more crossbands across the anterior portion of the body. Its belly is light and irregularly marked with spots. It feeds chiefly on aquatic animals such as fishes, frogs, salamanders, and crayfishes.
15. CHELYDRA (Snapping Turtle)
This turtle is found throughout Kansas in practically any aquatic habitat. It is typically a bottom dweller in mud bottomed ponds and streams and feeds on a variety of aquatic vertebrates and invertebrates as well as plants. When out of water the snapper is extremely vicious and should be handled only by its tail, care being taken to hold it well away from your body for it has a long neck and strikes swiftly when aroused.
16. CHRYSEMYS (Painted Turtle)
The painted turtle is also a common inhabitant of Kansas streams and may be identified by the following characteristics. The plastron (lower "shell") of 12 plates has no moveable parts; the upper "shell" or carapace is flattened, without ridges, and bears red markings along its margin, although difficult to capture, the painted turtle is a good classroom pet.
Perhaps the handiest piece of equipment for collecting stream animals is a small seine. A durable seine can be constructed from plastic window screening, heavy twine, wooden floats, and lead weights. Pool animals are easily captured by pulling the seine through the water for short distances, but in the riffles as specimens are most easily collected by weighting the bottom of the seine with stones just below a riffle and then turning over stones and churning the bottom with one's feet a short distance above the seine. In this manner, the animals normally living under the stones will be dislodged and carried into the seine.
It is best to select pool organisms for the classroom aquarium because an aquarium is more like a pool than a riffles. The temperature, current, and oxygen requirements of most riffles organisms are such that they cannot be maintained in the classroom unless special equipment such as aerators are available. Information concerning the food habits of most of the animals discussed in this issue can be found in the references listed on page 15.
Breukelman, John. 1942. The Biology of a Stream. American Biology Teacher, 4(5) :143-149.
Breukelman, John. 1957. What have I caught? 4th printing, Bull. no. 7. Forestry, Fish, and Game Commission, Pratt, Ks. (Free)
Conant, Roger. 1958. A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston. ($3.95)
Jacques, H. E. 1947. How to know the insects. Wm. C. Brown Co., Dubuque, Iowa. ($2.00)
Jacques, H. E. 1947. Living things; how to know them. Wm. C. Brown Co., Dubuque, Iowa. ($2.00)
Jacques, H. E. 1949. Plant Families how to know them. Wm. C. Brown Co., Dubuque, Iowa, ($2.00)
Morgan, Ann Haven. 1930. Fieldbook of Ponds and Streams. G. P. Putnam's Sons. 210 Madison Avenue, N.Y. 16, N.Y. ($3 .. 50)
Needham, James G. and Paul R. Needham. 1953. A Guide to the Study of Freshwater Biology. Comstock Publishing Assoc., 124 Roberts Place, Ithaca, New York. ($1.00)
Odum, Eugene P. 1953. Fundamentals of Ecology. W. B. Saunders Co., Philadelphia, pp. 217-252.
Prescott, G. W. 1954. How to know Freshwater Algae. Wm. C. Brown Co., Dubuque, Iowa. ($2.25)
Smith, Hobart M. 1956. A Handbook of Amphibians and Reptiles of Kansas. Museum of Natural History, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas. ($1.50)
Stevens, Wm. C. 1948. Kansas Wild Flowers. University of Kansas Press, Lawrence, Kansas. ($7.50)
Zim, Herbert S. and H. M. Smith. 1953. Reptiles and Amphibians. Simon and Schuster. ($1.00)
Zim, Herbert S. and H. H. Shoemaker. 1956. Fishes-A Guide to Fresh and Salt 'Water Species. Simon and Schuster. ($1.00)
Plan now to attend the 1959 Workshop in Conservation, which will be a part of the 1959 Summer Session of the Kansas State Teachers College of Emporia, June 2 to 19, and June 22 to July 10, 1959.
As in the past several years, the Workshop will cover water, soil, grassland, and wildlife conservation teaching. Such topics as geography and climate of Kansas, water resources, soil erosion problems and control, grass as a resource, bird banding, wildflowers, conservation clubs, and conservation teaching in various grades will be discussed. There will be lectures, demonstrations, discussion groups, films, slides, field trips, projects, and individual and group reports. You may enroll for undergraduate or graduate credit.
Any interested person may enroll in the first section; enrollment in the second section is limited to those who have an established interest in conservation and some teaching experience.
Fee for first section (3 hours credit): Residents of Kansas, $22.9.5; non-resident, $42.45
Fee for second section (1, 2, or 3 hours credit): Residents of Kansas, $7.65 per hour; non-resident, $14.15 per hour
For other information about the Workshop write Robert F. Clarke, Department of Biology, KSTC, Emporia, Kansas.
|The Kansas School Naturalist
|Department of Biology
|College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
|Send questions / comments to
Kansas School Naturalist.
|Emporia State University


text:
DARDACHAT is an Emirati entertainment/comedy chat show created, developed, written and produced by Firehorse. The show premiered on the Abu Dhabi based Al-Emarat Channel in early 2015. The show's pioneering concept is to use, as hosts, four online social media stars, whose combined following exceeds five million people. For the first time in the Arab world, the power, immediacy and popularity of social media is being used to enhance television viewing resulting in DARDACHAT becoming one of the top rated shows on the Al-Emarat Channel. The show's format includes interviews with two celebrity guests, games and fun challenges which the guests must complete as well stand-up comedy sketches performed either by some of the hosts or by the guests.
Other News


text:
Kierstin is a mother to two little women, not a fan of Popples, and is basically, actually good at eradicating crayon from virtually any floor. You may not think of it at first, but ebay has tons of nice Chiropractic objects. It is a excellent spot to go to save cash on Chiropractic equipment, Chiropractic art, Chiropractic patient training, and more! As with many of those firms I just couldn't discover an absolute beginning value for joining the Arbonne staff. It seems to be around $eighty however there also seem to be a few hidden fees in there that will inevitably up the beginning up cost. It additionally seems that you will need to sell $one hundred fifty in products inside your first 1-2 months.
Lol…ah how I bear in mind. I used to supervisor a store fairly a long time in the past. I really like the Monty Python video. Now that is a very lifelike criticism lol. Real-estate businesses sell, lease, and develop properties – together with land, residential homes , and different buildings. It's here that you simply go into extra element describing exactly what it is your business intends to supply or sell. Dana not too long ago broke off her engagement to her son's father. Sorry, Bravo. No fort wedding this year.
I used this one – I asked their customer support if they write business planes, and was suprised when received positive answer. It is a good listing of business ideas. I've at all … Read More . . .


text:
Items I OwnTM
Don't let unsafe products put your family at risk.
Items I OwnTM will check your items against thousands of recalls at once.
Government officials and safety experts tell us that, in order to be safe, we must check all our items for product recalls. Hundreds of items against thousands of recalls. Seriously? That would take weeks!
Items I OwnTM checks your items against the last ten years of CPSC recalls at once. Then, it keeps checking every day. How's that for saving you time!
No matter where you got it, or how long you've had it, Items I OwnTM Can check it.
You probably don't remember exactly where you got most things in your home, or how much they cost. That's OK. Items I OwnTM is smart!
Just tell us what you do know and, by magic (ok, it's really some complex mathematics), Items I OwnTM will sniff out the recalls relevant to you.
Know at a glance which items could be dangerous.
Once Items I OwnTM checks your items, their recall status will appear on your "My Items" page. If Items I OwnTM suspects a problem, just click to review potentially relevant recalls.
If your item was recalled, Item I OwnTM will tell you how to fix it or get a replacement.


text:
Pensacola Christian College
|Learn, Live, Grow
|Independent Baptist[1]
|Troy Shoemaker
|Pensacola, Florida, US
|Blue and White
Lua error in Module:Coordinates at line 668: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. Pensacola Christian College (PCC) is a Christian, Independent Baptist[1] liberal arts college in Pensacola, Florida. Since its 1974 inception PCC was opposed to accreditation, but later reversed this position and was accredited with Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools in 2013.[2]
- 1 History
- 2 Academics
- 3 Accreditation
- 4 Student life
- 5 Controversies
- 6 Other ministries of PCC
- 7 Notable alumni
- 8 References
- 9 External links
Arlin and Beka Horton graduated from Bob Jones University in 1951,[3] and moved to Pensacola, Florida in 1952 to found a Christian grade school. That school, Pensacola Christian Grade School, opened in 1954 and was later renamed Pensacola Christian Academy.
In 1974, the Hortons opened Pensacola Christian College to further their vision of "Education from a Christian Perspective." Pensacola Theological Seminary, an extension of PCC's graduate school, was founded in 1998.
In 1996, state and federal agencies requested millions of dollars of unpaid taxes between 1988 and 1995 from A Beka Book, at the time a division of PCC.[4] A Beka Book (named after Horton's wife, Rebecca), provides a K-12 curriculum that is used by some Christian schools and homeschooling families[5] and is one of the largest Christian textbook publishers in America.
In February 2012, Arlin Horton announced that he would be retiring from the ministry after the May 2012 school year. The school's board voted unanimously to install Troy Shoemaker, a PCC graduate, as president of the college.[6]
PCC has eight academic divisions including Arts and Sciences, Basic Sciences and Engineering, Bible, Business, Communicative Arts, Education, Music, and Nursing.[7] Graduate degrees are offered through the Graduate school at PCC and through Pensacola Theological Seminary in the fields of Bible, Business Administration, Communicative Arts, Divinity, Education, Ministry, Music, and Nursing.[8]
Students who study education are told the PCC program is for "Christian school teachers" and states that their approach is for a "local Christian school ministry" and is "not designed for preparing to teach in public schools."[9]
Creation and evolution positions
The school accepts a literal interpretation of the Genesis creation narrative from the Bible and teaches students young Earth creationism.[10] Students are taught that God created the Earth in six literal 24-hour days[10] and its biology classes teach creationism.[11] The 4.54 ± 0.05 billion years age of the Earth, the Big Bang theory, and scientific theories of abiogenesis and evolution are rejected by Pensacola Christian College.[10]
Since 2013, Pensacola Christian College has been accredited by the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS), a religious national accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, to offer Associates to Doctorates degrees.[2]
From 1974 until 2011, Pensacola Christian College did not seek accreditation. In numerous[citation needed] publications the school explained that it eschewed accreditation, indicating that an outside agency that didn't share its religious and moral views might try to pressure the college to change or eliminate its beliefs.
The college changed course on November 9, 2011, when the administration informed its students that PCC had been awarded candidacy for accreditation, a pre-accreditation status, by Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools.[12] In October 2013, PCC was officially accredited by TRACS.[2]
Also, The baccalaureate and master's degrees in nursing at Pensacola Christian College are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing.
Student life
PCC participates in the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) for intercollegiate sports. The Men's Eagles Basketball games as well as the Lady Eagles basketball games are played in the arena level of the Sports Center. The Lady Eagles Volleyball team also competes at the intercollegiate level. PCC also hosts a number of invitational high school sporting tournaments and camps.[citation needed]
In addition to intercollegiate athletics, PCC students are also afforded the opportunity to play intramural sports through their Collegians.[citation needed] Sports offered through collegians include soccer, basketball, softball, volleyball, and broom-hockey among others. Every fall Collegian Soccer culminates with the winners of the playoffs facing each other in the annual Turkey Bowl held over the Thanksgiving weekend.[citation needed] Also in the spring students can play softball and basketball.
The campus offers opportunities for individual or group recreation, such as the Arlin R. Horton Sports Center that opened in 2009.[citation needed] The Sports Center has facilities for ice-skating, bowling, racquetball, miniature golf, table tennis and weight lifting.[13] In addition, it includes a surfing wave, water cannons, an inline skating track, a roof top sun deck, a snack bar and two climbing walls.[13] The campus also has the John Ray Hall Field House in which students can play basketball, swim, work out in the weight room, and play tennis in the tennis courts. For students willing to make the 30-minute drive, the West Campus has 24 Hobie catamarans with classes "offered in sailing, kayaking, swimming, and lifeguarding."[14]
Rules and regulations
PCC policies govern many aspects of the students' lives, including dress, hairstyles, cleanliness of residence hall rooms, styles of music, borrowing, off-campus employment, and Internet access.[15] For example, "All students are expected to dress modestly, in conservative fashions and . . . men are not to wear effeminate hairstyles or apparel."[16]
PCC also prohibits physical contact and interaction between unwed members of the opposite sex. For example, a chaperone and "day-pass" is required for a "mixed group" for students under the age of 23.[17] Students over the age of 23 are not required to have a chaperone on a date, but cannot go to a beach or a park after dark and cannot "visit the home of an unmarried person of the opposite gender."[18] Most stairwells and elevators on campus are segregated by gender.
Other prohibited activities at PCC include "fornication, adultery, homosexual behavior, or any other sexual perversion. Also, any involvement in pornography or sexual communications, including verbal, written, or electronic."[19] In addition, "most forms of dancing," profanity, hazing, discrimination, gambling, stealing and "witchcraft, séances, astrology, or any other satanic practices" are also banned." Students are also not allowed to use, possess, or "associate" with alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs.[19] Policy violations also include visiting movie theaters, patronizing unauthorized area businesses, being off campus after hours, being in a residence hall belonging to a member of the opposite sex, and engaging in social activities with members of the opposite sex as a group.[19] The administration of PCC also reviews any reports brought to their attention of students behaving in a manner unbecoming of PCC ideals who are at home or away on school breaks while enrolled at the college.
Demerits and discipline
The school operates a "demerit" system where "demerits" are "recorded on a student's record for the purpose of limiting continued misconduct, given for continued neglect of responsibilities or for more serious offenses."[19] PCC has four levels of punishment; students can be given "infractions," can be "limited", "shadowed", or expelled. For students, who receive "75 demerits in consecutive semesters or 100 demerits within a semester may be subject to suspension."[19] Students who have these demerits are subject to administrative review by the Student Court, during which demerits are assigned or canceled corresponding to the degree of the infraction or circumstantial conditions surrounding the incident in question."[19]
Students who acquire a certain number of demerits in a semester are "limited," meaning they are not allowed to leave campus for a period of time.[19] Students suspected of more serious violations may be subject to being "shadowed," where they are assigned to a Residence Assistant (a fellow student who is selected by PCC to provide leadership in the residence hall and to enforce college regulations).[19] This includes being required to attend the Residence Assistant's classes and moving to the Residence Assistant's room.[20] While being shadowed the student is prohibited from speaking with any student other than the Residence Assistant.
Faith and King-James-only debate
PCC rejects Calvinism, Modernism, Neo-orthodoxy and the modern day charismatic movement and specifically states that "Pensacola Christian is not a part of the 'tongues movement' and does not allow students to participate in or promote any charismatic activities, nor do we permit students to promote hyper-Calvinism."[21]
PCC also states that they believe the Textus Receptus is the superior Greek text of the Bible and upon this basis use the King James version of the Bible for all their pulpit ministry and classroom Bible instruction.[21]
In 1996, Dell Johnson, who would later become the dean of Pensacola Theological Seminary, gave two chapel messages advocating the exclusive use of the King James Bible and the Received Greek text. In 1997, the school released a video featuring Johnson, Michael Bates, and the late Theodore P. Letis entitled "The Text Is The Issue."[citation needed] The following year, Letis and Johnson presented a history of textual criticism in American Bible seminaries, blaming Benjamin B. Warfield and his followers including A.T. Robertson in the Southern Baptist Convention, Lewis Sperry Chafer at Dallas Theological Seminary, and Charles Brokenshire at Bob Jones University for what they considered undesirable changes.[citation needed] Johnson denounced certain King James Only advocates such as Jack Hyles, Peter Ruckman, and William Grady, who espouse "advanced revelation" or "re-inspiration" views of the King James Version of the Bible.
The school has an active anti-tax protester stance and will report people who violate the laws of the United States. Rebekah Horton, former senior vice president, testified in federal court that she will report people who break federal tax law.[22] In the mid-1990s, after she learned of Kent Hovind's anti-tax stand where he claimed he did not have to pay taxes, she testified during Hovind's 2006 criminal trial that his tax beliefs are "against Scripture's teaching" and she reported the misleading doctrine because "I didn't want to see innocent people get led astray."[22] After learning of Hovind's tax teaching, Pensacola Christian College no longer permitted students to work at Creation Science Evangelism, Hovind's organization.[22]
The Student Voice
In 1996 a PCC alumnus started an electronic newsletter entitled The Student Voice, which criticized the school and urged prospective students not to attend Pensacola Christian College.[23] For example, the newsletter criticized the demerit system, writing that it is "inherently unfair to sanction a student for something when the individual doing the sanctioning is unknown" because "there are a multitude of reasons why one person's word may not be accurate: prejudice, incorrect perception of surrounding circumstances, incorrect information, etc."[24] It was originally published in a newsletter format distributed exclusively via e-mail. Later, the web domain www.pensacolachristiancollege.com was purchased by Pete Gage (another college alumnus) to serve as the online home for the newsletter and archive of previously-published issues. The site was even advertised on a billboard adjacent to the campus. Horton and the administration of PCC responded to the newsletter's first issue with a speech in the campus chapel, calling the newsletter "an attack from Satan",[citation needed] and warned that anyone involved with the newsletter would be subject to expulsion. In 2001, PCC twice filed a complaint against Gage with the National Arbitration Forum, the body that arbitrates website disputes, and it agreed with Gage, dismissing PCC's complaints and claim of the website.[25]
Subsequently, PCC banned all devices which would allow an individual to connect a personal computer to the Internet and filters internet content. However, personal computers, iPads, and other devices are now allowed on the college network and students are able to connect to the filtered internet or are able to use these devices off-campus and WiFi locations. (current student handbook) The Student Voice released new issues regularly for two years and continued to release their newsletter irregularly through their website until 2003, but Gage maintained registration of the domain.[23]
On March 25, 2013 Pensacola Christian College filed a lawsuit in federal court against Gage seeking $100,000 in damages for "allegedly committed trademark infringement and cybersquatting for more than a decade."[26][27] The lawsuit was dropped in early April and since the settlement, the domain name for The Student Voice now redirects to PCC's main home page.[28]
Student welfare
In April 2014, Samantha Field, a female student at the college, published an article in online magazine xoJane [29] accusing the school of having drastically failed to provide her with support following her rape and abuse by her ex-fiance, a fellow student at the school. According to Field, her request to have her chapel seat changed in order to avoid her ex-fiance, whom she said was then stalking her, was denied; she was informed that it was a personal issue, that it was her own behavior that was problematic, and that she should "stop antagonizing him". Field also states in the article that she was later summoned to appear before the dean of Student Life, who sent her to a counseling service where, upon explaining that she had been raped, she was told to "repent", because she had "sinned". She adds that her only remaining option, to go straight to Student Life and tell them exactly what had happened, was not possible because she was worried that, like two former PCC students who had done just this, such action would result in her expulsion.[30]
The college responded by denying the allegations. adding that the college was "being harassed and victimized through recent online accounts." It also said that no student had "ever been expelled from PCC for being a victim of rape or any other crime." Two of the anonymous students mentioned in Field's blog were interviewed by the Pensacola News Journal and confirmed that they had been expelled, one after making a complaint that he had been sexually assaulted, the other after being reported for having spent time alone with her boyfriend and telling the Student Life Office that she had been verbally manipulated into sexual activities.[31]
Other ministries of PCC
The Campus Church
Pensacola Christian College operates The Crowne Centre, also called the "Campus Church," which is an Independent Baptist church in its campus auditorium and has Sunday morning, evening and Wednesday evening services.[32] According to PCC, "All students carrying 12 or more credit hours are required to attend chapel. Part-time students and special students attend chapel on the days in which they have a class before noon."[32]
Jim Schettler served as the church pastor, but resigned in May 2006. On December 10, 2006, Horton announced that Neal Jackson would be the pastor[33] and on August 20, 2009, Jackson resigned his position. Then on August 14, 2011 Horton announced that Denis McBride would be the new pastor.[34]
Since the inception of PCC and of the Campus Church, critics have pointed out that college's Campus Church may not be a true local church. One example of how the Campus Church operates differently is the recent selection of its current pastors. Traditionally, local churches of the Independent Baptist persuasion (as the Campus Church claims to be)[1] take a congregational approach to selecting a pastor. In the case recent pastoral successions at the campus church, the college administration has selected who will be the next pastor without congregational vote.[citation needed]
Rejoice in the Lord
The Campus Church of Pensacola Christian College records its Sunday services for weekly television broadcast of Rejoice in the Lord. The programming of Rejoice in the Lord consists of musical numbers performed by the Rejoice Choir, various PCC musical ensemble groups, congregational singing recorded in the Campus Church and preaching by Joel Mullenix, Rejoice TV's pastor.[35] The hour-long television program is broadcast at 7 p.m. EST on Sundays.
Pensacola Christian College owns radio station WPCS 89.5 FM, known on-air as Rejoice Radio. WPCS is the main station of the Rejoice Broadcasting Network (sometimes referred to as "RBN"). The content heard on Rejoice Radio consists primarily of inspirational music and syndicated Christian radio programming.
A Beka Book
A Beka Book is a publisher affiliated[clarification needed] with Pensacola Christian College that produces K-12 curriculum materials that are used by fundamentalist [36][37] conservative Christian schools as well as non-fundamentalist Christian schools[citation needed] and homeschooling families around the world. It is named after Rebekah Horton, wife of college president Arlin Horton. A Beka Book and BJU Press (formerly Bob Jones University Press) have been considered the two major publishers of Christian-based educational materials in America.[38]
It has been criticized for selling works that do not follow the scientific consensus regarding the origins of the universe, origins of life, and evolution. In Association of Christian Schools International et al. v. Roman Stearns et al., a judge upheld the University of California's rejection of A Beka publications for preparatory use because the books are "inconsistent with the viewpoints and knowledge generally accepted in the scientific community."[39][40]
Notable alumni
|Known for
|Relationship to Pensacola Christian College
|James Van Huss
|State Representative in House district 6 of Tennessee. 8th generation Northeastern Tennessean. Served three tours in Iraq and one tour in Afghanistan with the United States Marine Corps[41]
|Computer Science 2003.[42]
|Mark E. Clayton
|Was the 2012 Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate from Tennessee. The Tennessee Democratic Party disavowed Clayton's candidacy for his associations with the Public Advocate of the United States based in Washington, D.C. considered a "hate group" by the Alabama-based Southern Poverty Law Center.
|Pre-Law, 2002.[43]
|Maria Boren
|Job candidate on the 2nd season of NBC's reality TV show, "The Apprentice" in 2004.
|Bachelor's in business, minor in home economics, 1994[44]
|Garrett Mason
|Elected to the Maine Senate in November 2010.
|Management, 2006.[45]
|Cathy McMorris Rodgers
|Elected to United States House of Representatives from Washington state in November 2004.
|Pre-Law, 1990[46]
|Troy Shoemaker
|President of Pensacola Christian College since 2012
|Education degree, 1989; doctorate of education, 2007[47]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Articles of Faith". Pensacola Christian College. 2013. Retrieved January 13, 2013.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "October 2013 Accreditation Commission action". Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools. November 7, 2013.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ CLA [Christian Law Association] Defender, 4:9 (September 1981), 19; Bob Jones University Vintage (yearbook), 1951, 183.
- ↑ "Taxpayers foot religious school's tax tab". St. Petersburg Times. Jul 7, 1996. Retrieved 2013-10-29.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ Our Foundation. (2008). A Beka Book, para. 2. Retrieved from http://www.abeka.com/OurFoundation.html
- ↑ Horton, Arlin. "President Horton Announces Retirement". Retrieved February 8, 2012.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ "Majors Index". Pensacola Christian College. 2007. Retrieved 2013-10-29.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ "Catalog 2013" (PDF). Pensacola Christian College. 2013. Retrieved 2013-10-29.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ "Catalog 2013" (PDF). Pensacola Christian College. 2013. Retrieved 2013-10-29.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles> page 18, 48
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 "We believe God created the heavens and earth in six literal days, and that God created all life (Gen. 1). We reject the man-made theory of evolution occurring over millions of years and believe the earth is 6,000 years old.""Catalog 2013" (PDF). Pensacola Christian College. 2013. Retrieved 2013-10-29.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles> page 7
- ↑ "Catalog 2012" (PDF). Pensacola Christian College. 2013. Retrieved March 24, 2013.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles> page 208
- ↑ "Announcement from PCC's President". Pensacola Christian College. November 12, 2011. Retrieved 2013-10-29.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 "Sports Center". Pensacola Christian College. 2013. Retrieved 2013-10-29.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ "West Campus". Pensacola Christian College. 2013. Retrieved 2013-10-29.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ "PCC Pathway to College Success Student Resource Guide 2013-2014" (PDF). Pensacola Christian College. 2013. Retrieved 2013-10-29.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles> pages 14-17
- ↑ "PCC Pathway to College Success Student Resource Guide 2013-2014" (PDF). Pensacola Christian College. 2013. Retrieved 2013-10-29.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles> page 15
- ↑ "PCC Pathway to College Success Student Resource Guide 2013-2014" (PDF). Pensacola Christian College. 2013. Retrieved 2013-10-29.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles> pages 37
- ↑ "PCC Pathway to College Success Student Resource Guide 2013-2014" (PDF). Pensacola Christian College. 2013. Retrieved 2013-10-29.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles> pages 40
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 19.4 19.5 19.6 19.7 "PCC Pathway to College Success Student Resource Guide 2013-2014" (PDF). Pensacola Christian College. 2013. Retrieved 2013-10-29.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ Bartlett, Thomas (2006). "A College That's Strictly Different," The Chronicle of Higher Education.
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 "Articles of Faith". Pensacola Christian College. 2013. Retrieved 2013-10-29.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 Fail, Angela (October 20, 2006). "Christian College leader says taxes are part of religion: Hovind argues God's workers are exempt". Pensacola News Journal. Retrieved 2013-10-29.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 "Thou shalt not steal? Christian college, alum end battle over domain name". Fox News. April 7, 2013. Retrieved 2013-10-29.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ "A Call On The Administration To Revise The Discipline Committee Procedures". The Student Voice. 10/11/96. Archived from the original on 2003-09-28. Retrieved 2013-10-29. Check date values in:
|year=(help)<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ "Pensacola Christian College Sues Former Graduate for $100,000 Over Domain Name". Christian Post. April 1, 2013. Retrieved 2013-10-29.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ "Pensacola Christian College sues over website". Pensacola News Journal. March 31, 2013. Retrieved 2013-10-29.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ Pensacola Christian College Inc v Peter Gage
- ↑ http://www.pensacolachristiancollege.com redirects to the http://www.pcci.edu website.
- ↑ http://www.xojane.com/issues/samantha-field-pensacola-christian-college-rape-stalking
- ↑ http://www.patheos.com/blogs/slacktivist/2014/03/11/guest-post-god-is-done-with-you-pensacola-christian-college-and-sexual-violence/
- ↑ Davidson, Michael Scott (April 20, 2014). "PCC grapples with sex abuse allegations in viral blog post". Pensacola News Journal. Retrieved 23 April 2014.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ 32.0 32.1 "Catalog" (PDF). Pensacola Christian College. 2013. Retrieved 2013-10-29.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles> page 13
- ↑ Campus Church welcomes new Pastors
- ↑ "Campus Church has New Pastor". Pensacola Christian College. August 8, 2011. Retrieved February 24, 2013.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ "Campus Church has New Pastor". Pensacola Christian College. 2011. Retrieved February 24, 2013.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ Wagner, Melinda Bollar (1991). God's schools: choice and compromise in American society. Rutgers University Press. p. 157. ISBN 978-0-8135-1607-3.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ Parsons, Paul F (1988). Inside America's Christian Schools. Mercer University Press. p. 89. ISBN 978-0-86554-303-4.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ Parsons, Paul F (1988). Inside America's Christian Schools. Mercer University Press. p. 42. ISBN 978-0-86554-303-4.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ "Creationist lawsuit against UC system to proceed". National Center for Science Education. August 10, 2006. Retrieved November 18, 2009.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ "Judge throws out religious discrimination suit". North County Times. August 8, 2008. Retrieved August 24, 2008.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ http://www.micahvanhuss.com/index.php
- ↑ http://www.capitol.tn.gov/House/members/h6.html
- ↑ "Authorities trace pair's trip". Las Vegas Review-Journal. May 11, 2001. Retrieved July 24, 2009.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ "'Apprentice' connection," Pensacola News Journal, Jan 14, 2005
- ↑ "PCC Graduates in Government". Pensacola Christian College. 2011. Retrieved March 24, 2013.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ Project Vote Smart - Representative Cathy McMorris-Rodgers - Biography
- ↑ President Horton Announces Retirement, Pensacola Christian College, 2012
External links
- CS1 errors: dates
- Use mdy dates from July 2013
- Pages using deprecated image syntax
- Articles with unsourced statements from September 2015
- Articles with unsourced statements from March 2013
- Articles with unsourced statements from October 2013
- Articles with unsourced statements from February 2007
- Wikipedia articles needing clarification from November 2013
- Articles with unsourced statements from January 2014
- Educational institutions established in 1974
- Fundamentalist Christian universities and colleges
- King James Only movement
- Buildings and structures in Pensacola, Florida
- Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools
- Universities and colleges in Florida
- Education in Escambia County, Florida
- Baptist universities and colleges in the United States


text:
The book started with what I thought would be a sure-fire hook. I ran across a Time Magazine article about the famous televangelist Pat Robertson and the avaricious relationship he had with Mobutu Sese-Seko, the dictator who raped the Congo for over thirty years. When I found out that Robertson, the founder of the 700 Club and one-time Presidential candidate, owned a diamond mine in the Congo—probably operated by near-slave labor—I felt I had to write Heart of Diamonds.
A couple of years later, I had a finished manuscript and it was time to take it to market. I wrote a query letter, drew up a list of agents who handled this kind of high-concept commercial fiction, and started making submissions.I had been through this process before, so my expectations were very realistic. I knew it would take an almost endless stream of submissions until I happened to hit the right agent at the right time in just the right way.
I stopped counting submissions after the first 200. It was obvious from the replies that 90% of the agents didn't bother to read my letter, much less consider the book. I had used several different versions of the query, followed every set of rules for submission, and still couldn't raise any interest.
Still, a handful of agents requested sample chapters and a couple even asked for manuscripts, so I experienced occasional glimmers of hope. The most important thing, I knew, was to never give up.
While I was looking for prospective agents online, I ran across a new publisher, Kunati Books, who said they accepted non-agented work and were looking for edgy, provocative fiction. That description fit Heart of Diamonds perfectly, so I followed their online submission instructions to the letter and crossed my fingers.
In the meantime, though, I didn't sit back and wait for an answer. I kept up my search for an agent with more queries. Before I became a writer, I had a long career in sales management, so I knew perseverance was one of the most important elements of success. I devoted an hour a day to researching, preparing, and sending out queries.
Several weeks later, Kunati requested a complete manuscript. Again, I responded quickly, being careful to send them exactly what they requested in the form they wanted. The deal wasn't closed, though, so I continued to send out queries.
Finally, about six months after my initial submission to Kunati, I got a phone call from Derek Armstrong. We talked about the strengths and weaknesses of Heart of Diamonds, how it could be marketed, and how much time and effort I could devote to promoting it myself in complement to Kunati's efforts. An offer was made and accepted contingent on acceptable contract terms.
During the next couple of weeks we went back and forth over some contract details and I had an attorney who specializes in intellectual property law look it over for me. I signed the contract, the advance was paid, and the first part of the journey was over. Heart of Diamonds was on its way to bookstores.
Dave Donelson is the author of the romantic thriller, HEART OF DIAMONDS. You can visit him on the web at www.davedonelson.com or www.heartofdiamonds.com.
Technorati Tags:
Dave Donelson, Heart of Diamonds, Romantic Thriller, Kunati Books, book publishing secrets, book publishing, book promotion, online book promotion, virtual book tour, blog tour, virtual blog tour, book blog tour


text:
Saturday 2nd December
Saints lost 2-1 to Kilmarnock this afternoon at McDiarmid Park. The visitors took the lead on 10 minutes when Stuart Finlay headed home a Dom Thomas corner.
Saints responded and they equalised on 43 minutes when Steven MacLean converted a Blair Alston cross from the right.
However, the visitors regained the lead on 66 minutes when Stephen O'Donnell setup Eamonn Brophy who calmly despatched the ball past Zander Clark.
Saints pushed for an equaliser and the closest they came was when substitute David Wotherspoon unleashed a curling strike at goal which hit Jamie MacDonald's right hand post with 3 minutes remaining.
After having a free weekend last week due to Motherwell's involvement in the Betfred Cup Final against Celtic at Hampden, Saints returned to action this afternoon when they welcomed Kilmarnock to McDiarmid Park. Tommy Wright made two changes to the Saints side that started last time out when Saints defeated Hibs 2-1 at Easter Road as Liam Gordon and Graham Cummins came in for Aaron Comrie and Michael O'Halloran. Kilmarnock manager Steve Clarke made four changes to the side that started last Sunday's 3-1 defeat at home to Aberdeen. Out went Rory McKenzie, Adam Frizzell, Lee Erwin and Jordan Jones. They were replaced by Dom Thomas, Gary Dicker, Eamonn Brophy and Kris Boyd.
Saints got the match underway but they would find themselves behind after 10 minutes. Kilmarnock were awarded a corner after Scott Tanser put too much power into his back pass which Zander Clark could only put out for a corner. Dom Thomas flighted in the corner and his ball into the box met the head of the rising Stuart Findlay who knocked it into the net. Liam Craig had a chance to clear off the line but took a fresh-air swipe at the ball.
The visitors created another chance on 17 minutes as Thomas' ball into the box picked out Findlay whose header was gathered by Clark.
Saints rallied as they looked to get back into the game. On 20 minutes an in-swinging Craig free kick into the box was cleared by the Killie defence. Then 2 minutes later Steven MacLean flashed a cross across the face of the visitor's goal however, the was no takers as Killie cleared their lines.
Saints continued to press the visitors as they delivered several crosses into the box but Kilmarnock comfortably dealt with the danger as they cleared their lines.
Kilmarnock created a chance to double their advantage on 41 minutes as Eamonn Brophy flicked the ball into the path of Kris Boyd and the striker advanced with the ball before unleashing a shot at goal which went well wide.
On 43 minutes Saints were awarded a free kick after Graham Cummins had been fouled. The free kick was taken quickly as it was slipped down the right to Blair Alston and the midfielder advanced with the ball before delivering a good cross into the box which picked out MacLean. The Saints striker did well to get in front of Gordon Greer at the near post to knock the ball into the net to level the match.
Kilmarnock got the second half underway and in the first minute Brophy fired an effort just over Clark's goal. Then on 52 minutes Brophy had another strike at goal which was well held by Clark.
Saints created a chance on 56 minutes as Cummins advanced with the ball before slipping out to the left to Craig who had a shot at goal which was well gathered by Jamie MacDonald in the Killie goal.
On 61 minutes both sides made their first change of the match as Saints brought on David Wotherspoon for Blair Alston. Whilst Kilmarnock brought on Chris Burke for Dom Thomas.
Kilmarnock then regained the lead on 66 minutes as Brophy angled in a shot from just inside the box after right-back Stephen O'Donnell had jinked his way past two Saints players and slipped the ball into his path.
Tommy Wright then made a double change 3 minutes later as Callum Hendry and Stefan Scougall came on for Graham Cummins and Liam Craig.
However, Kilmarnock came close to a third goal on 71 minutes as Boyd played the ball to Brophy who was in on goal. The striker tried to round Clark but the Saints keeper somehow managed to get a touch to the ball to turn it behind for a corner. Then shortly after Boyd beat Liam Gordon to the ball before having a shot from a very tight angle that was spilled by Clark for a corner.
Saints continued to press for the equaliser and they agonisingly close to an equaliser on 87 minutes as Wotherspoon cut inside before curling a great strike which cannoned off the post as Kilmarnock held out to secure the three points.
Saints: Clark, Tanser, Alston (Wotherspoon 61), Shaughnessy, Anderson, Davidson, MacLean, Paton, Gordon, Craig (Scougall 69), Cummins (Hendry 69)
Unused Substitutes: Mannus (GK), O'Halloran, McClean, Gilchrist
Booked: Paton
Scorer: MacLean (43)
Kilmarnock: MacDonald, O'Donnell, Broadfoot, Greer, Findlay, Thomas (Burke 61), Power, Dicker, Taylor, Brophy (Erwin 79), K. Boyd (Hawkshaw 90)
Unused Substitutes: Bell (GK), Frizzell, S. Boyd, Watters
Booked: Brophy, Dicker, Erwin
Scorers: Findlay (10), Brophy (66)
Referee: John Beaton
Attendance: 2,950
Match Report by Daryl Scott
Picture: David Wotherspoon has a shot at goal
©Copyright 2016 - all rights reserved by St Johnstone Football Club
Registered in Scotland 7629
Unless otherwise stated all photographs on this site are ©Perthshire Picture Agency and may not be used without permission.