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A Mustang Sally
Head for the Pryor Mountains to see wild descendants of Spanish horses brought here five centuries ago.
This story is featured in Montana Outdoors
March–April 2003
Editor's note: Since this article was printed in 2003, conservationists and wildlife professionals have raised concerns about the overpopulation of feral horses on federal lands and how the nonnative species are harming native plant communities and wildlife. A 2004 USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service assessment of the Pryor Mountain horse range concluded that range health was poor and erosion rampant, a result of feral horse overgrazing. In an article in Audubon ("Saddle Sores," January-February 2011), the director of the Wildlife Society, which represents 10,000 wildlife professionals across the United States, suggested that lethal control may be the only way to realistically manage feral horses, which he said "degrade the American West." The current ALM (appropriate management level) of feral horses on the Pryor Mounains is 95. In 2009 the number had climbed to 195.
My efforts to slip quietly along the juniper-studded gully proved in vain as the wild horses turned to watch my clumsy approach. I paused behind a craggy juniper, hoping to be forgotten as the harsh wind blew my scent away, but no such luck. The magnificent black stallion moved toward his harem and stood guard, nervously awaiting my next move.
Knowing that I had to be closer for a good shot, even with a telephoto lens, I tried a trick that helps when photographing moose. I strolled into the open and simply sat down. After several minutes, as the frost from the ground began to work up my spine and my fingers turned to frozen sticks, I began to sing softly to the horses. My renditions of Red River Valley and Clementine have, in the past, calmed nervous moose, and the same was true with the mustangs. Maybe they assumed (correctly) that anyone goofy enough to sit on the frosty ground and make funny noises doesn't have enough gray matter to be dangerous. But for whatever reason, they seemed to accept me. A sorrel mare lay down, accompanied by her black colt. The stallion and two other mares resumed grazing, nibbling at sparse blades of dried grass. Delighted with my first introduction to the wild horses of the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range, I sat and mentally reviewed what I knew about the horses and their rugged, mountainous home.
The Pryor Mountain wild horses are of Spanish descent, still showing many features of the traditional European Spanish horse. Their ancestors, domesticated Spanish wild horses, were brought to North America five centuries years ago by the conquistadors. Later, American Indians and then settlers began using the horses, which became a fixture of western life. Because horses tend to roam when not well tended, many escaped confinement and spread across the West. By the mid-1800s, an estimated 2 million horses, which had now become wild, ranged the western grasslands from Mexico to Canada. The Pryor Mountain herd, possibly strays from migrating bands of Crow or Shoshone Indians, has been around since the late 1800s (written accounts from trappers in the area before then make no reference to the animals). The horses' features show traces of their Spanish lineage. They are small, about 14 hands high, and have a narrow, deep chest and a short, strong back. Their colors vary, ranging from black, brown, and bay to gray, dun, and blue roan. Some are unusually marked with zebra stripes on the legs and with a black dorsal stripe running down the back. The horses are extremely hardy, able to survive the frigid winters and dry, scorching summers on the range that was set aside for them in 1968. That was when Interior Secretary Stewart Udall designated the 31,000-acre tract along the Montana–Wyoming border as the nation's first wild horse preservation site. The federal Wild and Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act, passed in 1971, protects wild horses and burros and makes the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) responsible for the animals.
Grazing competition
Not everyone is in favor of protecting wild horses, however. Before federal protection, the animals were sometimes shot for sport and left to rot. Others were rounded up and sold to canneries for dog food or human consumption. Charlie Eustace, recently retired Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks regional wildlife supervisor at Billings, explains that some people consider the horses pests or oddballs that are neither domestic nor game animals. Wildlife advocates and biologists contend that the horses, which are grazers, compete with native mule deer and bighorn sheep for limited grasses and forbs.
"They are a relatively new addition to the area," says Eustace, "so they make it that much harder for native wildlife to compete for food."
Eustace adds that the horses continue to range north from their established range onto U.S. Forest Service lands allotted for grazing. "That doesn't sit well with ranchers up there trying to graze their cattle," he says.
John Adams of the Montana Wilderness Association points to another potential problem: efforts by local communities to promote wild horse viewing. That, he says, could lead to more paved roads and motorized traffic into the Pryor Mountains, which environmentalists hope to see designated as a national wilderness area.
For their part, wild horse advocates maintain that mustangs are well worth promoting. They say the horses have become just as naturalized to their wild surroundings as ring-necked pheasants and brown trout—two other species not found in Montana 150 years ago yet today are highly esteemed. Members of the Wild Horse and Burro Free-dom Alliance say the horses do far less harm to grasslands than cattle, live isolated in a tiny footnote of the state, and are prevented from overpopulating their range with periodic culling by the BLM.
The Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range is bounded on the east by the Bighorn Canyon, on the west by Crooked Creek, and on the north and south by fences. The land slopes up from the south to the north, from roughly 3,640 feet to more than 8,000 feet in the high mountains, and is laced with deep, rugged limestone canyons. Much of the range is rocky outcrop.
Like much of the region, the weather here is harsh, ranging from blazing prairie heat to deep snow and freezing temperatures on mountaintops. The entire area is parched: Yearly average rainfall ranges from just 5 inches in the low foothills to no more than 20 inches along the high canyons.
The area's vegetation is as diverse as its weather. Alpine fir, grasses, and sedges grow along the upper ridges and prairies, while the middle elevations are graced with stands of limber pine and Douglas fir interspersed with open meadows of grasses, forbs, and sagebrush. At lower elevations vegetation is sparse, except along Crooked Creek, where broad-leafed shrubs such as golden current and wild rose thrive.
The horses move throughout the region in search of water and food. During much of the year they stay near springs in the lower elevations, though in summer they often head uphill to subalpine meadows, where they find grasses and forbs, as well as several reservoirs.
Horse harems
Roughly 120 to 160 wild horses live in the range, producing 20 to 30 foals every spring. Each of the 30 or so harems contains a dominant stallion and a lead mare. The stallion wards off threats, but it is the lead mare that moves the harem to water and food or away from danger. Moving about the range and staying on the fringe of the harems are small groups of colts, called bachelor stallions, which have been kicked out of their fathers' harems. Until they gain the size and maturity to acquire their own mares, these colts stick together, sparring with each other to polish their fighting skills.
Because the mustangs have few natural enemies (primarily mountain lions and bears) and cannot be hunted, the Pryor Mountain population could quickly grow too large for the available habitat. Periodically, BLM staff members round up the herd (an activity called a gather) to selectively remove some individuals and draw blood samples on others to monitor genetics and health. The horses selected for removal are offered for adoption. Adopted horses are used as companion animals or simply to add a western touch to someone's private property.
Recently, the BLM began looking at new ways to improve herd health and keep mustang numbers under control. During the last gather in 2001, young mares were given a contraceptive vaccine, rendering them infertile for one year. Not only did this lower the horses' birth rate, but by giving the mares a chance to grow older before conceiving, it allowed them to produce healthier foals.
Catching sight of one
Spying a wild horse in the Pryors isn't impossible, but it requires some effort. The most accessible of the three roads where mustangs might be seen is the Bad Pass Highway, a paved two-laner in the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, best reached from Lovell, Wyoming. From this highway, go west to the Sykes Ridge Road or the Burnt Timber Road, both of which head north up into the Pryor Mountains.
Horses aren't the only critters around. Bighorn sheep, elk, mule deer, and black bears also live in the Pryors, as do more than 200 bird species, including golden eagles, blue grouse, and peregrine falcons. Several species of bat hang around the limestone caves, and cutthroat trout can be seen darting into the shadows of Crooked Creek. If fishing along the brushy rocky creek, listen for the warning buzz of rattlesnakes, which are abundant throughout the Pryors. Help can be a long ways off, and, unlike the wild horses, the snakes can't be pacified by song.
Gary Beeler is a writer and photographer from Boyd, Montana.
IF YOU GO: The Pryors are rough, remote mountains. A four-wheel drive is the preferred vehicle, but to really experience the place it's best to get out and hike. Sum-mers can be beastly hot and winters deadly cold, so dress appropriately. And remember that the temperatures can change from hot to cold, or vice versa, in minutes. Bring plenty of water no matter what the season.
For more information about the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range, including the BLM's map of the Pryor Mountain area, write or call the Bureau of Land Management, Billings Field Office, P.O. Box 36800, 5001 Southgate Drive, Billings, MT 59107; (406) 896-5013.


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The Wellington Inn sits in picture perfect Nidderdale on the outskirts of the rural village of Darley, close to Ripon and Harrogate. A traditional 18th century Coaching Inn which has retained its character over the years, The Wellington continues to offer refuge and hospitality to travellers and locals, whilst we all keep pace with the 21st century. A pub with restaurant and 11 bedrooms, you will always find relaxation and comfort, tasty local produce, good beer and fine wine.
Open fires and snug seating welcome you and the stunning countryside views from the restaurant and gardens beckon. Friendly and capable staff, who wish to please and assist, are ready to help you make the most of your visit.
From: £88.00
Get Directions on Google maps
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Heritage Rated from 1- 5 (low-exceptional) on historic interest
Brimham Rocks - 3.4 miles (Countryside)
Ripley Castle - 5.4 miles (Historic House)
RHS Garden Harlow Carr - 6.1 miles (Garden)
Stainburn, St Mary's Church - 7.1 miles (Historic Church)
Farnley Hall - 7.5 miles (Historic Building)
Markenfield Hall - 7.8 miles (Historic House)
Studley Royal, St Mary Church - 7.8 miles (Historic Church)
Fountains Abbey - 7.9 miles (Abbey)
Studley Royal Water Garden - 7.9 miles (Garden)
Parcevall Hall Gardens - 8 miles (Garden)
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Wine, Shine, Spirits, & Brew
Prohibition Package brings the pride and tradition of East Tennessee into your shopping experience by offering a large and diverse selection of moonshine, liquor, beer and wine products. By being locally owned and operated we appreciate the South's warm hospitality and commitment to service and know you will love our friendly and experienced staff! Always enjoy our products responsibly and drive safe!


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Two critically acclaimed writers unfurl disparate tales of youth. The British Guyanese writer Fred D'Aguiar's staggering 2014 novel about the lost children of the Jonestown massacre, Children of Paradise, shimmers with magical realism and reveals rarely reported facts behind an ignominious tragedy. Justin Torres's haunting novella We the Animals follows three multiethnic brothers from Brooklyn as they tear their way through their childhood in rural upstate New York.
This series of readings is organized by author and UCLA professor Mona Simpson. Readings are followed by discussions with Simpson.
Complimentary coffee and tea served. A book signing will follow the reading.
Watch live
Location: Annex
Ticketing: Tickets are required and available at the Box Office one hour before the program. One ticket per person, first come, first served. Early arrival is recommended.
Member Benefit: Members receive priority ticketing and can choose their seats, subject to availability.
Parking: Under the museum, $6 flat rate after 6 p.m. Cash only.
All Hammer public programs are free and made possible by a major gift from the Dream Fund at UCLA.
Generous support is also provided by Susan Bay Nimoy and Leonard Nimoy, Good Works Foundation and Laura Donnelley, an anonymous donor, and all Hammer members.
The Hammer's digital presentation of its public programs is made possible by the Billy and Audrey L. Wilder Foundation.
This series is supported in part by the UCLA Department of English and the Friends of English.


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Despite living in London, a buzzing cosmopolitan city with a million and one things to do and places to see, I have never quite managed to do everything. I have a 'list' which comprises restaurants to dine at, bars to sip cocktails, activities to do both indoor and outdoor and interesting exhibitions and festivals worth a visit. As a budding freelancer and blogger, I am constantly searching for new places to go and combined with a friend's list, we have enough to conquer for the next few years to come. Having already reviewed the delicious childhood favourite cocktails at Foundation Bar, another place in particular I have always wanted to try is The Alchemist: For Cocktails in the City.
The Alchemist is a real gem in the heart of the city which first opened in Manchester Spinningfields. With an eclectic menu and unique and exotic cocktails, the theme of the restaurant is alchemy, with a vintage-modern take on the bar with a restaurant to dine at.
It was my sister's 19th birthday on Saturday and I had booked to go for lunch at The Alchemist in Liverpool Street. With the Gherkin in full view, it was a wonderful way to begin the day. Most famous for its cocktails, I was super excited to see what The Alchemist had in store. The restaurant itself was open planned, with large seating areas, dimmed lighting and fairy lights which draped over the windows creating a romantic aura.
I treated myself to the Passion fruit Meringue Martini, £7.50 which contained Passoa, lychee liqueur, lemon juice and lime topped with meringue foam and flamed. For those with a sweet tooth but require only the natural sweetness passion fruit offers, then this was a top choice. My sister opted for something entirely different and chose the White Chocolate and Raspberry Martini. An alternative twist on the classic shaken or stirred drink, this cocktail had raspberry vodka, raspberry liqueur, cranberry juice and was topped with a white chocolate foam that was devoured immediately!
Next was to decide what to eat off the extensive menu! Between us, we had chosen potato skins with a tomato salsa sauce with a sour cream dip for starters, vegetable fajitas, salmon satay and for dessert cinnamon waffles, salted caramel cheesecake and an indulgent death by chocolate fudge cake!
What I loved most about The Alchemist:
It was extremely reasonably priced with cocktails ranging from £7.50. Food was extremely well presented, decent portion sizes and the service was impeccable. It was nothing short than spectacular and though a little far into the city, I would highly recommend to go, whether it be for a romantic date, birthday dinner or a cocktail master class, The Alchemist is a great spot for cocktail enthusiasts.


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BOGOTA (Reuters) - A candidate in Colombia's presidential elections next Sunday has called on the leading opposition candidate, Oscar Ivan Zuluaga, to quit the race after new video evidence of spying by his campaign consultant on peace talks with leftist rebels.
Zuluaga's recent surge in polls of voter intentions could be challenged after local press published a video showing him and a former campaign manager being briefed about government intelligence by a man now in custody and facing spying charges.
The campaign manager, Luis Alfonso Hoyos, quit earlier this month after the arrest of the accused hacker, Andres Sepulveda, and after Colombian broadcaster RCN said the two men had offered it confidential information about the peace talks.
In the video Sepulveda informs Zuluaga that he is in possession of military intelligence. Zuluaga shows no surprise and does not question how he obtained secret state information.
"Oscar Ivan Zuluaga should immediately renounce his candidacy to the presidency and present himself to the judiciary to answer for these crimes," said Green Alliance candidate Enrique Penalosa, a distant third in polls.
Zuluaga on Sunday appeared to cast doubt on the video's authenticity, calling it a "montage" and "crude" and that his campaign had been infiltrated by people working against him. He did not explain further why the video and audio published on news magazine Semana's web site www.semana.com, were dubious.
Sepulveda's arrest was made in early May after a raid on his Bogota office where he is alleged to have spied on a FARC member handling its communications at the peace talks in Cuba and hacked into the email of two Cuban journalists.
Zuluaga's campaign acknowledged after Sepulveda's arrest that he worked for the campaign, consulting on social networks. It said then it condemned illegal spying but awaited the results of an investigation.
President Juan Manuel Santos, neck and neck with Zuluaga in election polls, has made the peace talks the hallmark of his four-year mandate and says he needs a second term to finalize and implement a deal to end five decades of fighting.
The talks are widely backed by the public but Zuluaga, the candidate supported by former President Alvaro Uribe, has drawn support from voters who fear talks will lead to impunity for guerrillas in a conflict that has killed more than 200,000.
Juan Fernando Cristo, a Liberal Party senator who backed Santos' re-election bid, condemned the revelations.
"The video shows Oscar Ivan Zuluaga has been lying to the country. It's an extremely serious doing, it's a conspiracy they have created against peace in Colombia," he said.
Santos' own election bid was briefly marred after campaign strategist Venezuelan JJ Rendon, quit amid allegations he took a $12 million bribe to use his influence to prevent the extradition of several drug traffickers to the United States. He denied receiving money.
A key advance in peace negotiations came on Friday when the government announced on Friday it reached an agreement with the FARC on how to end the illegal drugs trade. That could boost support for Santos as he seeks to convince voters the talks will succeed after failed attempts by previous governments.
Editing by Cynthia Osterman


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Singanalluru Puttaswamayya Muthuraju (24 April 1929 – 12 April 2006), known mononymously by his screen name Rajkumar, was an actor and singer in the Kannada film industry. Rajkumar married Parvathamma, with whom he had 5 children (two daughters and three sons). Two of his sons – Shivrajkumar and Puneet Rajkumar – have become actors in the Kannada film industry. ...Read More »
Sudeep Sanjeev
Sudeep Sanjeev (Kannada: ಸುದೀಪ್; born 2 September 1973), known mononymously as Sudeep, is an Indian film actor, director, producer, screenwriter, playback singer, who hails from Shivamogga District, Karnataka. A traditional Kannada film actor, he has also been noted for his presence in pan-Indian cinema. Sudeep is known for his roles in the Kannada films Sparsha (1999), Huccha (2001), Dhumm (2002), ...Read More »
Darshan Thoogudeep (Kannada: ದರ್ಶನ ತೂಗುದೀಪ್; born 16 February 1977), mononymously credited as Darshan, is an Indian film actor and film producer who works predominantly in the Kannada film industry. He is often called the Challenging Star by his fans. Son of actor Thoogudeepa Srinivas, Darshan made his lead role film debut in 2001 film, Majestic, and has since then starred ...Read More »
Sathish Ninasam
Shivakumar (born 20 June), known by his screen name Sathish Ninasam or Sathish Neenasam, is an Indian actor who appears in Kannada films. Having made his film debut with Madesha (2008), Sathish appeared in small but significant roles in films like Manasaare (2009), Pancharangi (2010), Lifeu Ishtene and Drama (2012). He shot to fame after his performance in the 2013 ...Read More »
Sharan (born 6 February 1976) is an Indian film actor and producer who works in Kannada films. He made his acting debut in the early 90's primarily in comedy roles and small supporting roles in over 100 movies. However, he earned much recognition during the late 2000s and made his debut lead role for his 100th film Rambo (2012) and ...Read More »
Duniya Vijay
Vijay aka Duniya Vijay (Kannada: ದುನಿಯಾ ವಿಜಯ್) is an Indian actor who appears in Kannada films. He started off as a junior film artist in the industry essaying small insignificant roles, before he got the big break in Duniya (2007). He is noted for his performances in various films such as Chanda (2007), Junglee (2009), Johny Mera Naam Preethi Mera ...Read More »
Naveen Kumar Gowda (born 8 January 1986), known mononymously by his screen name Yash, is an Indian film actor who primarily works in Kannada films. Prior to films, he appeared in acted in theater plays and television soaps. Following this, Yash made his film debut in in 2007 with Jambada Hudugi, playing a supporting role in the film. In his ...Read More »
Yogesh (Kannada: ಯೋಗೇಶ್; born 6 July 1988), also known as Yogi, is an Indian actor working predominantly in the Kannada film industry. He debuted in the film Duniya (2007) where he portrayed the character of "Loose Maada". Filmography 2007 Duniya 2008 Nanda Loves Nanditha 2009 Raavana 2009 Punda 2009 Preethse Preethse 2010 Yogi 2010 Ambari 2010 Krishnan Love story 2011 ...Read More »
Diganth Manchale
Diganth Manchale, mononymously known as Diganth, is an Indian film actor and a former model. His works are primarily seen in Kannada cinema. Diganth made his acting debut in Miss California in 2006. He is perhaps best known for his performance as "Doodhpeda", in Gaalipata (2008). His performances for the films such as Pancharangi (2010), Lifeu Ishtene (2011) and Parijatha ...Read More »
Arjun Sarja
Arjun Sarja (born 15 August 1962 as Srinivasa Sarja) is an Indian film actor and director. He has primarily acted in Tamil and Kannada films and also appeared in Malayalam and Telugu films. Arjun Sarja was born on August 15, 1962, to a Kannada family in Mysore, in the erstwhile Mysore State. His father was Shakthi Prasad, a Kannada film ...Read More »


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CNN unveils Bulgaria campaign
CNN International will deliver Bulgaria Tourism's first multimedia advertising campaign, using its innovative Sights & Sounds solution to combine a rich-media online push with traditional TV vignettes.The deal builds on Bulgaria Tourism's existing TV advertising campaign on CNN to include Sights & Sounds online, the recently launched web-based travel catalogue, to create a completely immersive, audio-visual user experience.
Rani R. Raad, Senior Vice President for CNN International Ad Sales said, "The Sights & Sounds solution provides clients with a powerful, cross-platform tool to reach the international audience. At CNN, we've worked hard to translate our knowledge of the tourism advertising space into tailored, effective media campaigns for our clients and we are delighted that Bulgaria Tourism has chosen to continue advertising with us."
Bulgaria Tourism's Sights & Sounds campaign goes live to a global audience via CNN's EMEA television feed and international website, CNN.com/international from 10th March. The TV elements will be built around the straplines, "Bulgaria - Nature welcomes you" and "Bulgaria - Enjoy your choice", while the online magazine - http://www.sightsandsounds.tv/bulgaria/ - will contain streamed video highlighting areas of interest for tourists, information on arts and culture, up-to-date weather news and high resolution maps and images, all set to the local sounds and music to bring the country to life.
Stanislav Novakov, Deputy Chairman of the Republic of Bulgaria's State Agency for Tourism, said, "We are proud to be working with CNN International for a second consecutive year - not only is it one of the world's most respected and trusted sources for news and information, but via CNN's multiple platforms, the global audience will be able take a virtual tour of our beautiful country and make the right choice to come and discover the homeland of the mythical singer Orpheus and the legendary Spartacus, the land of the oldest gold craft in the world, with 14th centuries of cultural and historical heritage, a land of preserved traditions, customs and hospitality."
The 'Sights & Sounds' online initiative is a product of CNN's Tourism Advertising Solutions & Knowledge (TASK) Group, launched last year to provide consultative services on the development of strategic tourism advertising campaigns. The Sights & Sounds online magazine format is aimed at fast-growing economies and complements CNN's highly successful, TV advertising vignette series to offer advertisers an enhanced, cross-platform tourism package. The new product can be extended across mobile, print and television, enabling clients to customise their advertising output according to their needs.


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Quality Matters (QM) has certified Barry University's HRD 647 Instructional Design course used in the School of Education's Organizational Learning and Leadership (OLL) graduate program, giving the online course their QM seal. Quality Matters has developed a widely respected set of standards for the design of effective online courses and a rigorous peer review process for applying these standards to existing courses. Through this process, the online course is vetted to ensure increased learner engagement, retention and satisfaction, and learner achievement.
This successful effort was spearheaded by Dr. Lyndon Godsall — instructional designer and curriculum coach for the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, and adjunct instructor for the School of Education. He is a seasoned educator who teaches courses in Instructional Design and Teaching with Technology.


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Devoted Catering by PeterAlan is committed to creating atmosphere & taste equivalent to our clients' highest desire. We use the finest organic ingredients, hand bake our desserts, and pair wines with our menus to satisfy meat-eaters & vegetarians alike. We specialize in Californian fusion cuisine, blending the ingredients and cooking styles of many countries. Our standard fare spans the globe as well from Southwest to the many Asian cuisines, all represented authentically both in preparation and flavor.
While focusing on being environmentally friendly from start to finish, we manage our events with an eye & hand toward aesthetic detail using safe & friendly practices for the environment.
We enjoy handling small private affairs, large corporate events, product launches, holiday parties, conferences, galas and of course, weddings! Our years of experience show in our impeccable service.
Whether you're a gourmand or a novice - our food will pique
your palate!
Visit us at www.DevotedCatering.com


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International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS) provides support to international students and visiting scholars in matters related to their non-immigrant status by complying with immigration rules and federal regulations. Services we offer:
Generates all required legal documents (I-20 and DS2019) for non-immigrant students and scholars
Provides advisory and counseling services
Serves as a liaison to university departments, United States and foreign government agencies and the greater community
Facilitates the assimilation of international students and scholars into Chapman community
Contributes to the international community's cross-cultural understanding and appreciation
Provides activities throughout the semester that are relevant to non-immigrant students and scholars
International Students at a Glance: statistics on Chapman's international student population from Fall 2017.
International Undergraduate Student Handbook and International Graduate Student Handbook: Getting started at Chapman University, tuition and finances, on-campus activities, dining services, transportation, and more.
Use the menu on the left or navigate below for more information.


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Lower Antelope Canyon Tour
Enjoy a hike through Lower Antelope Canyon in an intimate group setting with your own personal guide. Our guides will share information about the geology, botany, history, and culture of the Navajo people. At Dixie Ellis' Lower Antelope Canyon Photo Tours, we have some of the most knowledgeable photo guides on the Navajo Nation. Photo guides will assist visitors in getting the best photos they will ever take. Guides will assist with crowd control, camera settings, transportation of equipment, and overall safety.
Lower Antelope Canyon Tour
.5 miles north on NR22Page, AZ 86040


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General Thomas (Tom) Barry (1 July 1897 – 2 July 1980) was one of the most prominent guerrilla leaders in the Irish Republican Army during the Irish War of Independence.
Tom Barry was born in Killorglin, County Kerry. He was the son of a Royal Irish Constabulary policeman. Four years later, Thomas Barry Senior resigned and opened a business in his hometown of Rosscarbery, County Cork.
Barry was educated for a period at Mungret College, County Limerick from 25 August 1911 to 12 September 1912. The reason for his short stay is indicated by a reference from the school register of the Apostolic School, Mungret College; 'Went - Home (ran away) without knowledge of superiors - no vocation'.
In 1915, during World War 1, he enlisted in the Royal Field Artillery at Cork and became a soldier in the British Army.
In his own words he said:
"In June, in my seventeenth year, I had decided to see what this Great War was like. I cannot plead I went on the advice of John Redmond or any other politician, that if we fought for the British we would secure Home Rule for Ireland, nor can I say I understood what Home Rule meant. I was not influenced by the lurid appeal to fight to save Belgium or small nations. I knew nothing about nations, large or small. I went to the war for no other reason than that I wanted to see what war was like, to get a gun, to see new countries and to feel a grown man. Above all I went because I knew no Irish history and had no national consciousness."
He fought in Mesopotamia (then part of the Ottoman Empire, present day Iraq). He rose to the rank of sergeant. Tom Barry was then offered a commission in the Royal Munster Fusiliers but refused it.] While outside Kut-el-Amara Barry first heard of the Easter Rising. Barry called it a "rude awakening".
Following the Easter Rising of 1916, which ultimately became buried in mythology, events took their predictable course. Great roaring fires of patriotism banked up as the British executed the principle leaders, imprisoned others and imposed martial law.
The Easter Uprising began a process of reappraisal in Barry's mind. The victory of the Republicans in the elections of 1918 and the proclamation of Dail Eireann, establishing the de facto government of Ireland in January 1919, further enhanced and solidified Barry's national consciousness.
On his return to Cork he was involved with ex-servicemen's organisations. Barry approached members of the Volunteers (the IRA guerillas) in his native West Cork to offer his services and subsequently in 1920 he joined the 3rd (West) Cork Brigade of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) which was then engaged in the Irish War of Independence (1919–1921).
He was involved in brigade council meetings, became brigade-training officer, flying column commander and was consulted by IRA General Headquarters Staff (GHQ), and also participated in the formation of the IRA First Southern Division.
Barry describes the influence of the British ascendancy in Bandon, a town in West Cork, beginning with the "Big House". The main residence of the Earl of Bandon. From this residence extended the local network of Irish collaborators, those farmers who received the crumbs from the Earl of Bandon's table.
A smaller number of big farmers and merchants, says Barry, aspired to join the British loyalist network. However, it was no secret that the British authority rested primarily on coercion.
In Bandon alone, British police and military forces numbered 3000. One of the largest garrisons in West Cork was located in Bandon, and the Black and Tans (a terrorist force made up mainly of British ex-servicemen) commandeered a hotel in Bandon as well.
The forces of the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) were omnipresent also. All these forces had battle experience, were well trained in the most modern weaponry and were habituated to bloodshed.
Barry was attached to the Third (West) Cork Brigade as a training officer in 1920, mainly because of his experience. The West Cork Volunteers had no military experience or training, were unfamiliar with modern armaments and had no tactical training.
They had little ammunition, no barracks and no media with which to publicise and explain their objectives. They faced an enemy with superior numbers and firepower.
The Volunteers decided to form a flying column. This formation was a guerilla unit, living off the land and relying on the sympathies of the local population, choosing the time and location of its attacks and avoiding suicidal losses.
The flying column continually harassed the enemy forces and undermined the attempts to rebuild its battered civil administration. Barry became the commander of the West Cork flying column in 1920.
The Flying Column proved that the Irish population was far from subdued, and had the skill and military expertise to inflict substantial losses on British forces. The "invincible" Black and Tans, RIC units and British troops, hitherto terrorising and intimidating the population with impunity, now faced a disciplined and dedicated rebel force.
One of the main targets for IRA attacks was the network of spies and informers that the British ascendancy had carefully built up over the years of occupation. Barry says, "These were the bloodhounds who nosed out the victims for the British murder gangs". Wiping out this network of spies demoralised the RIC and removed a serious threat to the existence of the flying column.
The British press portrayed the Volunteers as a gang of ruthless and vicious killers. But as Barry explains, the IRA treated honourably those units of the British army that did not murder or maltreat Irish prisoners.
For example, members of the King's Liverpool Regiment, which behaved reasonably towards Irish Volunteer prisoners, were left unmolested when unarmed or off duty, but no such mercy was shown to members of the Essex, which was ruthless towards Irish prisoners and murdered and tortured.
The West Cork Volunteers had to contend with a particularly vicious instrument of terrorism — what Barry calls the "fire terror".
From 1920, arson gangs accompanied the British forces on their raids into rebellious Irish territory. The arson gangs would burn down the houses of farmers, workers and labourers who had sheltered Irish Volunteers. All those suspected of sympathies with the IRA were the targets of arson attacks.
It was intended that arson would deprive the Volunteers of active support from the local population. The British military commander in West Cork received a message from the West Cork flying column that for every Republican home burned, two British Loyalists' homes would be burned in retaliation.
The British continued to burn the houses of IRA sympathisers. The West Cork Volunteers retaliated by burning loyalist residences. As Barry explains, this strategy was costly and the Irish people suffered. However, "If the Republicans of West Cork were to be homeless and without shelter, then so too, would be the British supporters".
As the West Cork Volunteers intended, howls of protest were heard from the loyalists; while farmers and labourers would lose houses worth only a few hundred pounds, the giant, stately residences of the British ascendancy, costing thousands of pounds, were being razed. The British policy of arson was never officially stopped, but it was muted after the IRA's counter-measures took effect.
The West Cork Brigade became famous for its discipline, efficiency and bravery, and Barry garnered a reputation as the most brilliant field commander of the war.
The Kilmichael Ambush on 28 November 1920 was, a turning point of the war as the Auxiliaries, previously thought "invincible", were defeated by an IRA column - a fact which had a very negative impact on British morale.
The "Auxies" as they were called,
became the modern version of Oliver Cromwell. They functioned independently
from the RIC and the military. Their ranks were filled with ex-army officers
from the Great war. The British government believed because of there previous
experience as officers, they would be more tempered, thus making them good law
enforcers. In contradiction, the documented atrocities they committed against
the Irish people was most despicable.
On 28 November 1920, Barry's unit ambushed and killed almost a whole platoon of the British Auxiliaries at Kilmichael, County Cork.
Tom Barry and his Flying Column taught the "Auxies" a lesson in military tactics and sent a message to London, your Auxies are not the answer you are looking for, relative to "putting the Irish people in their place." The ambush on November 28 was a masterpiece of military planning.
In March 1921 The Commandant of the West Cork Brigade, again, achieved an extremely significant victory at Crossbarry, situated about twelve miles south-west of Cork city.
The engagement began as a huge encircling operation by the British forces involving the Hampshire Regiment (Cork), the Essex Regiment (Bandon & Kinsale), and the infamous Auxiliaries from Macroom, one thousand, one hundred and twenty seasoned troops facing 104 civilian soldiers.
The British operation was based on intelligence they had received which suggested that the operational location of the West Cork Brigade headquarters was situated in the Ballymurphy area. When Tom Barry was made aware of the British military presence in the area he had to make a decision, stand and fight or retire and attempt to evade action.
It wasn't an easy decision, because any section could be caught while retiring, possibly with heavy casualties as a consequence. The shortage of ammunition, each member of the Flying Column had only forty rounds when the battle commenced and that was a major concern, however, Barry had to plan and plan quickly, ultimately making the decision to stay and fight.
Speaking to the column he outlined his plan, stating he would smash one side of the encirclement on the Crossbarry road and then deal with the others. He stated, "no man or section was to retire from their position, and all were assured that they would be quickly reinforced if and when attacked."
The one hundred and four IRA men were divided into six sections in the form of a triangle on one side of the road, with section seven at the other side of the road Communication between Barry as Column Commander and the other officers and the various sections was to be maintained by runners.
From the beginning of the fighting Flor Begley, the brigade piper, played martial airs on his war pipes in Harold's farmyard and continued to play while the firing lasted.
Volunteers who fought at Crossbarry, spoke later of the way the piper spurred them on to greater effort. Tom Kelleher often said over the years that followed, "that man's music was more effective than twenty rifles".
The piper also had an effect on the morale of the British troops. They would have associated a piper with a battalion in their army, and consequently would have thought that there were many more volunteers present than there really were.
Liam Deasy, writing some forty years later, says in his book "Towards Ireland Free" that "this was Begleys finest hour and will always be remembered as "The Piper Of Crossbarry".
The end result at Crossbarry was a major victory for the West Cork Brigade. It has been documented as the largest and most important battle in West Cork, if not in Ireland, during the Anglo-Irish war.
It was a demoralizing defeat for British occupation forces. Needless to say, the British conducted widespread reprisals in the aftermath of their defeat at Crossbarry.
The official account of British casualties was thirty-nine soldiers killed, including five officers and forty-seven wounded although some subsequent reports stated that British losses were far greater.
In total, the British Army stationed over 12,500 troops in County Cork during the conflict, while Barry's men numbered no more than 310. Eventually, Barry's tactics made West Cork ungovernable for the British authorities.
The British, previously operating in the countryside with arrogant impunity, were now forced to shelter in their barracks. Performing only large-scale raiding operations, they would comb a particular area and quickly retire to their fortresses.
The British were isolated within the ocean of a hostile population. Farmers and workers would inform the West Cork Volunteers of enemy troop movements, railway workers monitored dispatches, doctors treated wounded and sick Volunteers, the flying column, marching across the countryside, would be housed and fed by poor farm labourers, the shopkeepers sheltered IRA Volunteers as the British searched for them.
"They said I was ruthless, daring, savage, blood thirsty, even heartless. The clergy called me and my comrades murderers; but the British were met with their own weapons. They had gone in the mire to destroy us and our nation and down after them we had to go."
After the Battle of Crossbarry, Lloyd George realized that the "Irish question" required another approach other than force. A combination of the finding of an investigation into the Irish situation, and the IRA's success in the field prompted London to suggest a truce, July 11, 1921. After six months a document was prepared and referred to as, "The Articles of Agreement for a Treaty between Great Britain and Ireland" and was signed at 2:10 am, December 6th, 1921.
During the negotiations that preceded the Truce that ended the war, the British had demanded that Barry be handed over to them before progress could be made on other matters. Michael Collins refused, although he afterwards jokingly told his fellow Cork men that he had been sorely tempted.
Barry opposed the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 6 December 1921, because, according to him, it betrayed the Irish Republic and partitioned Ireland. He fought on the Republican side in the Irish Civil War (1922–1923) and was imprisoned by the Irish Free State after the Battle of Dublin in July 1922.
Barry had voiced the opinion that, at the start of the Civil War, while the Republican side was stronger, they should have taken over Dublin and the major cities and forced a new confrontation with the British.
In September of that year, however, he escaped from an internment camp at Gormaston in County Meath and traveled south, to take command of the anti-Treaty IRA Second Southern Division.
In November 1922, he led his men in the capture of a string of towns across the province of Munster, including Carrick on Suir, Thomastown and Mullinavat, taking the Free State garrison there prisoner. However, due to a shortage of men and equipment, he was unable to hold these places, evacuating them before National Army reinforcements arrived.
After this point, Barry increasingly argued with Liam Lynch, the Republican commander in chief, that the Civil War should be brought to an end, as there was no hope of victory.
In March, Barry proposed to the IRA Army executive that a ceasefire should be called, but he was defeated by 6 votes to 5. The anti-treaty campaign was belatedly called off by Frank Aiken in May, after Lynch had been killed in a skirmish with Free State troops. Barry was arrested shortly before Aiken's order to "dump arms", on 24 May 1923.
Throughout the 1920s he was regarded as a potential rival by the IRA and was thought to be involved in IRB-linked efforts to form independent republican groups based in Cork.
Barry did not actually rejoin the IRA until late 1932, after Fianna Fáil had come to power in that year's general election. Initially he engaged in talks between de Valera and the IRA in order to secure IRA support for the government; when this effort failed he reapplied to join the IRA.
After some discussion the IRA leadership felt that Barry's reputation would be an asset to them and accepted his application. However, he made it clear that he was both sympathetic to Fianna Fáil and opposed to the IRA's adoption of left-wing social policies.
While he later became more critical of the government and was jailed by it during 1935, he told his colleagues that if de Valera declared a republic in the 26 counties the IRA would have no right to oppose it militarily.
Ironically, during this period Frank Aiken of Fianna Fáil publicly revealed that Barry had wanted the IRA to disarm in 1923 and accused him of 'running around trying to make peace' while his comrades had been fighting the Free State government.
In 1937, he succeeded Sean MacBride as chief of staff. Barry claimed that they had sabotaged a planned IRA offensive in Northern Ireland. Barry would assert in later life that he opposed both the 1930s bombing campaign in England and IRA contacts with Nazi Germany.
In fact, in January 1937 he had taken a trip to Germany seeking German support, which was assured to him subject to the condition that the IRA limit its actions to British military installations once war was declared.
Financing was to be arranged through the Clann Na Gael in the USA. The Army Convention in April 1938 adopted Sean Russell`s Plan instead. Barry resigned as chief of staff as a result, but remained in contact with German agents at least to February 1939.
In 1940, Barry was made responsible for Intelligence in the Irish Army's Southern Command, a position he held, with the rank of Commandant, for the duration of World War 11. In 1941 he was denounced by the IRA for writing for the Irish Army's journal, "An Cosantóir".
He was an unsuccessful candidate at the 1946 Cork Borough by-election. Barry was supportive of the Provisional IRA campaign but expressed reservations about some of their tactics.
In 1949, Barry published his memoirs of the Irish War of Independence, Guerilla Days in Ireland. It describes his Brigade's exploits such as the ambushes at Kilmichael and Crossbarry, as well as numerous other less known actions which were directed against the British Army, Black and Tans, the Auxiliary Division and the Royal Irish Constabulary.
It became a classic account of the war and an influential guide on guerrilla warfare. Barry took part in a fiftieth anniversary commemoration of Kilmichael on 9 August 1970.
In 1976 he refused to sign a letter of support for republican prisoners, arguing that the Provisional IRA had lost support because of its own recent activities, activities that he as an old IRA man could not countenance. The correspondence is undated but it is suspect it was written in the aftermath of the Kingsmills killings of January that year.
Barry berated those IRA commanders that were lax in taking the fight to the enemy. Many areas of Ireland were passive, and bad leadership certainly played its role. Barry admits that "some Battalions never caused a single casualty to the British during the whole Anglo-Irish conflict".
Barry could perhaps have elaborated more on the cliques that took shape within the Irish revolutionary movement, something he calls "the great curse of every National and Revolutionary movement". He does not explain the political problems these cliques created within the revolutionary movement.
Finally, Barry certainly remained strongly republican all his life but he was both openly and privately critical of the Provisional IRA. He felt that an Ireland 'free and overflowing with milk and honey' would not have been worth the cost of the Birmingham bombing of 1974.
He died in a Cork hospital in 1980 and was survived by his wife, Leslie de Barra (née Price), whom he married in 1921 and who was the director of organization for Cumann na Ban and later President of the Irish Red Cross. She died in 1984.


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In a blog post a few weeks ago on the Medtronic recall, I noted that I thought Medtronics was doing the right thing, acting conclusively without equivocation once the decision to recall the leads was made. Apparently, the FDA agrees. Medtronic has been praised by the FDA for ordering the recall in the "absence of conclusive data."
I agree with part of the premise, but I disagree that there is an "absence of conclusive data." Medtronic has confirmed 665 chronic fractures in returned leads already. Exactly how many people have to die or have their lives put at risk before the FDA believes that there is conclusive data? Does anyone wonder why Congress feels compelled to investigate what the FDA has done in its oversight role in the Medtronic recall?
While Medtronic may have acted decisively, which is commendable, there is increasing evidence that it should have acted sooner to get in front of the problem. According to Dr. Sidney Wolfe, director of the health research group at Public Citizen, Medtronics waited too long to act. "Why did the FDA, aware of the rapidly mounting number of injury reports, not force the company to recall defibrillators not yet implanted in the early part of this year?" wrote Dr. Wolfe in a letter to the FDA, pointing to data that shows that 1,194 associated injuries had been reported – up from 296 injuries reported in the first 10 months of 2006, a 400% increase.
Congress is also concerned. Iowa Senator Charles Grassley wrote in a letter to the FDA that it appears "Medtronic was aware of the potential lead fractures several months before suspending sales of the Sprint Fidelis defibrillation leads. I am concerned that action may not have been taken in a timely fashion in this case as well." Dr. William Maisel, who specializes in medical devices for the heart in Boston, told the New York Times that Medtronic's warning to doctors in March, which told doctors of some early fracture reports, is another example of medical device companies' failure to get out in front of the problem. "What is frustrating here is that this was another situation that was predictable," Dr. Maisel told the paper. The Minneapolis Heart Institute apparently also knew where this was headed even before Medtronic's initial warning and discontinued using defibrillators with these leads back in February.
While the speed at which Medtronic acted is certainly an issue that will be addressed in the litigation, the core problem is not the speed at which these companies act to recall. Instead, the root problem is that medical device manufacturers, like Medtronic, rush these products to market because of the huge profit margins defibrillators provide to those who can gain market share. In the last fifteen years, companies selling cardic medical devices have been on the rise. The stock price of one of Medtronic competitors, Canadian-based St. Jude Medical Inc., rose 232 percent between November 2002 and January 2006. Like we saw the housing boom, these kind of great rewards lead people to take risks they should not take.
The same thing happened just a few years ago. In June 2005, Guidant, which has since been bought by Boston Scientific, also recalled its defibrillators. It certainly appears the Guidant defibrillators were rushed onto the market, as well. Reportedly, the clinical trial data on these leads was not reviewed by the FDA. I really have a hard time believing this is true. If it turns out to be true, and there is a lot of investigation to be done both by Congress and by Medtronic defibrillator lead recall lawyers, it underscores once again that the fox is guarding the medical device hen house.
The competitive advantage these defibrillators had is that the Medtronic Sprint Fidelis lead was the smallest and thinnest wire Medtronic offered, which was alluring to doctors implanting defibrillators, because a thin lead is easier to thread through blood vessels. So Medtronics had a powerful hook to sell this new advance. But while the technology was superior, there was no longitudinal history of safety or efficacy. It is not surprising that Medtronics has now turned to an older lead, the Quattro lead, which has a more complete safety profile.


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We received quite a bit of snow tonight here in the Chicagoland area and apparently it is not done yet. It does not seem too bad as far as the number of inches of actual snow but the winds are really whipping and causing some pretty awesome drifts. We tried to get the dogs to go out but they kind of looked at me like I was crazy so I had to shovel out a bit by the front door before they finally would step outside and I gave them the added incentive of stepping out with no leash. As you can see in video below (sorry it is so dark) Apollo decides to try to make a break for it and gets almost to the driveway before he runs out of steam. He comes back, does his business and retreats to the warmth of the house.
It is supposed to snow through the night so I can't wait to see what it looks like tomorrow.


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Due to the weather forecast, we will postpone tonight's ceremony to Monday, December 11.
Share a memory of your loved one this holiday season
Please join us for a special ceremony that celebrates the memory of your loved one. All hospice locations will light their trees at the same time, uniting us in strength and spirit. After the lighting, each family will have a chance to share a special memory of their loved one, and will be presented with a commemorative holiday ornament to take home and enjoy throughout the season.
During the holiday season, the memories of our loved ones and the wonderful times we spent with them become more vivid. We look back at the traditions we established and memories created. Often, we wish there was a special way to remember them. With a gift to Rice Hospice, you can honor your loved one by helping support hospice services in your own community. Rice Hospice provides free grief support for young and old alike, funded entirely by the generous gifts of donors just like you.
"Share a Memory" Tree Lighting Ceremonies take place at the following locations at 5:00 pm on Monday, December 11, 2017:
Outside, next to Apple Ridge Apartments
Living Room of Scofield Place
Johnson Memorial Care Center Lobby
Granite Falls
Community Room at Granite Falls Manor
Chippewa County Montevideo Oncology/Surgery Lobby
Ortonville Area Health Services Lobby
Rice Memorial Hospital Garden Court
Click here to download the Share a Memory brochure.


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On 17th April on Radio 4's satirical programme "The Vote Now Show" Jon Holmes presented a pre-recorded piece with the aim of seeing if he could find anyone to predict the result of the forthcoming UK General Election.
He first visited the polling company YouGov followed by David Cowling, Editor, BBC Political Research. Neither could give definitive answers.
He then visited, well, let Jon take up the story... [Transcription below]
So, to recap,
1 The job of an astrologer is to keep him/herself popular by making positive predictions which everybody likes the sound of;
2 Astrologers can be very successful if their predictions are so vague that you could read anything you wanted into them;
3 If they are sufficiently vague they can never get into trouble;
4 Being vague is something astrologers should be proud of;
5 Astrology is balls.
You can catch the full episode on BBC Radio 4 Extra for the next few days and on the iPlayer for the next three weeks here.
JH The polls can't tell me, he can't tell me. Where next? The next logical step, of course. Time to meet Jonathan Cainer the astrologer from the Daily Mail
JC Of course the trouble predicting an election or the outcome of any competitive sport or activity is that you deeply upset the people who'd rather wish that the event went the other way.
JH Yes, I suppose you do but that's part of the job though isn't it so you've got to, um...
JC Not really
JH Oh
JC The thing is you... The job of an astrologer is to keep yourself popular by making positive predictions which everybody likes the sound of. If I were to stick my neck out and predict the result of this election not only would I upset all the people who didn't want that to be the result but at the same time I'd lay myself open to terrible mockery should I turn out to be wrong.
JH But again, isn't that part of the risk of your job anyway?
JC Not if you can avoid it, I mean Nostradamus made a very successful career out of giving his predictions in cryptic French and Latin puzzles and therefore anyone could interpret anything into (sic) and so he was always right when you wanted him to be right and never got into trouble for saying anything which you could hold him to account for.
JH Which is basically saying astrology is balls and so I just say what I think people will like. But on your behalf I persisted.
JH So the answer is that you can't predict the outcome of the General Election
JC Astrologers have a long, proud tradition of being vague wherever possible and I would be absolutely insane to stick my neck on the line for it.
JH But look, I wasn't going to give up right 'cause he's got mystical powers, so I asked him again outright, "Who is going to win the Election?"
JC I'm trying to steer as clear as I can of answering that question.
JH I can tell that, yep. What's the... I'm Taurus
JC Are you?
JH So what's the... what am I typically? What are typical Taurean...
JC To be a Taurean is to be tenacious; it's to be very fond of...
JH Asking questions that people don't want to answer?
JC Absolutely, you wouldn't give up. So this could be a long interview.
JH It wasn't because I've stopped him there. You know, fat lot of help that was; we're still no closer.
Posted by @christheneck
Posted by @christheneck


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Our New and Used Subaru Forester Inventory In the Cleveland Area
The next time you visit our Cleveland area dealership we urge you to test drive one of our Subaru Foresters. During your test drive you will realize why the Forester is held in such a high regard by most auto enthusiasts.The Forester's off road capabilities are unmatched. The four wheel drive will keep you safe and secure during the winter months.


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Each time your contact center agents don't identify an up-sell or cross-sell opportunity, your company has lost out on additional revenue. The problem is that your company receives a lot of various interactions and it's difficult to manage every sales opportunity during every point of contact. Beyond even those missed sales is the fact that it can be difficult to determine how successful a campaign was. With so many moving parts, how is your company to pinpoint what's working and what's not?
Nexidia Analytics provides not only a way to listen to every single interaction that your company receives, but a valuable system of focusing on what's working and what's not. By analyzing past interactions, your company can quantitatively target the sales strategy that will resonate the most with your customers. Since each interaction is being recorded and analyzed, your company can begin to building best practices based on the highest performers, ensuring your entire contact center is working towards the same goals. Nexidia Analytics will allow your company to:
Locate and quantify specific events, building metrics to align with corporate objectives such as offers made versus upsell opportunities
Correlate data points such as customer spend and purchase history to build predictive models, prioritizing customers with a propensity to buy and create the next-best offer
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Establish thresholds and work with agents, measuring performance against sales driven metrics
Learn more about how Nexidia can help you solve your most pressing challenges.
Learn how Nexidia's Products and Services can help you become a hero to your customers.


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The Engel & Völkers News Brief | November 10, 2017
Friday, November 10th, 2017 at 11:00am Engel & Völkers
E&V News
Don't Leave the Buyer Side on the Table
Control the listing, control the market.
Engel & Völkers Opens Richmond Hill, Ontario Shop
Engel & Völkers has opened a new shop in Richmond Hill in Ontario, Canada, the company recently announced.
Engel & Völkers Opens First Shop in Tennessee
Hamilton County Herald
Engel & Völkers has opened a brokerage in Chattanooga, marking the first Tennessee location for the global real estate brand.
Engel & Völkers Opens Office in Destin
The Real Deal
The brokerage office opening marks Engel & Völkers' entry into the Florida Panhandle market.
Hot Market: Demand Continues for Intown Condos and Townhomes
Atlanta INtown Paper
The Intown real estate market is only getting hotter.
Engel & Völkers Holds Official Opening of Niagara Shop
Engel & Völkers recently officially opened its new shop in the Niagara area of Ontario.
Compass Stokes Skeptics with $1.8B Valuation
The Real Deal
"It certainly helps, but it's hard to change the fact that the success of the Compass model will be based on traditional brokerage metrics," said Stuart Siegel, CEO of residential brokerage Engel & Völkers' New York City operation.
What the Republican Tax Bill Means for the Value of Your Home
House Republicans released their long awaited tax bill Thursday.
Canada Housing Starts Rise Unexpectedly in October: CMHC
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. says the annual rate of housing starts ticked higher in October as the pace of new construction in the Vancouver region hit a 12-month high.
Inside London's Huge Experiment in Predicting the Housing Future
Greenwich Peninsula is a 150-acre stretch of London that, in 30 years, will be a whole new city.
Luxury Living
What's You'll See in the Louvre Abu-Dhabi's Billion-Dollar Art Collection
The unconventional museum has created one of the world's great gatherings of art in the space of a decade.


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Ever since I saw this stunning pair of Christian Louboutin booties on Street Style London, I was smitten. The booties, however, are unwalkable (they pinch in the front like so many Louboutins). Thankfully I found this highly versatile and comfortable wedge version that I can wear all year long.
While I usually don't shop too often at Forever 21 (clearly, I am no longer 21), I did pop my head in recently and was surprised to find this adorable cardigan at a ridiculously low price. Although I initially thought that I was buying leopard at the tail-end (no pun intended) of the craze, Alber Elbaz's pre-fall Lanvin collection confirmed that leopard's not going away anytime soon--which is fabulous since I've just fallen in love with it.


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From Peter Frost Pennington
Iona & I thought we'd finished with parenting youngsters now our 3 have fledged, left the nest and even got jobs!
However, a knock on the door late last Monday evening changed all that. A local lady, quite agitated, had hit a roe deer on the road outside Muncaster. Badly injured, she'd managed to drag it off the road and contact us, knowing I am a vet. Iona went to collect it with the concerned local in the van while I prepared the tools of my trade. Roe deer and cars do not get on well together and the outcome is never good for either of them, especially the deer.
A few minutes later Iona reappeared, looking very concerned. "It's bad; a doe and she's very heavily pregnant, near term."
I examined her and quickly came to the conclusion that her injuries were so severe there was little we could do to help except end her suffering as soon as possible. Although she had no milk in her teats, it was clearly obvious she was not far off giving birth.
What could we do? Rightly or wrongly we thought the young in her tum deserved to be given a chance. Not expecting success we put the doe to sleep and once she was definitely dead and insensible I took a scalpel blade and performed the fastest caesarean I have ever done, expecting no joy.
I managed to deliver a tiny little fawn and passed it to Iona, an expert shepherd and farmer who quickly set to work. Surprisingly, the little fawn, after an agonising moment which seemed like minutes but could only have been seconds, gave a gasp. "It's breathing!" Iona exclaimed. She worked on it hard and a few moments later we were looking at the most gorgeous little creature, spluttering and shaking its tiny head.
And so it was, out of tragedy and disaster sprang a ray of hope, of life reborn. Reluctantly & unexpectedly, Iona & I stood blinking at each other realising we were parents once again, responsible for a poor helpless being that now depended utterly on us.
All newborn children transform the lives of their parents in an instant. Even though we are only foster parents for "Twiggy" as we have called her (very beautiful and lovely long legs) we have spent the last 5 days feeding, toileting, warming, protecting and generally caring for this most beautiful of creatures. The books and experts all tell us roe deer are amongst the hardest wild animals to rear once orphaned and regrettably the likelihood of success is probably quite low but that won't stop us trying. We may well fail…but we will do our best and some. If we do succeed in keeping her alive over the next few hours, days and weeks we do not know what the future will hold for her as she will certainly be a rather confused young deer, imprinted on humans, but we would love to be able to return her to the wild at least partially, if we possibly can. But that is all in the future, if we manage to keep her going.
If you do visit Muncaster over the next few days, do ask about her progress but please do not ask to see her. Although she has already had to share the warmth of our kitchen with our 3 dogs and cat our thoughts at the moment are to shield her from mass human contact until we see how it all plays out. We are now trying to keep her as naturally as possible, taking her for walks in the extensive woodland gardens of Muncaster and in the daytime at least keeping her in a natural enclosure with plenty of vegetation and cover. We do occasionally come across other people as we feed and walk her and that is fine, but hope most folk will be content to see her only in photos or videos.
It has been an absolute joy and delight to get to know her well over these last 5 days. Her instincts are ingrained and amazing. Basically she seems to be almost nothing else but legs, with a tiny dappled body yet she is the best hide and seek artist I have ever come across. It is wonderful to see her ability to vanish into the undergrowth in seconds and her skills at playing "Grandma's Footsteps" are superb. If she perceives a dog on the horizon during a walk she freezes and stands stock still in an instant; if she thinks she is not being watched but has spotted the dog before the dog sees her, she drops instantly to the ground and again lies totally motionless. She follows Iona and I around keeping so close to our calves that you have to be very careful not to kick her or stand on her. We have struggled to get her suckling well, but she has put on weight every day so far and is suckling much better today. To say we are besotted with her is probably an understatement yet we always try to think of her welfare and needs as the number one priority. Our staff love her as well and a few of them have seen her up close and personal but on the whole we try to show her to people through the photos and videos we take regularly to chart her progress.
If we fail in our quest I do hope we can say we did our best; if we succeed in raising her who knows what the future will hold but we are already consulting and working with other wildlife experts……and both of us have quite a lot of experience of raising youngsters of various species including red deer calves in the past. So if you wish to know whether we fail or succeed, we will try to update our website and facebook page when time permits with pics and videos when possible.
Muncaster's whole ethos is based on conservation and although this tale started with a tragedy we do hope we can bring joy out of suffering and learn a little bit more about the wonders of the wildlife that frequent Muncaster…and share that experience with others who wish to be share our ups and downs. And please be forgiving if you find Iona and I are grumpy during this process; we thought we finished with the middle of the night feeding regimes 20 or more years ago!


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Time is flying by with the construction of the ETSU football stadium.
Flashback to March 18, 2015, when the ETSU Department of Intercollegiate Athletics hosted a press conference on the location of the stadium.
Flashback to Nov. 16, 2015 near the Basler Center for Physical Activity, where the athletics department and other university officials broke ground for the new football stadium.
Now it is the start of summer 2016, and the football field is almost a year from being finished. It is predicted to be complete by the fall 2017 season.
"All of this is the initial construction of the stadium," said Scott Carter, senior associate athletic director. "There is a large situation that takes place with taking initial construction."
A few things have been moved or relocated: the recycling center, the chemical storage center, the salt storage for cold weather and ice, the fence equipment storage area and the Basler challenge course.
As for the site preparation, the building pad for the sky box has been completed, and shaping, sewer, electricity, water line, transformer instillation for power and more are currently being worked on.
"Everything right now is right on schedule," Carter said. "We've been very fortunate with the weather; things are going great. I talk regularly with Thomas Construction, who is handling this initial stage of construction, and BurWil, our construction manager for the entirety of the stadium project."
Funding for the stadium continues to climb as $12 million (45 percent) has been raised by Leadership Investments, $8.2 million (31 percent) by Student Fee Bond, $4.04 million (15 percent) by Premium Seat Bond, $1.65 million (6 percent) by Corporate Marketing Bond and $725,000 (3 percent) by Premium Seat Gifts.
Carter said the students and athletic department have had a huge impact on the birth of the stadium.
He added that sky boxes are sold out, club seats are headed that way and the athletics department continues to have meetings across the region with people who are excited about the birth of the stadium.
"It's a daily process that we are very aggressive toward, and we are working really hard to make sure this stadium gets completed," Carter said.
With the stadium set to be ready for the 2017 season, Carter, the athletics department and others continue to push forward and meet goals.
"Right now, we are on schedule," Carter said. "Things are going really well, and we hope to have most of the site preparation completed this summer."


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7 Social Media Marketing Tips That Help You Stand Out In Stiff Competition
Manasi 4 Min Read
As per the latest reports published on wearesocial India's Internet Penetration is 19% and more than 45% of internet users are active on social media. We can see a paradigm shift in marketing and advertising spends of brands, India is yet to make a breakthrough shift from high dependencies on offline media to balanced communication on offline and digital media.
Social media marketing is a great way to connect and engage your prospects and target audience. Considering its beauty to test waters with lower budgets and its ability to give measurable results in real time, social media sure is becoming one of the most popular destination for all SE's, SME's and the bigger businesses.
While every business owner, head of marketing and image manager understands that social media marketing is vastly emerging as the biggest platform for brand awareness, engagement and loyalty. They are seldom challenged by the fact of how to use it.Given that, most often than not, the competitor brands / businesses are already there; most ideas have already been used. Most social media platforms are ensuring that you reach lesser fans / prospects / target audience by the day; its a technique to build a unique presence on social media. Here are some steps one should follow to ensure optimum use of the available opportunity on social media:
1. Social Media Marketing Tip #1: Social Media Is Not A Self-Made Platform
The first thing that any business needs to understand is that social media is an extended arm or another channel of marketing and not a tool by itself. It would be 'blasphemous' to treat it as a standalone tool and communicate on it alone!
2.Social Media Marketing Tip #2:Know Your Audience And The Presence On Social Platform
Having said that social media is another channel, does not mean one could copy paste the same content / creative (meant for hoardings or a print ad) to social media. One should know how to tweak and engineer communication for social media, one needs to know the spread of the target audience. Different social platforms cater to different kinds of audience. For instance, Facebook could be suitable for a B2C communication, LinkedIn presents great opportunities for B2B messaging. One should find out which platform your audience is active on.
3. Social Media Marketing Tip #3: Understand platform and map data
Once you know the spread of audience, understand the intricacies of the platform. The beauty of every social platform is its ability to provide you with a plethora of targeting opportunities. Keeping in mind the unique and specific targeting parameters. Gathering of market data that will provide the dissection of your audience in the social world. For this, you could either measure your already existing social media presence (that is if you have one) or map data from your competition (similar business) on social media.
4. Social Media Marketing Tip #4: Define objectives-
Arrive at objectives you want to achieve. Understand, what should be the result of social media marketing? Communicating on social platforms without objectives is like throwing stones in every direction! That is a lot of efforts wasted.
5. Social Media Marketing Tip #5: Plan
You now need a result oriented technique to communicate on social media. Ideate, brain storm… Check if ideas – align with your overall marketing objective; align with image of the business; is appealing to the audience and gives you expected results. Arrive at interesting content for your audience. Gather data from social media from similar ideas / businesses. If there isn't one, take the risk. Go with a professional and your gut feeling. Always remember to ensure there is an action driven communication. Arrive at a strategy and plan.
6. Social Media Marketing Tip #6: Execution
Execution is the key for content marketing on social media. The ability to tweak the same message to appeal to prospects and audience by presenting it differently on different social platforms but at the same time is a challenge! It is achieved only through correct planning and experience. Practice is the only way to achieve perfection in this domain.
7. Social Media Marketing Tip #7: Measure
To understand the impact of your communication, measuring it is a must. This way, you know if your communication is – reaching the right audience, having the right impact on them and driving them to your expected results. While each social platform offers its own tools with a plethora of measurable parameters, you could use third party tools too to measure the impact of your presence on social media. Measuring helps you to weed out unnecessary efforts.
Image Source: Wearesocial
There are 2 comments
5 years ago
Indrajit Goswami / Reply
The title needs editing. Instead of "7 Social Media Marketing Tips That Help You Stand Out In Stiff Competition", it would be better in the form of "7 Social Media Marketing Tips That Help You Stand Ahead In Stiff Competition". The words 'stand out' indicates something negative.
5 years ago
Ummer / Reply
Mansi has covered many valid points here. Some distinctive points and ideas are included.
However, I wish to ask a question : Who is the target audience for this blog. I ask this because some short forms are used in the blog. for example: "SE's, SME's and the bigger businesses"
Only a social media or marketing person would understand what do these short words mean!