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You have a web site, but you're no web designer. How do you find out what makes your web site work? What really makes the difference? And can you do it yourself?
The Non-Designer's Guide to Web Design
First, yes, you can do it yourself! I have been creating successful web sites for over 15 years. I've made sites for small businesses, huge portals, NGOs, and Government.
Those experiences have given me insights into what really makes web sites sell, which I'm now sharing with you in my ebook "Save the Pixel".
How to Make Your Web Site Sell
Some web sites make their owners a LOT of money, by selling products, generating sales leads, or collecting valuable data.
A lot of others make no money at all. No one sees them, and if they do they don't care to look further.
What may surprise you is which sites are the ones that actually make money. It often is not the ones that you or I would look at and say, "I like that!".
Most of the web sites that sell do a few very important things right.
When you learn to spot the difference between a web site that sells and one that fails, you will see how easy it is to apply the same principles to your own sites.
Whether you are a web designer or a company looking to enhance your web presence, Save The Pixel is a must read.Paul Dixon
Make Better Web pages Now
For the past fifteen years, I have designed all kinds of web sites, ranging from niche marketing sites to portals with hundreds of thousands of visits every day.
I have experimented with graphics, layout, wording, navigation, imagery every working day for a decade and a half.
Many of the designs I created have been very successful. And several have not. It has been the mistakes that have taught me the most.
Along the way, I have made enough mistakes to learn a few simple rules that – when you apply them to any web site – significantly increase effectiveness. I have used these techniques myself when redesigning dozens of failing sites, and transformed their power to generate revenue.
When you use my guide to simple web design, you will see how to make your web site stickier, more compelling, more accessible, and more appealing to use -instantly!
How to Make Your Sites Make More Money
I would like to pass my approach on to you, so that you can apply the principles and boost your web site's profits. That's why I wrote "Save the Pixel", the simple guide to web sites that work that any site owner can use today on any web site.
You don't need to be a designer to get the benefit of this book. If you are a site owner, web developer, or responsible for your organisation's web site, the steps in "Save the Pixel" will help you get more success.
The principles in this book are really outstanding and really work. I utilized some of the techniques with the getability section and some various techniques, and it helped me close 2 projects worth over $4000 each.Brandon
Simplicity is the Key
The "Save the Pixel" approach shows that simplicity is the key to your web site's success. We have proved that simple web designs can consistently deliver better results.
One of the key insights of the book is "Success is a function of attention divided by stuff". Attention is a fairly finite resource, but we can do a lot about stuff. Reduce the unnecessary stuff on your pages, and you'll increase success.
Most web sites are designed to please the person who did the design – not the person who has to use the site. They include content and design that may be appealing, but do nothing to help conversion if they draw attention away from the elements that lead to success.
Any stuff that is added to a site that does not directly support the site's goals by helping serve visitors will decrease the site's effectiveness.
When done effectively, simple web design lets you guide your visitors' attention to the clues that tell them they're in the right place. It shows them exactly where to go next to find what they want, with minimal distraction.
It keeps them focused on the content (not the packaging of the content) and on the next steps you offer them.[cf]buy-now[/cf]
A Word of Caution!
But let me offer a word of caution: The simple approach is only effective when the right elements are included in the right way.
The 11 chapters of "Save the Pixel" will lead you through my comprehensive process for creating simple sites that works every time.
I'll explain how you can:
- Look at your web site through the eyes of a first-time visitor
- Work quickly and maximize your effectiveness when making changes
- Really understand what your visitors need to see – and what they don't need!
- Choose what to include and what to exclude
- Discover compelling win-win propositions
- Make every page instantly shout out "Yes! You're in the right place!"
- Arrange content for maximum effectiveness
- Choose the right navigation options that make your site easier to use
- Master the 7 key design factors that help you manage your visitors' attention
- Increase readability to make your site accessible to everyone
The first question is how to get a visitor's attention. Then, how do you present your content and navigation so that they keep moving forwards?
"Save Hundreds of $$$"
Here's what just one reviewer said.
If you are doing anything online, or are considering it, then Save the Pixel will be some of the most valuable stuff youll ever read.
If you're just getting started and don't have a site yet, Ben's insights will save you a lot of time and hundreds of dollars in unnecessary design dead ends and fancy dysfunctional sites.
The Secrets of Making a Successful Web Site
There are lots of books on marketing, SEO, usability, and graphic design techniques, but "Save the Pixel" is the first that pulls together all the most important techniques into a simple guide for site owners and designers.
The great news is, we've discovered through designing hundreds of web sites and running dozens of experiments that the things that make web sites really work are actually quite simple. Not only are the core skills simpler than you might think, I truly believe that you can make really effective web sites – without being a graphic design wizard!
In fact, most web sites lose visitors through the same simple mistakes, which actually make it harder for your visitors to engage with your brand, and less likely they'll find what they want.
"Save the Pixel" was written to help you avoid making those mistakes, resulting in a site that works for your customers, and really supports your business goals.
Hundreds of Simple Techniques to Maximize Your Web Site's Conversion Rate
"Save the Pixel" is both a simple design philosophy and a comprehensive toolkit of easy-to-use techniques that increase your web site's success, and which any site owner can apply successfully.
Through a series over 20 full web redesign case studies, I present a complete set of vital pixel-saving principles.
My tutorials, notes, and "before & after" snapshots of each site redesign clearly show where pixels are so often wasted and what you can do to save them, without sacrificing appeal.
The results… clear and appealing web sites that people like to use – every time!
"Save the Pixel will change the way you design websites"
Spencer Norman
What This Book Will Give You
Insight into professional web design discipline that will help you create successful web sites and page designs in less time, with less effort and with more impact.
AÂ full set of Design Principles to help you select the design solution that's most likely to work, and to direct your creative energy effectively.
Dozens of Practical Techniques and tips on information architecture, page layout copy writing craft and graphic design.
A great series of over 20 case studies, where IÂ redesign web sites & show these simple skills in action.
Confidence that YOUÂ CAN apply my techniques today to great effect!
Don't take my word for it
Howie Jacobson is the author of "Adwords for Dummies". He says…
"Save the Pixel is the best book on web design and usability I've ever read, and one of the best books on internet marketing in general. If you're sending traffic to your web site via Google AdWords and you haven't discovered the strategies and tactics in Save the Pixel, I guarantee you're throwing away money.
"It's not just information, but a systematic way of designing a site for your customers rather than your web designer's online portfolio. Save the Pixel is the one book I insist my clients read before I'll roll out an AdWords campaign for them."
You don't have to follow a long, expensive course to learn the more important skills for designing great web sites.
Save the Pixel costs just £27 (less than US$42), and it really contains all you need to know to be able to craft really effective web design!
Update – I've just slashed the price of this ebook from £27 (pounds) to $27 (US dollars) – that's a saving of 35%!
Here's what a few fans say…
"Ben Hunt has done a great job writing this one, its simple, pleasure to read and – last but not least – cheap."
"It's just what I was looking for. I know it will be a lot of use for me to build my new website.
"I would have bought the e-book for double the price"
Edwin van de Plasse
Save the Pixel is brillant, just brillant – just what is needed! A must read for anyone who designs and develops web sites.
Anne Nortcliffe, University lecturer
After working on website development for years I read the Save the pixel web design ebook by scratchmedia. It has revolutionised the way that I think about websites and I only wish I could have read it sooner.
David Carr
A real gem of a book.
Every working web designer should read it as it is chock full of great tips and advice for creating great user experiences. An excellent resource even for seasoned Web design pros but it should be required reading for all aspiring and new Web designers to learn web design but especially wannabes. This book demonstrates very well why real design is a lot more than mere decoration and why every pixel counts when your site tries to communicate a brand or message as clearly as possible. Best money I spent all year…
The principles in this book are really outstanding and really work. I utilized some of the techniques with the getability section and some various techniques, and it helped me close 2 projects worth over $4000 each.
Save The Pixel v1 was my favourite web design e-book of all time, so I'm looking forward to starting on version 2 which promises to be a cracker 🙂 Keep up the great work!
Carl Watney
I just read Save the Pixel and loved it! Ive read about a half a dozen books on web design, and Save the Pixel says 3X as much in half the space.
Hi, Im a web designer in the U.S. I bought your book Save the Pixel and I found it incredibly useful and helpful. It seems impossible to find information on how to effectively communicate on the web, and this book was a great help. THANK YOU!
Jillian Nickell
Whether you are a web designer or a company looking to enhance your web presence, Save The Pixel is a must read.
If you design websites, you will want to check this out.
An easy to read and apply how-to guide to building simple and effective websites. I purchased this ebook a while back and I can say from personal experience that it is worth every penny. It is chock-full of real advice and instruction on building clean, crisp websites that meet the needs of your clients.
"Save the Pixel" – one of the best books on goal-oriented webdesign.
Ben Hunt has done a great job writing this one, its simple, pleasure to read and – last but not least – cheap.
The key idea is that design is a means of information communication and presentation, which many webdesign companies completely forget. Now this guy reminds it to you.
Having 6 years of design experience, I highly recommend this book to anyone involved in sites production or thinking about ordering a site for himself.
Why should you read it? Simple: you will learn to work less, work faster and work more efficient. Given that the book isnt a thick old-school manual you will read and start to implement the contained ideas real fast.
This book is fantastic! As a self taught web designer I have been on the lookout for this book for years! Thank you, Ben. Not only will this make my decision making easier – it will save me from the hell of its not quite perfect… I GET IT! I am excited to get to work – something I havent been for quite awhile!
Well worth the money. He has a very no-nonsense style that I think a lot of us as web designers need to re-adhere to.
Any webdesigner should buy and read this great ebook. Unless youre a guru webdesigner already, youre bound to learn something from this ebook. The focus is not on the technical or arty aspects of webdesign, but purely on the functional and communicational aspects of web design. Very inspirational, very nice to read. Especially when youre relatively new in web design, but not a complete rookie, and want to take your general web design knowledge to a higher level, this is an absolute must read!
One of the best book I have ever read about how to learn web design.
11 Chapters Crammed with Professional Tips
- The Art of Simple Web DesignThe core of the "Save the Pixel" campaign for simple, beautiful web sites. Includes "Enough, and no more", "Design the content, not the box" and more tips on design discipline.Download this chapter for free
- Why are we Here?Looks at getting clear about your purpose before you start designing, with practical tips on setting and defining useful goals.
- Make a Site for its VisitorsUnderstanding what people are really looking for when they go to a web site, and helping deliver win-win solutions.
- Spread the Smell of SuccessThe importance of creating a scent trail that keeps visitors believing that they're on track and engaged with the site.
- The Simple Shall Inherit the World Wide WebProof of why simple works in web design, and why being brilliant doesn't necessarily mean being clever.
- Getability and the BrandIntroduces getability as the vital factor in a successful web page, and how it relates to the brand. Includes a guide on defining or developing a brand.
- LayoutHow to arrange web pages so that they're getable at every level, with clear real estate, a focal point, and a meaningful information cascade.
- NavigationA comprehensive guide to types of navigation, with a host of tips on what makes nav really work.
- NoticeabilityBalancing the visual impact of elements on screen to manage the visitor's attention to optimise retention and success. Looks at size, contrast, boldness, colour, space, 3D effects, and movement.
- Give me SpaceReveals the Golden Rule of Spacing – how to arrange elements on screen for maximum readability and perfect meaning.
- Design your ContentSaving the pixel brings the focus on your content. The final chapter is full of tips and tricks for crafting powerful text and imagery that get your message across better.
"The smartest guide to effective web design out there, and probably one of the best books on Internet marketing that youre likely to find."


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At tonight's VSA Council meeting, Maureen King of Campus Dining answered questions about the convenience store that had been promised for Spring semester.
According to King, asbestos and the financial crisis are to blame. Campus Dining is working with B&G to figure something out.
"It's a huge disappointment for us too, because we hoped for another location for students," the Misc quotes Ms. King as saying.

subset: commoncrawl


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Posters made by Paynesville fifth graders proclaiming American Legion Auxiliary Poppy Days are on display in local store windows.
The auxiliary selected two posters to advance to the next level of competition. Winners were Breana Kochmann(left), first place, and Cody Block (right), second place. Project advisor for the poster contest was Trish Skahan.
All proceeds received during Poppy Days are invested in programs for the benefit of the veterans and their families.
Each poppy is made by veterans in auxiliary sponsored poppy shops that supplement physical and psychological therapy needed by hospitalized and disabled veterans. The veterans make the poppies and are paid a small amount for each one.
No matter what the cost of maintaining and supplying the poppy shops, the memorial poppy is never sold, but given in exchange for a donation.
"Wear your poppies proudly. We are proud of our veterans and this is one way of showing them we care," Lois Nehring (above center), poppy chairperson, said.
Return to Archives


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Birmingham unveils 14 Diamond League events for 2018
Birmingham's Müller Grand Prix will play host to a fine blend of track and field disciplines when the IAAF Diamond League series heads to the Alexander Stadium in 2018.
Today, revealing the 14 Diamond League events that are to take place come Saturday 18 August, the Grand Prix is sure to continue growing its reputation as a magnet for the world's best track and field athletes on the back of playing host to seven national records, eight world leading results and nine meeting records since 2015.
A meeting which continues to attract the world's best athletes – 2017's edition played host to countless newly crowned world champions, while Sir Mo Farah used the intimate setting of the Alexander Stadium as his final race on the track in the UK – the event offerings in 2018 look set to make for another memorable day of world-class athletics. .
On the track, sprint and hurdles action will come in abundance as the men's 100m, 400m and 110m hurdles are accompanied by the women's 200m and 400m hurdles. Elsewhere, the world's best middle distance specialists will flex their muscles when the men's 3000m steeplechase and women's 1500m and 5000m take centre stage.
Out in the field, the presence of the men's high jump is sure to provoke a wealth of interest following Mutaz Essa Barshim's stunning world lead clearance at 2.40m at the 2017 Grand Prix, while the women's shot put and men's javelin events will offer spectators the opportunity to witness the skill and power of world-class throwers up close.
You can register for updates and news related to 2018's meeting by heading here.
The full list of Diamond League events for 2018's Müller Grand Prix Birmingham can be found here.
Results from previous editions of the Müller Grand Prix Birmingham can be found here.


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If there is one thing that you should know about slot games is that it is another one of those games where luck will play a very big role. After all, online slot games, just like in brick and mortar casinos, work randomly. This means that there really is no way that you can predict what symbols are going to show up on the winning line. However, there are still some strategies that you can make use of when you are going to play online slot games.
Importance of choosing a good online casino
There are some people who sign up with the first online casino that they see just so they could play online slot games. This, however, is not a good thing to do. One very simple strategy that can be applied to online slot games, and for any other online casino games for that matter, is choosing a good online casino. A good and legitimate online casino offers nice payout percentages to their players. One thing though when it comes to choosing online casinos is that it will not hurt your cause if you look around, read reviews, and compare payout percentages before you settle with one.
Taking care of your slot game bankroll
Another online casino strategy for your online slot games is taking care of your bankroll. Yes, the jackpot prize may be calling you and urging you to bet the max amount, but if you are not familiar with the game yet, then do not bet max. What you can do is to start by betting small bets first, and when you finally get the hang of the game, that is only when you can increase your bets.
You should also set aside the winnings that you get from your online slot games and continue betting small. When you have built a sizable bankroll, you can start increasing your bets.
Now, if you are having a good run and are winning spins after spins, you should know when to quit. But why quit when you are on a winning streak, right? Simple, because if you are continuously winning, then there is a big chance that you will continue betting, and when you continue betting, then there is also a big chance that you just might lose. Now, if you lose, there is a very, very big chance that you will go after what you have lost. Suffice it to say that it is much better if you quit while you are ahead.


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Two Amuse
Mehlinda Heartt & Angela Brown are Two Amuse
Two Amuse offers the audience a wee bit of mischief, lots of laughter and magical fun!
The story is told inside a hand-made castle created by Evelyn Roth
Robin Goodfellow & the Faerie of the Harp
The Faerie of the Harp plays her "Faire Song" on her harp, she waves her enchanted wand calling forth from the land of faeries, an elf by the name of Robin Goodfellow.
Robin Goodfellow
Robin sings and dances her story about how she was born into the "Realm of Faeries".
The faerie casts spells that eventually, needs undoing. The Faeries (the audience), King puppet, somehow manage to undo much mischief.
Short Bios
Mehlinda is a professional harpist, opera singer, historical dancer, teacher and costume and mask designer. Mehlinda & Angela are both active performers & teachers with the Historical Performance Ensemble.
"Two Amuse is a a unique mix of music, dance, drama and great costumes.This is definitely a high entertainment and low maintenance act." Cathy Alpaugh (Programmer) West Richmond Community Center, B.C.
"It is with genuine enthusiasm that I recommend the performers who entertained at Brock House, Vancouver. The entertainment was tasteful, tuneful, varied. Altogether approachable and fun." Phyllis Lavelle (Co-ordinator) BrockHouse, Vancouver B.C.


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Friday is going to be my Book day, it is a new thing I have started. It will be a weekly post (on Friday's) where I share a book that I'm most excited to read, or excited for it to come out.
This is my first Book day Post.
This week my book is:
Invaded (Alienated, #2) by Melissa Landers
The romantic sequel to Alienated takes long-distance relationships to a new level as Cara and Aelyx long for each other from opposite ends of the universe…until a threat to both their worlds reunites them.
Cara always knew life on planet L'eihr would be an adjustment. With Aelyx, her L'eihr boyfriend, back on Earth, working to mend the broken alliance between their two planets, Cara is left to fend for herself at a new school, surrounded by hostile alien clones. Even the weird dorm pet hates her.
Things look up when Cara is appointed as human representative to a panel preparing for a human colony on L'eihr. A society melding their two cultures is a place where Cara and Aelyx could one day make a life together. But with L'eihr leaders balking at granting even the most basic freedoms, Cara begins to wonder if she could ever be happy on this planet, even with Aelyx by her side.
Meanwhile, on Earth, Aelyx, finds himself thrown into a full-scale PR campaign to improve human-L'eihr relations. Humans don't know that their very survival depends on this alliance: only Aelyx's people have the technology to fix the deadly contamination in the global water supply that human governments are hiding. Yet despite their upper hand, the leaders of his world suddenly seem desperate to get humans on their side, and hardly bat an eye at extremists' multiple attempts on Aelyx's life.
The Way clearly needs humans' help . . . but with what? And what will they ask for in return?
You can still preorder your copy! The official date of release is February 3rd and I cannot wait to get my hands on it.


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The subdued background and the bright shirt make the subject stand out. Fabulous!ReplyDeleteReplies
Thank you Asit!!Delete
Beautiful work, Celia! The summer sun with the angle of the arm in the early morning market set up are like the sun rising.ReplyDeleteReplies
Thank you so much, Maywyn! The sun rises from behind the buildings and creates a beautiful light, so happy you noticed!Delete
Dear Celia - Just gorgeous friend. Love the colors your selected. The use of all three primaries can be seen working in lovely harmony. Hope you have a great weekend. Thanks so much for sharing. Hugs!ReplyDeleteReplies
I'm really happy you like the painting! Have a wonderful weekend too!! And thank you for your kind words!Delete
Wow Awesome Celia. Everything is perfect, the warm colors , the feeling of warmth and the light, and I really love the subject ! A super favorite !!!ReplyDeleteReplies
Thank you so much Jane !!Delete
Gorgeous, Celia. Love the light on the figure's back and shoulder, and the soft but vibrant colorsReplyDeleteReplies
Thank you so much, Laura!Delete


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The gospel is for all nations and so we love to welcome people from all over the world to our church, no matter what your level of English.
Every Tuesday we have an Spanish-speaking Small Group for those who would prefer to study the Bible in Spanish.
If you would like to know more about our work with internationals, please contact .


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M > MICROCOMPUTER ASSOCIATES INC. > Jolt
On December 1975, the coveted inside-front-cover of Byte magazine contained a two-page advertisement for "the world's lowest cost computer system". This was perhaps the first non-MOS Technology 6502 based computer system to come to market, behind only the TIM and possibly KIM-1. The computer was named Jolt, and it was marketed by Microcomputer Associates Inc. as both a kit for $249, or fully assembled and tested for $348 (Dec. 1975 Byte).
Microcomputer Associates also sold add-ons for the basic system. They included 4 kilobytes for $265, an I/O card for $96, and a power supply for $145.
The Jolt is somewhat famous for the part it played in the development of the prototype Atari 2600 VCS, which was assembled using the Jolt computer board.
Jolt was designed and developed by Raymond M. Holt, Founder and Executive Vice-President of Microcomputer Associates. Holt went on to design the SYM-1 single-board computer, a KIM-1 clone. In the late 1990's Holt was finally given government permission to discuss his role in the development of the F-14 Tomcat. Holt claims he designed and developed the worlds first microprocessor one year before Intel.
Manny Lemas was the co-founder of Microcomputer Associates, Inc. Ray Holt was the hardware side and he was the software side of the business. He wrote the DEMON (Debugger/Monitor) software for the JOLT.
This software was actually developed for MOS Technology for use in the
TIM chip and the KIM-1 single board computer. M.A. was granted rights to
its own version of the software for use in the JOLT.
Part of text and picture provided by Brian Bagnall.


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of the Holy Cross"
Based on my reading of Rev. Michael McFarland's homily
on the occasion of the Feast of the Holy Cross (as appearing
in the Fall 2000 issue), it seems that the College will,
in the future, continue on the course the administration
some time ago: that of being a theological resource for a
variety of beliefs rather than a specifically Catholic college.
while this may seem broad-minded and certainly politically
correct, it also seems to me to be more appropriate in a
secular college or university such as Harvard or Yale.
Isn't now a time when the truth and beauty of our Catholic Faith are more
needed in the world than almost ever before? And was there ever a time when institutions
that call themselves Catholic had a greater obligation to nurture the Faith in
its participants? Fr. McFarland says in his homily "We cannot become a
closed fortress of Catholicism," and yet that is precisely what we should
be—a fortress of truths that develops men and women who will fight for
what they believe, whose lives are dedicated to Christ, His Church and to their
fellow human beings.
To my mind, this determination to offer a kind of theological cafeteria as
part of the College's curricula seems to be based either on the suspicion that
Catholicism, the source of truth in the world, is not sufficiently important
enough to be exclusively taught and promulgated by an intellectual community
or by a decision not to be a Catholic college but a sort of inter-denominational
one with far broader appeal and funding possibilities.
Finally, it seems ironic that Fr. McFarland cites the Jesuits of the time of
the Reformation as examples of his thesis. Those dedicated, self-sacrificing
men gave their lives to defend the Faith and would, I'm certain, be appalled
by the relativism of today.
Daniel J. Gorman '54
Winter Park, Fla.
"A Dialogue Between Colleagues"
I found truly compelling the recent, "distilled" debate
over the social responsibilities of intellectual life in
a Jesuit college between Professor David O'Brien (whom
I now really regret never having studied with) and Professor
Joseph Lawrence (who hopefully does not remember me and the
unfortunate case of loud hiccups I had during a final for
his course on "Discord and Thought" in Spring
For a 1996 graduate who went directly from an English major
to doctoral work in literary studies, their debate speaks
directly to my own concerns with how
to negotiate the thorny issue of social responsibility for injustices in the
world "out there," beyond the relative safety of academic walls,
with the inevitably limited perspective of one "in here," engaged
in academic work whose relevance to those injustices is often difficult to
I speak as someone who has found most illuminating, for my own studies, those
admittedly very secular varieties of literary critical work that engage issues
of gender, class, internationalism and postcolonialism through narrative. Such
critical work does not view the novel as a tempting, formally diverting escape
from the world "out there," but rather as a reflection of that
world's difficulties, and also as a route to potentially transformative
critical commentary upon them. And yet, even with these aims, I find O'Brien's
observations on a certain type of intellectual leisure class and its "mastery" of "the
art of obscuring the sources of its freedom and thus the enormity of its responsibility" particularly
relevant to contemporary dilemmas over the social roles of academic intellectual
life. I find the "learned English country gentlemen pursuing philosophical
questions supported by the wealth of empire" unpleasantly close, in his
situation, to "learned" Holy Cross graduates like myself pursuing "philosophical
questions" over, for example, the fate of Bertha Mason in Brontë's
Jane Eyre, within an academic setting that—by virtue of its placement
within the United States—bears a certain complicity with current globalizing
economic policies that have helped (as O'Brien described) to "impoverish" the "world's
poor," replaying the economic exploitation that helped to imprison West
Indian Bertha Mason in the attic of Thornfield Hall in the first place.
I think that O'Brien and Lawrence both stress, in different but complementary
ways, the need to acknowledge our profound connectedness and responsibility
to social injustices in the world "out there," from the perspective
of contemplative life "in here," whether in American academia in
general, or in the (if anything) more urgently mission-oriented setting of
a Jesuit liberal arts college.
My heart, along with all the hopes I have for a future academic life that will
possess some minute form of redemptive effect upon the victimized, is with
O'Brien's points on the necessity of always emphasizing the generation
of a responsible sense of connection within the goals of intellectual life,
so that "the very notion of self or spirit cannot and should not be imagined
apart from those connections." However, I also find that Lawrence's
response contains something crucial that O'Brien's lacks: the contemplative
methods for how one might begin to imagine such connectedness from the relatively
removed perspective of a Jesuit college, or indeed of any American academic
setting. "To be educated" through culture, Lawrence describes, "is
to be brought out of our selves, to be delivered from the temptation to absolutize
our own finite perspectives … To be locked within our own perspectives
is to make the patronizing assumption that those who are downtrodden require
nothing more than to become like 'us.' A mark of education may
be the realization that we ourselves should be learning from them." In
a way his response helps me to make sense of the Jane Eyre example I used above;
that is, the sort of engagement with culture that should be encouraged, both "between
colleagues" and in teaching undergraduates, might be one which utilizes
the novel's capabilities to bring us out of ourselves, in order to envision
our own connectedness with others, and particularly to envision what we have
failed to learn about others, and what we persist in failing to grasp about
Lisa Fluet '96
Princeton, N.J.


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Brighten a room with this Light Blaster™ design, which uses 4 powerful bulbs to produce a light output comparable to 500 watts of incandescent lighting.More Details >
This Light Blaster™ torchiere lamp offers modern innovations and design inspired by the Art Deco style popular during the early 20th century. The energy-efficient design ensures up to 75-percent energy savings without sacrificing style. The polished nickel center column extends upward and branches into four arms that hold a glass shade. From Possini Euro Design.


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And since I have not posted words in a long time here a few pictures to show you around, maybe make you smile. Our farm in pictures:
Please do not use these photos without permission, they are the property of the photographer and Butting Heads Farm. Thank you very much!


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University News
OPS to Participate in STEP Patrols Throughout May
May 1, 2014
MACOMB, IL – The Western Illinois University Office of Public Safety will join other local law enforcement agencies in participating in the Sustained Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) during the month of May with help from federal traffic safety money from the Illinois Department of Transportation.
OPS will begin grant enforcement details Friday, May 2 and will run additional events through Memorial Day, Monday, May 26.
The grant focuses on providing funding for additional patrols with an emphasis on seat belt-related laws and impaired driving laws, with the goal of providing safer roadways.
In Illinois, as of Jan. 1, 2012, all drivers and passengers must wear seat belts in all seating positions in the car, not just the front seat. During statewide observational surveys conducted by IDOT in 2013, the overall usage rate for rear seat occupants was 77.4 percent, versus 93.7 percent for drivers and front seat passengers.
In 2012, back seat passengers in Illinois accounted for 46 fatalities and more than 5,000 injuries. Out of those 46 fatalities, 30 of them were not wearing their seat belt.
"Seat belts save thousands of lives every year, but far too many motorists are still not buckling up, especially in the back seat," said OPS Sergeant Curt Bilbrey. "Our goal is to save more lives, so OPS will be out enforcing seat belt laws around the clock, looking for those who are not buckled up, in all seating positions. If you are caught not wearing your seat belt, you will be ticketed."
Provisional numbers show that during the 2013 Memorial Day weekend there were three fatalities and almost 600 injuries on Illinois roadways. Two of those fatalities were alcohol-related. Wearing a seatbelt is the best defense against an impaired driver.
While this year's Click It or Ticket enforcement campaign runs through May 26, officers are out enforcing seat belt laws year-round.
For more information about the Click It or Ticket campaign, visit buckleupillinois.org.
Posted By: WIU News (firstname.lastname@example.com)
Office of University Relations


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The preventive and environmental health care management system says a lot about disease control. Experts are of the view that the subsector holds much prospect for nurses and midwives in Nigeria. They say this is the time for such workers to tap the opportunities in the area, writes AKINOLA AJIBADE
FOR nurses and midwives, a window of opportunities has opened up in preventive and environmental health care system.
The former focuses on disease prevention and health maintenance. It includes early diagnosis of diseases, discovery and identification of people at the risk of development of specific problems and counselling, among other interventions that could help in averting health problems.
The latter has to do with keeping the environment hygenic to prevent the outbreak of dieseases, such as cholera and diarrhea.
Experts argue that there are not enough health care professionals to work in these areas. They said health care service providers, such as nurses and midwives, have restricted themselves to hospital jobs where they work on schedules. They said many nurses and midwives are jobless because of their regimented lifestyle.
They said the Red Cross, United Nations Children Education Fund(UNICEF) and a host of other international organisations do employ people to work as preventive and environmental health care providers, advising nurses to key-into these opportunties.
A Nursing Consultant, Larry Obadan, said there are a lot of opportunities for nurses in preventive and environmental health care system, arguing that many countries are showing deep interest in these areas.
He said: " The world is moving towards preventive and environmental health care system. The developed ouuntries are showing more than a passing interest in these areas by providing a lot of money to tackle diseases.
"Also, the developing nations are aware of the importance of environmental healthcare management.These are the opportunities, which thousands of unemployed nurses can tap into to earn a living."
He said the field and allied areas could provide jobs for between 500,000 and 600,000 nurses, adding that there are immense opportunities in nursing.
He said nurses and midwives, who long to work as preventive healthcare officers, should move from house to house to tell people on how to manage their health, while those that are ready to offer environmental health care services need go to rural areas to do the job.
He said Nigeria needs more than a million nurses and midwives to manage the primary health care system, stressing that there is a shorfall in the number of nurses in the country.
Obadan, who is a legal practitioner and Labour Consultant, said there is a lot of mis-match in the medical profession in Nigeria, arguing that the development has affected nurses negatively.
He alleges that doctors are frustrating efforts being put in place to employ staff nurses in Nigeria.
"From investigation, doctors are employing auxillary nurses and midwives to work for them. They parade them as qualified officers, thereby jeopardising the chances of the trained nurses.
Besides, the country is battling shortage of nurses and midwives, making it impossible to develop the primary healthcare system," he said.
A don at the Department of Nursing Science, College of Medicine at the University of Lagos (CMUL), Prof Boluwaji Fajimilehin, corroborated this assertion, saying the country's 240, 000 qualified nurses and midwives are not enough.
Fajimilehin said 136,000 of these are not registered, implying that many are working without regulatory approval. He said the country does not have enough nurses and midwives to cater for the sick.
Citing data from a private outfit – the Integrated Human Resources Information System (iHRIS) – Fajimilehin said two or three nurses are made to work in a 30-bed ward in the morning, one or two in the afternoon, and only one at night. This, he said, requires employing more workers for the health industry.
Also, a Matron with the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the problems associated with the health care delivery system are enormous and therefore require more hands. She said nurses and midwives are in short supply globally, adding that Nigeria is not an exception.
She said there are opportunities for people to work as professionals, auxiliary, dental or primary health care nurses and midwives.
The source said people who have the qualifications would get jobs, in view of the openings in the sector.
Her words: "There are a lot of job opportunities in the health sector. First, the issue of ageing nurses and midwives have opened up job prospects for people. Secondly, many of such workers are due for retirement. Thirdly, some have retired and need to be replaced with younger and stronger workers. Fourthly, many have travelled to Canada, among other countries, for better conditions of service.
"The development suggests that more nurses and midwives are needed in the country."
She added: "The time has come for people to show more interest in nursing by taking it as a profession. They can do this by studying nursing at the university level to get more exposure on it. Holders of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing are going to have an edge in the labour market over those with only School of Nursing Certificates.
"People must develop interest in nursing from the beginning, if they want to achieve success. When this happens, the country would have enough nurses and midwives to work with and further reduce the pressure on the labour market."
She advised people to go for career talks to know their areas of specialisation in nursing science, adding that each area has the capacity to provide jobs for practitioners.
"There are various cadres of nurses and midwives ditto job opportunities. Many are unemployed now because the government does not create the enabling environment for the healthy sector. The best thing for the government to do is to employ more workers in the healthcare delivery segment. The Federal Government has not done much in this area. The Lagos State government is trying its best to take nurses and midwives out of the employment market. Once efforts are geared toward the creation of jobs for medical practitioners, the better for their families and the economy in particular," she said.
Also, a Nursing Consultant, Mrs Adenike Amao, said the country was yet to comply with the World Health Organisation's (WHO's) directive of one nurse to a maximum of 10 patients. Mrs Amao said a nurse or a midwife attends to a minimum of 100 people in Nigeria, arguing that they were being overworked.
She said Nigeria's health care delivery system is poor, going by the WHO Report on 57 countries facing critical shortage of health workers.
She said: "The report indicates that Nigeria's shortage has increased three times from 44,000 in 2006. This would be the seventh highest shortage of the 57 crisis countries. Giving this, the country has a shortage of over 130,000 workers, a development that is not good enough for a country that is planning to attain the goal of Health for All by 2015. For Nigeria to attain that goal, the government must employ medical practitioners, in addition to the provision of infrastructure for the sector."
According to her, Nigeria must clear the deficit first before it can achieve meaningful growth in the area of healthcare services.
"After clearing the deficit of over 130,000 workers, the government still needs to employ more hands to foster growth. By my estimation, Nigeria would need about a million nurses to achieve growth. The reason is because there are many towns and villages that are finding difficult to have access to qualified nurses and midwives. In those areas, people patronise fake health service providers. This has resulted in untimely death", she said.


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Senators, including moderate Republicans, are deciding whether they support a Katrina Commission modeled after the 9/11 Commission this week. A large number of people are needed to stand up and show support for the Katrina Commission. President Bush will address the nation about Hurricane Katrina on Thursday.
Petitions will be delivered to Congress starting Friday
morning so senators and representatives will hear what you think the
very next day.
Click here to sign the petition to demand an independent Katrina Commission.


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There's rumors Trump might permit waterboarding.
And of course, there's the apoplectic response. "Waterboarding is torture!" "We should take the moral high ground!" "The Geneva Convention!" "We're not monsters!"
First things first: When we are at war, literally anything goes. There is no moral high ground once war is declared. War is a dirty, ugly, filthy business, which I why I propose we prosecute wars with our full ability and end them as soon as possible. We should try to spend as little time as possible at war because war is not moral and nothing anyone does during war can be considered moral.
When the Civil War began, people would have picnics to watch the battles, as if they were some game or some spectacle. I simply cannot understand this. If there was a war, and it approached my home, I would run as far away as possible from it. That is, unless I was called upon to fight in the war, in which case, I would fight as hard and as long as I could to end it as soon as possible.
Granted, we have laws for how we choose to fight wars, but those laws are not written by nature. Those are laws we impose upon ourselves simply because we'd rather not do certain things even if it meant losing the war. But let me tell you this: If it became clear that the path to victory lie across those laws, how many of us would question those soldiers and commanders who decided to ignore the law? I guarantee you that if you actually thought we might lose a war, you aren't going to ask any questions at all of our soldiers when they fight that war and win. No, they will wear the victor's crown and rightly be considered heroes, even if they did things that they would wish we never knew about.
Which gets me to waterboarding. The liberals in our country find it distasteful. I find it rather humane compared to other forms of torture, even civilized. In fact, I cannot even call waterboarding torture because it looks nothing like the things we traditionally associate with torture. (Cue the apoplectic response right about now.)
Whether or not waterboarding is effective is completely irrelevant. Whether or not we tie our soldier's hands during war is entirely appropriate. Should we give them a mountain of cash and say, "Win this war, no matter what!" Or do we tie them up in chains and say, "If you happen to win this war despite these limitations, we'll think of new ways to make you less powerful later."
Second: The issue of law. Some people think that the US constitution applies to our enemies. I am here to tell you that it does. The constitution gives the power of war to congress and the president. That is, the constitution tells the enemy who is going to come and kill them. That's about it. None of the rest of it applies. The US constitution has no force in Afghanistan or Iraq, unless we have an embassy there. The laws apply to soldiers but it doesn't apply to the people the soldiers kill. They have no first amendment protections, nor do they have a the protection of a trial by jury. They cannot appeal a decision to the Supreme Court. They have no recognition under our law except as an enemy. To try to impose the constitution upon people in foreign countries is exactly the sort of imperialism that liberals complain about. Yes, it may sound nice to have the people in Afghanistan to be subject to the constitution, but that would mean they were subject to the United States, a territory. I am sure the people of Afghanistan would object.
Third, the Geneva Convention does not apply to terrorists and never will. They didn't sign it, they are not even a state. (If they were, we could end this really quickly.) They get no protection under the convention, and in fact, we shouldn't be playing games with them. We catch a terrorist, we mutilate the body, desecrate it, and post it on a pike for the whole world to see. That's if we're feeling generous. The Romans would do far worse. By fighting us without wearing a uniform or without a state to back them, they are no soldiers and they are not even criminals. They are worse than bandits and pirates and everything else that would make civilized life impossible. To treat them with even an ounce of respect is to disrespect the very foundation of civilizations: law.
Donald Trump is not an idiot. He is likely going to completely unlock the military and our intelligence agencies to do what they do best: Find people and kill them, and blow stuff up. If he's really smart, he will write a fat check to the generals and say, "I don't care what you spend that on as long as we win and they lose." Maybe he will tell the generals, "You have one more week to win the war. Make it count." This sort of idea to many people sounds barbaric and even hateful. But the truth is, for the safety of the world, it is the wisest course of action. By unleashing our generals and our admirals and our military men to do what they know how to do, to hold them accountable only to their own conscience and the laws that govern them, is the ultimate good. Every time our military has moved in the world, ever war we've ever won, has brought freedom and liberty to the world. And once the fighting is over, and the enemy surrenders, we can send in our humanitarians with food and blankets and clothing and we can rebuild, without a cent from the government to help. But not until the enemy is gone.
I beg you, if you love Afghanistan, if you love Iraq, if you love any of these hell-holes inhabited by hellish radical muslims bent on murdering women and children, let our soldiers loose. Let the dogs of war fight the war. Once they are done, and the area is secure, we can move in with true humanitarian help and begin the process of healing. But as long as that wound is open, there's only going to be more death and destruction.
Mind you, I am not arguing for perpetual war. I am arguing the opposite. I want intense, focused fighting with a clear ending point. I want congress to think really, really hard before declaring war. And in the rare case where we have an ongoing war, I want it to be over with as quickly as possible.


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One of my clients recently asked me the following question…
"So I have the new prospects and I send them 'Good to meet you' cards. In three months I send them another card … then what? How do I develop and build relationships with busy interior designers so they'll think of me for decorative painting?"
Building Relationships Takes Dedication and Frequency
In marketing, it's all about frequency. Sending out a "good to meet you card" is great, but waiting three months is way too long. By that time, your prospect has probably already forgotten about you.
The 3-10x Rule
Did you know that you need to hit your prospects at least 3 to 10 times in order to get their attention and move them to action? Maybe even more. So, it's crucial that you set up a marketing system that allows you to repeatedly follow-up with your prospects at least this many times.
There's a reason when someone subscribes to my email list that they receive three email messages within the first 7 days. And, there's a reason I take the time to write and distribute this Ezine every single week.
It's because I know that even if my subscribers don't read every issue, I am reminding them every single week that I am here, sharing valuable information and letting them know I am available to help them with their marketing, if they are ready for some help.
You Must Provide Value
In my experience, the best way to build relationships is by providing value. While sending the occasional postcard or promotional letter may serve to remind your prospects about your product or service, it won't do much to build a relationship with them.
You must provide them with valuable information. Maybe my subscriber who wrote in with the question about following up could send out weekly, biweekly or monthly tips on decorating. Maybe it's a quick painting or color tip or trend. Or, maybe it's educational information about decorative painting.
Your Prospects Buy When They're Ready, Not When You Are
It is important to remember that just because you are ready to sell your product or service, does not mean your prospect is ready to buy it. They'll buy when THEY are ready or have an imminent need for what you are offering. Until that time, your job is to provide value, educate them and remind them you are there and available whenever they are ready.
Don't Worry About Being A Pest
If you are providing value, you really don't have to worry about following up too often. If however, you are only following up to ask for the sale, you'll become a pest relatively quickly.
And regardless, you will lose some prospects along the way. People will no longer be interested in what you offer or they may not want to hear from you. But consider this … if they don't want to hear from you, odds are they weren't going to buy from you either. If they ask to be removed from your list, they're just helping you out by improving the quality of your list.
So don't take it personally. Remember it's just business.
It Takes Time … Sometimes a LONG Time
I have had people on my list for over a year before they decide to purchase anything. And, I know that some people on my list may never make a purchase. That's why having an automated way to follow up (like a weekly Ezine) is so important. Because it doesn't take any more effort on my part to follow up with 10 people or 10,000 people.
Your Marketing Step
Take a look at your follow-up system this week. How often are you following up with your prospects? Do you have a system that ensures they hear from you repeatedly? Is that system automated? Are you providing value?
Make sure you are not stopping after one, two or even three contacts. Create a long-term follow-up system that provides lots of value to your prospects and start building relationships for the long haul.
It may take some time to "prime the pump" as they say, but before long this process will start delivering paying clients to you on a consistent basis.
About the Author: Debbie LaChusa created The 10stepmarketing System to make marketing your own business as simple as answering 10 questions. Register for your Free Chapter from this award-winning system when you subscribe to the weekly 10stepmarketing Ezine at http://www.10stepmarketing.com.


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Emerging from the mists
The sublime alpine peaks of Sikkim, India.
By Roger Payne
The former Himalayan kingdom of Sikkim is one of the most varied, beautiful, and compact regions of the Himalayas. Now a state in the northeast corner of India, Sikkim pokes northward like a thumb jammed between Nepal and Bhutan, with Tibet to the north. From its western border it is a mere 70km to Sikkim's eastern border with Tibet and Bhutan. Trapped within this diminutive 7,096-square-kilometer landmass is perhaps the greatest vertical differential in the world. The high point is 8,598m, on the summit of Kangchenjunga, the third highest mountain in the world. The low point is less than 300m above sea level, where the Tista River leaves the steep tropical forests for the plains of West Bengal in the south, a region once legendary for malaria. Meanwhile, just over 100km to the north, drivable roads climb to more than 5,000m to reach the arid Tibetan Plateau. The culture and people of Sikkim are also diverse and extremely friendly. There can be few if any other places with such variety in altitude, climate, flora, and fauna in such a small and accessible region.
For climbers, Sikkim is a paradoxical paradise. My preconceptions about the difficulty of access to peaks and the high costs were completely overthrown when I first visited in October 2004—everything was much more accessible and easy to arrange than I had believed. This is why Julie-Ann Clyma and I have returned for three subsequent climbing trips and are currently planning another. There are countless rock walls, winter icefalls in high forests and mountain valleys, many interesting unclimbed 5-6,000m+ peaks, a clutch of virgin 7,000m peaks, and the world's longest unclimbed high-altitude ridge. A very welcome addition is new regulations for "Alpine Peaks," which means small teams can easily obtain permission and at modest cost. We had an input into these new and improved regulations, which is welcome evidence of a state government that is open-minded and committed to sustainable development in mountain regions.
The climbing paradox is that despite a long history of mountain exploration, Sikkim does not have a reliable up-to-date record of first ascents. Some successful ascents have not been clearly recorded, some ascents have been claimed but may not have been climbed, and some summits have been reached but not recorded at all. I have had the strange experience of reading in a Sikkim newspaper about someone's "first" ascent of a summit that I had previously climbed myself (and that as a third ascent). Given this unusual and somewhat confusing background, and all that is recorded in the Himalayan Journal and elsewhere, this article is not an attempt to clear and correct the historical record, but merely to highlight selected achievements and some of the excellent climbing opportunities that exist in Sikkim.
Back in the mist
The original inhabitants of Sikkim were the Lepchas, who were food gathering people speaking a language of uncertain origin. They worshipped the spirits of nature and mountain summits, and had an oral history. The first major in-migration of Tibetan and Bhutanese (Bhutia) people occurred during the fifteenth century. Then, toward the end of the nineteenth century, major migration from Nepal led to increased cultivation. The relatively easy-to-cross mountain passes between Sikkim and Tibet gave it great strategic significance during the British Indian period, and in 1817 Sikkim became a protectorate of Britain, a responsibility assumed by India in 1947. During the Sino-Indian border conflicts and the era of the Cold War, the passes were closed and turned into major tension points between India and China; both sides of the border were heavily militarized. In 1975 Sikkim became the 22nd State of India (the smallest except for Goa). Today, Sikkim is an integrated multicultural society, and India and China have given each other mutual recognition on the status of Sikkim and Tibet. Despite continued heavy military presence on the border, the Natu La—one of the main passes between Sikkim and Tibet—is now open for limited local trade and may soon open for tourism.
Sikkim's known climbing history begins in the British period. In two remarkable journeys, in 1848 and 1849 the legendary naturalist Sir Joseph Hooker climbed several 5,000m peaks, attempted some 6,000m peaks, and almost completed a circuit of Kangchenjunga, thus launching a "golden age" of mountain exploration in Sikkim that lasted almost a century. John Claude White, the Political Officer to Sikkim and later Bhutan (1887-1908), was another early seminal figure. White introduced protected status to vast areas of Himalayan forest, and created a remarkable personal collection of photographs of his travels on the northeast frontier and in Tibet. In 1899 came Douglas Freshfield's famous expedition around Kangchenjunga that included Vittorio and Erminio Sella, who also took some fine photographs, including of the striking Siniolchu—once vaunted as the most beautiful mountain in the world. And because the high passes of Sikkim comprised the eastern gateway to the Tibetan Plateau, Francis Younghusband crossed this way on his historic "Lhasa Mission" of 1904. So did all the early expeditions to the north side of Everest.
The most prolific early climber was Dr. Alexander Kellas, who made several visits to Sikkim between 1907 and 1921. He climbed many peaks, mostly with local companions, and in 1910 made ten ascents including Chomoyummo (6,829m) and Pauhunri (7,128m). Kellas wrote several important papers on the effects of altitude, but sadly, he wrote very little about his extensive climbing experiences. Kellas wondered if Everest could be climbed without supplementary oxygen, and because of his experience and knowledge, he was selected for the first Everest expedition in 1921. Unfortunately, after crossing from Sikkim to the Tibetan Plateau he became seriously unwell and died of a heart attack at Kampa Dzong.
The "golden age" of mountain exploration that began with Hooker in 1848 arguably reached its zenith on the peaks around the Zemu Glacier in the 1930s. Continuing the lightweight alpine-style approach that was established early on, in 1936 Paul Bauer, Adi Göttner, Karl Wien, and Günther Hep made the first ascent of Siniolchu (6,887m) and Simvo (6,812m). The era perhaps ended in 1939 with the ascents of Tent Peak (7,365m) and Nepal Peak (7,180m) by the Swiss-German party of E. Grob, H. Paidar, and L. Schmaderer. Other influential people during this pre-World War Two period were Marco Pallis, Freddy Spencer Chapman, G. O. Dyrenfurth, C.R. Cook, John Hunt, and Eric Shipton. When Himalayan mountaineering resumed after the interruption of the Second World War the spotlight was on a different style of climbing and the 8,000m peaks. In the case of Kangchenjunga, the focus turned to the Nepal side of the mountain.
Above the mists
Unlike some of the world's highest mountains, Kangchenjunga is easily visible from the lowlands and populated areas. It is an amazing sight from hill towns like Pelling and Darjeeling. Given its dominant size and shape, and its magnificent appearance in early morning and evening light, it is hardly surprising that it has long been an object of worship to locals and an inspiration to climbers. The remarkable first ascent in 1955 was from the Nepal side of the mountain. However, the Sikkim side had seen two determined attempts on the northeast spur in 1929 and 1931 by strong groups led by Paul Bauer. This dangerous and difficult route was eventually completed in 1977 by an Indian Army expedition led by the redoubtable Col. Narinder "Bull" Kumar, which was the second expedition to succeed in climbing Kangchenjunga.
The ongoing history of climbing on Kangchenjunga has mostly been on the Nepal side of the mountain. This includes the remarkable alpine-style ascent of Kangchenjunga's south summit by the south ridge (which marks the border between Nepal and Sikkim), which was climbed in 1991 by Andrej Stremfelj and Marko Prezelj from Slovenia.
In 1991 the State Government of Sikkim classified the main, south, and west summits of Kangchenjunga as sacred, and banned the "scaling of the sacred peaks." This has been taken to mean that all climbing attempts on the Sikkim side of Kangchenjunga are prohibited. However, it may be possible to obtain permission from the Sikkim authorities to climb Kangchenjunga if the sacred peak restriction is respected and the actual summits remained untrod by climbers originating in Sikkim. If so, this would open up the possibility of a traverse of Kanchenjunga's formidable unclimbed east-southeast ridge, which includes Zemu Peak (7,780m). This is without doubt one of the major high-altitude mountaineering challenges.
In the west
South along the border from Kangchenjunga is Talung (7,349m) and at least three 7,000m summits in the Kabru group. In 1883 William Woodman Graham claimed an ascent of Kabru, but later this was dismissed and it was thought he was on some other mountain. Kabru North (7,338m) was climbed in 1935 (C.R. Cooke and G. Schoberth) and Talung from its Nepal side in 1964 (F. Lindner and T. Nindra). Kabru Dome (6,600m) and the North and South summits of Kabru are classified as sacred. However, this has not prevented recent ascents by Indian and foreign groups, although it is not clear if the groups concerned had the permission of the authorities in Sikkim.
Farther south again is Rathong (6,679m) and Koktang (6,147m), which offer interesting opportunities for alpine-style first ascents. Julie-Ann and I explored in this area in autumn 2006 when we climbed some adjacent 5,000m summits. According to the Alpine Club's on-line Himalayan Index, Koktang has been climbed twice (via the southwest face in 1982 and via the northeast face and north ridge in 1991), and Rathong has had two ascents (in 1964 and 1987 via the West Rathong Glacier and icefall). The steep mixed south face of Rathong looks interesting, but has some serac hazards, and the southeast ridge is a technical challenge we tried, but we ran out of weather and time. Koktang has a long corniced summit ridge and, according to the great chronicler of Himalayan ascents Harish Kapadia, "the true high point, lying at the northernmost end, remains to be climbed." Having climbed quite a bit of new ground, we made some progress on the northwest-north ridge of Koktang, but deep cold snow and unstable cornices stopped us. This route would probably be a more reasonable undertaking in the premonsoon spring period.
Near the snout of the Rathong Glacier is the mountain base camp for the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute in Darjeeling. Groups from the HMI Darjeeling train on the glaciers and peaks thereabouts, including the technical Frey Peak (5,830m), which has had numerous ascents with the aid of fixed ropes. This is one of the peaks designated by the Government of Sikkim as an "Alpine Peak." In 2004 two Spanish climbers, Alain Anders and Garo Azuke, were active in this area and climbed two technical routes on peaks they referred to as Tieng Kg (ca 6,000m) and Phori (5,837m) (see p. 385, AAJ 2004).
Running parallel and to the east of the above peaks is the route of Sikkim's most popular trek: a five-day journey from the historic village of Yuksom to the Gocha La (Heaven's Gate). As you ascend, you get excellent views of Kangchenjunga, and to your east a group of fine-looking alpine-scale peaks. The first of real note is the technical-looking Narsing (5,825m), which is another "Sacred Peak." However, just north of this is Lama Lamani (ca 5,700m), Jopuno (5,936m), and Tinchenkang (6,010m), the latter two being "Alpine Peaks," for which it is easy to obtain permission. In spring 2005 with Sagar Rai and Kunzang Bhutia (friends of ours in the Sikkim Amateur Mountaineering Association), we made the first ascent of Lama Lamani, then made the third ascent (and first alpine-style ascent) of Tinchenkang (see p. 400, AAJ 2006). Jopuno has just had its 2nd ascent (Sam Gardner and team, spring 2008). These peaks offer good medium-grade alpine ascents, and are destined to become classic climbs of the Eastern Himalaya.
Farther north again is the dramatic peak of Pandim (6,691m), which attracted the attention of the early explorers, and more recently has had some confusingly reported attempts. Pandim has a superb-looking technical west ridge, but is another sacred summit. It is actually a group of summits, so perhaps in the future it may be possible to climb one of the lower peaks.
Indian mountaineers have been especially active in West Sikkim. Members of the Himalayan Club, instructors from the mountaineering institutes, and military groups have all made important climbs. Some ascents have been accurately documented in the Himalayan Journal, the AAJ, and elsewhere, while others are less well recorded, and some were not recorded for security reasons. If Sikkim ever receives a definitive guidebook of climbs, it will be the outcome of some very diligent research.
Along the border, north and east
North of Kangchenjunga is Jongsang (7,459m), which sits at the junction of the borders between Nepal, Tibet, and Sikkim. Its first ascent came in 1930 via its north ridge, by G. O. Dyrenfurth's international expedition to Kangchenjunga. The Sikkim-Tibet border follows the watershed over high peaks and passes to Pauhunri (7,125m) (first ascent in 1910 by Kellas) in Sikkim's northeast corner. Just south of Pauhunri are two virgin 7,000m summits, then a ridge of unnamed 6,000m summits. Farther south again, the peaks become lower and lead to the historic passes of Natu La (between Gangtok and Yatung in Tibet) and Jelep La (between Kalimpong and Yatung).
Permission to access the peaks and passes along the Sikkim-Tibet border has been extremely limited ever since the start of the Sino-Indian border conflict of 1962. However, you can pick almost any mountain along the Sikkim-Tibet border and find an interesting climbing objective. In September 2004, a strong team organized by the Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF) in New Delhi attempted the border peak of Chomoyummo (6,829m). The leader was the highly respected and hugely experienced Dr. P. M. Das, a vice president of the IMF. The attempt ended in tragedy when Das and four others were killed in an avalanche.
At some stage access to the peaks on the Sikkim-Tibet border will become easier, which could launch a new "golden age" of first ascents and new routes in this part of the Himalaya. Meanwhile, just away from the border is a ring of peaks that are easier to access, and offer very interesting climbing potential from the valleys of Lachung and Lachen.
Within the border
During World War Two, British climbers were able to take leave in the region of Lachung and Lachen, and members of the Himalayan Club including Trevor Braham explored the area. It is a fascinating journey up from the steep forested slopes of the Lachung Valley, to reach open plains typical of the Tibetan Plateau around Yume Samdong, and then cross the Sebu La down into the open part of the Lachen Valley, to then descend back south to steep valleys and forests. Such was the interest in making this journey that the Himalayan Club built huts on either side of the Sebu La (both of which are now in ruins).
After the Sino-Indian conflict broke out in 1962, this area was closed apart from military expeditions. Then in 1976 Harish Kapadia and Zerksis Boga obtained permission to do the Sebu La trek. Twenty years later, in 1996, an expedition led by Doug Scott (including Lindsay Griffin, Julian Freeman-Attwood, Skip Novak, Mark Bowen, Paul Crowther, Michael Clark, Col. Balwant Sandhu, and Suman Dubery) obtained permission for Gurudongmar (6,715m) and Chombu (6,362m).
Gurudongmar and the other peaks in the Kangchengo group have steep southern aspects; they are approached more easily from the north and have shorter ascents. While returning from the 1936 Everest expedition by crossing the Naku La, Shipton, Warren, Kempson, and Wigram made the first ascent of Gurudongmar. However, having read their account, I feel it is more likely that the summit they reached was Gurudongmar West (6,630m), which would make the first ascent of the main peak in 1980 (by the Assam Rifles led by Norbu Sherpa).
Chombu was described by Doug Scott as "the Matterhorn or the Shivling-like peak of Sikkim." It was explored in the 1940s and 50s by members of the Himalayan Club. Apparently, there was an attempt in 1961, but according to Harish Kapadia, "A definite ascent of this peak is yet to be established."
A large part of Scott's article "Exploration and Climbs in Northeast Sikkim" (p. 53, Himalayan Journal, 1997) concerns the difficulty, high cost, and uncertainty of obtaining permission for the peaks. The team members were enterprising in their explorations in what was then a high-security area, but somewhat thwarted by bad weather and heavy snow on their efforts to climb Gurudongmar and Chombu. As an indication of how things have changed since 1996, the expedition's base camp at Yume Samgong (4,624m) is now a very popular day trip by jeep from Lachung. On one day in October 2007—a public holiday—93 tourist jeeps and one motorcycle registered with the last police post to drive up to Yume Samgong (or "Zero Point" as it is usually called locally).
Above Yumtang in the Lachung valley members of the Sikkim Amateur Mountaineering Association and groups from the Sonam Gyatso Mountaineering Institute have made a number of ascents. In the winter of 2004, the Lachung Valley experienced its first modern icefall climbing. Richard Durnan and friends from Colorado, Canada, and Austria climbed many easy-to-access routes up to 180 meters long and up to WI5 and M5 in difficulty (see p. 384, AAJ 2004). As Durnan wrote, "There is great potential for further development of ice climbing in this area."
Julie-Ann and I first tried to visit North Sikkim in 2006 to attempt Gurudongmar (6,715m), but we could not get all the necessary clearances. However, in the autumn of 2007, we got permission for Brumkhangshe (5,635m), which is one of the two "Alpine Peaks" in North Sikkim (the other being Lama Wangden, 5,868m, in the Lachen Valley).
With help from Sikkim Holidays in Gangtok and the Sikkim Amateur Mountaineering Association, we found the registration with police and army posts very straightforward, and the police and military personnel were friendly and helpful. We situated our base camp by the road close to the police post at Shiv Mandir (marked at 3,905m on the Swiss map of Sikkim Himalaya). We arrived in low cloud and rain, and hence it appeared a rather miserable spot. However, our moods improved as the weather lifted and the peaks and nearby cliffs revealed themselves.
The north ridge of Brumkhangshe turned out to be an easy and very good snow climb, which gave excellent views of many peaks of a similar altitude on both sides of the Lachen Valley. We explored the unnamed glacier to the north of Brumkhangshe, which has a number of peaks around it (which are presumably unclimbed). We also took a close look at Chombu, but found the east face high in objective danger and the northern aspects under too much "interesting" snow (the north ridge of Chombu could be a good route in the pre-monsoon season, and the west face offers a worthy challenge).
There are many peaks around the Rula Kang Glacier under Chombu's east face. Instructors from the Sonam Gyatso Mountaineering Institute have apparently climbed Pheling (ca 5,500m— easy snow climb), which is just south along the ridge from Chombu "East" (5,745m), which Doug Scott and team climbed in 1996 (crux of V with limited protection). Immediately east of Chombu's northeast ridge is what we called "Eagle Peak" (ca 5,540), which has a very good mixed southwest ridge and from the summit awesome views of the peaks in the Kangchengyao group.
Into the light
The future for mountaineering and climbing in Sikkim looks very promising. The State Government has made it easier for foreign visitors to get access to some interesting peaks that are away from the borders. Meanwhile, the border areas are becoming less sensitive, and hopefully in the future tourism and mountain recreation can resume there as well. The tourism service providers in the capitol Gangtok are friendly and reliable, and are being supported by the Ministry of Tourism and the Sikkim Amateur Mountaineering Association (SAMA). Together, they are expanding their capacity to provide services to international tourists and mountain recreationists, and at the same time promoting sustainable development in mountain regions. Hence, climbers and mountaineers in Sikkim are developing local skills and knowledge, helping with local guide training, and giving opportunities to young people in Sikkim to enjoy climbing and mountaineering. With limited resources, SAMA has been doing an excellent job.
In the past Sikkim has been enveloped in the mists of border tensions and access restrictions. Happily, the sublime mountains of Sikkim are now very definitely emerging from those mists, and the future looks bright.
The "Alpine Peaks" of Sikkim are:
West Sikkim
Frey Peak, 5,830m (Chaunrikiang valley)
Tinchenkang, 6,010m (Thansing valley)
Jopuno, 5,936m (Thansing valley)
North Sikkim
Lama Wangden, 5,868m (Lachen)
Brumkhangse, 5,635m (Yumthang)
The regulations for the Alpine Peaks of Sikkim are included in the Sikkim Government Gazetteer, No 83, 29 March 2006 (http://sikkim.gov.in/asp/Miscc/sikkim_govtgazettes/GAZ/GAZ2006/ gaz2006.pdf; scroll to page 90). This is a very large file, but the Alpine Peaks section alone can be found at www.AmericanAlpineClub.org/AAJ.
A Note About the Author:
Expedition reports for Julie-Ann Clyma and Roger Payne's trips to Sikkim can be found at http://www.rogerpayne.info/climbing.htm. Roger, 52, is a Brit with decades of new-routing experience in Asia, Europe, and one long new route in the Grand Canyon of Arizona. He and Julie-Ann live in Leysin, Switzerland, where they work as Alpine guides. They would like to thank all the organizations that supported their explorations in Sikkim, including the Government of Sikkim, Sikkim Amateur Mountaineering Association, Sikkim Holidays, British Mountaineering Council, Mount Everest Foundation, UK Sport, Beal, DMM, Julbo, Lyon Equipment, MACPAC, Outdoor Designs, Petzl Charlet, Rab, Terra Nova and The Mountain Boot Company.


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- Retail Price $44,988
L/Certified 2018 Lexus RX 350L PRE-COLLISION / NAVIGATION / BLIND SPOT
Retail Price $44,988
Finance for $726 per month at 2.9% APR for 60 months with $4,499 down payment. Payment expires on 05/31/19.
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Beyoncé and WTRMLN WTR announce three exciting new flavors
Gather round, Beyhive, we've got some exciting news to share with you.
WTRMLN WTR, the pioneer in cold-pressed watermelon juice and partner of Queen Bey herself, launched three new mouth-watering drinks this month.
When Beyoncé first invested in the popular juice, she had a simple mission to deliver accessible wellness to the world.
Since then, WTRMLN WTR has established itself in 15,000 stores nationwide and in all 50 states – giving Americans a healthier, fresher hydration option than most typical juices can provide.
For instance, WTRMLN WTR has less sugar than coconut water and orange juice and has way more electrolytes than any sports drink, making it the perfect refreshment when you wake up feeling a little less than ***flawless.
Their three new beverages, called "BLNDS," combine a variety of fresh flavors with their trademark fresh watermelon juice to add a dose of functional (and delicious!) health benefits to an already great-for-you drink.
Check out the pretty packaging:
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AOL.com was lucky enough to sample the three new BLNDS -- GNGR (ginger), CHRRY (cherry) and LME (lime) -- and needless to say, we're obsessed.
WTRMLN GNGR, which contains watermelon flesh and rind, organic lemon juice, organic ginger juice and organic ginger extract, had the exact kick we'd have expected out of a juice made from the spicy root.
If you're a fan of spicier juices, or you're just looking for a little immune system and digestion boost in the morning, GNGR is perfect for you.
WTRMLN LME, which contains watermelon flesh and rind, organic lime juice, organic lemon juice and organic lime extract, tastes like a dreamy mix between a healthy juice and an indulgent margarita.
A little splash of tequila in your LME on a hot summer day would probably have you drunk in love in no time -- don't worry, we won't tell anyone.
WTRMLN CHRRY contains organic tart cherry juice concentrate and organic lemon juice, and its as much of a sweet dream as one would expect.
All of the BLNDS are all natural, gluten free, non-GMO, vegan and kosher -- and that's not even the best part.
Beyoncé and Co-Founder Jody Levy are furthering their shared mission to bring accessibility to a better world by donating a percentage of all BLNDS product sales to Whole Planet Foundation, whose mission is poverty alleviation through microcredit in communities around the world that supply Whole Foods Market stores with product.
Consider your beverage game upgraded.
Find it in a store near you.
More in lifestyle:
'First Lady' wine is a Slovenian tribute to Melania Trump
Outback adds calorie-packed monstrosity to its menu
Research confirms that this is the best time to eat


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Made 4 HIM
Made in HIS Image for HIS Glory
19 Apr, 2016
Off the Beaten Path Period Dramas
One of my favorite things to do is curl up on the couch in comfy clothes, sip on a cup of coffee and enjoy a period drama. This doesn't happen often for a variety of reasons (work, not home, no time, work, needing to get other projects done... did I mention work?) and it can be hard to come up with something to watch. The 1995 version of Pride and Prejudice starring Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle is a family favorite, and I can't count how many times my sister and I have turned it on. It is a
Made 4 Him
Made 4 Him is the blog I started this January, and I would like to welcome you to the adventure.
I have one goal: to carry the presence of Christ with me wherever I go, to reflect Christ in all I do, and worship Him with my life. I was made for a purpose, with a grand and glorious adventure ahead of me. I believe God gave us LIFE, and He intends us to have life to the FULL.
My purpose and goal in writing and hosting a blog is simply to glorify Him. Why do I write? Because that's what He created me to do. I can't NOT write.
Writing is the way I can share the things God is showing me, teaching me and encouraging me as I walk. Hebrews 10:23-25 comes to mind: "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." (ESV)
I want my writing to encourage others and build them up in Christ. As a writer, I am a signpost pointing back to Christ, always being ready to answer those who want to know more about the hope that I cling to.
I want every bit of my writing, from humor about EMS scenarios or sharing about my writing process to have that overarching theme -- my faith may not be defined and stated in each line, but it is part of the fabric of who I am, so much so that there can be no doubt about who I serve or where I stand.
My blog doesn't have a simple topic I am writing about, because life isn't simple. I'm not a machine that only can function and complete one task. He created me to be a writer, but He also has placed me in a position to serve Him as a paramedic and a firefighter. He is challenging me physically with running, swimming and biking. He has blessed me with opportunities to travel.
In the Old Testament it talks about the the words of God's commandments being on your heart, taught to your children... talked of as you sit at home, as you walk along the roads, when you rise up and when you lie down, written on your doorposts and on your gates. (Deuteronomy 6) This is how my faith should be, and everything flows out as an extension of my faith.
My blog is about the journey and the adventure He is taking me on, the situations and people and lessons I am learning as I go.
I believe writing should make a difference, be meaningful, to have a purpose. Sometimes, that purpose is simply to fulfill the calling placed on my life. It is a way to process and understand what He is sharing with me. It is a way for me to document the mile stones along my path in following Him, so I can look back and see where I have walked.
And at the end of the day... my hope and my passion is that everything in my life would glorify Christ.
Soli Deo Gloria -- Glory to God Alone


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Opioids Are Now Responsible for 1 in 5 Deaths Among Young Adults
Above is the title of a June 2, 2018, article in Time magazine. The article reports on a new study published on June 1st, 2018, by the JAMA Network Open, showing that between 2001 and 2016, the number of opioid-related deaths in the United States increased by 345%. . . .Read More


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Upon receiving a cortisone shot in his ailing right shoulder on June 24, Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman acknowledged he might need another one (or more) before season's end.
Nearly three months later, the time finally came.
Zimmerman received a shot prior to today's doubleheader against the Dodgers, a step taken after a recent recurrence of discomfort in the shoulder, and one designed to allow him to finish the season before he's likely to require arthroscopic surgery.
The Nationals said the discomfort Zimmerman has been feeling isn't as severe as it was in June, when he got his last shot prior to the club's series finale in Baltimore.
"I think the difference between this one and the one in Baltimore is that he wants the cortisone shot now, because he's feeling it a little bit," general manager Mike Rizzo said. "In Baltimore, he needed the cortisone shot to perform up to his standards. That's the big difference."
Zimmerman has been dealing with the injury -- diagnosed as a sprained AC joint in his shoulder -- since April, and he's now received four shots over the course of the year. The first two didn't make much difference, but the one he received on June 24 turned his season around. In 55 games prior to that date, he hit .218 with three homers, 22 RBI and a .590 OPS. In 75 games since that shot, he's hit .332 with 19 homers, 62 RBI and a .994 OPS.
Zimmerman's production hasn't dropped much at all in recent weeks -- he's hitting .298 with five homers in September -- but the discomfort was recurring enough to convince him to take this step.
"He's playing great as far as I'm concerned," manager Davey Johnson said. "But the results from the last time he did it were so good, and he felt so much better."
Both Johnson and Rizzo confirmed what has been suspected for some time: Zimmerman will likely need arthroscopic surgery to clean up the shoulder during the offseason. That procedure would be considered minor, and Zimmerman would be fully healed well before the start of spring training.
"I think it's something that's been discussed a couple times from three months ago, and we even discussed it a little bit last night," Johnson said. "It's something that will definitely be seriously considered."


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PiratesItem #2313
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3M Water Filters
Keep the beverages you serve tasting pure and protect your equipment from harmful mineral buildup with a Cuno water filter system from 3M. Each high-flow filter cartridge is made with an IMPACT (Integrated Membrane Pre-Activated Carbon Technology) media package that combines a microporous membrane and a pre-activated carbon block to remove sediment, scale, bacteria, and chlorine taste. 3M offers equipment-specific solutions, as well as all-purpose systems that can be connected to any equipment that relies on fresh water. More