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SPE Now
Local news from the Society of Petroleum Engineers
New SPE Student Chapter Officers!
Join us in welcoming our newest Student Chapter Officers to the SPE family.
Six Student Chapters Established in May
Welcome to SPE!
SPE is thrilled to present the six new Student Chapters established during the month of May.
- Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad del Cusco
- Baku Higher Oil School
- Columbia University
- UiT The Arctic University of Norway
- Universidade Santa Cecilia
- CentraleSupélec
SPE's STAR Scholarship and Fellowship Awards Make a Difference
A great way to see SPE working in our industry is to check in with past members who have benefitted from one of the many programs offered. This year's STAR scholarships and fellowships nominations deadline is coming up in Mid-April, so what better time to check in on one of SPE's past recipients.
The STAR scholarships and fellowships support those pursuing degrees related to the oil and gas industry until completion of the degree for which awarded, up to a maximum of 4 years. Since 2009, SPE has dedicated more than $1 million awarded by its 16 regions.
Allison Yuen is a 2011 recipient of the STAR Scholarship, and encourages students to apply for the STAR Scholarship and Fellowship Awards. She was heavily involved in the University of Calgary SPE student chapter at the time and first heard about the STAR scholarship through the chapter.
"It was a scholarship that directly lined up with what I was interested in pursuing for a career and reflected my choice of student clubs," said Yuen, who is currently working as a production engineer in Shell Canada Limited. "I felt that my extracurricular activities involving the energy industry were a good match for the STAR scholarship program."
Today, her role is to support the Groundbirch shale-gas asset and focus on optimizing production from gas wells.
The SPE International Board began the program as a commitment to education and a way to drive students to science degrees in order to pursue careers in the energy and petroleum industry. The nominees are reviewed and scored by a regional committee that is organized by the regional director. This committee consists of faculty members, and professional members from each section in the region.
Canada awards one scholarship of $5,000/year for up to 4 years and one fellowship of $10,000/year for up to 4 years.
To learn more about the STAR program, please visit https://www.spe.org/scholarships/star.php, or call the Calgary office at 403-930-5454.
Allison Yuen on a recent field assignment with Shell.
Canada Region Welcomes New Sections
The Canadian region of SPE is growing with the addition of two new sections to its membership.
Grande Prairie and Vancouver members have petitioned for their own self-governed unit, allowing individuals in those areas to organize regional activities and better benefit from SPE programs.
"It provides a framework for holding local events to benefit people in the industry," said Melissa Schultea, former Senior Manager, Canadian Activities at SPE in Calgary. "It brings in tangible resources to the people in those areas. It's what sets us apart from lots of other associations."
Industry in the area and the number of people who would benefit from having more direct access to SPE are what determines the need for a section in a particular location. From there, a minimum of 25 individuals sign a petition for the cause.
The two new sections have been in the works for some time. Although the planning behind Grande Prairie forming was spurred on only about a year ago, Vancouver members have been attempting to have a section defined since 2009.
The Vancouver section was formally launched on November 24 in Victoria, B.C. The initial meeting was attended by SPE representatives and new section officers, consisting of 11 section leaders, including five members from Vancouver.
"We are still setting up the ground rules, team dynamics, and logistics," said Marcel Guevara, EP Management Systems and Project Delivery Group Lead Environment, BC/Yukon District at AECOM and secretary of the Vancouver section.
The section consists of the lower mainland of B.C. and Vancouver Island. It was driven by the interest in liquefied natural gas and the movement of several operators (e.g., Chevron and Petronas) to open offices in Vancouver.
"With the critical mass of government and regulatory agencies in Victoria, long-time SPE members, retirees, or part-time consultants in Victoria and Vancouver, small and large operating companies in Vancouver, and engineering firms in the PF&C discipline, a section was easily established," Darcy Spady, Regional Director—SPE International Board said. "We have a strong and varied membership that will definitely have the strongest proportional PF&C focus in Canada."
The section is currently planning its first social gathering to present the unit to local members later this month. The section is also initiating contacts with the University of British Columbia chapter to join efforts and identify activities that can be conducted together.
"As a very diverse group, we are still trying to identify and validate with our members the areas where the section will be focusing," Guevara added.
The Grande Prairie section consists of 47 members and according to its chair, the section is growing strong.
"We are still a young section and slowly getting things moving forward, getting our name out there," said Blair Fisher, section chair and Group Leader Field Engineering at Sanjel Corporation. "Grande Prairie is a unique area of the oil patch and we need to figure out what is going to work here, and what style of events/courses appeal to our membership."
Although called the Grande Prairie section, it encompasses the entire Peace Region, including Fort St. John, B.C., and all the way to Grimshaw, Alberta.
"This section was formed on the request of some young professionals that were transferred to the GP region by their companies," said Spady. "The section was started largely by young members who wanted technical meetings and training, as well as a vehicle to get professional development hours without going to Edmonton or Calgary."
The section has held a few events thus far, and hope more will attend its Distinguished Lecturer Program (DLP) and a training course in March.
One of the main perks of having a section in your area is the access to SPE's renowned DLP.
Fulfilling SPE's mission statement to dispense technical information to members, lecturers and their topics are highly sought after by sections hosting the speakers. There are approximately 28 to 34 lecturers every year that travel to 190 sections, giving each section three lectures a tour season for a total of 570 lecture visits. The lecturers travel approximately 1.4 million miles a lecture season. SPE covers all the expenses for the lecturer's travel. This key program has been offered internationally since 1961.
Also provided are presentations via the DLOnline webevent program. Live presentations are made every month and then archived. SPE is currently accepting nominations for the 2016-17 lecture season https://www.spe.org/dl/nominations.php
As the Vancouver section was created after the 2014-2015 DLP tours were organized, the section is coordinating efforts with SPE and other nearby sections to accommodate at least one lecture in Vancouver and a potential training session in Victoria, both in the second quarter of 2015.
Other new sections currently in development are Estevan/Weyburn, Saskatchewan, and Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Distinguished lecturer Michael Byrne of Senergy speaks at the first ever Grande Prairie meeting in October.
Who Runs SPE in Canada, Anyway?
Darcy Spady, Regional Director—SPE International Board
Sometimes I get questions regarding the SPE structure in Canada. People ask; "What is the difference between the Calgary Section and the Trust Fund?", or "Who directs scholarships given to the University of Regina?", or "Why is JCPT so heavily heavy-oil focussed and not representative of Calgary's unconventional community?"
I'll make an attempt to clarify the structure and give an update on what we do at each level: As SPE in Canada is a minimodel of SPE international, there is a group called the SPE Canada Board that is legally bound to the oversee the activities in Canada, with the support and cooperation of the Senior Manager and staff in the Calgary office. This board is a representative of all sections and is currently chaired by Mike Gatens of Unconventional Gas Resources. It has representation from SPE Staff, and four of the sections across Canada, including Maritimes and Vancouver. This group is responsible for the strategic direction of staff-managed functions, including conferences, workshops, training, and JCPT.
A second group is responsible for the historic funds in the SPE Canadian Educational Trust. This group of trustees is led by Helen Chang of Nexen. It also is representative of sections across Canada. Other than trustee nominations, it is mostly arm's length from the Canada Board.
The third group, and the most visible, is your local section, such as the Calgary Section, currently led by Jeff Duer of Shell. For people in the Calgary area, this group is the most active, and often works outside the boundaries of Calgary, especially with scholarships. Sections provide members with products and services more specific to the local needs and go beyond the scope of SPE Canada. Some examples are technical luncheons and young professional activities.
JCPT is guided by our Canadian Board, however, since submissions come from all areas of the world via conferences or directly to our peer review system, content is largely dependent on what is deemed relevant to our authors. The journal's Editorial Review Board encourages writers to submit to JCPT with papers discussing technology we use in Canada that isn't often seen in the journal.
Without getting into too much detail, that is how the SPE is structured in Canada. I'm pleased to report that all these groups are active and healthy. In mid-January, the Canada Board met and reviewed finances and plans for 2015, including the activities of the 14 staff in the Calgary office. Although the oil price is dictating a tough year for the local industry, we are planning to move ahead with all services, doubling the conferences this year with the addition of the SPE Progressing Cavity Pumps and Thermal Well Integrity conferences. The Scholarship Trustees have also met and are readying to deploy their funds again this year, similar to the significant distribution that was made to 10 post-secondary schools across the country in 2014. And your local section, whether Edmonton or South Saskatchewan or Calgary, has a full slate of activities planned for the year.
As SPEers, our belts may be a little tighter, but there is no better time than now to take the time and do a little professional development on the technical side of our industry.
Darcy Spady, P.Eng.
Your Regional Director, SPE International Board
Director – Client Solutions, Sanjel Corporation
SPE Congratulates New Student Chapter Officers
SPE is excited to introduce the officers of the newly established Florida State University and University of Western Ontario Student Chapters.
SPE Congratulates New Student Chapters
We are pleased to announce and welcome to SPE the following new Student Chapters:
- Institut Teknologi Brunei
- Padjadjaran University
- Mustafa Kemal University
- Florida State University
- University of Kurdistan, Hewler
- University of Western Ontario
- Universidad Veracruzana, Poza Rica
- Instituto Tecnologico Superior de Poza Rica
- Universiti Malaya
SPE Congratulates Newly Established Section
We are pleased to announce and welcome to SPE the following new Section.
- Novosibirsk
Congratulations to Mohammad Eshkalak—Recipient of the 2015 Nico van Wingen Fellowship
Mohammad O. Eshkalak is a Ph.D. candidate in petroleum engineering at The University of Texas at Austin. He is working under the supervision of professors Larry Lake and Kamy Sepehrnoori on developing the next generations of reservoir simulators for unconventional resources. Eshkalak holds a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in chemical engineering from Tehran Polytechnic and Sharif University of Technology, as well as a master's degree in petroleum engineering from West Virginia University.
Prior to moving to the United States, Eshkalak worked at an energy company in Tehran. He has published several journal papers and has presented at Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) conferences. After serving as a technical reviewer for some energy related journals, he is now an associate editor for Elsevier's Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering (JNGSE).
Eshkalak's research direction will be a fundamental approach toward developing fast predictive reservoir simulators that honor the complex physics embedded in unconventional reservoirs.
Apply for an SPE Scholarship or Fellowship
Each year, SPE awards more than one million US dollars in scholarships and fellowships. Deserving students across the globe pursuing degrees related to the oil and gas industry benefit from SPE's commitment to education. You could be one of them.
Application Deadline: 15 April


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Canadian Forces Aerospace Warfare Centre
The Royal Canadian Air Force's fundamental principles and proven practices for conducting air operations.
The Royal Canadian Air Force's forum for discussing concepts, issues and ideas that are both crucial and central to air and space power.
The Royal Canadian Air Force's collection of contemporary air-power publications.
The Canadian Forces Aerospace Warfare Centre (CFAWC) will be the engine of Air Force transformation. CFAWC will become the centre of excellence for air power development, including Concept Development and Experimentation (CD&E) and lessons learned. In addition, CFAWC will develop and maintain the Air Force air power knowledge repository and coordinate efforts to provide advanced synthetic environment and modelling and simulation services to assist CD&E, requirements definition, operational test and evaluation (OT&E) and mission rehearsal.
To be recognized as the Canadian centre of excellence for air power by acting as a catalyst for air power development and as a steward for air power knowledge.
Through an augmentation and consolidation of air power doctrine development, concept exploration, lessons learned, and air power research and analysis functions the CFAWC will bridge an existing gap in aerospace force development by providing a responsive air power doctrine development process, a robust CD&E capability, and an integrated lessons learned program, enabled by the synthetic environment and knowledge management.
Ensuring the evolution of Canadian Air Power
The CFAWC will provide the Air Force with knowledge to acquire the right capabilities and develop appropriate doctrine to successfully conduct air operations as we move to the future.
Operational Role
- Provide Electronic Warfare (EW) programming support for air capability force generation and force employment
- Provide relevant doctrine to ensure successful conduct of air operations
- Provide an air synthetic environment to enable force generation through simulation
- Deliver specialist training, including air Command and Control (C2) courses
- Manage a lesson learned program that addresses operational shortcomings and shares best practice
- Enable capability integration
The Canadian Forces Aerospace Warfare Centre (CFAWC) was stood up in October 2005 to become the engine of change for Air Force transformation, by acting as a catalyst for air-power development and as a steward for air-power knowledge. It was intended that CFAWC would provide the Royal Canadian Air Force with the knowledge to acquire the right capabilities and develop the appropriate doctrine to ensure an agile and integrated Air Force well into the future.
CFAWC was established in two locations. The Trenton location, a lodger unit of 8 Wing, was established with the command portion of the unit as well as the Doctrine Development, Concept Development & Experimentation, Analysis & Lessons Learned, Research / Electronic Warfare and the Education & Specialized Training branches. The Electronic Warfare Operational Support Branch, Air Synthetic Environment Coordination Office and the Operational Research Branch were located at Shirley's Bay in Ottawa. In 2013, as a result of infrastructure downsizing at Shirley's Bay and the desire to consolidate CFAWC operations, the Synthetic Environment Coordination Office and Operational Research Branch began plans for relocation to Trenton.
CFAWC's current branch structure consists of Analysis & Lessons Learned, Doctrine Development, Air Power Knowledge Development, Concept Development and Experimentation and Operational Research at the Trenton location and Air Synthetic Environment Centre and Air Electronic Warfare Support Centre at Shirley's Bay.
Commanding Officers
Commanding Officers
Col J. E. Cottingham (2005–2008)
Col M. R. Dabros (2008–2009)
LCol J. W. MacAleese (2009–2010)
Col D. W. Joyce (2010–2012)
Col J. J. A. M Cournoyer (2012–2014)
Col K. P. Truss (2014–2017)
Col S. Elder (2017– )
Contact Us
Contact Us
If you require more information please contact us at firstname.lastname@example.com
- Date modified:

subset: commoncrawl


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TED440 Leadership and Assessment
Lead Faculty: Dr. Patricia Dickenson
Course Description
Provides teacher candidates with classroom leadership strategies to create a classroom environment that is conducive to teaching and learning. Teacher candidates will also learn how to determine students' abilities through formative and summative assessments and to use this information to provide appropriate instructional strategies to enhance student learning.
Learning Outcomes
- Create a safe and productive learning environment for all learners and for assessment of student learning.
- Complete your ePortfolio of Anchor Activities and Signature Assignments.
- Describe the standards of sound assessment (validity and reliability), the methods of assessment (qualitative and quantitative), the uses of assessment (formative and summative), the users of assessment (i.e., for the learner, educators, parents, and other stakeholders), the context of assessment (large-scale, classroom, and individual) and the content of assessment (cognition, affect, and behavior)
- Design instructional lessons that are grade appropriate and are aligned with the state content standards and frameworks for the selected subject areas.
- Engage students by creating individual, small, and large instructional groups, selecting appropriate learning tasks, implementing appropriate instructional methodologies and strategies, and making connections to prior learning experiences.
- Provide ongoing assessment of student learning through the use of a variety of formal and informal assessments.
- Build and maintain professional relationships with parents/guardians, colleagues, and policymakers in developing a community of learners.
- Support candidate in field experience.


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Is the person you're speaking to who they say they are? Is their passport, driving license or ID genuine or is it a fake? And what happens if they or their company disappears, leaving you with a potential bad debt? We can help you deal with all these situations, and so defend your business and ensure compliance with the latest regulations.
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Below are some of the features of iKokani project currently under-construction.
Job vacancies around the world suggested by fellow kokanis who can personally help. Job displayed will be of two types: General & Referential.
General Jobs are information about jobs which is normally extracted from websites, jobsites, newspapers, magazines, job portals and related agencies.
Referential Jobs are those jobs which are referred personally by our kokani fellows who are willing to undertake responsibility to help in getting candidate pushed towards securing the offered job.
Education will cover information on Training, Workshops, Seminars, Free Education, Free Lectures or anything that can help poor kokani students. This section will also feature top/merit kokani students for motivating other Kokani students.
Kokani Muslims searching for matrimonials within the Kokani community. iKokani looks forward to provide better and complete confidential Kokani matchmaking facility.
Kokan News (Local & International)
News relevant to Kokan region like social gatherings, meetings, announcements, development activities etc. Kokani committees organizing such events all over the world can upload their activities for information purposes.
Charity Donations and Committees
List of charity donations and helping organizations through which Kokani muslims can receive benefit.
Appeal for Help
Help appeals from needy people for Medical, Educational or Zakat purposes. iKokani's participation will be limited only towards dissemination of information to its members and site visitors and not responsible for any kind of fraud, negligence or misappropriation of funds.
Interviews/Biographies of Famous Kokani Muslim personalities
Kokanis who have made us proud and have achieved excellence in their fields will be interviewed and featured on the website. This will be purely for motivation purposes for fellow kokanis and young generations. Approval of featured member will be done by advisory board members.
Masjid pictures in Kokan region
Beautiful Masjids in Kokan region. Submit your masjid pictures in Kokan region taken by digital camera. Please send your masjid photos with details like name of mosque, capacity, location etc. Madrasas can also be listed in this website. However, iKokani would like to refrain from advertising or publishing any religious information.
Kokani Worldwide Committees
Committees, Groups, Associations, Clubs, Organizations etc. formed by Kokanis at various places. Registered organizations will get free homepage or web space to publish their local activities and personal email address service from iKokani.com.
Advertise your real-estate, buy properties, land or shops through iKokani.com. You may also list other things like automobiles, electronics or anything which you feel can be advertised.


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But investors might have cause for cheer, according to analysts at Citigroup, who reckon that AstraZeneca could return $73bn (£47bn) to shareholders over the next decade, which is more than its current market capitalisation.
"With net cash on the balance sheet and management's track record in returning excess funds to shareholders, we see ample opportunity for acceleration of share buybacks," said the broker.
Over the past couple of months, AstraZeneca has suffered a number of setbacks, including a delay to its new thyroid cancer pill as well as the US Food and Drug Administration postponing its decision on whether to give Brilinta – a potential blockbuster – the green light.
But analysts believed these disappointments were already priced in. They added: "We view AstraZeneca's potential to return its market cap to investors over the next decade as outweighing the lack of earnings growth as a consequence of known patent expirations and the unimpressive recent R&D track record."
The broker upgraded its rating on AstraZeneca to "buy" from "hold", although the market appeared relatively unmoved, with the drug giant ticking up only 34p to £30. Its peer, GlaxoSmithKline, was among the sharpest fallers in the benchmark index after Citi cut its rating to "hold" from "buy".
This year looked set to be another tough one for earnings, according to analysts, who believe that consensus expectations for a gross margin of 74pc look too optimistic.
But still on the buy-back theme, the broker suggested that the healthcare giant could return in the region of £2bn a year from 2012.
Nonetheless, Glaxo fell 9½ to £12.24½, even though Jefferies upgraded its rating to "buy" from "hold" as analysts there also hoped for a share buy-back.
But Smith & Nephew took the sharpest tumble, falling 42 to 670p after it had leapt on Monday on unconfirmed reports that it had rebuffed a £7bn approach from Johnson & Johnson. Investec advised investors to consider taking some profits – which they duly did.
Despite Smith & Nephew's slide, the blue-chip index rose for the first time in four days as fears of another sovereign debt crisis receded. Japan joined China in pledging to buy eurozone bonds, which calmed market jitters.
The FTSE 100 rose 57.73 points to 6014.03, with bullish broker comment helping sentiment, while the FTSE 250 put on 160 points to 11735.26.
Leading the index higher were the banks. Barclays gained 15.3 to 292p as it – along with Lloyds Banking Group – was named among Société Générale's top picks in the European banking sector. Lloyds rose 0.99 to 66.18p.
Ian Gordon, an analyst at Exane BNP Paribas, also kept his "outperform" rating on Barclays, saying the bank appeared well-placed to deliver further outperformance through a challenging 2011, free of the overhang from the Government's ownership.
HSBC climbed 16.3 to 688.7p as Citi upgraded the bank to "buy" from "hold". Analysts said they liked the new management – Stuart Gulliver recently took over as chief executive following the departure of Michael Geoghegan – and they expected higher dividends.
As well as strong growth in the Hong Kong and Asian businesses, the broker also pointed to an improving backdrop in North and South America that is driving lower loan losses.
Analysts at Citi have clearly been busy, because they also published a bullish note on Wolseley, arguing that the world's biggest plumbing and building merchant's shares "could be worth £45". With Citi also reiterating its "buy" rating, Wolseley jumped 122p to £21.79.
"Given we believe in more North American margins upside than we thought previously, we feel there is another leg up in the share price to come," said the broker.
"Our 12-month target is upped to £30 but we believe with a little bit of help from the macro environment and a more aggressive use of the balance sheet the stock could get to £45 inside three years."
Elsewhere in the construction sector, Howden Joinery Group surged 10.6 to 116.1p as the mid-cap kitchen unit supplier said profits should comfortably beat market expectations on rising sales and improving margins.
Ashtead, which hires out equipment such as forklifts, rose 9.8 to 176.2p after buying a US scaffolding provider for around $38m. Analysts at Evolution Securities said the acquisition – its first in four years – signalled confidence.
Leading the charge among the large-caps was ARM Holdings. The designer of microchips for the likes of the Apple iPhone advanced 32½ to 497½p, with traders citing persistent takeover speculation.
There was a clearer reason behind a spike in its mid-cap peer, CSR. The chip maker surged 47 to 413p to take the gold medal after it settled a legal battle over technology patents with US rival, Broadcom.
The case concerned SiRF, an American GPS chip business, which CSR bought in 2009. The dispute predated CSR's acquisition.
CSR will pay Broadcom $67.5m over the next five years, but CSR indicated that the majority of the settlement would be offset by a reduction in legal costs of at least $50m.
Dealers were checking out of retailers as Marks & Spencer warned that trading could get tougher as consumers tightened their belts. The retailer fell 10.8 to 373.2p, while Tesco slid 4.3 to 425.35p in sympathy.
Mid-cap Dunelm slid 30½ to 497p to take the wooden spoon as the homewares retailer said it was cautious about the second half of the year due to the impact of tax rises and higher cotton prices. Small-cap HMV held steady at 25p after Russian billionaire, Alexander Mamut, upped his stake to 6.1pc.
Amlin fell 10.7 to 392.9p after the mid-cap property and casualty insurer doubled its cost estimate for last year's New Zealand earthquake to $160m from a previous $75m.
But Computacenter advanced 35 to 420p as the IT company said it expected profits to come in at the top end of forecasts as customers resumed their spending on IT infrastructure.


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C2C Preventative Conservation for Visual Arts - Asheville
Exit this survey
Registration for this workshop is now closed. Please see the C2C website (http://c2c.ncdcr.gov) for more workshop opportunities in your region. Or, join the NC ECHO listserv (http://lists.ncmail.net/mailman/listinfo/ncechoshare) for email updates on upcoming events. If you have any questions, please contact Michelle Vaughn at 919 807 7422 or firstname.lastname@example.com.


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A: I bought movies today
Me: Ahhh
A: Juno, Waitress, Charlie Wilson's War and 27 dresses. Blockbuster was having a sale
Me: Very nice
A: Apparently i'm in a pregnancy mood :)
Me: Wow
A: That could be taken out of context
Me: Yep, and I'm taking there and running with it
A: Are you?
Me: Yeppers
A: Where are you taking it then
Me: Ummmm, that I'm still wondering
A: The mocking doesn't work if it's not speedy
My mocking is never in vain…:)


text:
Instruments: Piano, Voice
Scoring: Piano/Vocal/Chords
Key: A Minor (Transposable)
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Joo Won says his ideal woman has a pot belly
For those of us who always feel a little low after finding out we never match our favorite oppa's idea of a perfect woman, the good news is that there's one Korean actor whose ideal type seems to be a bit more attainable for us! Yong Pal star Joo Won recently re-affirmed that he stills prefers women who have a pot belly, but the next thing he said is even more amazing!
When asked about his ideal type on a recent episode of Healing Camp, Joo Won stated that he prefers a woman who "only wears pants, has a pot belly, has a pretty back, and is kindhearted."
Because the recent standard of beauty in Korea is to be incredibly thin, on the occasion that Joo Won has expressed his preference for pot bellies, his statement is usually met with a bewildered and amused reaction. This time, the show's MC Seo Jang Hoon laughed, "How big does the pot belly have to be?"
But Joo Won responded seriously, "I like the belly. I don't know. I like the belly..." Most importantly, he clarified, "I think if I like the person, nothing matters."
When the MC asked, "Are you the type who can't get back up when you fall hard for someone?" Joo Won stated, "It's not that I can't get up; it's that I refuse to get up."
Sounds like Joo Won is a true romantic! He realizes that if he loves someone, than that's all that matters. And our fantasy of dating a hot Korean oppa actor seems just slightly more within reach!
Watch Joo Won's recent series Yong Pal:


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A super-sweet dig. Otherwise known as a infectious and rockin tune. A song that can be enjoyed by all hippy-liberal douches.
"I can't wait to see the look on those eikman's faces when they hear this Crunchy Groove ...oh my god, this song is soooo crunchy."
by Divad Remier March 01, 2008
buy the domain for your pet site


text:
I love erica
and i want to rock her soul
iloveericaon June 11, 2009 Link
Lyrics submitted by AgathaKavka
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(843) 297-1094
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Md. man accused of faking credentials
William Hillar's impressive resume suggested he'd have plenty of first-hand knowledge for anyone who wanted to learn about counter-terrorism. The Maryland man billed himself as a retired U.S. Special Forces colonel who had served in Asia, the Middle East and Central and South America. He said he was trained in tactical counter-terrorism, psychological warfare and emergency medicine.
Federal authorities in Maryland say it was a lie.
On Tuesday, Hillar, 66. of Millersville, was charged in U.S. District Court in Baltimore with mail fraud. According to court records, Hillar has given speeches and taught workshops at institutions, including the California-based Monterey Institute for International Studies, for the past decade.
"The complaint alleges that William G. Hillar was living a lie and basing his entire career on experience he did not have and credentials that he did not earn," U.S. Attorney Rod Rosenstein said in a statement. "He was never a colonel, never served in the U.S. Army, never was deployed to exotic locales and never received training in counter-terrorism and psychological warfare while in the armed forces."
Officials said that over the course of the scheme Hillar has been paid more than $100,000 by public and private institutions, including law enforcement agencies.
FBI special agent David A. Rodski wrote in a criminal complaint that a search of U.S. Army records showed no sign that Hillar had served. Hillar was in the Coast Guard from 1962 to 1970, authorities said, but was never deployed to Asia the Middle East or Central and South America.
Jason Warburg, a spokesman for the Monterey Institute for International Studies, a graduate school of Middlebury College in Vermont, said some students with military backgrounds became suspicious of Hillar's credentials after he taught an October workshop on human trafficking. The students approached institute officials, who launched an investigation.
Hillar was a contract employee who taught 12 workshops at the institute since 2005, Warburg said. He said the institute previously had a policy of conducting background checks on all full-time and adjunct faculty members, but in light of this incident has expanded the policy to include instructors who are contractors.
Hillar also claimed on his now defunct web site, billhillartraining.com, that he earned a PhD from the University of Oregon, federal authorities said. University officials said he was a student in the early 1970s, but wasn't awarded a post-secondary degree, court papers say.
The Monterey Institute has informed students who took Hillar's courses that they can register for substitute classes at no cost.
Maria Glod
| January 25, 2011; 2:33 PM ET
Categories: From the Courthouse, Maria Glod
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Is Your Garden Pet-Safe?
As spring comfortably settles in, more of us are getting outside to garden. This usually means that our pets are spending more time outdoors as well.
Pet owners, please always be cautious of the plants in yours and your neighbors' yards as well as your pet's eating habits and curiosity level. Not only are there many plants that are toxic to pets, but also mulch.
Cocoa mulch is a type of mulch that contains cocoa and, as we all know, chocolate is poisonous to dogs and cats. Just like chocolate, cocoa mulch contains theobromine which is toxic to pets. This type of mulch smells like chocolate and is attractive to pets, making it that much more dangerous.
To learn more about the effects of chocolate on dogs and cats and signs to watch out for, read our recent press release on pets and chocolate dangers. Be sure to know your pet's habits and make smart decisions when selecting plants and mulch for your garden.


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Hey Space Runners!
It's time to load your cargo and charge up your laser cannons, shields and reactors for a new mission!
We are working on Space Run Galaxy, the new iteration of the smart mix of strategy, vessel construction, tower defense mechanisms and hyper dynamic gameplay that you discovered in Space Run.
We reached a development state where we'd like to have your feedback to keep improving and ironing out the game!
If you are interested in joining a closed Beta on Space Run Galaxy, fill the form HERE. We'll contact you by email if you are selected!
See you in space,
Passtech Games & Focus Home Interactive


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HBO's Dirty War depicts to convincing effect a terrorist bombing at rush hour in central London. Killing scores of people, it sends a billowing cloud of toxic smoke over a city only partially equipped to deal with the chaotic aftermath.
Could it happen here? I don't mean another terrorist event -- I mean a movie that seeks to rattle us out of a complacent belief that the terrorism front is exclusively "over there" now (Iraq, Afghanistan, Madrid, Istanbul) and not also on the verge of happening again in our own back yard.
To that end, Dirty War, a co-production with the BBC, argues that what we don't know will hurt us, and soon. It means to rattle and awaken awareness about the so-called "war on terror" in the way that The Day After, the 1983 TV movie about a nuclear holocaust in the United States, sought to get viewers thinking harder about the implications of the Cold War nukes race. Dirty War is this kind of cautionary tale, although not as catastrophic; it's about the shadowy ways in which terrorist cells operate and how elusive the enemy is to those charged with protecting us.
In this way, Dirty War leads us to the edge of our fears about another 9-11. You will feel things watching Dirty War -- dread, certainly, and anger perhaps at the ways in which a government is shown keeping its people blissfully in the dark, but Dirty War doesn't go beyond showing what can happen, and how.
It's well-executed but almost too clinical. "Based on extensive factual research," as the film announces, Dirty War takes viewers inside the week leading up to the explosion of a "dirty bomb" -- low-grade radioactive material dispersed by a conventional explosive -- during morning rush hour. As it cuts back and forth among various worlds, the film juxtaposes the resolve and efficiency of a clandestine network of Islamic extremists with the frustrations and squabbling among authorities trying to catch a remarkably unseen enemy.


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One of the greatest games of all time, if not the decade.
One of the greatest games of all time, if not the decade.
Last edited by ThePoler; 01-05-2012 at 10:12 PM.
The first time I shot a dude, and he proceeded to crawl away on his good leg... So cool
Ive had this game and ill ive gotten up to is shooting the coyotes away from the hen house
Feeling like Katrina with no fema
Like Martin with no Gina
Like a flight with no visa
First class with the seat back I still see ya
In my past, you on the other side of the glass
Of my memory's museum
that's all I did for a month and thats why I still haven't ever beated the game.
I just found out if you hogtie someone and take your knife out. You slit their throat. I never tried that.
I had a choice between saving a man from a cannibal or letting him be eaten.
I tied up both those cunts and left them to the wolves.
This game is significantly better than any GTA despite being exactly like GTA.
"It was the best of times...it was Tebow Time."
I've been playing it a lot this past week.
I want to wear a suit so badly. And upgrade my guns.


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Summer starts early at your local cineplex. The season doesn't technically begin until June 20, but movie studios long ago decided May marked the start of the sweltering summer months.
And when the first film is the hotly anticipated "Avengers," who wants to quibble over calendar dates?
"The Avengers" (May 4) Popcorn Potential: 10 – We've essentially watched five feature-length commericals for this super-duper hero adventure ("Iron Man 1 & 2," "Thor," "Captain America: The First Avenger" and "The Incredible Hulk"), and now it's time for the main event. The villainous Loki (Tom Hiddleston) steals an energy source which puts the entire globe in danger, forcing Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) to initiate the Avengers protocol. Writer/director Joss Whedon knows comic books and their geeky machinations better than arguably any of his peers, and the film's already staggering overseas sales suggest Whedon's near impossible mission has been achieved. Sucker Punch Potential? Whedon admitted to cutting a liberal rant from Captain America, and Occupy supporter Mark Ruffalo takes over for Edward Norton as the Hulk's calm half.
"Men in Black III" (May 25) Popcorn Potential: 4 – Will Smith suffered a rare box office disappointment with the 2008 film "Seven Pounds." He licked his wounds by signing up for this sequel, which arrives a decade after the second "Black" outing. The sour whiff of desperation is understandable, making our expectations more modest than the usual Smith confection. Sucker Punch Potential: Unlikely, although the film's rogues gallery of aliens is liable to say just about anything.
"Prometheus" (June 8) Popcorn Potential: 8 – Director Ridley Scott returns to his "Alien" franchise – or does he? The marketing diversion behind the new film may be disingenuous, but it's hard not to rally around Scott revisiting the sci-fi genre after both "Alien" and "Blade Runner." Add a deliriously cool cast – Michael Fassbender, Charlize Theron and Noomi Rapace – and you've got the sci-fi event of the summer, and we don't care if that sounds like marketing material ripped right from the film's PR division. Sucker Punch Potential: The "Alien" films routinely depict corporations in an unflattering light, so we could see more of the same with this quasi-sorta-maybe "Alien" prequel.
"That's My Boy" (June 15) Popcorn Potential: 6 – Adam Sandler's latest man-child comedy finds him pairing with underrated funny man Andy Samberg. The duo play an unlikely father/son pair in this comedy from the hit machine known as Happy Madison Productions. Sucker Punch Potential: Nil. Sandler and co. know better than to insult their audience in an unnecessary fashion.
"Rock of Ages" (June 15 ) Popcorn Potential: 6 – The smash Broadway musical hits theaters with a cast good enough to populate three films (Tom Cruise, Paul Giamatti, Alec Baldwin, Russell Brand, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Julianne Hough to name check just a few). It's '80s hair band mania recast as a primal scream for our freedom to rock. But did they have to stick that stinker song "We Built This City" into the trailer? Sucker Punch Potential: Strong – Zeta-Jones plays a Bible thumper sick and tired of nasty, drug obsessed rock 'n' roll. In the '80s, that role was played in real life by a Democrat – Tipper Gore. But it's unlikely "Ages" will play up the Tipper ties.
"Brave" (June 22) Popcorn Potential: 8 – Pixar's latest confection looks like both a return to form following "Cars 2" and a chance to flex the animation studio's serious storytelling muscle. It's an original yarn with a heroine as fiery as her red mane. Sucker Punch Potential: Limited, although Pixar sneaked in some liberal memes in both "Wall*E" and "Cars 2," so anything may go.
"The Amazing Spider-Man" (July 3) Popcorn Potential: 7 – Spidey is back, and his origin story is being rebooted only a decade after Sam Raimi's brilliant take on the wall crawler's early days. It doesn't make much sense, but the cast isn't making our Spider sense jangle (Andrew Garfied, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans) and the trailers look like this is clearly not a quickie cash in on the Spider-Man brand. Sucker Punch Potential: None, although if the franchise is smart it could sock the dying newspaper industry with a few well-placed jabs.
"The Dark Knight Rises" (July 20) Popcorn Potential 11 (in honor of "Spinal Tap") – The third and final chapter in Christopher Nolan's Bat franchise arrives with even more hype and hope than "The Avengers." The early trailers suggest an OWS-themed storyline, and given Nolan's sneakily right-of-center "Dark Knight," this could be a double treat for conservative movie goers. Sucker Punch Potential: Mark this down as the one summer blockbuster which openly embraces the Right.
"The Bourne Legacy" (Aug. 3) Popcorn Potential: 6 – Franchises never die. They simply get handed off to new actors. Jeremy Renner isn't much younger than former "Bourne" star Matt Damon, but he's a new face willing to help re-start a flagging franchise. The film's August release date doesn't inspire confidence – the best summer films usually come out in May, June and July – but Renner is proving to be a reliable action hero via films like "Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol" and "The Avengers."
"Total Recall" (Aug. 3) Popcorn Potential: 6 -Arnold Schwarzenegger's mind-bending 1990 thriller is getting the remake treatment. Colin Farrell replaces Ah-nuld, but it's the talent dip behind the camera that's more alarming. Director Len Wiseman is best known for his pedestrian "Underworld" films, while original "Recall" director Paul Verhoeven's prickly vision made it unique among the era's sci-fi offerings. Sucker Punch Potential: Unlikely, although co-star Kate Beckinsale isn't too fond of conservatives, and her husband is behind the camera.
"The Campaign" (Aug.10) Popcorn Potential: 5 – Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis square off in this political comedy directed by Funny or Die co-founder Adam McKay. Ferrell plays a slick incumbent, while the "Hangover" star is cast as the neophyte nudged into the political arena. Sucker Punch Potential: Off the charts. Hard to imagine liberals like Ferrell and McKay planting this in the heart of election season and not letting their ideological impulses come to the fore.
"Expendables 2" (Aug. 17) Popcorn Potential: 7 – Sylvester Stallone proved he could outgun his much younger peers with the 2010 original. Now, he must incorporate new faces while balancing the egos – and iron weights – on set. Arnold Schwarzenegger makes his full-on return to acting alongside Bruce Willis, Liam Hemsworth and – gasp – Jean-Claude Van Damme as the film's heavy. Girly men need not apply or even attempt to buy a ticket. And the oldest member of the latest "Expendables" gang is the ageless Chuck Norris. Sucker Punch Potential: Anyone offended by awesome '80s action should steer clear.


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Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted at Breaking the Spine. The purpose is to spotlight upcoming releases that we are excited for.
A Thousand Nights by E.K. Johnston
Hardcover: 304 pages
Publication date: October 6th 2015
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Add on: Goodreads
LO-MELKHIIN KILLED THREE HUNDRED GIRLS before he came to her village, looking for a wife. When she sees the dust cloud on the horizon, she knows he has arrived. She knows he will want the loveliest girl: her sister. She vows she will not let her be next.
And so she is taken in her sister's place, and she believes death will soon follow. Lo-Melkhiin's court is a dangerous palace filled with pretty things: intricate statues with wretched eyes, exquisite threads to weave the most beautiful garments. She sees everything as if for the last time. But the first sun rises and sets, and she is not dead. Night after night, Lo-Melkhiin comes to her and listens to the stories she tells, and day after day she is awoken by the sunrise. Exploring the palace, she begins to unlock years of fear that have tormented and silenced a kingdom. Lo-Melkhiin was not always a cruel ruler. Something went wrong.
Far away, in their village, her sister is mourning. Through her pain, she calls upon the desert winds, conjuring a subtle unseen magic, and something besides death stirs the air.
Back at the palace, the words she speaks to Lo-Melkhiin every night are given a strange life of their own. Little things, at first: a dress from home, a vision of her sister. With each tale she spins, her power grows. Soon she dreams of bigger, more terrible magic: power enough to save a king, if she can put an end to the rule of a monster.
Um this. "A high fantasy fusion where Scheherazade tangles with Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde".
What a beautiful cover! So I guess The Arabian Nights/One Thousand and One Nights retellings are really in! Hopefully it's as awesome it looks and sounds!
What's your WoW? Link us up!
Author: Cyn
a bum OT, procrastinator. reader. eater. sleeper. music listen-er. movie go-er. Loves food too much.


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View this Project
Inhale is the World's First Smartphone Air Quality Sensor! Extraordinary for Health Enthusiasts and Families! Inhale takes continuous air quality information from your prompt condition progressively and transforms it into significant proposals to keep you sound.
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Air contamination is entangled yet that doesn't mean battling it must be. Breathe in is basic and simple to utilize. Actually, it does all the work for you. A sensor installed for our situation peruses air quality information at whatever point your telephone is out of pocket. At that point, utilizing the force of your cell phone the sensor sends this information to our product which incorporates down into measurements that are extensive and basic. The sensor is controlled by the power from the cell phone and the application will be accessible for download from the App Store soon.
The motivation for our Inhale innovation came amid a straightforward ordinary ordeal. While on a circled the University of Southern California grounds in downtown Los Angeles, our author, Fredrik Krafft, started to feel the incapacitating respiratory impacts of air contamination. As Fredrik battled through the rest of his workout, he perceived the potential advantage of having an instrument that could demonstrate to him when the ideal time of day is practice outside. The company's mission is to make a social development for natural change. The organization trust mindfulness prompts to support, which prompts to activity – propagating development and green innovation.
For more information, please visit INHALE Campaign page:


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Symptom Checker
Step 4: Read and complete the decision guide to learn more about your symptoms.
Rash in Newborns
Your baby's rash doesn't fit the description of the most common rashes in newborns.
While most rashes in newborns are not cause for concern, it is a good idea to figure out what exactly is causing the rash.
Call your doctor to describe the rash and decide whether and when a visit to the office makes sense.
Please provide feedback to help us improve the Drugs.com Symptom Checker.
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Disclaimer: This content should not be considered complete and should not be used in place of a call or visit to a health professional. Use of this content is subject to specific Terms of Use & Medical Disclaimers.


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With all the extra content, music, concept art, the new graphic engine and gameplay improvements, Atlus surprised with a remake that takes the value of the first title and raises it to the level of excellence.
N4G is a community of gamers posting and discussing the latest game news. It's part of NewsBoiler, a network of social news sites covering today's pop culture.


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The United Nations Environment Programmme(UNEP) has launched a web app and infographic to support people living and working on coasts in making decisions on how to adapt to a changing climate.
Rising populations and climate change are increasing sea level, storm intensity and rainfall. The Coastal Hazard Wheel can be used to consider how different coastlines should respond.
The web app opens up access to scientific background material and coastal classification data, in order to aid decision-making and standardise its communication worldwide.
An infographic assists in areas with less data by helping users classify their location using things like local geology, tides and hazards like flooding and erosion. It gives 24 different options for coastal management, including wetland restoration and cliff stabilisation.
Dr Lars Rosendahl Appelquist of the UNEP told the Daily Planet: "The system can be used as a complete coastal language and aims to boost adaptation action for the 1 billion people living in coastal areas worldwide, bridging the gap between scientists, policy-makers and the general public."


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LET'S FACE IT, sometimes when guests come in asking for "just a trim," your über-creative and forward-thinking styling staff lose it a little bit, at least internally while they continue smiling into the mirror. It's not that they don't want to make clients happy—in this economy, who can afford not to give a client what they want—but doing the same basic cuts day after day can defeat artistic imaginations.
SUZE ORMAN, expert in all personal money matters, will be appearing onstage at International Salon and Spa Expo/ Midwest (ISSE/MW) on March 27, 2011 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois. She recently took time from her hectic schedule to chat on the phone, but she gave away no hints about her ISSE/MW presentation. That's because Orman shoots from the hip—no notes, no prompter, no canned message. She reads the audience and intuits what they need and if you've seen her on her CNN show, or on countless other venues, you know she delivers. All she'll say is that she wants the audience at The Style of Money—Making it Work for You to leave "feeling and looking financially stunning." But she did take a moment to field a few questions for SALON TODAY:
It's not often you see this particularly glowing shade of canary yellow hair on a woman's head. But women like Brig Van Osten don't come along very often and become creative role models to a whole industry. Of course, in the beauty industry, you can be anyone you want to be. Brig, as I found out, just wants to inspire others, bake better cupcakes than Betty Crocker and have tons of fun.


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Elyse Petersen
Elyse Petersen is an advocate for transparency in the global tea industry and works with tea growers and makers to improve the quality of their tea. As the Founder of Tealet she has made direct trade available to businesses and consumers around the world. She is a food scientist and returned Peace Corps volunteer that is committed to building a sustainable future for agriculture and tea culture.


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At the suggestion of a good friend, I have decided to add a weekly favorite photo to my postings. Most will be of either wildlife or places of stunning beauty with a short article on the photo.
The first is a photo from what I rate as my best ever travel day, viewing the remarkable and endangered mountain gorillas in East Congo. I rate this experience as the best of my top ten African travel wonders. Only 700 of these extraordinary primates remain though the efforts to conserve them has improved in recent times. The countries of Rwanda, DR Congo and Uganda have all been savaged by war in the last twenty or thirty years at the expense of the lives and habitat of these intelligent beings.
The entry Gorillas in the Mist details the journey to see the gorillas.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Photo of the Week - Mountain Gorilla
Monday, July 28, 2008
The Aquamarine Necklace (Plitvice Lakes, Croatia)
In central Croatia lies the UNESCO World-heritage listed travel wonder of Plitvice Lakes. This necklace of 16 lakes, in an artist's palette of colors from emerald green, through azures and turquoises to deep sapphire blue, are separated by walls of algae, moss, roots and stone. The water flows between the lakes in a series of tumbling waterfalls and gushing streams, constantly refreshing and filling the neighboring lake.
The geological story is remarkable and fascinating. The water in the lakes is rich in calcium carbonate leeched from the dolomite and limestone valleys in the area.
This mineral enriches the water giving the lakes their vivid shades of blue and green. Calcium carbonate has an unusual chemical property which means it releases from water only when the water is running, tangling and embedding itself in the plants and mosses between the lakes, hardening and turning itself into a porous rock called travertine. These hardened stone walls effectively act as barriers between the lakes acting like dam walls.
Much as limestone caves slowly evolve over the centuries and millennia, Plitvice Lakes continue to change as the travertine walls, plant life and water form and erode, continually and subtly changing the landscape of this majestic area.
Surrounding the lakes are rich forests of beech, firs and pine trees, creating elegant patterns and reflections in the crystal waters.Wooden boardwalks and natural paths surround many of the lakes. Electric buses ferry visitors to the far end of the lakes and an electric boat plies the waters of the largest lake which connects the so-called Upper Lakes with the four Lower Lakes. Strolling around and between these lakes on the undulating paths is comfortable and relaxing, the walk being spiced with the soothing sounds of running streams and the twittering of birds and the vision of colorful flowers and thousands of small fish.
One useful tip suggested to me by the helpful national park staff was to walk up-hill so that the best views of this enticing water garden always lay in front of you. The vast majority of people take the easier downhill approach.
Near the lower lakes and a favorite vantage point for group photographs is Croatia's largest waterfall at around 80 metres (90 yards), though other waterfalls were more striking for their setting. Ironically this largest waterfall is fed from an external river and not from the runoff of another lake.
Plitvice Lakes make for a wonderful day-long escape to nature. Watch in awe at one of nature's great travel wonders as water magically turns to stone.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Generosity and Gemütlichkeit (Vienna, Austria)
I boarded the train for a restful afternoon of travel, moving from Salzburg, the city of Mozart and The Sound of Music , to the elegant Austrian capital of Vienna. Being early afternoon, the train was devoid of business people and was almost deserted. Indeed, I only had to share the carriage with a Mum and her two children. The journey promised some beautiful alpine scenery of snow-capped mountains and emerald green farmlands.
The boy of around eleven sheepishly approached me and asked "Are you from Australia?" in halting, nervous English. My cap had Australia plastered across it so it was a pretty safe inquiry. He stated with a growing confidence and said as if read from a textbook "My name is Robert.I am learning English at school. Will you practise with me?"
His Mum and older sister looked on with a mixture of reassurance and discomfort.
We chatted for a while, his English fairly good for someone who had been learning the language for such a short time. His classes had included details of Australia so the conversation was littered with kangaroos, koalas, beaches and Ayers Rock. Having chatted for half an hour or more as the stunning Alps sped past, Robert had had enough. I presented Robert with a new Australian cap (I carried two as special presents for my journey) and this seemed as good a time as any.
On arrival in Vienna as we left the train, Robert's mother in broken English invited me over to their place for the following afternoon and for dinner. I eagerly accepted as this would be a great experience away from the norms of travel – Viennese Spanish horses, castles and cathedrals could wait.
And what an afternoon and evening it was. Elisabeth (the mother), Katrin and Robert drove us to a quiet winery in nearby Grinzing to experience heuriger, a uniquely Austrian experience, where local wineries can serve their own wine with some tasty snacks. There were 50 or so local people grouped around rustic outside tables digging into the local produce with gusto on this sunny Saturday. It was a superb languid afternoon of chatter, great food and wine, interesting stories and laughter.
With the meandering conversation, one of the guests introduced me to the idea of gemütlichkeit, a deep concept which I interpret as social acceptance and relaxation in a cheerful, easy-going, cosy environment. He proudly claimed that this word was uniquely German/Austrian and there was no English equivalent. A Scandinavian friend of mine believes that hygge is the same idea in their Nordic languages. The word and idea has stayed with me for all the years since and I have discussed the idea with a number of friends and colleagues. Despite this, I am not sure I have completely decoded this mysterious idea of social inclusiveness.
On returning to Vienna, they invited me in to dinner. To say it was good would be to describe the Grand Canyon as nice or the World Cup final as a game. The family ran an excellent restaurant in Vienna and they put on quite a show for their newly discovered guest. All kinds of Austrian delicacies and specialities nourished the evening away.
Though the memory stays fresh, this happened twenty years. We stayed in contact for a while but the communication faded. We have never met up again. I continue to treasure this great memory of such generosity and friendship and continue to search for gemütlichkeit, part of life itself.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Living on Stilts (Ganvié, Benin)
Precariously balanced in tiny wooden canoes called pirogues, we poled and paddled a few kilometres around the stilt villages of the tiny West African nation of Benin. These unusual travel wonders were created over three hundred years ago when the local tribes moved into the shallow Lake Nakoue to avoid capture and enslavement by the dominant Dahomey people whose spiritual beliefs forbade them from venturing into the lake.
As we approach, the awkward wooden and bamboo huts perch on posts only a couple of yards above the lake surface, their thatched roofs sitting atop like unkempt hair.
Most of the men are fisherman. Fishing is a combination of traditional throw-nets along with a carefully managed system of fencing off parts of the lake with local reeds. The fences are moved and the areas reduced to corral the fish into small areas to provide an easy and ready source of food. The extra fish is taken to market and traded for other necessities.
These water pens are like fields of a farmyard, taking large expanses of the lake leaving narrow roads or channels for navigation around the lake. It is quite an operation without the need for bullocks, ploughs and planting.
Meanwhile the women go about their every day life as if they were on living on land, tending to their family's laundry, meals, childcare and the typical daily chores of home life. Often hidden under oversized hats, the women trade fish, fruit and vegetables with other villagers treating their pirogue as a veritable floating market. Few houses are connected with walkways so any business away from their hut requires paddling to another wooden building.
By far the most popular of these stilt villages is Ganvié which to my mind is far too touristy to be enjoyable, or even comfortable. There is an ugly tourist shop and café while the children clamber around yelling "yovo, yovo" (which loosely translates as "stranger" or "white man" in a friendly way) and demanding "cadeaux, cadeaux" (gifts). Some try to sell primarily tourist tat at inflated prices, though some of the local colorful patchwork is impressive. Others pose for photos (handstands in the pirogue is a popular trick though you have to admire their balance given that sitting in a pirogue is enough of a feat) and ask for money in return. That being said, the funds they collect from visitors have built Ganvié up and undoubtedly improved the health and well-being of the villagers.
A number of other far less visited villages also populate the lake and have not yet acclimatized to the wealth of visiting tourists. These small settlements were far more pleasant to spend time in, with the villagers going about their every day business, provided you can keep your travel and photography habits respectful and quiet (many of the women do not like to be photographed).
Ganvié is sometimes described as the Venice of Africa which gives a very false impression. However, it is an interesting insight into an unusual life bred from personal safety several centuries ago. Don't get your expectations too high for a truly cultural experience but enjoy Benin's stilt villages as an African travel wonder.
The aerial photo (lead photo) is sourced from here.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Czeching Out the Capital (Prague, Czech Republic)
As it emerges from hijacking by Russian communism for 43 years, the travel wonder of Prague remains the glittering diamond of architectural and cultural Europe. A millennium's worth of magnificent and stylish buildings must deep down be the envy of every city in the world. Rich in culture with an inspiring history of kings, writers and musicians, royal palaces, cathedrals, theatres, art galleries and opera houses sit among smoke-filled bars (after all, the Czechs invented beer), buzzing nightclubs and a general youthful exuberance for life.
This quick tour will try to capture this extraordinary gem and one of my favorite European cities in a few short words. But Prague needs time to wander the ancient streets, feel the lively atmosphere and experience this burgeoning Czech capital.
Standing aloft of Prague and dominating its skyline, Prague Castle (hrad) is a vast mind-boggling collection of churches, palaces, gardens and statues built in a variety of architectures linked by courtyards and narrow alleyways. The Gothic St Vitus Cathedral is characterised by gloriously colorful stained glass windows.
The nearby Old Royal Palace includes a massive hall with vaulted ceilings large enough to host indoor jousting tournaments. The staircase at one end is designed as an entrance for mounted horses with broad steps.
Check out St. George Basilica on the way to the old goldsmith street called Golden Lane. Lined with colorful 16th century cottages, today this narrow cobblestoned street is packed with tourists and souvenir shops but remains worthy of a visit.
Around dusk, enjoy a stroll across the Vltava River on Charles Bridge which has connected the Castle area to the Old Town (Staré Mešto). Bedecked with 30 religious statues, this 600 year old bridge was the only passage across the river until the 19th century.
End your day with a cooling beer (the Czechs have the highest per capita consumption of beer) in one of Prague's numerous great pubs or microbreweries. Indeed, the only word I can remember from the bewildering Slavic-based Czech language is pivo (beer). One great custom is that a new beer arrives at your table just as you finish the previous one. You only need to tell the waiter when you want to stop by simply putting the beer mat on top of your glass.
One uniquely Czech liquor worth trying is the smooth, flavorsome and slightly bitter Becherovka, with its numerous secret herbs and spices -many more than KFC - and much tastier and more enjoyable to boot. It makes for a great pre-dinner drink.
Start your next day in the historic Jewish Quarter (Josefov) includes an evocative, emotional museum area (including five synagogues) memorializing over 600 years of suffering and oppression. Two poignant memories from this area will remain with me forever. To the humble background reading of the victims' names, the Pinkas Synagogue (now a memorial) is inscribed with the handwritten names of 77,297 Czech (and Slovak) Jews who were killed (primarily in concentration camps) in World War 2, along with their date of birth and disappearance date. Upstairs is a display of artwork from children held in the Terezín concentration camp.
Out the back of this synagogue, experience the mournful atmosphere of over 12,000 tombstones in the tiny Jewish cemetery. Being the only location for Jewish burial for some 350 years until 1787, tombs were piled on top of each other – over 100,000 graves are estimated to lie in this small melancholy setting.
Refresh with an over-priced coffee in Prague's historic Old Town Square. A market area for over 900 years, this thriving square of hawkers, buskers, horse buggies, tourists and locals is encased with elegantly architected pastel buildings of a past age and is overlooked by the towering gothic Týn church.
The mesmerising Astronomical Clock has been keeping time in the Old Square for over 500 years. On the hour, Death turns his hourglass, the twelve apostles parade by and the rooster crows. The time is shown in a 24-hour clock (midday is at the top and midnight is at the bottom), along with the phase of the moon and the zodiacal sign of the sun and the moon. The lower clock reveals the day of the year (along with the associated saint) and twelve seasonal rural pictures.
There is so much more to see and enjoy in Prague. More like a boulevard, the New Town's (Nové Mešto) Wenceslas Square is where over quarter of a million Czechoslovakians gathered every night for two weeks in 1989 to see the end of communism during the so-called Velvet Revolution. With its cultural traditions, it was appropriate that the new president was a poet. Nearby and sometimes lit with candles, is a moving memorial to Jan Palach who burned himself to death in 1969 in protest of the Soviet invasion of his country.
The fortress area of Vyšehrad, the beguiling Municipal House and a number of churches, gardens and museums all add to the wonderful experience of this golden treasure of travel wonders, the incomparable Prague.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Unveiling Nature's Grand Masterpiece (Grand Canyon, USA)
It was minus fifteen outside but this is one of the world's great travel wonders. I can't recall if that was Fahrenheit or Celsius but it doesn't really matter when it is that cold. Such temperatures are simply never experienced in my home town in Australia. I was half asleep wrapped in a cosy blanket in my cabin. The alarm had just gone off and it was still dark outside. Should I just sleep like most sensible people or should I head off outside. I bet that I'll be the only one there.
It was mid February and there was snow everywhere. It had snowed a fair bit during the evening though the roads were open. I warmed a little as I shovelled snow from my vehicle, dressed like the proverbial Michelin Man. At least I think it was my vehicle or did I park in the next spot. Shovelling snow with your arm and a credit card is hardly so much fun that you wanted to do it for a complete stranger as well. Yes, that is my vehicle – now to check that it will start. First time, thank goodness. A few minutes more wait while the car (and most importantly, its heater) warmed up and we hit the road.
And it was only a few minutes drive anyway. The car wouldn't even get properly warm. At least parking wouldn't be a problem – there was no-one on the road anywhere. I arrived twenty minutes before sunrise and the dull glow of the emerging celestial globe was starting to break the dark dominance of the night sky. The canyon started to reluctantly radiate a dull reddish orange and awaken from its long evening winter's slumber. The sky was clear and the weather so crisp you could break it off in small icicles.
The high peaks in the canyon really started to catch the sun's rays and glow varying shades of reds, oranges, pinks and yellow, almost to a deep mauve. A dull light even started to penetrate the deeper reaches of the canyon, unveiling its true grandeur that nature has slowly carved over the last two billion years. The dusting of snow glinted as the sun first peeked over the horizon and the light grew more and more intense. The buttes and various towers of rock started to come into full light, casting dark shadows into the reddening valley below.
I snapped a few photos till I realised my left hand had gone numb from the cold and I couldn't hold a camera any longer. Nature's light show had erased the temperature from my mind for a few minutes, the senses warmed by the spectacular colours of the morning light. I had this view to myself, not another soul had visited this most recommended and stellar of early morning vantage points. The car remained alone in pole parking position.
The sun was fully above the horizon and light had fully taken over from the evening darkness before. It was time to return to the warmth of the cabin.
The Grand Canyon was more than could be imagined from all the photos and TV programs. Beyond viewing, it is a place to be fully experienced. It is truly one of nature's great masterpieces. But nature rarely disappoints.
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Invasion of the Termites (Pinnacles, Western Australia)
Around three hours drive north of Perth (Australia) is a weird travel wonder with thousands of limestone pillars poking out of an arid, sandy desert floor. The Pinnacles are a striking sight especially on sunrise and sunset as thousands of mounds protrude from a sweeping desert of arid Western Australian sands.
The geological story goes something like this. Many millions of years ago, shells from marine life broke down into lime-rich sand which blew inland into this area. Over time, rainwater leached the limestone from the sand and hardened below into a material called calcrete. Roots of local vegetation exploited cracks which developed in the calcrete, and which grew as water seeped in. These cracks kept widening and filled with quartz sand while the softer limestone continued to erode. Some of the sand cleared with the winds and the strongest parts of the calcrete remained as a sea of pointed rocks jutting from the sandy floor, some as tall as five metres.
Whether the geology is of interest or not, it has left a truly remarkable sight – what appears to be a camp ground for white ants - an ocean of termite nests over an area of many barren square miles. A loop road circles this main area where it is easy to stop and enjoy the eerie scene.
Nearby, stray emus (the native Australian flightless bird and second largest bird in the world after the ostrich) can be seen battling the elements and using the occasional waterhole to stay refreshed. A bit like an ostrich in appearance, these durable birds are one half of the Australian coat of arms (the other being the kangaroos), both sharing the unusual characteristic of not being able to go backwards.
Sunset approaches and the show really starts. Yellow by day, the unusual pinnacled rocks cast silhouettes against the dusty dusk air creating an ever-changing mesmerising scene of pinks, oranges and mauves. An eeries silence settles over the desert scene as the Pinnacles see the end to another day and rests for another evening - the temperature dropping to a refreshing cool. Settle into a comfortable spot, open a bottle of wine and enjoy the sinking sun and its orchestra of hues cast across this haunting travel wonder.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
The Great Congo River Journey (DR Congo)
This trip was undertaken in 1991 when the country was called Zaïre, the river was called the Zaïre River (and even the currency was the Zaïre). Today it is called the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) and the river has returned to its more familiar name of the Congo River. I have no idea whether this remarkable boat trip continues today. Even if it does, it would be difficult and dangerous for foreigners to travel through DR Congo as I did – a great tragedy indeed.
Nothing quite prepares you for one of the world's great travel adventures – riding the Congo River Boat upstream from the capital, Kinshasa to Kisangani over a period of around two weeks. A seething mass of humanity boards – couples, families, luggage, market stalls, animals (including crocodiles, monkeys, pigs, goats, tortoises, chickens and more), radios / music machines, crafts and many things that defy description.
The river boat is a steamer lashed together with a number of barges. Even amongst the mayhem, travel comes in three classes – first class (deluxe with nice comfortable rooms), second class (rooms with four bunk beds) and third class which consists of space on the deck somewhere, all classes including two surprisingly nutritious and tasty meals each day.
The boat departs and the party begins. African rhythmic music blares from every music box and radio for 24 hours a day. The untiring passengers and their brightly colored clothing sway to the rhythmic beat for hours at a time while others tend to the important business of shopping at the informal markets setup by the more entrepreneurial folks. Seemingly everything is for sale – pots and pans, torches, clothing, food, batteries, strange carvings and more.
The late afternoon (evening) meal time is a form of organised bedlam with crowds of people like peak-hour in a Friday afternoon bar. On the menu are mounds of rice with a tasty stew or sauce based on one of the menagerie of animals boarded in Kinshasa. When the meat runs out, another is selected and slaughtered – at least you know the meat is fresh. Over the days, more traditional western meats like chicken and pork is mixed with goat, monkey and crocodile. After a couple of days, I stopped asking – somehow it seemed better that way.
Every day, the kitchen performs miracles and gets everyone served, most balancing their bowl or plate on their knee or a flat part of the boat. A few smarter ones sneak up to the top deck.
Some peace can be found on the top deck – a flat area where you can watch the world go past or enjoy the dazzling evening sky unhindered by the typical city lights back home. In the river darkness, the Milky Way really does appear as a creamy heavenly highway. The music is a little more distant up here and the top deck appears accepted as a more tranquil area – a haven from the hurly-burly of river boat life. With a decent blanket, this is as good a place to sleep as any – the gentle speed of the river boat creating enough breeze to keep the insects at bay.
As time soaks by, we pass a number of river-side villages with their wooden and straw huts. For many villages it includes an energetic paddle on their pirogue (a wooden canoe) to tie up to the main boat for a session of trading their goods for other needs of the village. Others simply hitch a ride upstream. The bartering is vigorous but all seem to leave contented with a broad smile and a gentle handshake. Some on board seem solely to take the river boat to trade with the various villagers along this aqua highway. With the bartering complete, the pirogue unties and simply eases its way back downstream back to the village, carefully balancing their new goods in the small wooden craft, avoiding capsizes from the wash of the river boat. For many villages, it is their sole contact with the outside world with no road network at all and no other village within walking distance.
In the end it seems so disappointing to arrive at Kisangani as mayhem ensues with the disgorging of the many hundreds of passengers – the way of life on the river, the temporary friendships formed, the spirited bartering in the river boat markets, the energetic music and dancing, the menagerie of animals and the waves from the passing villages left a great two week escape for the visitors and a continuation of life for the locals – many undoubtedly bound for the return journey the following day.
Surely the vibrant spirit and color of the Congolese people, the Congo River and its river boat is one of the world's great travel wonders. We can all only hope that DR Congo can one day return to a more peaceful and normal life and that this magnificent waterway can again be used for the benefit of all that live near her.


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The conclusion of a recent GOP McLaughlin poll, funded by a grantee of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, was that there is only "anecdotal evidence" that the Common Core standards are a "red-hot" electoral issue. Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN), however, appears to know differently.
His responses to questions about Common Core show the nationalized standards are so much a significant electoral issue this year that he's not talking about them – for fear of making a mistake.
The Knoxville News Sentinel reported Tuesday that when asked about his support for the controversial Common Core standards, Alexander responded with a laugh, "I always choose my words carefully."
"Four words that would solve the Common Core problem are: no national school board," Alexander continued. "I think Tennesseans want high standards for our children. They just want Washington to keep its sticky fingers off our local schools," he said.
"It's up to Gov. Haslam and the Legislature what the standards are here. It ought to be 100 percent their decision," he added.
However, as Breitbart News reported in March, Alexander's message of "no national school board" is actually a red herring since there is no "national school board" issue, per se, on the table.
Similarly, when asked about his support for Haslam's (R) and Jeb Bush's (R) promotion of Common Core, Alexander once again evaded the question, saying, "Let's don't talk about Common Core."
Alexander's evasive and confused comments were noted by Tennessee state Rep. Joe Carr (R) who is opposing the incumbent in the Republican primary. Carr spoke to Breitbart News on Tuesday.
"Lamar Alexander had an opportunity as U.S. Education Secretary to show his Tenth Amendment bona fides," Carr said. "Unfortunately, he helped make the Education Department bigger and more intrusive."
Alexander served as U.S. Education Secretary under President George H.W. Bush from 1991-1993.
Carr observes Alexander's persistent need to choose his words carefully about the Common Core standards.
"He always laughs about his avoidance of the topic," he said. "Misleading the voters about your support of Common Core is no laughing matter."
Carr says he believes Obamacare and Common Core are the two major electoral issues that are primary concerns for Americans. The state representative is also very open about the fact that he voted for his state's participation in the Race to the Top program in 2009, a decision he says was "the wrong choice."
"The fact is, states don't have a final say with Common Core. And there is no school choice with Common Core," Carr added. "These standards are about big business and big government getting together to manipulate curriculum through testing."
Carr has helped lead the fight in the Tennessee General Assembly this past session in an effort to repeal the Common Core. The tough battle left the state with a one-year delay in PARCC testing, which is aligned with the centralized standards, but no delay of Common Core itself. Though the state House overwhelmingly passed a bill to delay Common Core for two years, a fiscal note added in the state Senate helped to defeat the measure.
"If Common Core is designed by governors for states, then why is the federal government giving states grants and waivers to federal restrictions in No Child Left Behind (NCLB) for accepting the standards?" Carr asks.
The state representative told Breitbart News that Tennessee received $504 million in grants through President Obama's stimulus program, Race to the Top, as well as a waiver for relief from NCLB restrictions.
Ultimately, Carr believes the nation does not need a Department of Education.
"Why do we need a so-called education department with a $70 billion budget that doesn't teach a single student?" he asks. "Since Jimmy Carter started the USDE, we have had one failed national education experiment after another. Education should be left to the states and local communities."
Carr is encouraged in his bid for the Republican nomination for Tennessee's U.S. Senate seat.
"We will have an excellent opportunity to defeat Lamar Alexander," he says. "My name identification is now at 65 percent, according to Rasmussen, even though my campaign is all grassroots-based, with no television ads yet. In our internal polling we're about tied now at 38-37 percent of those likely voters where we have shared name ID with Lamar."
"Once we inform voters I'm opposed to amnesty, Common Core, ObamaCare, and have a record of sponsoring legislation that reflects this, people can see the progression and know who I am," Carr states.


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KAL 007:Floating Shoes
On Monday, September 26, 1983, a delegation of seven Japanese and American officials arriving aboard the Japanese patrol boat Tsugaru, met a six-man Soviet delegation at the port of Nevelsk on Sakhalin Island. KGB Major General A. I. Romanenko, the Commander of the Sakhalin and Kuril Islands frontier guard, headed the Soviet delegation.* Romanenko handed over to the Americans and Japanese, among other things, single and paired footwear. With footwear that the Japanese also retrieved, the total came to 213 men's, women's and children's dress shoes, sandals, and sports shoes. The Soviets said that all that they had retrieved, they had found floating in the water or washed up on the shores of Sakhalin and Moneron islands.
Worn by the passengers for the Flight
Family members of KAL 007 passengers would later state that these shoes were actually worn by their loved ones for the flight on that fateful night. Sonia Munder had no difficulty recognizing the sneakers of her children, one of Christian, age 14 and one of Lisi, age 17, by the intricate way her children laced them. (Sonia confirmed that her children were wearing these shoes when they boarded the flight). Another mother says, "I recognized them just like that. You see, there are all kinds of inconspicuous marks which strangers do not notice. This is how I recognized them. My daughter loved to wear them." And yet, another mother (and maybe it takes a mother!), Nan Oldham identified her son, John's, sneakers from a photo in Life magazine of 55 of the 213 shoes—apparently, a random array on display those first days at Chitose Air Force Base in Japan. "We saw photos of his shoes in a magazine," says Nan, "We followed up through KAL and a few weeks later, a package arrived. His shoes were inside: size 11 sneakers with cream white paint." John Oldham had taken his seat in row 31 of KAL 007 wearing those cream white paint spattered sneakers. He had just come from painting his suburban Washington, D.C., family home.
From an examination of the shoes in the photo of Life magazine, pairing the sets and counting them with the single shoes, and relating them to the whole, it turns out that the total amount of shoes retrieved account for 198 of the 269 people of KAL 007 - or almost 74% of the total.
The Soviets retrieved the shoes of some portion of this 74% of the flight's passengers, yet claimed not to have found one single body, not one person. This adds great weight to the question "Where are the bodies?" Either the shoes were on the bodies and removed by the Soviets (or the Japanese), or they were removed by the wearers and retrieved by the Soviets (or Japanese). Why were these shoes loose? Were they taken off in preparation for the landing or were they simply removed during the course of the flight? In either case, the one great question remains.
Is it really possible for so many shoes to be found and not one single person found to wear them? And if we should negate that the shoes were taken off in preparation for a ditching - that there was no time to do so, or the aircraft was in an exploded and too disintegrated condition to do so, then another question arises - If the non appearance of bodies is explained by their flesh being eaten by crabs, and, contrary to expert opinion, bones eaten by sea creatures, is it really credible, that not one of the 213 items of footwear had a foot, or a toe or a toe bone within it?
The Fate of Gen Romanenko
- Note - Gen. Romanenko would meet a bad end due (according to the Republican Staff Report) to his handling of KAL 007 matters. The Republican Staff Study reports that he was probably sent to the Gulag himself. The Israeli Research Centre for Prisons, Psych-Prisons, and Forced Labor Concentration Camps of the USSR, resting on informant information reported, independently and prior to the Staff Study, that Romanenko's name no longer appears in KGB computers. (Once in, a person is noted as reassigned, deceased, retired, etc., but never deleted. It is as if Gen. Romanenko never existed). And finally, Hans Ephraimson-Abt, the head of the US families of the victims association, reports that while he was in East Germany at the Soviet embassy, he was informed by embassy officials that Gen. Romanenko, whom he had come to enquire about (he had not!), had committed suicide. Of course, each in its own time, could have been true.
See also
Soviet Officers of KAL 007 Shootdown


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In a food processor or mixer with a dough hook, combine the yeast, sugar and 3/4 cup water. Allow the yeast to proof for about 5 minutes, (bubbles will form around the outer edges).
Add the oil, flour, and salt. Begin processing or mixing the ingredients, slowly pouring in the remaining 1 cup of water. Mix until the dough balls together and is shiny and elastic, about 5 minutes. Add a little olive oil to a large bowl and spread evenly around the bowl to prevent the dough from sticking. Add the dough, cover with plastic wrap and put in a warm spot (I use the microwave oven) for about 2 hours. Punch the dough down and let it rise again, about another 2 hours. I prefer to make my dough early in the day for evening dinner or a day ahead.
Combine all the ingredients in a small saucepan and simmer over medium-low heat until the sauce is slightly thickened, about 30 minutes.
I use 2 ovens when I cook my pizzas, 1 oven is preheated to 450 degrees F with a "Hearth-kit" in it, and the other oven is preheated at 500 degrees F with a pizza stone. Heat the stones for at least 1 hour before baking pizzas.
Divide the dough into 4 equal portions. Roll out dough until very thin and cannot be rolled further. Sprinkle about 1/2 teaspoon of polenta onto a pizza peel. Put the dough on the peel and spread 1/2 tablespoon of oil all around the edges. Add 1/4 cup of pizza sauce to the middle of the dough and spread it to the outer edges, leaving about a 1-inch margin. Sprinkle the sauce with the mozzarella and Monterey Jack cheeses. Top with crumbled sausage and drizzle the remaining 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil over the pizza. Bake for 10 minutes in the 450 degree F oven. (If using only 1 oven, raise the heat to 500 degrees F.) Remove the pizza from the oven and top with the cooked crawfish. Put the pizza in the 500 degree F oven and cook until the top is golden brown and bubbling, about 2 minutes.
Transfer the pizzas to a cutting board and slice. Arrange on a serving platter and serve.
"Mangia, mangia".
The dough recipe will make 2 pizzas, the topping recipe will make 1 pizza, each pizza will feed 2 people.
A viewer or guest of the show, who may not be a professional cook, provided this recipe. It has not been tested for home use.
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I've got a few weekend trips coming up this Spring and so have been re-examining my small luggage collection, and by re-examining I mean browsing the internet for alternatives. I found the New York-based company Billy Kirk from the blog Uncrate and am really loving their weekend and overnight bags. Above is the No. 166 overnight travel bag ($345) which also comes in black and tan. How cool it it that it opens like an old Doctor bag? Below is the No. 165 day travel bag ($320) which comes in black, tan, olive, and navy-striped.
Mar 6, 2009
Billy Kirk overnight bags
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