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A lack of handyman skills had Courier-Post columnist Danny Henley performing all sorts of tasks.
I've heard it said that women are unconsciously drawn to men who remind them of their father. I don't know if I buy into that theory considering my wife's dad is a Class A handyman, and I'm, well, pretty useless when it comes to performing household projects.
My lack of practical skills is something I readily accept and have publicly acknowledged in this space on previous occasions. But there are lots of things I'm not capable of doing at this point in my life – throw a baseball 95 mph, pilot an airplane, play the saxophone, train an elephant. My lack of a certain skill set really isn't a factor unless it is needed, which was the case recently when it came time to re-do the siding of our porch.
Because I knew the project was far beyond anything I was capable of doing, we turned to my oldest son, Caleb, who fortunately has his grandfather's handyman gene and a helpful heart.
Caleb made good headway on the project with the assistance of my wife, Nancy, who wears the tool belt in our household, and our daughter, Anna, who was a draftee.
When Nancy and I arrived home after work on Thursday, we both changed clothes and went out to assist. While Nancy had no trouble finding helpful things to do, I was at a loss beyond grabbing an occasional tool or moving a board.
I spent more time just standing and watching with my hands in my pockets. Anyone driving past likely thought I was supervising. Such a notion was incredibly inaccurate.
As late afternoon turned to evening, and my boredom and mosquito bite total grew, I eventually drifted inside the house and started watching TV.
Since I was slated to work the evening shift at the Courier-Post Friday, I had the bulk of the day to "help." But on this occasion some "busy-work" tasks were found to keep me occupied, while not impeding the real work that was underway.
A good chunk of my service time was spent "de-nailing" old boards and siding that had been removed.
My tools were either a hammer or crowbar. I'd use the hammer to tap out the point of the nail from the underside of the board. Then I'd use the crowbar to grip the nail's head and pull it out of the board.
As time passed, I gained an appreciation for the crowbar. In one fell swoop I could use it to separate board "A" from board "B," and then use its opposite end to hook the nail and pull it out, provided the nail's head was big enough.
I'm not sure how many nails I removed, but I contributed to filling a couple of empty green bean cans that had been designated as nail holders.
I also felt a degree of satisfaction in the fact that despite working the majority of the day with old, rusty nails, I never had a close encounter that required me to go get a tetanus booster.
There were other jobs that I was asked to help perform for the good of the cause. I periodically would hold the end of a tape measure while Caleb took measurements. On occasion I also was asked to help stabilize a piece of siding at just the right height while Caleb screwed it into place.
But when you're the low man on the work site, you quickly learn that no job is beneath you.
After my keen-eyed bride noted that a dog had made a couple of night deposits near our work site, guess who was asked to go get the pooper-scooper?
At least I had a task to perform for which I was adequately skilled.


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Press Release Contact: Michelle L. Stock, Ph.D
June 11, 2104 Chair of Mi-Light
Mi-Light Photonics Industry Scholarships
Michigan's photonics industry cluster awards scholarships to four academic institutions
Ann Arbor, MI – Mi-Light, the Michigan photonics industry cluster, announced the funding and award of $5,000 in scholarships to four in-state academic institutions. Baker College (Flint, MI), Grand Valley State University (Grand Rapids, MI), Michigan Technological University (Houghton, MI) and Northwestern Michigan College (Traverse City, MI). Each college or university was allocated $1,250 in funds to be awarded to students enrolled in a photonics programs.
"A growing, educated workforce is required for the photonics industry to continue to expand. We see it as one of the major benefits of membership that we can connect companies with the institutions that are generating this new talent, which allows them input into the skills that are taught to best suit their workforce requirements", said Michelle Stock, Chair of Mi-Light.
Baker College started a new program in Photonics and Laser Technology in the fall of 2013. "Photonics is impacting our lives in so many positive ways", said Dr. Anca Sala, Dean of Engineering and Technology at Baker, "and working in this exciting, growing field is a great career choice for students. We are grateful for the Mi-Light scholarship and the support it will provide to students."
The school of engineering at Grand Valley State University offers courses on Fiber Optics and Photovoltaic Systems for undergraduate and graduate students, respectively. "Photonics is an active research field and one of the many fast growing industries," said Dr. Heidi Jiao, Professor of Electrical Engineering at GVSU, "The Mi-Light scholarship will provide support to students who are interested in pursuing a career in this exciting field."
The college of electrical and computer engineering (ECE) within Michigan Tech offers an undergraduate concentration in the area of photonics. "The Mi-Light Scholarship will bring exposure and increased awareness of the field to our student population, demonstrating the growing importance of the photonics industry within the state of Michigan," said Dr. Christopher Middlebrook, Associate Professor of ECE at MTU.
Northwestern Michigan College offers a photonics specialization as part of their EngineeringTechnology Degree. Ed Bailey, the College's Technical Division Director believes the photonics industry represents the next high growth technical program for the state of Michigan, and the support of students through scholarships will ensure a trained workforce for the industry's technical requirements.
For more information regarding Mi-Light or the information contained in this press release, please contact Michelle Stock at 734-417-1079 or by email at firstname.lastname@example.com.
About Mi-Light: Mi-Light is a non-profit organization serving Michigan's photonics industry by bringing together professionals from companies, academia and organizations to mutually support and promote photonics-related business. For more on Mi-Light visit: www.mi-light.org.
MEDC Statement: Funds for this initiative were provided by the 21st Century Jobs Fund, a Michigan Strategic Fund program designed to accelerate the growth and diversification of Michigan's economy. The MEDC, a public-private partnership between the state and local communities, provides administrative support for the 21st Century Jobs Fund. The MEDC markets Michigan and provides the tools and environment to drive job creation and investment. For more information on the 21st Century Jobs Fund initiative, visit www.MichiganAdvantage.org. For more on MEDC visit: MichiganAdvantage.org.

subset: commoncrawl


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Doctor in Dental Surgery,Whitefield
Dr. V.v. Kamath
Root Canal Treatment
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Teeth Whitening Procedure
Root Canal Treatment
Dental Fillings
Management of Dental Hygiene
Chronic Skin Allergy Treatment
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Dental Implants
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Laser Treatment
Skin Rash Treatment
Gap Closing (Dental) Treatment
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Orthodontics Treatment
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Treatment of Root Canal Treatment (RCT)
Wisdom Tooth Removal Procedure
Teeth Scaling & Polishing
Braces Treatment for Adults and Teens
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Submit a review for Dental Surgery,WhitefieldYour feedback matters!
Dentists prescribing too many antibiotics, says bccdc
While antibiotic prescription by other doctors is dropping, the opposite is true in field of dentistry.
It begins when bacteria inflicts damage on the hard surface of the tooth and destruction will spread in the deeper layer if left unchecked.It happens when sugars aren't cleaned off your teeth, bacteria feeds on them and produces acid. Acids wear away the first layer of tooth (enamel) and spreads in more deeper layer eventually causing decay and cavity.
I am 41 years male having teeth sensitivity, I have been to dentist he suggested Caps for all teeth costing around 60000/-.what should I do?
Hi doc I have gap between two upper teeth what is the best treatment without bone loss. I like to crowning with zirconium rather than braces please suggest safety of zirconium for aligning teeth.
Teeth was broken because of cavities now I have pain, so now I am live in Saudi Arabia Riyadh region give me suggestions for me.
I'm suffering in teeth pain and the gum of cheek tooth is swelled, it is very painful. Can you tell me what should I do in that time and how can I get rid off from this pain. Thank you.
No one likes going to a dentist. The fear of a toothache is something that nightmares are made of...let alone the treatment. Because of this, a lot of people end up in the dentist's chair only when the pain is unbearable and it is too late to save the tooth. Just like we have a routine health check up for the rest of our body, our teeth too need to be looked at by a dentist at regular intervals to spot that cavity right when it starts. A regular visit can also allow a quick clean up to keep your teeth shining white. Here's what to expect during a routine dental check up:
1. They'll check your history: Before you actually get to the dentist's chair, your dentist will want to know your entire health background. This is done either by you filling out a detailed form that the receptionist gives you or a junior dentist filling a medical record sheet after asking you questions. You'll specially be asked questions about any pain or symptoms you might be experiencing in your teeth and other things like medications, diabetes, arthritis, pregnancy etc. Each of these problems can have a direct impact on your dental treatment, hence revealing them to your practitioner in advance is very important. Also, be sure to discuss any concerns or anxiety you are experiencing. Most dentists know how to put their patient at ease. All it'll take is a quick chat to put you at ease
2. You'll get a cleaning: Just like the car gets a good wash before the mechanic can have a look, your teeth will get a good scrub before your dentist can address any problem areas. Cleaning involves scraping off built up plaque and tartar that collects above and below the gum line before flossing between and around every tooth to remove any plaque or food particles that are clinging on. You may also get a final shiny finish for your pearly whites at the end of the cleaning session.
3. Your teeth will be examined: Your dentist will now use a metal probe with a small angled mirror to see behind and between teeth and gums, as well as check for the softening of tooth enamel and dentin. If you have a cavity or anything deeper, this is when it will surface. Once the doctor identifies a problem, they suggest the next course of action
4. You may get an X-ray: If the doctor finds a problem that needs fixing, he may ask you to take an X-ray to find out how deep the decay is. You'll be asked to bite down on a piece of plastic while the X-ray machine is placed against your cheek. Where possible, you can check if your doctor can do a digital X-ray which emits 90% less radiation.
5 Results and advice: Based on your X-ray results and overall medical condition, the doctor may recommend various procedures to remove your existing decay and prevent new ones.


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General Comments: Futures closed higher in recovery trading. Traders are wrestling with more reports of losses from greening disease on the one side and beneficial rains that have hit the state. The rains over the weekend and in forecasts for this week appear to be less than expected late last week. Many areas of Florida remain too dry. Greening disease and what it might mean to production prospects continues to be a primary support item and will be for several years. Irrigation is widespread, even with recent rains. Temperatures are warm in the state. The Valencia harvest is continuing. Brazil is seeing near to above normal temperatures and dry weather, but some showers are possible late this week.
Overnight News: Florida weather forecasts call for scattered afternoon showers much of the week. Temperatures will average near to above normal this week and near normal this weekend.
Chart Trends: Trends in FCOJ are mixed. Support is at 139.00, 137.50, and 136.00 July, with resistance at 144.00, 145.00, and 147.00 July.
General Comments: Futures were lower in range trading. It was a low volume session as traders waited for the crop progress reports that were released after the close. Traders also were looking for new signs of demand, but were not finding much. Ideas are that the demand can continue for now as China moves to increase its stocks and as private buyers there reject offers from the government due to quality and price. Planting conditions for the next crop remain a problem in the US. Dry weather is forecast for the Delta and Southeast, and much warmer weather is expected in Texas this week. Ideas are that farmers can get a lot of planting done with dry and warm conditions. Short term trends are mixed.
Overnight News: The Delta and Southeast will see dry conditions or afternoon showers. Showers and storms could last through tomorrow. Temperatures will average near to above normal. Texas will get mostly dry weather, but showers are possible on Friday. Temperatures will average mostly above normal. The USDA spot price is now 80.95 ct/lb. ICE said that certified Cotton stocks are now 0.506 million bales, from 0.510 million yesterday.
Chart Trends: Trends in Cotton are mixed. Support is at 85.40, 85.00, and 83.00 July, with resistance of 87.10, 87.60, and 88.50 July.
Next page: Coffee, Sugar and Cocoa


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Dani Harris' "From My Heart to Yours" Opening in Alumni Gallery
Contact: Carrie Corbett
Director of College Communications
Oct. 3, 2013
Dani Harris' From My Heart to Yours Opening in Alumni Gallery
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Memphis College of Art announces the opening of From My Heart to Yours by Dani Harris in the Alumni Gallery of Rust Hall. The exhibition will be on view from Oct. 22–Nov. 12 with an opening reception on Friday, Nov. 1 from 6–8 p.m.
Originally from Chicago, Harris is a graduate of Memphis College of Art, receiving her BFA in Design Arts in 1987. She began her career as a medical illustrator at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and has also worked at the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, Glasshouse 383, as studio assistant to former Memphis artist Alonzo Davis and, currently, as a graphic designer with Signet, Inc.
While maintaining a career as a graphic designer, Harris has kept her hands in the fine art world, continuing to draw and exhibit whenever possible. Harris first fell in love with figure drawing after taking her first life drawing class at MCA, and her early years at St. Jude contributed to her attention to detail in her drawings. Until recently, Harris worked solely in black and white but has begun to add color, incorporating words and collage into her drawings. "For so long I have had three separate interests—drawing, painting and collage," said Harris, "I wanted to find a way to bring them all together." Harris' work today mixes different textures with paper, drawings, paintings and/or found objects. Some pieces include words from whatever story, poem or quote that is going through her head at the time. Harris' newest pieces use the heart as a symbol of different concepts of love and affection. "With my work I'm not trying to change the world or make a statement," said Harris, "I just want to touch people, make them feel something to identify and connect with."
Rust Hall's Alumni Gallery is open 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, and noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday.
Memphis College of Art provides a rigorous curriculum in an intimate, diverse community to empower generations of leading artists, designers and educators to flourish professionally and contribute valuable ideas to society. The region's only independent art and design college, MCA is fully accredited with expert, nationally renowned faculty and grants BFA, MFA, MA in Art Education and MA in Teaching degrees with graduates excelling in various careers across the country and internationally. For more information, visit mca.edu. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/memphiscollegeofart and on Twitter at @memphisart.


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Why Supernova can't hold a candle to the House Band
The only thing more cheesy than seeing Barbara Walters tell "The View" audience on Tuesday about how her dog talks to her was Wednesday's "Rock Star" finale. (No, really, her doggy Cha Cha told Baba, or so she said, "I wuv you." I am not making this up. Go to YouTube.com if you don't believe me.)
I don't mean to diss the singers; they were good for the most part, and I particularly thought Toby was great. But over the last few months, I just could not take this show seriously because the Supernova band is just such a laughable bunch of hacks. Yes, I know they can play their instruments, yada yada. But can you really say any of these guys is a credible font of creativity? I think not.
Every time Gilby Clarke or Jason Newsted would wax philosophical about songwriting and vocal performance, I just had to giggle. I mean, who are these guys to dispense advice on… anything?
Clarke's most famous for being fired from Guns n' Roses, and Newsted was in Metallica… for a while. I just kept coming back to the question -- who cares what these guys think? They seemed well-meaning enough, but if we're talking about truly rocking, I'd much rather go see the House Band (which is touring with Supernova later this year -- and that would be the only reason to go to one of their concerts).
The funniest moment of Wednesday night was when Clarke offered to produce Dilana Robichaux's album after she wasn't picked as the band's singer. Run, Dilana, run away!
It's bad enough that Lukas Rossi has to be saddled with the title of Supernova frontman. They'll no doubt put out one crappy album and then disband (but first, as Newsted pointed out, they're going to rock Albany! On tour! Rock on!). Boy, that's a great start to a career. As a footnote.
But Dilana (and Lukas too, he of the excessive eye glitter) deserves better than being associated with the collection of has-beens on this season of "Rock Star." Oh, and I haven't forgotten Tommy Lee. Who could forget the fact that week after week, when it came to the female contestants, he mainly rated the hotness of their looks? "Why are you wearing clothes at all?" seemed to be his ultimate assessment of their vocal stylings, when you read between the lines. Ugh.
But duuude, Dave Navarro made it all worthwhile. How many ways could he find to say the sentence, "Dude, you rocked that!" So many, really. And on Wednesday, he provided the night's most "Spinal Tap" moment when at the end, he yelled, "I want to be entertained up in this [expletive]! I gots to get entertained up in this [expletive]!"
Well, despite the pretty good singing on display this season, I don't think "Rock Star" was worthwhile overall. Because frankly, the prospect of a Supernova concert excites me about as much as a tax audit.


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Casting a Spell on the Economy
A sinister atmosphere spreads …
Economics and witchcraft: This is not a combination we'll be hoping for more of in the future. Tim Harford's "Undercover Economist" on the dangers of being a witch in a recession produced considerable unease and gloom, and that's just in someone reading all the posts. In terms of fuel, "you need fires to stay warm … widows are renewable and environmentally friendly." You like that? How about: " 'Suffer not the witch to live'—That's good enough for me, heathens." (Possibly posted with a sense of irony.) "Wow, Christ said that? Christians are more badass than I thought," came back from Autotomic. (No, He didn't, BTW. The quote is strictly OT.) Surprisingly, up popped the name of Helen Duncan, the last person we were expecting, and the last person imprisoned (but not, as one post dramatically claimed, executed) under the Witchcraft Act in the U.K., in 1944; posters debated her case.
You kind of know that someone is going to start her post: "As a practicing witch, and a student of history ..." and in this case it was Elviragultch (yes, well …) who went on: "I have known for some time that the killing of witches is mostly a political act" and set off a long, sometimes odd thread.
Boredwell is not happy about the history of human relations, and after describing various miseries says, understandably, that the list shows a "mind-boggling, soul wrenching sobriety I am not able to comprehend."
"The self-consuming politics of fear" was the excellent post title from Wrolph, who said:
Smart rulers (and usurpers) know the power of fear and use it during times of economic crisis to great effect:
Step 1, find a good victim.
Step 2, whip the masses into a lather in order to divert them from asking too many difficult questions about the current rulers, or to make the current rulers look feckless.
Step 3, let the blood wash away our sins.
This is one of the divide and conquer tactics that has been time tested. The Nazis had their Jews, the Aztecs (and Romans) sacrificed humans to appease the gods (and deflect criticism of their own poor economic management). If our current economic crisis doesn't abate soon, look to our glorious rulers to follow suit.
Doc Holliday had a nicely judged post covering several aspects of the discussion, concluding, "Humans are a superstitious lot and prone to doing irrational things when stressed. This does not make it right or even understandable." No indeed. Time to get away from this atmosphere of unhappiness and cruelty and go read some readers' posts about the election. MR…2:30 p.m. GMT
Friday, September 12, 2008
Yet again, I bring special qualifications to the week's Fraywatch subjects: I too was charmed by 100-year-old " Diary" geezer Leon Despres, and I too have a copy of Hotel Rwanda sitting unwatched near my TV. We were all in it together this week, with some very agreeable results.
Loving Leon: "Keep writing Leon you are interesting" Boils said. S/he was speaking for all readers—there were no dissenting voices, a rare phenomenon in the Fray. Eikciv put it this way: "I must admit that I did come to tears, not because I felt sorry for you, not at all, but because your voice carries such impact. Suddenly, I wanted to go to your apartment and converse with you for an entire day."
This came from Old Jarhead:
Sorry to use the trite phrase 'an inspiration' but your diary entry fills me with optimism. So I'll say it anyway; your attitude is an inspiration, and bears testimony to the beauty, and absurdity, of life. I'm only a little over halfway to your years, and will quite probably never see 100, but if I can sustain only a fraction of your interest in life for whatever years I've been allotted, I'll continue to be satisfied. Bravo!
More of the same (in the nicest possible way) from Akaneshua:
In a country that values youth over wisdom, it is easy to lose touch with people who retire or are shuffled off to nursing homes but I think this separation is at a great disservice to us. These articles are like a conversation with that interesting older man whom you see around but never get to speak with.
Regretflix—that was KathM's splendid coinage, and she was one of many who read and enjoyed the article about unwatched movies from Netflix, with Hotel Rwanda the most mentioned. Fray posters contributed advice: Ed Dunkle suggestswe multitask while watching and remember, "The key to happiness is low expectations."
Regretflix—that was KathM's splendid coinage, and she was one of many who read and enjoyed the article about unwatched movies from Netflix, with Hotel Rwanda the most mentioned. Fray posters contributed advice: Ed Dunkle suggestswe multitask while watching and remember, "The key to happiness is low expectations."
Why not just send the movies back? Because of the pesky requirement to rate them—as Persia says, "Where's my 'I'm a lazy slacker and didn't watch it' button?"
Dsf3g spoke for many:
When The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari is just a hand's width away from Conan, I mean, seriously, what do you usually feel most in the mood for, German Expressionism or Austrian Blade Wielding Killing Machine?
But others wanted to talk up the neglected films: Which you might think had the most supporters? Fitzcarraldo perhaps? Vegemighty kept putting if off because of "applying for grad school, rugby season, job interviews, a wedding, a honeymoon, starting grad school …" but eventually watched it and "quite liked it." No, the surprising wave of enthusiasm (surprising? astonishing) was for the little-known Roll Bounce, along with a warning against letting it persuade you back on to the ice-rink (keywords: negative, falling, gruesome, not a good idea.)
This is a cry from the heart of Bureau Cat:
So you have heard from the person who has had Z sitting on top of his or her TV set for months now. Please ask him/her to send it in, on my behalf—I have been waiting for it.
And more good advice from Chicagogirl (whom we know to have an extensive knowledge of movies, and very good taste): "Go with Galaxy Quest." Another Fray with no fights came on Ron Rosenbaum's " Spectator" on blurbing poetry: The best efforts by posters will feature in the column, and as of now there's still time to contribute. Literate, interesting, and collegial—the discussion is a model Fray. —MR ... 3:30 p.m. GMT
And more good advice from Chicagogirl (whom we know to have an extensive knowledge of movies, and very good taste): "Go with Galaxy Quest."
Another Fray with no fights came on Ron Rosenbaum's " Spectator" on blurbing poetry: The best efforts by posters will feature in the column, and as of now there's still time to contribute. Literate, interesting, and collegial—the discussion is a model Fray. —MR ... 3:30 p.m. GMT
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Many readers were shocked, shocked, by William Saletan's theoretical article about past candidates' daughters—"Pointless speculation" with a "sensational title" in a "so-called respectable publication," "breath-takingly goofy," "womb-obsessed." They say that as if those were bad things—have they not read Slate before? The answer is probably "No": At this stage in an election year, we get a lot of new Fray posters. A regular reader is more likely to argue with the statistics than the premise or to offer a suggestion, as Lizdexia did: "Why not list all the male writers at Slate, and compare them to the statistics for wife beaters?" (Lizdexia is a new poster but promising.)
The Fray was loving the Palin family in all its glorious newsworthiness—"Should we judge? Hell yes," as sfifeadams had it here, and the following comments come from all over the boarrds. This helpful remark came from Xaedalus: "I think [Palin] will put to rest once and for all the idea that we are a misogynistic nation. Rather, she will show that the people who hate Hillary, just plain hate Hillary and not the XX." Moderately Amused put it this way: "Somewhere, Dan Quayle has got to be smiling. His place in history as the most capricious pick for VP has just been erased."
Jack cerf had his own take:
What Palin exemplifies is the Frank Capra/Jimmy Stewart sentimental populist wish-dream, seen in movies like Dave, and on every daytime TV judge show, thatall would be well if a regular person, just like ourselves, only a little bit better, ran things instead of professional politicians, lawyers and intellectuals. I don't underestimate its appeal.
And Silas Porter had similar views:
I guess I am one of the dwindling number of Americans who wants my leaders to be more extraordinary than me, more intelligent and more talented. I think the people who look for regularity in their leaders are really just looking for someone to affirm them as people--to tell them that people like you--average--can succeed. Doesn't that sound lame?...America, please stop being such morons about this. This isn't a high school election. It's not a popularity contest.
No? Are you sure?
If you're going to make the most of this election and the press coverage, you can't be too squeamish, and sometimes it's time to wallow in bad taste. We thought we'd done well by finding this imagined convention introduction from guylinder, who had heard that Bristol Palin's baby-father will be there:
Ladies and gentlemen, let's give a warm Republican welcome to the man who is having sex with the vice presidential nominee's daughter!
—but actually maybe more people will be outraged by donfromcalifornia's simple question:
Ummm, I don't know how to say this without being a jerk, but do college age republicans come off like nerds? I'm going to college right now, and I'm an independent, so I'm not biased, honestly. It's just hard to take them seriously. I look at the young dems as stupid, and the young republicans as dorks.
We try to offer something to offend everyone. MR … 4.30 p.m. GMT
Friday, August 15, 2008
Last week, Ron Rosenbaum published a call for greater journalistic coverage of scientific dissent on global warming. Journalists covering climate change find an overwhelming consensus among the scientific community that mankind's release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere over the last century will cause dramatic changes in the Earth's climate. If true, this consensus seems to call for a substantial policy response. To Rosenbaum, the scale of the costs attendant upon dealing with global warming justifies granting a heightened profile to those who dispute the factual basis for the scientific consensus.
Most of our readers found Rosenbaum's argument unpersuasive. Perhaps unsurprisingly, a majority of Fraysters support marginalizing the fringe voices in the climate-change debate. Many posters wonder along with brucewhite where to draw the line between legitimate dissent and crackpot theory:
I admire Ron Rosenbaum as a writer but wonder if this matter is as simple as he paints it. There are sceptics everywhere but do we want to relitigate everything all the time unless serious new evidence comes to light? Evolution? Alien visitors? The intervention of demonic forces? Holocaust denial?
I'm not arguing that there is no possibility of a good case to be made against anthropogenic global warming but most of the scepticism one reads is pretty low level and not much of it emanates from climate scientists. If we are to inhabit a world shaped to such a degree by the fruits of science we need to give scientists some credit when they present us with inconvenient truths. In fact we rely on a huge amount of consensus for our global society to function—this doesn't mean that other voices shouldn't be heard, but journalists do have the right not to accord them all equal respect.
New York Times science writerAndrew Revkin writes in to challenge Ron Rosenbaum's use of his blogroll to bolster a climate-change skeptic's credibility:
I wish Ron Rosenbaum had explored my Dot Earth posts and Times articles on how best to cover climate science as well as my blogroll. Then he might have realized that Nick Lemann's admonition to "find the argument" is only one of the vital steps required to effectively communicate a complex subject.
An equally important step is to place the areas of ongoing scientific dispute within the broader context of what is not in dispute. If that step is not taken in a story, the lure of conflict can mask the broader reality, and perpetuate policy stasis.
So, yes, "find the argument." But then also "find the agreement" as well. It's not as sexy, but it may be the only way journalism can help society absorb that climate science has a herky-jerky trajectory, that some uncertainty is normal, but that a growing human influence on the planet's thermostat is not in dispute.
Another step is to discriminate between scientific and policy arguments. High-profile skeptics on climate have a hodegepodge of views on the science, but are bound by a common stance that restricting greenhouse gases is a waste of resources. On a science development, I don't seek input from policy advocates, whether from Greenpeace or the Cato Institute. On a policy story, everyone's invited.
To auros, debating the factual basis for believing in global warming is a sideshow to the policy argument we should be having.
I understand the CJR author's point, while disagreeing with some of her methods. I think Ron gets it too, as he recognizes that if the consensus is right, and global warming poses a serious peril to civilization, then anything that tells the voters that such peril doesn't exist will tend to slow down action to address it. Personally, I think of the situation more as deciding how much insurance to buy. You don't buy homeowner's insurance because you believe your house is definitely going to burn down. You buy insurance because it might burn down. If the best available science says there's a 1% chance of catastrophic climate change, the kind that sinks New York, Miami, San Diego, Los Angeles, and Boston under several meters of seawater—well, how much are you willing to pay for insurance against that risk? Is 0.1% of GDP unreasonable? 1%? 10%?
Given that there are also a bunch of non-global-warming-related disadvantages to our current energy system, I'd vote for devoting a significant chunk of GDP to dealing with this situation. Maybe not 10%, at least not immediately—trying to transition the economy that fast would cause a lot of dislocation and unnecessary pain. But a percentage point or two? Sure.
One of the most interesting replies came from Arlington, who sees parallels between our reaction to the bad news of Rachel Carson's Silent Spring and today's response to global warming:
There are parallels to instruct us. When Rachel Carson wrote Silent Spring, she was attacked by debunkers who sounded like those now objecting to the global warming consensus. Some of it was very personal and mean, impugning her sanity and her sexuality, if you can believe it. Fortunately, most honest scientists recognized Carson was calling attention to a real crisis, something that was actually happening and could be documented, even though they realized Carson's appeal was largely emotional and scientifically flawed. The result was the DDT ban, which saved the bald eagle, among many other species, from extinction.
But Carson's detractors are sore losers. Now that the bald eagle is no longer threatened with extinction, the debunkers say the whole thing was a manufactured crisis in the first place and would have taken care of itself. There was no reason to ban DDT, they claim, and doing so promoted worldwide famine and caused malaria deaths by the millions. Carson was the devil.
And journalists hopped on the bandwagon. They reproduced accusations that Carson was responsible for more deaths than Hitler. They researched their articles by lifting quotes from authors who contribute to organizations like junkscience.com and others who insist that science should direct itself at the goal of making life easier, safer and more comfortable for a consumerist society. This was all very convenient, since Carson was long dead and the problem she identified had been effectively addressed by regulation and enforcement. And it sold newspapers.
This is the point of the CJR article. Go ahead and promote your byline. Sell your papers. Advance your career. Just don't forget you owe your readers something of the truth. Journalistic ethics require discriminating between various sources of information. Some sources should be used with skepticism and some should not be used at all. It's difficult to determine the difference, particularly when the writer doesn't have the scientific background to draw a clear line. Conveying the truth involves more than presented the reader with John said this and Mary said that. Who is John? Who is Mary? Where do they get their funding and support? What do their peers say about them? Not everyone who challenges scientific consensus is a martyr.
There are many more great posts in the Spectator Fray. Check them out and share your thoughts. GA … 2:18 p.m. PDT
Friday, August 8, 2008
A very welcome development this week,
Is the landline telephone going the way of the dinosaur? Readers are surprisingly hung up on the possibility of its extinction, as forecast by Daniel Gross in this July 25 article that made a mysterious reappearance yesterday on Slate's "most e-mailed" list.
Perhaps accounting for its renewed popularity is an improbable but vocal minority of land-line defenders who helped reactivate the debate in "Moneybox" Fray. Their many reasons for staying hard-wired include:
- Social-life management: i.e., giving out the home number knowing you will hardly ever be there to actually answer it (camiwa).
- Retro-chic appeal, particularly if it involves a rotary-dial telephone (NickD).
- Paranoia: access to emergency services in the event of blackouts, earthquakes, terrorist attacks, or other acts of God (VEH, NewYorkDave). Plus, the advantage of Enhanced 911, which automatically relays your street location to the operator (Tonyw1538).
- Coverage gaps in rural areas like western Wisconsin, where "you can be driving down major interstates and not have any bars for a good hour or two" (Chasmosaur).
- Potential health benefits: avoiding both the radiation emitted from cell phones and the " permanent crick … from trying to hold a tiny sliver of metal on my ear" (sugar_k).
- Fax machines and international calling, especially for mothers with children "scattered around the continent" (Herbie2).
- Peace, quiet, and simplification: "Now, when my under 30 husband and myself … are out, we can enjoy our time without the cellular leash" (trudycatsmom).
This type of age-conscious declaration was recurrent in the Fray and may have to do with a nerve that Gross unintentionally plucked, by equating land-line usage with the over-thirtysomething crowd.
It's never fun to be painted with such a broad brush, or worse yet, to feel obsolete. Hence the strident response of Atmos2, a 40-year-old proud to proclaim his exclusive reliance on cell phones.
Of course, one can always find some reason to cling to technology of the past. "Why Don't I Own a Horse and Buggy?" chidesFaxMeBeer, "I mean, I suppose we could all have continued to use our horses to take us on short trips to the store."
Before we grow too dismissive of land-line users, let us acknowledge that the beauty of the Fray lies in its ability to inspire volumes to be collectively written on some of the least likely topics such as this.
In general, reader proclivities have been tending toward the quirky this week, such as Jody Rosen's exposure of a serial plagiarist and a "Culturebox" piece about the 10 oddest travel guides ever written. Be sure to check them all out. AC … 1:08 p.m. PDT


text:
Beaumont/Port Arthur
A 46-year-old Port Arthur woman who pleaded no contest Tuesday, Feb. 19, to two counts of aggravated assault and admitted her guilt in a collision on U.S. 69 that caused the death of a Groves man more than a year ago was sentenced Monday, March 18, to serve five years in jail and pay two $500 fines.
While we harbor no disrespect for the Wall Street Journal who called us "that scrappy little paper from Southeast Texas," we prefer to think of ourselves as simple seekers of the truth. We're of the opinion that headlines and sound bites never tell the whole story. Our readers demand all the facts, facets and flavors of every story or event. And, they expect to be informed, educated and stirred to action.
For this week's New York Times crossword puzzle, pick up a copy of this week's The Examiner on newsstands now.


text:
Guilty Pleasures: Hudson Hawk
Scott McKenzie sips a cappuccino and flings his cup in the judge's direction...
Your honour, I find it unbelievable that the guilty pleasure status of Hudson Hawk is even up for debate. I believe that it is guilty and I also challenge the defence to give us any evidence that there is any pleasure at all to be gained from such a tortuous viewing experience. I lay the blame solely at the feet of one man—Bruce Willis. This was a pet project of his, based on a character he dreamed up before he was famous, back when he was plain ol' broke-ass Walter Willis. Just because he'd made everyone around him stacks of cash with Moonlighting and Die Hard didn't mean that everything he touched would turn to gold, but that didn't occur to the studio who gave him carte blanche to take the movie in any direction his imagination felt like taking him.
Exhibit A: This coffee lover does his fair share of mugging
The main problem is that short of coming up with a swing-tune lovin' cappuccino-sippin' cat-burglin' scoundrel, he failed to put together the key ingredient needed to commit a movie to film, namely a screenplay. With screenplay changes a daily occurrence during production, all we're left with is an over-complicated, overblown and incredibly dumb movie that amounts to nothing more than a chain of incredibly contrived set-pieces and Bruce mugging his way through the whole thing (Exhibit A). Due to their relatively brief appearances, I can only assume that pantomime villains Richard E Grant and Sandra Bernhard had most of their scenes cut to spare the audience from their relentless obnoxiousness (Exhibit B).
Exhibit B: They're about to take over the world, you know
There is such a complete lack of logic in Hudson Hawk that anyone who is unfortunate enough sit through the movie will find themselves with a bald patch by the end credits because they'll be scratching their heads the whole way through. Ask yourself why no one else in the bar bats an eyelid when the bad guy shoots Hudson's coffee cup. Ask yourself why the bad guys have to get Hudson to stick the incredibly easy puzzle thing together. And finally, ask yourself what was going through the heads of Bruce Willis and James Coburn during their Tom-and-Jerry-esque fight sequence.
I implore the jury to find Hudson Hawk guilty. If my reasons above are not enough, I would ask them to come up with another movie with such blatant product placement. Only a movie this stupid would have bad guys named after chocolate bars and include the line 'will you play Nintendo with me?' at a key romantic moment, along with two key characters called the Mario brothers. The answer would surely be no, especially if Hudson Hawk was propositioning someone to play the terrible Nintendo game loosely connected the movie (Exhibit C).
Exhibit C: Will you play Nintendo with me? No thanks...
I don't blame the prosecution for not appreciating Hudson Hawk. It's easy to pick on a movie that had obvious problems during production and didn't perform well at the cinema. It's by no means a perfect movie but there is a lot to love in the tale of the coffee-drinking rogue. Okay, the final product may not equal the sum of its parts, but bear this in mind—there is no other movie with the same odd combination of slapstick, treasure-hunting thrills and great tunes (Exhibit D).
Exhibit D: The unique formula for success
I'll concede that there are some bad jokes, especially the Mona Lisa gag in the opening scene, however there are some genuine laughs to be had with an odd-looking Vatican hotline phone and the use of a tennis ball gun to get rid of Sandra Berhard's dog (an idea that seems to have been picked up as the primary weapon for the video game). I'll also agree that the in-movie branding is pretty heavy-handed but there are also some moments of flair in the production, including some nice graphical matches in the editing.
The greatest enjoyment comes from the convincing relationship between Bruce Willis and Danny Aiello's characters (Exhibit E). They both seem to be having a hell of a time in the movie and never once look like they're embarrassed by the limitations of the screenplay (or lack thereof). It's also good to see James Coburn in any movie and active viewers will pick up on a reference to his Flint movies that was ripped off for Austin Powers. Many of the character names are fairly stupid but at least naming his character George Kaplan gives another nod in a respectable direction.
Exhibit E: Not a hint of shame
Finally—and most importantly—what my learned friend for the prosecution fails to appreciate is the fact that Hudson Hawk was way ahead of its time. There's no film quite like it. Where else will you find a combination of cartoon slapstick and so much foul language that it would appear some lines had to be (badly) dubbed on the UK DVD to avoid an 18 rating? Best of all is the ingenious use of swing tunes to track the timing of our hero's burgling escapades. Yes, it makes no sense but it's also unashamedly entertaining. Well, they say finish on a song so here's Exhibit F to convince you how great this movie really is.
Exhibit F: I challenge you not to enjoy this
Prosecution: Objection! This evidence is inadmissible due to Bruce Willis's previous crimes against music.
Judge: Overruled. The jury is asked not to take previous crimes into consideration. Now it is over to the visitors of DVDActive. Do you find Hudson Hawk guilty or not guilty?
Editorial by Scott McKenzie
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text:
Makaira nigricans
|Scope: Global
Language: English
|Scientific Name:
|Makaira nigricans Lacepède, 1802
|Regional Assessments:
Common Name(s):
Eumakaira nigra Hirasaka and Nakamura 1947
Histiophorus herschelii (Gray 1838)
Istiompax howardi Whitley 1954
Istiompax mazara Jordan and Snyder 1901
Maikaira nigricans Lacepède 1802
Makaira ampla Poey 1860
Makaira ampla ampla Poey 1860
Makaira ampla mazara Jordan and Schneider 1901
Makaira bermudae Mowbray 1931
Makaira ensis Jordan & Evermann 1926
Makaira ensis Lacepède 1800
Makaira herschelii Gray 1838
Makaira nigra Hirasaka and Nakamura 1947
Makaira nigricans Poey 1860
Makaira nigricans mazara (Jordan and Snyder 1901)
Makaira perezi de Buen 1950
Tetrapturus amplus Poey 1860
Tetrapturus herschelii Grey 1838
Tetrapturus mazara Jordan and Snyder 1901
|Taxonomic Notes:
Blue Marlin (Makaira nigricans) of the Indo-Pacific and the Atlantic are conspecific (Buonaccorsi et al. 1999, 2001; Collette et al. 2006). The Indo-Pacific Blue Marlin previously was known as Makaira mazara (Jordan and Snyder).
|Red List Category & Criteria:
|Vulnerable A2bd ver 3.1
|Year Published:
|Date Assessed:
|Collette, B., Acero, A., Amorim, A.F., Boustany, A., Canales Ramirez, C., Cardenas, G., Carpenter, K.E., de Oliveira Leite Jr., N., Di Natale, A., Die, D., Fox, W., Fredou, F.L., Graves, J., Guzman-Mora, A., Viera Hazin, F.H., Hinton, M., Juan Jorda, M., Minte Vera, C., Miyabe, N., Montano Cruz, R., Nelson, R., Oxenford, H., Restrepo, V., Salas, E., Schaefer, K., Schratwieser, J., Serra, R., Sun, C., Teixeira Lessa, R.P., Pires Ferreira Travassos, P.E., Uozumi, Y. & Yanez, E.
|Russell, B., Elfes, C. & Polidoro, B.
Using a generation length of between 4.5 and 6 years, we estimated a decline in overall stock abundance of 31–38% over 14 years and 18 years, respectively. Global declines were calculated as a weighted average of the declines for each stock using maximum historical catch as a proxy for the stock's contribution to the global population. Based on the available data, this species is listed as Vulnerable under criterion A2. This species is not considered to be well managed in any part of its range. It is important to note that the Pacific stock comprises over half of the global population for this species, and that declines in the Pacific were estimated using catch data as no recent standardized indices were available. It is likely that declines based on these data are conservative. Fishing effort in the Pacific and Indian Oceans is increasing as a result of longline fisheries operating at deeper depths and in the Atlantic due to expansion of artisanal fleets. There is urgent need for an updated stock assessment for the Pacific Ocean and a reassessment of this species may be warranted when newer information becomes available. Data reporting from the Indian Ocean is also poor. We recommend that appropriate fishery statistics be compiled and analysed to accurately assess the condition of this species.
|Range Description:
|An epipelagic oceanic species, blue marlin is often found in wide open blue waters with surface temperatures between 22° and 31°C. It is the most tropical of the billfishes. Its latitudinal range changes seasonally, expanding northwards and southwards in the warmer months and contracting towards the equator in colder months.
In the Eastern Pacific it is found from California to the southwestern and central eastern Gulf of California to Peru, including all of the oceanic islands. In the Atlantic Ocean, adults are commonly found in the tropics within the 24°C isotherm.
In both the eastern tropical Pacific and the eastern tropical Atlantic, Blue Marlin concentrate in shallower waters than in the western part of both oceans due to hypoxia-based habitat compression over oxygen minimum zones in the eastern tropical seas (Prince et al. 2010).
|Countries occurrence:
Native:American Samoa; Angola; Anguilla; Antigua and Barbuda; Australia; Bahamas; Bangladesh; Barbados; Belize; Bermuda; Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba (Saba, Sint Eustatius); Brazil; Cameroon; Canada; Cape Verde; Chile; China; Christmas Island; Colombia; Comoros; Congo; Congo, The Democratic Republic of the; Cook Islands; Costa Rica; Côte d'Ivoire; Cuba; Curaçao; Dominica; Dominican Republic; Ecuador; El Salvador; Equatorial Guinea; Fiji; French Polynesia; Gabon; Gambia; Ghana; Grenada; Guadeloupe; Guam; Guatemala; Guinea; Guinea-Bissau; Haiti; Honduras; Hong Kong; India; Indonesia; Jamaica; Japan; Kenya; Kiribati; Korea, Republic of; Madagascar; Malaysia; Maldives; Marshall Islands; Mauritania; Mauritius; Mexico; Micronesia, Federated States of ; Montserrat; Mozambique; New Caledonia; New Zealand; Nicaragua; Nigeria; Niue; Norfolk Island; Northern Mariana Islands; Oman; Pakistan; Palau; Panama; Papua New Guinea; Peru; Philippines; Pitcairn; Portugal (Azores, Madeira); Puerto Rico; Réunion; Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Saint Lucia; Saint Martin (French part); Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; Samoa; Sao Tomé and Principe; Senegal; Seychelles; Sierra Leone; Sint Maarten (Dutch part); Solomon Islands; Somalia; South Africa; Spain (Canary Is.); Sri Lanka; Taiwan, Province of China; Tanzania, United Republic of; Tokelau; Tonga; Trinidad and Tobago; Turks and Caicos Islands; Tuvalu; United States; United States Minor Outlying Islands; Vanuatu; Viet Nam; Virgin Islands, British; Virgin Islands, U.S.; Wallis and Futuna
|FAO Marine Fishing Areas:
Atlantic – western central; Atlantic – northeast; Atlantic – eastern central; Atlantic – southwest; Atlantic – southeast; Atlantic – northwest; Indian Ocean – western; Indian Ocean – eastern; Mediterranean and Black Sea; Pacific – southeast; Pacific – northeast; Pacific – northwest; Pacific – eastern central; Pacific – western central; Pacific – southwest
|Additional data:
|Range Map:
|Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.
|Atlantic Ocean
The most recent stock assessment for Blue Marlin (ICCAT 2007) used a Bayesian Surplus Production model to estimate biomass from 1990 through 2006. The remaining data series (1956–1989) are based on biomass estimates from the previous stock assessment (ICCAT 2002). Population declines were examined using a generation length estimated between 4.5 and 6 years. Over a three generation length period of 14 years, the decline was 60% and over a three generation length period of 18 years, the decline was 64%. These declines were calculated using a linear regression over each of the time periods examined. Population reduction for Atlantic blue marlin was therefore estimated to be between 60% and 64%. For all of the models for which the stock productivity was constrained to be near the productivity estimated by the last full assessment, the current biomass was estimated to be at or below biomass at maximum sustainable yield (BMSY) and current fishing mortality rates were above FMSY. The stock is therefore not considered to be well-managed.
Pacific Ocean
The best knowledge currently available indicates that Blue Marlin constitutes a single world-wide species (Buonaccorsi et al. 1999, 2001, Collette et al. 2006), and that there is a single stock of Blue Marlin in the Pacific Ocean (Hinton 2001). No recent estimates of biomass or catch per unit effort (CPUE) were available. Biomass estimates from the last stock assessment for Pacific Blue Marlin (Kleiber et al. 2003) were available only until 1997. We therefore used estimated catch data from the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) (Hinton, unpublished data 2011), which were the only available recent data. We assume that effort has remained stable or has increased over the time period examined. Based on catch data and a generation length of 4.5–6 years, we estimated declines of 5% over 14 years (1996–2009) and 19% over 18 years (1992–2009) using linear regression. We consider that these estimates of decline (based on catches) are likely conservative. This stock is not considered to be well-managed and there is urgent need for a newer stock assessment to evaluate population trends.
Indian Ocean
Nominal yearly CPUE of Japanese longliners in Northwest Australia has declined 58.9% over a 14 year period (1993–2007) and 70.6% over a 18 year period (1989–2007; Figure 40, IOTC 2009). The CPUE decline for Japanese longliners in the Seychelles was 79.5% over 14 years and 56.9% over 18 years (Figure 40, IOTC 2009). For each time period considered, an average of the declines in Northwest Australia and the Seychelles was used to characterize the population in the Indian Ocean. The decline in the Indian Ocean ranged from 63–69% depending on the time period considered. It is important to note that these data are limited and catch data from other industrial fisheries such as longliners of Indonesia and Philippines are not available. The stock is not considered to be well managed and more information is needed to understand population declines for blue marlin in the Indian Ocean.
|Current Population Trend:
|Additional data:
|Habitat and Ecology:
|This epipelagic and oceanic species is mostly confined to the waters on the warmer side of the 24°C surface isotherm and known to undergo seasonal north-south migrations. It is found to 1,000 m depth but spends the highest percentage of its time at shallower depths, and is not usually seen close to land masses or islands, unless there is a deep drop-off of the shelf. This species can dive as deep as 1,000 m, but it remains mostly within the upper 40 m. It is believed to form small-scale schools of at most 10 individuals. Larger fish tend to swim solitarily (Nakamura 1985) but smaller ones form aggregations.
It feeds on squids, tuna-like fishes, crustaceans, and cephalopods (Nakamura 1985). Spawning probably takes place year-round in equatorial waters to 10°N/S and during summer periods in both hemispheres to 30°N/S, in both the Indian and Pacific oceans (Kailola et al. 1993). In the southern hemisphere, concentrations of spawning fish probably occur around French Polynesia (Howard and Ueyanagi 1965). In Brazil, spawning occurs February to March from 20–23°S, primarily in the Abrolhos Archipelago (Amorim et al. 1998). Most of the individuals captured at this location have been juveniles (Amorim pers. comm. 2010).
Maximum time at large recorded is 11 years (Ortiz et al. 2003). Maximum age is estimated to be at least 20 years (Wilson et al. 1991). Maximum age is estimated in the Pacific as 27 years (females) and 18 years (males) (Hill et al. 1989). Age estimation in marlins is problematic and longevity information from the Pacific has also been applied to the Atlantic. Age at maturity is estimated to be two years (Prince et al. 1991, Torres-Silva et al. 2006). Using longevity estimates of 20 years and 27 years, and age of maturity of two years, the generation length was estimated to be between 4.5–6 years. The generation length is calculated as: age of first reproduction + z * (longevity - age of first maturity), where z is 0.15 (Collette et al. 2011).
The all-tackle game fish record is of a 636-kg fish caught off Vitoria, Brazil in 1992 (IGFA 2011).
|Generation Length (years):
|Movement patterns:
|Full Migrant
|Use and Trade:
|Blue Marlin occurs as bycatch, primarily in longline fisheries for tuna. There is also a directed recreational catch for this species in many areas. The flesh is of good quality and is marketed frozen and prepared as sashimi and but most of it is marketed frozen or for sausages in Japan (Nakamura 1985).
|Major Threat(s):
In the Pacific, Blue Marlin are an incidental catch of longline fisheries, bycatch in swordfish fisheries, and an important resource for big game recreational fishing. More than 73% of reported landings are incidental to large offshore longline fisheries, and other major fisheries are the directed recreational fisheries of the USA and other countries (Restrepo et al. 2003). Protections efforts for blue marlin have continued to decrease in recent years, as deeper longline gear is introduced (Uozumi 1999).
In the Atlantic new fleets have harvested large catches of Blue Marlin, including artisanal fish aggregating devices (FAD) fisheries in the eastern Caribbean islands and a new artisanal fleet of small longliners operating off Brazil between 18°S and 30°S. This species is primarily taken as bycatch by longline fisheries, but also by purse seines, by some artisanal gears which are the only fisheries targeting marlins and also by various sport fisheries located on both sides of the Atlantic. The increasing use of anchored FADs by various artisanal and sport fisheries is causing greater vulnerability of these stocks (STECF 2009). For example, over the last fifteen years, Antillean artisanal fleets have increased the use of Moored Fish Aggregating Devices (MFADs) to capture pelagic fish. Catches of Blue Marlin caught around MFADs are known to be significant but reports on these catches made to the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) are very incomplete (ICCAT 2006).
|Conservation Actions:
This is a highly migratory species, listed under Annex I of the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea (FAO Fisheries Department 1994).
In some areas, long-lining is restricted to protect fish stocks for sport fishing. Size limitations, encouragement of catch-and-release sport fishing, and recommendations for using circle hooks instead of J-hooks are measures designed to increase survival in catch-and-release sport fishing (Pine et al. 2008, Serafy et al. 2009). Marlin species are a special case because bycatch in the longline fisheries concentrating primarily on tunas causes the majority of fishery mortality (>90%) for marlin (Kitchell et al. 2004). In the Pacific, marlin are most frequently captured on the shallow hooks of a longline set (those close to the floats), and removing less than 15% of the hook sets adjacent to floats would decrease marlin catch by as much as 50% (Kitchell et al. 2004).
For Blue Marlin in the Atlantic, the ICCAT Standing Committee on Research and Statistics (ICCAT–SCRS) in 2008 asked the Commission, at a minimum, to continue the management measures already in place because marlins have not yet recovered. The Commission should take steps to assure that the reliability of the recent fishery information improves in order to provide a basis for verifying possible future rebuilding of the stocks. Improvements are needed in the monitoring of the fate and number of dead and live releases, with verification from scientific observer programs; verification of current and historical landings from some artisanal and industrial fleets; and complete and updated relative abundance indices from CPUE data for the major fleets. Should the Commission wish to increase the likelihood of success of the current management measures of the marlin rebuilding plan, further reduction in mortality would be needed, including: implementing plans to improve compliance of current regulations; encouraging the use of alternative gear configurations, including certain types of circle hooks, hook/bait combinations etc., in fisheries where its use has been shown to be beneficial; and broader application of time/area catch restrictions.
Given the recent importance of the catch from artisanal fisheries, and to increase the likelihood of recovery of marlin stocks, the Commission should consider regulations that control or reduce the fishing mortality generated by these fisheries. The Commission should encourage continued research on development of methods to incorporate this information into stock assessments in order to provide a basis for increasing the certainty with which management advice can be provided.
The Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) stresses the need for correct identification and reporting of billfish species in all fisheries. Furthermore, STECF notes that the 2007 ICCAT–SCRS report indicated the potential for the stocks of blue marlin and white marlin to recover to the BMSY level. However, recent increases in catches of Blue Marlin by artisanal fisheries on both sides of the Atlantic may compromise the effectiveness of the ICCAT plan (STECF 2009).
Recent analyses suggest that the recovery of blue marlin stock might proceed faster than would have been estimated at the 2000 assessment, provided catches remain at the level estimated for 2004. Some signs of stabilization in the abundance trend are apparent in the most recent catch per unit of effort data of Blue Marlin (2000–2004) Recommendations [Rec. 00-13], [Rec. 01-10] and finally [Rec. 02-13] placed additional catch restrictions for Blue Marlin and White Marlin. The first established that the annual amount of Blue Marlin that can be harvested by pelagic longline and purse seine vessels and retained for landing must be no more than 33% for White Marlin and 50% for Blue Marlin of the 1996 or 1999 landing levels, whichever is greater. That recommendation established that all Blue Marlin and White Marlin brought to pelagic longline and purse seine vessels alive shall be released in a manner that maximizes their survival. The provision of this paragraph does not apply to marlins that are dead when brought along the side of the vessel and that are not sold or entered into commerce. Catches of both species have declined since 1996–99, the period selected as the reference period by the recommendations. Since 2002, the year of implementation of the last of these two recommendations, the catch of Blue Marlin has been below the 50% value recommended by the Commission. This analysis represents only longline caught marlin even though the recommendations referred to the combined catch of pelagic longline and purse seine because the catch estimates of billfish by-catch from purse seine vessels are more uncertain than those from longline. More countries have started reporting data on live releases in 2006. Additionally, more information has come about, for some fleets, on the potential for using gear modifications to reduce the bycatch and increase the survival of marlins (ICCAT 2007).
Catches of Blue Marlin in the Indian Ocean are very poorly reported and there is need of better data to evaluate the condition of the Indian Ocean stock.
|Collette, B., Acero, A., Amorim, A.F., Boustany, A., Canales Ramirez, C., Cardenas, G., Carpenter, K.E., de Oliveira Leite Jr., N., Di Natale, A., Die, D., Fox, W., Fredou, F.L., Graves, J., Guzman-Mora, A., Viera Hazin, F.H., Hinton, M., Juan Jorda, M., Minte Vera, C., Miyabe, N., Montano Cruz, R., Nelson, R., Oxenford, H., Restrepo, V., Salas, E., Schaefer, K., Schratwieser, J., Serra, R., Sun, C., Teixeira Lessa, R.P., Pires Ferreira Travassos, P.E., Uozumi, Y. & Yanez, E. 2011. Makaira nigricans. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2011: e.T170314A6743776. . Downloaded on 22 September 2018.
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text:
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — So that's what $250,000 worth of rest looks like.
Tony Parker scored 30 points and Tim Duncan had 27 points and 15 rebounds, giving the San Antonio Spurs their money's worth for the unprecedented fine from the NBA they absorbed for putting rest over the league's business interests in a 99-95 overtime victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday night.
Coach Gregg Popovich said before the victory he was "disappointed" by the $250,000 fine levied by Commissioner David Stern after the Spurs sent Parker, Duncan and Manu Ginobili — three of the NBA's biggest names — home from a road trip early instead of playing them against LeBron James and the Miami Heat on Thursday in a nationally televised game.
This might ease his frustration. Because chances are Popovich wasn't second-guessing his decision while watching the 36-year-old Duncan put up his best game this season, Parker eclipsing 30 points for the third time in five games and Ginobili sinking the tying 3-pointer with under a minute left to force overtime.
Parker mentioned afterward — perhaps not coincidentally — that the two days off made him feel like he had "a lot of energy" in the extra period.
"We definitely always have Pop's back. Me, personally I really appreciate what he's done for my career," Parker said. "Because of him, I've been playing all those years and all those summers with the national team because he's always protecting me. Timmy's the same way and Manu is the same way."
He then added how he wanted to win this one for his coach.
"I definitely felt like it was for Pop," Parker said. "I wanted to be super aggressive and win the game."
Marc Gasol led Memphis with 20 points. Zach Randolph had 17 points and 15 rebounds and was one of three Memphis players with double-doubles.
Mike Conley had 18 points and 12 assists, and Rudy Gay had 15 points and 10 rebounds.
While the Spurs' Big Three was refreshed from two days off, Memphis was playing the second half of a back-to-back.
"We don't use any excuses here," Conley said. "We felt like we had a chance to win the game regardless of back-to-back or resting. We felt like we had a chance to win."
The unprecedented fine announced Friday overshadowed the first meeting this season between two of the West's winningest teams. Even Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban — who knows a thing or two about running afoul of Stern and getting hit in the checkbook — chimed in before his team's own game Saturday night.
Cuban believes the NBA was right to sanction his top rivals for messing with the league's "money train" — meaning lucrative national television contracts. Yet he also called scheduling that marquee TNT game at the end of the Spurs' six-game road swing a "dumb" move on the NBA's part.
Popovich said he doesn't know if the Spurs will appeal. He also didn't rule out sitting out players again in the future.
Succinctly addressing the fine before the game, he said the decision shows the NBA thinking about its bottom line and didn't elaborate on conversations with the league before the penalty came down Friday.
"What I do from my perspective is from a coaching perspective," Popovich said. "And I think the league operates from a business perspective. And I think that's reflective in the action that they took."
San Antonio fans welcomed Popovich back with a thunderous ovation before the game. One fan behind the Grizzlies' bench held up a sign reading "Pop knows best." Others wore shirts with more colorful language directed toward Stern.
The Grizzlies played without Tony Allen for a second straight game because of an injured groin. It's unclear when their starting shooting guard may return.
On Thursday, Popovich put his Big Three and starter Danny Green on a plane and sent them home. It came at the end of a six-game road trip and after the Spurs had played five times in seven days, and Popovich justified his decision by saying he didn't want to subject them to so much wear-and-tear this early in the season.
Stern apologized to NBA fans before the Miami game and vowed his office would hand down "substantial sanctions," which he delivered on the next day. He said he "concluded that the Spurs did a disservice to the league and our fans."
Teams are required to report as soon as they know a player will not travel because of injury. The league's statement said the Spurs were in violation of league policy reviewed with the board of governors in April 2010 against resting players in a manner "contrary to the best interests of the NBA."
The rest didn't benefit everyone. Green was scoreless in 19 minutes before leaving with tightness in his left hamstring.
Notes: Popovich said it's unlikely that starting F Kawhi Leonard (knee) will return on this weeklong homestand. Leonard has missed nine games. The Spurs hit the road again Dec. 8. ... San Antonio beat the Grizzlies for the fifth straight time after sweeping them last season. Memphis hasn't won against the Spurs since knocking them out of the playoffs in stunning fashion as the No. 8 seed in 2011.
Follow Paul J. Weber on Twitter: www.twitter.com/pauljweber


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The grief diet
I met my first husband, Glenn, at a party I threw, where a mutual friend introduced us. The party was a success but also a disappointment because, at the end of the evening, I was alone.
When I sang the single girl's lament to my friends, one said, "I've got a guy for you." I vaguely remembered meeting Glenn. "He liked me?" I asked softly.
My friend said, "When I asked him what he thought of you, he said, 'I got the impression she's chubby.' And I told him, 'She's not chubby! She's busty!' And Glenn said, 'In that case, hook me up.'" I wasn't charmed by this anecdote. Still, I agreed to see Glenn again, if only to demonstrate that, in the hourglass that was my figure, most of the sand was on top. We started dating.
Glenn didn't know it, but he had stumbled into my life during a rare slender period. I was 26 and wore a size 6 dress. Thanks to a 5-mile-a-day running habit, my weight even dropped during our first year together.
Glenn and I got serious. When I looked at myself, I cringed at my flaws; when I looked into his eyes, I basked in love. Before our wedding ceremony in 1993, we were told by the rabbi to stand facing each other, holding hands. "Look at each other," the rabbi said. "Is this the person you want to grow old with? The person you vow to love from this day forward?" We said yes, and yes. It was one of the few times I saw Glenn cry. I wore my sister's wedding gown, which had to be taken out for me, but it fit well. Glenn fit me well, too.
As a newlywed, I rarely felt motivated to lace up the sneaks and go running—not with a loving husband waiting at home. When we went shopping, Glenn threw Doritos and cupcakes into the cart casually, guiltlessly. If I placed the junk food back on the shelf, Glenn would say, "If you don't like it, don't eat it." Spoken like a rube. Naturally, I ate more than he did from those crinkly packages. Embarrassed by my lack of willpower, I'd sneak a cookie here, a handful of chips there. Suddenly, the bag would be empty, and I'd have to replace it before Glenn realized he'd married a hypocrite. Luckily, he didn't notice that I'd shelved my skinny jeans.
Within two years, I was up 15 pounds. Then, at age 30, I got pregnant with our first daughter. I topped 200 pounds by my ninth month, a gain of 60. One of my most comfortable pieces of maternity clothing was a pink dress with black buttons, which made me look like a watermelon. I dieted after Maggie was born, losing weight but not enough. The net gain of the Maggie pregnancy was 20 pounds. With a full-time job and a husband in grad school, I lived on food I could eat with one hand while holding my new baby: pizza, dumplings, falafel.
When Maggie was 2, I got pregnant with Lucy. This time, I swam laps and avoided sweets. Nonetheless, the net gain of that pregnancy, once it was over and I shrank back to size, was another 5 pounds—a total of 40 pounds since my first date with Glenn. The night we met, I wore a size 6 backless minidress. Seven years later, at Lucy's first birthday party, I wore size 14 stretch jeans. Forty pounds and four sizes in seven years. I was overworked and overwhelmed, so I overate.
As a couple, Glenn and I were content. As an individual, I was tired of feeling fat. Although I thought about my size constantly, I did little to change it, except to dabble with trendy diets. Glenn was endlessly supportive. In fact, in seven years of marriage, he commented on my weight exactly twice: (1) One night, while watching me get undressed, he said, "When you gain weight, it shows in your legs." Besides being hurtful and insulting, Glenn's comment was untrue; my flab went straight to my belly. (2) At the end of my first pregnancy, I ordered a basket of sweet rolls with breakfast, and he said, "Take it easy, Val." I stormed out of the restaurant, demanding to know how dare he tell his pregnant wife what to eat? I was gigantic, sweaty and cursing. People on the street stared. He was embarrassed, more for me than himself. And that was the last I heard from him about my weight. Ever.
On New Year's Eve 1999, I vowed to get serious about losing weight. My girls deserved a healthy mom; Glenn deserved his slender bride, not the behemoth I'd become. It wasn't too late for me to improve myself.
I didn't know it then, but it was too late for Glenn. He thought stress was responsible for his severe back pain. He saw a doctor about it and went through a series of X-rays and MRIs. That June, he endured more tests, which confirmed the worst. The back pain was caused by a malignant metastasis on his spine. He also had brain lesions, too many to count. The diagnosis was lung cancer, stage IV. Glenn's doctors called the cancer a fluke, not anything he could have prevented, which provided zero comfort. In the summer, he had surgery, radiation and chemo. Nothing worked. He died in the fall, November 3, 2000. He was 34.
In the five months between diagnosis and death, Glenn dwindled to skeletal proportions. Watching the ravages of his disease was soul—and appetite—killing for me. I dropped 25 pounds, and two dress sizes, seemingly overnight, effortlessly.
And I was thrilled about it.
Yes, my husband was dying. I was on the verge of widowhood at 35. My daughters were losing their father. I was lonely, heartbroken, horrified by the toll illness took on Glenn and everyone else who had a front-row seat. And still, despite the sorrow, I found joy in my increasingly roomy clothing. With secret giddiness, I reached for a pair of red jeans I'd worn on our honeymoon. A few weeks post-diagnosis, I was able to get them over my hips. One month later, I could zip them—and breathe. Then they were loose. I smiled dreamily as I beheld my shrinking self in the mirror. Glenn had half a dozen painkillers and antidepressants to ease his suffering. Weight loss took the edge off of mine.
I kept this secret to myself. Given the grim reality that defined our days, who would understand? There was ordinary life: schlepping the kids to school, working, shopping, cleaning. And then there was cancer life: the blur of appointments, driving to chemo, explaining to Maggie why her dad had lost his hair, his energy, his appetite. I spent hours in bed with Glenn, feeding him when he could eat, reassuring him that he would beat the disease after every test revealed that the tumors were growing. We held on to hope, which, in this crisis, was another word for denial.
Glenn and I shrank at almost the same pace, and my weight loss was a reminder: "Be careful what you wish for." But it also occurred to me that my slimmer silhouette would be a huge plus when I started dating again. I imagined that I would fall in love again—I was only 35!—and this rosy vision helped me get through some grim moments.
Everyone noticed my bony face. My sister asked, "Have you stopped eating, too?" I waved away the comments, discouraged them. I didn't want to reveal myself as the monster who took pride in her appearance when her husband was dying.
The one person who didn't comment on my body was the man who knew it best. Granted, Glenn was grappling with larger issues than my stomach bulge. When he was awake, we talked about anything, no matter how small and insignificant. Glenn had always been a great gossip, which I appreciated in a man. We strolled around, me pushing him in the wheelchair, and gabbed about ugly clothes in shop windows, the price of contact lens solution, a restaurant closing. We talked about us and how great our life would be once he recovered. We never talked about loss of life. Or loss of weight.
My size simply didn't register with Glenn. Whatever he saw in me, it had nothing to do with my weight. If I had issued a test of his love by gaining all those pounds, I hadn't been paying close enough attention to his marks. Glenn passed the test over and over again, with flying colors. If I failed to see it then, I don't now.
My fantasies about a happy future were useful during Glenn's illness, but I had to shelve them after he died. No matter how much I'd prepared for it, his absence was shocking and huge. I spent night after night in misery, alone in my bedroom with the TV on. This was the reality of widowhood. I had the sneaking suspicion I'd find those lost pounds again, probably sooner than later. But I feared that true love was gone from my life forever. During some bleak hours, I feared that I'd hastily consumed my life's allotment, like scarfing cake without even tasting it. I swore to myself that, if I were gifted with love again, I'd take it slowly, savor every day. But, of course, there are some tastes that can't be nibbled. When love came again, in less time than I'd dared to hope, I gobbled it up like a starving person.
Excerpted from Thin Is the New Happy (St. Martin's Press) by Valerie Frankel. © 2008 by Valerie Frankel.
Photo Credit: Carin Krasner/Corbis


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RALEIGH � Nearly 193,000 North Carolina customers are getting rebates averaging $87 this summer because their health insurance company could not keep overhead costs down, the U.S. Health and Human Services Department said Thursday.
The money goes to consumers whose health insurer failed in 2012 to meet a benchmark requiring that 80 percent of each premium dollar to go toward medical services and less toward overhead and bonuses.
Insurers are required by the federal health overhaul law to limit profits, salaries, and other administrative costs to no more than 20 percent of premiums. Those that do not must rebate their customers either with a check in the mail, a reimbursement to their credit or debit card, or premium reduction.
The federal agency did not make available on its web site individual insurance company reports due by June 1 that would show which exceeded the 20 percent threshold the most. Those reports will be available later this summer, spokeswoman Alicia Hartinger said.
This is the first time North Carolina residents will receive the "medical-loss ratio" rebates.
Federal regulators last year allowed North Carolina insurers a one-year delay in meeting the benchmark because the state's highly concentrated market of just nine insurers needed some leeway to keep from driving some out of the state. Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina had more than 80 percent of the market for coverage sold to individuals and small businesses, the federal agency said last year.
Blue Cross customers likely would not be eligible for rebates on their 2012 premiums because it said it exceeded the 80 percent standard.


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Tributes From The Volleyball World For Kathy Gregory
"Kathy Gregory is a legend. Plain and simple. Not only a legend in the Big West Conference, but in intercollegiate athletics in general and specifically the sport of volleyball. The contributions that she's made to her sport, her university, and the conference are immeasurable. I'm personally proud to have known Kathy for more than three decades and will miss her involvement with the Big West Conference." – Dennis Farrell, Commissioner of the Big West Conference
"Kathy was a relentless competitor as a player and her teams epitomized that quality. Her passion, commitment and superior knowledge of the game was evident in every UCSB match. The UCSB-Pacific matches produced some great battles in the late 70's/early 80's. She is a legend and our sport will not be the same without her - I wish her well." – Terry Liskevych, Head Volleyball Coach at Oregon State and former Head Coach USA National & Olympic Teams from 1985-1996
"I want to thank Kathy for her contribution to the game, personal mentoring and friendship to me. There is no one anywhere that can rival her energy, honesty, compassion for others and competitive spirit. She will always be an undeniable icon in the coaching world. I send my congratulations to Kathy the Queen of Volleyball." – Carolyn Zimmerman, Head Volleyball Coach at Cal State Fullerton
"Kathy was always a 'good news-bad news' person for me. The good news was 'you always knew exactly what she was thinking!' The bad news was 'you always knew exactly what she was thinking!' No matter what the topic, or what the setting, Kathy was going to tell you exactly how she felt. That made her interesting/irritating/humorous/challenging/inspirational to be around. But, truth be told, the inspirational part was most common for me. I was continually amazed at the passion and intensity that Kathy brought to her coaching- and her teams always reflected that! I wished that I could have had some of Kathy's toughness and demanding nature (she certainly had plenty to spare). She is an all-time Gaucho great!" – Mark French, former UCSB Women's Basketball Coach
"Kathy and I have been friends for what seems like forever. Because of that, we've been through many ups together and many downs together, and I'm very thankful for those memories. Kathy has been a guiding light for the game of volleyball for almost 40 years, she has a passion for the game that is unmatched, and I'm sure she will succeed in whatever endeavors she undertakes in retirement." – Dave Shoji, Head Volleyball Coach at Hawai'i
"Kathy retiring is the end of an era. She's one of the most decorated players and coaches in volleyball history. She trademarked the game and helped grow it to where it is today as a successful international sport. To this day, Kathy is an important part of my life and I'm thankful for the opportunity I received in playing four years with her. I think it is a huge honor that I will go down as her last four-year setter. Kathy taught me so much about the game of volleyball, but even more so, she taught me so much about how to be a good person. I wouldn't be the young woman I am today without Kathy Gregory." – Dana Vargas, former UCSB Women's Volleyball All-American
"I am finding it hard to sum up what Kathy did for me over the five years of playing for her, but I can say a few things: she has undoubtedly made me a stronger, more confident person, and the lessons I learned from playing for her will always be with me. Kathy has pushed me to my limits, and from this I learned what I am truly capable of! Some may call it 'tough love,' but all I know is that I would not be the same person I am today without her. The way she truly cares for her players, both on and off the court, is so very apparent and inspiring. She is unarguably a model of passion and dedication to the sport. Kathy would always say 'you'll thank me later' and, looking back, I owe her much more than a 'thanks'. I cannot begin to express my gratitude and my respect for her, as she has helped shape so many women's lives, just like mine. My family and I will never forget what she has done for me and I cannot wait to hear about what the future may hold for her." – Stacey Schmidt, former UCSB Women's Volleyball All-American
"My life has changed so much now. Volleyball is a distant memory for me, but Kathy isn't. Life has brought on many, many challenges for me and I must admit, if it weren't for Kathy, I don't think I would be able to handle situations as well. Gut it out, focus, figure out a way, don't take things personally, be a team player, don't be a 'kissy-face' (in other words, be honest), resepect an adversary, but above all give 150% in all that you do and have heart. That's Kathy Gregory. That's what she taught me." – Chrissy Boehle, former UCSB Women's Volleyball All-Region Setter
"Kathy excelled at facilitating some of life's biggest lessons simply through playing the game we all loved. Playing for someone with as big of a personality as Kathy was demanding, and "mental toughness" was a must-have quality - or in my case 'you better learn to have it fast' quality! It turned out that finding the all important "mental toughness" and strengthening it was the single most important quality I gained, and one that I've carried with me since my time at UCSB. I've told others that she was by far the toughest, most demanding boss I've ever had or ever will have, and I thank her for that. I thank her for allowing me to attend my dream school, for the education both in the classroom and on the court, for making possible the most important friendships I have to this day, and for teaching us that sometimes it takes tough love to realize the full potential in yourself and others.
Congratulations on a fine and distinguished career Kathy, retirement is well deserved!" -- Katie Crawford, former UCSB All-American


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LONDON (AP) — Heathrow unveiled new proposals Wednesday to create a third runway at the London airport — saying that the ideas will allow a vast expansion at Europe's busiest air hub.
The three options put forward on Wednesday will allow the airport to move from a capacity of 480,000 flights a year to 740,000 — expansion that supporters insist is critical in order for the country to remain competitive on the world stage. The cheapest option would cost 14 billion pounds ($21 billion), the most expensive 18 billion pounds.
"It is clear that the best solution for taxpayers, passengers and business is to build on the strength we already have at Heathrow," Colin Matthews, Heathrow's chief executive, said in a statement. "Today we are showing how that vision can be achieved whilst keeping the impact on local residents to an absolute minimum."
The plans will mean hundreds or in some case thousands of compulsory property purchases, depending on the plan. At least one of the options calls for the new runway to swallow up a handful of local villages, a conservation area and a church.
But after years of debate, Heathrow argued that their options are better and cheaper than other proposals — some of which entail building an entire new airport from scratch.
London Mayor Boris Johnson, a champion of big thinking, has suggested that building an artificial island in the middle of the Thames Estuary could be an option — or maybe on the Isle of Grain in north Kent, east of London.
"Ambitious cities all over the world are already stealing a march on us and putting themselves in a position to eat London's breakfast, lunch and dinner by constructing mega airports that plug them directly into the global supply chains that we need to be part of," Johnson said in a statement. "Those cities have moved heaven and earth to locate their airports away from their major centers of population, in areas where they have been able to build airports with four runways or more."
Heathrow executives backed away from immediately proposing a fourth runway — at least for now. They did argue that expanding to a third runway would require a new terminal.
Expansion at Heathrow has long been controversial, and the notion of another runway there has been defeated at least once. Residents have complained about the noise and pollution, and have rallied politicians of all parties on their side. A commission was established to decide the issue — a ruling so politically unpalatable it will be decided after the next election in 2015.
In its proposal Wednesday, Heathrow executives argued that even though the airport's capacity would be greatly increased, steps would be taken to have planes that were quieter and to make them fly higher.
But John Stewart, the chair of a residents' group that has long campaigned against noise, was skeptical.
"My concern is that they can't have a bigger airport and a quieter airport at the same time," Stewart said. "We will fight this and we will build a coalition with environmental groups, local authorities and sympathetic politicians."


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Emergency at 35, 000 Feet: An account of how I helped resuscitate an elderly lady on a long-haul flight out of Heathrow - and got slapped by her for my trouble
Inflight Emergencies: A valuable tip on what to drink if you feel nauseous (not water!) shared by the senior doctor in the post above
The Cambridge Interviewer Interviewed: After I enrolled at Cambridge University, I met my interviewer, who shed some light on the interview process and getting into Cambridge
Some Wounds Never Heal: An award-winning post about how one patient wishes he didn't survive his recent surgery, and why
Doctors vs Nurses: Medicine's Oldest Battle: The original post that shot me to fame by being featured on the front page of the then-popular NHS Blog Doctor site. A nurse blogger had ranted against doctors and the online backlash was spectacular
The Last Valentine: A somber lesson shared by a grieving patient on Valentine's Day, dedicated to those who have lost a Valentine
Why Do Surgeons Have Such Big Egos?: A group of medical students observe that surgeons behave far more arrogantly than other doctors in the hospital. Big surprise
A Moment of Truth For Every New Doctor: An account of that first moment when someone needs urgent medical attention, and you're the only medical person there - and what makes you hesitate
Is Medicine Really My Passion?: An examination of why doctors become doctors, and whether they really love their job (for the right reasons)


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360 Hostel Barcelona
Registration Number AJ 000551-91
360 Hostel Barcelona is located only a few blocks away from the central Plaza Cataluña.
As we're travellers, we know how to fulfil all your needs and make the best of your stay in Barcelona.
We're located within walking distance of all the main attractions, bars and shops, from the luxurious Paseo de Gracia Avenue to the historical Gothic, the vibrant Raval and the cosy Borne neighbourhoods.
We have four different dorm types. You can choose between two-bed (with private terrace), four-bed, six-bed or eight-bed dorm (be aware that our two-bed dorm has bunk beds).
Bed sheets and linen are provided and all rooms come with big security lockers, reading lights and air-conditioning units.
Our hostel offers plenty of computers with 24 hours free internet and Wi-Fi for you to plan your next trips.
We provide a fully equipped kitchen for you to be able to save some money and make your favourite dishes.
In the big lounge area with comfy sofas you can meet travellers from all around the world, share experiences and make new friends.
Our friendly and experienced staff will help you with everything you need, from showing you the best spots, restaurants, bars, clubs and shops to helping you plan your next trip. Don't be afraid to ask; here any question is welcome!
Availability & RatesTo view availability and prices please select dates and click 'Update Dates'
Hostel Facilities & Policies
- 24 Hour Reception
- Air Conditioning
- Bicycle hire
- Bicycle parking
- Board Games
- Book Exchange
- Cable TV
- Café
- Common Room
- Credit Cards Accepted
- DVDs
- Telephone/Fax Facilities
- Free City Maps
- Free Internet Access
- Free WiFi
- Foosball
- Games Room
- Hair Dryers
- Hair Dryers For Hire
- Hot Showers
- Internet Access
- Self-Catering Facilities
- Laundry Facilities
- Linen Included
- Security Lockers
- Luggage Storage
- No Curfew
- Reading Light
- Shuttle Bus
- Steam Room
- Taxes not included
- Tea & Coffee Making Facilities
- Tours/Travel Desk
- Towels For Hire
- Washing Machine
- Wheelchair Friendly
Cancellation PolicyThis property has a 2 day cancellation policy. Failure to cancel within this time will result in a cancellation charge equal to the first night of your stay.
Must-Read Hostel InfoThis property has specific Terms & Conditions.
Cancellations are only accepted within 48 hs before the arrival date. Late cancellations will be charged the two first nights.
Please note Barcelona has a compulsory city tax that has to be paid extra in the hostel, it's 0.72 Eur per person per night.
For groups of 8 people or more we will need one week notice of cancellation. Late cancellations and no shows will be charged the whole stay. Hostel could charge first two nights in advance.
DirectionsShow MapHide Map
From El Prat airport (Barcelona main airport):
Take the Aerobus to Plaza Cataluña.When you get off the bus you will have the big department store El Corte Ingles in front of you. Take the street called 'Ronda De Sant Pere' (on the left of El Corte Ingles). Go four blocks straight down on Ronda de Sant Pere until you cross Carrer de Girona street where you take Carrer de Ali Bai for only one block. Then turn left on to Carrer de Bailen and you'll find us.
From Girona airport or Nord Bus station:
Take the Barcelona bus from Girona airport to Barcelona Nord bus station. Once you get out of the station you will have Carrer de Ali Bai in front of you. Go left down on that street and after four blocks you turn right on to Carrer de Bailen and you'll find us on number 7.
From Sants Estacio:
Take metro Line 3 (direction Trinitat Nova) to Plaza Cataluña. There you go four blocks straight down on Ronda de Sant Pere until you cross Carrer de Girona street where you take Carrer de Ali Bai for only one block. Then turn left on to Carrer de Bailen,and you will find us on number 7.
From Franca Estacio:
Take metro Line 4 (direction 'Trinitat Nova') to 'Urquinaona' (Look for Bruc exit). Once outside go straight down on Ronda de Sant Pere until you cross Carrer de Girona street where you take Carrer de Ali Bai for only one block. Then turn left on to Carrer de Bailen and you'll find us.
Located Near
The nearest metro stations are Urquinaona (Line 1 and 4) (Bruc Exit), Arc de Triomf (Line 1) and Tetuan (Line 2).


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Slavery and Anti-slavery: A Transnational Archive
Large digital archive of documents related to slavery in the Atlantic World. The database is divided into four parts: I Debates over Slavery and Abolition, II Slave Trade and the Atlantic World, III Institution of Slavery, and IV Age of Emancipation.Expand
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Since 1822, The Sunday Times has provided thoughtful analysis and commentary on the week's news and society at large.**Advanced search by index types: Entire document, article title, author, page number, issue number, document number or keyword**Browse by issueExpand
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NEW YORK (AP) — The stock market is closing lower after the Federal Reserve signaled that it's still on track to slow its huge bond-purchasing program.
The stock market was already lower Wednesday after several retailers including Staples and American Eagle issued disappointing profit forecasts.
The Dow Jones industrial average fell 105 points, or 0.7 percent, to 14,897 points. The Dow extended its losing streak to six, its longest since July 2012.
The Standard & Poor's 500 index fell nine points, or 0.6 percent, to 1,642. The Nasdaq composite fell 13 points, or 0.4 percent, to 3,599.
The yield on the 10-year Treasury note rose to 2.89 percent from 2.82 percent as investors sold bonds.
Three stocks fell for every one that rose on the New York Stock Exchange. Trading volume was light.