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The old punchline "Practice, practice, practice" applies to more than musical performance. It applies to the project of coming to terms with our new circumstances, and perhaps embracing our new lives. If you live in parts of Japan right now, or in the flooded Mississippi, or in areas recently devastated by tornadoes, you know that the day when we leave off practicing and begin performing can be far closer than you ever thought.
Ideally, I feel like my last post in the Adapting In Place series ought to be something rousing and inspiring. But at the moment, I think the quiet exhortation to simply keep practicing at your life might be more to the point.
All works of art have two pieces – the obvious, occasionally transcendent product, and the whole body of work that preceeds them that makes them possible. A lot of that work, even to create the purest, most elevated art is dirty, sweaty, smelly, hard and exhausting.
Writers write and write, they screw up, they expose and humiliate themselves, they get carpal tunnel, bursitis and back injuries, they fail, they burn out their anger and frustration at their own inadequacies, they work and then throw days of hard work in the recycle bin, and they get up and do it again.
Dancers endure injuries, strained muscles, bleeding feet, they sweat, they get filthy and sore and they try the same motion over and over again until their mind is numb with frustration and boredom and they wonder why bother – and they get up and do it again and again.
Musicians see their fingers rubbed raw by strings and their muscles cramped holding their instruments, they play the same passage over and over and see where they fail, they can hear the right notes in their but they cannot make them, they play in public and screw up and they get up and do it again. Do you sense a theme?
A graceful life, lived with as few non-renewable resources as possible, and as adapted to changing and shifting conditions as possible is a thing of artfulness and beauty. The extraction of every drop of happiness and comfort from the resources you do leave you at the end with a life well lived – and what better art form is there?
But just as with music, dance, literature, sculpture, behind the art is failure, many mistakes, frustration, repetition, imperfection, and practice, practice, practice. It is not enough to say "Ok, I read Sharon's blog, I know I'll need a garden someday, and look, I've got the seeds in packages right here for when that day comes." I can't teach anyone anything about gardening that will not be completely dwarfed by a single season in the dirt trying to grow food.
It is not enough to say "I will check and see if the camping stove and the woodstove can keep us warm in an extended power outage when the time comes." Anyone who has ever tried to use a new piece of equipment in the dark, in the freezing cold or rain or wind and discovered you needed another essential piece or it doesn't work or doesn't work like you need it to knows – not a good choice. The same is true with every single endeavor – you can know what you need to do to go without any electric tool, to live without a car – but until you have done it, and done it enough times to know what happens when seasons and circumstances changed, you will not know.
Behind this blog, which very occasionally has its artful moments, are literally thousands of failures – time spent writing papers and arguing ideas on the internet in which I did not speak clearly, I did not make my ideas clear, I was boring or missed the point or wasted my own time and others. There are plenty of posts on this blog in that genre .
Behind Sharon-as-writer is an acre of red pen on papers, and kind and harsh replies to my foolishness, screw ups and mistakes that seemed irremediable but weren't, and lots of time doing dull, frustrating rewrites. And what I learned was to (sometimes) do it mostly right the first time, to mostly be able to make myself clear, or for others to understand me. If there are moments when this is good it is only because of the sweat and sleeplessness and the failures behind it that made it possible for me not to screw up every single time. If I avoid some mistakes it is only because I already made them…and made them and made them.
Behind Sharon-the-farmer are thousands of errors – dead chicks and broken eggs, mud and dirt and manure that shouldn't have been where they were, losses that made me weep and failures that made me ashamed of myself. It is only because of time and practice and memory that sometimes, now, I get it right the first time. I have learned how precious that is.
I say this because there may come a time (or we may be there now for some of you) when you cannot afford to experiment, to make too many mistakes, when you may have to do it right the very first time to keep your life together. And the only way to avoid many of the worst mistakes is to make them early while there's still time. Now is the time to screw up.
And that means you have to try adapting in place, as though you really needed to. Try for a week to give up the car. Try for a weekend to turn off the breakers and the gas and live without fossil fuels. Set a limit on your kilowatt hours or you consumption of gasoline for the month, and stick to it. Don't make it an easy one – push your limits. Cut your budget to the bone and then cut some more, as though you had no choice – and see how you do. Even your mistakes will teach you something about what you need. Remember Japan, remember the river, remember Katrina, remember all the times in the last decade when it hasn't been a choice to figure out whether you can do this – and practice.
Dmitry Orlov often observes that living through tough times is a little like falling out a window – you want to fall out the lowest possible window, not the highest. The lower you are prepared to go in your resource use, the more you are able to adapt to tough things, because the distance between what how you need to live now and what you've already experienced is small, the better off and more secure you and and your loved ones will be.
Perhaps the weekend with all the breakers turned off or the "how low can you go" spending practice will help you get just a little lower. It is time to start practicing – because Carnegie Hall, and our big public performance may be closer than we think.


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Stay cool this summer, try trout fishing
Besides taking a refreshing swim during the sweltering Oklahoma summer, visitors to the lower Mountain Fork River and the lower Illinois River can also catch some trout at the same time.
Due to cool water releases through the dams of Broken Bow Lake and Lake Tenkiller, both rainbow and brown trout can be caught at both of Oklahoma's only year-round trout areas.
"Trout need water temperatures below 70 degrees and dissolved oxygen of at least four parts per million in order to thrive," said Kim Erickson, chief of fisheries for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC). "Through excellent cooperation of several agencies including the US Army Corps of Engineers, Southwest Power Administration and the Wildlife Department, the flow of cool water is being maintained to keep these trout fisheries going even during the hot summer."
Oklahoma boasts having a total of eight designated trout areas within easy driving distance for every resident of the state. With the exception of the lower Mountain Fork River and lower Illinois River, designated trout areas are normally stocked with trout only during the fall and winter.
"Another real plus for anglers are the facilities surrounding many of our trout areas," said Erickson. "As an example, the lower Mountain Fork trout area lies within Beavers Bend State Park, which has beautiful campsites, cabins, hiking trails and a nature center nearby.
"The lower Illinois River also has excellent camping facilities within MarVal trout camp, and there is also Lake Tenkiller State Park just minutes away," Erickson added.
Small spoons or salmon eggs, coupled with ultra-light spinning tackle, are popular baits catching trout. Contrary to some perceptions, fly fishing is not terribly difficult and need not be expensive to get outfitted with a basic fly rod and reel spooled with floating fly line.
The basics of summertime fly-fishing for trout is the subject of an upcoming episode of "Outdoor Oklahoma" TV show which will air Sunday, June 23 at 8:00 a.m. on OETA-The Oklahoma Network. Steve Burge, ODWC southeast region information specialist will learn how easy and affordable fly-fishing can be from Donny Carter, an avid fly angler on the lower Mountain Fork River.
"Outdoor Oklahoma" features such topics as fishing, hunting; and fisheries, game and non-game wildlife management. The 30-minute program can be seen on OETA-The Oklahoma Network Sundays at 8:00 a.m. and Saturdays at 6:00 p.m. "Outdoor Oklahoma" can also be seen on the following television stations: KSBI Network (greater OKC metro area), Mondays-5:00 p.m., Thursdays-10: 30 p.m., Saturdays-1:30 p.m., KTEN (south-central and southeastern Oklahoma) Sundays-5 a.m., KWEM (Stillwater), Wednesdays-8:00 p.m., Fridays-7:00 p.m. and Sundays-8:00 p.m.
For a complete listing of show times and channels in your viewing area, consult the Department's Web site at www.wildlifedepartment.com or your local TV guide.
Striped bass fishing heating up at Texoma
The waters of Lake Texoma are heating up and so is the fishing. Anglers are reporting excellent striped bass fishing on the Oklahoma/Texas border impoundment.
"The striped bass population is really in good shape right now," said Paul Mauck, southcentral region fisheries supervisor for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. "Overall population abundance is above the 10-year average, however, numbers of fish over 20 inches in our most recent surveys were somewhat low due to winter-kill of threadfin shad during February 2001."
Surveys indicate that numerous stripers between 13-19 inches are abundant and 15 inch fish should be the most commonly caught by anglers. Known for their outstanding fighting abilities, striped bass are long-lived and fast growing. The Oklahoma state record striper stands at 47 pounds 8 ounces, and was caught on the lower Illinois River in 1996. Stripers are voracious predators with a diet consisting mainly of threadfin and gizzard shad.
"One of the reasons the stripers are doing so well right now is that their forage populations are also really healthy," Mauck said.
Mauck also pointed to the Texoma Water Level Manipulation Plan as an important key to the striped bass success. Wildlife Department officials cooperated with the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers and other members of the Lake Texoma Advisory Committee to develop a plan that benefits all the lake users. The plan is designed to enhance fish, wildlife, and recreation on the lake and to address hydroelectric power and flood concerns at the same time.
According to Mauck, Lake Texoma, built in 1944, attracts approximately 400,000 fisherman annually.
"The great thing about Texoma is that despite its age it remains one of the most productive lakes in the state," Mauck said. "Although striped bass fishing is great, the overall fishery is well-balanced. Texoma is a great place to go after smallmouth, largemouth, crappie, blue catfish and several other species."
Recent netting data showed that striped bass populations were higher at Lake Texoma than they had been in the previous 15 years. Fisheries biologist with the Wildlife Department and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department surveyed the Red and Washita river arms of the 88,000 acre lake which showed an excellent striped bass population. Gill net catch rates, a standardized survey method used by fisheries professionals to measure fish populations, showed the last year's catch rates were the highest since 1987, and catch rates for large fish (those 20 inches or longer) were the highest since 1985.
"This is a great time to go striper fishing, the fish are back from spawning and they are looking for a meal," Mauck said.
Live shad and baitfish are excellent baits for catching big stripers. Other popular baits include white or yellow buck tail jigs, spoons, deep-running crankbaits and flashy spinners. Topwater plugs are best when stripers are schooling at the surface. Stripers will also readily consume fly patterns that imitate shad.
According to Mauck, the waters of Texoma are home to over 100 guides that can take novice and experienced anglers alike out for a great day of fishing.
Besides getting Texoma fishing reports on the Department's Web site, www.wildlifedepartment.com, additional information can be found at www.sixoldgeezers.com. The site offers fishing reports, lodging and guide information, as well as a great variety of links that can provide all the information needed for a trip to Texoma.
Those fishing Lake Texoma need either an Oklahoma or Texas annual fishing license, depending on which state's waters they will be fishing, or anglers can purchase a Lake Texoma Fishing License for $7.75. The Lake Texoma license is valid for the entire lake, and is good for both the Oklahoma and Texas sides.
Lawton resident appointed to Wildlife Commission
Bill Phelps of Lawton was recently appointed by Gov. Frank Keating to serve on the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Phelps, who has been confirmed by the Senate, will serve as the Wildlife Commission's district six representative through 2010. District six includes Blaine, King-fisher, Canadian, Caddo, Grady, Comanche, Stephens, Jefferson and Cotton counties.
"I was fortunate enough to have a father that took me hunting and fishing," Phelps said. "I welcome this opportunity to give something back to the resources that have given me so much over the last 51 years."
Phelps has worked for Reliant Energy Arkla for 29 years, and since 1994 has served as the vice president and general manager of its Oklahoma Division. Phelps attended both the University of Arkansas-Monticello and East Texas State University majoring in agri-business.
An active member of Ducks Unlimited, Quail Unlimited, the National Wild Turkey Federation, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the National Sporting Clays Association, he is committed to introducing youth to the outdoors.
"We need to increase the opportunities for young people to enjoy the great outdoors, and we need to get more youngsters involved in hunting and fishing," he said. "The outdoors can be a lifelong passion, and it can greatly enhance your quality of life, but it has to start with that first experience."
The Wildlife Conservation Commission is the eight-member governing board of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. The Wildlife Commission establishes state hunting and fishing regulations, sets policy for the Wildlife Department and indirectly oversees all state fish and wildlife conservation activities. Commission members are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.
Phelps and his wife, Bece, are also active in serving the community. He serves as a board member for Habitat for Humanity and is active with both the Oklahoma State Chamber and the Lawton Chamber of Commerce. In addition, Phelps serves as vice-chairman of the Oklahoma Gas Association and is a member of the State Workforce Investment Board.
Money available for habitat improvement
Landowners interested in improving wildlife can receive assistance through the Wildlife Habitat Improvement Program (WHIP).
"WHIP is a voluntary conservation program that benefits both wildlife and landowners," said John Hendrix, private lands biologist for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. "Not only does the program provide technical assistance in developing a habitat management plan, it also shares up to 75 percent of the project costs."
According to Hendrix, WHIP, a Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) program, has proven to be very effective in Oklahoma and across the country since its inception in 1996.
"Whether landowners have a small acreage or a large spread, there are things they can do to improve habitat for species like bobwhite quail, prairie chickens and whitetail deer," Hendrix said.
A variety of projects are eligible through WHIP, including native grass and tree plantings, prescribed fires, timber management and wetland construction or enhancement. Landowners sign agreements, lasting five to ten years, saying they will maintain the cost-share projects.
"Now is the time to sign up for WHIP," Hendrix said. "Applications are currently being accepted and the sign up period will last through June 21."
Landowners interested in more information about WHIP can contact their local NRCS office or call John Hendrix at (405) 880-0994.
Wildlife Commission moves to protect deer
In an effort to ensure protection of Oklahoma's deer herd against the spread of the disease, the Wildlife Conservation Commission has suspended the importation of deer and elk from states where chronic wasting disease (CWD) has been identified in free-ranging deer and elk herds.
The Commission made the ruling at its regularly scheduled meeting on June 3 at Wildlife Department headquarters in Oklahoma City.
The importation suspension pertains to live animals only, not animals legally harvested by hunters in other states. The decision rises from concerns about captive herds owned by commercial enterprises and private individuals and the possible spread of diseases, particularly chronic wasting disease. CWD is an infectious disease of wild and captive elk and deer that results in progressive degeneration of the brain tissue in infected animals. First recognized in 1967, CWD is not a new disease and has been found in wild herds in limited areas of several western and northern states. There is no evidence that CWD has ever been transmitted to people, livestock or other kinds of animals.
"Although this disease has never been documented in wild deer or elk herds in Oklahoma, this is an important proactive step to ensure the safety of the native deer herd," said Mike Shaw, wildlife research supervisor for the Wildlife Department.
In other business, the Commission approved a measure enabling the Department to enter a lease agreement for office space within the Oklahoma Aquarium. Wildlife Department employees currently housed in the Tulsa regional office located on the Tulsa Fairgrounds will move operations to the Aquarium in Jenks.
"This project is becoming a reality," said David Warren, information and education chief for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. "This is a tremendous opportunity for the Department to partner with the Aquarium."
The Aquarium, set to open this fall, will feature 82,000 square feet of exhibit space on 66 acres along the west bank of the Arkansas River. According to Oklahoma Aquarium Director Doug Kemper, the facilities mission is "conservation through education." He said the two organizations will be a perfect fit.
"I think this partnership will set a precedent nationwide," Kemper said. "This is the first aquarium to emphasize sportfishing and I think it is great that we are able to partner with the state agency charged with conserving Oklahoma's aquatic resources."
In the presentation of employee tenure awards, Director Greg Duffy recognized Gary Keller, wildlife technician for twenty years of service to the Wildlife Department. Keller was recognized as Wildlife Resource Professional of the year in 1999 and has taken part in many important projects including organizing the Department's land files.
In other action, Commissioners voted to approve the Department's fiscal year 2003 budget. The $26 million budget continues current operations projects. The only significant change from the 2002 budget is an increase of approximately $1 million of federal grant revenue.
"This is the same base budget as last year," said Greg Duffy, the Department's executive director. "We are proposing to leave 25 positions vacant, compared to 28 positions that were not filled last year."
The Commission voted to accept the donation of a ATV from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The ATV will be used by the Law Enforcement Division to patrol Wildlife Management Areas.
A two percent cost of living increase for retirees was also approved by the Commission, as well as an increase of $25 per month paid for health benefits.
The Commission's next regularly scheduled meeting will be at 9 a.m., July 1 at Wildlife Department headquarters in Oklahoma City.
The Wildlife Conservation Commission is the eight-member governing board of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. The Wildlife Commission establishes state hunting and fishing regulations, sets policy for the Wildlife Department and indirectly oversees all state fish and wildlife conservation activities. Commission members are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.
Commission suspends import of deer and elk
The Wildlife Conservation Commission has suspended the importation of deer and elk from states where chronic wasting disease (CWD) has been identified in free-ranging deer in an effort to protect Oklahoma's deer herd against the spread of the disease.
The Commission made the ruling at its regularly scheduled meeting on June 3 at Wildlife Department headquarters in Oklahoma City.
The importation suspension pertains to live animals only, not legally harvested animals from other states. The decision rises from concerns about captive herds owned by commercial enterprises and private individuals and the possible spread of diseases, particularly chronic wasting disease. CWD is an infectious disease of wild and captive elk and deer that results in progressive degeneration of the brain tissue in infected animals. First recognized in 1967, CWD is not a new disease and has been found in wild herds in limited areas of several western and northern states. There is no evidence that CWD has ever been transmitted to people, livestock or other kinds of animals.
"Although this disease has never been documented in wild deer or elk herds in Oklahoma, this is an important proactive step to ensure the safety of the native deer herd," said Mike Shaw, wildlife research supervisor for the Wildlife Department.
Shaw said the whitetail deer is part of a rich hunting heritage in the state and also provides a significant annual economic impact. A recent survey showed the total economic impact from deer hunting in Oklahoma exceeded $600 million annually.
There is also a significant economic impact that coincides with the detection of the disease. As an example, Saskatchewan has spent approximately $30 million in attempts at eradicating the disease in infected commercially operated game farms. In Colorado, a supplemental appropriation of $300,143 has been made to help combat the disease and more appropriations are being considered.
Over the past three years biologists and veterinarians have examined 399 deer and elk taken during Oklahoma's hunting seasons as part of the CWD monitoring program. All samples obtained from animals taken from the wild have tested negative and biologists will continue to closely monitor the deer and elk herd for signs of the disease.
"This import suspension, along with the continuation of the surveillance program, will help ensure a healthy future for one of Oklahoma's prized natural resources," Shaw said.
Department personnel have worked in cooperation with the Oklahoma State Department of Agriculture, who have developed similar import suspension rules. By suspending import of potentially infected animals, the Department hopes to avoid the consequences of the disease on the health of the wild deer herd and avoid the potential costs of controlling CWD. The detection of the disease has had immense economic impact on states such as Wisconsin where the disease was discovered last year. Within the first month after detection, the Wisconsin wildlife management agency spent approximately $250,000 in control and public information efforts. The agency continues to try to control the spread of the disease and has plans to kill 15,000 animals in the focal area where infected animals have been found.
According to current research, there is no scientific evidence linking CWD to human diseases. Shaw recommends that hunters practice standard safety practices when handling any wild game including the use protective gloves when dressing animals and avoiding consumption of brain and spinal cord tissue as general precautionary measures.
The Wildlife Conservation Commission is the eight-member governing board of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. The Wildlife Commission establishes state hunting and fishing regulations, sets policy for the Wildlife Department and indirectly oversees all state fish and wildlife conservation activities. Commission members are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.
Butterfly Count At Byron Hatchery WWA
Butterflies are the topic for the next watchable wildlife opportunity at the Byron Hatchery Watchable Wildlife Area. On Saturday July 6 at 9 a.m., at the Byron Hatchery Watchable Wildlife Area nature center, visitors can learn tips for butterfly identification and how to interpret their behaviors.
Following the 30 minute presentation, visitors are invited to participate in the 28th annual North American Butterfly Association Fourth of July Butterfly Count. There is a $3 fee for each count participant. This fee is sent to the North American Butterfly Association to help pay for printing and program costs. The count will last until 4 pm, weather permitting. Participants are asked to wear a hat and light-colored clothing and bring sunscreen and insect repellant. A pair of binoculars will help in butterfly identification and allow participants to minimize any injuries to butterflies through netting. Water will be provided, and participants may wish to bring a sack lunch and/or snacks.
Staff and volunteers have participated in this butterfly count for 5 years. Last year, 28 different butterfly species were recorded and a total of 1159 individuals were counted. Of note was a Mexican Sulfur and a Juniper Hairstreak. The conditions this year should make for an excellent butterfly count. The Watchable Wildlife Area is one of five areas that are counted in Oklahoma and it is one of the only areas representative of both a mixed grass prairie and an alkaline flat.
This national count program has been held annually since 1975, when only 29 counts were held. In 2001, 474 counts were held in 48 states, 5 Canadian provinces, and 2 Mexican states. Volunteers around North America select a count area with a 15-mile diameter and conduct a one-day census of all butterflies observed within that circle. The counts are usually held in the few weeks before or after the 4th of July, but the best timing for butterfly observation in each count circle varies.
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation is in its fifth year of offering informational Saturday morning events at the Byron Hatchery Watchable Wildlife Area. Programs earlier this year included winter bird and Bald Eagle watching, and beginning bird watching and night walk held in conjunction with the Bird Festival. Upcoming programs include a certification bowhunting course and a fall program yet to be announced.
To get to Byron Hatchery Watchable Wildlife Area, go north two miles from the intersection of Highways 11 and 38. Turn west for one-half mile to the nature center; turn left at the sign. For more information about the butterfly program or the upcoming Saturday morning programs, contact Steve Spade at the hatchery ((580) 474-2663) or Wildlife Diversity Program in Oklahoma City ((405) 424-0099).
Selman Bat Watch Dates Filling up Fast
Perhaps the most popular wildlife-watching activity in Oklahoma, the bat watches at Selman Bat Cave Wildlife Management Area (WMA) are attracting many registrants for this summer's events.
Visitors to the Selman Bat Cave WMA register and pay a small fee (children $5, adults $8) to come and see approximately one million bats Mexican free-tailed bats leaving a gypsum cave nightly in Northwest Oklahoma. The bats emerge in the evening to hunt for insects, and the sheer numbers of little flying mammals is an amazing sight to witness.
Each evening's watch begins at Alabaster Caverns State Park, where bat watchers are taken by bus to the Selman Bat Cave WMA. The group, limited each night to 75 people, is then given a short walking tour of the area, where several good locations are available to view the bats as they leave the cave.
The bat watches are coordinated by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, and are scheduled for eight nights this summer. These dates are currently available: July 12, 13, 19, 20, 26 and 27; August 2 and 3.
For more information, or to find out how to sign up for a bat watch, Call (405) 424-0099 or log on to www.wildlifedepartment.com.
Youth hunters challenged
Forty seven youth hunters and 60 volunteers participated in this year's final Youth Hunter Education Challenge (YHEC) at the Oklahoma City Gun Range. The event was the culmination of several YHEC events held statewide this spring.
"With the increasing urbanization of our country, there is a definite need to conduct a program where our young people get a positive education in hunter safety using real-life scenarios," said Paul Conrady, Oklahoma YHEC coordinator.
YHEC is an event designed to give young hunters or shooters up to the age of 19 a chance to test their skills in shooting and hunting sport. Participants must be hunter education certified and may participate in shotgun, archery, and rifle events. They also are tested on their knowledge of wildlife species, knowledge of regulations and hunting ethics. Knowledge is tested on the hunter safety trail where participants are led through simulated hunting scenarios and must not only determine when it is legal to harvest game, but also must make correct decisions about whether to shoot at all.
The event is divided into youth and senior competitions with both groups competing at the same level of difficulty. Prizes are awarded to first, second and third place participants in each group, with additional prizes going to the young person who displays the best attitude.
"YHEC has grown to include hundreds of young people at seven or more events each year because of the hard work and passion of hunter education volunteers," said Lance Meek, Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation's hunter education coordinator. "It's a good chance for young people to continue their wildlife education beyond completing a hunter education course."
YHEC is sponsored by Friends of the NRA through their grant program. It first came to Oklahoma in 1997.
For more information about upcoming YHEC events contact Paul Conrady at (405) 341-6374. For more information about hunting and to find a link to the YHEC Web site, go to wildlifedepartment.com.
Fisheries management leads to angler success
Great fishing can be found just about anywhere one travels in the state, but fisheries personnel at the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife aren't satisfied yet.
"We are fortunate to have many excellent fishing opportunities, but we're always looking for ways to ensure that fish populations are healthy and that anglers are happy," Bolton said.
According to Bolton, fisheries biologists use three basic strategies to enhance fishing opportunities in Oklahoma's lakes and reservoirs.
"The basic tools we use to help fish and fishermen are habitat management, stockings, and regulations," Bolton said.
The Wildlife Department annually stocks hundreds of thousands of fish into Oklahoma waters. Many may assume that only sportfish are stocked, but biologists also closely monitor forage fish populations as well.
Recently biologists transferred more than 203,000 threadfin shad from Konawa Lake to Lake Eufaula. The fish were stocked in the reservoir to bolster a shad population that was hit hard by cold winter temperatures two years ago. Threadfin shad are somewhat temperature sensitive and biologists periodically move shad to lakes that suffer winter kill from warmer lakes such as Lake Texoma in southern Oklahoma or Konawa Lake located near Seminole. Konawa remains warm year round due to electric power generators, water from the lake is used to cool power plant equipment, then returned to the lake.
Habitat manipulation is another important factor in successful fisheries management and several different management techniques are used on lakes all across the state.
Good anglers know that brushpiles are often excellent places to catch fish. Biologists place underwater brushpiles in coves or along barren shores to concentrate fish and then mark the new cover with buoys to make fishing just a little easier.
Biologists also plant aquatic vegetation in some lakes, this vegetation provides numerous biological benefits. The roots of these plants hold together the soil and help to stabilize the shoreline. In turn, the vegetation helps to clear up muddy water by reducing the amount of soil that washes into the lake, also breaks up wave action reducing shoreline erosion. These plants are also used as "nursery areas" for young fish. Many small fish hide from predators in the thick vegetation and grow until they are large enough to inhabit open water.
Biologists don't just work on the state's expansive reservoirs, they also work with landowners on ponds and watershed lakes. Biologists often advise on stocking rates, vegetation control, methods to clear up muddy ponds and even building new ponds.
Fishing is big business in the United States and Oklahoma is no exception. A recent survey by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service showed that Oklahoma anglers spent over 300 million dollars a year on equipment alone. With so many people wetting a line, regulations play an important role in protecting the resource and provide every angler with the maximum opportunity to catch fish.
"Regulations are essential tools in fisheries management," Bolton said. "The regulations must be balanced between what is best for fish populations and what fishermen want, whether it be large numbers of fish, trophy fish or specific management for a targeted species." Protective slot limits are an excellent example of regulations that were put in place to provide anglers with the best sustainable fishery possible.
These limits are special size regulations (usually for bass) that are placed on certain lakes to improve the fish population. Fish that measure within the protected slot limit must be released immediately, while fish that are either shorter or longer than the protected range may be kept.
"These slot limits are in place for two reasons: to properly balance the predator prey relationship, and to encourage harvest of small fish and to protect large fish from over harvest," said Bolton. "We monitor fish populations very closely. Both fish population data and public opinion are considered when developing regulations."
Careful management of Oklahoma's aquatic resources will help to ensure anglers have a great opportunity to hook a fish for generations to come.
For more information about fisheries management or to get an up to date fishing report, go to wildlifedepartment.com.
Red River fishery yields lunker striper
Just about everyone knows that big striped bass can be caught out of Lake Texoma, but Edwin Padua proved big stripers can be also be found in the Red River below the lake.
Padua recently submitted a 42-pound, 5-ounce striper to Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation's Angler Recognition Program. He caught the monster fish with a rod and reel using a bucktail jig below Denison Dam on Lake Texoma.
"The Red River below Lake Texoma can be a very productive area," said Barry Bolton, assistant chief of fisheries for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. "In fact, many of Oklahoma's rivers below reservoirs, or tailwaters as they are called, can be a great place to catch a wide variety of fish, that are attracted to cool moving water."
According to Bolton, anglers congregate around these areas for a simple reason, that is often where the best fishing is.
"Fishing usually picks up when water is being released from the dam," Bolton said. "Stripers, catfish and other fish begin moving looking for shad or other baitfish that come over the dam."
Bolton said that flowing water below just about any dam can produce a good stringer of fish, but some areas have gained outstanding reputations. Lake Texoma tailwaters in southern Oklahoma can be a good place to hook a big striper as well as the lower Illinois River below Lake Tenkiller. Areas below Lake Eufaula in eastcentral Oklahoma have long been known for producing big catfish and right now fishermen are catching a variety of fish below Kaw Lake in north central Oklahoma.
Bolton added that the Department's fishing report, which is updated daily in some cases, at wildlifedepartment.com can be a great resource for anglers planning a fishing trip.
The Oklahoma Angler Recognition Program recognizes outstanding sportfishing accomplishments for both fish that are kept and those that are released. For more information about the program or to find how to apply, log on to wildlifedepartment.com.
Anglers fishing tailwater areas should be mindful of certain regulations pertaining to he types of fishing methods below dams. For example, spear fishing or snagging is prohibited in the first 1000 feet below many dams.
For a complete list of regulations pertaining to fishing tailwater areas consult the "2002 Oklahoma Fishing Guide" or log onto www.wildlifedepartment.com
Photo cutline: Edwin Padua caught this huge 42-pound, 5-ounce striped bass from the Red River below Lake Texoma.
Water levels key to fish populations
A 10-pound largemouth is a truly impressive aquatic specimen. Besides man, it has no real predators and it will eat just about anything it can fit into its cavernous mouth. But before the bass grows to trophy size, it must make through its first treacherous summer.
Many factors must come together for a fish to grow that large, but none is more important than the first year of growth. During the first summer when a bass is no bigger that a quarter, it must dodge a wide variety of enemies from crayfish, to wading birds to sunfish and larger bass. To survive this gauntlet, young bass and many other species of fish depend on shoreline cover for protection.
"Without cover in shallow water young of the year fish are easy pickings for predators," said Garland Wright, central region fisheries supervisor for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. "In particular, bass, crappie and forage fish really depend on this cover to make it through their first year."
As spring rains fall, creeks and rivers swell with runoff and water levels of ponds and lakes begins to rise. Sunfish, bass, crappie and other species move into shallow water to spawn. Once the eggs hatch, the fry move into flooded terrestrial vegetation and submerged aquatic vegetation to hide from their many predators. As long as water levels continue to rise or remain stable the tiny fish will have enough shelter and food to grow. Water levels during these months are critical to fish survival. If water levels fall too quickly, young fish are left exposed and may be eaten by larger, older fish.
Barry Bolton, assistant chief of fisheries for the Wildlife Department, pointed out the difference between spawning and recruitment.
"Just because we have a good spawn doesn't mean there will be more fish to catch in the next few years," Bolton said. "Without adequate nursery areas, many of these young fish will become food for predators."
Bolton added that one of the most damaging factors to recruitment is wildly fluctuating lake levels.
"When lake levels go up and down, it makes it really tough for these young fish to survive. Stable water levels during the summer are essential to good fish recruitment," Bolton said.
For up to date lake levels or to find a fishing report on your favorite fishing hole, go to www.wildlifedepartment.com and select the fishing link.
Plethora of activities await adventurous Oklahomans
So much for the slow days of summer, if you're an outdoor enthusiast there is a myriad of activities to keep you busy the next few months.
From hunting shows to bat watches to fishing clinics, a wide range of events is awaiting your discovery. The Outdoor Calendar at www.wildlifedepartment.com is just the place to find out about upcoming summer activities and events. Visitors to the Wildlife Department's official Web site can find out what outdoor-related activities are going on in their area.
As the summer months move quickly toward fall there are several hunter education courses scheduled in many communities such as Owasso, McAlester, Blackwell and many other towns along the way.
A trip to northwest Oklahoma can be a fun summertime family destination. Travelers can spend an afternoon at Alabaster Caverns State Park and an evening participating in the popular Selman Bat Cave Watches. Thousands of bats pour out of the cave each evening to begin their nightly foray for insects. Participants are also given a natural history presentation from wildlife experts.
Teachers and other educators can begin preparing for the upcoming year by participating in one of the many Project WILD workshops. The classes, many of which can be taken for college credit, help teachers learn how to bring outdoor lessons into the classroom.
Find out what goes on after dark at the Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge, near Lawton. The Under of Cover Darkness tours are led by park naturalists and reveal the nocturnal habits of many of refuge inhabitants.
What better way to spend an afternoon than wetting a line at your favorite fishing hole. Youngsters can learn all about fishing by attending one of the many fishing clinics held throughout the state. The free clinics teach kids how to cast a rod and reel, tie fishing knots, fish identification and kids also get a chance to try out their new skills after the clinic.
To find out more details about all these activities and more, log onto wildlifedepartment.com. If you have an upcoming outdoor event you would like to see on the Outdoor Calendar call Kristen Gillman at (405) 521-2085.
Ft. Cobb great waterfowling destination
Whistling wings, wet dogs and north winds. These words will make most any waterfowl hunter daydream about days afield.
When it comes to Oklahoma duck hunting, one would be hard pressed to come up with a better, more reliable spot than the Ft. Cobb Wildlife Management Area near Binger. Each winter tens of thousands of ducks and geese make a migration stop or spend the entire winter in the Caddo County area. Expansive peanut fields cover the sandy soil of the region and waterfowl descend on the fields looking for peanuts leftover from the harvest.
"This is really a neat place for duck hunting, there is just an incredible amount of ducks and geese that use Ft. Cobb Lake," said Bill Bird, chairman of the Edmond chapter of Ducks Unlimited.
A late season duck hunt with Bird and fellow avid waterfowler Mike Pinto will be the featured on an upcoming episode of "Outdoor Oklahoma" July 7 at 8:00 a.m. on OETA-The Oklahoma Network.
Also highlighted on the show will be helpful information from state game warden Shelby Finney on what you need to get started waterfowl hunting and where to go to brush up on your duck identification skills.
The show will also take viewers to the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge near Cherokee. Refuge Manager John Brock will outline what is being done on the refuge to improve habitat for migrating waterfowl. According to Brock, over 100,000 ducks and geese, as well as other species such as white pelicans and bald eagles use the refuge as a stopover point on their annual migrations.
"Outdoor Oklahoma" features such topics as fishing, hunting; and fisheries, game and non-game wildlife management. The 30-minute program can be seen on OETA-The Oklahoma Network Sundays at 8:00 a.m. and Saturdays at 6:00 p.m. Outdoor Oklahoma can also be seen on the following television stations: KSBI Network (greater OKC metro area), Mondays- 5:00 p.m., Thursdays-10: 30 p.m., Saturdays-1:30 p.m., KTEN (south-central and southeastern Oklahoma) Sundays-5 a.m., KWEM (Stillwater), Wednesdays-8:00 p.m., Fridays-7:00 p.m. and Sundays-8:00 p.m.
For a complete listing of show times and channels in your viewing area, consult the Department's Web site at www.wildlifedepartment.com or your local TV guide.

subset: commoncrawl


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BERLIN (Reuters) - German chancellor candidate Peer Steinbrueck warned in a newspaper interview released on Saturday that German taxpayers could get stuck with a large bill if Greece were to default on its loans.
Steinbrueck told Bild am Sonntag newspaper that Germany has so far only provided loan guarantees for Greece but that could end up costing German taxpayers billions of euros. He said the government should make that fact clear to the public at home.
"One must tell the people that Greece could default on these loans," said Steinbrueck, who will lead the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) candidate against Chancellor Angela Merkel in next September's federal election.
"We in Germany have to make sacrifices to help hold Europe together. We're already part of a 'liability union'," he added.
Many Germans, especially conservatives who support Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU), are firmly opposed to any sort of collectivized debt in Europe and especially the creation of euro zone bonds.
Steinbrueck said "so far Germany has not paid a single cent" to Greece but added it was quite possible that could change.
"We were ready to pay money for the costs of German reunification - something all of our neighbors welcomed despite the bad experiences they had had with us," he said, referring to Germany's Nazi past. "Now is time that we have to ask ourselves the question: what is Europe worth to us?"
Steinbrueck said that Greece will not be able to return to the capital markets for another eight years.
"We're going to have to build a bridge for this period and that's going to cost money," Steinbrueck said.
(Reporting By Erik Kirschbaum, editing by William Hardy)


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Ayn Rand: A Sense of Life SYNOPSIS
Ayn Rand was born in 1905 in St. Petersburg, Russia. Defying the death warrant of the Soviet Union, she came to America as a temporary visitor in 1926 but remained for the rest of her life. Later, she would also defy the cultural and political views of contemporary America in such best-selling novels as THE FOUNTAINHEAD and ATLAS SHRUGGED. Her unique philosophy, Objectivism, challenged the cultural tradition of 2,500 years . . .
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At the 70th Annual Academy Awards ceremony, "Ayn Rand: A Sense of Life" was honored with an Oscar nomination in the category of Best Documentary Feature.
"In a loving—but not fawning—documentary look at this fascinating figure of 20th-century intellectual life, director Michael Paxton has created an exhaustive and definitive history of a challenging subject."
"The film, narrated by Sharon Gless, is an expertly assembled collection of news films, interviews with various people and television clips showing Rand being interviewed by people such…
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Dear readers,
I am very sorry but we do not accept new members anymore, because I will be closing down the website in September 2018 and the forum with it.
Thanks to all who have been visiting us, but a forum can hardly compete with social networks.
Btw, if you're looking for a KJ community, there are several groups on Facebook that might interest you:
If you don't like or use Facebook, the Gathering mailing list keeps going, you might want to check it out: The Gathering Mailing List -- Subscribe Page
Hopefully see you there or in the next life!


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Spotlight Article:
Editorial: The Rising Cost of Water
Using It and Flushing It
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Selling to consumers in the residential HVAC market has changed over the last 10 years. The days of formality in a ...
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text: Korean Job Discussion Forums :: View topic - English XP Pro PC with free software for 200,000 Won Speak Korean Now! Korean Job Discussion Forums"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!" FAQ Search Memberlist Usergroups Register Profile Log in to check your private messages Log in English XP Pro PC with free software for 200,000 Won Korean Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> Buy/Sell/Trade Forum View previous topic :: View next topic Author Message Prof 88Joined: 03 Mar 2006 Posted: Sun Mar 12, 2006 9:32 pm Post subject: English XP Pro PC with free software for 200,000 Won I'm selling a Tower PC with a 19 inch monitor for 200,000 Won. Here are the specs: Write me at [email protected] if you're interested. I'm in Mokpo. You can see that Mokpo is the town furthest southwest on the map at the following link: http://www.aacircle.com.au/images/korea-map.gif Tower Model: Digital 21 made by LG RAM: 256 Disk Space: 40GB CD Burner/ Reader Floppy drive Pentium4 1.4GHz 19 inch tube monitor OS/Software: Windows XP Pro with Service Pack 2 -in English Adobe Photoshop CS2 9.0 Adobe Imageready CS2 9.0 Adobe Bridge Adobe Reader Limewire Pro 4.9 with accelerator (P2P) Microsoft Office 2003: Access, Excel, Powerpoint, Infopath, Frontpage, Word, Outlook, Publisher, Picture Manager Need for Speed Racing Video Game Quick Time Mozilla Firefox iTunes Zonealarm Pro firewall / antispy / antivirus DivX Video Player and Codec AVG Antivirus [img][/img]Last edited by Prof 88 on Mon Mar 13, 2006 8:08 am; edited 1 time in total Back to top skindleshanksJoined: 10 May 2004 Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2006 6:41 am Post subject: Is the software legit and the licenses transferrable? Back to top Prof 88Joined: 03 Mar 2006 Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2006 8:07 am Post subject: skindleshanks wrote: Is the software legit and the licenses transferrable? Yes, all the software is legit, including Windows. Back to top spliffJoined: 19 Jan 2004Location: Khon Kaen, Thailand Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2006 11:11 pm Post subject: Any pics? Back to top Display posts from previous: All Posts1 Day7 Days2 Weeks1 Month3 Months6 Months1 Year Oldest FirstNewest First Korean Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> Buy/Sell/Trade Forum All times are GMT - 8 Hours Page 1 of 1 Jump to: Select a forum Forums:----------------FAQJob-related Discussion ForumGeneral Discussion ForumOff-Topic ForumTravel ForumCurrent Events ForumTechnology ForumBuy/Sell/Trade Forum You cannot post new topics in this forumYou cannot reply to topics in this forumYou cannot edit your posts in this forumYou cannot delete your posts in this forumYou cannot vote in polls in this forum This page is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling. Contact Dave's ESL Cafe Copyright © 2018 Dave Sperling. All Rights Reserved. Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group TEFL International Supports Dave's ESL Cafe


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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Queen Latifah knows a reliable stress reliever to cope with the pressures of launching a daytime show.
"I have a drum set in my dressing room and I go in there and play for a few minutes to relax. They can forget about it being quiet around here — I'm going to bang my drums," said the singer-songwriter and actress, who's adding the job of host to her resume.
With Monday's debut of the syndicated "The Queen Latifah Show" (check local listings for station, time), she intends to make noise in the competitive realm of daytime TV.
"I'm naturally a bit edgier than typical daytime, but I kind of want to push things a little bit further, as far as I can respectfully, within the daytime space," said Latifah. "I want more out of daytime TV. I want more choices, I want more heart, more humor."
She also wants more music, befitting someone who broke ground as a female rapper before expanding into other genres. Her wish list is varied and includes Coldplay and Kings of Leon, and she's already got Alicia Keys and Plain White T's lead singer Tom Higgenson booked for her first week.
Other inaugural guests include John Travolta, Sharon Stone, Jamie Foxx, Jake Gyllenhaal and Lisa Kudrow. Also invited are "regular people who do amazing things" that are inspirational and who deserve to share the stage with celebrities, Latifah said.
"As much bad news as we see every day, it's good to see people out there doing positive things that give you hope. I'm an optimist," she said.
Monday's show will feature a performance by preteen actress-singer Willow Smith, with dad Will Smith dropping in Tuesday. If the schedule seems a tad Smith family heavy, it's with good reason: Latifah and Smith go way back, and he and wife Jada Pinkett Smith are among the producers of Latifah's new venture.
"She's just fantastic," Pinkett Smith told reporters in August. "I just feel like every (day), you have the opportunity to kick it with your girlfriend, Queen Latifah."
Latifah, 43, would have liked such a team for her first try as a talk-show host. The program had an abbreviated run from 1999-2001 but pointed her in the right direction for her new effort from Sony Pictures Television.
"I learned I really have to be true to myself. ... I want to go out there and do something that feels like me every day and is something I'm comfortable with and excited about," said Latifah.
Oprah Winfrey's 2011 departure from daytime opened the floodgates for new shows, but Latifah said she was glad to hold off on joining the fray and isn't presenting herself as a successor: She wants to have Winfrey on as a guest to demonstrate "that I am the current Latifah and she is the current Oprah," she said, wryly.
She's hopeful fans of her music and her films, including "Chicago" and "The Secret Life of Bees," will be part of her audience. But they have many choices, whether celebrity-driven talk shows or alternatives including "Dr. Phil" and "Dr. Oz."
"She's coming on at a time when it's very competitive, but she brings the name recognition and the support of a major studio to launch her show," said Bill Carroll, a daytime TV expert for Katz Media.
Whether her show can topple reigning queen Ellen DeGeneres or best successful newcomers Katie Couric and Steve Harvey isn't the point: What's key is if it betters the ratings of the program it replaced in each market and at least matches the numbers of the one that precedes it, Carroll said.
"The Queen Latifah Show" will air on CBS owned-and-operated stations in major markets and on different channels elsewhere in the country; timing also will vary. In New York, for instance, it comes on in the morning against a formidable field that includes "Today" and "Live with Kelly and Michael."
While Latifah is eager to connect with viewers, she doesn't think that necessarily includes putting her personal life on display — nearly heretical, since it's common for daytime talk-show hosts to use their off-camera world for fodder.
"I'm not trying to throw myself out there to get ratings. I'm really more interested in building something that's entertaining to people," she said. "I've never had to just share everything about my personal life to entertain people."
Whatever she might discuss on-air "will be a natural thing and depends on how I build the rapport with my audience," Latifah added.
Lynn Elber is a national television columnist for The Associated Press. She can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com and on Twitter@lynnelber.


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An LSU faculty member is suing the university, alleging that she was fired after reporting what she called the School of Art's theft of more than $75,000 from students.
In Margaret Herster's lawsuit filed this month, the digital art instructor says the art program illegally charged students course fees that hadn't first been approved by the Legislature as required by law.
The lawsuit, filed in the 19th Judicial District Court, also says School of Art administrators routinely misused other funds, spending the money on iPads, Apple computers, scanners and other accessories for faculty members rather than for classroom materials.
LSU System President and Baton Rouge Chancellor William Jenkins said Tuesday that he couldn't comment because of the pending litigation.
"I'm in a difficult spot," he said. "Once a lawsuit is filed, it can only go through our counsel."
LSU General Counsel Shelby McKenzie also declined to comment directly on the allegations Tuesday, saying he hadn't yet seen the lawsuit, filed on Jan. 22. McKenzie said he wasn't aware of who exactly was served with the lawsuit and when.
"The university will investigate, the attorney general will assign someone and this will all be handled appropriately," McKenzie said.
Herster's allegations are supported in a Jan. 10 report put together by LSU's Office of Internal Audit.
The audit found that the School of Art charged students a collective average of $28,000 each year in unapproved course fees going back several years.
Students, who presumably did not know the fees hadn't been approved by the LSU Board of Supervisors or the Legislature, were directed to "provide their signature to indicate consent," the report says.
The audit also took a sampling of purchases made during fiscal years that ended in 2011 and 2012.
The sampling identified roughly $20,000 in purchases — for high-end electronics — the School of Art funded with money that was supposed to be used for classroom materials.
The audit found that the School of Art misused more than $130,000 in funds in both 2011 and 2012.
In a letter to the auditor dated Jan. 7, Jenkins agreed with the findings and provided a corrective action plan calling for stricter controls and additional training for management staff to be finalized by March 31.
Herster's lawsuit also claims that she was discriminated against and sexually harassed on numerous occasions since she began working at LSU in August 2009.
Herster said less-qualified instructors were routinely promoted over her, she was denied equal pay compared with her male counterparts and was the victim of sexist and condescending taunts.
Most of her allegations are levied against School of Art Director Rod Parker.
Three phone messages to Parker requesting comment were not returned Tuesday.
Five other people from the School of Art and from LSU Human Resources Management Staff also were named in the lawsuit.
Herster's attorney, Stephen Haedicke, said that while his client's official termination date isn't until May, her university email has been cut off, she's been stripped of her university rights and privileges and she has been banned from returning to work.
Herster is seeking reinstatement of her job and a compensation package from LSU.
"LSU was violating the law by imposing illegal course fees, and she was absolutely fired for reporting that," Haedicke said. "She believes strongly in service to her students. She believes she blew the whistle on her students' behalf."


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Human Flower Project
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
With evergreens and candles, advent wreaths build anticipation of December 25
Lighting the Adventskranz
Photo: Johann Peter Heber School
Thanks to John Stokes, long-distance friend and faithful steward of Mary's Gardens, for sending this piece from ZENIT: an interview with Father Juan Javier Flores Arcas, rector of the Pontifical Liturgical Institute of St. Anselm in Rome, about the meaning of the Advent wreath.
On the Sunday closest to November 30 (the Feast of St. Andrew), these circles of greenery are brought into houses and churches, and the first of four candles is lit. The custom in our Episcopal Church was to light one more candle each Sunday until Christmas. On December 25, all four would shine.
Catholic Community of Pleasanton, CA
Photo: via St. Nicholas Center
According to Father Arcas, purple is "most appropriate" for the candles, this color being both regal and penitential. The wreath itself, he says, "must be placed in a visible place in the presbytery—very near the altar, very near the pulpit—on a small table, or the trunk of a tree or hung from the ceiling." Interesting, how the tree slips in.
Lighting candles and logs with the approach of Winter solstice is a custom far older than Christianity. A strong fire could lengthen winter days and ward off icicles, much appreciated in the high latitudes of Scandinavia. Lights at four points of the compass and green boughs bent into a circle suggest an ancient pagan custom, but according to a couple of sources, the Advent wreath (known in its native Germany as Adventskranz) is relatively modern. Wikipedia credits Johanes Hinrich Wichern, a Protestant minister, with designing the first one. He was running an orphanage in 19th century Hamburg, Germany, and surely trying to contain the children's excitement. It's said that the first wreath held 28 candles, four "Sunday" ones taller than the rest. With each passing day, another candle would be lit, until the whole wreath shone on Christmas. (The Advent calendar, also of German origin, likewise builds suspense day-by-day.)
Advent wreath
Photo: Odla
While in the U.S., one most often finds Advent wreaths in churches or schools, in Germany it's also become customary to have such a wreath at home. "We always had an advent wreath when I was growing up," writes Carol Lehr. "Right before bedtime my brothers and I gathered around the wreath and we each took turns lighting the candle(s) and reading the bible verses. I can't, in all honesty, say that as a child I appreciated the tradition. But I must have gotten something from the practice because I carried on the same custom with my children." More evidence that the juice of tradition is in the passing as much or more than in the practice.
Writer Ken Collins takes an especially down-to-earth approach: "Historically, the candles have no more meaning than a countdown. That is, they originally stood for 4, 3, 2, and 1. However, people like for things in the church to have symbolic meanings," he writes, and goes on to specify for us those associations. As Collins suggests, this is custom in its late mannerist phase, the same kind of symbolic filigree that emerged with "the language of flowers."
"If someone in your church tells you that the candles have some other meaning than Hope, Love, Joy, or Peace, they aren't wrong, they are just different," he advises. "The meanings are so new,"—so superfluous and arbitrary, we might add—"that they aren't completely standardized."
St. Anthony High School
Detroit, MI (1961)
Collins alludes to Advent's older, more solemn mood—before the piping in of "ring-ting-tingling," etc. In keeping with this penitential spirit, there were to be no flowers on the Advent wreath (December in Germany isn't known for its blooms anyway). The third Sunday in Advent, however, was known as Gaudette Sunday, a day to lighten up on austerity. According to Collins, priests would change their vestments from dreary purple to rose on this day; and "the pope had the custom of giving someone a rose," late in the Advent season. John, do you know any more about this papal custom?
While the Adventskranz does seem to have originated among German Lutherans, it's now a custom observed by Presbyterians in Alabama, Episcopalians in California, Anglicans in Melbourne. Perhaps because it's not bound to Christian liturgy, the Adventskranz crops up and lights up in schools, hotels, and even on the German airline Lufthansa.
Adventskranz aboard
Photo: Lufthansa
"There are seven on each jumbo jet," we learn, "adorned with apples, cinnamon sticks, pyracantha and other greenery, and festive red bows."
And why not? Father Arcas says, "Advent is a live and actual time. While we hear the still unfulfilled prophecies, we see the world pass before our eyes and long for the world to come…"
...where, along with lights and greenery, there will be flowers.
Culture & Society • Religious Rituals • Secular Customs • Permalink
Monday, November 28, 2005
Colombia: Cutting Corners on Cut Flowers
The California Cut Flower Commission has rounded up its Congressional delegation, and says Colombia has cheated on a flower-trade pact with the U.S..
Image: consensus.net
Except for a few international mega-farmers and some trade negotiators with their careers on the line, nobody seems to like the Andean Free Trade Agreement. The first pact, made in 1991, ostensibly was to wean the Colombian economy from growing coca and trading in narcotics.
This speech from U.S. Trade Rep. Robert Zoellick (2002) trumpets Colombia's cut flowers as the showiest sign of AFTA's success.
"As many of you know, a free flow of exports - and imports - can help to inject new energy into the Colombian economy. The Colombian flower industry embodies the success of Colombia's export sector. In 1965, Colombia exported just $20,000 worth of flowers. Ten years later, flower exports were valued at more than $20 million. And today, these exports total nearly $600 million. The flower industry generates 75,000 direct jobs in Colombia - and these are good jobs, offering year-round stability and health and retirement benefits.
"Nearly 85 percent of Colombia's flower exports go to the United States, and these shipments have contributed to impressive job creation in our home market: 7,000 people work in jobs connected to the imports of Colombia's flowers; aviation and trucking companies that transport Colombian flowers employ some 3,600 people; U.S. supermarkets employ more than 24,000 people in their flower departments; and U.S. flower shops employ nearly 125,000 people."
Who's he kidding? With the influx of cheap flowers, chain groceries have put thousands of independent U.S. florists out of business, and thousands of growers in the U.S. have given up flower farming. Also, just this month Human Rights Watch and the AFL/CIO, among others, have lodged objections to the AFTA over working conditions in Ecuador. Now the California Cut Flower Commission, claiming that Colombia is unfairly subsidizing its flower production, says it may sue the Colombian government.
"It's unfair, and it's illegal," Peggy Dillon of the CCFC told the Santa Cruz paper. AFTA stipulates that "Colombia's flower growers can only receive $15 million a year in subsidies…. When the Colombian government announced last year that it was going to give hundreds of growers as much as $40 million to help offset the devaluation of the peso against the dollar" California growers began mobilizing themselves and their Congressional delegation.
Rep. Sam Farr, D-Carmel, leading the charge, called the increased subsidies, "a slap in the face to our growers, not to mention illegal under WTO trade rules."
California rose
Photo: California Cut Flower Commission
Santa Cruz County, California, was a center for rose production as recently as 20 years ago. Now "there are fewer than a dozen rose growers left." U.S. rosarians have tried disparaging the big blooms of Peru, Colombia, Bolivia and Ecuador. "They kind of look like a small piece of cabbage," said Arne Thirup, a grower in Pajaro. "They don't open up like our roses do." But the fact is most U.S. consumers like the big Southern roses just fine—Roses grown in Latin America now make up 80% of the U.S. market. "What's mainly left is the wedding industry," one California grower told the Santa Cruz Sentinel. "It's very high end"—a bastion of conspicuous consumption in an otherwise cut-rate society.
The complexities of trade agreements are, honestly, beyond us, but here are some diverse views of the Andean Free Trade Agreement: a rah-rah report issued via the Japanese Embassy, a more modulated assessment from the Global Policy Forum, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce line, and an up-to-date report from a blogger on Colombian issues.
Of them all, this account from Javier Ponce, a columnist in Quito, Ecuador, rings truest to us. Ponce writes that "the greatest economic potential of the FTA lies in the products controlled by the big agricultural corporations: banana, flowers, broccoli, and palm hearts." Meanwhile, small farmers who grow rice, meat, and maize—the region's food supply—will be dispossessed.
For now, Colombia and Ecuador have broken off talks with the U.S. over AFTA. If the California growers and their Congresspeople can ever join forces with U.S. labor-rights activists and environmentalists, there will be just a madrigal group of supporters left. The Andean Free Trade Agreement may very well be redesignated in 2006: as an international trade "Disagreement."
Cut-Flower Trade • Permalink
Wednesday, November 23, 2005
The Mayflower
Thorny hedge or creeping shrub? There's cross-Atlantic dispute over which plant gave its name to the Pilgrims' ship.
Pilgrim Overboard—The Rescue of John Howland
Painting: Mike Haywood
At daybreak November 9, 1620, passengers on the Mayflower at last spotted land. They'd been on board for 66 days, having left Southampton, England, on September 16, sailing for the Hudson River. At the urging of the ship's owner, Christopher Jones, who was ready to get on with business, they gave up on finding the Hudson and settled west of Cape Cod in Plymouth, Massachusetts, instead.
Half of the immigrants died that winter. The rest is historic gravy. Those who survived spent the next soevermany years trundling around in black outfits, shooting turkeys and testing the local Indians' recipes with corn.
But what about the Mayflower? Jones took the ship back to England the following spring and made "another trading run to France later that year." (He'd been an importer of cognac before transporting the Pilgrims.) One source says that by 1624, the ship was in such bad shape it was more valuable as scrap lumber and torn apart.
Epigaea repens
Photo: Mike Baker
None of this explains who named the ship and after which flower of May (arguably the most bloom-diverse month in both Englands, old and New). The State of Massachusetts adopted one mayflower as its floral emblem in 1918, triumphing with a vote of schoolchildren over advocates of the mountain laurel and water lily. But Epigaea repens is a New World flower; only a prescient and botanically exacting shipwright could have given the English boat such a name.
Crataegus monogyna
Photo: Nemorosa
Far more likely is the hawthorn, Crataegus monogyna. This thorny hedge plant, widely known as "mayflower" in England, is "one of the nine sacred trees of the British Isles." For centuries it's been used as a heart remedy in herbal medicine. To confuse things further, there's also wild lily of the valley (Maianthemum canadense) that grows in New England, known as Canada mayflower.
Logic and pilgrim pride, in our view, both favor the hawthorn rather than the lily or epigaea, a.k.a. "Trailing arbutus" and described as "a low creeping" plant. But as they say (or used to say), "it's a free country." Take your pick.
The Mayflower II (1957 replica), Plymouth, Mass.
Photo: James C. Ferenzi
The 1957 Mayflower II, a replica anchored in Plymouth Harbor, bears a white flower on its stern, but the painting is generic, and could be the hawthorn or arbutus. (This site suggests that paintings were commonplace on 17th century vessels, the better for non-readers.) Perhaps a stylized painting preceded the christening of the ship itself—with a generic flower-name to match.
Good wishes this Thanksgiving to those on both sides of the Atlantic, and the six other "seas" as well. To all who are about to venture forth with extended family for the weekend, we offer this suggestion from Pastor John Robinson's farewell letter, read aboard the Mayflower September 1620, as the Pilgrims were leaving England.
"Your intended course of civil community will minister continual occasion of offense, and will be as fuel for that fire, except you diligently quench it with brotherly forbearance."
Culture & Society • Ecology • Secular Customs • Permalink
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
Decisions, Decisions…Poppy Seed
Time has come today, a choice between the garden and the kitchen.
Photo: Kolache Depot
Ave Bonar instructed us soon after we moved to Texas that November is the time to plant poppy seed. Sow in the spring if you live up north, but here, poppies need a cooler send off. Aggie horticulturists recommend: "Scatter the seeds over bare soil in full sun in late fall. Dragging a rake over the seed bed will provide adequate preparation for the seed. When seeding a large area, mix the tiny seeds with sand to facilitate even sowing. Keep the seed bed moist. Germination occurs in about a week."
In years past, we've skipped the sand and ended up with a mat of seedlings (and, come spring, a crop of puny blooms). Thinning is recommended.
'Dorothy' Poppy
Photo: D Acres of New Hampshire
We lucked into a double salmon variety of Shirley poppy, what Austinites call Dorothy poppies. They're named for Dorothy Cavanaugh, a beloved member of the Austin Herb Society, who shared her seeds and plants with everyone in town. Each spring after the poppies have finished blooming, we shake the tiny black seed from the pods into a paper bag, seal them up in an envelope, and hold them over till November.
One spring, neighbor Eugene Kubelka spotted the pods and remembered how his mom, in Waco, would use the seed for her kolaches, a scrumptious and popular Czech pastry.
Weighing kolache recipes
Moving image: Texas Monthly
Herein lies the November dilemma. Most poppy seed kolache recipes (here's a Croatian one) call for at least one cup of poppy seed. But that means foregoing practically a whole yard full of flowers! Is it worth it?
Each person must consult her own appetite, heritage, and soul for answers. As you deliberate, here are several more kolache recipes from Texas Monthly.
Consider: Rose Marie Miller of St. Anthony Croatian Catholic Church—and other cooks too—note that you may substitute cooked fruit or jam for poppy seed filling. Can anything substitute for blooming poppies in spring?
Cooking • Gardening & Landscape • Permalink


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African Americans
African American is a politically correct term some use to describe the ethnic background of Americans with African ancestry. The great majority of African Americans are descended from Africans brought to North America as slaves beginning four centuries ago. Others (like Colin Powell) were twentieth century immigrants from the West Indies or Africa. Some criticize the use of terms such as "African American" or "Mexican American," collectively referred to as "hyphenated Americanism," because the terms "put America second" and emphasize racial differences over common national identity.[1]
The preferred terminology changes constantly. Currently "black" and "African American" are in favor, and "Afro-American" and "Negro" are out of favor. The situation before 1960 was just the reverse. "Colored" was popular until the 1950s, but now is generally out of favor except among some Leftist groups.
The use of the term "African Canadian," a similar politically correct attempt at labeling Canadians of African or Caribbean origin, is largely rejected in favor of the term "Black Canadian."
See also Black history.
Blacks were originally brought to America to serve as slaves in southeastern states on large-scale plantations. During the Civil War, all slaves were freed by Abraham Lincoln though the Emancipation Proclamation, the Thirteenth Amendment, and some state actions. During Reconstruction the Freedmen (freed slaves) gained citizenship and civil and political rights, including the right to marry, move about, and keep their wages.
The system of sharecropping instituted after the end of the war left most Freedmen poor, while the Jim Crow policies of racial segregation that were implemented after the end of Reconstruction limited their civic and political rights.
Blacks left the rural south in two waves, the first around 1915-20, the second coming after World War II when machinery ended the need for large numbers of people to pick cotton by hand. The migrants headed to the large cities of the North and West, and also in the South, moving from very poorly paid farm work to wage labor.
Blacks tended to support the Republican Party from the 1860s to the 1960s, but few who lived in the South voted—some states even stopped people of African ancestry voting by the use of literacy tests, poll taxes and other measures. The New Deal provided large-scale relief for blacks during the Great Depression. Some black Republican organizations, as in Chicago, switched overnight to the Democrats. This sudden change is often attributed to the leftist sentiments that were growing in the late twentieth century. The 15th Amendment allowed blacks to vote, but despite vigorous enforcement in the South prior to the Voting Rights Act, minority voter registration was still much lower than white voter registration.[2][3] After the Voting Rights Act, black turnout increased substantially. Since 1964, blacks have voted 85% to 95% for Democrat presidential candidates, with an occasional black Republican elected to state office.
Among African Americans, Christianity is very high, and the standard practice since Reconstruction is for black ministers to be community spokespersons, and political power brokers; they often run for office. The great majority of African Americans are Protestants, with their own Baptist, Pentecostal, and Methodist churches. A few are Muslims.[4]
Racial registration and anti-miscegenation laws
In the early 20th century some states, not only in the South, adopted racial registration policies and implemented laws against the mixing of black and white people. These "anti-miscegenation" laws were only finally ended in the federal case Loving v. Virginia, when a mixed race couple successfully challenged all laws against mixed marriage in the states.
- ↑ http://www.americanthinker.com/2010/05/on_becoming_an_unhyphenated_am.html
- ↑ Issacharoff, Samuel; Karlan, Pamela S.; Pildes, Richard H. (2012). The Law of Democracy: Legal Structure of the Political Process (4th ed.). New York, NY: Foundation Press. ISBN 1-59941-935-1, p. 514
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20040806055436/http://www.justice.gov/crt/voting/intro/intro_a.htm
- ↑ The Pluralism Project at Harvard University [1] Twenty-four percent of American Muslims are black, according to American Muslim Council's Zogby poll of August 2000.


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VIDEO | Floyd Mayweather concedes how much money he will make in fight against Conor McGregor
Former Champ Johny Hendricks Looking Ripped Two Weeks Ahead Of Fight
Boxing trainer explains why Floyd Mayweather wore a ski mask during walkout in Conor McGregor fight.
VIDEO | The Irish take over T-Mobile Arena at today's Mayweather vs. McGregor weigh ins
One year ago today, Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz put on an unforgettable show
Michael Chandler blasts Dillon Danis following Bellator 198.
Donald Cerrone calls out Robbie Lawler for a UFC 205 fight at MSG
Georges St-Pierre vs. Nick Diaz 2 at UFC 206 in Toronto?
One of the most common and dangerous problems in mixed martial arts is poor officiating.


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The Florida athletic department confirmed Friday that Muschamp has received an annual increase of $250,000 per season on a contract that runs through 2017.
Florida football coach Will Muschamp is getting a raise.
The Florida athletic department confirmed Friday that Muschamp has received an annual increase of $250,000 per season on a contract that runs through 2017. That puts his annual salary at close to $3 million per season ($2.928 million to be exact).
"(Florida president) Dr. (Bernie) Machen and I believe very strongly in Coach Muschamp and his leadership and we felt it was appropriate to adjust his salary to be more in line with his market value," Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley said in a statement.
Muschamp is 18-8 in two seasons at UF. Last season, Muschamp led the Gators to an 11-2 mark and its first BCS bowl appearance since 2009. The Gators lost to Louisville 33-23 in the Sugar Bowl, capping an otherwise successful season.
Muschamp's annual salary is now seventh highest in the Southeastern Conference behind Alabama's Nick Saban ($5.47 million), LSU's Les Miles ($3.8 million), South Carolina's Steve Spurrier ($3.3 million), Georgia's Mark Richt ($3.2 million), Arkansas' Bret Bielema ($3.2 million) and Texas A&M's Kevin Sumlin ($3.1 million).
Recently-promoted Florida defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin thinks Muschamp is worth every penny.
"Coach Muschamp is unbelievable," Durkin said at the Marion County Gator Club Gathering on Thursday night. "He's a great guy to work for -- great friend, great teacher, great coach, great person."


text:
The GiFiles,
Files released: 5543061
The Global Intelligence Files
On Monday February 27th, 2012, WikiLeaks began publishing The Global Intelligence Files, over five million e-mails from the Texas headquartered "global intelligence" company Stratfor. The e-mails date between July 2004 and late December 2011. They reveal the inner workings of a company that fronts as an intelligence publisher, but provides confidential intelligence services to large corporations, such as Bhopal's Dow Chemical Co., Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon and government agencies, including the US Department of Homeland Security, the US Marines and the US Defence Intelligence Agency. The emails show Stratfor's web of informers, pay-off structure, payment laundering techniques and psychological methods.
Re: FOR COMMENT/EDIT - ECUADOR - Police protest craziness
Released on 2013-02-13 00:00 GMT
|2010-09-30 18:45:37
not for right now. As far as I know, they're still on the runway. None of
the Ecuadorian sites are working very well for me right now.
Reginald Thompson
Cell: (011) 504 8990-7741
From: "Reva Bhalla" <firstname.lastname@example.com>
To: "Analyst List" <firstname.lastname@example.com>
Sent: Thursday, September 30, 2010 10:41:22 AM
Subject: Re: FOR COMMENT/EDIT - ECUADOR - Police protest craziness
the police are the one protesting, it's unclear whether they were on or
off duty.
Reggie, do you have more details on the Air force movements?
On Sep 30, 2010, at 11:39 AM, Ben West wrote:
On 9/30/2010 11:31 AM, Reva Bhalla wrote:
Reggie, Paulo - pls fill in details of names, etc. to this assap
Members of Ecuadora**s National Police are waging a large-scale
protest against Ecuadorian President Rafael Correaa**s spending cuts
that were passed in the legislative assembly Sept. 29 and would
eliminate police benefits.
In the capital city of Quito, police (off-duty? makes a big difference
if they are doing this on their own time on behalf of a union or while
they are on duty, giving them more of an official function) have
reportedly taken over a runway at the international airport while a
bridge and the Maldonado and Pusuqui avenues have been blocked by the
protestors. There are also unconfirmed reports that 150 members of
Ecuadora**s Air Force (did they move in on foot or were they using air
force hardware to do so?) have reportedly shut down the airport and
suspended all flights. Earlier, police were blockading the legislative
assembly. Protests have spread to the cities of Cuenca, Carchi,
Tunguharua, Manabai and Guyaquil.
Correa has appealed for calm and is reportedly negotiating with some
of the protesting police units in trying to contain the situation.
Though the president has struggled in asserting his clout over the
countrya**s security apparatus, these latest police protests thus far
do not demonstrate the capability to overthrow the government.
In the most critical indicator that the president will be able to
maintain control of the situation, the heads of the armed forces are
now publicly declaring their support for the president. Correa's
popularity is currently hovering around 50 percent and is currently
working to reassert his authority over the legislative assembly, which
remains in political gridlock. The president recently revealed that he
was considering dissolving the national assembly and ruling by decree
until elections can be scheduled. The prospect of Correa dissolving
the legislature for an indefinite period of time would be of deep
concern for his opposition, who could be using these police protests
in attempt to weaken the presidenta**s grip. Indeed, many of the press
reports coming out of Quito appear to be exaggerated in describing the
militarya**s a** as opposed to the police a** involvement in the
An important figure to watch is former Ecuadorian President and
military official Lucio Gutierrez, who Correa claimed in Jan. 2008 was
sending e-mails to the Ecuadorian armed forces encouraging them to
destabilize Correa's governemnt. Lucio is believed to have maintained
influence in the army and played a role in implement the 2002 coup
against President Jamil Mahuad.
Though Correa still appears to be in control and the chiefs of the
armed forces are expressing their support for the president, the
situation remains shaky. Meanwhile, crime is likely to escalate the
longer these police protests persist and security forces remain
distracted. Already, two banks have been reportedly been targeted by
thieves in Manabi.
Ben West
Tactical Analyst
Austin, TX


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Look! New February Jumpstart Projects
The month is 1/2 way over! Get inspired. Start a project. Share your wisdom. Do it Now!
• Laura's How To Chalkboard Wall - Ohdeedoh
• Erin's Dresser for Baby to Be - Ohdeedoh
• Adrian's "Frame" Wall Decor - Apartment Therapy
• Adriane B's Bathroom Stripes - Apartment Therapy
• Cheri's Painted Laminate Kitchen Countertops - The Kitchn
• Meg's Upgrade a Kitchen with Chalkboard Paint - The Kitchn


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|Jepson Flora Project: Jepson Interchange
previous taxon |
next taxon
Jepson Interchange (more information)
©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California
Annual, perennial herb, shrub, glabrous to hairy, generally aromatic
Stems generally erect, generally 4-angled
Leaves generally simple to deeply lobed, opposite, generally gland-dotted
Inflorescence: cyme, generally clustered around stem, head-like, separated by evident internodes (terminal in Monardella ) or collectively crowded, spike-like to panicle-like (sometimes raceme or flowers 212); subtended by leaves or bracts; flowers sessile or pedicelled
Flower generally bisexual; calyx generally 5-lobed, radial to bilateral; corolla generally bilateral, 12-lipped, upper lip entire or 2-lobed, ± flat to hood-like, sometimes 0, lower lip generally 3-lobed; stamens generally 4, generally exserted, paired, pairs unequal, sometimes 2, staminodes 2 or 0; ovary superior, generally 4-lobed to base, chambers 2, ovules 2 per chamber, style 1, arising from center at junction of lobes, stigmas generally 2
Fruit: nutlets 4, generally ovoid to oblong, smooth
Genera in family: ± 200 genera, 5500 species: worldwide. Many cultivated for herbs, oils (Lavandula , lavender; Mentha , mint; Ocimum , basil; Rosmarinus , rosemary; Thymus , thyme), some cultivated as ornamental (in CA Cedronella , Leonotis , Phlomis )
Reference: [Cantino & Sanders 1986 Syst Bot 11:163185]
Perennial, glabrous to hairy, generally with bisexual flowers only, sometimes with only pistillate flowers
Stems prostrate to erect, sometimes rooting at lower nodes
Leaves basal and cauline, generally petioled; blade generally entire
Inflorescences densely clustered, collectively ± spike-like, terminal; bract generally wide, abruptly acuminate
Flower: calyx 2-lipped, upper = lower, upper lip 3-toothed, lower 2-lobed; corolla finely hairy inside, 2-lipped, lower lip 3-lobed, upper lip ± entire, hood-like, ± enclosing stamens; stamens 4, lower pair > upper, filament minutely toothed below anther
Fruit: nutlets obovoid
Species in genus: 4 species: temp, especially Eurasia
Etymology: (Latin: from early German name for plant used to treat chest pains)
Stem 15 dm, glabrous to short-hairy
Leaves: lower petioled, petiole 530 mm; upper subsessile; blade 27 cm, generally 14 cm wide, ovate, elliptic, or lanceolate, base generally wedge-shaped
Inflorescence 26.5 cm; bract margin ciliate, reddish
Flower: calyx 711 mm, dark green to purplish; corolla 1215 mm in bisexual flowers, 811 mm in pistillate flowers, bluish violet, sometimes pink or white
Chromosomes: 2n=28,32
Ecology: Moist areas
Elevation: < 2400 m.
Bioregional distribution: California Floristic Province, East of Sierra Nevada
Distribution outside California: circumboreal
Stems generally decumbent to erect
Leaves: cauline blade length 3 X width
Ecology: Moist areas, generally coniferous forest, woodland
Elevation: < 2400 m.
Bioregional distribution: California Floristic Province, East of Sierra Nevada
Distribution outside California: N.America, eastern Asia
Flowering time: MaySep
Synonyms: var. atropurpurea Fernald
Horticultural information: IRR or WET: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24 &SHD: 3, 8, 9, 10, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21; can be INV.


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14th October 2011, 06:41 PM
My just turned 8 year old rescue, has just been diagnosed with pancreatitis. He became sick last Sunday night, with vomiting, had not urinated since noon that day and refused his food. Brought him to the vet Monday morning, and they ran blood work and it showed he was slightly anemic, and his liver enzymes were high. They administerd subcutaneous fluids, and gave him a anti nausea shot, and told me to bring him back in a few days to re-run the blood work, or to bring him back if he worsened. By Tuesday morning, he could not walk or hold his head up. He was then hospitalized for 3 days. An x-ray revealed nothing abnormal with his liver. They were giving him antibiotics, anti nausea meds, and fluids. A repeat of the blood work showed his pancreas enzymes were off the charts, after they had been normal on Monday. He got a little better each day, and yesterday was eating spoonfuls of special food, and 1/4 cup of water at a time. No more vomiting or diarrhea, so they let me take him home last night. He was much better last night, and ate a couple more spoonfuls of food, and a little water. Around 7:00 this morning, I gave him all the meds they sent home with me, and gave him a couple more spoons of food, and 1/4 cup water. He vomited about an hour later, which he had not done since he had been hospitalized. I called the vet and she said to wait until noon, before giving him another couple of spoons of food, and the tiny bit of water. I did this, and so far he has kept that down. Perhaps I gave him the food this morning, before the nausea meds kicked in. The vet is telling me she is cautiously optimistic, because he has improved, but he is not out of the woods, has a long way to go, and could still take a turn for the worse, and not make it. I am worried sick, because he also has MVD. Obviously, I will be devastated if I lose him, especially like this. I always thought it would be the MVD, not something like this, because he has been healthy, aside from his heart.
Has anyone had experience with this? How long before your cav was back to normal? Anything you can tell me about your experience or what to expect will be greatly appreciated.
Has anyone had experience with this? How long before your cav was back to normal? Anything you can tell me about your experience or what to expect will be greatly appreciated.


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(Reuters) - A Zumba fitness instructor who doubled as a prostitute and secretly videotaped her encounters with dozens of men in a small Maine beach community pleaded guilty on Friday to 20 counts.
The instructor, Alexis Wright, 30, pleaded guilty in state court in Portland, Maine, to prostitution and conspiracy charges. She also pleaded guilty to theft for accepting state welfare assistance and tax evasion for failing to report her prostitution income.
The quiet seaside town of Kennebunk, Maine, known for its maritime heritage and proximity to former President George H.W. Bush's home in nearby Kennebunkport, was rocked by the case after police in October began releasing the names of dozens of local men who were Wright's clients.
"I think the unfortunate thing about this case and the attention that it's received and the length of time that it's gone on is that it will never be over for her," Wright's attorney Sarah Churchill told Maine's WCSH television.
Prosecutors had initially charged Wright with more than 100 violations. She faces 10 months in jail and will be sentenced in May.
Wright's business partner, businessman Mark Strong, was convicted this month of running the prostitution business with her. He was sentenced to 20 days in jail.
The plea agreement forestalls a trial in which jurors would have viewed footage of Wright engaged in sex acts with men that she surreptitiously recorded.
(Reporting by Jason McLure in Littleton, New Hampshire; Editing by Ian Simpson and Eric Beech)