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Grass carp record falls twice in two days
The events of the last few days have fisheries officials with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation checking their pencil erasers and waiting by the telephone. In the past two weeks, bowfishermen on Arbuckle Lake have arrowed three new state records in the unrestricted division (non-rod and reel category) for grass carp.
Brandon Taber of Oklahoma city officially put his name in the record books with a 77-pound monster he arrowed at Arbuckle Lake on July 30. The fish was 53 inches long with a girth measurement of 36 1/4 inches. Taber's giant fish bumped his bowfishing buddy, Richard Snow, off the record list after a mere 48 hours as the record holder.
"I didn't think it was going to break Snow's record until I put it on the scale, but when it registered over 70-pounds, I got really excited" said Taber.
While Snow and Taber were bowfishing together July 28, Snow set the record with a fish that beat the previous record set two weeks before. Little did Snow know at the time, his record wouldn't stand for long.
"I spotted the fish laying against the side of the cove. It ran under the boat and was coming head on when I drew back my bow. When I connected with my arrow, the fight was on," said Snow.
Snow's short-lived record weighed 69-pounds, 9-ounces and was 48 3/4 inches long and had a 35-inch girth.
As if setting three records in a two-week span wasn't strange enough, the first time the record was set this summer was by duo-archers David Carter and Steven Edgar. The pair each arrowed the same fish simultaneously on July 13. The giant weighed 68-pounds, 6-ounces and was 43 1/2 inches long with a girth of 32 1/4 inches. Carter and Edgar's two-week-long record bested the previous mark by 18 pounds set by David Mann in 1993.
"The Wildlife Department does not stock grass carp in Arbuckle Lake to control vegetation," said Barry Bolton, the Wildlife Department's assistant chief of fisheries. The grass carp in Arbuckle are escapees from private farm ponds located in Arbuckle's watershed that have washed into the lake after high-water events," said Bolton.
Bolton said many Oklahoma private pond owners have stocked grass carp, also known as white amur, to control aquatic vegetation. A native of Asia, the fish are voracious vegetarians that can clear ponds chocked with nuisance aquatic plants such as hydrilla or water milfoil. Due to lack of their native riverine spawning habitat, the fish have not reproduced in Oklahoma's ponds or reservoirs. Bolton said the removal of grass carp from Arbuckle is not an undesirable practice.
"Arbuckle has never had a severe problem with nuisance aquatic vegetation so the grass carp in the lake are really serving no purpose and may be eating plants which provide habitat for other fish species," Bolton said. "We'd sure like to see someone figure out how to catch them consistently on a rod and reel, but for now the bowfisherman are the ones having all the fun."
Rod and reel anglers have occasionally caught grass carp using bread balls or prepared dough bait, however, most success has come from farm ponds where all of the vegetation has been eaten by the fish
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation recognizes two divisions of state record fish. Restricted division records are limited to those fish legally caught with a rod and line and played by no more than one person. The unrestricted division records are for fish legally taken by methods other than rod and line and can be played by more than one person.
For a complete list of state record fish and for instructions on what to do if you think you have caught a record fish, log on to wildlifedepartment.com.
Cutline: Brandon Taber of Oklahoma City breaks Snow's unrestricted state record on July 30, 2002 with a 77-pound, grass carp taken by bow and arrow from Arbuckle Lake.
Cutline: Richard Snow of Shawnee set a new unrestricted state record on July 28, 2002 with a 69-pound, 8-ounce grass carp taken by bow and arrow from Arbuckle Lake.
Go fishing and stay at a state park cabin
Oklahoma families heading for the perfect vacation spot will likely find great fishing not far away.
"Incorporating some fishing in your vacation can be a great way to make some memories with your family," said Rich Fuller, information supervisor for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. "There is some great fishing in early fall and most all of Oklahoma's larger lakes have state parks adjacent to them."
Fifteen Oklahoma state parks feature first-rate cabins. Many of these cabins are located near some of the state's most beautiful areas, with fishing just a leisurely walk away. State parks with cabins are operated at Keystone lake, Lake Tenkiller, Beavers Bend, Great Salt Plains and many other scenic destinations.
"We absolutely welcome fishermen," said Ron Stahl with the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department. "It's a perfect fit, just about all our cabins are located near lakes and you can often rent boats at our marinas if you don't want to bring your own."
Stahl added there are also activities for the whole family to enjoy.
"One of the nice things about staying in a cabin, besides the air conditioning, is there are plenty of things to do. There are nature centers, hiking trails and nearby communities that offer shopping, dining and other entertainment," Stahl said.
To find out more about state park cabins, log on to www.oklahomaparks.com and for up to date fishing reports log onto www.wildlifedepartment.com.
Cutline: Find a great place to fish and stay at state parks.
NWTF supports sportsmen's programs
The National Wild Turkey Federation is sticking to its guns not only for turkey hunters, but for all sportsmen. The NWTF took another step to preserve America's hunting and shooting heritage in 2002 by awarding $250,000 to the National Shooting Sports Foundation and $100,000 to the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance (formerly known as the Wildlife Legislative Fund of America).
"The restoration of the wild turkey, white-tailed deer and even the bald eagle would not have happened without sportsmen. Conservation can't exist without the hunting and shooting sports," said Rob Keck, CEO of the NWTF. "The Federation's mission statement makes it 100 percent clear that we're committed to hunting, and our contributions to NSSF and USSA will be used to protect and advance the rights of sportsmen throughout North America."
This commitment shows the focus the NWTF, a 450,000-member conservation organization dedicated to the conservation of the wild turkey and the preservation of the North American hunting tradition, has to ensuring the future of America's hunting heritage.
The donation is helping finance a major educational campaign that will introduce to the general public the historic role of hunting and shooting traditions in America and the wholesome recreation hunting and shooting provides for millions of men, women and children across the United States.
"Some have asked why an organization dedicated to wildlife conservation would make such a major contribution to the firearms industry," said Keck. "To us it's simple-without firearms there would be no hunting, without hunting there would be no conservation and without conservation there would be no wildlife, in our case the wild turkey."
The donations were made possible through a combination of support from the NWTF and its nearly 2,000 state and local chapters. For more information about the NWTF, call 1-800-THE-NWTF or visit the web site at www.nwtf.org.
Free dove hunting Sept. 7-8
No bitter cold temperatures, no extravagant equipment necessary, no long road trips required - dove hunting is about as simple as it comes. It is hard to think of a better time to introduce someone to the upcoming fall hunting seasons and residents of Oklahoma do not even need a license to hunt Sept. 7 and 8.
"The annual free hunting days are a perfect chance to introduce friends or family members to hunting," said Nels Rodefeld, information and education assistant chief for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. "Dove are plentiful from border to border and offer sportsmen lots of action during early to mid-September. Squirrel hunting also is a great starter outing and early September can be both pleasant and productive."
According to Rodefeld, dove hunting will be the biggest draw during Free Hunting days, though. The birds are acrobatic flyers and put just about everyone on a level playing field when it comes to wing shooting whether they are brand new to the sport or veterans of many Septembers.
When it comes to dove hunting there are really only two major considerations: equipping yourself with the right shotgun and shells and finding a place to hunt.
When selecting a shotgun for dove hunting, you can go as plain or as fancy as your budget allows. You can purchase a brand new, 12- or 20-gauge slide-action (pump) shotgun for less than $200, or you can find used guns for considerably less. For those who want to try the sport for the first time, Rodefeld recommends borrowing a gun from a friend.
When hunting migratory birds like dove, shotgun magazines must be plugged so that they can not hold more than three shells (one in the chamber, two in the magazine). Most new shotguns are already plugged, but older guns might not be. In either case, check before you go afield.
Selecting a good dove load is simple, too. If you use a 20-gauge shotgun, you can get by with 7/8-ounce loads, but one-ounce loads deliver a heavier payload and more energy. A good 12-gauge dove load should have at least 1 1/8 ounces of number seven or eight shot. The payload, powder load and shell size are always clearly marked on the box.
If you need a place to hunt, now is the time to start scouting for areas and visiting with landowners for permission to hunt. The sooner you start the better because if you wait until the last minute, you may find it more difficult to get permission.
Many of the wildlife management areas owned by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation also offer good dove hunting opportunities. To help you find the best areas near you, information about the Department's wildlife management areas can be found at wildlifedepartment.com complete with descriptions of their habitat and what types of hunting are available at each.
Pay close attention to regulations for public areas. Some, like Hackberry Flat WMA, allow only the use of federally-approved non-toxic shot for dove hunting. You can find out by picking up a copy of the "2002-2003 Oklahoma Hunting Guide & Regulations," available at sporting goods retailers and license vendors statewide.
Dove hunters also should be sure to pick up a new Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program Permit before the season begins. The free HIP permits are required of all migratory bird hunters in the United States. Data collected from the surveys helps federal migratory bird biologists better gauge bird harvests and hunter numbers, which will translate to improved migratory bird management.
Hunters, get ready!
It's official- its time to start preparing for the upcoming fall hunting seasons, the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation has released its "2002-2003 Hunting Guide and Regulations," available at retail outlets, sporting goods stores, and license vendors throughout the state.
With dove season less than a month away and deer seasons following right behind, the new regulations are just in time to help Oklahoma's sportsmen and sportswomen begin planning their fall outings. Now is the time to pencil in some hunting dates, put in for some time off from work and get things squared away around the house so you can get the most enjoyment from Oklahoma's autumn hunting opportunities.
The "2002-2003 Oklahoma Hunting Guide and Regulations" is a hunter's complete and comprehensive resource. It has information on both resident and non-resident permits, season dates, wildlife management area information, colorful maps and contact information. In addition to picking them up from license vendors and sporting goods retailers, an electronic form of the "2002-2003 Oklahoma Hunting Guide and Regulations" can also be downloaded from www.wildlifedepartment.com.
Editors note: Hunting Season listed at http://www.wildlifedepartment.com
Now is the time to attend a hunter education clinic
Over the past 30 years, hunting related accidents and fatalities have declined by more than 70 percent in Oklahoma and it is no wonder why. The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation Hunter Education Program has proven to be one of the Department's most successful endeavors.
"Virtually all the states and provinces now require some form of hunter education for first-time hunters," said Lance Meek , hunter education coordinator for the Department. "Everywhere programs have been started, the number of fatalities and accidents have dropped dramatically. Certainly, even one hunting related accident or fatality is too many as far as we are concerned. And that's why we develop more effective teaching strategies so that hunters will gain the knowledge and good habits to prevent accidents."
Approximately 13,000 hunter education students are certified annually at over three hundred courses statewide, and one of the most popular courses has been the Norman Hunter Education Clinic. More than 600 students are expected to attend the clinic, an all-day course which will be held on August 24."One of the neat things about this clinic is that there is a great diversity of information taught by our best instructors," Meek said.
According to Meek, participants will be able to participate in live fire at the Norman Police gun range, as well as attends seminars covering wildlife management, survival, ethics and much more. The course culminates with the certification exam. Scores of 70 percent or higher will earn participants a hunter education certification card.
To find out more about the Norman Hunter Education Clinic or other upcoming clinics, log on wildlifedepartment.com or call (405) 521-4636.
Anyone born on or after January 1, 1972, upon reaching 16 years of age must have completed a certified hunter education course in order to purchase a hunting license. Additionally, any hunters under the age of 16 (below the age required to purchase a hunting license), must complete a hunter education course if they use a firearm to hunt big game (deer, elk or antelope).
Hunting Show coming soon
Are you craving the sight of a nervous bird dog and the falling leaves of autumn?
A quick fix is right around the corner, the Oklahoma Hunting Show, scheduled for August 23-25 in Oklahoma City, will have just about everything an outdoorsman needs to hold him over the last few weeks of summer.
Whether a pro or just getting started, the show held at the fairgrounds transportation building, will have something for everyone. There is no need to flip through the same old catalog, over 200 exhibitors will have the latest hunting and fall fishing merchandise. Everything from bows to blinds, calls to camo, it will all be on display.
Besides finding new equipment, visitors can attend one of the great seminars being offered at the show. Learn from the experts on bow hunting, bass fishing, dog training and much more. Officials from the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation will also be on hand to answer your questions.
Those feeling a little competitive or just wanting to brush up on your calling skills, can enter one of the duck, goose or turkey calling contests held at the show.
Admission to the show is $5 per person, kids under 12 are free with paid adult. For more information about the Oklahoma Hunting Show call (405) 943-3800, or log onto www.oklatacklehunt.com.
Hunters helping biologists
Migratory bird hunters, including dove hunters, will have a great opportunity to get out and enjoy Oklahoma's outdoors this fall and winter. Before they head to the field, hunters are reminded to complete and carry a Harvest Information Program (HIP) Permit.
Hunters are helping to improve the management of North America's migratory birds through the Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program. HIP is a cooperative state and federal program designed to gather accurate information on the level and distribution of harvest of migratory birds, including doves, ducks and woodcock.
Anyone who hunts doves or other migratory birds in the United States must be HIP-certified. Those hunters' reports are then used to develop reliable estimates of the total harvest of migratory birds throughout the country. In this way, hunters serve as biologist's eyes and ears in the field, helping to improve wildlife conservation efforts and protecting the hunting heritage.
Hunters were concerned about wildlife conservation long before it was trendy to do so. American hunters have a long history of taxing themselves, paying license fees and buying stamps, all to ensure the health and vigor of wildlife populations. HIP is just another page in that history of conservation.
The free permit is part of the universal license form available free at any license dealer across the state. Permits are valid from September 1 of the current year through March 31 of the following year. Migratory bird hunters can obtain and complete the permit by answering a few simple questions.
All migratory bird hunters, including lifetime license holders , must obtain, complete and carry the HIP Permit while hunting. Exemptions to the HIP permit include: hunters under 16 years of age, senior citizens age 64 and over or hunters who turn 64 during the calendar year in which they intend to hunt and landowners hunting only on their own property.
Virus risk"extremely low" for sportsmen
Although the spread of West Nile Virus has some concerned, common sense is the order of the day for sportsmen heading afield this fall.
"The risk of contracting the virus is extremely low," said Dr. Kristy Bradley with the Oklahoma State Department of Health. "This disease is just running its course and it is important that we keep everything in perspective. Avoiding mosquitoes is a simple precaution everyone can take while outdoors."
According to Dr. Bradley, there has been no evidence that the disease, which was first found in the US three years ago, has ever been spread by person-to-person contact, by contact with infected animals, or by eating game birds such as dove, ducks or quail. The bite from an infected mosquito is the only way the disease is spread.
Dr. Randall Crom, with the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, a division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, agreed that there is no need for individuals to change their outdoor activities or plans.
"Before I knew anything about West Nile virus, I didn't like being bitten by mosquitoes," said Dr. Crom. "And I still don't like being bitten, so I still do the things I have always done, wear DEET-based insect repellent, wear protective clothing like long sleeves if possible, and move to a different place if I'm still being bitten."
Although no Oklahomans have contracted the virus, some people who have been infected, mostly in the eastern half of the U.S., have developed a mild flu-like illness, for a short period and a fraction of a percent have developed the more serious complications of encephalitis.
"Even if a person is bitten by a infected mosquito, only a tiny percentage of those people ever develop any serious complications," said Dr. Bradley.
Dr. Bradley added that bird dogs are not at risk of becoming ill if bitten by an infected mosquito or retrieving a WNV-infected bird. According to Bradley, both dogs and cats are resistant to the effects of the virus.
Crows, blue jays and raptors seem to be the most susceptible to West Nile virus and several birds have tested positive in the state. Officials at the Oklahoma Department of Health have asked citizens for help in tracking the disease. Persons who find birds that have recently died can call a toll-free number, 1-800-990-CROW (2769) during regular business hours to report their sightings. Callers are asked to give a description of the bird and report where the bird was found. If the bird is suitable for testing, the caller will be asked to transport the bird to the nearest drop-off point. Health officials have also begun mosquito trapping and testing in locations around the state to enhance West Nile virus monitoring.
For more information on West Nile virus and regular surveillance updates, check out the state health department's Web site at www.health.state.ok.us.
Jay Novacek's Hunters Against Hunger Auction: Aug. 23
Good barbecue, good company and a great cause. Sounds like an excellent way to spend an evening. But that's not all, attendees of the annual Hunters Against Hunger barbecue and auction will also have an opportunity to bid on first class hunting trips and outdoor equipment. "It is always a fun evening and we have some excellent items for the auction this year," said Steve Scott, auction coordinator. "We hope sportsmen will come join us for this event. You might be able to pick up a deal on a trip or hunting item you have always wanted, plus all the money raised goes right back into the program."
Hunters who legally harvest a deer during this year's deer season can donate the meat to feed hungry Oklahomans. Hunters simply deliver the deer to the nearest participating meat processor after you check the deer in. To help with processing charges, each donator is requested to contribute a tax-deductible $10 to assist with the program. The ground venison will then be distributed to the needy through a network of qualified, charitable organizations. In 2001 alone, Oklahoma hunters donated 25,800-plus pounds of venison which provided meals for 103,000 needy people.
Participation by meat processors and hunters is the key to success and to helping feed Oklahoma's hungry.
The barbecue, hosted by former Dallas Cowboys all-pro Jay Novacek, begins at 6:30 p.m., Friday August 23 and will take place at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds in the Transportation Building in Oklahoma City. Tickets can be purchased for $30 at the door.
Resident Canada geese season coming soon
Do you like waterfowl hunting, but don't care much for bitter north winds?
The upcoming resident Canada goose season may be just the ticket. Non-migratory Canada geese can be found all across the state and for the past two years sportsmen have had the opportunity to harvest the big birds.
This year the season will run September 21-30 statewide and although the birds may be full time residents that does not mean they aren't a challenge to hunt. Sportsmen will meet with more success if they spend some time scouting and patterning the birds movements before the hunt. For complete regulations, consult the "2002-2003 Oklahoma Hunting Guide."
More information about Oklahoma's resident Canada goose season can be found on an upcoming episode of "Outdoor Oklahoma" TV show which will air Sunday, September 1 at 8:00 a.m. on OETA-The Oklahoma Network.
Also featured on the show will be a father and son crappie fishing trip to Canton Lake in northwest Oklahoma.
Dr. Joe Grzybowski, professor at the University of Central Oklahoma, will also provide an update of the black-capped vireo population in the western part of the state.
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.
Dove hunting opportunities abound
Dove are certainly the most equal opportunity species of all the gamebirds pursued by Oklahomans. Sportsmen do not need the latest head-to-toe camouflage patterns, a private land honey hole is not necessary to have a good hunt, and the bird's high speed acrobatics can cause even the most experienced gunners to wonder if they are shooting blanks.
Dove can be found from one corner of the state to the next and some of the best hunting around can be found on wildlife management areas managed by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. In fact many areas of those properties have been managed specifically for doves.
A long road trip may be a great way to see the state and kick off the fall hunting seasons, but hunters do not have to travel far to find dove. Recently harvested grain fields and cattle watering ponds on private lands can be excellent places to hunt dove, and they can often be found only a few miles outside city limits. A little homework and initiative can go a long way when it comes to securing a place to hunt doves. Land owners will often give permission to responsible hunters who ask courteously to hunt on their land. Sportsmen should always treat the land they hunt with respect: leave gates the way you found them, always pick up any trash or spent shells, and never enter any land without first asking permission.
Although many hunters head west to look for doves in September, excellent hunting can be found in the eastern half of the state as well. Keystone Wildlife Management Area near Mannford attracts both doves and dove hunters to the fields along the lake shores. Copan and Ft. Gibson often hold good number of birds also.
No matter where you choose to hunt, a little scouting will undoubtedly pay off. Dove, a migratory species, can often swarm an area one week and be gone the next. Just a few minutes of scouting can help avoid the dreaded line - "Should've been there yesterday."
Once dove move into an area, hunters are often not far behind. Even a relatively small area can support several hunters provided they keep safety and courtesy in mind. If sportsmen find themselves in a popular area, they should remember to not take low angle shots and treat their fellow hunters with respect. Great hunting can also be found by hiking in a little further or trying a new area.
According to Bill Dinkines, assistant chief of wildlife for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, western Oklahoma has traditionally been the best bet for finding doves year in and year out, unless an early cold front moves in and pushes the birds south. Dinkines added that several wildlife management areas in the western part of the state have attempted to manage fields to provide habitat conditions to attract dove on their journey south. However, many fields were impacted by lack of rainfall early in the growing season. If it stays hot and dry, watering holes may be a better bet.
Only a few years old, Hackberry Flat wildlife management area has quickly established itself as one of the premier dove hunting locales in the state. The "Flat," located near Frederick, encompasses over 7,000 acres of prime migratory bird habitat. The area provides plenty of fast paced action for dove hunters in early fall, holds thousands of ducks, geese and sandhill cranes in the winter, and also serves as important nesting habitat for a wide range of shorebirds.
Sandy Sanders and Packsaddle Wildlife Management Areas in western Oklahoma have long been known for great quail hunting, but that is not the only good hunting in the area. Dove are often quite plentiful on the areas particularly around windmills and small ponds with bare shorelines.
Hunters heading to the northwest part of the state should bring at least two things: a jug or two of cool water and plenty of shotgun shells. Not only is the weather hot, but so is the hunting. The wide-open spaces of Beaver and Cooper wildlife management areas allow plenty of room for doves to dive and turn and challenge hunters.
The rolling hills around Kaw Wildlife Management Area in north central Oklahoma near Ponca City can be a great place to find migrating doves. Okmulgee and Deep Fork wildlife management areas might also be a good place to check out.
Hunters should contact their local biologist, whose numbers are listed in the "2002-2003 Oklahoma Hunting Guide," for specific, up-to-date information on conditions at wildlife management areas they are considering hunting.
Bonus youth deer hunts deadline near
Beginning deer hunters have a unique opportunity to participate in 10 youth controlled antlerless deer hunts that will take place on private lands in several Oklahoma counties.
The hunts are scheduled for either mid October or late December. Approximately 130 bonus antlerless deer gun licenses will be drawn for youth 12 to 16 years of age who have completed their hunter education requirements.
"These hunts are on private property and should provide young hunters a great opportunity to see some deer as well as a chance to harvest a doe," said Bill Dinkines, assistant chief of Wildlife for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.
The Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission has endorsed the youth hunt program.
"The Department is also thankful for the landowners' willingness to participate in this program and for allowing these youngsters the opportunity to hunt on their property," said Douglas Schones, district seven wildlife commissioner. "It also helps Department personnel to solidify their relationship with farmers and ranchers."
A non-hunting adult that is at least 21 years old must accompany any youth chosen for the hunts. To apply for a hunt, applicants must send the Department a 4 inch by 6 inch index card titled "Private Lands Youth Deer Hunts." The card should provide the hunter's name, date of birth, mailing address, telephone number, hunter education certification number, social security or drivers license number, the county in which they prefer to hunt and lifetime license number if applicable. The name of the non-hunting partner must also be included.
The October hunts offered include sites in Alfalfa, Ellis, and Osage counties. The December hunts offered include sites in Beckham, Canadian, Craig, Dewey, Harmon and Roger Mills counties. Each hunter may apply for up to two hunts. If applying for more than one hunt, hunters must designate the order of hunt preference. Applications must be received at the Department no later than 4:00 p.m. September 5, 2002.
Successful applicants will receive a notification letter about their hunt. The letter will inform them of their selection, details about the hunt and license requirements. Any youth selected for the hunt will need to purchase a $14.75 Resident Youth Deer Gun License unless they possess an Oklahoma Resident Lifetime Hunting or Resident Lifetime Combination License. The youth's non-hunting adult partner will not be required to possess a license of any type. Any antlerless deer harvested during the controlled hunt will be considered "bonus" deer and will not count against the youths' annual statewide bag limit.
Applications for the Private lands Youth Deer Hunt should be sent to: Department of Wildlife, Attn: Wildlife Division-Youth Deer Hunts, P.O. Box 53465, Oklahoma City, OK 73152. For additional information concerning the hunts, contact the Department at (405) 521-2730.
Quail management
His neighbors had complained for years - quail numbers were dropping faster than cattle prices. They told him there was nothing a person could do about the situation, but Roger thought he could make a difference.
He bought 310 acres of worn out Kansas farm land and began managing the property to not only benefit his family's balance sheet, but also to provide habitat for bobwhite quail. A few of his neighbors and, at times, even his wife questioned his mental aptitude when it came to some of his land practices. Leaving weed patches where crops could grow, burning perfectly good grass, even cutting down trees in windrows were all methods that were a country mile from the status quo in the area.
"Farm income and quail management can co-exist," said Roger Wells, national habitat coordinator for Quail Unlimited.
His acreage is a testament to that very fact, and his experience isn't unique to Kansas - his success can be applied right here in Oklahoma.
Wells and other top quail experts from around the nation recently gathered at the third annual Bollenbach Quail Symposium to discuss the most efficient ways for farmers, ranchers and other landowners to support quail on their operations.
"Private landowners are the answer to quail restoration in Oklahoma and across the country," Wells said. "The people who live and work on the land can have a huge impact on wildlife populations."
When Wells purchased his property in 1985 the tired fields only supported two bobwhite coveys; this year he expects 11 coveys to call his acreage home. He said not everything he has tried has worked but three methods have been essential to the success of quail on his property.
"Quail don't do too well in pastures infested with cedar trees and hay doesn't grow very well there either," Wells said.
By removing invasive cedars he not only helped out wildlife, he also boosted the bottom line. More hay equals more money. Wells used a local tree service to clear 50 acres of trees in approximately 10 hours. The going rate for the mechanical tree cutting is approximately $70 per hour.
According to Wells, there is at least one job on his farm that is better done just halfway.
"By cutting trees about knee high just enough to push them over, you can create living brush piles," Wells said. "The trees fall over but remain alive for many years."
This serves two important functions, Wells said. First, it eliminates perches for avian predators such as owls or hawks. Second, it provides important escape cover when quail are fleeing coyotes or other ground based predators.
When planning any habitat changes on his property, Wells keeps one thing in mind - connections. Whether a prescribed burn, grazing rotations or hay mowing, he knows the fact that quail need cover, such as weed patches, when moving to or from feeding areas, roosting areas and brooding areas.
"Quail can move from one corner of my place to another without ever having to get out in the open," Wells said.
Wells told the audience that individuals do not have to own 1,000 or more acres to make a difference in quail numbers.
"Every little bit counts. By planning ahead and thinking about how their land practices effect wildlife, landowners can benefit quail and many other wildlife species," Wells said.
To find out more about quail and quail management contact the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation at (405) 521-2730.
Dove season is right around the corner
It's finally here. You have made it through the heat of summer. Now it's time to seriously get ready for upcoming hunting seasons.
With dove season just a matter of days away, sportsmen should remember a few important items.
Don't forget to put the plug back in your shotgun. While tuning up on sporting clays, some hunters remove the plug from their gun. When hunting migratory birds in Oklahoma a shotgun can legally hold a maximum of three shells including the one in the chamber.
While this summer has been somewhat cooler than years past, dove hunting often takes place in hot weather. Bring a jug of water to help cool you and your partners off. If you hunt with a retriever, bring a water dish for them too.
Hunters are required to pick up a new Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program (HIP) permit. HIP is a cooperative state and federal program designed to gather accurate information on the level and distribution of harvest of migratory birds, including doves, ducks and woodcock.
The free permit is part of the universal license form available at any license dealer across the state. Permits are valid from September 1 of the current year through March 31 of the following year.
A dove hunting checklist is only one of the subjects of an upcoming episode of "Outdoor Oklahoma" TV show which will air Sunday, Aug. 25 at 8:00 a.m. on OETA-The Oklahoma Network.
Also featured on the show will be a wide variety of activities available to sportsmen this fall.
"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.
Waterfowl seasons set
Practice your calling, dust off the decoys and get the dog in shape. Waterfowl season will be here before you know it. Once again duck and goose hunters will have ample opportunity to chase migrating birds in marshes and fields all across the state. Waterfowlers can pursue the migrating birds from September all the way through March.
The 2002-2003 Oklahoma waterfowl dates and bag limits remain essentially the same as the last few years with two notable differences. Due to the decline in the continental population of pintails and efforts to reduce pintail harvest, a shortened season of 39 days will be allowed by federal framework on pintails in Oklahoma and throughout the Central Flyway. In addition, there will be no open season on canvasbacks. The season was closed on canvasbacks because of the declines in breeding population and anticipated poor production.
Hunters will also notice that the duck season was moved a week later to correspond with the new federal closing framework date of the last Sunday in January.
Waterfowl hunters should be sure to pick up a new state and federal waterfowl stamp and a new Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program (HIP) Permit before the season begins. The free HIP permits are required of all migratory bird hunters in the United States. Data collected from the surveys helps state and federal migratory bird biologists better gauge bird harvests and hunter numbers, which is used to improve migratory bird management.
All regulations and season dates are tentative until approved September 9 by the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission. For complete details see the "2002-2003 Oklahoma Waterfowl Hunting Guide" available at hunting license vendors beginning in October.
2002-2003 Oklahoma Waterfowl Seasons
Ducks, Mergansers and Coots Season Dates:
Panhandle Counties (High Plains Mallard Management Unit)
October 12 - January 15, 2003
Pintail Season December 8 - January 15, 2003
Youth Waterfowl Hunting Weekend October 5 - 6, 2002
Zone 1 October 26 - December 8, 2002, and December 14 - January 12, 2003
Pintail Season - November 30 - December 8, and
December 14 - January 12, 2003
Youth Waterfowl Hunting Weekend October 19 - 20, 2002
Zone 2 November 9 - December 8, 2002, and December 14 - January 26, 2003
Pintail Season December 19 - January 26, 2003
Youth Waterfowl Hunting Weekend November 2 - 3, 2002
Bag Limits:
Duck Limits - The daily bag limit for ducks is six. The daily bag limit may include no more than: five mallards (only two may be hens), three scaup, two wood ducks, two redheads. THE SEASON ON CANVASBACKS IS CLOSED. There is a shortened season on pintails with a daily bag limit of one pintail per day allowed for the last 39 days of each of the established duck seasons in the panhandle and in Zones 1 and 2 (see specific pintail season dates above). One pintail will be allowed in the bag during youth waterfowl weekends
Merganser Limits - The daily bag limit for mergansers is five. The daily bag limit may include no more than one hooded merganser.
Coot Limits - The daily bag limit for coots is fifteen.
Possession Limits:
The possession limit after the first day of hunting is two times the daily bag limit
for ducks, mergansers and coots.
Shooting hours:
One-half hour before sunrise to sunset.
Geese and Sandhill Crane Season Dates:
Canada Geese November 9 - December 8, 2002, and
December 14 - February 16, 2003
Special September Resident Canada Goose Season September 21 - 30, 2002
White-fronted Geese November 9 - December 8, 2002, and
December 14 - February 7, 2003
Light Geese (Snow, Blue & Ross')
November 9 - December 8, 2002, and
December 14 - February 16, 2003
Conservation Order Light Goose Season (COLGS) February 17 - March 30, 2003
Sandhill Crane November 9 - February 9, 2003
Bag Limits:
Canada Geese - The daily bag limit is three.
White-fronted Geese - The daily bag limit is two.
Light Geese - The daily bag limit is twenty.
Sandhill Crane - The daily bag limit is three.
Possession Limits:
The possession limit for Canada & White-fronted geese and sandhill crane is two times the daily bag limit. There is no possession limit for light geese (snow, blue & Ross').
Shooting Hours:
Unless specified other wise shooting hours for all waterfowl seasons is one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.
American eel record broken
From the Gulf of Mexico, up the Mississippi, through the 16 locks and dams of the Arkansas River and into Webbers Falls Lake, an epic journey for an eel or anything else for that matter.
Billy Davison, of Ft. Gibson, broke the unrestricted state record with a 5-pound, 8-ounce American eel that made that very trip. He caught the unique, 40-inch long fish on a trotline from Webbers Falls Lake.
"It is pretty neat. I have been trying to break the flathead catfish record for years, but I never thought I would break the eel record," Davison said.
He was using a small shad for bait when he pulled in the writhing fish from the eastern Oklahoma reservoir.
"Over the years I have caught a few others," Davison said. "So when I saw this one I knew it was big."
The American eel is certainly one of the state's most peculiar fish. It is characterized by a slender snakelike body with very small scales, a long dorsal fin and a olive-green or brown coloration.
The American eel (not to be confused with the electric eel found in South America) occurs in a variety of habitats and is found from Greenland to Brazil. American eels occur as far west as New Mexico, and are common throughout the Caribbean and the West Indies. It is native to Oklahoma, most commonly found in the eastern half of the state.
Perhaps the most unique thing about the eel is that it spawns in the Sargasso Sea, a tropical area northeast of Cuba. Upon hatching, young eels slowly move out into the Gulf of Mexico. Male eels spend most of their lives in the riverine estuaries along the coast, however female eels migrate up rivers and spend their lives in fresh water. To reach Oklahoma, American eels have to swim all the way up from the Gulf of Mexico through the Mississippi River then the Arkansas River.
When not migrating, female American eels live in medium to large streams and lakes with muddy bottoms and quiet waters. They are most active at night. During the day they are found hiding in the mud or under objects such as rocks and logs at the bottom of the lake or river.
Once the female eel has reached maturity (after 10-20 years in the freshwater streams and lakes), she starts back down the river towards the ocean to spawn. Males and females pair up in the Gulf of Mexico and swim for 2 to 3 months until they reach the spawning area. They arrive at the spawning area in the late winter or early spring. The breeding extends into the summer months, and the adult American eels then die after spawning.
Cutline: Billy Davison of Ft. Gibson set a new unrestricted state record with a 5-pound, 8-ounce American eel taken on an trotline from Webbers Falls Lake. Photo by Ruth Friedberg, Muskogee Daily Phoenix.
BioBlitz organized for Beavers Bend
Biologists from across Oklahoma and neighboring states will be converging on Beavers Bend Resort Park near Broken Bow for the second annual BioBlitz September 13 - 14.
The name "BioBlitz" is given to any rapid, comprehensive biological inventory of plants and animals. The Beavers Bend BioBlitz is being organized by the Oklahoma Biological Survey, with assistance from the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation and the Oklahoma Division of State Parks. The two primary goals of this event are to develop a complete biological inventory of the Beavers Bend Resort Park and adjacent public land, and to promote an awareness of the biological diversity that exists within Oklahoma.
Volunteer biologists, representing all disciplines within botany and zoology, have been recruited to spend a 24-hour period working together to document the flora and fauna of the park including every species from algae, freshwater mussels and aquatic insects to woody plants, birds and mammals. Between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 14, the public is invited to participate. There will be interactive displays and exhibits of local plants and animals presented by state park naturalists and university biologists. These exhibits will showcase the diversity of species found in the Ouachita Mountains, and the field techniques used by biologists. At the end of the event there will be a presentation of the final tally species that were found.
"Oftentimes, the biological diversity of an area is much greater than we expect," said Mark Howery, natural resources biologist with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. "During last year's BioBlitz, nearly 500 species were located in 24 hours in a relatively small 160-acre park in Norman. This year's event will cover a larger and more diverse area and as many as 1,200 species could be recorded in the same time period.
Our aim is to show people the tremendous diversity of life here in our own state and why it is important."
The idea of conducting rapid, 24-hour biological surveys, or BioBlitzes, is relatively new. The first BioBlitz was organized in 1996 by scientists from the National Parks Service and the Smithsonian Institution.
According to Ron Suttles, Natural Resources Coordinator for the Department of Wildlife, the BioBlitz is beneficial in three different ways. First, it provides useful, scientific information about wildlife species, information which is critical in making planning and regulations decisions. Second, the event promotes cooperation between a wide range of agencies and organizations. Finally, the BioBlitz encourages interaction from individuals from all over the state who share a common goal - a healthy Oklahoma environment.
Additional information about the BioBlitz can be found at the Oklahoma Biological Survey's Web site www.biosurvey.ou.edu, or by contacting either the Oklahoma Biological Survey at (405) 325-1985 or the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation at (405) 521-4616. The 2002 BioBlitz will be headquartered out of the Carson Creek Area of Beaver's Bend Resort Park, approximately eight miles north of Broken Bow, Oklahoma off State Highway 259. For information regarding lodging, camping or other activities at Beavers Bend, contact the park office at (580) 494-6300.
Great hunting and fishing spots within a few miles of Stillwater
Miles away from home, a campus full of strangers and not a rabbit or catfish in sight.
Just because you are off at Oklahoma State University to get an education doesn't mean you have to put off hunting and fishing for four years. There is ample opportunity to get out and about while you are in Stillwater. Within just 50 miles of the crowded halls of the student union, enterprising sportsmen can find plenty of room to roam.
Whether you enjoy wetting a line or stalking the woods for squirrels, rabbits or turkey, Keystone Wildlife Management Area is hard to beat. Located about 40 miles east of Stillwater, the area offers over 16,000 acres of river bottomlands, mixed grass prairie and open water. Not only does the area offer some surprisingly good dove and squirrel hunts, Keystone is also home to rabbit, turkey and even white-tailed deer. The area is close enough to campus to hunt in the early morning or later in the afternoon and never miss a class. Keystone is also an excellent place to gather a few friends for a weekend camping trip, throw out a few lines, fire up the grill and forget about studying, at least for an evening.
Head north on state highway 177 and you will run into two of the better hunting and fishing spots in the state, Sooner Lake and Kaw Lake. The warm water discharge from Sooner's electric power plant, keeps water open in the coldest of winters attracting large numbers of migrating geese and ducks, especially diving ducks. Check with the lake manager at (580)762-7441 to find what specific hunting regulations apply to the area. Sooner is also a great place to catch good numbers of striped bass hybrids.
If you walk into the rolling hills of the Kaw Wildlife Management Area you will find good rabbit hunting and you are likely to bust a covey a bobwhite quail. Kaw WMA also is a popular destination for deer hunters and offers excellent deer hunting opportunities. Nice stringers of channel catfish can be caught particularly where the Arkansas River flows into Kaw Lake.
Just a few minutes from Stillwater there are no less than four lakes that offer excellent fishing. Saugeye and crappie are abundant at Lake Carl Blackwell and Lake McMurtry is known for good bass fishing and nighttime catfishing. For a quick trip or an afternoon picnic, Boomer Lake or Sanborn Lake are great all around fishing lakes. Check with the City of Stillwater, (405)747-8070, for license regulations.
There is no reason to leave your tacklebox and shotgun in storage while during your college years. Get out there and enjoy all the great places to hunt and fish around Stillwater.


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Regulators on Monday charged the Chinese affiliates of five top accounting firms with violations of U.S. securities laws, alleging that they refused to produce audit documents in connection with accounting fraud investigations into Chinese companies.
The Securities and Exchange Commission began proceedings against the Chinese units of Deloitte & Touche, Ernst & Young, KPMG, PricewaterhouseCoopers and BDO. The companies violated laws that require foreign public accounting firms to provide the SEC with audit work papers involving any company trading on U.S. markets, the SEC said.
Continue Reading Below
An administrative law judge will schedule a hearing to determine potential sanctions against the firms, the SEC said.
(Reporting By Aruna Viswanatha)

subset: commoncrawl


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Arizona immigration law faces challenges
The new Arizona law making it a crime to be in the state without proper documentation is already being challenged in federal court and the state promises a vigorous defense. But first, attorneys and law enforcement official are puzzling on how to enforce the new law.
For one thing, it's going to be expensive. And there are all kinds of issues that have to be worked out. Principally, how are you to determine it's not "profiling" when all or most of those stopped look Mexican? How are legal immigrants who are not carrying papers to be handled? Can the county jails handle the crunch? Remember that the state of Arizona has been hit by budget crunch more so than other states. (For the enforcement difficulties see Arizona Republic.)
State prosecutors even fret about how to handle cases in court. The state law is tied to federal law, but to an antiquated law rarely used. It's a federal misdemeanor for an alien who entered the country legally to be here beyond 30 days without registering. The law goes back to the early 1940s and was meant for Nazi and Fascist sympathizers. Also the requirement for registration does not apply to those under 14 years (see Arizona Republic). The law may not be enforceable, even if it gets through court challenges.
Arizona apparently can expect no sympathy at the Supreme Court, if it gets that far. First, it has to wind through federal court, which will be influenced by a recent decision favorable to a legal resident facing deportation.
The Supreme Court ruled unanimously in the case of a legal Mexican immigrant who was convicted on two occasions of a misdemeanor drug offense. His convictions led an immigration judge in Texas to deport him because he was guilty of an "aggravated felony." The justices were unanimous in striking down a lower court decision. The offenses were slight and the state courts gave out minor penalties. The case had wound through the 5th Federal Judicial Circuit - notorious for being less compassionate to immigrants than other districts. The 5th Circuit is often deaf to claims of undocumented detainees for a stay a deportation order to remain in the country. The decision is national and so a major step toward equal justice toward legal immigrants. (See LA Times.)
Despite all the challenges the Arizona law faces, some, encouraged by the favorable national polls and the enthusiastic support of the Tea Party supporters, want to push it further to ban issuing state birth certificates to the U.S. born children of the undocumented (see LA Times).


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Last night's brawl-for-it-all between Chris Brown and Frank Ocean set the Internet ablaze. But was it that serious? The two R&B crooners have had their fair share of arguments in the past — there are retweets to prove it. But in 2011, a cease-fire was called signifying a truce between the duo.
All those walls came tumbling down when both men and numerous randoms reportedly got into a brouhaha at Westlake Studios on Sunday evening. With TMZ already in the mix, no arrests or charges made and a brief recap straight from Frank Ocean's Twitter mouth, 2013's already looking ratchet.
There's nothing cornier than "beef," but R&Beef holds a special wack distinction. Singing subliminal barbs to other singers over things like who can hit the higher falsetto or who stole whose hairstyle is trivial. But with this latest infraction on everyone's minds, we take a look back at 5 Other Memorable R&B Fights.
Enjoy the #struggle songs at your own risk.


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Companies with television networks have begun releasing their earnings reports for the latest quarter. Here's a look at reports for selected television network companies.
— Oct. 26: Comcast Corp., which owns NBC, got a boost from being the official broadcaster of the Olympics. Comcast says it took in $1.19 billion in revenue for the Olympics alone during the quarter, topping the $1.18 billion paid for the rights, though the company had expenses for camera crews, announcers and the like. Broadcast ad revenue at NBC more than doubled to $1.99 billion, and rose 9 percent excluding the Olympics. Ad revenue on pay TV networks such as Bravo, CNBC, MSNBC and NBC Sports was up less than 1 percent to $807 million.
— Nov. 1: Scripps Networks Interactive Inc., the operator of pay-TV networks such as Food Network and HGTV, says net income grew 20 percent thanks to higher revenue from both advertising and distributor fees.
— Tuesday: News Corp., which owns the Fox network, says its broadcast television business saw operating income rise 17 percent. The company says revenue from fees that cable and satellite companies pay to carry its channels more than doubled from a year ago. It also saw increased local advertising, particularly for political ads. The gains were partly offset by lower national advertising revenue because of lower prime-time ratings and the Olympics on rival NBC.
Operating income at the cable network business grew 23 percent. At its U.S. pay TV networks, advertising revenue rose 8 percent, led by Fox News and its regional sports networks. Fees from distributors rose 16 percent domestically.
Discovery Communications Inc., the owner of pay-TV channels such as Discovery, TLC and Animal Planet, says net income declined 14 percent due in part to higher taxes and interest expenses. Its revenue held steady.
— Wednesday: Time Warner Inc. says its television networks such as HBO and TBS saw a 7 percent growth in the fees paid by cable and satellite distributors to carry the channels. Advertising revenue fell 1 percent at the networks, partly because of the timing of certain sports events on its channels.
— Broadcaster CBS Corp. says its third-quarter earnings rose 16 percent from a year ago as revenue inched higher, mostly helped by higher fees from TV distributors.
— Thursday: The Walt Disney Co. says revenue at its pay TV and broadcast networks grew a modest 2 percent. Smaller audiences and lower ad revenue at ABC slowed the company's momentum. At the same time, ESPN gained more in fees from distributors but saw flat ad revenue as viewers and advertisers turned their attention toward the Olympics on NBC.
Disney says losses grew at Hulu, the online video service it owns jointly with News Corp. and Comcast Corp., due to higher programming and marketing costs.
AMC Networks Inc. says net income fell 8 percent, hurt by a fee dispute with Dish Network LLC, while its revenue rose 17 percent. But its earnings and revenue were each significantly better than analysts expected
Coming up:
— Nov. 15: Viacom Inc.


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Includes: Multiple choice fact, scenario and case-based questions Correct answers and explanations to help you quickly master specialty content All questions have keywords linked to additional online references The mission of StatPearls Publishing is to help you evaluate and improve your knowledge base. We do this by providing high quality, peer-reviewed, educationally sound questions written by leading educators. StatPearls PublishingBehavioral audiometry 2. Automated auditory brainstem response (AABR) testing 3. Diagnostic auditory brainstem response (ABR) testing 4. Transient evoked otoacoustic emission (TEOAE) testing Question 492 (Answer and Explanation)anbsp;...
|Nurse-Neonatal Intensive Care Specialty Review and Study Guide
|Lori B Rubarth
|StatPearls Publishing, LLC - 2015-09-25
You must register with us as either a Registered User before you can Download this Book. You'll be greeted by a simple sign-up page.
Once you have finished the sign-up process, you will be redirected to your download Book page.How it works:


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First flooded, now frozen: Cold snap torments folks still recovering from Sandy
NEW YORK (AP) � Polar air has settled in earnest over the Northeast, grinding trains to a halt, bursting pipes and bringing further misery to families still trying to recover from Superstorm Sandy.
The frigid air mass trekked from the Midwest into the region on Wednesday, prompting the National Weather Service to issue wind chill warnings across upstate New York and northern New England.
In a damaged neighborhood near the beach on New York City's Staten Island, people who haven't had heat since the late October storm are taking refuge in tents set up by aid workers.
Eddie Saman is sleeping in a tent because the gaping hole in the roof of his home has rendered it uninhabitable � and unheatable.
The coldest weather is expected to continue into Thursday.


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VALLEJO (CBS/AP) — Vallejo police say a woman came across a grisly scene on Wednesday afternoon when she came home to find her uncle dead with a severed hand.
The unidentified 44-year-old man had apparently cut off his left hand with a butcher knife after going to his brother's house and finding no one home.
The Times-Herald of Vallejo reports that he died of blood loss.
Police say he had previously been put on mental evaluation holds. He apparently tried to cut off his left arm before severing his hand.
(Copyright 2012 by CBS San Francisco. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)


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Hosting a great party that your guests will remember shouldn't be hard. Unfortunately, many people find organising the perfect party stressful and difficult. There are so many things to organise from the drinks, food, and then the entertainment. The entertainment is one thing you don't have to worry about because you can get great party hire Menangle Park from the experts at Flat Out Entertainment.
Flat Out Entertainment are regarded as one of the premier businesses for party hire Menangle Park. This is for a very good reason because they offer a range of party hire services that make entertaining the guests at your party easy. Not only that but it has one other important benefit, and that is that it takes away the stress from you of having to plan and organise the party.
It couldn't be any easier to plan or organise a party when you count on Flat Out Entertainment. They have a wide range of party hire services available such as slushy machine hire, photobooth hire, professional DJ hire, etc. Their services are suitable for a wide range of parties, ranging from wedding receptions, engagement parties, birthdays, etc. Whatever it is you need, they will be able to help you in some way.
The experience that you provide at your party is something that should be of ultimate importance. The experience you provide will determine if your party is one that is unforgettable or not, and this is exactly what Flat Out Entertainment will do at your party. With their wide range of services they will be able to provide your guests with the kind of party experience that is unforgettable.
Hosting an amazing party has never been easier than what it is now and Flat Out Entertainment have the experience to make sure that your party is one to remember. If you want to find out more about party hire Menangle Park call Flat Out Entertainment today on 02 9186 3258.


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Basalt-Seawater-Microbe Interactions During Oxidative Alteration of the Upper Ocean Crust
DOEI Project Funded: 2002
Proposed ResearchFluid flow and water-rock interaction have important implications for changes in the chemical and physical properties of the seafloor and for exchange of heat and matter between the Earth?s interior and the oceans. The chemical reactions and mineralogical transformations in the upper crust take place very slowly and chemical equilibrium is usually not attained. Microorganisms have developed strategies to catalyze geochemical reactions and use the chemical energy released for cellular growth.
We have recently found evidence that iron-oxidizing microorganisms can grow on basalt glass while using bicarbonate as the only carbon source. We hypothesize that this microbial iron oxidation is an important process in ocean crust alteration and has a large control on chemical exchange between circulating seawater and upper crust. The rates of other chemical reactions may also be microbially controlled. We will conduct laboratory culturing experiments to examine the geochemical effects of microbially mediated recrystallization of basalt glass. We will use nano-analytical tools to identify textures and chemistries of organic matter and inorganic secondary products. We will use natural samples to study micro-textures and nano-scale chemical and mineralogical variations in incipiently weathered basalt. This approach will allow us to provide links between fluid flow, chemical exchange, and microbial activity within the uppermost ocean crust.


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Advanced Search
Following are some facts and figures about the MCA Program:
Certification level: Advanced
Areas of certification: Solutions/Software Architect, Infrastructure
Architect or Messaging Architect
Target audience: Practicing solutions and infrastructure architects
with strong track records in successful, large-scale IT architectural
Available certifications: Maximum of 3,000 worldwide over the
next five to seven years
Certifications issued to date: 66
Certification prerequisites: None
Experience prerequisite: At least 10 years of applicable experience
Cost: Application, $200 (nonrefundable); admission to program,
Process: Detailed written application and supporting materials;
intensive two-hour interview with four-person review board
Competencies measured: Leadership, Communications, Organizational
dynamics, Technology depth, Technology breadth, Strategy, Tactical/process
Estimated prep time: 80 to 120 hours over three to six months
For more detail, go to www.microsoft.com/learning/mca
About the Author
Anne Stuart, the former executive editor of Redmond Channel Partner, is a business technology freelance writer based in Boston, Mass.
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Designed for appliances tested and listed for use in Canada with wood stoves, fireplaces, furnaces, boilers, stoves, ranges, water heaters, or other appliance fueld by wood, oil, coal or gas. To calculate the installed section of DuraPlus HTC chimney pipe, subtract 1.5" from each section of chimney pipe.
DuraPlus HTC is a double-wall, all-fuel chimney system for Canada for use with wood stoves, fireplaces, and appliances using wood, oil, gas or coal. The insulation maintains a barrier that will not shift or settle and the wall keeps the exterior cool, while ensuring high temperatures for optimum draft performance on the inside.


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BOSTON (AP) — Former Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown says he won't be a candidate for Massachusetts governor next year.
The former Republican senator and state lawmaker spoke Wednesday night WBZ-AM's "NightSide With Dan Rea" radio program (http://cbsloc.al/13H3Oey ).
Brown had been mentioned as a possible GOP candidate. Democratic Gov. Deval Patrick is not seeking a third term.
Brown says he wants to fulfill his commitments to the law firm where he works, and to Fox News, where he is a paid commentator.
He told supporters at the Iowa State Fair on Sunday that he is "exploring a possible run" for president in 2016. That wasn't mentioned on Wednesday.
Brown won a 2010 special election to fill the unexpired Senate term of the late Edward Kennedy. He lost in 2012 to Democrat Elizabeth Warren.


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Why save all the big announcements for I/O? Google's Advanced Technology and Projects group just announced a Project Tango tablet, a bigger version of the computer vision device we saw a few months ago. This time, the Kinect-style 3D-sensing platform is a 7-inch tablet, and unlike the phone—which was only shown off to a select few developers—the tablet will actually be sold later this year for $1,024.
Google makes it very clear that this is not a consumer device; it's meant for developers who want to create computer vision apps. Doing 3D mapping and translations is very resource intensive, so Google has built a beast of a device. The Project Tango Tablet Development Kit is powered by an Nvidia Tegra K1 processor and sports 4GB of RAM as well as 128GB of storage. It will even be available with an LTE modem, so developers won't have to be tethered to Wi-Fi.
Tango is all about allowing a mobile device to understand and interact with the real world. Just as a Kinect can see a person in 3D and use that data for controller input, Project Tango can see the world around it in 3D. This would allow developers to make augmented-reality apps that line up perfectly with the real world or make an app that can "3D scan" an object or environment. It could even lead to an app that could power a robot.
Tango is still a work in progress, and Google says developers will get software updates as the software and APIs improve. Anyone interested in getting a Tango tablet to experiment with can hand over their name and e-mail to Google, and the company will get back to you later this year when the device is ready.


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About Beryl Korot
An early video art pioneer, Beryl Korot is well known for her installation works that explore the relationship between analog technologies—such as the loom—and video. "Just as the spinning and gathering of wool serve as the raw material for a weave," Korot says, "so the artist working with video selects images to serve as the basic substance of the work." With landmark multiple-channel installation works such as Text and Commentary (1977), Korot developed new possibilities for the creation of visual narratives; in other works, she has used painting to meditate on language by inventing a coded analog grid for the Roman alphabet. In 1970 Korot co-founded Radical Software, an early publication to explore alternative communication systems.
American, b. 1945, New York, New York


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(Reuters) - An appeals court struck down a rule on Tuesday that had been issued by the U.S. telecommunications regulator to allow customers to watch cable and satellite TV on "plug and play" televisions, replacing set top boxes.
Satellite TV company Dish Network Corp (DISH.O) objected to the rule because it included prescriptions on encrypting programming that prevented Dish and others from, for example, making deals with studios to play new movies on a pay-per-view basis.
At the request of Dish, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit struck down the rule issued by the Federal Communications Commission in 2003 that had been drafted by the cable companies.
The FCC rule - called the "plug and play" order - set standards that allowed customers to buy televisions that could plug into cable and satellite networks without using a set top box.
In its objection, Dish argued that the FCC lacked authority to impose the standards on satellite providers. The court agreed.
The FCC said it was reviewing the ruling.
The case is EchoStar Satellite LLC v. Federal Communications Commission, U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, No. 04-1033.
(Reporting By Diane Bartz; Editing by Tim Dobbyn)


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C-Kermit 7.0
This program offers a consistent and portable approach to serial and network communications, file transfer, character-set translation, and numeric and alphanumeric paging.
It is available for hundreds of different platforms including all varieties of UNIX, as well as VMS, Stratus VOS, DG AOS/VS. It works in conjunction with its companion programs on Windows 3.x/9x/NT/2000, DOS, IBM Mainframes, and almost any other platform you can think of.
As a serial communications program, the program includes a sophisticated location-independent dialer and dialing directory, allowing the same entries to be used from any country or area within a country. On TCP/IP networks, the program can act as Telnet client, Rlogin client, or as a server that can be accessed from clients elsewhere on the network. It can also make and use Sun and IBM X.25 connections.
It also offers online sessions with session logging, character-set translation, and key mapping; character-set translation for Western and Eastern European languages, Cyrillic, Japanese, Greek, and Hebrew duing both terminal connection and file transfer (a unique feature of Kermit software), and in version 7.0 also Unicode.
Kerberos, SRP, and SSL/TLS security are available within the constraints of U.S. export law.


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John DiStaso's Granite Status: Final report: Hassan campaign raised $1.91 million, spent $1.86 millionBy JOHN DiSTASO
Senior Political Reporter
November 14. 2012 11:26AM
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 14, UPDATE: SANBORN BACKS CHANDLER. After deciding not to run for New Hampshire House Minority Leader, Rep.-elect Laurie Sanborn, R-Bedford, has decided to endorse Speaker Pro Tem Gene Chandler over Deputy Speaker Pam Tucker.
'We need to begin the process of rebuilding the Republican party, and it starts with choosing a leader at the State House who understands our core values and can effectively convey them to the people of New Hampshire,' Sanborn said. 'Gene Chandler is a proven leader with the ability to bring people together and solve problems.'
(Earlier updates and the full Nov. 8 Granite Status follow.)
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 14, UPDATE: MAGGIE'S FINAL NUMBERS. Gov.-elect Maggie Hassan's campaign raised $1,916,738 from 7,648 contributors, including 7,554 individual contributors, during her successful campaign.
Hassan's final campaign finance report, to be filed later today, also shows that she spent $1,865,33. She ended the campaign with $35,009 on hand.
Her report shows she raised $96,985 during the final reporting period, Oct. 30 to Nov. 6.
(Earlier updates and the full Nov. 8 Granite Status follow.)
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 14, UPDATE: CHAT WITH THE GOV. Former Govs. John H. Sununu, Steve Merrill and Craig Benson will be featured in a 'fireside chat' at the annual Josiah Bartlett Dinner on Dec. 4.
Retiring Executive Councilor and former Manchester Mayor Ray Wieczorek will be honored.
The Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy is a conservative self-described non-profit, non-partisan research center and think tank.
The dinner will be held at the Grappone Center in Concord beginning at 6 p.m. on Dec. 4, with dinner at 7 p.m.
Wieczorek will receive the center's 2012 Libertas Award.
Ticket/contribution levels range from $100 to $10,000.
For more information please contact Robin Anderson at email@example.com
or visit www.jbartlett.org.
All three former Republican governors were active in the just-concluded election. Sununu was a top -- and often controversial -- national surrogate for Mitt Romney, while Benson supported Kevin Smith and then Ovide Lamontagne for governor. Merrill was also a top Lamontagne backer.
It should be interesting to hear their views on the results.
(Earlier updates and the full Nov. 8 Granite Status follow.)
TUESDAY, NOV. 13, UPDATE: THE 'COSMO 100.' Gov.-elect Maggie Hassan rubbed elbows with some of New York's most famous and influential women at an exclusive luncheon on Monday.
Hassan was among a group of women politicians recognized at the 'Cosmo 100 Lunch' at Michael's restaurant in Manhattan.
According to Adweek.com, the event, organized by Cosmopolitan magazine, honored New York's 100 most influential women, including actresses Sarah Jessica Parker and Jennifer Westfeldt, 'fashion icons' Diane Von Furstenburg and Carmen Dell'Orefice and 'media power players' Randi Zuckerberg and Meryl Poster.
Also reported to have attended were CBS' Gayle King, Lara Spencer and Deborah Roberts, MSNBC's Mika Brzezinski, Ali Wentworth, comedian, author and wife of ABC's George Stephanopoulos, Lisa Caputo, Sallie Krawcheck, Pat Mitchell, Pat Fili-Krushel, Gillian Flynn, Jessica Seinfeld and Lauren Bush Lauren.
'But the biggest applause was saved for the handful of female politicians on hand, including New Hampshire Governor-elect Maggie Hassan, Hawaii Congresswoman-elect Tulsi Gabbard, and New York Congresswoman-elect Grace Meng,' Adweek reported.
Hassan spokesman Marc Goldberg said the luncheon 'was an opportunity for prominent women to come together to talk about women in leadership.'
Hassan will be the only woman Democratic governor in the country when she takes office in January.
Hassan has also announced that her transition team will be headed by Pamela Walsh, former deputy chief of staff to Gov. John Lynch and former press secretary for former Gov. Jeanne Shaheen.
Hassan's transition office will open on Wednesday on Hazen Drive in Concord.
(Earlier updates and the full Nov. 8 Granite Status follow.)
FRIDAY, NOV. 9, UPDATE: WOMEN RULE, CONTINUED. As we report below, New Hampshire made history on Tuesday by putting the finishing touches on the first-ever-in-the-nation all-women congressional delegation when voters elected Carol Shea-Porter and Ann Kuster to the U.S. House to join U.S. Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Kelly Ayotte in Washington.
The state, of course, also elected its second woman governor in Maggie Hassan.
Today, the 'women rule' theme of New Hampshire elected leadership continued when state Senate Democrats chose Sylvia Larsen, D-Concord, as the leader of their minority caucus. It marked the sixth time she has been chosen the Democrats' leader.
She served as Senate President when Democrats controlled the Senate from 2006 through 2010.
In the House, former Speaker Rep. Terie Norelli, D-Portsmouth, is the leading candidate to again become the new Democratic majority's choice for Speaker, while current Deputy Speaker Pam Tucker, R-Greenland, is a strong candidate to become the House Minority Leader.
State legislative leadership leaders will be officially chosen on Dec. 5 with Hassan and the new Congress taking office in January.
So, by early January, New Hampshire elected leadership lineup could look like this:
- Governor: Hassan (D)
- U.S. Senators: Shaheen (D), Ayotte (R);
- U.S. Reps. : Shea-Porter (D); Kuster (D)
- New Hampshire House Speaker: Norelli (D)
- House Minority Leader: Tucker (R)
- Senate Minority Leader: Larsen (D).
While Rep. David Campbell, D-Nashua, is also running for House speaker, and Rep. Gene Chandler is also running for House minority leader, under this very possible scenario, the lone man in the leadership mix would be Senate President Peter Bragdon, R-Milford, who was unofficially named to lead the Senate majority caucus on Wednesday and was chosen in an official caucus vote today.
(Earlier updates and the full Nov. 8 Granite Status follow.)
FRIDAY, NOV. 9, UPDATE: HURST MAY SEEK CHAIRMANSHIP. State Republican Party vice chairman Cliff Hurst confirmed today he is considering running for chairman of the party.
The state committee will choose its leadership in January.
Hurst, the three-time chairman of the Manchester Republican Committee, said he was flattered by a new Facebook page and web site set up to draft him to run.
He said he had 'nothing to do' with them but said he intended to consider a candidacy through the weekend and speak with current chairman Wayne MacDonald, who also has yet to decide if he will run for a full term.
Hurst said he was unsure if he would run against MacDonald if MacDonald runs, but he did not rule it out.
Hurst co-chaired the state presidential campaigns of Mike Huckabee in 2008 and Tim Pawlenty, who ran briefly for President in the early stages of the 2012 campaign.
Republican supporters of Hurst tell the Granite Status they believe he has the ability to unite the party because he appeals to all factions of the party.
Meanwhile, in the race shaping up for Republican leader of the House, outgoing state Rep. David Bates, R-Windham, said he is helping Deputy Speaker Pam Tucker's campaign for minority leader and that she 'has already reached' receiving support form at least one-third of the caucus.
Friday afternoon, Tucker released an initial list of 70 supporters in the 178-member caucus. The number may change depending on recounts.
Bates said it appears the race for minority leader will boil down to Tucker, R-Greenland, versus former House speaker Gene Chandler, R-Bartlett, the current Speaker Pro Tem.
State Rep.-elect Laurie Sanborn, R-Bedford, was also considering running for minority leader, but decided against it.
House Democrats will chose their candidate for speaker on Nov. 17. House Republicans will caucus on Nov. 15 to chose their leader.
There will be no corresponding drama in the state Senate. Republicans, who have a 13-11 majority, have made Sen. Peter Bragdon, R-Milford, their choice for Senate President and Sen. Sylvia Larsen, D-Concord, has been chosen Senate Democratic Leader by her colleagues.
(Earlier updates and the full Nov. 8 Granite Status follow.)
THURSDAY, NOV. 8, UPDATE: State Rep.-elect Laurie Sanborn, R-Bedford, said late Thursday she is considering running for New Hampshire House Republican leader.
(Update: Wednesday, Nov. 8: After considering it for several days, Sanborn said she will not be a candidate because she does not want to "divide the party.")
Sanborn resigned from the House in June at the same time her husband, Andy, resigned from the state Senate. They relocated from Henniker to Bedford and ran for the House and Senate again.
Both won on Tuesday, although Andy Sanborn's opponent, Democrat Lee Nyquist, on Thursday filed for a recount of the close finish in Senate District 9.
Laurie Sanborn won her House seat by a 61 to 39 percent landslide.
Democrats won the majority in the House on Tuesday and speaker Bill O'Brien has since said he will not seek the leadership of the minority caucus.
Deputy Speaker Pam Tucker and former speaker Gene Chandler have said they are candidates for GOP leader.
Laurie Sanborn told the Granite Status Thursday evening she has been 'getting calls from Legislators, asking me to consider running for House Minority Leader.
'While the reasons are broad, most say this is a result of my success in creating and running the House Business Caucus, combined with my strong business background,' she wrote in an email.
'Additionally, it is time to bring our party back together in an inclusive, respectful, success-oriented way, and prove to the voters we, as Republicans, have the solutions to solve our economic challenges.
'Many of us know the voters have been exceptionally clear that respectful decorum is required in politics and we cannot go back to divisive ways,' Sanborn wrote. 'That is not to say we give up on our principles but we can and have to communicate in a polite manner.
'A group of supporters and I will be discussing the future of our party and I will make a final decision soon,' Sanborn wrote.
(Earlier updates and the full Nov. 8 Granite Status follow.)
THURSDAY, NOV. 8, UPDATE: O'BRIEN'S CHOICES. House speaker Bill O'Brien today quickly ended speculation that he may run for chairman of the state Republican Party in January.
He told the Granite Status he has no interest in the post currently held by Wayne MacDonald.
'If I were going to stay engaged, it would have been as House Republican Leader,' said O'Brien, R-Mont Vernon, who was forced to give up his position as speaker by the election results, which put Democrats in the majority in the House.
O'Brien said he has no interest in being the leader of the minority caucus in the House, either.
Instead, for the House GOP leadership post, he said he favors Deputy Speaker Pam Tucker, R-Greenland, over Speaker Pro Tem Gene Chandler, R-Bartlett, whom he described as 'the two principal candidates.' He said he considers both friends.
'My take on it is that I think Pam Tucker would be a great person to lead the House Republicans,' O'Brien said. 'I think it's maybe time for some of us who have been there a while to step back a little bit and let there be a new face for the party.'
Tucker endorsed O'Brien for speaker two years ago, while Chandler ran against him.
Republican House members will caucus on Nov. 15 to choose a leader. The majority Democrats will caucus on Nov. 17 and are expected to choose between Reps. Terie Norelli, D-Portsmouth, the former speaker, and Rep. David Campbell, D-Nashua, for their leader.
House members will officially choose a speaker on Dec. 5.
O'Brien, who won reelection as a House member, said he intends to now 'reach a different balance' personally by re-starting his law practice, which he said he almost entirely abandoned while he worked '60 to 70 hours a week' as speaker, and 'meet my obligations as a back-bencher' in the House.
That is also why he has no interest in running for state GOP chairman when the party makes its choice in January.
'Whoever is party chairman should approach the role as a full-time job, just as you do as House speaker,' O'Brien said.
He said he sees 'merit' in the party considering paying a full time chairman.
Meanwhile, current NHGOP chairman MacDonald said he has not yet decided whether he will seek a full term as chairman.
MacDonald, the former vice chairman, became chairman after former chairman Jack Kimball resigned in October 2011. MacDonald is currently filling Kimball's unexpired term.
'I want to give it a week or a week-and-a-half to shake out at this point,' MacDonald said. 'I want to let things settle before I make my decision. Whatever I do I want to make sure the party is in good hands and moving in the right direction."
Conservative Jennifer Horn, founder of the 'We the People' advocacy group and a former congressional candidate, confirmed she has been approached by party activists over the past two days asking her to consider running for party chair.
She has not decided, she said, but 'I do think we need to re-group and rebuild and reevaluate how we ended up as we did on Tuesday and have serious and honest conversations about what kind of leadership will get us where we need to be.
'The people who have reached out to me are people that I respect and care about and I take them seriously,' Horn said. 'I will give it serious consideration but whether I will run is not decided, yet.'
State Republicans will soon hold caucuses throughout the state to choose state committee members. The state committee will meet in late January to choose its leadership. The first caucus is in Derry on Tuesday.
(The full Nov. 8 Granite Status follows.)
THURSDAY, NOV. 8: WHAT'S GOING ON HERE? Another November, another wave election in New Hampshire.
Two years ago, the wave was Republican red. Tuesday it was Democratic blue.
So what else is new?
Tuesday marked the fifth wave election in the past six New Hampshire campaigns.
The state went red in 2002 and 2010 and blue in 2006, 2008, and now in 2012.
Why has the state become so - well - bi-polar?
This year, there were several factors:
-- Displeasure with the "Tea Party" nature of the New Hampshire Republican Party over the past two years, embodied by soon-to-be former House speaker Bill O'Brien and, to a lesser degree, Ovide Lamontagne and Frank Guinta.
-- A weak top of the ticket in Mitt Romney, who, despite his home here, was never, in two tries, able to fully connect with this state.
-- A strong close by President Barack Obama, with a massive get-out-the-vote effort by his campaign and a rejuvenated overall state Democratic operation that bounced back from its own debacle in 2010.
-- A sharp, textbook campaign by Gov.-elect Maggie Hassan in the mold of John Lynch and Jeanne Shaheen.
-- A passive campaign by Lamontagne, who gave further credence to the age-old notion that nice guys finish last.
We'll get to all that shortly, but first, history.
- - - - - - -
REMEMBERING SUSAN. "Heaven is abuzz with election results," U.S. Rep.-elect Ann Kuster said Wednesday.
She was referring to her late mother, former state Sen. Susan McLane, who served in the New Hampshire Legislature for a quarter of a century and was an early proponent of recruiting New Hampshire women to become active in government.
Perhaps McLane's dream is fulfilled now that New Hampshire made history by completing the first-ever-in-the-nation all-women congressional delegation, not to mention it will have a woman governor, too.
In January, Kuster will join Carol Shea-Porter in the U.S. House while Jeanne Shaheen and Kelly Ayotte will continue in the U.S. Senate.
But as Kuster pointed out, "It's no fluke."
Dating back to the days when her mother chaired the House Ways and Means Committee and went on to become a powerful player in the state Senate, New Hampshire has long had women of both political parties in prominent roles in Concord.
Some who come to mind are the late House Majority Leader Caroline Gross, Donna Sytek, the first woman New Hampshire House speaker; Vesta Roy, the first woman Senate President; former seven-term state Sen. Eileen Foley and former House Democratic Leader Mary Chambers, who was the first woman House leader of either party.
Former House speaker Terie Norelli may be speaker again, although she is expected to have a contested race.
We could go on.
Shaheen recalled in an interview that when she was took office as governor, Sytek headed the House and Beverly Hollingworth, who lost a bid to return to the Senate on Tuesday, was the Senate President.
"We were the first in the country to have that," Shaheen recalled. "We also elected an all-woman majority leadership of the state Senate, for the first time in the country."
Hassan and Kuster call Shaheen their mentor. Shaheen said Susan McLane was a mentor of sorts to her.
"She was one of the people who reached out to me and offered support and help over the years when I was getting involved in politics, so it's really exciting to see it come full circle," said Shaheen, the first woman in the country to serve as a governor and U.S. Senator.
"What happened Tuesday is a great testament to the voters of New Hampshire who clearly understand that it's not about gender, but that it's about what your views are and what expertise and ability you bring to the job.
"For a very long time, we had the highest percentage of women in our state Legislature. We've had women being ground-breakers for a very long time," Shaheen said.
Hassan said the state's tradition of being gender-blind "shows that voters care about solving problems. They want to bring whatever the right experience and perspective is to the problem, and this time that happened to be women who were running for office."
Former and future U.S. Rep. Carol Shea-Porter said she felt "blessed" in 2006 to become the first woman Granite Stater to serve in the U.S. House, "and now I'm fortunate enough to be part of history again."
She said she had "a very nice call" with Republican Ayotte on Wednesday, "and discussed the passion we share for serving our military men and women."
- - - - - - -
WHY THE SWINGS? There was plenty of analysis to go around on why what happened on Tuesday really happened.
Fairly or unfairly, plenty of blame was placed on the GOP majority in the New Hampshire House and now outgoing speaker O'Brien.
Shaheen said the regular shifts in the mood of the voters "is a reflection of how they feel about the decisions being made by the policy-makers at the time."
She called the Tuesday vote "a repudiation of the extreme agenda that people perceived in the state Legislature. It was a clear signal that they want to keep things moving forward in the direction of John Lynch and moderation and the progress the state has made in so many areas."
Senate Majority Leader Jeb Bradley, a Republican, was tossed out of the U.S. House in 2006 by Shea-Porter riding a big blue wave.
This time, he said, "There was a perception among independent voters that this Legislature over-reached and didn't focus on jobs and the economy and got sidetracked on ideological issues, the same way the Democrats got sidetracked two years ago."
He said the Senate "focused on what matters," and, as a result, didn't flip, as the House did.
In the governor's race, Bradley said, "Maggie and her team did a better job of painting Ovide as an ultra-conservative than Ovide and his team did painting her as a ultra-liberal."
Bradley said Hassan, while liberal, "knows you've got to govern from the middle. When I debated her in the Senate, I always had to bring my 'A' game."
Then, there was the grassroots.
Shaheen called the state Obama organization "exemplary, probably one of the best campaign efforts I've ever seen in New Hampshire."
And she's been working on New Hampshire campaigns since 1980.
She noted that with contested races in Massachusetts and Maine, the vast majority of volunteers in the state were not imported from other states, but were "New Hampshire folks who felt strongly about the election."
State Democratic Party Chairman Ray Buckley contained his joy at the results long enough for a pragmatic analysis.
"We are truly a purple state," he said, "and so all it takes is a slight movement one way or another to flip the whole thing.
"In 2010, just enough Democrats sat home. In 2012, just enough Democrats showed up.
"Where the Republicans seem to be a little bit more consistent, Democrats are fluctuating a little more about whether we're showing up or not, and that makes a world of difference," said Buckley.
- - - - - - -
NEXT UP? 2014 is just around the corner, politically speaking.
Who, from the GOP point of view, are the survivors of the Tuesday debacle and the most likely top players going forward?
Lamontagne, now "oh-for-four," has probably seen his last race.
Kevin Smith, who was blown away in the September gubernatorial primary by Lamontagne but who ran a thoughtful, articulate first-time race, emerges as a strong potential candidate to take on Hassan in two years.
Smith did an effective job heading the No Income Tax PAC. Although Question 1, to place an income tax ban in the constitution, failed to receive the necessary two-thirds majority, it was supported by 57 percent. Not a bad showing.
He was not ruling out a candidacy on Wednesday, but said, "In the immediate future I plan to be involved in rebuilding the party and making sure we rebound and have a strong 2014 election."
Very early speculation for governor is also centering on Manchester Mayor Ted Gatsas, state Sen. Chuck Morse, Bradley, former RNC member and congressional hopeful Sean Mahoney and fellow former U.S. House candidate Rich Ashooh.
- - - - - - -
STARTING EARLY. And, of course, the other big 2014 race will be for the U.S. Senate.
Shaheen reiterated Wednesday she intends to seek reelection and intends to get started soon.
"Sadly, the world we're in is that there is so much outside money in the campaign that you have to start early," she said.
Who emerges to take her on?
John E. Sununu is the obvious first name to come up, but if he shuns a rubber match with Shaheen, attention turns to Bradley and Guinta.
- - - - - - -
This week's loss probably won't deter Guinta from strongly considering running again for a major office, whether it's the House or Senate.
After all, our next governor lost to Russell Prescott two years ago. As we know, the political pendulum swings and '14 will be another mid-term election.
Others on the GOP "bench" for top offices include businessman Fred Tausch, who ran the advocacy group STEWARD of Prosperity; former congressional candidate Jennifer Horn; outgoing state Sen. Gary Lambert; Portsmouth attorney John Lyons; and, if he's not too busy building a media empire, former U.S. Senate candidate Bill Binnie.
More immediately, the state GOP will select a chairman in January. Names we've heard on that front include Horn and, yes, O'Brien.
- - - - - - - -
John DiStaso is senior political reporter of the New Hampshire Union Leader and New Hampshire Sunday News. He can be reached at email@example.com. Twitter: @jdistaso.


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Pressure Injuries: Pressure-Relieving Devices and SupportsSkip to the navigation
Topic Overview
Several pressure-relieving devices and supports can be used to prevent or treat pressure injuries. These include:
- Special foam overlays for mattresses. Talk to your doctor about where to get this special foam for medical use.
- "Air-fluidized" support, which forces air through a special covering on the bed to make it softer or more like liquid. The air can be turned alternately on and off, to periodically relieve the pressure. This device can be used in a bed or on an operating table.
- Special sheepskin overlays on mattresses. Talk to your doctor about where to get this special sheepskin for medical use.
- Constant low-pressure supports, such as mattresses, overlays, and cushions made of high-density or contoured foam that can be filled with air, water, beads, or fiber. These supports help distribute body weight evenly and may relieve contact pressure.
- Low air-loss beds, which have inflatable upright sacs made of a special fabric in their mattresses. The inflated sacs help distribute body weight more evenly over the mattress and may relieve pressure on the skin.
The foam called "egg crate," with bumps that look like the inside of an egg carton, has been used in the past. But egg-crate foam has not been shown to help prevent or treat pressure injuries.
Related Information
Other Works Consulted
- Qaseem A, et al. (2015). Risk assessment and prevention of pressure ulcers: A clinical practice guideline from the American College of Physicians. Annals of Internal Medicine, 162(5): 359-369. DOI: 10.7326/M14-1567. Accessed April 9, 2015.
- Qaseem A, et al. (2015). Treatment of pressure ulcers: A clinical practice guideline from the American College of Physicians. Annals of Internal Medicine, 162(5): 370-379. DOI: 10.7326/M14-1568. Accessed April 9, 2015.
ByHealthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine
Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer Margaret Doucette, DO - Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Wound Care, Hyperbaric Medicine
Current as ofJune 7, 2017
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Have you been baking your little heart out this holiday season? I love seeing cookie and baked good recipes all over (what can I say, sweets make me happy!) and I've bookmarked dozens of them over the past month or so. This past Sunday was the first time this month that I've actually baked. A tragedy really but hey, better late than never. I learned how to make toffee too and dare I say… it was life changing!
Now that I know how easy it is, there will be lots and lots of toffee in my future. And the future of my family and friends. Prepare yourself peeps. If you know me, there will be toffee coming your way at some point in your life. Nothing to complain about, that's for sure.
So the toffee making process was born from the desire to make the chocolate almond saltine toffee recipe from Food & Wine. I've had saltine bark before (a.k.a crack) but this was my first time making my own. Toffee is basically butter (lots of it), sugar (yup, lots of it too), and corn syrup boiled together until it reaches 300* (a candy thermometer is very key here!!). Once these 3 simple ingredients turn into a golden brown syrupy goodness, you poor it into a container (in this case, over saltine crackers actually) and then cool it. After 15 minutes in the freezer, you have a sweet crunchy candy. Man, it's good!
Fun fact: Our wedding favors were sweet sloops which are little sailboat shaped toffee candies dipped in i2 kinds of chocolate and pecan crumbs. Awesomeness in a pretty package. So are these:
Salty saltines + sweet crunchy toffee + creamy dreamy chocolate + nuts = happiness all around. Life changing.
The back side
Dig in!!
This little tin has someone's name on it…
Have you ever made toffee? Other things that got me as giddy ("life changing" was also possibly mentioned in relevant posts): making marshmallows, making challah bread, making pretzel sandwich buns, Italian bread, and making ricotta. I think it's something about demystifying some of my favorite foods, as well as the pride that comes from turning a handful of ingredients into a completely different form of deliciousness. Yup, that's it.
PS – Other baked goods created during this baking extravaganza (thanks, Tiffany, for hosting!)…
… and peanut butter blossoms
What have you been baking lately?