text:
If a portable air conditioner is in a room with a window, assemble the window kit it came to vent the hot air outdoors. For rooms without windows, set up the unit to vent hot air out of the room through a sliding door, wall or drop ceiling.
To assemble a standard air conditioner window kit, place the unit within a few feet of a window, depending on the length of the supplied vent hose. Most vent hoses are about 4 to 5 feet in length. Attach the window bracket to the window, and trim it if necessary to achieve a snug fit. Then, attach one end of the vent hose to the air conditioner and the other end to the window bracket using the vent hose adapter. After shutting the window tightly, the air conditioner should be ready to vent hot air outside.
If a window is not available, an alternative is to attach the window bracket to a sliding door and use a material like plywood to seal the rest of the vertical opening. Another option is to cut an appropriately sized hole in the wall through which the unit can vent hot hair. A jigsaw is useful for cutting the hole, and silicone caulk works well for sealing the edges of the hole after venting the air conditioner. If none of these options are feasible, a final option is to purchase an air conditioner that comes with a built-in mounting system for attaching the unit to a ceiling panel.


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Tumble Forms add-on leg abductor wedges, 5" high and attaches with hook-fabric-fastener. Each abductor wedge comes with a loop-fabric-fastener already attached to match.
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Meet Imam Kamouss, the handsome, popular, self-proclaimed moderate Muslim preacher who has become the face of intolerance and terror across Germany.
BERLIN — On an unseasonably warm day in early October, off a busy artery that cuts through the heart of Berlin's Wedding neighborhood, the voice of Imam Abdul Adhim Kamouss rings out of Bilal Mosque.
Inside, men and women sit in a narrow, carpeted room. Africans, Germans, Pakistanis, and Turks are on hand to listen to the 37-year-old Kamouss, a Moroccan preacher who seamlessly translates the Quran into German, his words punctuated by a French lilt.
"On this Day of Arafah, the Prophet Mohammed says God will come down and forgive all your sins — all except those who carry hate and spite in their hearts," Kamouss bellows, describing the Islamic holy day. "God said he created us with different languages, cultures, backgrounds so we can get to know one another. How can we get to know one another if we don't open up to each other?"


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Tart Shrug by Linda Permann
Welcome! You are browsing as a guestCreate a free account to see 8 projects made from this pattern and more... What am I missing?
© Caro Sheridan
© alc13
© alc13
© Caro Sheridan
© Caro Sheridan
© Caro Sheridan
Tart Shrug
This pattern is available for $7.00 USD buy it now
Shown in: Malabrigo "Twist", 100g/ 3.5 oz, 150 yds/ 138 m,
100% pure baby merino wool; 4 (4, 6, 6, 7, 8) skeins
in #30, Purple Mystery
Please note: This yarn lies somewhere between a worsted and a bulky (a heavy worsted, really). The pattern mistakenly mentions both bulky and worsted-- the most important thing is that you get gauge and like the look. Apologies for the error.
Shrug off cooler temperatures with this pretty layering piece. The tart-sized motifs are quick to make in worsted weight yarn, and joining them as you go means you won't have to do much sewing. Close it up with a dramatic button for extra flavor.
About this pattern
8 projects, in 55 queues
About this yarn
by Malabrigo Yarn
100% Merino
150 yards / 100 grams
rating of 4.7 from 2310 votes
9780 projects
stashed 6793 times
About this yarn
by madelinetosh
100% Merino
165 yards
rating of 4.8 from 1702 votes
7998 projects
stashed 7359 times
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Home > Socks
Brand: Rocket Originals
Classic Argyle pattern socks in brown, yellow and beige. These are made especially for Rocket Originals by one of the oldest hosiery manufacturers in England (they've been in business since 1895).
They are top quality in a cotton (80%) and nylon (20%) mix, and come in one size to fit a men's UK size 6 to 11,
We do our best to dispatch orders within one working day after they have been placed. We have a cut-off time of 2pm for orders requesting next day delivery. There may be a delay if an order is placed while we are working away at an event, in which case all orders are dispatched the day after we return. Please check our Events section on our home page for details and dates of the events we will be trading at.
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By: Carolyn Abbot
Monitoring and enforcement issues must be analysed when determining the effectiveness of pollution control regulation, and clearly influence choices about how to regulate. This book demonstrates how an economic analysis of law enforcement can generate important insights into how best to enforce pollution control regulation. It seeks to provide a clear and accessible way into the law and economics literature on enforcement.
As regulation and enforcement take on increasing importance in the environmental policy realm, I applaud Abbot's effort to take a fresh look at this important topic. While contributing to existing literature and studies in this area, the book's value goes beyond a "mere" contribution. It illustrates how an economic analysis, such as the expanded deterrence model, can provide valuable insights about pollution control regulation...This book would be of great interest to those involved in environmental policymaking or regulation at both the national and international levels. It would also appeal to public law scholars...The book would be wonderful addition to graduate courses focused on environmental regulation and enforcement...This is one of the most innovative and refreshing books I have read on international environmental law in quite some time...a must read for anyone interested in this subject. Denise DeGarmo The Law & Politics Book Review Vol.19, No.11, November 25, 2009
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People who have had their lives changed by Jesus have been sharing their story for thousands of years. Check out some of the stories and then share your own!
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Iligan City, Philippines [ show map ]
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I'm here to meet guys minimum 60 years old for friendship, marriage and serious relationship.
hi! about myself i am Nessa Asian Woman fair complexioned,5'3 tall, 55kg, black long hair, black eyes..Widow almost 5 yrs ago ,. my two children is grown up and they have their own life.. and not live me.. i am living alone, i'm healthy, active as i work everyday, i like cooking, i love to travel when i am.. open minded, loving - caring loyal, kind and friendly person,,
I want to meet here DIA for someones else, who is willing to accept me what and who i am myself..someone have a good sense of humor, loyalty kindness . understanding .caring and friendly person.. i want to meet here my partner for long life to spend for the rest of my Life..with the one i love.. and someone who loves me for who i am... thanks.. all for accepting me as a new friends here D I A ....


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text:
Tunnel of PETRA accelerator ring, DESY
A088/0027 Rights Managed
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Keywords: accelerator, desy, german, germany, hamburg, magnet, nuclear research, particle physics laboratory, petra accelerator
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Quick Reference
Ornamental penwork elaboration of a letter's form, generally made by extending one of its elements, most commonly an ascender or a descender. See also calligraphy.
Subjects: Bibliography.
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text: Hi, just got my pb for school. I need recomendations I need a big bag either a messenger or a back pack that can hold a pda, a cell phone, a cuople cds and or dvds, the adapter for the pb, an external hd and its adapter, and maybe a the canon powershot g2 camera. do any of you guys with pb have any recommendations. I will be flying home every 6 months so i wont really use it cept on flights or train trips.


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Let's Give Thanks
Thanksgiving is almost here, and all of us at Let's Talk Health couldn't be more thankful. Since we officially launched our Facebook page in 2012, we have been so touched and pleased by the numerous Facebook recommendations you have posted. Without us doing anything to encourage you to spread the news, we've been thrilled to see how many of you took the extra effort to recommend us to your friends. Due to the endless support we've received from you, we have been fortunate enough to acquire nearly 15,000 Facebook fans! As a token of our gratitude, we are giving away products the Let's Talk Health Facebook page. From Monday, November 25 until Thursday (Thanksgiving Day), we will post 1 "Let's Give Thanks" photo a day (seen below) — a total of 4 photos. For a chance to win the free giveaway, follow the instructions listed on the Facebook post. (Read More)


text:
Some internal T-Mobile documents are indicating their version of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 will be going on sale October 26 (barring any delays). T-Mobile will be joining multiple retailers here in the US who currently offer the popular razor-thin slate.
This is pretty awesome news for the T-Mo faithful, especially given the legal troubles that Samsung and Apple are currently entangled in around the world. Right now, the Galaxy Tab 10.1 is seeing injunctions in Australia and Germany. Honestly, consumers living in the United States should probably be feeling a bit fortunate that they are still able to get their hands on this beautiful piece of hardware without any problems. Really, we feel for some of you international folks out there that can't.
There's no word yet on what the T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 variant will cost but given that you can grab an unlocked one for only $499, the carrier may decide to slightly subsidize the price down to around $300 on contract, as it did with its G-Slate tablet. Check back with us as more details begin to develop. Would any of you grab the Galaxy Tab 10.1 on contract? What would be the ideal price point?
[via TmoNews]


text:
The Los Angeles Basin is periodically subject to devastating floods resulting in substantial property damage. Such damage is intensified by debris flows resulting from the destruction of the watershed by major brush fires.
During floods, the prime mission of your Department of Public Works is the control of flood waters in the major rivers and channels throughout the County.
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The following discussion stresses solutions to problems of particular significance to the growing number of residents in hillside areas. These temporary solutions can be accomplished by individual homeowners. Although the information is intended to develop solutions to reduce the threat of flood damage, there is no guarantee that they will prevent damage or injury.
When the storm season arrives (October to April), flooding and debris flows occur, making it more difficult to perform emergency work. Therefore, I recommend you initiate your preparation for the rainy season immediately.


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33 1/3rpm LP
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Diverse Records 180g
Fionn Regan The Shadow Of An Empire 180g LP
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Brand/Label/Format: *Diverse Records 180g LP*
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Pop Rock
Item Number: DIVLP026
Unit Price: $29.99
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Detailed Description
Diverse Records, as well as releasing albums by established international acts (Alison Krauss, Richard Thompson, Joan Baez) like to put out LPs by artists they love and introduce them to a wider vinyl audience (Dolly Varden, Richmond Fontaine, The Duke & The King). Next up in that list is Irish singer-songwriter Fionn Regan.
Its been an interesting couple of years for Fionn Regan. Never one to take the easy route, Fionn could easily have made a safe and predictable follow-up to The End Of History, his 2007 Mercury-nominated and critically lauded debut. He could have simply recorded another collection of beguiling acoustic beauties. He could have made The End Of History Part Two. But that would have been too easy. Instead Fionn has returned with a very different second album bursting with ideas and a set of dazzling new tunes which are sure to reaffirm his reputation as both maverick genius and one of the most talented contemporary singer-songwriters around. If "The End Of History" was the sound of the countryside and woodland lanes "The Shadow Of An Empire" is the sound of towns and dimly lit streets; heartfelt and with a ragged edge. Regan has ploughed himself a new furrow.
It was during a period of great global upheaval, whilst touring his debut album for two years worldwide, and in particular across the US, as Fionn puts it - "seeing the world, the bone structure, the pulp" - that he began work on its follow up. It seems natural that his response was to become more outward looking and in "The Shadow Of An Empire" this manifests itself in a collection of songs that are peopled with characters and conversational dialogue. The often witty vignettes are used to facilitate more complex soul-searching.
Fionn again produced the album himself but the journey to this end wasnt as straightforward this time around. Fionn parted company with Lost Highway last year when it became apparent that they had different ideas for the album. Fionn bought himself a trident desk and a tape machine, set up in a small, disused factory space in Co. Wicklow, Ireland and set about making the album without interference. Never short of champions, Jeff Barrett was bowled over by the results and quickly signed him up for what was Heavenly Recordings first release of 2010 and Diverse Records first of 2011!
Audiophile 180 Gram Vinyl
Fionn Regan, vocals, guitar, organ, piano, tambourine, banjo, harmonica, mandolin
Laura Murphy, backing vocals
Gavin Wheatley, piano
Stephen O'Brien, bass
Drew McConnel, bass
Brian Murphy, drums, bass
1. Protection Racket
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SEGA is pleased to announce that Jam, a brand new character, will be making his debut in Super Monkey Ball Step & Roll.
Jam isn't like any other monkey – he's your personal athletics trainer! He'll help you get AiAi and all his friends through the zany puzzles and fun mini games and will keep you laughing all the while with his cheeky antics. If you follow his tips and tricks, you'll have what it takes to complete each puzzle and mini game with ease.


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Makes 4 servings, one calzone each.
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Sprinkle each calzone lightly with KRAFT Grated Parmesan Cheese before baking.
Serve with fresh crisp CLAUSSEN Pickles, cut-up fresh vegetables or a colorful fruit salad.
* Nutrition information is estimated based on the ingredients and cooking instructions as described in each recipe and is intended to be used for informational purposes only. Please note that nutrition details may vary based on methods of preparation, origin and freshness of ingredients used.


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The true-life spouses of TLC's Sister Wives (premiering September 26 at 10/9c) have more in common with the Henricksons of HBO's Big Love than just their polygamist lifestyle. But there are major differences as well. TV Guide Magazine spoke with Fundamentalist Mormon Kody Brown and his wives, Meri, 39, Janelle, 40, Christine, 37, and soon-to-be fourth wife Robyn, 31, about how their challenges compare to those of Bill, Barb, Nicki and Margene.
TV Guide Magazine: How do you relate to the Big Love brood?
Kody: I can relate to Bill as the guy you see and go, 'Oh man, you're in Hell. This is hard.' I've been there. But that show is completely soap opera. I think we're more interesting.
TV Guide Magazine: On Big Love, first wife Barb maintains a strict calendar of bedroom rotations. How do you divide time with Kody?
Kody: It's a mess and we're still working it out, but Meri doesn't dictate the schedule.
Meri: There's no seniority with us. It's all a team effort.
Janelle: Kody's schedule is always flexible and in flux.
Christine: I like more of a set thing so that I am able to know, for instance, on Wednesdays I can go hang out with my friends.
TV Guide Magazine: Last season, Nicki was caught using birth control. How would your family deal with such a situation?
Christine: The sexual intimacies we have are very individual and private.
Kody: But I would add it's a woman's choice what happens with her body. I don't tell them how to live.
Janelle: And if he tried, can you imagine?
TV Guide Magazine: Eldest Henrickson child Sarah decided that her family's lifestyle was not for her and moved away. How would you deal with this?
Meri: You're going to see that on our show.
Janelle: My daughter Madison is 14, and I think it's great to see her free to make a choice for herself.
TV Guide Magazine: Margene found Bill a potential fourth wife whom he briefly married. Relatable?
Meri: Janelle says I'm in mergers and acquisitions, but that's not my role. It just so happened that we met Janelle through my family, and Christine through her sister. Kody and I met Robyn at the same time.
TV Guide Magazine: Bill had sexual relations with fourth wife, Ana, before they wed. Is Kody allowed to 'date'?
Kody: I saw that episode and it bugged the hell out of Meri and me. I thought it was very unrealistic. Robyn and I have had a courtship, but it has been non-sexual.
Robyn: There are boundaries that aren't crossed and it's a huge taboo if they are. I spent a lot of time with all the wives as well as with Kody.
TV Guide Magazine: Together you are raising 14 children, age three months to 16 years. What is your reaction to Big Love's long flirtation between youngest wife Margene and Bill and Barb's teenage son, Ben?
(All the wives voice loud shock and objection)
Christine: Are you serious? That's just sick and wrong. We'll leave it at that.
TV Guide Magazine: Last season, after struggling so hard to keep his lifestyle hidden, Bill had a calling that his family should be accepted publicly. He went so far as to run for office and got elected. Could you ever see yourself entering politics to gain acceptance?
Christine: Since our lifestyle is illegal, we're not allowed to hold public office.
Kody: But I do hope someday someone in my lifestyle will be able to run for office.
Robyn: We would like the rights that everyone has.
TV Guide Magazine: This issue parallels the current hot topic of the rights of gay men and women, which are not supported by the traditional Mormon Church, even though Big Love has presented the struggles of closeted gay Mormon characters. Where do you stand on this issue?
Janelle: Everyone should have their rights as long as it doesn't infringe on anyone else's.
Christine: Consenting adults should be able to live how they want to live.
Kody: I wish I had the right to love and marry who I want. I think this should be left out of the hands of the state and left to churches based upon the tenants of their doctrines. Or individuals based on their choices. We deal with prejudice from family and friends on a daily basis. We are people who just want to be free to love each other the way we choose.


text:
Chalkboard Pumpkin
This item is currently out of stock.
Create your own season's greetings with this wonderful chalkboard pumpkin sign! The compact size chalkboard adorned with a sparkling metal leaf, bells and a straw bow, bringing festive charm to your own creations. A stable wooden base keeps it upright, making this the perfect item to greet your guests and loved ones, keep a note in your office or highlight your personal holiday menu.
- Charming wooden chalkboard with seasonal décor ornaments
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- 10"L x 9.8"W x 3"H
- Material: 95% Wood, 3% metal, 2% burlap
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Begin with the End in Mind.
Don't miss out on this unique and exciting opportunity to utilize your strategic and creative thinking skills, project management ability and communications expertise as our next Senior Manager of Change Management!
About this Position
In conjunction with the Director, Change Management, work stream leaders and key stakeholders, this position utilizes Sodexo's change management approach to identify key organizational change impacts, and to develop and implement specific strategies and tactics to address these impacts for initiatives across North America.
More specifically, this position will consult with work stream leaders to conduct stakeholder analysis, evaluate change impacts and desired outcomes, develop communication plans, and leverage advanced communications skills to design and develop communications materials in conjunction with project resources and Sodexo's Communications Department. Typical communications materials may include PowerPoint presentations, Gold Mails, leadership talking points, Frequently Asked Questions, Sodexonet and e-Bulletin content.
In addition, this role will help to assess training needs related to the changes at hand and contribute to developing strategies & tactics to address them. In order to ensure lasting change, this position also assists with establishing and evaluating relevant measurements before, during and after the change is implemented and works with the Director, Change Management, and work stream leaders to take appropriate actions that sustain desired behaviors.
Are you the one?
Our ideal candidate will have 5-7 years of directly relevant experience involving managing organizational change in areas such as consulting, communications, organizational development or human resources. In addition, our selected candidate will have exceptional verbal and written communication skills with the ability to successfully communicate, influence and build relationships at all levels of the organization. The ability to manage multiple initiatives, handle diverse situations and meet aggressive project timelines is a must. Advanced MS PowerPoint and MS Word skills are required.
Location and Travel
Preference will be given to candidates who are within a commutable distance to Sodexo HQ in Gaithersburg, MD or our office in Buffalo, NY, however remote candidates residing near a major airport within the U.S. may also be considered. This position requires up to 20% travel.
Sound like the opportunity you've been waiting for?Apply TODAY! We look forward to hearing from you.
Position Summary
Utilizes Sodexo's change management approach to identify key organizational change impacts, and to develop and implement specific strategies and tactics to address these which includes but is not limited to consultation with work stream leaders to conduct stakeholder analysis, evaluate change impacts and desired outcomes, develop communication plans, and design and develop communications materials in conjunction with Sodexo Communications Department. Assesses training needs. Establishes and evaluates change-related measurements and takes action to address.
Qualifications & Requirements
Basic Education Requirement - Bachelor's Degree
Basic Management Experience - 5 years
Basic Functional Experience - 3 years of organizational change experience.
Sodexo is an EEO/AA/Minority/Female/Disability/Veteran employer.
System ID 67527


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For Immediate Release
December 19, 2014
Donna Kemp Spangler
Communications Director
EPA Declares Utah Meets Annual Particulate Standards
Salt Lake City, Utah – Utah's air is in compliance with standards for fine particulate pollution on an annual basis, thanks to the Utah Department of Environmental Quality's statewide efforts to improve air quality over the past decades.
In a letter to Governor Gary Herbert, EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy declared all of Utah in compliance with the annual standard for particulate pollution, PM2.5 , after reviewing the most recent certified air quality data for Utah. In 2012, the annual standard was tightened from 15 micrograms per cubic meter (ug/m3) to 12 ug/m3.
"This is good news," said Amanda Smith, director of DEQ. "The Division of Air Quality (DAQ) has worked with industry, stakeholders, and the public on a plan that has resulted in emission reductions and healthier air year round."
The annual measurement however doesn't diminish the fact that Utah still does not meet the 24 hour standard. This month, the Air Quality Board approved a State Implementation Plan (SIP) that adds controls to improve air quality with a focus on the winter season along the Wasatch Front and in Cache Valley.
"Utah still faces challenges with meeting the standard during winter inversions," said Bryce Bird, director of DAQ. "Reductions in pollutants from industrial and transportation sources are tied to the improvements in the annual averages of fine particulate pollution. This achievement of the annual standard highlights the fact that we do have great air quality for much of the year, but we still have considerable work ahead of us to address those winter days when our air is unhealthy."
When setting the revised annual standard in 2012, EPA noted that an extensive body of scientific evidence indicates that breathing in PM2.5 over the course of hours to days (short-term exposure) and months to years (long-term exposure) can cause serious public health effects that include premature death and adverse cardiovascular effects. The evidence also links PM2.5 exposure to harmful respiratory effects.
In the letter, McCarthy said, "I have determined that no area within Utah violates the 2012 standard or contributes to a nearby violation of the standard. As a result, the EPA is designating all of Utah 'unclassifiable/attainment.'"
About DEQ
Established in 1991, the Utah Department of Environmental Quality's (DEQ) mission is to safeguard public health and quality of life by protecting and enhancing the environment. DEQ implements state and federal environmental laws and works with individuals, community groups and businesses to protect the quality of Utah's air, land and water. For more information, visit www.deq.utah.gov, follow DEQ on Facebook (utahdeq) and Twitter (UtahDEQ), or call 1-800-458-0145.


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Cutter Buck New Orleans Saints Element Jacquard Performance Polo Black
You're the man – the polo man that is! That's what they call you at work at least. You've got one for every occasion – every occasion but the Saints game! Snaz up your game day gear with this Element Jacquard polo by Cutter Buck. The polo features an embroidered Saints logo on the left chest for a classy display of NOLA pride. Thanks to Cutter Buck's DryTec Luxe technology you'll be staying cool no matter how hot New Orleans gets; the breathable fabric wicks away moisture to keep you cool and comfortable on those hot Nawlins days. So go ahead, be the polo man and show off your Saints team spirit!
- 56% Pima Cotton/44% Polyester
- Imported
- Officially licensed Saints polo
- Placket with three buttons
- Quality embroidery
- Side slits at hem
- Tagless collar


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When my daughter Stella celebrated her first birthday in the spring of 2005, we had her checked for lead, and her level was dangerously high. Here I was fretting about the type of plastic used in her baby bottles, cooking homemade organic baby food, and obsessing over the quality and contents of all that she and I consumed, and I didn't even think to wonder if she was being exposed to known neurotoxin like lead. If she hadn't been tested – further – if no research had ever been done on lead – I wouldn't have been able to protect her. But because of that test I was able to protect her, and she's totally healthy. Words cannot express how thankful I am for that test.
Just around the same time that we went through our lead scare, I started to hear about flame-retardants and bisphenol exposures and effects in children, and I started wondering what Stella was being exposed to that I didn't know about – that there was no test for yet. And what would be the ramifications of that exposure. What is the next lead, or arsenic or thalidomide or DDT? Do you wonder about environmental health issues like these?
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Did you know that this year we are celebrating the 300 anniversary of when the Siri Guru Granth Sahib was established as the Guru for the Sikhs? In this video Shanti Kaur talks about God and how we relate to the Siri Guru Granth Sahib.
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Marc Adrian
Marc Adrian is a photographer from USA. Marc Adrian is specialized in advertising, beauty, editorial, fashion photography.
Visit the portfolio of Marc Adrian at http://www.marcadrianfoto.com.
The world's best photographers on plsr. the international photography showcase.
"Originally from Scotland, I have been based out of Seattle and also Miami since 1999. For the past several years I have been shooting assignments for clients in locations such as; Prague, Berlin, LA, Venice, NYC, Miami & most recently Cape Town.
Specializing in Commercial/Editorial Beauty & Fashion; the work I produce is often referred to as being extraordinarily detailed and vibrant.
I have produced work for Gavin Rajah - Cape Town & Paris, National Geographic TV, Gerber Legendary Blades, Design Book, Porsche North America Inc., Men's Fitness, Fox Sports Network, Base Productions, NG Fashion, Mod'Mag Brazil, TV Week.... etc."


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The Joshua Tree - 30 Years Old
30 years ago today U2 released "The Joshua Tree". The album would win the band 2 Grammy Awards as well as sell over 25 Million copies worldwide.
As a music fan its hard to pinpoint any single record, or create "best ofs" because the moods always change. 30 years on though I can say this album ranks in my top 10, regardless of my moods.
I was 16 when it came out, March of 1987. I was a junior in high school and over the prior few years had started to "get in to music". About a year before I started to look at punk records and "indie label"bands. I'd go to Newbury Comics and buy the newest issue of NME (it would be at least a month old) to read about what I should be listening to.
At the time the web and all our conveniences with access to bands/music was a few years off. Any glimpse, mention, even song on the radio felt fleeting. If you missed it, you'd never see or hear it again. U2 threw me in to that hole of "following" a band. Granted I was working a part time job for $3.35 an hour but by god I was going to buy every magazine, single, ep, cd, record, tape that was released. Even if the cover was different I needed it. I clipped articles, I tried to talk with like minded friends. A few got it, others did not. I was able to see them a few times on the various legs of this tour as well.
This summer the band will celebrate the 30th by taking it out on the road. U2 has been at it for a long time that many greeted this with a collective "eye roll". The shows sold quickly and additional nights were added in many cities.
Perhaps its taking folks back to "good times". Heck at the time 17 years old was confusing, frustrating, happy, sad all in the matter of a day sometimes, yet when I look at this album cover I only feel happy. I can't think of the bad times.
Music has that power.
So, Happy Birthday to the Joshua Tree. You still "get me", and I thank you.


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- volcanolady
- 4 years ago
- Wedding: July 2015
I bought my dress (yey!) and I really love it but I could use some advice about accessories from people who know a bit more than me. Apologies if I get this wrong, it's my first post…
Question number 1: Does my dress need a petticoat with it? It needs taking up, but I'm not sure if adding layers to the ones built in as well would give it a nicer shape?
Question number 2: What colour jewellery would people recommend? I was thinking of simple cubic zirconia drop necklace and earrings in sterling silver, but the beading is described as pewter accents and it has quite a warm undertone to it. It's not really gold though (plus I never wear gold jewellery). I'm a bit stumped!
Thanks in advance 🙂


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Nha Trang, Vietnam
12:15 Arrive at the village of Xom Gio, which has a population of 2000 people in 465 households. Walk to the home of Mr. Hoang, the village chief. He is 65 years old and he served for the South Vietnamese army during the war. Mr. Hoang answers questions for travelers, perhaps discussing his role as village chief or how the residents of Xom Gio make a living.
Mr. Hoang gives travelers a tour of his home, and encourages them to join him in the traditional prayer to the ancestors. He shares bananas from his altar for good health and good luck.
12:50 Travelers join Mrs. Hoang, the chief's wife, in the preparation of a typical lunch. Travelers might assist her in washing vegetables, chopping ingredients, or cooking the soup.
1:15 The group gathers for lunch in the garden, joined once again by Mr. Hoang.
2:00 With translation assistance from their Trip Leader, the group enjoys a frank discussion with the Hoangs about real life in Xom Gio, including the role of Vietnamese women in the home. As a stay-at-home mother and homemaker, Mrs. Hoang has traditional insight—which she shares freely in response to travelers' questions.
2:30 The group walks to another family home for a hands-on demonstration of how baskets are woven from bamboo. They also view four homes that were rebuilt by OAT's Vietnam team as part of a community service event.
This is a unique opportunity for travelers to purchase a traditional handmade souvenir without paying extra at a tourist shop—and, more important, the money goes straight to the village artisan.
3:15 Bidding farewell to the basket weavers, the group then walks through the village past rice and vegetable fields to visit another family who specialize in making chopsticks. The travelers try their hand at this as well.
3:40 Travelers walk back to the bus for a short drive to the local market. The Trip Leader explains the local vegetables and fruits, such as dragon fruit, mango, and longan.
4:40 The group returns to the hotel.


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Our Northampton Meditation and Training Center includes a well-equipped meditation classroom, an office for private meetings, and a break room with a tea station and comfortable seating.
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Cultivating MINDFULNESS is a practical, effective, and accessible approach for enhancing quality of life and for reducing the harmful effects of stress, pain and illness.
Mindfulness has been defined (by teachers such as Jon Kabat-Zinn, PhD) as awareness that arises from paying attention, on purpose, to life as it is, moment-by-moment. The capacity for mindfulness is innate to all human beings; it can be cultivated and strengthened. The regular practice of mindfulness meditation is a well-respected approach to supporting health and well-being.
"There is mounting evidence that cultivating mindfulness can increase our enjoyment of life, expand our capacity to cope with illness, and possibly improve our physical and emotional health… It can reduce stress and may help other treatments work better."
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Self-Compassion has been defined (by teachers such as Christopher Germer, PhD, and Kristin Neff, PhD, as the capacity to meet pain, discomfort, and distress in our own lives with the same kindness and understanding that we would naturally offer to a friend or loved one. In the Mindful Self-Compassion program, one engages in practices designed to cultivate mindfulness and self-compassion, developing a powerful approach for emotional resilience.
"Self-compassion offers tremendous social, psychological, and physical health benefits."
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Château Marquis d'Alesme 2016
- Parker : 92-94
- J. Robinson : 17
Chateau Marquis d'Alesme 2016, a wine of character
Displaying greater density than usual (except for the 2010 vintage) the Marquis d'Alesme (Becker) 2016 is a Margaux with a blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc.Concentrated at an aromatic level, the nose of this Margaux is not lacking in deliciousness or expression: perfumes of black cherry, mint chocolate and balsamic cedar appear. It is refreshing and delicious without expressing too much at this stage. The Chateau Marquis d'Alesme 2016 offers a wide palate with weight on tightly structured tannins, elegant and of considerable density. The retro-olfaction is at this stage more or less fruity, a fruit masked for the moment by a great concentration. Altogether this is a serious wine, not lacking in character or depth. The Marquis of Alesme 2016 has great ageing potential but will otherwise be nice to consume soon enough.
Wine Advocate-Parker :
The 2016 Marquis d'Alesme Becker is a blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc cropped between 4-24 October and matured in 65% new oak. It has a tight and focused bouquet, well defined but less generous than its peers: blackberry, briary, a touch of limestone and cedar aromas gently unfolding in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with a grainy texture, very harmonious with superb depth, perhaps demonstrating more roundness and opulence than its peers with a very concentrated finish where I would just like to see more finesse come through.
Millesima offers Chateau Marquis d'Alesme, purchased exclusively from their producing estates. In stock in our cellars in Bordeaux in their original case from the Château or Estate.


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NAD, the advertising industry's
NAD investigated two commercials that were part of what KFC said was an effort to "set the record straight" about fried chicken. When the investigation began, KFC told NAD the commercials were discontinued and would not be aired in the future. NAD determined that the ads' fine-print disclaimers ("A balanced diet and exercise are necessary for good health") did not sufficiently provide appropriate nutritional information or qualify the commercials' health-related claims.
'Balanced diet'
In a statement, KFC said: "To set the record straight, KFC stands by the claims in its ads and that its Original Recipe fried chicken can be part of a balanced diet. The ads had run their course and we have no plans to run them again. KFC did not agree to discontinue any specific product claims regarding our fried chicken. We appreciate the NAD's decision to conclude their inquiry into this matter."
The campaign was created by Interpublic Group of Cos.' Foote Cone & Belding Worldwide, Chicago.


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The book is based on the author's extensive fieldwork carried
in two spells between 1962-66 and 1991-1996.
The study deals comprehensively with the epigraphy, language and contents
the inscriptions. The texts are given in transliteration with translation and an
extensive word by word commentary.
The inscriptions are illustrated with tracings made directly from
the stone,
estampages and direct photographs.
Palaeography of the Tamil-Brahmi and Early Vatteluttu scripts is described
in detail
with the help of letter charts. The special orthographic and grammatical
features of the earliest Tamil inscriptions are described in this work for the
first time.
A glossary of inscriptional words and several classified word lists
have been added to aid further research.
The introductory chapters deal with the discovery and decipherment of
inscriptions relating their language and contents to early Tamil literature and
The recently discovered Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions on pottery and
objects like coins, seals, rings, etc., have also been utilised to present a
more complete picture of early Tamil epigraphy.
The author:
IRAVATHAM MAHADEVAN (b. 1930) is a specialist in Indian epigraphy,
especially in the fields of Indus and Brahmi scripts. He was awarded the
Jawaharlal Nehru Fellowship in 1970 for his research in Indus script and
the National Fellowship of the Indian Council of Historical Research
in 1992 for his work on Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions.
His book, The Indus Script: Texts, Concordance and Tables (1977)
is recognised internationally as a major source book for research
in the Indus script. He has also published Corpus of the
Tamil-Brahmi Inscriptions (1966), besides numerous papers on
several aspects of the Tamil-Brahmi script.
He has served as the Co-ordinator, International Association
of Tamil Research, for 10 years (1980-90). He was elected
he President of the Annual Congress of the Epigraphical
Society of India in 1998 and the General President of the
Indian History Congress for its session in 2001.
He served the Indian Administrative Service and retired
voluntarily to devote himself to full-time academic pursuits.
He lives in Chennai.
To be released in March 2003


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Divinity: Original Sin Review - Seeing the Sights of Cyseal
on 07.06.2014 (server time)
Divinity: Original Sin is the newest release from Larian Studios, known pretty much exclusively for their other Divinity titles. Original Sin is a turn based rpg that exists today because of a very successful Kickstarter campaign which describes the game as �an old-school cRPG with new ideas & modern execution� and having finally finished I can attest that this is indeed accurate.
Playing through Original Sin has been a trial my friends. This game released on the 30th�of June and I have played it pretty exclusively since; clocking in around 60 hours to get through the campaign and the side stories along the way. This 60 hours has been full of many mixed feelings, back and forth throughout my playthrough. Let's start with the basics.
In Original Sin you control two main characters of your own creation; a male and female from an order of Source Hunters. �Source� is a powerful type of magic that has existed for centuries but is tainted by darkness and often used for nefarious purposes, which is why your characters hunt down those who wield it. You begin the game by arriving by ship at a place known as Cyseal, where a murder has recently taken place and source may have been involved. What begins as a murder mystery eventually evolves into a much larger and deadlier adventure that will send you not just across the land of Cyseal but other realms as well.
You can actually play through Original Sin with a friend controlling one of your two main characters if you like thanks to the built in co-op. If you have a friend who would be willing to accompany you on a 60 hour long journey then this may be the best way to go as you can work together to solve puzzles and get through combat. Your two main characters can also converse with each other and even argue with one another when the time comes to make decisions. You can have up to a party of four characters total but there are currently only two companions who have personalities and stories for you to uncover. I believe Larian is in the process of making more to add in at a later date.
You are free to move around pretty much as openly as you please right from the start. I suppose technically it could be called an open world game as you can go off in any direction, but the level differences in this game don't play around and if you go somewhere you're not meant to go yet you'll know. Your first two or three levels will pretty much entirely be spent in the first town of the game helping people out, exploring, and trying to solve the murder. When I say �two or three levels� you may think that's likely not much time really, but this game handles leveling in a rather slow manner. As I mentioned before I spent about 60 hours on this game and when I finished the story I was only level 20. This brings one of my first issues to the table: the progression.
The growth and empowering of your characters is done in two ways: leveling and skill books. Leveling at its core is how you'd imagine from a crpg; you gain experience, gain a level, and distribute points. Unfortunately, as leveling is a relatively slow process in this game, you can pretty easily feel like you're not really getting stronger. This is made even more annoying (in my opinion at least) by the fact that the points you receive upon leveling aren't consistent.
There are three different types of points you can earn by leveling: attribute points, ability points, and talent points. Attribute points are exactly as you'd expect, going into the primary attributes of Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, Constitution, Speed, and Precision. Ability points are used to increase various secondary statistics and your ability to use skills. These points can do anything from increasing your damage with one handed weapons, to increasing your ability to use water magic, to simply increasing your crafting or ability to argue. Finally, talent points allow you to gain very specific passive abilities of a wide variety. You'll only ever gain one talent point at a time and talents range from letting your character carry more weight, to healing them when they stand in blood, to letting them talk to animals (actually one of the most important talents in the game, believe it or not.) Here's the thing though: you never know which points you're going to get upon leveling. I don't think its random, I would assume that the game is set to give you specific points at specific levels, but one level you'll get an attribute point and a few ability points and another you may only gain ability points.
Moving away from the progression system, let's talk about the most intricate part of the game: the combat. As mentioned before, combat in Original Sin is turn based and it is very deep. Your movements and actions are restricted by a system called action points. Everything your characters do costs action points while in combat. Your stats will determine your starting AP and how many you restore each turn. You'll not just be using your weapons and magic to take out enemies, you'll have to manipulate the environment as well.
Allow me to give you an example! You enter combat with your warrior and mage against a few undead. Your mage drops oil onto the enemies, slowing them down. Your mage can then set fire to said oil, not only burning the enemies but the ground as well. Don't want your melee characters walking into the fire? Cast a rain spell to get rid of the fire both on the ground and on characters. If your enemies are standing in a puddle created by the rain then you can now use an electric spell to electrify the water, stunning those standing in it. The list of environmental effects and their combos goes on.
You will be forced to use everything at your disposal to get through many of the combat encounters in Original Sin and you may likely need to abuse quicksave files. If you go into a fight and get destroyed you can then load a previous save and try again, but this time with knowledge of the lay of the land and what enemies to target first. My personal favorite ways to get the drop on a group of enemies is to either hurl an exploding fireball in before the encounter even starts to get enemies burning, or to immediately use a teleportation spell on the most important enemy and give him an express trip to the area right next to my two handed warrior.
I very much enjoy the combat system in place in Original Sin, but it also has its share of strange design choices. The game has its share of both buffs and debuffs for both your characters and npc's alike to make use of, BUT while you can hover over buffs and debuffs that your characters have to see precisely what effect they have, as far as I could tell there was no way to see what exactly the buffs that enemies have are giving them. Another strange part of the combat is strange because it's never really explained (having nothing explained to you is something you'll have to get used to playing this game) and that is the way your hit chance works.
Early on hit worked in a pretty straight forward fashion, as spells can't really miss and my two melee characters had an 85-100% chance to hit anything their level or lower. After a certain point however things started to change. Nearing the end of the game there were plenty of encounters where I would have anywhere from a 50-75% to hit enemies that I was of equal level with. In fact, in one particular encounter I battled about six enemies, all of whom were a level lower than my party, and only had about a 70% chance or so to hit any of them. According to the tooltips from hovering over primary attributes; strength increases your chance to hit with strength based weapons, and dexterity for dexterity based weapons. With both of my melee characters being strength fighters they naturally had plenty of strength but it didn't seem to fix the hit problem.
It is entirely possible that this system is currently bugged, as there are an unfortunately noticeable number of bugs and spelling mistakes in the game. These range from simple things that don't get in the way of anything to larger bugs such as one I encountered where a door I had to get through to continue the story was open on my screen but the game refused to let me walk through it. I also had a very strange experience where I noticed an object in my inventory that I didn't recognize and it didn't have a tooltip. Upon trying to drop the item onto the ground my game crashed. I still have no idea what that item is but it is still there in my bags. To be fair to Larian however they have been pretty on the ball about rolling out bug fixes since release and I would be surprised if many (or any) of the bigger bugs stick around for long.
My final bit of mixed feelings comes from the game's dedication to its lack of hand holding. Early on I was very much grateful for it as I loved running around solving the murder mystery and other puzzles without much in the way of hints. It's a great feeling to solve an intricate puzzle without having a big glowing arrow pointing at the answer. As time passed though the game's idea of puzzles twisted away from �Solve the mystery!� and more towards �Spot the very tiny buttons hidden on the walls!� The most frustrating portion of the entire game for me took place in one such �puzzle� where I was stuck teleporting through an endlessly revolving set of rooms with no real puzzle in sight.
I have never had to post on the steam discussion boards asking for help in the entirety of my time gaming on Steam but I certainly had to this time. Thanks to the help of the fine people on those boards I discovered that only characters with enough points put into their �Perception� stat, used for finding hidden traps and secrets in the environment, could spot a single tiny button in one of the rooms. If there is a more down to earth way of getting through that puzzle then I couldn't find anyone who knew of it. I hope I don't need to explain just how poor of a design decision it is to have a puzzle that is vital to the main storyline that requires you to have a certain amount of points in a specific stat to be able to progress.
On a more positive note I did actually very much enjoy the story of the game, which I unfortunately can't really share much of without spoiling but needless to say you'll be fighting for the fate of the world and not just solving a murder the entire game. The music is also excellent and has a fantastic range. Visually it's a very appealing game as well and, while I didn't tryout the co-op, playing alone I ran into no problems running the game.
Now, I've had quite a lot to say about Original Sin, both good and bad, but I don't want you to come away from this thinking that I didn't enjoy my romp through the world of Rivellon. Overall I actually think that this is a very solid game and most of the problems I mentioned only show up enough to remind you that they're there but don't stick around. The intricate combat is a blast to use and the world is vibrant and full of life, both hostile and friendly. It's available on the Steam store for $40 and you'll certainly get your money's worth in terms of content. The game even features an easy difficulty if you're not sure you're capable of handling the challenge, as well as a hard difficulty for those who aren't challenged enough.
If you're into crpg's I'd certainly advise you to look into it. Divinity: Original Sin isn't without its fair share of rough edges, but you're not likely to play another game like it, and for the most part I mean that in a good way.
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About Fenriff
one of us since 8:53 PM on 12.21.2012
Name's Josh. I'm 27, play pretty much any kind of game, and have since I was old enough to hold a controller.
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Dredging of the Kennebec in high season?
by Gina Hamilton
BATH – The Kennebec is a tidal river, and because of that, marine sediments as well as freshwater sediments often mix at the mouth of the river, creating sandy shoals from the mouth of the river all the way up to Doubling Point, near Bath. For most users, this is not a significant problem; the Kennebec channel is typically deep enough for most river traffic. At Doubling Point Light, according to a survey in February, the depth of the river channel ranges from 20 to 22 feet; at Popham Beach, the depth rises to about 27 feet.
The depth nearer BIW at Doubling Point is not quite deep enough in the channel for the large destroyers built at BIW. However, BIW pilots safely navigated a new ship outside of the regular shipping channel during sea trials in February without mishap.
However, that was in February; and the USS Spruance, a Navy destroyer of the Arleigh Burke class, will be leaving BIW for the last time around Sept. 1, when the water level in the river will be as low as it gets.
The Army Corps of Engineers (ACE) has requested a permit to do summertime dredging of the lower Kennebec, during the most productive time in the lower river's year: tourist high season, and (barring any red tide) the height of clamming season. It is also a productive time for lobstering, a major occupation for those who make their living along the river and in the estuary.
Their plan is to dump the dredge spoils in two locations - an in-river location at Fiddler's Reach, in a section of the river also called the Kennebec Narrows, in Phippsburg, and at Jackknife Ledge, just offshore from Popham and Seawall Beaches.
Normally, any necessary dredging is done in the late fall or early spring. Although ACE had a standing permit to dredge in the fall and spring, and the Navy had requested the dredging by November at least, the Corps delayed the operation, instead, planning it for the summer. According to a spokesman at ACE, the delay occurred when the Navy did not signal its request early enough to arrange for contract bids in the late fall or early spring. Combined with a hard winter and wet spring, the Corps elected to go with an unusual August date.
Reclassification of the lower Kennebec
Not that the date is fixed yet; the Army Corps does not yet have the necessary permits to dredge, and another snag – the fact that the lower Kennebec estuary on the Phippsburg side is classified SA (the highest water quality possible) – has put yet another damper on the potential operation. Discharges are not allowed in SA waters, and dumping dredging spoils is considered a discharge.
According to Ed Friedman of the Friends of Merrymeeting Bay (FOMB), the Maine Department of Environmental Protection is now claiming that the designation of the Phippsburg side of the river in the Kennebec Narrows area, near Fiddler's Reach, as Class SA (where the Army Corps of Engineers would like to dump their dredge spoils) was an "error" in 1990. However, a look at the original documents, designating that part of the river and the beach area as SA, is of such specific intent that it is difficult to accept that a typo created the SA designation.
To be classified as SA, waters must be outstanding natural resources which should be preserved because of their ecological, social, scenic, economic or recreational importance. In Phippsburg, all of this is true. Several endangered bird species (including the least tern) nest in the Phippsburg area. The Fiddler's Reach area is also a seasonal home to the Atlantic sturgeon and is a migration path for the extremely endangered wild Atlantic salmon, considered so valuable to Maine's ecology that dams well upriver were removed just a few years ago.
The region is valuable for its intertidal life, as well. Salt marshes are the nurseries of ecologically and economically valuable species all along the Kennebec Narrows.
This area of the Kennebec is home to clam flats, and nurseries for lobsters, two of the largest economies in coastal midcoast Maine, and it is seasonally a tourist destination for those from out of state as well as those who live just inland. Kayakers and small boaters use the Fiddler's Reach area; hikers spend time at Phippsburg's land trusts and Morse Mountain, operated by Bates College close to Small Point; there is seasonal camping at Maine's only beach campground at Hermit's Island.
Steve Hinchman, an attorney who is representing the shellfish community, homeowners and business owners in Phippsburg, says that the downgrade would be a catastrophe for the region.
"When the Army Corps of Engineers dumps dredging spoils here, there is a foot of sand and muck or more, wiping out all the life in the intertidal zone," he said. That includes the clams, especially the fragile juveniles. During the last dredging, which took about half the amount of silt and sand expected to be taken this time, it took years for the shellfish to recover, and there is still 2-6 inches of muck in certain areas. "The Corps could dredge minimally, and take the spoils to designated places. But they want to do this cheap and dirty," Hinchman said. One such designated dump site is not far from Portland.
Hinchman said that one of the two dump sites, the Kennebec Narrows at Fiddler's Reach, is known by the Maine Geological Survey to be in such a tidally active region that spoils dumped there are carried very quickly back to Doubling Point, the dredging site. "Not only would it be disastrous for the local economy, it makes no long-term fiscal sense for the Army Corps of Engineers, either," he said.
Hinchman pointed out that previous dumps in the area were also illegal, and that the clammers' concerns had simply been ignored by the Army Corps of Engineers and the Navy. This time around, they consulted legal help and are much more engaged in preventing the dumping of dredge spoils in the fragile estuary.
"We recovered the Kennebec to the point where it is one of the most important shellfish operations in the state, and a large population in the area makes their living off clamming and lobstering," Hinchman added. "We've worked too hard and spent too much money cleaning up our rivers to allow this to happen again."
A view of Fiddler's Reach from the public landing at Morse Cove, a popular boat launch in the dump area.
An end run around the law?
Maine is attempting to do an end run around the issue of designation by claiming that the designation was in error at the time of the original finding, Hinchman believes. In a white paper draft by Susan Davies, water quality standards coordinator at Maine DEP, dated in March of this year, she acknowledges that the original designation of SA occurred at the coordinates cited, but interprets it to be an error based on "clear intent" to protect the Popham Beach area based on different wording about the protection of Reid State Park on the Georgetown side.
Calls to Davies were not returned by presstime.
"That's a fairy tale," Hinchman said. "The Environmental Protection Agency will have to be convinced that it was a simple error. They can't just make this change buried in an omnibus bill."
Which is apparently the intention. Wording in the 2011 omnibus bill "corrects" the language of the 1990 water-quality law. Even so, according to Ed Friedman, downgrading the Narrows may not make the dredge-spoil dumping there any more legal.
From Maine law 38MRSA §465-B:
C. Discharges to Class SB waters may not cause adverse impact to estuarine and marine life in that the receiving waters must be of sufficient quality to support all estuarine and marine species indigenous to the receiving water without detrimental changes in the resident biological community. There may be no new discharge to Class SB waters that would cause closure of open shellfish areas by the Department of Marine Resources. For the purpose of allowing the discharge of aquatic pesticides approved by the department for the control of mosquito-borne diseases in the interest of public health and safety, the department may find that the discharged effluent will not cause adverse impact to estuarine and marine life as long as the materials and methods used provide protection for nontarget species. When the department issues a license for the discharge of aquatic pesticides authorized under this paragraph, the department shall notify the municipality in which the application is licensed to occur and post the notice on the department's publicly accessible website. [2007,c.291,§7 (AMD).]
In other words, dredge-spoil dumping, even in Class SB waters, is not legal if by doing so it causes any adverse impact to the biological community or closes shellfish areas.
The high cost of high-season dredging
Clearly, the dumping of dredge spoils adversely impacts the shellfisheries of the estuary. Anna Bourakovsky, a representative of the Maine Department of Marine Resources, told the Phippsburg Shellfish Conservation Committee at a meeting of the committee on March 24 that harvesting of shellfish must be suspended during any dredging of the estuary in the vicinity of Phippsburg. That means that the 40 licensed diggers will each lose an estimated $375 a day for each day the dredging is carried out. This has not been an issue in past dredgings which took place during the recommended time period for such work, Nov. 1 to April 30.
The estimated losses are based on an average harvest per digger of two and a half bushels at $150 per bushel when sold to local shellfish dealers. According to Bob Cummings, on the Shellfish Commission in Phippsburg, this would be disastrous for the region's economy.
"Some harvesters harvest five or more bushels of softshell clams per day, and sell their product directly to restaurants at a higher price, and their loss would be significantly higher," he said. "Local stores typically sell softshell clams for $4 a pound, or $200 for a 50-pound bushel. Also impacted would be harvesters from Georgetown and Arrowsic. All told the loss of income for the 40 licensed diggers in Phippsburg during 30 days of dredging will total between $400,000 and $500,000, and perhaps significantly more as the summer wholesale price of clams has been increasing annually."
Lobster fishermen would also have to pull gear out of the water during the dredging and dumping operations, losing income at the most productive time of the year. Also expected to be impacted would be seashore businesses, such as Spinney's in Popham Village, owing to the noise and water disturbance that would make Popham Beach less attractive to visitors at the height of the tourist season.
In past dredging, the Army Corps of Engineers did not obtain the necessary 401 water-quality determination and Maine Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (MePDES) permit to dump spoils in either a Class SA or SB waterway. It is also a violation of the Clean Water Act, and may have implications for the Endangered Species Act, with respect to the Atlantic salmon, least tern, and two species of threatened sturgeon, and the Marine Mammal Act with respect to a group of harbor seals that lives in and around Fiddler's Reach.
Clean Water Act and Maine law
But just the act of downgrading the river's quality without a full review by the EPA constitutes a breach of the Clean Water Act, Friedman of FOMB says. In a letter to Robert Green of the Maine DEP and copied to Bill Kavenaugh of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Friedman writes:
"The Clean Water Act prohibits the downgrade of a waterbody classification without first conducting a Use Attainability Analysis [UAA], submitting the UAA to the EPA for review and receiving approval for the proposed reclassification from the federal agency. We have been told there will be a proposed downgrade to SB of the Phippsburg river section now SA contained in an upcoming Omnibus bill before the legislature. Without at least a 45-day public notice [the federal standard], the legislature simply cannot reclassify a waterbody."
Friedman cited the following Maine law, as well:
Reclassification is also governed by 38 MRSA §464:
2. Procedures for reclassification. Reclassification of state waters shall be governed by the following provisions.
A. Upon petition by any person or on its own motion, the board may initiate, following public notice, and the commissioner shall conduct classification studies and investigations. Information collected during these studies and investigations must be made available to the public in an expeditious manner. After consultation with other state agencies and, where appropriate, individuals, citizen groups, industries, municipalities and federal and interstate water pollution control agencies, the board may propose changes in water classification. [1989,c.890,Pt.A,§40(AFF);1989,c.890,Pt.B, §54 (AMD).]
B. The board shall hold public hearings in the affected area, or reasonably adjacent to the affected area, for the purposes of presenting to all interested persons the proposed classification for each particular water body and obtaining public input. [1989,c.890, Pt.A,§40(AFF);1989,c.890,Pt.B,§54(AMD).]
C. The board may recommend changes in classification it deems necessary to the Legislature. [1985,c.698,§15(NEW).]
D. The Legislature shall have sole authority to make any changes in the classification of the waters of the State. [1985,c.698,§15(NEW).] [1989,c.890,Pt.A,§40(AFF);1989,c.890,Pt.B,§54(AMD).]
2-A. Removal of designated uses; creation of subcategories of designated uses. Removal of designated uses and creation of subcategories of designated uses are governed by the provisions of this subsection and 40 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 131, as amended.
A. The board must conduct a use attainability analysis:
(1) Prior to proposing to the Legislature a designated use of a specific water body that does not include the uses specified in the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, Public Law 92-500, Section 101(a)(2), as amended; or
(2) Prior to proposing to the Legislature the removal of a designated use or the adoption of a subcategory of such a designated use that requires less stringent criteria. [1993,c.344,§1(NEW).]
Friedman concluded: "Until such time as the EPA has approved a UAA proposing a lower classification, this reach of water shall remain SA and discharge of pollutants are prohibited."
Erosion at Popham Beach
Two years ago, Popham Beach became a mere shadow of its former self. The Morse River, which flows into the ocean at Popham Beach, dividing the state park from Seawall Beach, had shifted course. Two parallel sandbars arose offshore, keeping river water from flowing in and out with the tides, instead forcing it to run parallel to the beach. This caused severe erosion to the beach, and for two years, there was concern that Popham would disappear.
An eroded dune at Popham Beach
Now, it appears that there may be a link between beach erosion and offshore dumping of dredge spoils near Popham Beach, at the site called Jackknife Ledge.
Although the correlation between previous dumpings at the ledge and Morse River changes are strong, the Maine Geological Survey says that the Morse River has a history of erosion and accretion, and the correlation may be a coincidence. Even so, there has been concern about the dumping over the last 30 years, and ironically, moving the dump site to Jackknife Ledge (directly opposite the mouth of Morse River) to keep the sand from the dredging within the Popham/Seawall Beach sand budgets may have directly caused the formation of the sandbar that led to Popham's erosion issues over the last decade.
More study would need to be done on this issue, but the Army Corps of Engineers, in relying on a 30-year-old study from before the move to Jackknife Ledge, is not interested in more studies.
In a letter to the Army Corps of Engineers by Dot Kelly, a resident of the Fiddler's Reach region who has seen first-hand the devastation of the spoil dumping there, she addresses the serious concerns about the Popham Beach dump site:
"Concerns that the erosion at Popham Beach may be linked to dredging and disposal activities in or near the Kennebec River was voiced in the first Environmental Assessment (EA) prepared in 1980 for the dredging and in-water disposal for the Lower Kennebec River. However, the 2011 Draft Environmental Assessment does not discuss erosion at Popham Beach or provide any information about the current scientific understanding of the Popham Beach erosion/deposition system and how it relates to off-shore sand bars and disposal at Jackknife Ledge.
The 1980 EA, over 30 years old, discussed the controversy and on page D-2 pointed out the need for further investigation:
There is at least a possibility in some people's opinion that Corps dredging in the Kennebec River has resulted in the erosion that Popham Beach is now experiencing by depriving it of sand.
This ... point demands further investigation, as it finds the State of Maine and the Corps holding differing opinions on cause and effect relationships of the erosion of Popham Beach. The State of Maine (specifically a former State Geologist) believes that a strong causal relationship exists.
It is the position of the Corps of Engineers that no definitive link between dredging and Popham Beach erosion has been shown."
Bill Kavanaugh, from the Army Corps of Engineers, says that he believed that the Popham Beach question had been conclusively settled, but agreed to look at the data again in light of new concerns.


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Reservoir Management
TWRA reservoir biologists spend many hours each year monitoring sport fisheries and forage fish communities. Because looking at the entire population of fishes in a lake is virtually impossible, biologists must depend on sampling to get a snapshot of population status and make predictions about how it will look in the future. Different sampling methods (electrofishing, nets, trawls) are used to sample fish populations. Targeted species surveys may be conducted to obtain information about fish population size structure, recruitment, growth, density, and mortality.
Information gathered from sampling surveys is coupled with information about the human and habitat components of sportfisheries and used to make management recommendations for harvest restrictions and/or stocking. Hatchery managers also use these gears to collect brood stock from wild populations which can be used in hatcheries to produce fish for stocking. The following section briefly describes sampling gear used by TWRA reservoir fisheries and hatchery staff.
Boat mounted electrofishers are used in Tennessee reservoirs to fulfill various sampling objectives.
Bass, crappie, and sunfish are highly vulnerable to this gear and surveys are normally conducted during the spring months.
A sampling design is chosen which reflects habitat diversity within a lake and fish are collected after being stunned by the shocking boat's electrical field.
Dip netters at the front of the boat pick up the fish and hold them in livewells for later analyses.
Gill nets are used for a variety of fish species that are difficult to sample with electrofishing gear.
TWRA uses them to collect sauger, walleye, white bass, striped bass, and Cherokee bass.
Most netting surveys are conducted during the winter months and may be targeted at pre-spawn runs.
Like other sampling methods gill net samples yield important insight into natural spawning success, success of stocking programs, and sizes of fish available to anglers.
Like electrofishing, seining is an active sampling method that allows biologists to look at forage availability, and survival of young sport fish.
Seines are really long, fine-meshed nets that are dragged through the water in shoreline areas.
Seine hauls have also been used by TWRA to evaluate stocking success of striped bass.
In recent years, TWRA biologists have been evaluating a surface trawl for sampling larval crappie.
This allows biologists to evaluate crappie spawning success in reservoirs where other gear types (namely trap nets) have not been an effective way to sample.
The specialized crappie net (neuston net) is dragged behind a boat for a fixed amount of time.
Larval crappie are later identified and counted back at the lab.
Often the work does not stop in the field for TWRA reservoir crews.
Fish samples often must be processed in the lab, species identified, and counted.
In addition, otoliths (ear bones) are routinely used by TWRA biologists to determine age structure and growth rates for sport fish populations.
Data must be entered into computer databases, analyzed, and summarized for reports.
The scenes below illustrate some of these activities.
In addition to monitoring fish population through annual surveys, TWRA biologists also monitor fish habitat changes and work to maintain healthy habitat conditions. Water level changes are monitored throughout the year and water quality is monitored throughout the summer when high temperatures and low dissolved oxygen can pose a threat to sport fish and food fish.
Fish kills are documented by TWRA's Environmental Services Divisions after on-site surveys conducted by regional habitat biologists. In addition, TWRA staff meet with reservoir and tailwater regulators (i.e. Tennessee Valley Authority and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) several times annually to discuss opportunities for data sharing and enhanced habitat protection.
TWRA's habitat enhancement projects for reservoirs fall into several categories: shoreline stabilization, aquatic macrophyte establishment, and fish attractor construction. Each of these categories has different objectives, but all are aimed at maintaining current conditions or improving conditions for fish and fishing. Over the years, TWRA has partnered with the public, TVA, and the Corps to work towards this end.
Tree plantings are one way that TWRA has worked to keep reservoir habitat in equilibrium. Planting trees in shoreline fluctuation zones helps stabilize banks and keep them from sloughing off into the water from wave action and flows. Reservoir biologists have long planted such water tolerant plants as bald cypress and button bush to keep shorelines intact and minimize erosion. This is especially useful in reservoirs with a lot of overbank habitat and little rock in the fluctuation zone. Trees are obtained from private nurseries and may be grown out at TWRA workbases so that they can withstand the elements and herbivores (e.g. beavers and deer) better when planted. Cypress trees in particular have extensive root systems which hold the shoreline together and the roots themselves may serve as nursery habitat for young fishes.
TWRA biologists construct different types of fish attractors that can be placed in reservoirs. These devices do not normally enhance sport fish populations, but do provide structure around which fish can aggragate. Bass, crappie, and sunfish utilize these attractors and anglers may key on these sites to increase their fishing success.
The most common type of fish attractors used are sunken trees which can be weighted down to the bottom of a lake. TWRA's Christmas tree habitat project in east Tennessee is a great example of how the Agency partners with anglers to build fish attractors. Stake beds for crappie are also used in lakes with dense crappie populations and the right combination of bottom slope and composition. Like, tree attractors, stake beds are marked by TWRA so that anglers know where they are located.
Spawning benches are a relatively new type of fish attractor for smallmouth bass. Unlike tree attractors or stakebeds, spawning benches have the potential to enhance smallmouth populations by providing more spawning habitat. They have been used in several deep reservoirs (e.g. Dale Hollow, Center Hill, Norris) to provide covered areas under which smallmouth build their nests. Research has shown that spawning benches built on rocky points are the most utilized by smallmouth bass.
Fisheries management in Tennessee is based on information collected with sound methodology using the most contemporary techniques available within the community of fisheries professionals. Although the methods we use for obtaining information are sound and proven, there is no way to circumvent the inherent variability common to biological data. It is however, possible to validate our findings by comparing the results of multiple techniques. Commonly, we use angler surveys to compliment fish community surveys.
Angler surveys rely on fishermen to provide information about a fishery including, effort, catch, preferences, demographics, and economics. The information we collect through angler surveys gives us an unbiased sample of the angling population that we use in addition to our fishery independent assessments to select the best management plans to accommodate the widest variety of anglers.
Just as no single sampling method can be used to describe every fish population, (see fish community surveys), no single angler survey method can adequately represent all anglers or all components of a fishing experience. We therefore use several angler survey techniques to gain a comprehensive picture of the sportfishing population in Tennessee. The methods are described below:
The TWRA contracts annually with the University of Tennessee (UT) do an annual random survey of licensed anglers. A list of licensed anglers is provided to the Human Dimensions Research Lab at UT. From that list, a large random sample of anglers is contacted by telephone. The anglers are asked questions such as where they live, where the like to fish, the type of fishing they do, which species they like to fish for and their satisfaction with with fishing in Tennessee. The anglers are also invited to provide comments and suggestions concerning management of Tennessee Fisheries.
The Advantages to This Type of Survey Are:
- Provides unbiased randomly collected information about the entire angling population in Tennessee.
- Low cost per interview
- Good response rates
The Disadvantages Include:
- Recall Bias - this means that an angler may be asked questions about a fishing experience which occurred weeks maybe even months before the interview. The angler may not be able to accurately answer all of the questions due to the passage of time.
- A particular portion of the angling population may choose to not respond
Each year representatives from the TWRA approach anglers while they are fishing in order to ask them about their fishing experience that day. This process is known as a creel survey. The "creel clerks" ask anglers questions about the amount of time they have been fishing, what they are fishing for, what the have caught or released, where they are from, and questions about how much money was spent on the fishing trip. The information obtained is very useful to TWRA fishery biologists to make informed decisions regarding management of the states resources.
Currently the TWRA employs 11 full time creel clerks who conduct creel surveys on 17 reservoirs throughout Tennessee. Annually they collect between 10,000 and 15,000 interviews. In addition to reservoirs, various seasonal stream and tailrace surveys are conducted on an as-needed bases. The TWRA also contracts with the Tennessee Technological Institute from time to time to conduct specialized surveys where new research is the main focus.
The creel clerks may approach anglers by boat while they are in the process of fishing. This type of survey is known as a "roving creel survey". At other times the creel clerk may wait at a boat ramp, or pier to interview anglers at the completion of a fishing trip. This is known as an "access point creel survey". If you are approached by a creel clerk, pleasetake a few minutes to respond to an interview. This process allows you to have a voice in the management of Tennessees' fishery resources.
Advantages of Creel Surveys:
- No recall bias - anglers are not required to remember effort and catch from past fishing events
- High response rates
- Creel clerks are able to directly observe caught species. This allow for accurate identification and measuring of harvested fishes.
Disadvantages of On-Site Creel Surveys:
- It can be difficult to relate the information to the entire fishing population. For example, a reservoir creel survey would not represent stream or pond anglers.
- High cost per interview
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agencys' BITE (Bass Information from Tournament Entries) program is a coordinated effort between the Agency and organized bass clubs which hold tournaments in Tennessee.
Tournament organizers voluntarily submit their tournament data to the TWRA Fisheries Management Division via an online reporting form or a mail-in tournament report card. The information on the report form or card supplies information such as the location of the tournament, number of participants, total catch, and size and weight structure of the tournament catch. Annually, the information collected from tournament organizers is compiled into a report which benefits both the TWRA as well as tournament anglers.
The Advantages include:
- Information about bass stocks is compiled for major reservoirs
- Information about otherwise unknown tournament effort is provided to biologists
- Tournament anglers benefit by receiving information about bass tournament catch around Tennessee.
Disadvantages include:
- Information is provided only for a very specific portion of the fishing population.
- Catch, effort, and size structure may be proportionally greater than in the general fishing population