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Malaysian GP 2014
Friday Press Conference
TEAM REPRESENTATIVES - Federico GASTALDI (Lotus), Paul HEMBERY (Pirelli), Graeme LOWDON (Marussia), Cyril ABITEBOUL (Caterham), Monisha KALTENBORN (Sauber), Franz TOST (Toro Rosso)
Q: Cyril, can I begin with you? You did a lot of mileage in the pre-season testing but it's not been so good when it's come to the actual action, in Australia and again today. Can you give us an idea of what the problem is?
Cyril ABITEBOUL: Yes. To be honest we are the first one to be a bit surprised buy the situation. It's true that were quite happy with the situation after the test but I think it demonstrates that it's still a little bit random. It's a bit random for everyone, for all parts of the car, whether it be chassis, gearbox, engine. I think we are just demonstrating that given the number of new things that there are on this car, given the regulations, they do not really send a warning before they hit you and unfortunately they are hitting us more during the season than they were hitting us before. So I mean let's see. We are trying to stay calm, to take things as they come. Obviously we are not in the best position to prepare the weekend. But despite that we managed to have a good recovery last race in Melbourne so hopefully that happens again, even though I don't want to try my luck too much.
Q: Specifically there were some problems with Kamui with the power unit in Australia, Was that the problem again today for him? No running at all for him.
Abiteboul: Yeah, it was a mix. It started with some issue related to the power unit and it actually continued with some issues that are more related to the clutch and gearbox. I don't want to comment too much. It's all the systems, all the complex systems that are on the car, in addition to the difficult serviceability of the modern cars that makes our life extremely difficult ' not just us, pretty much everyone on the grid.
Q: Thank you for that. Coming to Federico Gastaldi from Lotus, the new Deputy Team Principal ' congratulations. It's not been an easy couple of races for you either, particularly today once again troubled running. What's the situation?
Federico GASTALDI: Well we've been having problems with the mapping in P1 and then Pastor's turbo blow out and we had to change the engine. We are working very, very hard with Renault trying to find out solutions for the weekend and to move forward for the next race as well.
Q: You're the Deputy Team Principal. Can you tell us what your role actually means in terms of what you do back at Enstone and how you relate with all the rest of these people here and the FIA and FOM? What's your role?
Gastaldi: Actually we have a new CEO and we have'' the Team Principal is Gerard Lopez the chairman of the company. For the time being I will be looking to the relationship between the team and FIA, FOM and again all the partners and sponsors, during the races that Gerard is not here.
Q: Paul, coming to you? There was some talk on the radio in the second free practice session about some tyre degradation for one or two teams. What is the objective of what Pirelli is looking to achieve this year with the tyres and how they affect the racing?
Paul HEMBERY: It hasn't really changed, the input that we've had from the teams and the promoter in that we're aiming to have races of two stops, maybe three in some cases and to create that you're going to create a thermal degradation otherwise you won't have the stops we're searching for. But it was important this year that we did some work on trying to move towards less marbles on the circuit although we did a bit track cleaning today so it was quite messy, the first session. And also that the tyres life has increased. From the data we have seen so far, we appear to be in that right directions. Of course it's all very new for the teams. It's new for us as well, understanding what the real impact on the tyres and the car combination will be and it's only now that we're starting to see the teams working more on what to do with the tyres and what will eventually be part of their race strategy.
Q: Of course you've got the first of the new two-day, in-season tests coming up in a couple of weeks' time. Can you tell us what's planned and what the focus will be?
Hembery: We're looking to nest season essentially and trying to evolve the product going forward in the future. We have a moving target ' the cars this year it's suggested will develop at twice the rate of a normal season, maybe that's up to four seconds. So we have to take that into account when we're looking at what we're doing going forward. So we're trying to always develop things to have available if and when they are required. We'll see how we get on but clearly there are still some issues with the teams' running, so I think to do testing after a race will be a big challenge for all involved but we have to be also realistic in our aims.
Q: Coming to Monisha. In what sort of mood does Sauber enter the 2014 season?
Monisha KALTENBORN: Well, in an optimistic mood because when you look at last season, were we ended, we could see that we did bring a certain change into our performance and it wasn't looking that bad. Of course we know that this year is very new, particularly with the rule changes, and we are confident that in many areas, particularly reliability, we are pretty much where we want to be. We are not happy with the overall performance, but we have identified the areas and step by step we are moving ahead and implementing the measures.
Q: And how did today go for you?
Kaltenborn: It was pretty alright. I think the engineers got through their programme. Again, we're not quite happy with the long run and we need to do a bit of work on that. We know that we can't do miracles and take a huge step compared to where we want to be and where we are but step by step I think we'll get there.
Q: Graeme, coming to you, obviously a shake-up of the pecking order with the new technology, the new Formula One. Does this bring you closer that first points-scoring finish?
Graeme LOWDON: I certainly hope so. From a general point of view, we wanted one of two things: either for the rules to stay generally the same so that we could play catch-up, or for there to be a radical and obviously there has been a radical change for all the right reasons within the sport and that's given us a chance. I think considering the resources we have at hand we did a good job over the winter. We didn't get the mileage that we wanted to get in pre-season testing so we're still playing catch-up quite a bit and still learning a lot about the car. Pretty much every time we run it now we're learning a lot in terms of reliability and performance.
Q: Obviously you come from a business background. From a business perspective does this new face of Formula One make it easier to sell? Are you finding that?
Lowdon: Well, it should do. That was kind of one of the points for all of the teams for all of the teams and the sport committing to it. There are an awful lot of positives about the new formula, although some of the innovations need to be sold, they need to be communicated well to the fans and when I say that I mean all the fans ' the TV fans, the ones who turn up at a race, the ones who follow it through social media or new media or whatever. We can all improve how we communicate those things because there are a lot of plus points. There is some incredible engineering and some incredible technology going into these cars now and you see the cars move around a lot more. The drivers have got to work and think a lot harder. So hopefully that comes across to the fans. Ultimately, it's kind of irrelevant what I think about what the fans think, it's what they think that's the most important thing. It's important that we listen to them and see whether they understand and like the new formula.
Q: Franz, two cars in the top 10 in Australia, both in qualifying and in the race, something you didn't manage to achieve during the 2013 season, so a great start to the season. What's the story of your start to 2014, what's the secret?
Franz TOST: I think the team did a very good job in Melbourne as well as the drivers and we struggled a little bit in the preparation. But it was good that we were the first time of Renault being out on the track for a filming day and from then onwards we learned all the troubles and fortunately could solve them. Generally, the basis of the car is quiet good ' from the reliability side as well as from the performance side; the mechanic is good, the aerodynamic is OK. I must say the last weeks before the Melbourne race, the teams ' that means Toro Rosso as well as Renault ' worked a lot. Hardly [ever] the lights went off in Faenza and at the end the result was shown in Melbourne with us finishing in the points.
Q: I wonder from a human perspective, from a personal perspective your feelings on seeing Daniel Ricciardo being competitive from straight away in the Red Bull, having moved up from your team as a graduate to be alongside another one of your graduates Sebastian Vettel?
Tost: I expected this good performance from Daniel because he was very fast also with us. I expect that he will also have quite a successful future together with Red Bull Racing at the side of Sebastian.
Q: (Yassmin Abdel-Magied) My question, I have two questions for the panel, as a trained mechanical engineer I found it extremely frustrating that, even though at Melbourne a lot of people thought we wouldn't even have cars reach the end, we had 15 cars finish. How and why did the sport fail to celebrate the success ' and Graeme you alluded to this ' of the technical success of the teams, given the huge regulation changes. And, secondly, as a young 22-year old I've got to ask what must the sport do to be able to appeal to a younger and broader audience?
Q: Cyril, a complex series of questions, can you answer the first part.
Abiteboul: I think it is difficult because with Formula One, I can't celebrate my success. So I think that's one of the difficulties actually of Formula One ' that it's a community of people who are fighting against each other. I'm pretty sure that the people on the podium will be celebrating for their own success. Obviously I can't celebrate anything because after 28 laps I had nothing to look at and I could go back to the UK. I think it's a difficulty and actually it's possibly something that is missing in Formula One, some form of body ' without referring to FOTA because it was not necessarily that type of body that I was thinking of ' that is basically, as you say, when there is a collective success, that is capable of celebrating and when there is a collective failure is capable to look at it and maybe to do something with it. I think it is something missing but it is due to the incredible competitiveness that there is in our sport and in our business.
Q: Monisha, do you have a view on this?
Kaltenborn: Well I agree with that but we cannot ' have not ' managed so far to actually appear as a united body and bring across these kind of messages and that's particularly sad at this point of time because we've entered into an absolutely new era, particularly with regard to the powertrain unit. That's such a strong message. We have such a sophisticated hybrid system. These are the kind of things, if you look at the consumer market, everyone's going to there. It's about less consumption, it's about such high efficiency and exactly that's what we are showcasing here ' and what we should do at Formula One, that you show the highest level of these technologies in our sport. So from that perspective, it's been the absolute right move but, as you see, there's so much negativism coming from within Formula One itself which is the alarming sign. It's really for us ' all ' that we go out there and if we can't manage to do it together, we simply have to do it on our own ' but to put across that we've got these right messages. And that's what we need to convince the public and the fans about. Because that's something they can understand and they can make the sport far more attractive again.
Q: Paul, you work across a number of different disciplines ' what do you think? What's your answer? How did Formula One fail to celebrate its success.
Hembery: Having seen how hard the teams are working, I think when you know how hard they're working, they really just finish a race and on to the next one. There isn't a case of celebrating, they're on to the next challenge. But, I think what Monisha said about relevant technologies is important. If we take it from a road car business, we work with a number of people in F1 on their road car business. Ferrari LaFerrari and the McLaren P1 are both cars that have hybrid technologies ' so we also see that now appearing in our day to day business. So it is becoming relevant ' which was one of the big objectives of making the change. Over time I'm quite sure that the teams and particularly the powertrain suppliers, will explain more and more ' and I've stared seeing, myself, explanations of the technology because it is going to affect people in every form of life. Small capacity turbo engines will be norm everywhere going forward and more and more as well the hybrid. In terms of appealing to the younger audience, that's always difficult because the younger audience today is one that have a lot of things thrown at them and have a lot of entertainment options. On that level, personally I think we don't make enough of the drivers. It's one of the few motorsport areas I think where we could be doing a lot more in promoting the personalities of the drivers and the great talents of the drivers. If you take another extreme, whereas NASCAR where the drivers are very big individual personal starts, I think it's a shame sometimes that we have some great, amazing ' the best ' drivers in the world but maybe they're not promoted as individuals as much as they should be. The youth today also quite look forward to seeing icons. They like having an icon to look forward to and unfortunately motor racing drivers have a helmet on, you don't see the face but maybe we need to see them more in a lifestyle environment, a more approachable environment where people attach to them as individuals.
Q: Federico, you have a promoter's background, coming from Argentina but also a music background too ' what do you think Formula One can do to appeal more to a young audience?
Gastaldi: Well, I think that there's a lot of opportunities to engage Formula One with a young audience. We just need to understand the tools to engage with the young people. Tools that were not available in the past, when I was running the Grand Prix in Argentina for example. We have access to so much information now that we should pay more attention how to engage with them.
Q: Final word on this Graeme, on the second part of the question, about reaching a younger audience.
Lowdon: I think its an interesting question but it's also a vital question because what we don't want is an audience for Formula One that is big but aging. We want to capture young people. As Federico said, we operate in a sport that's incredibly rich with data and youngsters today, they interact. They enjoy interacting in lots of different ways. And so we have so many assets at our disposal as a sport. Not just in terms of video pictures but in terms of data and information and comments and commentary that I think if we get the recipe right, there's an enormous opportunity to grow the fan base exponentially. And that can only be good for the sport in the long run. So, see it as'' it's a huge opportunity, and hopefully an opportunity that the sport will take.
Q: You were talking there about making the drivers more promotable ' surely it's the team principals who are the problem here because they block the drivers from saying things and make them characters? Would you say that you're culpable in this respect because you're protecting your sponsors from some lunatic driver?
Tost: First of all, at Toro Rosso the drivers can say what they want. We don't tell them what they have to tell to the press. And we have a quite good and positive relationship with all our sponsors where the drivers do always a good job because they get the feedback from them. From this perspective I think all of the people at Toro Rosso are happier. Just coming back to the other question before, regarding the celebration of Formula One and so on, Formula One has faced now the biggest regulation change in the history, and what we saw in Melbourne was, at the end, I must say, a good race because many cars, much more cars finished the race than expected before. It was also quite an interesting race. From the technical side, Formula One has reached a very , very high level because we have now everything together what in future road cars will have: it's the engine which is turbocharged, then we have energy recovery systems, we have two systems and we have sorted out nearly all the problems within a short period of time ' and therefore I think from this point of view, the teams, together with the engine manufacturers have done a good job. Regarding the young people, you can attract the young people if you have a local hero. I remember when I came to Germany in the '80s, no-one was interested in Formula One. Absolutely no-one. And then Michael came and then everybody was interested in Formula One. You could see it on the kart tracks. Many, many kart tracks were built up. The same with Poland when Kubica came into Formula One. I think this is decisive. You need a local hero and then the young people are always interested in Formula One.
Q: Monisha, going back to Joe's question about muzzling the drivers or not given them a chance to be their own personalities.
Kaltenborn: Well of course we're not culpable of anything here. What else can we say? I think what's important here is that we somehow have to come up with more ideas how you can make partners interested in how to use a driver and a personality ' because I think we are beyond that time where you can just invite him, let's say, for a dinner or an event or something like that. And people want to engage more with them. So I think we as teams have to be more creative about these things. Of course sometimes you have to tell them to be careful ' maybe when they talk to Joe ' but that's it, nothing more.
Q: (Kate Walker) Carrying on with the theme of young people engagement and what can and can't be done, to what extent do you think that broadcasting rights issues coming from the commercial rights holder, the inability of people to discover Formula One on Youtube, to use the sources that they use in their everyday lives, is preventing Formula One from growing a youth audience?
Gastaldi: That's an interesting question. I think, again, we have to be careful what we say to the youngsters. But I think if we put together the right tools ' you mentioned Youtube ' this is a sport, we just need to have the right package to show to the young people, to be an example for them, so that's my point of view.
Abiteboul: It's a tricky question. I think we need to find the right balance between the accessibility, exclusivity and value. I think that there is a belief right now that more exclusivity creates value. Maybe this was true, maybe it's less true with new media where it's more the distribution and our people need to react with content that is creating value. If you look at Facebook, there is nothing exclusive in Facebook and I think that the value of the IPO of Facebook is quite historic, just like the value of different transactions that have just happened so you may argue that there is a bubble of internet but I think Formula One would be happy to have such a bubble. I think those are the sort of things that we maybe have to look at, that maybe a lack of exclusivity maybe does not mean a lack of value.
Q: (Dieter Rencken) Jean Todt has stated his intention of imposing cost control regulations by 2015. That means they will have to go through the entire regulatory process by the 30th of June to be ratified by the World Motor Sport Council, so you have three months to do that. Has sufficient progress been made, and from your team's perspectives, what sort of level of cost cap, cost control, budget cap or whatever would you like to see?
Lowdon: I think progress is being made, I think it's difficult to say whether it's on target, behind or ahead because there's no real blueprint for this at all. What there has to be is just a will amongst the teams for it to happen for the good of the sport and I think it would be for the good of the sport. I remain optimistic that something will happen within the timeframe and it will improve Formula One.
Kaltenborn: I can confirm that from our perspective that progress is being made, we are working on papers and I think it's more than just an intention of the FIA to do this. The teams got together with the other stakeholders and there was an agreement amongst everyone that we have to do something here. We looked at different ways to do it so I think that's already a big step in itself and we are making progress so I'm confident that sticking to that agreement amongst everyone, we will have some cost control next year.
Tost: You know there are a lot of discussions going on and I'm convinced that sooner or later we will come to a cost cut to whichever solution to come down with the costs.
Q: (Dieter Rencken) What about the second part? What value should it be set at?
Abiteboul: I think some figures have already circulated. It depends what we want to achieve. I think a first step at 200 million would already do something. That's not necessarily the official Caterham position in that respect, that's a figure that has been mentioned and that would already have an effect. Then to scope the currency also, I don't think we have mentioned currency, it's maybe a debate for a future date.
Gastaldi: Again, lots of discussions going on. I think we would have to put an agreement all together to see how to move forward.
Hembery: I think it's one of those areas where there's never a perfect solution. If you look at other sports that have tried to impose financial controls from football with financial fair play which limits spending to income levels - it's not just about the spending level, it's also about income levels and the ability for teams to acquire incoming funds, as much as what they're spending. So I think it's a complex subject for all of them and I look forward to the F1 Commission meeting to hear the proposals.
Lowdon: Not trying to avoid the question, Dieter, but it's difficult to put a number on it, it's more to do with the ' as Cyril has alluded ' to the mechanism ' and Paul's alluded to as well ' a combination of cost control and how revenues come into the sport. I think that one of the key things that we can learn from other sports is that it is entirely possible to do this, I think that's something that's really important. You still hear people saying that it might be difficult or it might even be impossible to do it and I personally think that's nonsense. Formula One has introduced the biggest technical change that we've seen certainly in my generation and it's been done successfully. Most other global sports have introduced - for the better of the sport ' financial mechanisms which do work to greater or lesser extents but they do work and therefore I think one of the things that I would be really keen to see emphasised is that these mechanisms do work, they can be done and it's certainly not impossible.
Q: Formula One needs to be a corporation all pointing in the same direction. Is that possible and can I have an answer from everybody please?
Tost: Theoretically, everything is possible. In practice, it's a different story, because there's the competition between the different teams but nevertheless, there's the teams, the commercial rights holder and the FIA and at the end, up to now, we always have found a proper solution for Formula One and this will also be the case in the future. Therefore I'm quite optimistic that all the parties will work together.
Kaltenborn: I think it is possible but we really have to change the entire set-up that we have right now and then the question comes up, is that really necessary or could you still find a solution with the set-ups we have now, but with the green on maybe the right objectives and targets for the sport? So I think it would be a radical step if we do that, if we could do it, I guess, if we agree, but I think we should start with smaller steps and make sure that we know where the future is going to for Formula One.
Abiteboul: I think that's exactly it. I think there is nothing right now in the set-up that aligns the interests of the different teams and therefore it's only the competitive spirit that remains. Maybe if we had a different business model like a franchise, for instance, that would be a better way to align the interests of everyone and therefore the shareholders of the different teams would have the same sort of interest but we have to wonder again if it is worth going in that direction. It may not be the case.
Gastaldi: I think it would be good if all the teams... it would be good for the sport if we are all in the same boat. I think so.
Hembery: Obviously we get to see all of the teams, the FIA, the promoter and everyone together and I think the one common theme is that everybody wants to see a very strong and successful Formula One, so the basic desire is there to do it and let's see if we're able to do that over the next period of time.
Lowdon: I certainly hope so. I think to some extent it depends what everybody wants or all the different players want and if what everybody wants is to maximise the potential of Formula One over the next ten, twenty years then the answer has to be yes, that's the only way it's going to be maximised, is if everyone works together.


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WINONA, Miss. — In another lifetime, I was for 10 years editor of the Winona Times, a newspaper in central Mississippi.
It was on the cusp of the Ward and June Cleaver era. Nobody bothered to lock houses. Or cars (more often than not keys were simply left in the ignition; I figured anyone who'd swipe my Mercury Meteor with 150,000-plus miles on it would be extremely desperate or insane). Our young son and his pals roamed the town on their bicycles and we never worried for their safety; everyone knew them and looked out for them.
As in most towns, there were a few people who were movers and shakers, who squeezed twice as many hours from a day as everyone else, who managed to get three times as much accomplished.
"Responsibility gravitates to the man who can shoulder it," an old adage goes. Another: "If you want something done, give it to a busy man."
George Harris, proprietor of Circle H Ranch, a spread on the south end of town, was one of those people. He chaired fund drives, spearheaded community projects, served his church in numerous capacities, was active in school affairs. His fingers were in all the pies. He got things done.
Sandwiched amongst the multitudinous pro bono efforts, he managed to find time to run a farm that produced some of the country's top-notch Herefords.
The story goes that George was so gung-ho on a career as a cattleman that, upon graduation from Mississippi State University (in only three years), his father offered a choice of a new car or a fine Hereford. George took the Hereford. And became cattleman extraordinaire.
Buyers from far and wide came to Winona for his annual sales — gala happenings, with much food and camaraderie, and a lot of money changing hands for animals that were groomed as meticulously as the well-heeled cattlemen and their wives who'd arrived in private planes and luxury cars. George wandered about, chomping an unlit cigar, smiling broadly, making sure every last detail was taken care of, that everyone was having a good time.
Thirty years ago, I moved away. Winona and Ward and June Cleaver are now a wistful memory of kinder, gentler, more innocent times. But George just kept on keeping on.
More often than not, people don't get tributes until the preacher's hovering over their casket. On a recent Sunday, George got praise while he could enjoy it, surrounded by family, friends, and members of the community he's spent a lifetime serving.
The occasion was a reception and program to honor his tenure as a member and chairman of the board of trustees of Tyler Holmes Memorial Hospital. He's retiring from the board after 51 years — the longest anyone has ever served on a hospital board in the entire state of Mississippi.
A lot of nice things were said, not just about his efforts on behalf of the hospital, but in recognition of the myriad of things he's done for his community over a lifetime.
To which I add: Thanks, George, for exemplifying public service at its best.

subset: commoncrawl


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No, I told dh, he is saying 'sit, sit.'
Because we, for lack of having our own fuzzy puppy, apparently utter these words at him frequently. As well as 'whattagoodboyyouare!!!' and 'NO! Don't EAT that!' - other common puppyisms.
But in the bath he stands up. Is this acceptable for any mother at all who has read and dreamt the '1001 ways your kids can die' manifesto? No, it is not.
So? "Sit! Sit down! SIT, BUBBLES, SIT!"
At the table? His great disdain for any food at all that is not accompanied by a private viewing of Pingu is evident by the way he assumes his 'I am so bored I have to stand here and drape my arm over the back of the high chair' pose.
Is this acceptable? As he throws his weight back, the chair slightly tips, and I visualize exactly where his head would hit the wall if gravity has its way. Again, it is not.
So? "Sit! Sit down! SIT , BUBBLES, SIT!"
Is it any wonder then, that as he wanders around muttering his pinglish, with recognizable words peppered in between (ball, okay!, disdat, moo), every now and then we should hear a "SIT!" ?
No, I think it is not any wonder at all.
(Is it any wonder that if one of us was to think it was all innocent, it would be the one who actually uses the word shit frequently enough to be guilty? ahem. yeah, that's me.)
"See?!", I said, "It's not like he uses it in the context of 'shit'!"
Last night, a naked Bubbly boy ran into the kitchen to demand -as he usually does- the remains of what he telepathically knew from the bathroom was my juice! in a glass!
After he had sucked the last inch with great slurping, he gestured to the fridge and said 'da-at mo?' ever so sweetly.
"No more juice today, honey. More juice tomorrow." It was, after all, bedtime.
He tried again, in his 'I am going to try that sugary begging thing my sister does' voice,
"Mo-oo? Da-aat? okAY!"
I was immovable. (Sorry, you're the third, kid!)
"No, no more today. No more of that."
Then he said it.
Just like that. Not like "SHIT!", or "This is BULLshit!", or "Sheeit... you say that now but I will make you my juice-fetching-bitch."
Nope, none of that.
Like a sweet little question.
Of course, I responded sweetly.
"I know it's shit honey, nobody likes to be told no, but tomorrow's another day."
I glanced up to the other adult in the room.
Caught. His smirk was enough.
Okay, fine. So maybe I did teach my toddler to swear.
But you know what? We learned two things from this. Dh has realized that I truly am, in fact, the very same woman he chose all those (7) years ago.
And? My kid can swear at the appropriate moments.
Considering his current limited use of intelligible words? I am a wee bit proud.


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Billabong Sanctuary offers Australia's Best Interactive Wildlife Experience! Located just 20 minutes south of Townsville on the Bruce Highway, they feature native animals in natural habitats of eucalypt forest, rainforest and wetlands.
As a small boutique park, they specialise in memorable personal experiences. Cuddle a koala, pat a wombat, pose with a python, pat a dingo, and feed the cassowaries. You could even hold a baby saltwater crocodile! Free-ranging kangaroos will hop up for a pat. Most interactive experiences are free-of-charge and you can use your own camera to capture the moment.
Billabong Sanctuary is one of the few places in the country where you can hold a koala for a souvenir photo! This dream-come true experience takes place twice a day, morning and afternoon, so you won't miss out.
Twice-daily croc-feeding shows are thrilling to watch, as these mighty reptiles power out of the water to snatch their food.
Throughout the day friendly Rangers present dynamic and impassioned talks, which are both inspiring and entertaining. The focus on conservation has earned them Advanced Ecotourism Accreditation.
|Cost AUD
|Valid From
|$24 - $24
|Children ages 4 to 16 years.
|Indicative Prices
|$37 - $105
|AUD37 entry rate for adults. AUD33.50 entry rate for pensioners or seniors. AUD33.50 entry rate for students and backpackers AUD105 entry rate for families.
|Opening Hours
|All year
|9am - 5pm
|25 December 2018
Note: Information on listed products and services are provided by the operator and were correct at the time of publishing. Rates are indicative based on the minimum and maximum available prices of products and services. Please visit the operator's website for further information. All prices quoted are in Australian dollars (AUD).


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Fox's Tantaros Treats Food Stamps As A Diet Plan: "Do You Know How Fabulous I'd Look?"
Blog ››› ››› JEREMY HOLDEN
On the eve of Thanksgiving, Fox News pundit Andrea Tantaros mockingly dismissed the plight of hungry Americans, claiming that she would "look fabulous" if she were forced to live on a food stamp diet.
Tantaros' vapid commentary came in response to Newark, New Jersey, Mayor Cory Booker's pledge to accept the food-stamp challenge and try to subsist on $133 for food per month for an extended period of time, just as food stamp recipients in New Jersey do.
After Fox Business panelists speculated whether Booker's pledge is an effort at "positioning himself for a run for the presidency as a man of the people," Tantaros quipped: "I should try it because, do you know how fabulous I'd look. I'd be so skinny. I mean, the camera adds ten pounds."
Tantaros' comments are appalling and uninformed. While most of us feast on turkey and yams, stuffing and cranberries, on Thursday, millions of Americans will go hungry, just as they do every day. The food stamp challenge exists to demonstrate the struggles that food insecure families face trying to live on their monthly allotment of food.
Despite the difficulty in subsisting on food stamps, the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP), which was formerly known as food stamps, helped keep millions of families out of poverty in 2011.
Tantaros' commentary continues a long and extensive Fox campaign to dismiss hunger-related issues and to demonize SNAP recipients.
In May, when celebrity chef Mario Batali took the food stamp challenge, Fox's Greg Gutfeld asked: "Does this make you want to slap him around?" Around that time, Sean Hannity encouraged those suffering with food insecurity to shun SNAP and instead eat more rice and beans, which he said could be purchased "for relatively negligible amounts of money."
We're still waiting for Fox to take the food stamp challenge.
- Posted In
- Poverty, Food Insecurity
- Network/Outlet
- Fox Business
- Person
- Andrea Tantaros
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Difference between revisions of "Laser Interferometer"
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Latest revision as of 17:15, 25 March 2013
More information about what this is and what it's used for.
Will brought his interferometer rig to the 11/10/09 meeting, he needed a more powerful laser to test with so we used a 5mW green laser pointer and got respectable results. Below are images and video from our tests. Apparently what you want to see are good dark and light bands, this indicates the two laser paths are meeting up correctly at the target. When the distance between the two paths changes the bands appear to ripple as the cancelation area between them changes locations. Brushing your finger on the board where the optics were sitting was enough to cause the bands to ripple. When this rig was working at it's best we could just talk near the rig and see our voices causing the bands to vibrate.
[edit] Photos
[edit] Next steps
Build a detector so we can measure the frequency of change between the laser paths (the ripples) so distance measurements and other experiments can take place.


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INDIANAPOLIS, Nov. 13 (UPI) -- An Indiana man who had Mitt Romney's campaign logo tattooed on his face in the weeks leading up to the election said he is "totally disappointed."
Eric Hartsburg, 30, who had his face tattooed with the Romney/Ryan double-"R" logo a couple weeks before President Barack Obama won re-election, said Tuesday's vote did not end the way he'd hoped, Politico reported Tuesday.
"Totally disappointed, man," Hartsburg said. "I'm the guy who has egg all over his face, but instead of egg, it's a big Romney/Ryan tattoo. It's there for life."
He said his wife, also a supporter of the Republican ticket, was "taken aback" by his tattoo plans, but his 15-year-old son was "all about it."
Hartsburg said he raised $5,000 on eBay before getting the tattoo.
Hartsburg, who describes himself as a professional wrestler, said he is hoping the tattoo "opens some other doors in the entertainment business."


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Their Health Depends on You, Destroy Syphilis - Public Health STD Vintage Poster
- Title: Their health depends on you Destroy syphilis / / C.Y. Bienvenu.
- Creator(s): Bienvenu, C. Y., artist
- Related Names:
Federal Art Project , sponsor
- Date Created/Published: [Louisiana] : WPA War Services of La., [between 1941 and 1943]
- Medium: 1 print on board (poster) : silkscreen, color.
- Summary: Poster promoting eradication of syphilis, showing children playing and reading.
- Reproduction Number: LC-USZC2-5580 (color film copy slide)
- Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.
- Call Number: POS - WPA - LA .B54, no. 1 (C size) [P&P]
- Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA
- Notes:
- Date stamped on recto: Jan 21 '43.
- Work Projects Administration Poster Collection (Library of Congress).
See other Syphilis vintage posters


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"American Masters -- Alice Walker: Beauty in Truth" A lovely and lyrical tribute to the great American novelist, poet, essayist and activist airs just two days before she turns 70 and helps kick off Black History Month.
Obviously, it shouldn't require an African American-themed event to warrant a tribute to Walker, and "Beauty in Truth" reminds us how singular and extraordinary Walker's life and work remain.
Best known for her Pulitzer Prize-winning novel "The Color Purple," she is a woman who speaks softly, writes beautifully, draws strength from nature and refuses to follow conventions of any sort. Giving voice to black women at a time when they were often marginalized in both the feminist and civil rights movement, Walker has infuriated as many people as she has empowered, which is, of course, the mark of both a true artist and activist.
Made by Walker's friend and colleague Pratibha Parmar, "Beauty in Truth" follows this remarkable life from sharecropper childhood to American icon, aided by in-depth interviews with Walker and a range of luminaries including Howard Zinn, Gloria Steinem, Angela Davis, Danny Glover and Sapphire.
Although more tribute than biography, "Beauty in Truth" offers an important reminder of how much America has changed in the course of this woman's lifetime, in part because of her efforts. PBS, Friday, 9 p.m.
"The Walking Dead." The Governor (David Morrissey) is dead (or is he?), baby Judith is dead (or is she?), Hershel (Scott Wilson) is dead (alas, that seems irrevocable) and the briefly thriving group of survivors are on the move again in a landscape we have been promised will more closely resemble the graphic novel on which the show is based than any previous season.
Other rumors include the return of a "major" character (we hope it's Melissa McBride's Carol, though perhaps she hasn't been gone long enough for her return to warrant a rumor), new "pets" for Michonne (Danai Gurira) and an increasing emphasis on Carl (Chandler Riggs).
Plagued by a built-in "ante issue" -- when zombies become commonplace, how do the writers continually up the ante? -- "The Walking Dead" needs to take a breath and allow its characters to do the same. But I wouldn't expect that to happen in the midseason premiere, or until we find out what happened to Judith. AMC, Sundays, 9 p.m.
"Transparent." Up for voting by the Prime subscribers, one of Amazon's first comedy pilots comes from "Six Feet Under" writer Jill Soloway and stars Jeffrey Tambor as Mort, the father of three grown children as he transitions from a man to a woman.
Firmly set in Los Angeles, "Transparent" follows a family already broken by divorce -- Judith Light is "Mom" -- and the narcissistic nature of the three children, played by Gaby Hoffman, Amy Landecker and Jay Duplass.
The pilot is, as many pilots are, a little anxious and over-thought, but there are far more moments of grace than contrivance, Tambor is amazing and, by gosh, it's good to see Los Angeles evoked by someone who actually knows it. Amazon Prime, whenever.
"House of Cards." Season 2 dumps on Netflix on Valentine's Day (what says "I love you" more than a dark 'n' treacherous binge-watch?). This gives you a week to catch up with Season 1 of Beau Willimon's remake of the British political drama (and/or the British original, also available on Netflix.)
Anchored by Kevin Spacey, making a five-course meal of his role as scheming House Whip Frank Underwood, and an icily luminous Robin Wright as his wife Claire, "House of Cards" was designed to plant the Netflixian flag on the high ground of the television landscape. Which it most certainly did.
Opening big with episodes directed by David Fincher, it faltered a bit in later episodes, but remains ambitious, entertaining and at times (we're talking about you, Ms. Wright) even breathtaking. Watch this space for thoughts on Season 2. Netflix, any old time you want.


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9 November is the 313th day of the year (314th in leap years). There are 52 days remaining.
- 1991: At eleven a.m. a Quidditch match takes place: Gryffindor vs. Slytherin. Gryffindor wins when Harry Potter catches the Snitch with his mouth. Professor Quirrell trys to jinx Harry's broom, but Professor Snape counters his jinxes and saves Harry's life.


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The sleigh bells are done ring-ting-tingling and all you are left with now is that jiggle in your waistline from all those holiday goodies. So what are you to do? Exactly what you do every year this time of the year: resolve to lose weight. And to get you started, I have for you the perfectly low-fat, perfectly nutritious meal: Gobi Parathas with Zucchini Raita.
The time after the holidays is always a little depressing. Suddenly there are no more lazy days with family and friends to look forward to, all the colorful lights and Christmas trees twinkling in windows are gone, and the most wonderful time of the year is a whole year away. But the New Year also brings with it a chance for renewal and as trite as those resolutions seem, we all can't help but make a few.
My resolution for the year is to go through life at a more conscious pace. As much as I love the idea of taking things slow and absorbing the beauty around me each day, I get caught up, inevitably, in the stresses of day-to-day living. And before I can realize it, some of the best moments I could have grabbed and held on to have passed me by. As have the people I know would have been good friends had I spent a little more time getting to know them, and events that I could have enjoyed far more had I not been busy looking at my watch.
My other resolution is to meet up with all of you more often. The last year was a tough one for me– I went through a difficult time with Lucy's illness followed by a job change, and as a result Holy Cow! did not get the attention from me that she deserved. This year I intend to remedy that by posting new recipes more frequently.
I wanted to start the New Year also with a little gift for you — a fabulous giveaway of an essential kitchen tool. Read on to get more details about that after the recipe post.
Now on to the Gobi Parathas which are a great way to add the rather unglamorous yet incredibly nutritious cauliflower to your diet. Cauliflower has potent, cancer-fighting properties that it shares with its cruciferous cousins, namely broccoli, cabbage, Brussels Sprouts, Collard Greens, and Kale. But it can also be a challenging veggie to cook, because it is rather bland and, if overcooked, it can turn into an unappetizing mush.
For these parathas, I marry the cauliflower with a blend of spices and then envelop it in some crispy whole-wheat dough. And then, just to make it all a little more perfect, I dunk it into some Zucchini Raita made with my tofu yogurt.
The Raita is a little different from your usual raitas — I cook the zucchini into melt-in-the-mouth tenderness before adding to it the tofu yogurt. It is delicious, nutritious, and together with the parathas it makes for a high-protein meal perfect for weight loss.
On to the recipe now. Hope everyone has had a fabulous start to 2013 that will continue forever. Happy New Year, all!
More recipes to try:
Vegan Strawberry Boondi Raita
Easy Aloo Paratha
Vegan Cucumber Raita, Soy-Free
Khasta Paratha or Parotta
Gajar-Mooli Paratha
Gobi Paratha, cauliflower stuffed paratha
- For the dough:
- 2 cups whole-wheat flour (use durum atta flour if you have this, otherwise regular whole-wheat is fine)
- 1/2 tsp salt
- Water
- For the filling:
- 1/2 large head of cauliflower or 1 small head. Grate the cauliflower in a food processor or by hand into fine shreds.
- 1 tsp mustard seeds
- 1 tbsp coriander powder
- 1 tsp paprika (use cayenne for more heat)
- 1/2 tsp turmeric
- 1 tbsp ginger paste
- 1 tsp aamchoor (mango powder), optional
- 2 tbsp finely minced coriander leaves
- 2 tbsp finely minced dill
- 1 tsp canola or other vegetable oil
- Salt to taste
- Make the dough:
- Place the flour in a large bowl or in the bowl of a stand mixer. Mix in the salt. With your hand or the dough hook, knead into a soft, pliable, but not sticky dough. Set aside for at least 30 minutes.
- Make the filling:
- Heat the oil in a saucepan on medium-high heat and add the mustard seeds. When they sputter, add the grated ginger, coriander powder, turmeric, and chilli powder.
- Mix quickly and then add the grated cauliflower and salt. Stir to mix thoroughly. We are cooking the cauliflower to get as much of the moisture out of it as possible, so do not cover it. Dehydrating the cauliflower will not only make it taste better in the paratha, it will also make it easier to roll the parathas out.
- Stir the cauliflower frequently. A good way to tell that the cauliflower is done is when it starts to stick to the bottom of the saucepan. This should take about 15-20 minutes. Don't let it burn though.
- Mix in the dill and coriander and add more salt if needed. Remove from the fire and allow to cool.
- Assemble and cook the parathas:
- Divide the dough into 10 pieces.
- Take each piece and roll it into a smooth ball in the palms of your hands. Using your fingers, or with a rolling pin, roll out each piece into a round, about 4 inches in diameter.
- Now place some filling inside the circle. I like to stuff the parathas as much as I possibly can, to get the most flavor.
- Gather the edges and pinch together at the top to seal into a dumpling. Press down the top.
- Dust the round with some flour and roll out gently into a 6-7 inch circle. I like my parathas really thin, but traditionally they are rolled out fairly thick. If some filling squeezes out, don't panic. Just dust with some dry flour.
- Heat a cast-iron or nonstick skillet. Place the paratha on the hot skillet. When it turns opaque and small bubbles appear, flip around. At this stage you can spray the parathas with some oil to make them really crispy.
- Flip over again and cook both sides until golden-brown spots appear.
- Serve piping hot.
Zucchini Raita
- 4 small zucchini , cut into 1/4-inch pieces
- 1 tsp vegetable oil
- 1 tsp mustard seeds
- 1 tsp grated ginger
- 1 tsp red chilli flakes (or powder)
- Salt to taste
- /2 tetra pack of firm tofu blended with 1/2 cup nondairy milk and juice of 1 lemon
- tsp cumin seeds, toasted and then ground to a coarse powder
- Heat the oil and add the mustard seeds. When they crackle, add the red chilli flakes and ginger, stir to mix, then add the zucchini and salt to taste.
- Cook the zucchini, stirring frequently, until it is fairly soft.
- Turn off the heat and let the zucchini cool. Mix with the tofu yogurt.
- Sprinkle the cumin powder and mix. Check salt.
- Enjoy!
Take each piece and roll it into a smooth ball in the palms of your hands. Using your fingers, or with a rolling pin, roll out each piece into a round, about 4 inches in diameter.
Now place some filling inside the circle. I like to stuff the parathas as much as I possibly can, to get the most flavor.
Gather the edges and pinch together at the top to seal into a dumpling. Press down the top.
Dust the round with some flour and roll out gently into a 6-7 inch circle. I like my parathas really thin, but traditionally they are rolled out fairly thick. If some filling squeezes out, don't panic. Just dust with some dry flour.
Heat a cast-iron or nonstick skillet. Place the paratha on the hot skillet. When it turns opaque and small bubbles appear, flip around. At this stage you can spray the parathas with some oil to make them really crispy.
Flip over again and cook both sides until golden-brown spots appear.
To help you make your parathas, GitaDini, the makers of the awesome Rotito Rolling Board, are offering one of their Rotito Sets to a lucky reader of Holy Cow! See details below on how to enter.
The Rotito rolling board is a huge improvement on the traditional wooden rolling board that I (and most Indian cooks) have been used to. The rustic wooden boards almost always have uneven legs. In my kitchen, each time I made chapatis or parathas, I would have to deal with the board going clack-clack-clack as it danced on the countertop. The Rotito rolling board does away with this problem — it has a circular base that grips the platform beautifully. What's more, it's sturdy, looks really cute, and I realized that after I am done rolling and cooking the parathas I can flip over the rolling board and use it as an attractive container to store and serve them (I don't know if the manufacturers intended this, but I love this feature).
And wait, it gets even better! The set comes with a wooden rolling pin and a neat stainless steel dusting flour container, evocative of those mom and grandmom used, that's just the right size to dip those parathas into as you roll them out.
To enter the giveaway for the awesome Rotito Rolling Board Set and get started on your parathas, all you have to do is:
1. Share this post on Facebook or Twitter.
2. Leave a message on this post telling me you did so.
I will announce the winner, picked at random, next week.
Please keep in mind that GitaDini can only ship in the United States for now.
Good luck, all!
*This giveaway is now closed.


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It's been several weeks since I have updated my list of 50 Things to Do Before I am 50. My progress has slowed to a near grinding halt, since I have been preoccupied with getting everyone back to school, including me. Well, I am not actually in "school," but I am studying for a big exam, and it leaves me little time to do anything else, including working my 50/50 list. When I am not working my glamourus full-tim job as a high-powered government attorney, driving carpool, or helping with homework, I am reviewing criminal law and procedure. Bleh. But, the family still needs to eat, and I still need to have my ocassional glass of wine, so here's some minor progress on my list:
Iced Coffee.
It was really hot recently. My Colombian husband practically grew up on cafe con leche. Iced coffee sounded like the best way to satisfy my husband on a hot end-of summer day, without having to take my clothes off. Plus, I was tired and needed a jolt of caffeine. I found this recipe on this website. It looked so good and very simple. The problem was that I didn't have a container big enough, so I had to cut the recipe in half. That involved some simple fractions. Yuck. Hey, if I was good at math, I would have gone to medical school, not law school. The end result was that I made some really strong iced coffee. Even my coffee addict husband thought it was too strong. After we diluted it a bit, poured in some half and half, it was as good as any baristas' iced coffee and a fraction of the price.
Cedar Plank Salmon
Over the Labor Day weekend we hosted both sides of the family for a family dinner. When both sides of our local immediate families get together we number 22! Naturally, our celebrations involve pot luck and I assigned myself one of the main dishes, Cedar Plank Salmon. I have tried cooking salmon wrapped in cedar paper, but it didn't seem to have enough flavor. This time, I bought some cedar planks at the grocery store and soaked them in water. I bought the fish at Costco, seasoned it and sprinkled it with brown sugar. I was inspired by this recipe, but, I didn't have all the ingredients, so I kind of improvised. The fish was a hit, as evidenced by this photo. We couldn't take the photo fast enough. The crowd was hungry!
Smothered Pork Chops
The next thing I made was Smothered Pork Chops. Last Sunday I was feeling like I wanted some comfort food. I had some pork chops in the refrigerator so I looked on my favorite online cooking resource and found this recipe. Just what I wanted, and even better because I only had to wash one pot.
Roasted Brussel Sprouts
As a side dish I roasted brussel sprouts. I didn't really need a recipe for this since I have made brussel sprouts before, but I still consulted with a few sources to find a different way to prepare them. I have boiled them and sauteed them before, but never roasted them. First I cut them in half, then I drizzled some olive oil on them and seasoned them with salt and pepper. I placed them flat side down on a cookie sheet and roasted them in the oven for about 40 minutes at a temperature of 425 degrees. When they were done I sprinkled a little parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes on them. I thought they came out great, and I will probably always make them this way. Here's what the dinner looked like:
September Wine
During our family gathering we served this wonderful pinto gris. Juan scored this wine for a great price at our local grocery store. It was crisp, light and if I really knew anything about wine I would say it had tones of citrus and vanilla. What I do know is that it was really refreshing, and our guests enjoyed it too. It seems like we weren't the only ones who liked it, and I am not the only one to blog about it. Check this mom's post about her review of the same wine.


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|Glenn, David
|Kim, James
Submitted to: Compact Fruit Tree
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/21/2013
Publication Date: 5/1/2013
Citation: Glenn, D.M., Kim, Y. 2013. Stress detection in plants. Compact Fruit Tree. p. 54.
Interpretive Summary:
Technical Abstract: How can the status of plant stress be measured rapidly and accurately in the hundreds of trees managed within a commercial orchard? Two technologies have been developed over the past two decades that will provide useful information to detect plant stress in orchard systems: 1) Reflectance of visible and near-infrared radiation from plant canopies, and 2) measurement of canopy temperature. The reflectance red light (640-700 nm) and near-infrared radiation (700-800 nm) provide clues to photosynthetic performance. The chlorophyll molecule absorbs red light from 640 to 680 nm but when the photosynthetic process is impaired by water or nutrient stress or damage from disease or insects, the reflectance of red light increases because less red light is absorbed by the chlorophyll molecule. This response has been used to develop many stress indices used in remote sensing. One of the most common is the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). NDVI is commonly used in agronomic crops to detect nutrient stress and in turfgrass to detect nutrient and water stress. NDVI = (NIR- RED) / (NIR+RED) where NIR is the reflectance in the near-infrared range and RED is reflectance in the red color band of visible light. Measurement of plant temperature provides information on the ability of the plant to meet the environmental demand for water, a process termed transpirational cooling. Plant canopies can be as much as 12 degrees F below air temperature depending on the wind, temperature and relative humidity. The reduction in canopy temperature from air temperature has been established for the major agronomic crops based on the temperature, relative humidity and incoming light. Similar information can be developed for tree fruit crops to evaluate whether the trees are receiving adequate moisture, either from the soil reserves or irrigation. In our studies, we used a Trimble's GreenSeeker NDVI sensor to scan the canopies of apple trees grown with a range of soil moisture deficits that ranged from fully irrigated to 45 percent of full irrigation. Whole tree photosynthesis was measured daily and correlated with NDVI. NDVI values alone did not predict the plant photosynthetic rate. Expressing the photosynthetic rate as a percentage of the maximum was related to NDVI values but varied with the sampling date. However, the NDVI sample date variation diminished as the water stress level diminished. This result provided a high level of confidence that trees with NDVI reflectance values greater than 0.8 had minimal to no stress. In orchard production, this is useful to the grower since any stress can reduce fruit size and quality, and the NDVI sensor is a rapid means to evaluate stress. In field studies, the NDVI sensor and infrared imaging of canopy temperature were able to discriminate as high as NDVI equals 0.23 and 3.9 degrees C between irrigated and non-irrigated trees. Our study also provided guidelines for the use of a spectral sensor to compensate for surface wetness and solar radiation changes. In summary, NDVI and infrared technologies offer promise in the rapid and early detection of plant stress in orchard systems.


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Library's 'Think Tank' available to faculty, staff
A new meeting room on the third floor of Mitchell Memorial Library now is open to provide faculty and students with a technology-filled space designed to enhance collaborative learning and research.
Presentation Room 3060 -- also known as "The Think Tank" -- will accommodate up to eight individuals. It is designed specifically for small-group meetings, Blackboard Collaborate and other web-based conference activities, group training, search committee meetings requiring Skype, and presentation practices.
Three of four walls are coated with IdeaPaint that converts the space into floor-to-ceiling white boards. Some of the room's featured technologies include a PC with wireless mouse, keyboard and webcam, a 60-inch LED television, and conference telephone system. Available software includes Microsoft Office 2010, Adobe Creative Suite, Adobe Acrobat, VLC, Skype, and Camtasia.
Presentation Room 3060 is available to university faculty, staff and students by reservation on a first-come basis. In addition to contacting the library's Instructional Media Center at 662-325-7676, persons interested in reserving the room may visit http://library.msstate.edu/services/roomreserve.
Ben Nagel | University Libraries


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Terry Butcher has opted to remain as Inverness manager by turning down the advances of npower Championship strugglers Barnsley.
Inverness granted permission for the 54-year-old former England captain to meet with the Tykes on Monday, but on Wednesday night he informed his club of his decision to stay with them. He becomes the second manager to turn down Barnsley since they sacked Keith Hill at the end of December, with Sean O`Driscoll having opted against taking the job on Sunday.
"I was pleased that Caley Thistle gave me the opportunity to talk to Barnsley, who were excellent to deal with," Butcher told Inverness` official website. "But I have decided that my future lies at Inverness. We have been going extremely well to be second in the SPL, still in the Scottish Cup and with a League Cup semi-final to look forward to later this month."
The news that Butcher is staying will be of great relief to Caledonian Thistle`s supporters, who have seen the former Brentford and Sydney FC manager take them up the Scottish leagues. They are currently Celtic`s nearest challengers in the title race, albeit by nine points, and European football could be on the cards later this year.
"We?re delighted that Terry Butcher is to remain with us and the fans will greatly welcome the news," said chairman Kenny Cameron. "When Barnsley made their approach we felt that out of courtesy we should allow Terry the opportunity to meet with them. But it is a huge relief that he has opted to stay.
"These are exciting times at this club under the management of Terry and Maurice Malpas and we now look forward to maintaining what has been a wonderful season."
Butcher took the Inverness job in January 2009, replacing Craig Brewster. They take on Hearts in the semi-finals of the Scottish League Cup later this month.
Inverness, who have only lost against Motherwell and Celtic this season, are still in the William Hill Scottish Cup and are top scorers in the Clydesdale Premier League so far with 44 goals.
David Flitcroft, Hill`s former assistant, is currently in charge of Barnsley, who next host Leeds in the Championship. They are currently bottom, four points shy of safety and today sold nine-goal Craig Davies to Bolton.
Flitcroft, former Sheffield Wednesday manager Gary Megson and ex-captain Neil Redfearn, currently the academy coach at Leeds, are the new favourites for the job.


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If you have been considering a protective style in the form of a weave Indique hair and Beautiful textures are teaming up for the ultimate giveaway- luxury hair extensions from Indique and a chance to try Beautiful Textures texture management system.
Indique is the first luxury brand of extensions I've ever had installed and the quality is some of the best I've used. I've been swimming in the hair, colored it, straightened it and the curl pattern has remained intact with minimal shedding or tangles. Trust me when I say this hair is worth the investment.
Here's a pic of me wearing 2 tubes of Pure Wavy.
Want the opportunity to try the brand? Well here's your chance!
#PerfectBlend Giveaway Rules:
-Use one of the badges below to state why you would love the opportunity to try the brand.
@lovinmytextures and @iloveindique and use the hashtag #Perfectblend
Sample caption/tweet: "I'm a naturalista who would love the chance to achieve the #Perfectblend with @lovinmytextures
#PerfectBlend Giveaway Includes ($600 value):
– 2 bundles of Indique Hair luxury extensions and complimentary install
– Beautiful Textures Texture Manageability System
Contest runs August 13th-18th and winners will be contacted via social media
About Beautiful Textures
Enriched with soothing Aloe Vera, the strengthening power of Coconut, Olive, Soy and Argan Oils as well as softening Shea and Mango Butters, Beautiful Textures addresses the needs of consumers with kinky-coily, curly, wavy and frizzy hair patterns, providing solutions that will help them achieve versatile hairstyles. Beautiful Textures is comprised of 10 moisture-rich products (Tangle Taming Moisturizing Shampoo, Tangle Taming Leave-In Conditioner, Curl Control Defining Pudding, Curl Definer Mousse, Moisture Butter Whipped Curl Crème, Rapid Repair Deep Conditioner, Curly to Straight Flat Iron Silkener, Shine & Silken Growth Oil, Naturally Straight Texture Manageability TM System and Edges to Ends Silkener) that prevent breakage, define curls, smooth tresses and promote maximum growth. Available in stores now, each product retails for less than ten dollars. The Beautiful Textures product line is now available at Walmart, Walgreens, Sally's Beauty Supply and local beauty supply stores.
About Indique Hair
With a winning combination of hair experts and stylists, and more than 25 years of industry experience, IndiqueHair International provides 100 percent virgin human hair that is natural and of the highest quality. With an impressive client base that consists of Lady Gaga, Lala Vasquez, Rihanna, Ciara, Jill Scott, Brandy and more,Indique Hair's unique Indian virgin and natural human hair extensions are lustrous and tangle free. Indique Hair International is the only company that produces hair extensions at the source, with headquarters in India; IndiqueHair has free-standing boutiques in Brooklyn, Soho & Little Neck in New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia and Boston. For more information visit Indique Hair


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By JOHN FLOWERS
MIDDLEBURY — Proposed 2009-2010 spending plans for six of the Addison Central Supervisory Union's (ACSU) seven elementary schools are on target for increases of less than 2.4 percent, thanks to what administrators are calling some conservative budgeting and a one-time accounting change for busing services.
By KATHRYN FLAGG
BRISTOL — Shabana Basij-Rasikh was six years old when the Taliban took power in her native Afghanistan, banning women and girls from attending school or obtaining an education.
So, soon after, Shabana became "Shaban," dressing as a boy in order to attend a secret school where one teacher covertly tutored 140 girls.
SUDBURY — Plans for the Leicester/Sudbury/Whiting community school fizzled on Saturday when Sudbury residents narrowly defeated a measure for planning funds by a vote of 66-60.
The measure, which voters initially knocked down 54-44 on Nov. 10, would have contributed $7,000 to the tri-town effort to draw up plans for the potential school.
By ANDY KIRKALDY
RIPTON — The Middlebury Union High School Nordic skiing team enjoyed its only home meet of the winter with three top-20 finishes in the girls' race and two top-20 placements in the boys' event in excellent conditions at Middlebury College's Rikert Ski Touring Center on Saturday. Otter Valley's Rainer Kenney also cracked the boys' top 20.
By Karl Lindholm
Where's Waldoboro?
Only about 50 miles from Lewiston, where I was staying with family for the holidays. So the morning after Christmas I headed down the coast to Waldoboro, Maine.
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Rare Plant Program
The mission of the CNPS Rare Plant Program (The Program) is to develop current, accurate information on the distribution, ecology, and conservation status of California's rare and endangered plants, and to use this information to promote science-based plant conservation in California.
Gambelia speciosa (photo by York 1982)
The Program, since its inception in 1968, has developed a reputation for scientific accuracy and integrity. The Program's data are widely accepted as the standard for information on the rarity and endangerment status of the California flora. For this reason, The Program's primary responsibility is the maintenance of the CNPS Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants of California (the CNPS Inventory), which tracks the conservation status of hundreds of plant species. Please click on a link below for more specific information about various aspects of the Rare Plant Program.
The Rare Plant Status Review Process
Once a species has been identified as being of potential conservation concern, a rigorous review process ensues. The Rare Plant Botanist at CNPS evaluates existing literature, reviews herbarium collections, and communicates with experts on the species in order to gather as much information as possible on the particular species under review. Based on this information, a recommendation is then made as to whether a species merits listing by CNPS and if so, what list it should be placed on. A summary of the information gathered on the species is then put together and sent out to a statewide network of over 350 California botanists, representing state and federal agencies, consulting firms, academic institutions, CNPS and other conservation organizations. Once consensus is reached about a change amongst various members of the review groups, the species will be added to a group of pending changes, which will all be implemented and disseminated on a quarterly basis. If consensus is not reached, then a meeting will be held in order to discuss the data more fully and come to an agreement on what the best action would be to take.
Calochortus striatus (photo by Swift 1998)
Once a species has gone through the above review process, information on all aspects of the species (listing status, habitat, distribution, threats, etc.) are entered into the online CNPS Inventory. The print and online versions of the CNPS Inventory are used by thousands of professional and amateur botanists throughout the state. Consultants and planners preparing environmental documents use the CNPS Inventory to determine the potential for resource conflicts and the scope of necessary botanical surveys. Resource managers use the information to guide rare plant protection and the acquisition and management of preserve areas. Conservationists use the same data to review environmental documents and prepare testimony to educate decision-makers. Researchers use the information to evaluate trends and changes in populations of rare plants.
For more information on the Rare Plant Status Review Process please read How to Add, Change or Delete a Species.
The Relationship between CNPS and the California Department of Fish and Game
Lupinus constancei (photo by Imper 1983)
The Program operates under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG). The MOU outlines broad cooperation in rare plant assessment and protection, and formalizes cooperative ventures such as data sharing and production of complementary information sources for rare plants. To facilitate this cooperation, the Rare Plant Botanist is housed at the Sacramento office of the DFG's Biogeographic Data Branch. CNPS and the DFG Natural Diversity Data Base (CNDDB) share all data files and rare plant information and work together on a daily basis to provide current, accurate information on the distribution, endangerment status, and ecology of California's rare flora.
Once a species has undergone the CNPS Review Process and has been added to a CNPS List, CNDDB uses the information gathered to map the rarest plant species to their precise locations. CNDDB makes this information available through RareFind or custom Geographic Information Systems (GIS) maps and digital information. While CNPS updates data more continuously, location information is reported more precisely by CNDDB.
The Program relies heavily on volunteer participation. Over 500 volunteer collaborators contribute rare plant data and review proposed changes to the CNPS Inventory. They provide a consensus view of the rarity, endangerment status, and ecology of California's rare plants. In addition, The Program receives support from volunteer Rare Plant Coordinators from each of the 33 CNPS chapters, and from many other professional and amateur botanists. The Program staff regularly provide technical assistance and rare plant information to CNPS chapters, conservation staff and volunteers for their advocacy work.
Castilleja hololeuca (photo by York 1985)
Chapter Rare Plant Coordinators serve as the Society's local advocates for rare plant protection and conservation planning throughout California. They also conduct surveys of rare plant populations in their area. They, and other chapter members, contribute over half of the new field-based information reviewed by The Program. Rare Plant Coordinators and Conservation Chairs review development projects, participate in local planning processes, and distribute information to agency biologists and consultants. Program staff support the Rare Plant Coordinators by distributing rare plant information, proposing focused surveys for particular plant species, and maintaining the CNPS Inventory. The Program has also developed the CNPS Mitigation Guidelines Regarding Impacts to Rare, Threatened, and Endangered Vascular Plants -- a document prepared to aid CNPS Chapters in their review of local developments and conservation plans.
Program Staff and Leadership
The Program currently has three full-time staff members: Program Manager David Magney ( , 916/447-2677 ext. 205), Catherine Curley, Assistant Botanist (E-mail: ) and Rare Plant Botanist Aaron Sims ( , 916/324-3816). Aaron is responsible for implementing the CNPS Review Process as well as maintenance of the CNPS Inventory and dissemination of data. He also assists with state and federal listing and other rare plant conservation work as time allows. Aaron conducts thorough research, draft status review documents, and work on a multitude of other tasks that pertain to the Program. Aaron is assisted by a half-time rare plant botanist Kaitlyn Green. The Rare Plant Coordinator runs the Rare Plant Treasure Hunt, which focuses on searching for rare plants that we need current information on to better determine how rare they are and what conservation measures are needed to prevent them from extinction. Mr. Magney, as Rare Plant Program Manager, oversees all of the Rare Plant Program projects.
Xylorhiza cognata (photo by Sims 2011)
The Rare Plant Program Committee
Developed in January of 2009, the Rare Plant Program Committee (RPPC) provides expertise, on the behalf of the CNPS Rare Plant Program, related to the science and conservation of rare plants in California. A key role of the RPPC is to assist the CNPS Rare Plant Botanist in making decisions relating to the Program including (but not limited to) those involving complex taxonomic issues related to rare plant status reviews, status review procedures, changes to the CNPS Rare Plant Survey Protocols, and/or changes to the CNPS Online Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants.
Rare Plant Program Contacts


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