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HealthCare Business
When people search dentist in your city, are you on the first page in the top three search results? If your business does not show up, you simply don't exist.
You can be a great dentist and have an amazing website, but all that doesn't matter if your customers can't find you online.
In today's digital world prospective clients will visit your website or company's social media profile to know more about your business.
Ontrix online marketing experts can help your local dentist business reach online customers, connect with them, and retain them.
Effectively Promote Your Business To The Right Audience At The Right Time
- Dedicated Account Manager
- 6 Hours Website Updates
- Review Management (4 Sites)
- Directory Optimization
- Google Plus Management
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$750 per MonthPlus $750 One-Time Setup FeeContact Us
- Dedicated Account Manager
- 6 Hours Website Updates
- Review Management (4 Sites)
- Directory Optimization
- Google Plus Management
- Social Media Management (3 Social Channels)
- Content Creation
- Blog ( 6 Posts Per Month)
- Email Marketing
- Video Production (4 videos per month)
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$1,150 per MonthPlus $1,150 One-Time Setup FeeContact Us
- Dedicated Account Manager
- 6 Hours Website Updates
- Review Management (4 Sites)
- Directory Optimization
- Google Plus Management
- Social Media Management (3 Social Channels)
- Content Creation
- Blog ( 6 Posts Per Month)
- Email Marketing
- Video Production (4 videos per month)
- PPC Management
- YouTube Channel Management
$2,400 per MonthPlus $2,400 One-Time Setup FeeContact Us
What Are Some Benefits Of The Packages?
of Shoppers
conduct online research before making big purchases. (Retailing Today, 2014) (Source: https://www.hubspot.com/marketing-statistics)
of Small Business
owners say that retaining customers is a priority.
of Consumers
who did a local search visited a store within five miles. (WordStream, 2016) (Source: https://www.hubspot.com/marketing-statistics)
of Small Business
owners say that finding new customers is a top concern.
Some Statistics About Us
Here Is What Our Clients Say About Us
I have been assigned a specific manager and I know exactly who I call whenever I have a question. I don't know any website company that offers that level of service.
When I need something done they respond professionally and quickly which is vital for my business. If you're looking for a good SEO company look no further
Thank you for taking the time to pay attention to my needs and tailoring to every detail and delivering a superb site.
When a glitch does occur they are very responsive and take care of the issue in a timely manner. Additionally they do a follow up call to be sure that the problem didn't occur again.
I've received many compliments about the website and love that it was done within the framework of WordPress so that we can make future changes ourselves.
I would highly recommend speaking to them about their internet marketing services as soon as possible. It worked for me!
Frequently Asked Questions
Maintaining a visually attractive, user-friendly, platform-responsive website is showcases to the virtual world that your brand or business exists, but regular maintenance is important if you want your business' visibility to increase and flourish.
Plus, the more you keep your website up to date,Google and other search engines crawl and index your website pages, thus your website ranking gets recalculated.
Do You want to monitor what is being said about your business online?
90% of Internet users say they use online reviews to choose local businesses.
Review site management is the maintenance of a business' online reputation across various review websites.
It is very important to your customers and to Google that your business profile such as Name, Address, Phone Number, and other vital information are correct and the same across as many as possible directory listings on the Internet.
Directory Optimization services gets your business listed accurately in the right directories.
SEO or Search Engine Optimization is a process used to increase traffic to your website through search engines like Google, Bing, or Yahoo. SEO service can help promote and improve your web page's search rankings and increase the number of visitors your website receives from search engines.
Google Plus, also known as Google+, is a social network channel that gives an opportunity for businesses to connect with a community of clients and fans.
The Plus point is that an active Google Plus profile page can benefit SEO. It can help you increase search rankings for your business website.
Nowadays, potential clients not only visit your company website but also your company's Facebook page, Twitter page, and Instagram page to find out about more about your business. That is why having a strong, active social media presence is just as important, or even more important than having just a website.
The best way to keep your fans and followers engaged is to provide custom graphics, banners, memes, custom quotes, relevant, quality news content that your clients actually want to read and share. Unique content is the most powerful tool a business can utilize to win clients.
Blogging is one of the best way of communicating with your clients and spreading information and news about business. Having a blog allows you to keep your website updated with fresh content. Remember content is king. Search engines (Google) loves fresh content and so do your fans and client.
Email marketing is a cost-effective way to reach out to your current customers and followers via monthly newsletter, events schedule, news update in a place most people visit every day — their inbox.
Video provides you with a great opportunity to share powerful content that can make more of your prospective clients know, like and trust you, so they are more inclined to do business with you and recommend your services further.
PPC ads. A well managed PPC campaign allows your business website to instantly gain targeted traffic. Effective Search ads help your business website gain new visitors and allows your ROI to grow exponentially.
Youtube is the 2nd largest search engine and has over 1 billion users.
According to a recent survey by Global Web Index 85% of online adults identify themselves as regular Youtube users. What does it mean for your business? That ignoring these powerful figures would equal missing out on huge opportunities to get in front of a large audience.


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Jenna Rose Radig and Shawn Michael Syverson, of Sioux Falls, S.D., announce their engagement and upcoming marriage.
Jenna is the daughter of Ron and Kim Radig of Estherville. She is a 2005 graduate of Estherville Lincoln Central High School and graduated with an associate's degree in graphic design from Iowa Lakes Community College in 2009. She is currently employed at Avera Medical Group McGreevy in Sioux Falls as a patient services representative.
Shawn is the son of Steve and Sharyl Syverson of Kerkhoven, Minn. He is a 2005 graduate of Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg High School and graduated with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Gustavus Adolphus College in 2009. He is currently employed at the Sioux Falls Police Department in Sioux Falls as a police officer.
Article Photos
Jenna and Shawn
The couple will exchange vows on Sept. 7, 2013, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Estherville.

subset: commoncrawl


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|Conflict over Natural Resources in South-East Asia and the Pacific (UNU, 1990, 256 pages)
This book arose out of a conference organized and supported by the United Nations University (UNU) project on 'Peace and Global Transformation' in 1985 which brought researchers from the South-East Asian and Pacific regions together to discuss the problem of conflict over natural resources and its interlinkage with various aspects of the contemporary crisis in economic and social development.
We would like to acknowledge the assistance and encouragement given by Professor K. Mushakogi, Dr J. Golebiowski, and Dr T. Uchida from the UNU staff and Professor R. Kothari and Dr G. Deshingkar from the Peace and Global Transformation project of the UNU. We are also grateful to our respective institutions, Universiti Sains Malaysia (Penang) and the University of Malaya (Kuala Lumpur) in the case of Lim and the East-West Center in the case of Valencia, for supporting our involvement in the project and its output.
We would like to thank Dennis Lau for kindly giving us permission to use his photographs for the cover.
Kuala Lurnpur and Honolulu
July 1989


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In certain circumstances, the shock to the grinder may be great enough that the motor doesn't have time to stall, but rather the ring burr carrier can act as a mechanical "fuse" . This is the second safety system. This shows up as inconsistent grind and a broken tab on the burr holder. In the past, our main drive gear was the weak link and this was inconvenient to our users, because this was not a user-replaceable part. We have since redesigned our entire gearbox so it never fails. As a result, 100% of the torque produced by the grinder is resisted by the ring burr carrier. The ring burr carrier can easily be replaced by the end user, so the grinder is back in action quickly. We have over 180,000 units in circulation and we go through a little less than 3000 burr holders per year. This works out to 1.7% of our Encore, Virtuoso, and Preciso grinder owners replacing ONE burr holder per year (98.3% do not). In almost all cases, failure of this part is due to foreign objects (stones, screws, etc) or unroasted coffee beans getting into the grinder.
Now you know why we have a plastic burr holder and why it's a good thing!


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Liz Mason, Ph.D., has received the 2013 Sister Adele Clifford Award, the most prestigious teaching honor presented to a full-time member of the faculty at the College of Mount St. Joseph.
Mason is an assistant professor of English and is the faculty advisor to Lions-on-Line, the Mount's student-operated literary magazine.
The Clifford Award recognizes faculty members who have significantly influenced students' lives and demonstrated excellence in teaching. The award is named in honor of the late Sister Adele Clifford, a Sister of Charity and longtime biology professor who was also a former president of the College.
Clifford Award recipients are nominated by students and chosen by a committee of past faculty recipients and current students. The nomination requirements include a narrative essay in support of the nominee, and a minimum of five signatures of students who have either worked or taken at least one class with the nominee.
Mason has been a faculty member at the Mount for five years, and truly enjoys teaching her students, citing the "small things" as what she is usually most proud of.
"I am very proud when my students really enjoy reading a book I've assigned," she said. "I feel like I've taught them to love a great book, but I'm also proud of picking something that speaks to a college-aged audience."
Mason earned a bachelor's degree in English from Michigan State University, a master's degree in creative writing/poetry from Bowling Green State University and a doctorate in English literature from Case Western Reserve University. She and her husband, Jeremy, live in Clifton Heights with their son, Zachary, and they go to as many Cincinnati Reds baseball games each summer as possible.
The College of Mount St. Joseph is an undergraduate and graduate Catholic college that provides an interdisciplinary liberal arts and professional curriculum emphasizing values, service and social responsibility.


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It's a question of football, and a question of historyKevin Quinn (Economics) interviews the Green Bay Packers' former general manager Ron Wolf.A Day to CelebrateEach spring research partners on campus share their work at an event that is abuzz with scholarly achievement. Paired offeringsThe college's partnerships with other institutions expand options and academic opportunity. Ice cubedBlogging about their research in Antarctica gives St. Norbert geologists a way to share their findings – and their experiences. Ritual in relationshipsUniversity of St. Thomas professor Carol Bruess '90 makes the study of interpersonal communication her scholarly business.Farm work, personified A photography project by Elizabeth Groshek '11 stands as testimony to the work of her family's farming community. Sisters in learningNorbertine sisters from Slovakia join student singers to enrich worship at St. Norbert Abbey.
Office of Communications
Phone: (920) 403-3557 Fax: (920) 403-4010 E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com


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Jens Nedal
I mostly agree with the discussion about constants and also i do like the idea behind it. It certainly is something you will need to use when you offer the community of a site to change style values according to their preferences. Otherwise i would not so much try to mix any other scripting language together with CSS.
I would love to have CSS constants, agreed. Just creating a workaround so that i have it simpler with color values sounds a bit overshot for me though. You might be using those colors, or CSS definitions multiple times, but unless there are real constants i would certainly not try to splice PHP into that mix.
I think this is a very specific use and it should NOT be adapted for daily use on the usual flok of websites.


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Rascal Flatts Inducted Into the Grand Ole Opry
Rascal Flatts are officially the newest members of the Grand Ole Opry! The trio was inducted into the Opry last night, Oct. 8, in a ceremony that was simultaneously celebrating the institution's 86th birthday.
Gary LeVox, Rascal Flatts' vocalist, spoke about the honor before he, Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney took the stage in Nashville for their induction. LeVox said "it is so humbling to carry the Opry flag. There's no higher pinnacle." DeMarcus also said "one of the titles we're most proud of is member of the Grand Ole Opry" (quotes via Country Music Is Love).
Rooney also reflected on a conversation he had with his father about the distinction. "I remember when I was growing up, I would watch the Grand Ole Opry on TV," Rooney said. "[My father] remembers when he was growing up listening to it on the radio. Now here we are in the year 2011 watching and listening online … We are humbled by this and can't wait to see what the future has in store for us and the Grand Ole Opry … Tonight is a great platform from which to set sail."
The group was also surprised with a special video message from George W. Bush. "[My wife and I] love their music, and we also love their compassion and generosity," the former U.S. President said. "Throughout their success, Rascal Flatts have given back to their community and to our country by supporting the Make A Wish Foundation, Vanderbilt Children's Hospital, and the American Red Cross. I am especially proud of their efforts to honor the men and women of our armed forces, and the heroes who are wounded on the front lines. So thanks for your example of excellence and patriotism. And congratulations as well as a hardy welcome to the Opry."
Rascal Flatts were inducted by Grand Ole Opry member Little Jimmy Dickens and Opry general manager Pete Fisher. At the end of the momentous evening, LeVox said, "You have witnessed the greatest night of our lives." Congratulations to Rascal Flatts!
Watch Rascal Flatts Getting Inducted Into the Grand Ole Opry


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Ivory-billed Woodpeckers at the Movies Five films feature the iconic ivory-bill. Read more
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service releases Ivory-billed Woodpecker Recovery Plan Read more
The Cornell Lab and its partners conducted an intensive five-year search of bottomland hardwood forests in the southeastern United States. Teams searched more than 523,000 acres in 8 states, beginning in Arkansas where there were multiple compelling sightings and a few seconds of video were captured in 2005.
Though no definitive evidence of a surviving ivory-bill population was found during the recent searches, the Cornell Lab continues to analyze search data from the past five years. In addition we remain interested in possible sightings from the public. Our scientists will return to the field to investigate any credible sightings.
Ever since Arthur Allen's pioneering expedition in 1935 to record ivory-bills in Louisiana and ground-breaking studies by Cornell graduate student James Tanner, the Cornell Lab has always been deeply interested in the ivory-bill and in the preservation of its unique forest habitat.
Prairie Lakes, Arkansas. Photo by Clark Jones.
Cornell Lab members receive Living Bird magazine and other benefits.


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The Titans signed defensive end Kamerion Wimbley to a five-year deal worth up to $35 million before last season, but you wouldn't know it from the way they used him last weekend.
Wimbley played six snaps against the Chargers, fewer than Keyunta Dawson and Karl Klug, in a happenstance that coach Mike Munchak chalked up to using bigger players for the majority of the afternoon. Wimbley knew he'd be a pass rusher almost exclusively this season, but said it was "surprising" to see so little action and admitted that it's easier to say he's not worried about it than it is to actually not worry about it.
"Well, it's unusual," said Wimbley, via John Glennon of the Tennessean. "I would definitely like to be out there in the game and be active. But like I say, all I can do is come to practice and work hard and trust the coaches' decisions on gameday. I feel like we've been able to do some good things defensively, so I'm happy about that. You never know how it will play out as far as our rotation. So I just keep working and don't really worry too much about it — or try not to worry too much about it."
Wimbley's played on 30 percent of the team's snaps so far this season, a number that isn't really in line with a cap number of close to $6 million and makes it unlikely that Wimbley will see the final three years of that deal he signed last year.


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Please help us! Donate
Key Votes
H Amdt 227 - Amends the Federal Sugar Program - National Key Vote
Jim Clyburn voted Nay (Amendment Vote) on this Legislation.
Read statements Jim Clyburn made in this general time period.
Related Legislation
- HR 1947 - Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013
- H Amdt 176 - Restores $20.5 Billion in Appropriations for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
- H Amdt 231 - Authorizes States to Require Federal Welfare Work Requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
Issues Related to H Amdt 227
Stage Details
Legislation -
Amendment Rejected
(206-221) -
June 20, 2013(Key vote)
See How Your Politicians Voted
Title: Amends the Federal Sugar Program
Vote Result
Yea Votes
Nay Votes
Vote to adopt an amendment to HR 1947 that amends federal commodity support programs for sugar.
- Reduces the loan rates available to processors of domestically grown sugarcane to $0.18 per pound of raw cane sugar for each crop year from 2014 to 2018 (Sec. 1301).
- Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to establish marketing allotments for sugar at a level appropriate to maintain "adequate" domestic supplies of sugar at "reasonable" prices for each crop year, whereas existing law requires marketing allotments to be no less than 85 percent of the estimated quantity of sugar for domestic human consumption for each crop year (Sec. 1302).
- Requires the Secretary to adjust tariff-rate quotas for raw cane sugar and refined sugar so that the ratio of sugar stocks to total sugar use is approximately 15.5 percent, provided that this allows maintenance of domestic supply at adequate levels and reasonable prices (Sec. 359k).
- Authorizes the Secretary to establish a different ratio of sugar stocks to total sugar use if necessary in order to prevent the following situations (Sec. 359k):
- An unreasonably high price; or
- A forfeiture of sugar pledged as collateral for an available loan.
- Requires the Secretary to publicly announce any establishment of a target for the ratio of ending stocks to total use (Sec. 359k).
- Requires the Secretary to consider the impact of tariff-rate quotas on consumers, workers, businesses, and agricultural producers (Sec. 359k).
- Requires the Secretary to promote regulations that authorize any country that has been allocated a share of the quotas to temporarily volunteer to transfer all or part of the share to any other country that has also been allocated a share of the quotas (Sec. 359k).
- Repeals the provisions in the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 that authorize the Secretary to purchase "eligible commodities" and sell these commodities to bioenergy producers (Sec. 1303).
- Defines "eligible commodities" as forms of raw, refined, or in-process sugar that are eligible to be sold in the United States for human consumption.
Legislation - Introduced (House) - June 20, 2013
Title: Amends the Federal Sugar Program
- Joseph R. 'Joe' Pitts (PA - R) (Out Of Office)


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Oklahoma Department of Labor
Safety Standards Division
Body of Knowledge
Boiler Operator License
Revision 8, August 2009
Boiler operators must have knowledge on a variety of subjects dealing with the operation of boilers. Knowledge in areas relating to the theory of operation, safe practices, controls, repairs, maintenance, water chemistry and local jurisdictional requirements is needed if boilers are to be safely operated. The Oklahoma Boiler Operator License Examination is designed to determine if individuals have such knowledge. This Body of Knowledge is a study guide that provides a list of specific topics in which the operator should be knowledgeable.
Also contained in this Body of Knowledge are the procedural requirements that have been established regarding the administration of the examination leading to the issuance of a Boiler Operator License.
Only information covered in the categories outlined in this Body of Knowledge will be utilized for the examination questions. Not every category will be included on every examination.
The primary reference documents used in the development of this Body of Knowledge are included, and no questions will be included on the examination that are not based solely on information contained in one or more of the listed reference documents.
Applicants for examination should note that reference documents are revised on a periodic basis.
Code books, reference documents or any other form of answer containing material will not be allowed to be used during the administration of the examination. Body of Knowledge
Oklahoma Boiler Operator License
Types of Examinations:
Class 1 -100 questions
Class 2 -50 questions
Class 3 -50 questions
Class 4 -50 questions
Minimum passing grade is 70 Questions will be of the multiple choice and true or false type
Candidates will be given two (2) hours in which to complete the examination for Class 2,3, and 4 Licenses, and three (3) hours in which to complete the examination for the class 1 license.
The examination will be of the closed book type.
All materials needed for the examination will be provided.
Answers will be recorded on the forms provided.
Examination booklets will not be written in.
Only one person will be allowed to leave the examination area at a time.
Proctor(s) shall be present at all times that examinations are being taken.
Examination material is not allowed to leave the testing area.
Examination participants must present photo identification.
All examinations will be inventoried and returned to the Department of Labor.
Duplication or reproduction of the examination is expressly forbidden.
Tests administered by the Department of Labor will be conducted on the first Tuesday of February, May, August and November of each year based on the number of test applicants. Applications to participate in a state administered examination must be received not later than the close of business on the 15th day of the month preceding the desired test month to allow for test site selection, organization and notification.
Testing conducted by recognized training facilities may be conducted in conjunction with the scheduled course(s) as determined by the course administrator and may be used to serve as a portion of the course final examination.
The following reference publications and documents were used in the construction of the examination for the Oklahoma Boiler Operator License. The candidate should study the referenced documents and publications thoroughly since no outside material will be allowed to be used during the examination. The candidate will be required to answer all test questions from memory.
The Oklahoma Boiler and Pressure Vessel Safety Act
Low Pressure Boilers, Frederick M. Steingress, American Technical Publishers.
Low Pressure Boilers Workbook, Frederick M. Steingress, American Technical Publishers
High Pressure Boilers, Current Edition, Frederick M. Steingress and Harold J. Frost, American Technical Publishers.
Boiler Operator's Guide, Current Edition, Anthony L. Kohan, McGraw Hill
Controls and Safety Devices for Automatically Fired Boilers, ASME CSD-1
Advanced Technologies
David Farthing, Administrator
5830 NW Expressway #329
Oklahoma City, OK 73132
E-mail: email@example.com
Metro Technology Centers
Talon Resources Inc.
Jody Riepe
PO Box 891643
Oklahoma City, OK 73189-1643
Email: email@example.com
Versa Tech Training, LLC.
Bruce McDaniel
P.O. Box 464
Dangerfield, TX 75638
Email: email@example.com
1.0 Oklahoma Boiler and Pressure Vessel Safety Act.
Within the state of Oklahoma, the guiding document regarding boilers is the Oklahoma Boiler and Pressure Vessel Safety Act. The boiler operator must be familiar with the Act and the requirements contained therein. The operator must recognize the safety provisions of the Act and the relationship that they have to the safe operation of boilers, including:
1.1 The two major divisions of the Oklahoma Boiler and Pressure Vessel Safety Act.
1.2 Statutory requirements, including:
1.2.1 Definitions.
1.2.2 Exemptions.
1.2.3 Formulation of rules and regulations, promulgation.
1.2.4 Application of rules and regulations
1.2.5 Maximum allowable working pressure determination.
1.2.6 Licensing requirements.
1.2.7 Certificates of Competency:
184.108.40.206 Special Inspectors
188.8.131.52 Owner User Inspectors
1.2.8 Bureau of boiler inspection.
1.2.9 Inspection frequencies.
1.2.10 Inspection reports
1.2.11 Certificates of Operation.
1.2.12 Fees
1.2.13 Accidents and incident reporting and investigation.
1.3 Administrative Rules
1.3.1 Purpose and definitions.
1.3.2 Minimum construction standards.
1.3.3 Frequency and criteria of inspections.
1.3.4 Notification of inspection.
1.3.5 Adoption of national standards.
1.3.6 Special inspector requirements and procedures.
1.3.7 Owner User inspection requirements and procedures.
1.3.8 Defective conditions disclosed at time of inspection.
1.3.9 Validity of Certificates of Operation.
1.3.10 Boiler stamping.
1.3.11 Penalty for operating an unsafe boiler.
1.3.12 Condemned boilers.
1.3.13 Installation and reinstallation of new and used boilers
1.3.14 Working pressure for existing installations.
1.3.15 Repairs and/or alterations.
1.3.16 Safety appliances
1.3.17 Requirements for new installations
1.3.18 Application of state serial numbers
1.3.19 Variation and penalties
1.3.20 Existing Installations
188.8.131.52 Power Boilers, including:
Age limit of existing boilers.
Maximum allowable working pressure for standard boilers.
Maximum allowable working pressure for nonstandard
Safety valves.
Boiler feeding.
Water level indicators.
Steam gauges.
Stop valves.
Blowoff connections.
Repairs and renewals of boiler fittings and appliances.
Conditions not covered.
126.96.36.199 Heating Boilers, including:
Standard and non-standard boilers, including riveted and cast iron.
Safety valves and safety relief valves.
Water supply.
Steam gauges.
Pressure/altitude gauges.
Pressure/temperature controls.
Water gauge glasses.
Stop valves and check valves.
Feedwater connections.
Return pumps.
Repairs and renewals of fittings and appliances.
184.108.40.206 General Requirements, including:
Inspection of boilers
Preparation for inspection
Boilers improperly prepared for inspection
Removal of covering to permit inspection e.
Pressure tests
Automatic low water fuel cutoff and/or water feeding
Pressure reducing valves.
Boiler blowoff equipment.
Location of discharge piping outlets.
Repairs and alterations.
Ladders and runways.
Exit from boiler.
Maintenance requirements.
Air and ventilation requirements.
Conditions not covered.
2.0 Low Pressure Boilers
Low pressure boilers, either low pressure steam, closed loop water heating, or hot water supply type comprise the majority of boilers in use in the state of Oklahoma today. The operator must be knowledgeable in areas regarding the care and safe operation of low pressure boilers such as:
2.1 Boiler operation principles, including:
2.1.1 Boiler operation theory.
2.1.2 Thermodynamics.
2.1.3 Combustion.
2.1.4 Boiler systems.
2.1.5 Boiler design and construction, including:
a. ASME Code stamping associated with low pressure boilers
2.2 Boiler fittings, including:
2.2.1 Safety valves.
2.2.2 Gauges.
2.2.3 Water columns, installation and operation.
2.2.4 Boiler blowdown systems, installation, purpose and use.
2.2.5 Boiler controls, both pressure and temperature.
2.3 Boiler feedwater systems, including:
2.3.1 Feedwater system components.
2.3.2 Make-up feedwater requirements and regulation.
2.3.3 Low water fuel cut-offs and flow sensing devices. 2.4 Steam Systems.
2.5 Fuel systems, including:
2.5.2 Fuel oil and natural gas system components, operation and safety.
2.6 Draft systems.
2.7 Boiler water treatment, including:
2.7.1 Boiler water conditions, including:
220.127.116.11 Scale
126.96.36.199 Corrosion
126.96.36.199 Caustic embrittlement
22.214.171.124 Priming and carryover
184.108.40.206 Foaming
2.7.2 Boiler water analysis.
2.7.3 Boiler water treatment, internal and external.
2.8 Boiler operating procedures, including:
2.8.1 Procedures to follow when taking over a shift.
2.8.2 Boiler start-up procedures.
2.8.3 Boiler maintenance procedures.
2.8.4 Boiler shut-down procedures.
2.8.5 Boiler inspection.
2.8.6 Hydrostatic testing.
2.8.7 Boiler trouble shooting.
2.8.8 Boiler lay-up.
2.9 Hot water heating systems, including:
2.9.1 Types of hot water heating systems.
2.9.2 System operation.
2.9.3 Component requirements for each type of system.
2.10 Boiler operation safety, including:
2.10.1 Governmental and regulatory agencies.
2.10.2 Boiler room fire safety.
2.10.3 Confined spaces.
2.10.4 Hazardous materials.
2.10.5 Personal protective equipment.
2.10.6 Lock-out/tag-out.
3.0 High pressure boilers
Although not as common in usage, high pressure boilers are integral components in many of todays businesses and pose specific hazards associated with the generation and use of steam at high pressure. The boiler operator should be knowledgeable in the care and safe operation of high pressure boilers, including:
3.1 Steam boilers, including:
3.1.1 Types and classifications, including:
a. ASME code stamping associated with high pressure boilers.
3.1.2 Principles of operation.
3.2 Steam boiler fittings and accessories, including:
3.2.1 Safety valves.
3.2.2 Gauge glasses, including installation and blowdown.
3.2.3 Steam pressure gauges.
3.2.4 Boiler internal components.
3.2.5 Stop valves.
3.2.6 Blowdown systems
3.3 Boiler room systems, including:
3.3.1 Steam systems.
3.3.2 Feedwater systems
3.3.3 Fuel systems.
3.3.4 Draft systems.
3.4 Steam and water accessories, including:
3.4.1 Feedwater heating systems and devices.
3.4.2 Deaeration systems.
3.4.3 Economizers
3.4.4 Feedwater pumps
3.4.5 Feedwater regulation
3.5 Fuel burning equipment
3.5.1 ASME CSD-1 requirements
3.5.2 Burners.
3.6 Draft
3.7 Combustion
3.8 Combustion controls, including CSD-1 requirements.
3.9 Instruments
3.10 Boiler water treatment, including:
3.10.1 Boiler water conditions.
3.10.2 Internal and external boiler water treatment.
3.11 Steam boiler operation, including:
3.11.1 Operator duties and responsibilities.
3.11.2 Boiler start-up and shut-down.
3.11.3 Boiler lay-up.
3.11.4 Inspection.
3.11.5 Emergency procedures, including high and low water.
3.11.6 Routine maintenance.
3.11.7 Boiler room safety.
Click tabs to swap between content that is broken into logical sections.


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It's not often that someone buys a brand-new truck and keeps it for 30 years, but Texas-born Charles Youngblood had the makings of a fine custom classic truck literally grow up in his very hands. When Charles and his wife, Cindy, were just starting their soon-to-be family of four, they chose a '77 Ford Ranger XLT Lariat with a mere 390 miles on the odometer as an all-around family vehicle. "At the time I got it," Charles reminisces, "our daughter Angie was just a baby. So the truck grew into the family along with Angie, who's now 32."
But unlike daughter Angie, the years weren't quite so kind to the Ranger. As one might imagine, 30 years of Texas weather along with the Lone Star State's infamous bumpy red clay backroads added more than just a gentle patina to the trusty '77. A brand-new pickup might be the answer, Charles thought, but it wasn't until he stumbled on a unique piece of equipment at a local police auction that a lightbulb went on in his head. He found an '02 F-150 for an unbelievably low price with very low mileage, but there was one small problem: the F-150 was completely devoid of sheetmetal body panels. Nothing that could even be considered a paintable surface existed anywhere on the truck. It seems someone had taken a serious liking to the truck's outer skin, and after stealing it with a mere 60 miles on the odometer, they stripped it to the bone before the Special Investigation Unit had it back to the somewhat dismayed owner, who promptly let it go across the auction block as part of an insurance settlement.
Since the price was so low and his Ranger and the '02 F-150 shared a similar wheelbase, Charles figured he just might be able to squeeze some lemonade out of this pile of lemons. When he got the stripped late-model home, he began taking the measurements that were critical for what he had in mind. Charles wanted to complete a merger of sorts. If the two trucks shared enough common geometry, Charles figured he could graft the old body to the new chassis and driveline. At first, it seemed like a big if, so Charles took the '02 rolling chassis and his treasured '77 to his buddy Mike Cassidy, the proprietor of Cassidy's Rod & Customs in nearby Newcaney, Texas. If anybody could give him an answer to his dilemma, it was Mike.
Once the duo actually had the frames side by side, it was easy to see this crazy idea might not be the nightmare it first appeared. By cutting away the original front clip up to the firewall, they were able to graft the complete '02 clip, including the disc brakes and improved independent suspension, while still having room in front of the firewall for an improved air-conditioning system courtesy of Vintage Air.
After the front clip was welded up, the chassis was fixed to a frame jig, where Mike's precision welding brought smiles all around when they realized the mod-motor and transmission would drop into place with a minimum of fuss. Charles couldn't help but grin as he thought of what the 5.4-liter fuel-injected Triton motor would feel like propelling the truck he had driven for over 30 years. The Ford overdrive automatic transmission also fit like a dream, as did the late-model positraction rearend.
With the driveline squared away, the focus moved to the rear suspension. After trying a modified stock configuration with lowered springs, Charles decided on a four-bar setup with airbags. As on the front, late-model Ford discs stop the rear. Charles' rims of choice are 20-inchers from Billet Specialties shod with a set of BFGoodrich tires. The '77's body was pretty straight, so all that was needed was basic prep work before it was shipped to Allen Matthews Paint & Body to be covered in a PPG blue similar to the '77's original Ford Production Blue with accenting Acapulco metallic blue.
The final step was handing the truck over to Miquel's Custom Upholstery to lay down plush carpeting and restore the stock Ranger bench seat to feel better than new while retaining the '70s look. The dash cluster was updated with Dakota Digital gauges fit in place using the stock Ford bezels to retain a vintage look. Last but not least was the Kenwood in-dash sound system for when Charles and his wife want to watch the moon rise while cruising to some of their favorite tunes, no doubt some of the same melodies they listened to when their trusty '77 was brand new.


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A slice of nice: Community turns out to support owner of fire-damaged Southport pizzeria
Dozens of people braved a chilly rain Saturday morning to support Sammy Palik, a Fairfield resident whose popular Southport Center pizzeria was closed about two weeks ago after a fire.
"It's our favorite pizza place. We love their pizza and they always help out our community, and we want to help them," Elena Ault, 11, said while holding a sign by Pequot Avenue that asked people to stop by a fundraiser across the street from Palik's shuttered business. Elena said her family bought a pizza from Sammy's Southport Pizza & Grill about once a week, and liked it because, "It's everything. It's the sauce. It's the cheese. It's awesome," she said.
Tamberlyn Conopask, who was at the fundraiser with her daughter, Ella, 8, said, "All of us are big Sammy supporters. It's not just the pizza. He's a great, loving guy. He's part of our Southport community."
The fundraiser was held in the parking lot of Chase Bank on Pequot Avenue and featured a silent auction, baked goods sale and music by the Harbor Blues, a group from Greens Farms Academy in Westport, and Out of the Blue, a group from Fairfield Ludlowe High School.
Palik, who opened his pizzeria at 295 Pequot Ave. about 10 years ago, said he was gratified by the turnout and hopes to reopen the pizzeria in about two months. He said he didn't have an amount of money that he hoped would be raised in the event, which was organized by the Rev. Laura Whitmore, associate minister at Southport Congregational Church. "My goal is people come here and show their support. That's it. Believing that they're behind me, it makes me feel good," he said. "What's better than to be loved?"
Palik said he had insurance on the business, but it's not a fast process for a claim to be processed. "I just want to open up and get on with my life. Right now, I'm in the middle," he said. "I'm the person who always likes to work and do something."
Whitmore, whose Facebook post about the fire on April 14 led to the idea for a fundraiser, said Palik has given a lot of free pizzas over the years to Southport groups that held fundraisers and it was time for his generosity to be reciprocated. "If there's some kind of event or function, he's always donating pizza," she said. "It's that natural love he puts out there that makes people respond to him. He's a huge part of Southport Center in the 10 years he's been here."
Dave Sprague of Southport, whose daughter, Jesse, a freshman at Fairfield Ludlowe High School, works at Sammy's, said Palik donated pizzas last month for Boy Scout Troop 98's Pinewood Derby at Pequot Library. "The real reason we came down is because Sammy has been such a charitable person to the community. It's time to pay back, show our support to him," he said.
Sprague said his family also enjoys the pizza at Sammy's. "Best thin-crust pizza in Fairfield County," he said. Jesse, whose job was to answer the phone at Palik's business, agreed. "It kind of set a standard of perfection for every other place I go," she said.
Jesse said she also liked working there. "The environment there is really nice and everybody there is really nice," she said.
While business was good at the baked goods sale, which included brownies, muffins, cookies and cupcakes, the biggest part of Saturday's fundraiser appeared to be a silent auction, where more than 50 items, valued from $25 to $500, were auctioned off.
Joyce Hergenhan of Fairfield, who ran the auction, estimated the total value of items at close to $7,000. She said most of the items, which also could be bought on the spot for the amount listed, were sold after about 90 minutes. "Most of it's gone or there are very good bids on it," she said. The pricier items included a $500 gift certificate from Kasson Jewelers on Pequot Avenue in Southport, a $250 gift certificate from Mitchell's of Westport and a $250 gift certificate from the Total Look of Southport.
Hergenhan said people who bought auction items wrote the checks to Palik and "every single penny goes to Sammy."
"It's a huge tribute to him and the way he's run his business and treated the people of Fairfield," Whitmore said. "He greets every customer with a smile, knows you by name, knows your family, and he's probably the most generous guy I know."
Ruth Frantz of Southport said Palik was one of the few adults that kids in town know. "He's their anchor. He's the iconic representation of Southport to them," she said.
Assistant Fire Chief George Gomola, who was in charge of the response to the fire, said the pizzeria suffered heavy heat and smoke damage, but was optimistic Palik's business would reopen. "He's always putting the needs of others first," Gomola said. "Good things happen to good people. This is just a bump in the road."


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Location: Temperate Tree Fruit and Vegetable ResearchTitle: Cloning and characterization of an MRNA encoding an insulin receptor from the horned scarab beetle Onthophagus nigriventris (Coleoptera: scarabaeidae) Author
|Lavine, Laura - Washington State University
|Hahn, Laura - Washington State University
|Garczynski, Stephen
|Warren, Ian - Washington State University
|Dworkin, Ian - Michigan State University
|Emlen, Douglas - University Of Montana
Submitted to: Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/3/2012
Publication Date: 12/20/2012
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/55824
Citation: Lavine, L., Hahn, L., Garczynski, S.F., Warren, I., Dworkin, I., Emlen, D. 2012. Cloning and characterization of an MRNA encoding an insulin receptor from the horned scarab beetle Onthophagus nigriventris (Coleoptera: scarabaeidae). Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology. 82(1):43-57.
Interpretive Summary: Plum curculio and lesser shothole borers are two beetle pests of tree fruit in the Pacific Northwest. Chemical control of these pests has not proven to be successful. Scientists at the USDA-ARS Yakima Agricultural Laboratory in Wapato, WA in conjunction with Researchers at Washington State University, University of Montana and Michigan State University are conducting research to identify potential targets that can be used to control beetles. The insulin signaling pathway plays key roles in regulating embryonic development, controlling cell size and growth, metabolism, egg maturation and longevity. This manuscript provides up to date information on the cloning and characterization of a cell surface insulin receptor which initiates activation of the insulin signaling pathway. The information in this manuscript will provide scientists the information and technology they need to investigate the potential of insulin receptors as targets to control insect pests, including tree fruit pests of Washington State. This line of research will result in a better understanding of the insulin signaling pathway used by beetles in development and reproduction, perhaps leading to new methods of insect control that can be adapted for use in orchards in the Pacific Northwest as well as other agricultural crops worldwide.
Technical Abstract: The insulin signaling pathway has been implicated in the control of insect polyphenisms for some caste-forming insects and potentially has a role in horn dimorphisms in beetles. Males of the sexually dimorphic dung beetle Onthophagus nigriventris develop a magnificent thoracic horn up to twice the length of the body, provided a critical weight threshold is attained during development. Small males that do not reach the critical weight do not produce the adult thoracic horn. Females never develop a thoracic horn. The regulation of this dimorphism is known to be nutrition-dependent for males and nutrition-independent for females. However, the role of the insulin signaling pathway in this dimorphism remains unknown. We cloned and sequenced a full-length gene transcript encoding the O. nigriventris insulin receptor (OnInR), which is the receptor for circulating insulin and insulin-like peptides in animals. We show that the predicted OnInR protein is similar in overall amino acid identity to other animal insulin receptors and is most closely related phylogenetically to insulin receptors from insects. Variation in OnInR expression in developing horn tissues between male morphs indicates a role for the insulin receptor in polymorphic horn development.


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MOSCOW (Reuters) - Have the Sochi Winter Olympics had their first political protest? If they have, the Russian snowboarder involved is not letting on.
Alexei Sobolev competed in the slopestyle event on Thursday with a symbol on his snowboard showing a figure with a ski mask and a knife.
Was it meant to look like a member of the Pussy Riot group that protested against President Vladimir Putin in a church in ski masks, short dresses and brightly colored tights?
"No comment at the moment," Sobolev told Reuters.
"Yes, there is some resemblance with Pussy Riot symbols, but I had nothing to do with the design of this picture. Anyway I like this picture. It looks cool."
Putin's record on democracy and human rights is under scrutiny at the Games, and he has been heavily criticized abroad over a law banning the spread of "gay propaganda" among minors which opponents says discriminates against homosexuals.
Anger over the law has prompted speculation that there could be protests at the Games but competitors are banned by the International Olympic Committee from protesting during their events or on the medals podium.
After nearly two years behind bars, two members of Pussy Riot, an all-women's group, were freed in December under an amnesty. Putin has dismissed suggestions the amnesty was merely intended to ease criticism of his human rights record before the start of the Games.
Reporting by Dmitriy Rogovitskiy, Writing by Timothy Heritage, editing by Ed Osmond


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The Large Organic Sunflower Oil Gift Box includes three 16.9 ounce bottles of premium certified organic sunflower oil by Century Sun Oil. The sunflower oil is made from sunflower seeds grown in Wisconsin. This cold pressed, high oleic oil is a versatile cooking oil that enhances the flavor of other foods and is a great addition to a heart healthy lifestyle. Century Sun Sunflower Oil can be used for dressings, marinades and popcorn. It has a mild, nutty flavor with a 450 degree smoke point and is well suited for all cooking needs.
Gift Box
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Certified Organic by MOSA
Shelf life - 2 years, unopened


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European Commission
Brussels, 16 October 2013
Commission proposal for European Regional Airspace Approach for the EU Emission Trading for Aviation - Frequently asked questions
1. The outcome of the 2013 ICAO Assembly1
1.1. What has been discussed and agreed at the 2013 Assembly relating to the global MBM?
After two weeks of difficult and intense negotiations, the 191 ICAO Member States agreed at the ICAO Assembly to develop a global market based measure to limit C02 emissions from international aviation, which should be ready for implementation by 2020. This is an important achievement. The agreed ICAO Assembly Resolution foresees a decision on the actual implementation of the global MBM scheme at the next ICAO Assembly in 2016. In the coming three years substantive progress on the design of the scheme needs to be made at a technical level. The EU needs to be ready and prepared to contribute actively to the work on the development of the global scheme together with its ICAO partners and other stakeholders.
1.2. What is the 2013 ICAO Assembly outcome concerning the MBM Framework?
The Assembly did not agree to new language on a meaningful framework for national and regional measures to be applied prior to a global MBM taking effect. Unusually for an ICAO Assembly, roll-call voting was used on the drafting options for implementing national and/or regional schemes. Many non-EU States took the view that no State has the right to regulate air carriers from another State without the prior agreement of that State. A proposal including similar language as in the 2010 Resolution on mutual agreement and on a de minimis threshold2 of 1% for developing countries for the application of interim market based measures was put forward by Russia in association with several other States (including Brazil, China India and South Africa) and passed by a vote of 97-39. The EU and several other major aviation countries voted against the proposal, and as in 2007 and 2010 the ECAC States reaffirmed States' sovereign rights to regulate and take appropriate measures to mitigate aviation emissions.
1.3. Does the resolution cover further aspects such as aspirational goals?
As in 2010, ICAO confirmed once again a global aspirational goal to limit international aviation emissions at 2020 levels ("Carbon neutral growth"). In addition it confirmed that a comprehensive package of measures for tackling the climate change impact of international civil aviation is necessary, including technological and operational measures, and sustainable alternative jet fuels, in addition to market based measures, such as emissions trading.
With respect to addressing the wider environmental impacts of aviation, other important decisions were taken at the ICAO Assembly. This included endorsement of a more stringent international technical standard for aircraft noise, and going forward with a programme of technical work towards new standards for CO2 and particulates emitted by aircraft.
1.4. Will the EU submit reservations?
In line with longstanding EU positions, the EU signalled its intention to submit formal reservations on the following parts of the Resolution: (i) the ambition level of aspirational goals; (ii) the totality of the amended framework language on national and regional MBMs, and (iii) the inclusion of a reference to the UNFCCC principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities" (CBDR-RC) in the annex, which contains a list of guiding principles for MBMs.
The reservation text will be available at:
2. The proposal by the European Commission – reasoning and timeline
2.1. What is the reason for this proposal?
The 2013 ICAO Assembly has decided on a roadmap for the development of a global market-based mechanism (MBM) to tackle aviation emissions to be finalised at the next ICAO Assembly in 2016 and to be implemented by 2020. In response to this progress and to promote further momentum towards the successful establishment of a global MBM, amendments should be made to the aviation activities covered by the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS).
This proposal follows on from the 'stop the clock' Decision, No. 377/2013/EU3, which was adopted in order to promote progress on global action through ICAO. As with Decision No. 377/2013/EU, it is important that this proposal is agreed swiftly between the European Parliament and Council, so as to be in place in time before the deadline for the next surrendering of allowances due by 30 April 2014.
2.2. How long might the proposal take to be agreed?
The proposal from the Commission involves legislation to be adopted through co-decision, which requires approval by EU Member States and the European Parliament. This proposal should be agreed between the European Parliament and Council during the 1st quarter of 2014 and enter into force at the date of its publication in the Offical Journal.
2.3. Does the legislation require transposition into national law?
The proposal would require Member States to adopt and publish the necessary laws, regulations, and administrative provisions within 3 months from its entry into force.
3. Geographical scope of the Proposal for 2014 to 2020 emissions
3.1. What is the geographical scope of the proposal?
Concerning the period 2014 to 2020, the Commission proposes that the EU ETS would continue to fully cover emissions from all flights between airports in the EEA, including flights between airports in the EEA and airports in outermost regions of the EEA4.
In addition, flights between airports in the EEA and airports in third countries would generally be covered in proportion to the distance travelled within the European region. This proportion would cover the distance from 12 nm from the furthest point on the outer coastline of an EEA territory to the EEA aerodrome of departure or arrival with the exception of intermediate distances over third countries or sea areas between EEA Member States' territories that exceed 400 nautical miles.
Flights between airports in the EEA and airports in least developed countries, low-income countries, and lower-middle income countries, which have a share of less than 1 % in international aviation, are proposed to be fully exempted from the EU ETS.
Emissions from flights between airports in outermost regions and third countries, and emissions from flights between airports in the EEA and EEA Member countries' overseas countries and territories5, which are not part of the EEA, would not be covered.
The tables in Annex 1 provide an overview for the emissions coverage for all different types of flights.
3.2. In which ways do compliance obligations change for flights to and from third countries?
Flights on routes between airports in the EEA and airports in third countries would only be covered with regard to distance travelled within the EEA:
The proportional coverage for flights to and from third countries would include emissions over land and adjacent sea areas between EEA countries (Channel, Irish Sea, North Sea, Baltic Sea, Mediterranean Sea, etc). However, it would exclude:
This approach would limit coverage to the emissions within the EEA and give equal treatment to flights over the regional European area whether they come from an EEA aerodrome or a third country. These exclusions are considered appropriate to make coverage more acceptable to third countries across the Atlantic because it only extend 12 nautical miles beyond the outer coastlines of UK, Ireland, France, Spain and Portugal.
Furthermore, emissions from flights between the outermost regions of the Union as defined in Article 349 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and countries outside the EEA would be fully exempted.
Annex 2 contains a graph to illustrate the coverage of 3rd country flights.
3.3. Are there additional exemptions for flights to and from "developing states"?
Without prejudice to the global market-based measure applying from 2020, emissions from flights to and from countries which are developing countries and whose share of total revenue ton kilometres of international civil aviation activities is less than 1% would be exempted for the period 2014 to 2020. Countries considered to be developing for the purposes of this proposal should be those which benefit at the time of adoption of this proposal from preferential access to the Union market in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 978/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council, that is those which are not classified in 2013 by the World Bank as high-income or upper-middle income country or are a least developed country.
3.4. What are the changes for the period from 2014 to 2020 compared to obligations for 2012 emissions?
There are two changes compared to the coverage of 2012 emissions:
4. Geographical scope for 2013 emissions
4.1. Are there special exemptions for 2013 emissions?
Emissions from flights operated in 2013 to and from 3rd countries are fully exempted from the EU ETS. The second table in Annex 1 shows the emissions coverage for 2013.
4.2. Why are flights to and from third countries fully exempted for 2013 emissions?
Implementation of the proposed amendment will require some adjustment to calculations regarding reporting of emissions, free allocation and auctioning shares (see following sections) which will need to correspond to the new scope of traffic covered. For implementing these adjustments and making sure the necessary technical preparations are duly completed it is proposed that 2013 emissions from flights to and from third countries would be fully exempted.
This also means that ETS would not apply to third country traffic retroactively for the year during which the ICAO negotiations on the global MBM were on-going.
4.3. For which flights operated in 2013 do compliance obligations remain unchanged?
The EU ETS will continue to be enforced in full respect for the flights between airports in the EEA, including flights to and from outermost regions.
5. Monitoring, Reporting, Verification and surrendering
5.1. When will be the next compliance dates according to the proposal?
There will be an extraordinary two-year compliance cycle with regard to aviation emissions from 2013 and 2014. These emissions only need to be reported by 30 March 2015 (two emission reports) and allowances to be surrendered by 30 April 2015.
Starting with emissions of 2015, the annual compliance cycle will resume.
5.2. How to report third-country flights operated from 2014-2020?
a) Reporting based on current MRV system
The requirements set out in Directive 2003/87/EC6 for emissions from flights to and from countries outside the EEA are considered as satisfied for 2014 to 2020, when obligations are met in respect of a certain percentage of the emissions from flights to and from airports in third countries. These percentages will be set out in the Annex to the amending Directive, and have been calculated by Eurocontrol on the basis of the proportion of the Great Circle Distance between the main airports in the EEA and in third countries, that is not more than 12 nautical miles beyond the furthest point of EEA coastline.
The process of applying percentages for flights to and from third countries is designed to be workable and pragmatic, using existing reporting categories applicable since 2010. Working on the basis of country-pairs7 means that figures are needed for flights on the routes from each Member State to third countries. Where flights operate to multiple time zones in a third country, a percentage shall be included for each timezone to which flights operate.
The template for reporting annual emissions will be updated to include these percentages. Aircraft operators will continue to insert the emissions for the full flight. The final emissions figure will only cover the percentage of the total emissions from a third-country flight. That means no account is taken is being taken of the emissions not covered by that percentage. Verification of the report remains required.
b) Reporting based on small emitters tool
To provide further flexibility concerning monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV), it is proposed to offer a choice to aircraft operators in respect of flights to and from third countries.
Relating such flights, an aircraft operator should be able to choose not to report emissions from these flights based on the percentage of the actual total flight emissions but instead to rely upon a determination of estimated emissions taking place not beyond EEA Member countries from such flights that is as accurate as possible.
This calculation shall be carried out by the respective Member States' competent authority and take into account figures from the small emitters tool approved by the Commission and populated by Eurocontrol with data from its ETS Support Facility. Calculations of emissions made in these circumstances shall be considered to be the verified emissions of third country flights operated by the aircraft operator for the purposes of Articles 11a, 12, 14 and 28a. That means no verification is needed for these flights.
5.3. Exemptions for small emitters
Small non-commercial aircraft operators emitting less than 1 000 t
An additional simplification in this proposal is to provide that no enforcement shall be taken against non-commercial aircraft operators in respect of emissions from small aircraft operators emitting less than 1000 tonnes CO2 per annum.
This is expected to reduce the number of aircraft operators regulated by Member States by around 2200 representing 0.2% of emissions. Alongside other measures being taken to simplify adminstration for small aircraft operators, this is a significant lightening of adminstrative tasks for aircraft operators and for Member States' competent authorities, in line with the EU's better regulation agenda.
Small aircraft operators emitting less than 25 000 t
As of 2013 small emitters emitting less than 25 000t – whether commercial or non-commercial – can use simplified procedures.
By way of derogation from Articles 3g, 12, 15 and 18a of the ETS Directive, where an aircraft operator has total annual emissions lower than 25000 tons, its emissions shall be considered to be verified, if determined using the small emitters tool approved by the European Commission and populated by Eurocontrol with data from its ETS Support Facility.
Small non-commercial aircraft operators emitting less than 25 000 t
In addition, Member States may implement further simplified procedures for small non-commercial aircraft operators as long as there is no less accuracy than the small emitters tool provides.
6. Free allowances
6.1. How is the number of free allocations adjusted?
The number of free allowances will be reduced in proportion to distances not covered on flights to and from 3rd countries.
Reduction in free allocations for a flight to and from a 3rd country =
= (100% minus coverage percentage) multiplied by the benchmark multiplied by verified 2010 tonne kilometre (tkm) reported for flights to and from this 3rd country.
The sum of these reductions will be deducted from the free allocations calculated by the Member States in 2011.
Member States will have to recalculate the free allocations for the year 2013 and the years 2014 to 2020 (according to different scopes as explained in sections and ).
7. Amount of allowances to be auctioned and auctioning shares
7.1. What effect does the proposal have on the total number of aviation allowances to be auctioned?
The percentage of aviation allowances to be auctioned remains at 15% as laid down in Article 3d of the ETS Directive. The proposal foresees Member States to auction a number of aviation allowances reduced in proportion to the reduction in the total number of aviation allowances issued. Consequently, a lower quantity of aviation allowances will be auctioned for the years 2013 to 2020, which proportionately reflects the lower number of total aviation allowances in circulation.
7.2. What effect does the proposal have on the Member States' auctioning shares?
The proposal foresees that the number of allowances to be auctioned by each Member State in respect of the period from 2013 to 2020 shall be reduced to correspond with its share of attributed aviation emissions resulting from the application of the reduced coverage of emissions from flights to and from 3rd countries.
7.3. What does this change mean in respect of auctioning volumes and calendars?
The auctions of aviation allowances will be adjusted to reflect the lower volume of aviation allowances that will be auctioned for the years 2013 to 2020.
Further news on the timing of the auctions will be published on the regulatory updates.
8. Review in 2016
Following the 2016 ICAO Assembly, the Commission shall report to the European Parliament and the Council on the actions to implement the global market-based measure to apply to emissions from 2020, together with proposals as appropriate.
After the 2016 ICAO Assembly, the ETS Directive should be amended as appropriate to provide for the implementation of this global MBM. The global MBM to apply from 2020 onwards should, in terms of the recognition of early action called for by IATA, take offsetting of emissions outside the aviation sector under the EU ETS into account, as well as emission reductions within the sector. Paragraph 26 of ICAO Resolution A38/17-2 calls for these emission reductions to be reported to ICAO.
In the event that a global measure will not apply from 2020, that report shall consider the appropriate scope for coverage of emissions from activity to and from third countries in the continued absence of such a global measure. In its report, the Commission shall also consider solutions to other issues that may arise in the application of this derogation, while preserving equal treatment for all operators on the same route.
9. Where can I find further information?
Aviation and climate change:
Annex 1
EU ETS coverage 2014 to 2020
EU ETS coverage 2013
Annex 2
Coverage of flights between aerodromes in the EEA and aerodromes in third countries
The Resolution A38-17/2 of the 2013 ICAO Assembly with regard to Climate Change can be found at: http://www.icao.int/Meetings/a38/Documents/WP/wp430_en.pdf
The list of countries ranked by their share in international aviation can be found on http://www.icao.int/publications/Documents/10001_en.pdf, Table 5 on page 88.
Outermost regions of the Union as defined in Article 349 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union; see also section 2.1.1. of the Guidance on the implementation of Decision No 377/2013/EU, http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:C:2013:289:0001:0007:EN:PDF, for a list of outermost regions. Please note that Mayotte will become an outermost region with effect of 1st January 2014.
Please see section 2.1.2. of the Guidance on the implementation of Decision No 377/2013/EUfor a list of overseas' countries and territories: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:C:2013:289:0001:0007:EN:PDF. Please note that Mayotte will become an outermost region with effect of 1st January 2014.
Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 October 2003 establishing a scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Community and amending Council Directive 96/61/EC (OJ L 275, 25.10.2003, p. 32)
Country pair means that there is a single percentage for flights to each third country. This is defined based on the GCD from the aerodrome in the relevant EEA Member countries with the highest number of flights to and from all destinations in a third country in 2012 ("the reference EEA Member countries aerodrome") to the aerodrome in the relevant third country with the highest number of flights to and from all destinations in the EEA Member countries in 2012 ("the reference third country aerodrome").
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|Yep, still winter here … and as i said in my last post, not many tight asses in jeans to be seen during winter. But here a little warmth for winter : Some hot erotic nudes of girls in tight jeans, Hurray! I don't know what they put in their milk, but those european sexy girls (mostly russians tough) really look great in tight jeans! beautiful faces, and tight asses…
By the way, i would like to thank all guys that took time to write to me and posted comments on this sexy jeans blog. ( Dave, Josh and Kim : i'm glad you are enjoying your membership to the Fuck My Jeans paysite!! Hey, I told you it was worth it? )
Okay, here's the sexy nude art galleries of girls in tight jeans :
I will also end this new tight jeans post with, again, a movie from Fuck My Jeans, to convince others about this paysite focused on hot girls being fucked while still having their jeans on!


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It's always hard for me to watch races at Phoenix on the TV because I LOVE that track- it is one of my favorites that I have been to in person. It makes it all the harder that the first Phoenix race is so early in the schedule because I haven't been to a race track since last November (which coincidentally was Phoenix) and I miss just being at a track. I miss the smells and the noise and the colors and the hustle and bustle of the tracks so watching the first Phoenix race of the season is akin to torture for me.
Why, if I love Phoenix so much, did I not go to the race? Well regular readers might have heard this before- but it has to do with it being back-to-back with the Vegas race (which I absolutely will not miss if for no other reason than that was my VERY FIRST NASCAR RACE) and also being so close to the Auto Club date as well. Plus Misty and I both have real 8-5 Monday-Friday kind of jobs (and we work in way different fields in different states) so that going to 3 races in one month is impractical if not impossible. So Phoenix gets put off until the fall race. I am SO GLAD it has a fall race because otherwise it would be hard to have to narrow which track to miss.Anyway- the Subway Fit Fresh 500k (312 laps/miles) was not so good for the Stewart-Haas drivers! Yikes! First poor Ryan Newman couldn't catch a break! First he suffers not only one but two blown tires- the last one putting a premature end to his race. Then Danica also suffers a blown tire and ends up not only hitting a wall but then getting hit by another car and ending her day.
Thankfully, Tony Stewart didn't seem to have any tire issues- but don't think I wasn't worried that he would…especially as the runs got longer. Tony started the race in sixth place and it seemed like where he was in the field depended on how many tires he took. For a long time after his four tire stops he would end up mired back in traffic in 18th, 20th position somewhere. I know he was frustrated too because I heard him say on his radio that he didn't understand how the were slower when they were on 4 tires than with 2. He would eventually start working his way up towards the front towards the end of the runs though or so it seemed to me. Luckily he ended up in or near the top 10 before the last top which ended up being two tires. Tony ended up finished 8th and moving up to 23rd in the points standings.
Notes About Phoenix:
1. I don't know if you noticed but when Ryan blew a tire and wrecked the second time- he decided to walk to the infield care center instead of ride in the safety vehicle. Tony must have seen him at some point walking on the track because he asked on his radio "Is he mad or is he just getting out of the way?" I thought it was funny. I think he was frustrated- but not at someone else like Tony may have thought.
2. I don't have NASCAR.COM's RaceView to watch the races with. I was actually considering getting it since DirecTV ditched their Hot Pass stations (Boo directv boo!) but I have heard from a couple people that they have been having major issues with it. Is anyone else having trouble? Because I don't know if I want it if it's going to be more of a frustration than anything else. (For those wondering- I have Sprint and use the NASCAR13 Sprint mobile ap for the scanner).
3. Am I the only one who can't find the simple things on the new NASCAR.COM- like race lineups, qualifying orders and the like? I have been trying to keep an open mind about their new layout (I tend to be one of those anti-change people) but when I can't find the information I am looking for easily- I get frustrated on give up.
I am going to leave you with this picture from Phoenix Raceway because it seems to me that every time I see Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon together- Jeff is usually CRACKING up big time and that makes ME crack up:
Next race; VEGAS BABY!
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Jadeveon Clowney was playing the new NCAA video game one night recently when he made a seemingly improbable declaration for a 6-foot-6, 265-pound defensive end.
HOOVER — Jadeveon Clowney was playing the new NCAA video game one night recently when he made a seemingly improbable declaration for a 6-foot-6, 265-pound defensive end.
"I'm going to get up and run a 4.4 in the morning," Clowney told his roommate. "I just know I'm going to do it."
Sure enough, the South Carolina star said Tuesday he ran a 4.46 in the 40 — and not by playing as himself on the screen. Just add that freakish feat to the growing legend of a player who already has racked up big sack numbers, made a resounding hit that went viral and drawn buzz that he'll be the No. 1 NFL draft pick and maybe even win the Heisman Trophy.
Equally important to coach Steve Spurrier: Clowney has avoided some of the pratfalls of that fame. He hasn't made headlines for off-the-field troubles, unlike some of his peers.
"Jadeveon has done an excellent job staying out of the limelight all summer," Spurrier said at Southeastern Conference media days. "He's been a good teammate.
"He's been there for the workouts. He's been there doing what he's supposed to do."
Clowney, who was sixth in the Heisman voting as a sophomore, shrugs off talk of being the rare defensive player to win the coveted prize this season. Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o finished second last season.
"That's not really a goal for me," said Clowney, whose table drew easily the biggest crowd of the day. "A goal for me is winning the SEC. That's our biggest goal right now."
He won the Hendricks Award as the nation's top defensive end and joined George Rogers as the Gamecocks' only unanimous All-Americans. Clowney has 21 sacks, 35.5 tackles for loss and eight forced fumbles in 13 career starts.
He also has The Hit.
Clowney, the SEC defensive player of the year, made one of last season's signature plays. His hit on Michigan running back Vincent Smith drew millions of YouTube views after he knocked the runner on his back with a helmet-toppling smack, then reached out with one hand to snare the ball.
SEC quarterbacks took notice. So did much of college football.
"Have I seen it? Wasn't it like the top play (on ESPN) for a couple of weeks?" Missouri quarterback James Franklin said. "Yes, sir. It was crazy just when he hit him and he has really long arms so when he reached out and picked the ball up, I thought he was about to run it back for a touchdown."
Clowney had 1.5 sacks against the Tigers last season.
He had one against Florida, too. Gators coach Will Muschamp, a former defensive coordinator, has a preference over seeing a player from that side of the ball winning the Heisman.
"I'd like to see him come out early (for the NFL) before our game," Muschamp said. "He's an outstanding player. He's a guy you better account for every snap. He's an explosive guy."
And he definitely is a defensive player. Not a two-way guy like Michigan cornerback Charles Woodson, who won the 1997 Heisman.
Spurrier was asked if there was a chance that Clowney could play on offense. His deadpan response: "Not really. We got a bunch of offensive players that are pretty good."
Clowney said he had a quiet summer of keeping things simple and hanging out with his group of friends from high school.
His recent training table didn't feature steak and potatoes but an old favorite after getting down to about 256 pounds.
"I picked up six pounds in two days the other day, eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches all day," Clowney said. "It was killing my throat. I had to drink a lot of water, but I ate like six peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch and dinner."
Next on the menu, he hopes: Opposing quarterbacks.


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Hartford, CT
The 2003 DCC was by any measure a great success. Attendance was up after the post-9/11 downturn, the Proceedings were not only thick (in fact, the thickest ever!), but also thoughtful, and the buzz in and around the meeting rooms was exciting. My thanks go out to Steve (N7HPR) and Sheila Bible, John (W9DDD) and Laura Koster, Maty Weinberg (KB1EIB), Steve Ford (WB8IMY), and Stan Horzepa (WA1LOU), as well as the staff of the Hartford Airport Marriott, for making the show the success it was.
We had lots of papers relating to Software Defined Radios this year, and Matt Ettus, N2MJI, gave a Sunday Seminar devoted to SDR. From these presentations, it's clear the SDR is here now, and what was just a cool idea a couple of years ago is no longer a fantasy (remember what I said above about TAPR being leaders?). There's truly usable hardware out there now, with more to come, and PC-based DSP software is maturing rapidly. Our chance to advance the radio art through this technology is here now, so you owe it to yourself to get up to speed on this exciting new paradigm for radio design.
I'm happy to announce that next year's DCC will be held in Des Moines, Iowa, from September 10-12, 2004.
Proceedings are available.


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Peregrine Falcon
Basic Facts About Peregrine Falcons
The Peregrine Falcon is a raptor, or bird of prey. Adults have blue-gray wings, dark brown backs, a buff colored underside with brown spots, and white faces with a black tear stripe on their cheeks. They have a hooked beaks and strong talons. Their name comes from the Latin word peregrinus, which means "to wander." They are commonly referred to as the Duck Hawk. Peregrine falcons are the fastest-flying birds in the world – they are able to dive at 200 miles per hour.
Peregrine falcons eat other birds such as songbirds and ducks, as well as bats. They catch their prey in mid-air.
There are an estimated 1,650 breeding pairs in the United States and Canada.
Did You Know?
Peregrine Falcon chicks, called eyases, eat an incredible amount of food - in six days, they double their weight, and at three weeks are ten times their size at birth!
This bird is one of the most widely distributed species in the world. It is found on every continent except Antarctica. It can survive in a wide variety of habitats including urban cities, the tropics, deserts and the tundra. Some migrate long distances from their wintering areas to their summer nesting areas.
Peregrine falcons have adapted to living in many cities and make use of tall buildings that provide suitable ledges for nesting and depend on the large populations of pigeons and starlings in cities for food. They dive and catch their prey in mid-air. Peregrines have few natural predators.
Peregrine falcons mate for life and breed in the same territory each year. The male courts the female for about one month, using aerial displays. They make a nest, or scrape, on ledges and in small caves located high on a cliff. Some peregrine falcons will use man-made structures such as bridges and skyscrapers to nest.
Mating season: Late March through May.
Gestation: 29-32 days for egg incubation.
Clutch size: 3-4 eggs.
Both the male and female incubate the eggs for about one month. The chicks start to fly in about 42 days, but are still dependent on their parents to learn how to hunt. Peregrine falcons are very territorial during breeding season and will vigorously defend their nests.
Length: 15-21 inches (wingspan of 3.5 feet).
Weight: About 2 lbs.; females are slightly larger than males.
Lifespan: 7-15 years; some can live as long as 20 years.


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Hello Everyone,
I know this may sound dumb, but does anyone have a link handy that shows a step by step build, and/or solid plans. I have found 1-2 here that seem great , and also a few posts seem to have pictures where photobucket is wanting $$$ for posting on 3rd party sites. I stumbled across a few that have great commentary, but do not have visible pictures.
I appreciate it! I also appreciate the site and everyone' s time they have put in to help so many people out with such a wonderful project and piece of history.


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OTTAWA – The federal government has formally committed to building a new Champlain Bridge.
In Thursday's budget, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said the new bridge is expected to be completed in 2021-2022.
"This is the busiest crossing in Canada for cars, trucks and buses, and is vital to the regional and national economies, with an estimated $20 billion in international trade crossing the bridge annually," the federal budget said.
The government promised "close collaboration with key stakeholders, including the government of Quebec and municipalities in the region, as the project moves forward."
The new span is expected to cost between $3 billion and $5 billion.
But even as it promised money for the new bridge, Ottawa was slashing the budget of the federal agency that administers the current bridge.
The annual budget of the Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Inc. is being cut by $500,000 beginning in 2013-2014.
The decrease is part of an effort to slash costs in government agencies by reducing "non-core activities while maintaining capacity related to core mandates," the government said.
The transport portfolio was one of the hardest hit in the downsizing effort. In total, cuts in federal transportation-related activities will amount to $153 million, or 10.7 per cent of total annual spending, by 2014-2015.
Among the victims was Transport Canada, whose annual budget will be decreased by $62 million.
The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority will see its annual expenditures shrink by $60 million.
At Via Rail, annual expenditures will be cut by $19.6 million. The savings at Via will come thanks to reduced maintenance costs and energy consumption, the government said.
At the same time, Ottawa is giving Via Rail $105 million in 2012-2013 to help the national passenger rail service improve tracks and signaling systems, repair stations and invest in new technologies.
"These investments will enhance the safety and efficiency of Via Rail's operations,' the government said.
On infrastructure, Ottawa also announced it will spend:
** $330.8 million over two years to build and renovate water infrastructure on First Nation reserves.
** $150 million over two years to repair existing small public infrastructure facilities, such as community centres, through the Community Infrastructure Improvement Fund. It's not yet known how much will go to Quebec.
** $99.2 million over three years to help provinces pay for flood mitigation measures undertaken after the 2011 floods, including those that hit parts of Quebec. It is unclear how much of that money will go to Quebec.


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Darksiders II follows the exploits of Death, one of the four horsemen of the Apocalypse, in a weaving tale that runs parallel to the events in the original Darksiders game. This epic journey propels Death through various light and dark realms as he tries to redeem his brother War, the horseman who was blamed for prematurely starting the Apocalypse in Darksiders.
Featuring a dramatically larger world, full weapon and armor upgrade systems as well as bigger and more challenging dungeons and vast array of new enemies and bosses, Darksiders II strives to improve on every aspect of the original hit.
The Darksiders II Collector's Edition will include The Limited Edition version of the game as well as a life-sized replica Death Mask with display stand, a unique Shadow of Death armor and scythe set with enhanced stats, a digital copy of the Darksiders II sound-track and a hard-cover Darksiders II art book.
Also known as: Darksiders II CE, Darksiders 2: Wrath of War Collector's Edition, Darksiders 2 Collector's Edition
Release Region: United States
Release Date: August 14, 2012
Publisher: THQ
Release Region: United Kingdom
Release Date: Unreleased
Publisher: THQ
Release Region: Australia
Release Date: Unreleased
Publisher: THQ
Release Region: United States
Release Date: August 14, 2012
Publisher: THQ
Also available on: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3
Darksiders II (Collect... at IGN
Darksiders II (Collect... at GameSpy
Darksiders II (Collect... at GameStats


text: Sijun Forums :: View topic - What do I do with all those sketches? Log in to check your private messages Sijun Forums Forum Index >> Digital Art Discussion View previous topic :: View next topic Author Topic : "What do I do with all those sketches?" waylonmemberMember #Joined: 05 Jul 2000Posts: 762Location: Milwaukee, WI US Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2001 1:23 pm A scan of your artwork will never look as good as the original. And computers can, and do, crash. I would just throw it all in a big box and stash it in a closet somewhere - but if you have any cool pictures, put them online. I'm sure we'd all like to see them. Back to top wootkoosmemberMember #Joined: 20 Jun 2000Posts: 64 Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2001 4:28 pm I wouldn't throw your original pieces away. I have papers stored from as long as 5 years ago, and some for even longer than that. Altough it is a good idea to scan them in and save them to cd so you have copies of them for reprinting just in case something happens to them. A couple of years ago some of my inked pieces received water damaged but luckily I had a scanned copy of them. Edit: Damn my grammar sucks :| ------------------ .................. w o o t k o o s -> email@example.com -> rhott.com/wootkoos/ [This message has been edited by wootkoos (edited January 03, 2001).] Back to top e:mpjunior memberMember #Joined: 20 Nov 2000Posts: 17Location: Hamburg,Germany Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2001 12:30 am Hi there! I am new on this board (I have been lurking here for months now) and finally got a scanner! (that means you`ll see some of my art soon) Now for my question: I am currently scanning some of my old work...looking through things.. Now there is a lot of good things I`ll keep but also a lot of sketches, doodles, preparation work...Some from years ago! I can`t really decide what to do now. Scan it in and throw it away? (hard, but it'll save space and hassle. Scan it in and keep it? What do you guys do with that stuff? Back to top JezebelmemberMember #Joined: 02 Nov 2000Posts: 1940Location: Mesquite, TX, US Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2001 12:33 am I keep everything I can... it's really cool to look back on it later and say, "Damn I sucked ass." -Beth ------------------ Take off your clothes. It's OK - I'm an artist. [url=http://div.dyndns.org/FOO!]http://div.dyndns.org/FOO![/url] http://div.dyndns.org/beth/photography Back to top AwetopsymemberMember #Joined: 04 Oct 2000Posts: 3028Location: Kelowna Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2001 1:10 pm keep it all man!!! dont ever throw away your work!!! I still have some drawings from as far back as 1994 and 1993.... dont ever throw it away... NEVER!!! BTW never throw it away. someday your kids will find your box and look through it it'll be cool to them... or they'll drool all over it and wreck it. ------------------ I think Im wearing out my CTRL-'z' http://noelsart.cjb.net Back to top DaveTmemberMember #Joined: 02 Mar 2000Posts: 124Location: Livingston,West Lothian, Scotland Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2001 2:00 pm I lost all of my old stuff, it sucked mightily so I dont care. ------------------ Ive been known to do the WOP, also known as the Flintstones FLOP, first your head shakes then your fingers pop, like a pinch on the neck from Mr Spock http://www.stas.net/dfb Back to top Ben BarkermemberMember #Joined: 15 Sep 2000Posts: 568Location: Cincinnati, Ohier Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2001 7:51 pm Under my bed is completely crammed with old artwork. Matted, sketchbooks, it's insane. Kind of cool to go through it though. Man, I was really fucked up in the 10th grade. I mean, MORESO than now. Back to top Giant HamstermemberMember #Joined: 22 Oct 1999Posts: 1782 Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2001 9:39 pm got a couple boxes of old work up in my closet and a few binders and small bags under my bed and on my shelf. i got a lot of stuff. or you can make it all into paper meshay(?) and build a fort in your backyard! ------------------ -JameZ the Giant Hamster- The Hamster Alliance AIM: Gianthmstr Multimedia Producer/designer/all of the above.,overall guru :)...and music music music! weee!! Back to top Display posts from previous: All Posts1 Day7 Days2 Weeks1 Month3 Months6 Months1 Year Oldest FirstNewest First Sijun Forums Forum Index -> Digital Art Discussion All times are GMT - 8 Hours Page 1 of 1 Jump to: Select a forum Digital Art----------------Digital Art DiscussionWork in ProgressGallery/Finished Work Miscellaneous----------------Random MusingsArchive : Sep99 - Dec00 You cannot post new topics in this forumYou cannot reply to topics in this forumYou cannot edit your posts in this forumYou cannot delete your posts in this forumYou cannot vote in polls in this forum Powered by phpBB © 2005 phpBB Group


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The Secret World of Biological Warfare
by Wendy Barnaby
These days, The Dalles, OR, is known for its windsurfing. In the mid-1980s, however, it had a very different reputation. Back then, it was the site of the first bioterrorist incident in the United States in modern times.
The Indian cult called the Rajneeshees had come to the end of the old Oregon Trail in 1981, and had established a commune there. Their lifestyle brought them into conflict with the locals, so in 1984 the Rajneeshees decided that they would take over the county. They tried to increase their vote in the local elections by bringing homeless people to live in the area. They also wanted to prevent the hostile local people from voting against them, so they devised a way of making them ill. They mixed up a concoction of germs (in this case, bacteria) and went around to local restaurants, sprinkling it on foods such as salad bar fruits and vegetables, blue-cheese dressing, tabletop coffee creamers, and potato salads. They also tried to infect The Dalles's water supply. All over the town, 751 people fell ill with food poisoning. Nobody died, but more than 40 people had to be hospitalized. The cult used a bacterium called Salmonella typhimurium.
Over 200 years earlier, British soldiers fighting Native Americans presented two chiefs with a lethal gift. In 1763, a British captain reported: "Out of our regard for them, we gave them two blankets and a handkerchief from the smallpox hospital. I hope it will have the desired effect." Smallpox, a deadly virus, spread from the articles and took hold among the local tribes, killing many Native Americans.
Most recently, the United States was subjected to a campaign of anthrax-laced letters. It began in October 2001, when American Media photo editor Robert Stevens was admitted to a hospital in Boca Raton, FL, vomiting and lapsing in and out of consciousness. Three days later he died, diagnosed as having been infected with anthrax in his lungs.
He had inhaled it from a letter sent to his workplace. His death marked the beginning of a sustained campaign of anthrax letters that killed five people, disrupted the mail for months, and left the American people — already reeling from the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001 — feeling very vulnerable.
As these events show, bioterrorists are people who use germs, called pathogens (microorganisms that cause disease), or poisons made by pathogens, to further their political aims. Bioterrorism ("bio" from the Greek root for "life" and "terror" from the Greek root for "fearing") is distinctive in terms of warfare because its weapons exist naturally. They are alive, which means that they can replicate. Once unleashed, they have lives of their own and are capable of mass destruction, or of dying out before they do any damage. They can be dangerous to those who use them, as well as to an intended target.
Why Bioterrorism?
Terrorists are generally seeking publicity. Traditionally, they have attracted media attention by setting off bombs. The drama, the noise, the debris, the people in shock, the ambulances: All these provide pictures for TV and newspapers. Pathogens, on the other hand, are silent; nobody even suspects that they've been spread around until people start getting sick. So, why would anyone choose to use them?
Pathogens can put people out of action without actually killing them, as in the Rajneeshees incident. But it's not only people who might be incapacitated in this way. Attacking agriculture (cattle and crops) with diseases could cause huge economic losses to farmers and the country as a whole.
Bioterrorism, in theory, also could kill more people than bombs. The word conjures up gruesome images of suffering, pain, and death associated with the great plagues. Some experts have calculated that, pound for pound and under the right conditions, germs could kill more people than thermonuclear weapons!
At the moment, there are indications that terrorist groups such as al-Qaeda are trying to develop bio-agents, including anthrax and pneumonic plague. If they could deliver them, it would probably be only in a crude way. However, terrorist weapons don't have to be good — just good enough.
Attacks and Agents
Pathogens are generally delicate, and often killed by heat or light. To be suitable for use in a bioterrorist attack, they need to survive long enough to reach their target. The population attacked — whether people or animals — will be more vulnerable if it has no immunity and no access to treatment.
The most effective way of spreading germs to the greatest number of people is through an aerosol, the sort of cloud that you spray out of a can of insect repellent. This is not easy to do, because many germs die before they reach their targets. Still, it has the gravest effect on people because they breathe in the germs, rather than have them enter the body through the skin. Anthrax is much more dangerous when inhaled than when people get it in a cut or wound. So is plague. Anthrax is extremely hardy, and a small airplane could spray it over an entire city on an evening when weather conditions were just right.
Anthrax is not contagious: One person can't catch it from another. Each person has to be exposed to it individually. However, another way of attacking people is to let loose a contagious (easily spread) germ. Smallpox is the nightmare scenario. It is a virus that is easy to catch from people who are already infected, and, if left untreated, it kills 20 to 40 percent of the people it infects. Following a World Health Organization campaign to eradicate the disease, the world has been free of smallpox for over 20 years. This means that most people have never been vaccinated against it, and experts disagree about how much old vaccinations would help protect people today.
"The Pathogen Plate" lists more bio-agents that could be used in bioterrorism.
Future Developments
Pathogens in their natural form are able to cause sickness and death. In the future, however, they could be made even more suitable for bioterrorism (and biological warfare, generally): more virulent, hardier, unaffected by current medicines, and undetectable by current diagnostic methods. Some bio-agents could even be made so that they would infect only specific ethnic groups.
These developments could come as the result of biologists' growing understanding of how germs are made, and what makes them act as they do. Biologists studying the genetic makeup of germs can work this out, and then learn how to change it. Scientists are divided about how easy it would be to do these things in practice, and about how serious their effects would be, but all agree that the threat possibilities are real and should be taken very seriously.
A Determined Defense
There are many facets of defense against bioterrorism, and you'll learn about some of them in this issue. Scientists need to understand more about bio-agents and how they work, so that they will be able to develop vaccines and other protective drugs, as well as refine detection methods. As a result of 9/11 and the subsequent anthrax attacks, biodefense centers where scientists can do this work are being set up in key medical centers.
By itself, however, knowledge is not enough. Individual countries need to prepare to respond to possible terrorist attacks against them. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, GA, monitor infectious diseases to identify outbreaks at the earliest possible moment and have plans in place to stop their spread.
The Department of Homeland Security oversees national safety, including threats from bioterrorism.
Getting to the cause of the threat is key. All the countries of the world need to work together to increase their understanding of terrorist groups and what motivates them. Injustice lies at the root of most terrorism. It is up to the developed countries of the world to address injustice and take away the causes of terrorism. This will make the world a safer place for all of us.
- bacteria: Tiny one-celled organisms. Some bacteria help digest food; other bacteria cause diseases.
- commune: A small community whose members often share common interests, work, income, and sometimes property.
- concoction: Something made up of several different ingredients.
- eradicate: To get rid of.
- facets: One of many different ways of thinking about something, for example, a perspective.
- genetic: Of or relating to the branch of biology that deals with how characteristics are passed from parents to offspring.
- replicate: To reproduce.
- virulent: Extremely infectious or poisonous.
- After reading this article, do you think bacteria or a virus would be a more effective biological agent for terrorists to use? Write a short paragraph explaining why you think bacteria or a virus would be more effective.
[anno: Answers will vary.]


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Enterprise software development is a massive undertaking. It's expensive, it's daunting, and yes, it can be risky. Yet somehow, after all of the hard work and budgeting that goes into these projects, it's disconcertingly common for businesses to run head-on into a brick wall just as they approach the finish line: No matter how smoothly the launch might have gone, there's always the looming possibility that users simply won't use the software.
The adoption problem is more prevalent than you might think: Surveys show that more than half of businesses are flat-out terrible at getting users to adopt new software. And although lots of businesses try to pick up the slack after a slow launch, we see a lot of platforms left to languish in decay because of poor user adoption. In this slideshow, Himanshu Sareen, CEO of Icreon Tech, has identified six common mistakes that businesses make in implementing new software, as well as ideas for how to maximize your own user adoption efforts.
Related Topics : Vulnerabilities and Patches, Resellers, Broadcom, Broadband Services, Supercomputing
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