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How 3 of New York's Top Pastry Chefs Helped Me Make a Wedding Cake: Part Three
Note from the author: A bakery on a tiny island closes, and all of a sudden I have six weeks to pick professional brains, do a test run or two, pack up my kitchen, fly to St. Croix, and make a 3-tiered wedding cake for my oldest girlfriend. Here's Part Three of how it all happened. Click here for Parts One, Two, and Four. .
The week following my jaunt to the cake supply store with Thiago Silva (EMM Group's pastry chef at Catch, The General, and La Cenita), I've got an extra table set in my tiny New York kitchen on a warm, humid March afternoon. It's sticky, but I figure that's all the better to practice possible island conditions.
The vanilla cake recipe from Stephen Collucci (Tom Colicchio's pastry chef at Colicchio & Sons) is simple enough; butter, a moderate to light amount of sugar, a hefty amount of whole eggs, a healthy amount of vanilla, and a bit of flour whisked with baking powder and salt. They're easy ingredients to get on an island, but I'll bring vanilla from New York and a new container of baking powder just to ensure they're both really fresh and delicious.
I decide to try making everything with a hand mixer, as I'm assured that the house I'll be baking in has one, and "they tested it to make sure it still works." I'm not completely confident about that, since hand mixers are highly variable little instruments; my own, seldom-used one goes on the list.
Rather quickly, I realize how exhausting mixing the cakes will be by hand—each batch of batter takes half a pound of butter and 10 whole eggs, whisked together and streamed in one third at a time, then creamed in full. A poor habit of my past was corrected when I'd read several trusted sources that most people don't cream their butter, sugar, and eggs together nearly long enough; creaming is supposed to dissolve sugar into eggs and butter, help the fat of the butter come together with the water in the egg whites, and add air/volume to the batter, which will lead to a stronger cake structure.
Creaming 10 eggs into the batter successively takes a lot of arm work. I do it, but it takes a while, and I can't multitask in any way while each batch happens. At the end I have six cakes baked into Thiago's loaner pans. They're springy and fragrant, but I'm exhausted (I pointed out in part one of this that I'm not a chef, right?).
I try both Thiago and Stephan's buttercream recipes and run into the same arm-exhausting problem; with Thiago's Swiss method, sugar, eggs and vanilla are slowly warmed over a double boiler until the sugar has melted and the eggs are slightly warm. They're then whipped to hard peaks, and many sticks of cubed butter are added one piece at a time. The slightly warmed eggs help the butter to incorporate. Nearing the end, the buttercream looks curdled and broken, but it ends up coming together beautifully.
Stephen's Italian meringue buttercream uses the same amount of butter but half the amount of sugar and egg whites. It's made by cooking the sugar with a tiny bit of water until it hits the softball stage (240°F), then streaming the sugar into egg whites that have been whipped to soft peaks. That mix then gets whipped to stiff peaks, and the butter is added one piece at a time, breaking until it comes together, with a touch of vanilla added to taste.
They both come out wonderfully. Stephen's is a touch lighter and Thiago's a touch sturdier. But having to pour hot sugar into beaten egg whites being whipped with a hand mixer is messy and, again, the idea of doing three or so batches by hand doesn't sound fun. I stick the two frostings in the fridge for a day to test how they come to temperature and rewhip.
Sunday I've got the lot assembled; boards, dowels sharpened to peaks, Oasis and Styrofoam fitted into a circle, cardboard trimmed to use as stencils for the slightly smaller cake rounds, and some pretty purple and green flowers I got from Fresh Direct.
And thus begins one of the crankiest experiments of my little baking life.
First off, my trimming of the cakes is atrocious. The long serrated cake knife I bought might as well be a butter knife because I practically have to hack to get it through. My layers are horrifically uneven, both on their own in regards to being flat on top and in their lack of consistent height amongst the layers. One is so poorly sliced I can almost see through it when I hold it up to the light. I'm already sweaty and frustrated.
Though it's been sitting out long enough, the frosting I made the day before hasn't quite come to room temperature. I decide to try and whip it to submission anyway. I take Thiago's first, which I admit to having taken swipes of during its day of rest in the fridge because it's just that delicious. The damn thing won't come together again after breaking, and it looks like an oily, eggy mess. I'm too afraid of over-mixing it, so when I get it to a point that it's workable I use it for the inner layers of the smallest cake. Yes, Thiago had told me to start bottom up, but as he'd also pointed out that the smallest layer would most likely be the hardest, I face it first. Somehow I get it somewhat even. Somewhat.
I pipe the frosting up the sides as Thiago suggested, then around the top, using a large icing spatula to smoothly take off excess. It leaves a clean and smooth "crumb base" that will get chilled in the fridge before I make it the base for the presentation layer.
I do the same with the middle tier using the entire batch of Stephen's frosting; it came together better than Thiago's, but that's because I was more patient with it. This tier looks... fine. Not great, but I'm already learning. I run to the bodega for more butter and eggs to quickly whip up a fresh batch of Stephen's frosting.
In a moment of brilliance I decide to just double the batch while I make it, and use my standing mixer instead of doing it by hand because my flabby arms are exhausted. I'm a time-saving genius, methinks, until I realize in no way will it come together since the bowl is just too small for that many egg whites to be whipped to hard peaks with boiling sugar! Argh! I scoop half out, white smears flying their way out of the mixer and onto everything nearby, and start adding the butter. It comes together beautifully, as does the second half of the batch. I carry it over to the other counter and accidentally drop the whisk attachment, my dog bounding excitedly over for the spoils until my cranky, whiney, way-too-loud "SHIT!" sends her scampering to my room.
This is not as easy as the boys said it would be.
The bottom tier is the most atrocious—out of the two 10" cakes, I get three pathetic layers. I somehow manage to frost them into submission, then I pull the other two cakes out of the fridge and put on the final layers of frosting. They look relatively presentable. Now, to assemble...
I forgot to borrow a glue gun. The weight of the cakes seems strong enough to work for now, and I circle the glue gun three times on my master list. I place the largest cake tier on the foam base, gently centering the middle tier on it. I measure four wooden dowels, trim them to match the height of the first two cakes, and then start tapping them in with the heavy, short hammer Thiago loaned me.
Tap, tap, tap... nothing.
Tap, tap, tap... nothing.
Another "shit."
I tweet Thiago, "The damned dowels won't go through!!"
His, "Ha!" reply is cute but doesn't help.
Maybe they're not sharp enough? All I know is that they won't budge. I give up, resolved that I'll need to make a second test cake anyway the following weekend and will make this structuring thing a priority.
When the three cakes are assembled together, it doesn't look stunning by any means but it doesn't look bad. I can't quite get the frosting as smooth as I want it and, after hearing enough grunts and whines from her perch in the living room, my roommate suggests texturing the frosting a bit; "It's a beach wedding, right? Make it look like sand." I promise her an entire cake for her support.
I scallop the surfaces and then, wearily, pipe a thin line around each base. At this point I recognize I'm doing it lazily and vow my final product will be better. The flowers I'd ordered have weak stems and don't want to puncture the oasis. Screw it; what goes in goes in and the others sit lazily wherever they choose. Later, friends come over for mimosas and wedding cake, and they tell me I'm being too hard on myself—it already looks beautiful and, with a touch more practice, I'll have it looking the way I want. And, more importantly, they love the taste. Love.
I take some cake to neighbors and, a few days later, to my family out of town. My mom texts that she loved the slices I dropped off with her. My dad's girlfriend leaves a note about how delicious it is, then takes a chunk to an office meeting, and it comes home with additional praise. If anything, the cake will taste really good. I breathe a sigh of thanks to the gentlemen, buy another $70 worth of butter and eggs (did I mention there's a pound of butter in each batch of frosting?), and vow to try again the following weekend.
The next weekend, I change up a few things:
- I bake in sheets instead of pans, which helps the whole 'even layer' thing. I ran back to the cake supply store and bought rings in the appropriate sizes, only to get home and realize I needn't have bothered—I can use the cardboard stencils I made the week before. With this method I neatly cut out circles of cake in appropriate sizes, and only have to trim the tops a touch to make them even. Phew.
- I go with Stephen's buttercream method since I can multitask by letting the sugar come up to temperature on the stove rather than constantly whisking it with eggs.
- I try wrapping the frosted cakes and chilling them overnight as that might save time the day of the wedding and keep them more moist. It works well. So now I know I can get the bulk of the work done in one day on the island and save final frosting and construction for the day of.
- I use a stand mixer for the whole process, and it's infinitely easier, so I shoot out some emails to see if I can find one to borrow while I'm down there. I already know mine fits into my carry-on suitcase—I dated a guy once for whom I rolled it from Washington Heights to the East Village so I could make doughnuts for a party—but as of this moment I may be flying to St. Croix via a work trip in Mexico, and the idea of lugging it to the other side of the continent and back sounds painful.
- At the urging of my roommate, I almost double the amount of frosting on the cake; it makes the final presentation a little less dramatic, and several second-round testers think it a bit much, so I decide to ask Rose's preference for the final version. I also debate trying Thiago's frosting proportions with an Italian method because one taster says the buttercream was really buttery and I think the greater amount of eggs might help.
- A sweet friend who'd been to the testing the week before had taken home some dowels and sharpened them more dramatically for me, and before frosting I tapped tiny holes in the boards with them, figuring I can wiggle my way through the cakes when they're frosted. This makes the process much easier, and I'm able to structure the cake soundly!
- I forego decorating with flowers. I now realize that's probably going to be the easiest part. The whole process takes less time and causes less angst, so I'm thankful I did a second run.
I keep the "you got this" energy from my chef friends in my mind as I make lists and wrap my head around doing it again:
By the time my travel plans are finalized (only two weeks before the wedding), I don't have a standing mixer secured on the island. (Why did I wait so last minute to just make a call!!!???) So my trusty old Kitchenaid goes into the carry on, along with sheet pans, measuring cups, and the like. I'm now coming back from Mexico with 24 hours before leaving for St. Croix, so at least I won't have to bring it all across and back with me, and I can take a day to repack and drown my nerves in whiskey.
I've got this. I think. Stay tuned for Part Four, when it all comes together with roaring success... I hope.
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Koedoe vol.53 no.1 Pretoria ene. 2011
Population size, structure and habitat features of Haworthia koelmaniorum var. mcmurtryi, an endemic plant from Mpumalanga Province, South Africa
Armand A. Biko'o; Dawid G.C. du Plessis; Willem J. Myburgh
Department of Nature Conservation, Tshwane University of Technology, South Africa
Haworthia koelmaniorum Oberm. & D.S. Hardy var. mcmurtryi (C.L. Scott) M.B. Bayer is an endemic plant restricted to the high-lying areas of Mpumalanga Province in South Africa. There is a serious lack of information on this species; it was known from only two populations at the time of the study but this information did not include population sizes and structures or its habitat requirements. A total count was conducted of one of the two populations to determine its size. Recorded plants were classified into age groups - according to their size and number of leaves - to determine the population structure. A detailed investigation of the habitat features of the studied population was also conducted. It was found that the studied population consisted of 1284 individuals and comprised approximately 4% seedlings, 12% juveniles and 84% mature plants. The species was found to have specialised habitat requirements, occurring only on red rhyolite of the Selons River Formation. The plants were also found to select very specific habitat features within their range of occurrence. The species also seems to be adapted to fire and has developed strategies to survive fire events. It is recommended that future research projects on this species use the same methods and age groups as this study to facilitate comparison. It is also recommended that more research be initiated to determine the population and seed viability, specific pollinators and the optimum fire frequency and intensity for this species.
CONSERVATION IMPLICATIONS: This article provides baseline information related to the size, structure and habitat features of one of two known populations of Haworthia koelmaniorum var. mcmurtryi. This information will contribute to the understanding of the ecology of this plant, thus contributing to better management decisions to enhance its in situ conservation.
The extinction rate of species worldwide is increasing and threatens the biodiversity of nature (Baumgärtner et al. 2006; Pimm & Raven 2000). The extinction of species represents a loss of biological diversity (Dobson 2000; Van Dyke 2003). The Convention on Biological Diversity, ratified by South Africa on 02 November 1995 (Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity 2005), states that the broad objective of conservation is to conserve all types of biological diversity (United Nations 1992). Thus, conservation biology should focus efforts on the conservation of rare and endemic plants because they are more prone to extinction.
Haworthia koelmaniorum var. mcmurtryi is a rare and endemic plant species restricted to the Highveld area of Mpumalanga Province in South Africa. Its population size, population structure and habitat features have hitherto been unknown. H. koelmaniorum var. mcmurtryi was listed as being endemic to what was then known as the Transvaal region, with an indeterminate status both locally and globally (Hilton-Taylor 1996). In 1998, it was also listed in the Mpumalanga Nature Conservation Act (Act No. 10 of 1998; Mpumalanga Government) as vulnerable (Bosch 2004) and is therefore protected in the province. In 2009, it was listed as endangered (Lötter, Biko'o & Victor 2009). It is important to know the population size and structure of this plant species, as well as its habitat requirements, as these data will allow for sound management practices to ensure that this species does not become extinct in the near future.
H. koelmaniorum belongs to the family Asphodelaceae. It comprises two varieties, namely H. koelmaniorum var. koelmaniorum and H. koelmaniorum var. mcmurtryi. The former is associated with sandy soil on quartzite whilst the latter is associated clayey soil on rhyolite. The morphological differences between the two varieties are summarised in Bosch (2004). H. koelmaniorum var. mcmurtryi (Figure 1) is a small succulent plant that can be described as a stemless rosette. It grows up to 15 cm in diameter. The leaves are 7 cm -10 cm long, dark brownish-green, opaque, and somewhat recurved. They have small raised tubercles and their margins and keel have small spines. The flowers are slender, creamy white, with petals fused and with revolute tips (Bayer 1999). In the dry season, the plant retracts almost completely underground with only the upper parts of some leaves visible above ground, making it very difficult to detect.
Rare and endemic plant taxa have many attributes that render them more vulnerable to extinction than others (Farnsworth et al. 2006; Van Dyke 2003). Human activity can modify the entire extent of their narrow geographic range, leading to their extinction. Rare species confined to only one or a few populations, such as H. koelmaniorum var. mcmurtryi, have a greater chance of becoming extinct (Van Dyke 2003) because the probability of all populations becoming extinct is higher, as a result of genetic and environmental stochasticity. Finally, species with specialised habitat requirements are threatened when human activity alters their environments (Primack 1993).
Small populations are more vulnerable to environmental and demographic variability, as well as to losses of genetic variability (Van Dyke 2003). The genetic makeup of a population determines its ability to adapt to changing conditions. Genetic drift and inbreeding are the two mechanisms operating in small populations that influence their genetic variation, whereby genetic variation is determined by the joint action of natural selection and genetic drift. In small populations the relative importance of genetic drift is higher; deleterious alleles can become more frequent and fixed in a population by chance, resulting in the loss of genetic variability. If such genetic diversity is lost, a species loses its ability to adapt to a changing environment (Holsinger 2000; Menges & Dolan 1998; Van Dyke 2003).
Stochastic variations in demographic rates cause small populations to fluctuate randomly in size and the smaller the population, the greater the probability that fluctuations will lead to extinction. Small populations are subject to a higher chance of extinction because they are more vulnerable to genetic drift, resulting in stochastic variation in their gene pool, their demography and their environment (Van Dyke 2003). Stochastic variation in the environment can produce temporally correlated birth and death rates (i.e. good years when birth rates are high and death rates are low and bad years when birth rates are low and death rates are high) that lead to fluctuations in the population size. Smaller populations are therefore more likely to go extinct as a result of these environmentally generated population fluctuations than large populations because the population size can be reduced to such an extent during bad years that it never recovers again (Ellstrand & Elam 1993).
A research project was conducted between 2004 and 2007 to bridge the knowledge gap on H. koelmaniorum var. mcmurtryi. The project specifically investigated the size and structure of the population and the habitat requirements of this plant species in its area of occurrence. This article summarises and discusses the results obtained in an attempt to allow for a better understanding of the ecology of this plant. The paper also provides management recommendations for the in situ conservation of this species, thus contributing to its long-term survival.
Study area
The project was conducted at the Loskop Dam Nature Reserve (LDNR) and its surroundings. The reserve is situated approximately 55 km north of Middelburg in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa. The LDNR is situated in the upper catchment of the Olifants River system, between 25º22'S and 25º31'S and between 29º10'E and 29º24'E (Figure 2), and is underlain by six geological formations including the Rhyolite of the Selons River and Damwall Formations (Group Rooiberg) in which H. koelmaniorum var. mcmurtryi occurs. The reserve is located between the Moist Highveld Grassland (Region 11) and the Central Bushveld (Region 2) of the revised Köppen climatic classification (Kruger 2004). The mean long-term rainfall for the LDNR for the period ranging from 1961 to 2006 is 623 mm per annum. According to Mucina and Rutherford (2006), the LDNR consists of three vegetation types: the Central Sandy Bushveld (SVcb 12), the Loskop Mountain Bushveld (SVcb 13) and the Loskop Thornveld (SVcb 14). The study population was situated in the Loskop Mountain Bushveld, which occupies the low mountains and ridges with open tree savannah on lower-lying areas (Mucina & Rutherford 2006).
Design and procedure
During the study period, the plant was known only from two populations, one in the Langkloof area and the other in the Dooringfontein area in and around the LDNR. The population at Langkloof is small with an estimated size of approximately 250 plants (A.C. Hoffman [Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency] pers. comm., 12 October 2007). This population was discovered after the data collection period and was thus not included in this project. Only the population at Dooringfontein was studied for the purposes of this paper and is hereafter referred to as the population.
The population consisted of four subpopulations that were subjectively called A, B, C and D. The field data were collected from the population over a four-year period (2004-2007) and during the same season annually (March-April for habitat features and August-September for population data).
Population size and structure
A total count was conducted. A number of transects, 2.5 m wide, were placed across the width of the subpopulations. Each transect was traversed by one person who systematically searched for H. koelmaniorum var. mcmurtryi plants. Each plant found was recorded and marked to prevent individual plants from being counted more than once. This method was adapted from Pfab and Witkowski (1999). The transects were laid out systematically to cover each subpopulation completely (Figure 3) and only one transect was counted at a time. The size of randomly selected individual plants was also measured in each subpopulation. In Subpopulations A, B, C and D, respectively, 78, 81, 81 and 82 individual plants were selected. The size was quantified as the average of the widest diameter of area covered by the plant (D1) and the diameter perpendicular to this (D2). This, together with the number of leaves, was used to classify the plants into age classes. Subjective classes based on observations were defined to classify every plant encountered as follows:
Seedlings: Plants having one or two leaves, or having three leaves and an average diameter less than 20 mm.
Juvenile plants: Plants showing either primary or secondary growth characteristics, but with no evidence of flower formation. More precisely, these were plants with three leaves and an average diameter larger than or equal to 20 mm, or plants having four or five leaves, no evidence of flower production, and a diameter less than or equal to 30 mm.
Sexually mature plants: Plants showing true flower formation or positively identifiable signs of flower formation. These were plants with five leaves or more and with a diameter larger than 30 mm, or with evident signs of flower formation.
Senescent plants: Post-reproductive plants. It was impossible to use this category with the Haworthia plants as it is very difficult to identify the post-reproductive size and/or age for these plants.
Habitat features
Species composition of associated vegetation, aspect, slope and altitude: The nested quadrate method was used to determine the species composition of the plant community associated with the H. koelmaniorum var. mcmurtryi population. The method, which is explained in Bonham (1989), is normally used to determine the minimum sample area. In this case it was used to determine the species composition of the site of occurrence of H. koelmaniorum var. mcmurtryi. The aspect and altitude of the area of occurrence of the subpopulations were determined according to existing topo-cadastral maps and by using the global positioning system (GPS) in the field. The slope was visually estimated and classified into five broad categories: none (0º - 3º), gentle (3º - 8º), moderate (8º - 16º), steep (16º - 26º) and very steep (> 26º).
Basal grass cover and fire: The basal grass cover in an area of 50 cm × 50 cm around randomly selected plants was estimated as the percentage of ground covered by the grass-rooted parts. The 50 cm × 50 cm square was subdivided into 10 cm × 10 cm squares, giving a total of 25 of these smaller squares (Figure 4). Each small square represented 4% of the total area. A detailed historical investigation of the occurrence (i.e. the frequency and extent) of fire in the subpopulations situated in the LDNR was completed using the reserve's records. Such investigation was more difficult for the subpopulations outside the reserve because there was no viable source of information. The effect of fire on the randomly selected plants was investigated and the percentage of the plant damaged by fire was estimated subjectively as the proportion of damaged leaves compared to the total number of leaves.
Soil, geology and rock cover: The soil types and geology of the population were identified using the geographical information system data provided by the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency. The soil forms were confirmed on the ground by digging soil profiles. The rock cover data were collected separately in both the 50 cm × 50 cm square used for basal grass cover and a 30 cm × 30 cm square. The same device used for the basal grass cover was used to determine the rock cover and it was expressed as the percentage above ground rock cover.
Data analysis
Analysis of variance (ANOVA) tests were performed on the data to check for significant differences between the subpopulations in terms of subpopulation structure, basal grass cover, fire damage and percentage rock cover. Where the subpopulations were found to have a significant difference, pairwise multiple comparison (Tukey-Kramer) tests were used to identify which of them differed significantly and to what extent. The tests were performed using the SigmaStat version 2.03 statistical package (SigmaStat 1997).
Population size and structure
The population consisted of four subpopulations, called A, B, C, and D respectively, occurring in an area with a radius of approximately 3 km. Two of the subpopulations (B and C) are protected within the reserve, whilst the other two (A and D) occur outside. The population comprised a total of 1284 plants. The sizes of Subpopulations A, B, C, and D were 368, 312, 276 and 328, respectively. The population structure showed that the population comprised of 4% seedlings, 12% juveniles and 84% mature plants (Figure 5). There was no significant difference in the structure of the different subpopulations (F3,8 < 1, p > 0.05).
Associated species composition, aspect, slope and altitude
H. koelmaniorum var. mcmurtryi was found to be associated with grassland. The most dominant grass in the area was Tristachya biseriata, followed by Themeda triandra, Loudetia simplex, Melinis repens and Diheteropogon amplectens, which was true for all subpopulations. It was found that H. koelmaniorum var. mcmurtryi was generally associated with the northern aspect. The population was associated with high altitudes (between 1380 m and 1415 m above sea level) and the slope varied across the different subpopulations. The slope in Subpopulation A was gentle (3º - 8º), whilst Subpopulation B had steep slope (16º - 26º), and Subpopulations C and D had a very steep slope (26º - 45º).
Basal grass cover
The average basal grass cover was 17% for the population. The percentage basal grass cover per subpopulation is shown in Figure 6. Pairwise multiple comparison procedures (Tukey test) revealed that only Subpopulation D differed significantly from all the other subpopulations regarding basal grass cover (Table 1). This means that despite apparently similar grass cover throughout the whole population, site-specific grass covers (around individual plants) in Subpopulation D differ significantly from those of the other subpopulations.
Existing data from the reserve reveal that the area burns at least once every two to three years, mostly by accidental fires. In addition, one of the subpopulations inside the reserve (Subpopulation B) is partly situated on a firebreak area and is therefore partly burned every year between April and May. As shown in Figure 7, approximately 71% of all plants in the entire population were affected by fire (76%, 70%, 56% and 83% for Subpopulations A, B, C and D, respectively). The average percentage fire damage per affected plant was approximately 42% (Figure 6). A Tukey-Kramer multiple comparisons test revealed that the difference in the percentage fire damage was significant only between Subpopulations A and C and Subpopulations C and D (Table 1).
Soil and geology
H. koelmaniorum var. mcmurtryi was found only on red rhyolite of the Selons River Formation (Walraven 1978), occurring mainly on hilly rocky outcrops. These results were in accordance with those of Bosch (2004), who describes rhyolite as a felsic volcanic rock with a porphyritic texture. The soil types were the same for all the subpopulations and were positively identified as Glenrosa (Orthic A and Lithocutanic B) and Mispah (Orthic A and Hard rock) soil forms. All the subpopulations were found on both soil types. These are shallow soils with a clayey Orthic A layer. A more detailed account of the geology and pedology associated with this species is provided by Bosch (2004).
Rock cover and rock size
There was a significant difference in rock cover between the subpopulations, both in the 30 cm × 30 cm and the 50 cm × 50 cm squares (F3,318 = 6.652, p < 0.001 and F3,318 = 25.787, p < 0.001, respectively). The percentage rock cover per subpopulation is shown in Figure 6. In the 30 cm × 30 cm square, only the differences between Subpopulations A and D, B and D, and C and D were significant (Table 1). In the 50 cm × 50 cm square, only the difference between Subpopulations B and C was not significant (Table 1). These results are probably because of the fact that the rock size varied greatly between the different subpopulations, with Subpopulation A having predominantly small stones (20 mm - 75 mm in diameter), Subpopulations B and C having predominantly stones (76 mm - 250 mm in diameter), and Subpopulation D having mostly rocks (> 250 mm in diameter). This result was expected because of the fact that the plants seemed to be selecting specific conditions that changed drastically over a very short distance around them.
For a plant with a highly specialised habitat such as H. koelmaniorum var. mcmurtryi, the population size of 1284 seems to be viable as it surpasses considerably the effective population size of 500 individuals classically proposed by Franklin and Soulé (1980). However, the viability of the population has not been verified via pollination studies and the fact that none of the subpopulations is more than 500 individuals in size is of concern as this constitutes a major threat to the viability of the population if the subpopulations are isolated in terms of pollinators. The population size of H. koelmaniorum var. mcmurtryi thus means that it can survive, provided its habitat is available and, more importantly, provided the subpopulations are connected by pollination vectors. It should be noted that there are factors that can further threaten the survival of this population even if the subpopulations are connected. These include the occurrence of large disturbance events (prolonged droughts and disruption of the reproductive system by fire) and human impacts (habitat loss and excessive plant collection). These factors, especially human-related factors, need to be monitored carefully.
The population structure provides a snapshot of the current demographic situation, from which some insights can be drawn (Baskin & Baskin 1986; Widyatmoko & Norton 1997). In this study, the population structure suggests at least some recruitment by sexual reproduction, although the proportion of seedlings is very low. Such a low level of recruitment suggests that this population is under stress and faces a high risk of extinction if the plants do not have a long lifespan. Long lifespans may buffer populations against the rapid extinction potentially caused by a series of 'bad years' for reproduction or germination, if extant individuals survive (Watson, Westoby & Holm 1997). Annual seedling recruitment becomes less important in this context, as a result of the long period that each plant has to replace itself (Pierson & Turner 1998). The lifespan of H. koelmaniorum var. mcmurtryi should be investigated in order to conclude whether this level of recruitment is acceptable or not.
The dominant grasses of the habitat preferred by H. koelmaniorum var. mcmurtryi usually form dense tufts with shady spots at the base, thus providing sufficient shade and stable environmental conditions necessary for the survival of this plant in its highly unpredictable and stressful habitat (high wind speed, high water runoff speed and exposure to direct sunlight). Most of these grasses are also unpalatable (except for T. triandra that is considered highly palatable on the Highveld) and most of the time they are not grazed, providing a secure space against trampling. These densely tufted dominant grasses in the preferred habitat of H. koelmaniorum var. mcmurtryi may also play an important role in breaking the speed of violent surface water flow associated with heavy downpours of thunderstorms during the summer months when germination occurs. These grasses may therefore become critical for seedling establishment as heavy downpours have been cited as one of the factors accounting for the low rate of seedling establishment (Bosch 2004). It is believed that these densely tufted grasses provide refuges for seed germination and seedling establishment shielded from being washed away by the runoff water.
The significant difference in basal grass cover between Subpopulation D and all the other subpopulations may be explained by the fact that Subpopulation D is found on a communal land that is used as grazing for livestock. The significantly lower basal cover in this subpopulation suggests that it is more exposed to disturbances such direct exposure to sunlight (causing higher fluctuations in temperature), higher wind velocity (that may prevent effective pollination) and higher runoff water velocity (that may prevent seedling establishment) than the other subpopulations. The effects of these disturbances on H. koelmaniorum var. mcmurtryi are as yet unknown and such exposure could mean a higher risk of extinction of this subpopulation. More research is needed to determine the effects of these disturbances on H. koelmaniorum var. mcmurtryi.
It has been hypothesised that succulents are either intolerant of fire and survive only in refuges such as rocky and sandy areas which contain very little fuel, or they are tolerant of fire (Thomas & Goodson 1992). The percentage rock cover around every individual plant, and the fires that occurred in 2004 and 2006, suggest that H. koelmaniorum var. mcmurtryi survives best in fire refuges. However, this does not mean that H. koelmaniorum var. mcmurtryi is not fire tolerant. It has been shown that the seeds of species adapted to fire, such as those of H. koelmaniorum var. mcmurtryi, usually have hard seed coats (Baskin & Baskin 1998). Such hard coats can be broken by high temperatures produced during combustion, facilitating the entry of water and the emergence of the embryo (Baskin, Baskin & Xaojie 2000).
The absence of post-fire mortality cannot be explained completely by the refuge hypothesis. In fact, the growth habit of this plant suggests that it is adapted to survive fire. This includes the protection of meristems, both by numerous leaf bases and by their occurrence at or below ground level. Thus, even though H. koelmaniorum var. mcmurtryi uses rock cover as refuge in some cases, it is most likely that the plant is fire tolerant and uses its underground meristem as the mechanism whereby it tolerates fire. More research is needed in this field before a reliable conclusion can be reached, especially in terms of the optimum fire frequency and intensity required by this plant.
In successfully describing one of the two known populations of H. koelmaniorum var. Mcmurtryi, this study has provided valuable baseline information on this species. Based on the total number of the population, it appears as though this species can survive as it surpasses the effective population size of 500 individuals generally accepted for such rare species. However, the fact that none of the subpopulations is bigger than 500 individuals in size means that such survival is possible only if the different subpopulations are connected by pollination vectors. A further condition to the survival of this species is the preservation of its habitat. This study has successfully described a method that could help in future to categorise the plants in age groups and thus to determine the structure of different (sub)populations. The population structure shows some form of recruitment, although this appears to be very low. More research on the lifespan of this plant is required in order to conclude whether such a low recruitment rate can be considered acceptable for this plant species. The study has also described the habitat features of this species and it was found that H. koelmaniorum var. mcmurtryi selects very stable conditions where environmental variations and disturbances (exposure to direct sunlight, wind speed, and fire) are minimal. It is suggested that this species is adapted to fire even though it uses refuges to minimise its effects.
For comparison purposes, future autecological studies on this plant are encouraged to use the same methods and age groups described within this study. More detailed investigations should be conducted to identify, map and describe all new populations. It is recommended that more detailed research be undertaken to determine the optimum fire frequency and intensity for these plants, especially for the subpopulation situated on a fire break. More research should also be undertaken to identify the possible pollinators and seed viability of this plant. An assessment of threats and a population viability analysis should be conducted on the known populations of the plant species so that necessary conservation measures can be recommended and implemented.
This project was made possible by the financial assistance of the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), Shikar Safaris and the Department of Nature Conservation at TUT.
Baskin, J.M. & Baskin, C., 1986, 'Some considerations in evaluating and monitoring populations of rare plants in successional environments', Natural Areas Journal 6, 26-30. [ Links ]
Baskin, J.M. & Baskin, C., 1998, Seeds, ecology, biogeography and evolution of dormancy and germination, Academic Press, San Diego. [ Links ]
Baskin, J.M., Baskin, C. & Xaojie, L., 2000, 'Taxonomy, anatomy and evolution of physical dormancy in seeds', Plant Species Biology 15, 139-152. doi:10.1046/j.1442-1984.2000.00034.x [ Links ]
Baumgärtner, S., Becker, C., Faber, M. & Manstetten, R., 2006, 'Relative and absolute scarcity of nature. Assessing the roles of economics and ecology for biodiversity conservation', Ecological Economics 59, 487-498. doi:10.1016/j. ecolecon.2005.11.012 [ Links ]
Bayer, B., 1999, Haworthia revisited, a revision of the genus, Umdaus Press, Hatfield. [ Links ]
Bonham, C.D., 1989, Measurements for terrestrial vegetation, John Wiley & Sons Ltd, Chichester. [ Links ]
Bosch, P.J.A., 2004, 'The geological, pedological and climatic influence on variety generation in Haworthia koelmaniorum var. koelmaniorum and H. koelmaniorum var. mcmurtryi', Aloe 41, 56-60. [ Links ]
Dobson, A.P., 2000, Conservation and biodiversity, Scientific American Library, New York. [ Links ]
Ellstrand, N.C. & Elam, D.R., 1993, 'Population genetic consequences of small population size: Implications for plant conservation', Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics 24, 217-242. doi:10.1146/annurev.es.24.110193.001245 [ Links ]
Farnsworth, E.J., Klionsky, S., Brumback, W.E. & Havens, K., 2006, 'A set of simple decision matrices for prioritizing collection of rare plant species for ex situ conservation', Biological Conservation 128, 1-12. doi:10.1016/j. biocon.2005.09.010 [ Links ]
Franklin, I.R. & Soulé, M.E., 1980, 'Evolutionary changes in small populations', in M.E Soulé & B.A. Wilcox (eds.), Conservation biology, an evolutionary-ecological perspective, Sinauer Associates, Inc., Sunderland. [ Links ]
Hilton-Taylor, C., 1996, 'Red data list of southern African Plants', Strelitzia 4, National Botanical Institute, Pretoria. [ Links ]
Holsinger, K.E., 2000, 'Reproductive systems and evolution in vascular plants', Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 97, 7037-7042. [ Links ]
Kruger, A.C., 2004, Climate of South Africa. Climate regions. WS45, South African Weather Service, Pretoria. [ Links ]
Lötter, M., Biko'o, A. & Victor, J.E., 2009, 'Haworthia koelmaniorum var. Mcmurtryi', in D. Raimondo, L. von Staden, W. Foden, J.E. Victor, N.A. Helme, R.C. Turner et al. (eds.), Red list of southern African Plants 2009, Strelitzia 25, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria. [ Links ]
Menges, E.S. & Dolan, R.W., 1998, 'Demographic viability of Silene regia in Midwestern prairies and relationships with fire management, genetics, geography, population size, and isolation', Journal of Ecology 86, 63-78. [ Links ]
Mpumalanga Government, 1998, Mpumalanga Nature Conservation Act, Mpumalanga Government, Nelspruit. [ Links ]
Mucina, L. & Rutherford, M.C. (eds.), 2006, 'The vegetation of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland', Strelitzia 19, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria. [ Links ]
Pfab, M.F. & Witkowski, E.T.F., 1999, 'Contrasting effects of herbivory on plant size and reproductive performance in two populations of the critically endangered species, Euphorbia clivicola R.A. Dyer', Plant Ecology 145, 317-325. doi:10.1023/A:1009869011237 [ Links ]
Pierson, E.A. & Turner, R.M., 1998, 'An 85-year study of saguaro (Carnegiea gigantean) demography', Ecology 79, 2676-2693. doi:10.1890/0012-9658(1998)079[2676:AY SOSC]2.0.CO;2, doi:10.2307/176509 [ Links ]
Pimm, S.L. & Raven, P.H., 2000, 'Extinction by numbers', Nature 403, 843-845. doi:10.1038/35002708, PMid:10706267 [ Links ]
Primack, R.B., 1993, Essentials of conservation biology, Sinauer Associates, Inc., Sunderland. [ Links ]
Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, 2005, Handbook of the convention on biological diversity including its Cartagena protocol on biosafety, 3rd edn., Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, Montreal. [ Links ]
SigmaStat version 2.03, 1997, computer software, SPSS Inc., Chicago. [ Links ]
Thomas, P.A. & Goodson, P., 1992, 'Conservation of succulents in desert grasslands managed by fire', Biological Conservation 60, 91-100. doi:10.1016/0006- 3207(92)91159-P [ Links ]
United Nations, 1992, 'Convention on biological diversity', proceedings of the United Nations conference on environment and development, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 03-14, 2002. [ Links ]
Van Dyke, F., 2003, Conservation biology: Foundations, concepts, applications, McGraw-Hill Companies, New York. [ Links ]
Walraven, F., 1978, 1:250 000 scale geological series, 2428 Pretoria, Council for Geoscience (Geological Survey of South Africa), Pretoria. [ Links ]
Watson, I.W.M., Westoby, A. & Holm, M.C.R., 1997, 'Continuous and episodic components of demographic change in arid zone shrubs: Models of two Eremophila species from Western Australia compared with published data on other species', Journal of Ecology 85, 833-846. doi:10.2307/2960605 [ Links ]
Widyatmoko, D. & Norton, D.A., 1997, 'Conservation of the threatened shrub Hebecupressoides (Scrophulariaceae), Eastern South Island, New Zealand', Biological Conservation 82, 193-201. doi:10.1016/S0006-3207(97)00016-5 [ Links ]
Correspondence to:
Armand Biko'o
Postal address: Private Bag X680
Pretoria 0001, South Africa
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Received: 24 Aug. 2010
Accepted: 01 Apr. 2011
Published: 07 July 2011
© 2011. The Authors. Licensee: AOSIS OpenJournals. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License.


text:
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Use this classic desk chair to coordinate seating with collection's matching desk. The spindle chair back offers a Windsor style look.Seat width: 19"Seat depth: 17"
The Cottage Desk Chair by Vaughan Bassett at AHFA in the area. Product availability may vary. Contact us for the most current availability on this product.
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This item has been tagged as: Desk Chairs, Office Chairs, Executive Chairs, Task Chairs
Nothing on this page may be copied or reproduced without explicit permission.


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If you have
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you are in emotional crisis and are in King
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Toll Free: 866.4CRISIS
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here for helpful links for those contemplating
Click HERE
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text:
At Forest City Residential Management, each associate is on a mission to make a positive impact on the lives of our residents, team members, guests and vendors. Through professional and caring relationships we strive to provide customer service that exceeds the highest expectations. We realize that every interaction we have is a direct reflection of who we are, and who we want to be.
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Combining A Modern Hemi And RMS Chassis With Engle-Era Style
How do you make a distinctive Mopar even more distinctive—without altering its character, or losing the styling cues that make it special?
In the case of this '66 Charger, you keep the Engle-Era sheetmetal, rotating headlights and four-bucket-seat interior, and add some of the best hardware the aftermarket has to offer.
Stacy Bills found this Charger in nearly original condition about a decade ago. "It was relatively rust-free," says her husband. "That car had been repainted, and the color changed. It came from down south…it was bought sight-unseen off the idiot box—I mean the computer."
Intact, complete—but with at least one hidden flaw in its nearly 40-year-old unibody. "It was OK—a typical mid-'60s Chrysler product," says builder/customizer Ryan Korek of Korek Designs. "It was in decent shape. It wasn't rotted, but it still needed a lot of work."
That pre-customizing remedial work didn't involve rust repair, per Ryan: "Just crash damage that had gone unseen for years," he says. "When he brought it here, and when we took it all apart and stripped it, [we found that] a framerail was bent."
Once that was replaced, the Charger was ready for its new suspension hardware from Reilly Motorsports (RMS) at each end, with coilovers replacing the OEM torsion bar/leaf spring suspension. Ryan says that despite its advancement over '60s-era suspension technology, the RMS parts went in easily. "There wasn't really too much fabrication needed to do that." He adds that it keeps with a theme the Bills had for their custom Charger.
I wanted to keep it bone-stock looking, where everything looked stock, but get new handling.
Another straightforward swap was the 6.1-liter modern Hemi and overdrive automatic, which, like the Reilly Motorsports pieces, went in easily, thanks to engine mounts and installation hardware, also from RMS.
Inside, the keep-it-looking-stock theme continued. The original bucket seats and console stayed, but the seats were re-upholstered in leather and suede by R.P. Interiors in Horseheads, New York, while the electroluminescent gauges and floor-shift console were refurbished to work with the new powertrain.
PPG Charcoal and Silver went on the Charger's vintage cold-rolled sheetmetal at Korek Design's shop in New Berlin, Pennsylvania, before they added the hand-applied Maroon pinstripe that sets the two body colors apart.
Since completion of this nearly two-year-long project, this wedge-back B-Body has been around on the show scene. Debuting at this year's Detroit Autorama. It's also been shown in Philadelphia, at Goodguys PPG Nationals at Columbus, Ohio, and at the Syracuse Nationals. Unfortunately, Ryan couldn't make it to Carlisle with this Charger, though he'd been invited to show it there. "Carlisle had picked it for their special collection, but I didn't realize that Goodguys' show at Columbus (where he'd already entered the Charger) was the same weekend," he says.
"It stops, starts, and goes, and is very peppy," says Stacey's husband. "It handles very good, which was my goal. Everyone's goal these days is to have a nice old-looking car that handles like a new one."
If that's your goal, and you want to do that with a vintage Mopar, Ryan's advice is simple: "If you're looking to do a car like this, you'd better have money. It's very expensive to do Chryslers—the clock was $800 to restore, and the back emblem was $600 to restore. It's astronomical by the time you add up everything."
He adds, "My advice if somebody's going to do an old car like that—put a nice fuel injection system like that in it. It just starts up all the time, and you get modern reliability with classic looks."
But…if you've got an intact and complete vintage Mopar (and the bucks to make your dream come true), adding a modern chassis and powertrain, while keeping the rest of the car looking stock is the way to go!
|Fast Facts
1966 Dodge Charger
Stacy Bills – Corry, Pennsylvania
Built by: Korek Designs – New Berlin, Pennsylvania
|Mopar Power
|Engine: What's more powerful than the stock 383, yet smaller than the standard 318 poly? You guessed it—a modern Hemi. In this case, a 6.1-liter supplied by Bouchillon Performance Engineering in Hanahan, South Carolina (who also supplied the ECM, wiring harness, headers, engine accessories, and radiator). Engine mounts and related hardware by Reilly Motorsports.
|Transmission: Mopar 545RFE overdrive automatic (from Bouchillon Performance Engineering) shifts through the original console-mounted shifter.
|Rear: Stock 83⁄4 rear, freshened with Moser axles and a 4.11 gear set.
|Sure Grip
|Suspension: Reilly Motorsports' Advanced Suspension System with QA1 coilovers at each corner replacing the original torsion bars/rear leaf springs.
|Brakes: Wilwood four-wheel discs with 12-inch rotors.
|Wheels/Tires: Schott Octane Performance Wheels (18×7-inch in front, 19×9-inch in back) wear Nitto NT555 high performance radials (225/45ZR18 front, 275/35ZR19 rear)
|High Impact
|Paint/Body: Original all-steel '66 Charger was smoothed out by Korek Designs before the two-tone PPG Envirobase Charcoal and Silver paint scheme went on. Korek Designs also added the maroon pinstriping that sets off the two body colors.
|Interior: Keeping the original four-buckets-and-console theme, R.P. Interiors in Horseheads, New York, stitched up the stock buckets in maroon leather, while trimming the door and side panels in the same color leather and suede. Steering wheel is by LeCarra, and the sound system is a Retro Sound/Kicker tuneage-pumper.


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It's so difficult to write about visiting Auschwitz, the Nazi death camp; perhaps the most infamous of all their World War II extermination camps, many of which now lie inside modern-day Poland.
What can I add to the millions of words that have been written about it, the images captured or rivers of tears that have been shed already?
When it comes to visiting the Auschwitz museum there's also a very fine line between what could so easily become ghoulish sightseeing and facing up to our collective and often deeply painful history as human beings.
But, these experiences are just as much part of travel as the sipping wine in beachside restaurants, the thrill of seeing one's first puffin, the sound of Georgian singing (more about that in the weeks to come). Personality wise I'm not a cynical traveller, perhaps I'm just too intellectually shallow to take a Paul Theroux approach to the world, or just still too enamoured with the whole business of exploring it. But whatever the case I don't often venture in words into the darker side.
And almost nothing that the average traveller can encounter in her or his travels is much darker than Auschwitz. I don't know what compels all of the more than a million people who visit this site every year to do just that- for some it will be a deeply personal family pilgrimage, for others it might simply be a place to "tick off". All I can tell you is that I just felt I should go. It's sometimes easier to distance ourselves from suffering and tragedy and maybe that's not always a good thing.
The drive from Krakow in southern Poland to Auschwitz takes about 90 minutes. On the way in our mini bus we watched a DVD of rare footage captured by a Russian cameraman taken at the time the camp was liberated in 1945.
Auschwitz was established by the occupying German forces in 1940 in a prewar Polish army barracks. At first it served as a concentration camp for mostly Polish prisoners but by 1942 it had become the largest of the Nazi death camps and most of its prisoners were now Jewish. During the war an estimated 1.1 million people died here, either killed in the gas chambers, or through starvation, disease, forced labour, individual executions, or medical experiments. About 90 per cent of this total were Jewish people, the others included Poles, Gypsies, Russian prisoners of war, homosexuals and Jehovah's Witnesses.
Auschwitz is more properly known as Auschwitz I as just a few minutes' drive away is Auschwitz II or Auschwitz-Birkenhau, which if anything has an even more notorious reputation than the former. This was the camp designated by the Nazis as the "final solution to the Jewish question in Europe" and from 1942 to 1944 Jews from all over Europe (including as far away as Norway and Greece) were sent here by train to be gassed.
"There is one thing I need to emphasise before your visit," our escort said, as we pulled up in the carpark. "We Poles are very, very upset that President Obama recently called these places Polish death camps. We had nothing to do with them, they were built in Nazi-occupied Poland. There was no Polish nation at the time and many thousands of Polish people were killed here too."
Whether as a result of this gaffe or not it was noticeable throughout the tour of both camps that the guides frequently referred to the number of Poles who had been murdered there.
Because Auschwitz I was originally an army barracks it at first belies the awful nature of its final use. Beyond the archway with its infamous and pernicious lies - Arbeit Macht Frei (work makes you free) - brick two-storey buildings separated by poplar-lined lanes seem just institutional rather than sinister.
But this is only the first step of what is to prove a harrowing journey back to some of the worse atrocities of the 20th century. The site guide first of all explained the degree of overcrowding in the barracks building, the food rations (little more than above starvation level) and then leds us into one of the buildings that contains some of the personal effects that once belonged to the prisoners who came in through the gateway, most of whom either never left it alive, or if they did, only to march to their deaths.
Despite the fact that I knew in advance what the building contained it was deeply traumatic and, although there was a constant steady stream of visitors filing through this building, one feels totally alone with one's thoughts. I was determined not to cry which I felt somehow would trivialise what had happened here.
My resolve held past the piles of suitcases with their labels hinting at happy prewar lives in far-flung European cities and towns. Even as we filed by a display case full of crutches and walking sticks I was holding it together but without even meaning to I found the tears flowing as we shuffled past a case of baby shoes. The metres-long glass cabinet of human hair (the Nazis sold this for use as mattress stuffing among other uses) was so horrifying it numbed the senses.
Progressively the group I was with became more silent, no-one wanted to make eye contact. I was ashamed of my tears until I noticed even young men were sniffing into their scarves. We were taken next to the prison building, a place of torture and summary execution. Only about half the group made it through the torture cells, I wasn't among them. My husband emerged looking wan and didn't want to talk about what he'd experienced.
Beside this block was the wall in front of which thousands of Poles in particular were shot. The last stop on our tour was Gas Chamber 1, which was in use until 1943 when the larger crematoria at Birkenhau were completed. We filed through this, including a provisional gas chamber, in total silence. This was a place where walls do speak, although in this case it's more a cry of despair and agonising death.
By now a freezing wind was blowing and driving rain was sheeting through the camp. It had turned into a downpour by the time we arrived at the entrance gate to Auschwitz-Birkenhau, which having been photographed countless time and features in so many films, is eerily familiar. Beyond lie the foundations and in some cases reconstructed wooden barracks. They were freezing inside, especially the totally open plan toilet block with its two lines of toilet seats. The weather was appalling but it brought home to us the almost unbelievable hardships of those who were kept alive here long enough to work as slave labour in neighbouring factories until they could work no more and were gassed.
The railway line that brought the hundreds of thousands of prisoners to the camp runs directly into the centre of the complex and it is possible to stand in exactly the place where the camp officers made their selections (as pictured in photographs of the time) - the elderly, many women and almost all children being drafted into a line leading straight to the gas chambers, the more able-bodied to the huts (where death usually still came, just a little more slowly). By August '44 about 90,000 people were imprisoned here.
At the far end of the camp are the remains of four giant gas chambers - the Nazis had attempted to blow these up just before they evacuated the place in January 1945 but they were unable to remove the evidence completely. Among the broken jagged piles of concrete are a series of memorials from nations around the world, almost all covered with fresh flowers and reminders of recent commemorative ceremonies.
We walked back to the bus past the barracks used by Josef Mengele and others to carry out "medical" research into twins, mass sterilization, infectious diseases, experimental operations and new drugs.
By now we were numb with cold but even more numbed with grief and shock. There was no conversation on the trip back to Krakow; we stumbled back to our room and ran a bath. Outwardly it was to warm up but it also seemed a way to symbolically clean away the evil. It certainly wasn't to wash away the memories - they will be there to stay, which is as it should be.
- nzherald.co.nz


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Ensure the safety and privacy of the information shared during your conference is secure. You can even capture key participant information (e.g., name, email), and choose to receive a summary of the meeting (e.g., duration, participants) via email after the session has concluded.
Control costs with one low flat prepaid rate without any subscriptions or long term contracts. No need to cancel your existing long distance provider to use our service. There are never cancellation fees or deactivation fees.
• Access service from any computer with Internet access
• No software to install
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• Share presenting responsibilities with other participants
• Share an application or document with meeting participants in real time
• Optionally choose to share select documents and applications or entire desktop
• Request control of a participant desktop or application
• Give control of desktop or application to participant in the meeting
• Manage web conference from single point within application
• View participants as they join and leave meetings
• Capture key participant information (e.g., name, email)
• Enable participants to "raise hand" in response to question or to get host attention
• Tallies "raised hands"
• Create and execute polls
• Tallies and presents results to host online and in summary reports
• Option to present results to participants
• Synchronize participant view of a document with the presenter's view
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• 15 colors available
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• Caches slides to improve transitions for slower connections
• Displays fixed dimension slides when slow connections are detected
• Choose to receive a summary of the meeting (e.g., duration, participants) via email after the session has concluded
• Ensures the safety and privacy of information shared during the meeting


text:
Welcome to the Kinship Care Resource Center!
What is Kinship?
Services we Provide
Legal Issues
Michigan Kinship Care Support Group Meetings
The Kinship Care Resource Center (KCRC) is a non-profit statewide organization through the School of Social Work at Michigan State University. Kinship care is the full time care, nurturing and protection of children by relatives, members of their tribes or clans, godparents, stepparents, or any adult who has a kinship bond with a child (Child Welfare League of America, 2011).
While kinship care is often a rewarding experience for both the child and their relative caregiver it can also come with many challenges. The KCRC supports Michigan kinship families by utilizing research to provide education and outreach for communities, agencies, and individuals involved in supporting kinship families.
We encourage you to look through our website. There is information for caregivers, support agencies, researchers, media, and policy makers. If you are not able to find what you are looking for then please contact us and we will do our best to assist you.
Download our brochure (pdf)


text:
Slurring Semi-Famous Actress Publicly Implodes While Delivering Live Speech
[There was a video here]
Kim Delaney, of NYPD Blue and Army Wives "fame", was giving a "speech" at the National Constitution Center to honor former defense secretary Robert Gates yesterday. Well, she showed up looking a mess and barely making sense while she tried to read the speech off a teleprompter. Oh, and it was on live TV.
Yes, the ABC affiliate in Philly was airing the event (God knows why, but thank God they did!) so she will never be able to live down the shame. My favorite bit is at the beginning when she looks to the side and says, "This is my job," like there's someone offstage trying to prevent her from going on obviously out of her right mind (drunk? stoned? crazy? all three? none of the above?) but she's not having any of it. Oh, Kim Delaney, now this is going to be the first line of your obit, not your five-year tenure on a Lifetime Television for Women drama.


text:
Refrigerator Magnets
There are no products matching the selection.
Welcome to our International website goodnewsinchina.com. We are trying our best to serve our customers globally. For customers in North America, we would like to introduce to you to Chinese Resource Ministry (CRM, from AFC, Ambassadors for Christ). CRM is our partner in the USA and we share the same vision in ministry. Many of our popular items are also available on their website www.afcresources.org/contents/en-us/d1.html. For more information about CRM, please contact them via email email@example.com or toll-free phone number 1-888-999-7958. God bless you.
GNIC welcomes you!
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text:
Until the RB drumstick, drumsticks have been pretty much the same mechanically. Prior innovations included different woods, materials, lamination, nylon tips, different lengths, diameters, tapers and bead shapes, etc.
However, none of these variations of design and construction addressed the mechanics of how the drumstick interacts with the drummer's hand and arm to achieve maximum synergistic performance.
Without balance, we have rotational conflict — especially wobble: The faster one plays, the more an off-balanced stick works against the drummer, thus limiting speed, control, and power and increasing fatigue.


text:
About Scenic Labs
Scenic Labs is the exclusive worldwide publisher and distributor of Digital Video Essentials HD Basics, the preeminent home theater calibration program from industry legend, Joe Kane. We are also the manufacturer of the MediaLight D65 Bias Lighting System
From our beginning in a New Jersey garage, Scenic Labs is now the world's leading supplier of seamless ambient videos for public display. A mainstay in doctor's offices, hospitals, spas, wellness centers, residential care centers and hundreds of thousands of individual homes, BluScenes discs and TranquilityChannel.com closed-circuit entertainment systems are the perfect "set and forget" entertainment.
"Flat-screen TVs pose a design challenge: they often occupy the focal point of a room and can even turn into a distraction while entertaining. BluScenes treats your TV as décor, providing digital art that's unique, relaxing, and fun."
– Jason Rosenfeld, Founder of Scenic Labs
There is no shortage of nature programming on TV, but surprisingly little of it is suitable for all ages, and playing these programs can result in playing a competitors' advertisements to your clients. Even less is sourced purely from 1080p-or-above sources with lossless audio. Broadcast video cannot yet match the fidelity of Blu-ray due to current technology and bandwidth constraints.
If you have questions, we have experts to provide answers. Give us a call at 973-933-1455.
If you have questions, we have experts to provide answers. Give us a call at 973-933-1455.


text:
The British were about to seize Philadelphia in 1777. It was feared that the King's Army would destroy the great bell in Independence Hall. The bell was removed and taken to Allentown, and hidden for nearly a year in Zion's Reformed Church - present day Zion's 'Liberty Bell' Church. Today an impressive memorial stands where the Liberty Bell was kept safe.
Visit the Liberty Bell Museum today to experience:
* A changing exhibit area featuring exhibits about Allentown and Lehigh County history as well as a permanent exhibit about the First Defenders * A child-size Conestoga wagon * A full-scale replica Liberty Bell...that you can ring * Pip the Mouse * A 46 foot mural depicting the bells journey from Philadelphia to Allentown


text:
Free Free Converting Windows 98/Me/NT/2000/XP/2003/Vista/Server 2008/7/8 Version 1.0 Full Specs
Clicking on the Download Now (Visit Site) button above will open a connection to a third-party site. Download.com cannot completely ensure the security of the software hosted on third-party sites.
From Free Converting:
As the name suggests, the Free MKV Player lets users play MKV files. It is not easy to find such a player because the format is less popular when compared to many others. However, for all users who have a number of such files and are unable to enjoy them, this tool can prove to be very handy. It works well and ensures that the quality of the files that are played remains high so that users enjoy the experience. With a user friendly interface and clean layout, anyone can install and use this app without any assistance. The Free MKV Player also supports AVI, MP4, MPEG and a few other file types. So, just by having a single player, users can enjoy multiple media files of top quality. It is free of cost and there are no registrations required for the download. Once the software is installed onto the device, all those first - timers can refer to the guide and start using the player within no time. It is a simple tool that does not have any advanced features. The functionality is also very basic which allows users to play, stop, pause and mute files, to name a few. This Free MKV Player also enables users to control the volume of the files and has a full screen option. With the drag and drop function, it becomes even easier for users to add MKV files to the list. It even supports HD videos and hence, there is no loss to the quality of the files. As mentioned earlier, there are no advanced settings in the app and this is just for playing the MKV files without any interruptions. The Free MKV Player is even equipped to control the speed of the files being played.
show reviews


text:
Thunder forward James Harden underwent tests Monday following his concussion in the previous day's game against the Los Angeles Lakers and will be re-evaluated on Tuesday.
Harden participated in limited activities on Monday but must go through additional steps under the NBA's concussion policy before he is cleared to play again.
Harden dropped to the ground after taking a vicious backward elbow to the head from Metta World Peace after the Lakers' forward had dunked over two Thunder players late in the second quarter of Los Angeles' double-overtime win Sunday.
World Peace, who claims he accidentally clipped Harden while celebrating the dunk, faces discipline from the NBA as the regular season winds down and the Lakers prepare to open the playoffs this weekend.


text:
NatWest 'spam' email cockup got me slapped with late payment fee, says angry Reg reader
SPF update fail junks critical bank communications
NatWest customers should watch out for lost credit card statements as an IT cockup has been blamed for one Register reader getting smacked with a late payment fee.
A reader told The Reg how he was fined by NatWest for missing the regular payment on his credit card.
The reader, who wishes to remain anonymous, receives his NatWest statements via email. January's statement was dispatched as usual but wasn't received, so our reader missed his payment.
Instead, the statement was caught in the spam filters of his email service provider, Fluent.
Both Fluent and our reader blamed the errant email on fiddling within NatWest's email servers that resulted in the email being logged as spam.
Specifically, they claim NatWest's techies had changed the IP address of the mail servers that dispatch credit card statements and failed to also update their domain servers' Sender Policy Framework (SPF) records.
SPF is a policy framework used to protect against spam by detecting email spoofing.
A domain will declare attributes that describe their emails and declare them as an SPF record that is published to the domain name system. An SPF client program queries the SPF record to confirm the email has come from an authorised source. Google, Microsoft and other major email providers all recognise SPF.
Fluent's founding director Jonathan Gilpin, also a Reg reader, said his records indicate the IP addresses on NatWest servers changed on December 15, from 22.214.171.124 to 22.214.171.124. He discovered the change on January 2 and contacted NatWest's customer support to warn them they hadn't updated their SPF records.
Gilpin said he was transferred to a DNS team who logged the problem.
On January 10 he received an email response from NatWest's GIS Technology Services saying they could not act on the DNS problem because he's an outsider. According to their email, seen by The Reg, the problem could only be fixed if he contacted the business and they would then escalate it. "Once this goes through the channels they have suggested we will be able to resolve this," he was told.
The Reg contacted NatWest to find out the cause of the glitch, why it had taken so long to fix and whether it would take any steps to overhaul its procedures.
NatWest, though, was unable to respond beyond saying it does not use SPF.
Our reader has now urged fellow NatWest customers to check they received their credit card reminder emails for December and early January.
"If they didn't receive the reminder emails during this time, they should double-check that they are receiving them now," he said.
"The fee itself was a comparatively minor annoyance, but irritating nonetheless as I normally pay off my credit card shortly after receiving the reminder from the online banking system. The real annoyance was NatWest's refusal to deal with the problem." ®


text:
Ethel Merman's Birthplace.
That is, she was born in the house that stood precisely here. But where is here? And why didn't anyone know? And how do you know? These are all excellent questions.
First of all, why didn't anyone know? Well, as her biographer Caryl Flinn writes,
In both of her autobiographies, Merman says that she was born... at 359 Fourth Avenue, Astoria [Queens]. Several sources indicate a residence on 33rd Street; the official municipal record gives 265 Fourth Avenue, Long Island City [also Queens].... Sources vary on whether Merman grew up in her birth home or if the family moved when she was a girl.... In her first autobiography, she gives 2903 1st Avenue as the place where she grew up; in her second, 31st Avenue. Her biographer Bob Thomas claimed it was 359 Fourth Avenue.... Like the birth address, the record will never be set entirely straight.Well I feel confident I set them both straight. But her biographers shouldn't feel bad about not having figured out Ethel Merman's birthplace; indeed, Merman herself wasn't sure: "Since then they have changed the names of the streets in that section and I don't know what it is now called," she writes in her 1978 autobiography, Merman. As Flinn writes, "As early as 1950, Ethel went 'home' to search for her childhood house and couldn't find it."
First of all, the street name changes: these are easy to decipher; "Fourth Avenue" has been called 33rd Street since the 1920s. That was easy to figure out. But what about the number? Where was 359 Fourth Avenue? That was harder to figure out.
As it happens, I live on 35th Street, and I have walked on 33rd Street many times. Several of the old houses have their old addresses. Here's a picture, courtesy of the incomparable Forgotten NY:
So we see 512 Fourth Avenue is now 32-57 33rd Street and 510 Fourth Avenue is 32-59 33rd street. (In case you're wondering, they're between Broadway and 34th Avenue on the east side of the street.)
We learn several things from this. One is that even-numbered addresses were on the east side of the street. Another is that the numbers decrease as you go south. So 359 Fourth Avenue would have been several blocks south of Broadway, perhaps around today's 36th Avenue, on the west side of the street.
So then I did a little "archival research." In the federal censuses of 1910 and 1920 I found the (Zim)Merman family living at 359 Fourth Avenue, between Webster and Washington Avenues—that is, today's 37th and 36th Avenues. (I also found Ethel Merman's mother and grandmother living at the same address in 1900.) I know this block; the west side consists entirely of newer buildings. I thought that this was as far as I'd get. Then I noticed the east side of the street:
As you can see, there are three late-19th-century houses here. So I looked at this side of the street in the censuses, and found that there were indeed three houses on the east side of Fourth Avenue in the early 20th century: 354, 356, and 364.
Here's a view of the block in Google Earth:
You see that they fit perfectly. You can even count the lots where 358, 360, and 362 would have stood had they existed. This lets us triangulate that 359 would have stood across the street from 360. Which is now the right-hand side of the picture at the top of the post.
So that mystery is basically solved. As for the birth record that states she was born at 265 Fourth Avenue, I think that must be a mistake. The census records clearly show that the Zimmerman family was living at 359 Fourth Avenue when Ethel was born (in 1908), and Ethel repeatedly said she was born at home.
So what, then, of the question of whether she moved during childhood, and where to? Well, the 1930 census shows her and her family living at 29-08 31st Avenue. Thus it is clear they moved sometime during the 1920s (the building at 29-08 31st Avenue, an apartment building called the Windsor Garden, was built in 1927). At the very least this gives us a terminus post quem for the move to the Windsor Garden; whether or not there were other previous moves is a good question.
To quote Sarah Silverman, "Yeah, I'm proud of myself."


text:
Windows - Other
Sothink SWF Easy Latest + Serial
Download your torrents safely! And Anonymously!
Torrent info
Name:Sothink SWF Easy Latest + Serial
Infohash: E35B3DD19C2C98A6AD5DE4DDC633E362E0C39D55
Total Size: 25.73 MB
Magnet: Magnet Download
Seeds: 0
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Stream: Watch Full Movie @ Movie4u
Last Updated: 2015-01-31 21:36:42 (Update Now)
Torrent added: 2008-06-27 16:02:38
Alternatives:Sothink SWF Easy Latest + Serial Torrents
Torrent Files List
Chillin4Free.com.URL (Size: 25.73 MB) (Files: 3)
Chillin4Free.com.URL0.05 KB
Setup.exe25.73 MB
Sothink SWF serial.txt0.10 KB
Announce URL:
Torrent description
-- Fast and Easy Flash Animation Software --
An easy-to-use Flash animation software for all Flash fans, or green hands who want to make their own Flash album. Rich built-in resources enable you to easily create Flash banners, greeting cards and albums within clicks! Even an 8-year-old boy can make it!
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* Add motion path to elements in what you see is what you get mode.
* Get apply external Shapes, Images, Buttons, Sounds, Movie Clips, etc from SWF files unboundedly.
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* Transparency effect for a specified color in a shape filled with a bitmap.
* Lock/unlock an element alternatively to avoid making unnecessary changes repeatedly.
* Drag elements up or down in Timeline to change Z-order.
* Import existing vector graphics, such as AI, SVG, WMF/EMF and .gls, .glb, .glm.
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Support Platform
* Windows Vista
* Windows 98/Me/NT4.0/2000/XP/2003
related torrents
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Sothink swf easy v6 0 81107 bean0 6 30.00 MB 0
Sothink Swf Easy V6 3 Build 6300 0 0.00 KB 0


text:
Download electronic cigarette lead capture landing page design to sell your e-cigarette from https://www.buylandingpagedesign.com/landing-page-design/e-cigarette/
If you are looking for landing pages for promoting and selling your electronic cigarettes then we have several static as well as responsive landing page design which you can use to promote them and increase your leads.
Our easy to edit landing pages are highly converting and appealing to the visitors. You can purchase any landing page design you like directly from the website and get download link instantly.
You get 3 purchase options to purchase any landing page design you like.
Regular Purchase : If you want to use the landing page on one domain only then regular purchase is the best option for you.
Developer Purchase : If you plan to use the same landing page on upto 3 domains then you need to select the developer purchase option.
Continue reading Increase traffic and sales of your Electronic Cigarettes with converting landing pages


text:
State Rep. Tarah Toohil, R-Butler Township, wants the Pennsylvania Lottery to stay in the hands of Pennsylvanians.
"I was hoping if it would go to a lease, it would be to a Pennsylvania company and it would be Pennsylvania jobs," Toohil said.
She spoke Friday, a day after state Attorney General Kathleen Kane disapproved a contract to manage the lottery that Gov. Tom Corbett negotiated with a British firm, Camelot Global Services.
Kane said Camelot intended to boost profits by adding keno and online games, which she said aren't authorized by the state's lottery act. Also Kane said the management contract cuts into the authority of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board and infringes on the Legislature's power to make decisions regarding the lottery.
"I agreed with her statement on involvement of the Legislature," Toohil said.
Corbett said he was deeply disappointed by Kane's decision. On Saturday he extended the contract by a week while deciding his next move.
He could appeal Kane's decision in court, and Toohil said the governor might bring a revised plan before the Legislature.
The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees that represents lottery workers filed a lawsuit to block the contract earlier.
In the contract, Camelot Global Services agreed to pay the state $34 billion while managing the lottery for 20 years.
In 2011-2012, people paid $3.48 billion for lottery tickets, according to the budget the governor proposed for 2013-2014. Deducting prizes and commissions of $1.965 billion left earnings of $1.515 billion for the year.
Corbett in his budget for the next fiscal year proposed adding $50 million from lottery proceeds to programs that help senior citizens.
The 2011-2012 budget said the lottery paid for $952 million of programs for senior citizens.
That included $284 million for rebates on rent and property taxes and $275 million for services provided to seniors in their homes and the community. Another $225 million subsidized prescription drugs, and $168 million allowed older Pennsylvanians to ride on mass transit for free or at reduced fares.
Camelot, which operates the British national lottery and advises lotteries in California and Illinois, seeks to increase earnings in Pennsylvania by adding keno and online games.
Keno would spread gradually through Pennsylvania; 500 restaurants and taverns that have lottery machines would get the game first, according to a proposal outlined by the Corbett administration.
Several states offer keno, in which players try to select winners from a pool of 80 numbers.
In Ohio, players can buy tickets for drawings that are held every four minutes for more than 20 hours a day.
AFSCME said union workers now employed by the lottery could add games and expand profits at less cost than Camelot could.
Toohil noted an irony first pointed out by Politically Uncorrected columnists G. Terry Madonna of Franklin & Marshall College and Michael Young.
Camelot, a British firm, is owned by the Ontario Teachers' Pension Fund of Canada.
Through the contract that Corbett negotiated, the Canadian teachers fund could earn income from Pennsylvania, while Pennsylvania seeks ways to reduce the unfunded liability of its pension funds for teachers and other state employees.
firstname.lastname@example.com 570-455-3636


text:
A management plan for the world's largest inland delta was launched on World Wetlands Day.
The Okavango Delta Management Plan was officially unveiled in Maun, Botswana, on February 2, 2008, with officials from Angola, Namibia and Botswana.
Botswanan Environment Minister the Hon. Onkokame Kitso Makaila led the celebration and noted the important role IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) played in supporting the process. IUCN was the inspiration for the plan in 1995 and supported the process from 2002 until its culmination.
The Okavango Delta irrigates more than 15,000 km2 of arid lands in southern Africa. It straddles the borders of Angola, Namibia and Botswana and is the largest Ramsar site in the world.
The Okavango Delta Management Plan is the result of a broad process that included concerns of all stakeholders in the region. Part of the launch included a technical session reviewing the plan.
Chair of IUCN's Commission on Ecosystem Management Hillary Masundire was pleased to report to participants that the plan was a good example of application of the ecosystem approach.
Botswana has a 2016 vision for sustainability and they hope to use the Okavango Delta Management Plan as a model for supporting resources in other parts of the country such as the Makgadikgadi Pans.
Minister Makaila noted that tourism income from the delta represented almost 10% of the national GDP and was therefore an integral part of the economy. He emphasized how important environmental management would be to the future of the country.
For more information please contact:
Sarah Halls, IUCN Media Relations Officer, Tel; +41 22 999 0127;
Mobile: +41 79 528 34 86; Email: [email protected]; Web: www.iucnbot.bw/ODMP/


text:
Pigeon Auction: Suburban Secrets
Driving the bleak stretches of highway to south-western Sydney to see "Pigeon Auction" at the Casula Powerhouse, an arts centre housed in a post-industrial relic between a polluted river and a railway line, I had time to reflect on the curatorial premise for the show. An examination of 'suburban subcultures' is fertile ground for contemporary art. I was intrigued to see how a coherent narrative could[…..]


text:
Double Sided Teardrop Flags!
Stock Double Sided Laser Cut 3D Flag Kit. The 3D Laser Cut technology creates the illusion of the product jumping out of the flag. With double sewn edges the image is read perfectly from both sides. Kit comes with 3-D Double Sided Flag, Poles and your choice of base. Great for Dealerships, Restaurants, Events and more!
Note: Quantity discounts will be calculated when our sales associate processes your order and will reflect on your final invoice.
Thanks for using SDW for your Auto Dealer Supplies, Marketing Materials, Balloons, Banners, Drop Boxes, Flags, Forms & Folders, Hang Tags, Key Tags, As Is Buyers Guides, License Plate Frames, License Plates, Windshield Numbers and all your Dealer Products.


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Jennifer Love Hewitt's "Fearless" Agent and a Jane Lynch Return? 7 Teases for Criminal Minds Season 10
Sep 30, 2014 5:19 PM EDT
Erica Messer can't think of a more perfect day for Criminal Minds to turn 10."Episode 10.1 airs on 10/1. How cool is that?" Messer tells TVGuide.com. "It wasn't planned. We didn't know that until we started back up and we were well in the swing of th… Read more


text:
Custom last name license plate sign.
All sales final. No refunds, exchanges or returns.
If there is a problem with your order, please contact within 3 days of delivery and I will do our best to resolve issue.
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Please Enter a Valid Zip or Postal Code


text:
Back in 1997, former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein supposedly commissioned a copy of the Qur'an, the Islamic holy book, to be written in his blood. He reportedly donated 27 liters for the project.
Two years later, the project was completed. Hussein said the book was his tribute to God because his son survived an assasination attempt.
And now, after the fall of Saddam, no one knows what to do with the book.
An Iraqi citizen summarized the dilemma to UK's The Guardian back in 2010. On one hand, it's illegal to write the Qur'an in blood. But it's also illegal to destroy the Holy Book:
"On one flank had been the government, doing all it could to prevent access. The Shia-led regime is highly sensitive to the re-emergence of any symbols that might lionise the remnants of the Ba'athist rank and file, which still orchestrates bombings and assassinations every few days.
And then there are the Sunnis themselves, who are fearful of government retribution if they open the doors and of divine disapproval if they treat this particularly gruesome volume of the Qur'an with the reverence of a holy book."
Right now, the book is displayed page by page in an Iraqi museum.
It's also estimated that the book is worth "millions of dollars," the Guardian reported.
So far, it still exists.