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DC Comics storms the film world
'Flash,' 'Green Lantern' among adaptations in worksIn the comics universe, where characters are endlessly reborn and re-outfitted, a motto from the 1980s -- "DC Comics is on the move" -- could just as well apply to the current, hyperactive state of the publisher as it relates to Hollywood.
A year after "The Dark Knight" became a worldwide phenomenon, there are more DC Comics adaptations in the works than at any other point since the company was acquired by Warner Bros. in 1969.
Among the projects on front burners:
-- "The Losers," an action-adventure drama starring Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Zoe Saldana and Chris Evans, begins principal photography this week in Puerto Rico.
-- "Jonah Hex," a supernatural Western starring Josh Brolin, Megan Fox and John Malkovich, recently wrapped production in Louisiana.
-- "The Green Lantern," Warners' next big superhero tentpole, is set to star Ryan Reynolds after a long search.
-- Fox has picked up the TV series "Human Target," starring Mark Valley, for the fall.
-- And, in a rare example of a film project that has ventured off the Warners reservation, DC has set up "Red," a spy thriller to star Bruce Willis, at Summit.
"One of the things that has differentiated us for most of the last 20 years is the depth of our library and the depth of the creative material that we've put out and the opportunities that creates for other media," DC Comics president Paul Levitz said.Still, when "Dark Knight" invaded theaters last summer, critics of DC and Warners complained there didn't appear to be a grand strategy in place to exploit DC properties.
In contrast, DC arch-rival Marvel moved quickly in the wake of its successful "Iron Man" to stake out a series of release dates for a slew of movies, branding them as part of one big Marvel universe leading to "The Avengers," which arrives in 2012.
But DC and Warners have taken a different approach, arguing that DC has a wider breadth of books than other comics companies. They insist their situation isn't comparable to Marvel, which already has licensed out to other studios a number of its biggest titles: Spider-Man is housed at Sony, and X-Men and Fantastic Four are at Fox.
With fewer marquee superheroes, Marvel works like an animation studio: It only develops select projects and makes most of what it develops, while DC is managing a much larger portfolio.
Still, in the wake of "Dark Knight," DC and Warners have made strategic moves in the superhero realm, including centralizing the way DC's titles and characters are developed. In the past, Warners optioned a property, paying DC a fee comparable to what a property could command on the open market. But while the projects ostensibly were being developed under one roof, many were spread out over a host of producers, each with different visions for how to approach each adaptation.
To bring competing approaches into sync, Levitz and DC's Los Angeles-based film exec Gregory Noveck have overseen a reorganization of the development slate. While Warners execs still drive the creative side, DC now has more input, making it an actual participant in the shaping of material.
"The creative process is by and large a true partnership," Noveck said. "They'll ask us a ton of questions, and we'll give a ton of answers. We will talk back and forth. We'll discuss writers and talent, but ultimately it's their decision."
This past fall, Warners quietly hired three of DC's biggest writers -- Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison and Marv Wolfman -- to act as consultants and writers for its superhero line of movies. The move involved taking back the reins on projects being handled by such producers as Charles Roven ("The Flash") and Akiva Goldsman ("Teen Titans").
Some agents and scribes grumbled about being forced to work with the consultants, never mind that Johns started his career as a assistant to "Superman" director Richard Donner or that Wolfman has worked in animation since the 1980s.
The moves have begun to pay off. Johns worked up a new treatment for a "Flash" script, being written by Dan Mazeau; Johns will act in a producer capacity on the project, which has not attached a director.
The projects Morrison and Wolfman are working on are in the early stages at Warners, whose execs declined to comment.
The process involves one writer taking point, though the trio do collaborate on projects, reading one another's materials while hashing out a story that will be at once accessible to nonfans yet still adhere to each character's long history. The writers also work in tandem with producers, writers and the Warners execs overseeing the projects, showing them treatments and providing notes on scripts.
Meanwhile, other superhero projects are moving forward at Warners.
The studio is taking pitches on sci-fi hero Adam Strange and the underwater-breathing hero "Aquaman," to be produced by Leonardo DiCaprio and his Appian Way shingle.
Also in the pipeline: "Bizarro Superman" being developed by "Galaxy Quest" team Dean Parisot and Robert Gordon; a sequel to "Constantine," with Goldsman, Lauren Shuler Donner and Erwin Stoff producing; two concurrent Green Arrow projects, an origin story and a prison-set one titled "Super Max"; and "Shazam," which was set up at New Line but has moved to Warners, with Pete Segal attached to direct.
Unsung in the lineup is Warners' line of straight-to-DVD animated movies released via Warner Premiere. "Green Lantern: First Flight," the latest entry, will premiere at this week's Comic-Con and has a July 28 street date.
These movies, produced on budgets in the $3.5 million range, apparently overperformed their targets. "First Flight" is the fifth straight-to-DVD title, with "Superman/Batman: Public Enemies" in production for a Sept. 29 release.
In the home entertainmentarena, DC has overshadowed Marvel, with 2007's "Superman-Doomsday" generating $9.4 million in revenue and last year's "Batman: Gotham Knight," taking advantage of the tidal wave of support for the Christopher Nolan movie, generating $8 million, according to tracking site The-Numbers.com. "Wonder Woman," released in March, already has chalked up $4.4 million. Marvel's top seller, "Ultimate Avengers 2," has pulled in $7.7 million.
Not that all the stars in the DC firmament are aligned yet.
Warners and DC still haven't figured out how to translate "Wonder Woman" to the big screen. In part, that failure reflects the difficulties DC has had turning out a popular Wonder Women comic. Morrison, during a recent Q&A with Clive Barker at Los Angeles' Meltdown Comics, admitted he didn't have a complete handle on the character when he was writing the comic "Final Crisis."
Also, ever since Bryan Singer's 2006's "Superman Returns," a new Superman has been in limbo.
"Our hope is to develop a Superman property and to try again," Warner Bros. Entertainment president Alan Horn said in April. "What hurt us is that the reviews and so on for the Superman movie did not get the kind of critical acclaim that Batman got, and we have other issues with Superman that concern us."
On the Batman front, a sequel to "Dark Knight" also is quite a way off. Nolan is open to doing a third installment, but his next movie is "Inception," an original script he penned and is shooting for Warners.
All that has put a damper on any movie about the Justice League, whose roster includes the above-mentioned heroes as well as myriad others including Aquaman and the Martian Manhunter. DC would like to present some of the main heroes in their own movies before they are brought together for one big outing, so "League" currently is inactive.
On top of that, there could be another change in how Warners approaches the DC characters, with studio chiefs debating whether to put the operation under one super-exec.
To bring the next generation of superheroes to the screen, DC and Warners might yet have to unleash their own super powers.


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ZeroZanzibar wrote:
And, toasters get all kinds of food the toaster maker never dreamed of. They don't get to control what Kellogg's decides to put into Pop Tarts.
But The toaster maker does enforce the requirement that Kellogg's makes Pop Tarts in the general shape and size of toast. Not in any other form factor.
Sorry, don't really have an ax to grind in this argument, but if you're going to perpetuate a weak analogy, you have to take it all the way.

subset: commoncrawl


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If this poll from Public Policy Polling is any indication, a fair number of Republicans have convinced themselves Barack Obama won re-election with fraud and other nefarious efforts:
49% of GOP voters nationally say they think that ACORN stole the election for President Obama. We found that 52% of Republicans thought that ACORN stole the 2008 election for Obama, so this is a modest decline, but perhaps smaller than might have been expected given that ACORN doesn't exist anymore.
Kevin Drum calls this evidence of the "Fox News effect"—the process by which conservative propaganda outlets convince their viewers of things that just aren't true—but I think there's a better, more charitable explanation. In short, a large number of Republicans don't like President Obama, and when offered a chance to endorse something that signals that dislike, they did it, even if the "something" is absolutely insane.
I doubt that—if you pressed respondents on their answers—49 percent would say that the election was stolen. But if I'm wrong, we have a serious crisis of political legitimacy on our hands.


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Johnson & Johnson Earnings: Can Pharma Keep Stoking Growth?
On Tuesday, Johnson & Johnson will release its quarterly report, and shareholders have been pleased with the stock's ascent to all-time record levels recently. Despite Johnson & Johnson having a wide array of health-care-related businesses spanning medical devices and consumer over-the-counter products, the company has emphasized the growth potential of its pharmaceutical unit. By doing so, Johnson & Johnson seeks to tap into the same trends that have helped peers Pfizer and Merck start reversing the effects of their patent cliffs and bolster their future prospects.
Johnson & Johnson has a global reputation in the health-care space, with well-known products like its Band-Aid and Tylenol brands in millions of household medicine cabinets. Yet the pharmaceutical space has seemed to have the most promise for J&J lately, with a number of high-potential drugs in its pipeline that could help boost revenue for years to come. Let's take an early look at what's been happening with Johnson & Johnson over the past quarter and what we're likely to see in its report.
Stats on Johnson & Johnson
Analyst EPS Estimate
Change From Year-Ago EPS
Revenue Estimate
$18.86 billion
Change From Year-Ago Revenue
Earnings Beats in Past 4 Quarters
Can Johnson & Johnson earnings surpass expectations again?
In recent months, investors have boosted their views on Johnson & Johnson earnings, raising estimates for the second quarter by 2% and full-year projections for this year and next by about 1%. The stock has kept up its climb, gaining almost 9% since early April.
Johnson & Johnson's first-quarter earnings report continued the company's recent trend of getting growth primarily from its pharmaceutical division. Pharma sales jumped 11%, compared to relatively flat performance in the medical-device area and a slight decline of 3% in consumer-products sales. In particular, the performances of arthritis and psoriasis treatment Stelara and prostate-cancer drug Zytiga were extremely strong, with sales gains of 32% and 49% respectively compared to year-ago levels. High margins on prescription drugs helped send net income up almost 8%.
Yet one thing that Johnson & Johnson can count on in the pharma arena is competition. J&J's Invokana treatment for diabetes has enjoyed early success, and given the size of the diabetes market, it could easily become a blockbuster in time. Yet Merck and Pfizer have worked to develop their own version of a treatment that inhibits the SGLT2 protein, with ertugliflozin in phase 3 trials. Other companies are working at other diabetes treatments that could potentially endanger Johnson & Johnson's position in the space.
Johnson & Johnson hasn't given up on hopes for growth in other areas, though. In May, the company said that it still sees medical devices as a growth industry, especially in emerging markets around the world. Yet rather than simply expanding for expansion's sake, Johnson & Johnson expects to make targeted forays into areas where it can get the best results, with its current emphasis on surgical instruments and orthopedics likely to continue, combined with some tactical plays in other high-value areas like diabetes insulin-management equipment. In contrast to Merck and Pfizer, though, it seems unlikely that J&J will join the recent string of massive buyout offers just to make its business bigger.
One thing investors need to focus on with Johnson & Johnson is its valuation. J&J has a reputation as being a defensive stock, appropriate for those looking to reduce risk in a choppy market. Yet the stock's record run has pushed its trailing earnings multiple above 20, and even its 2.7% dividend yield won't necessarily provide the same level of downside protection that the health-care stalwart has in past markets when its valuation wasn't quite as high.
In the Johnson & Johnson earnings report, watch to see how much of the company's growth again relies on pharmaceuticals. At some point, if the other businesses can't catch up, then Johnson & Johnson will likely see pressure to restructure itself and possibly spin off underperforming businesses into separate companies. With the share price so high, J&J doesn't have much margin for error in its report.
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The article Johnson & Johnson Earnings: Can Pharma Keep Stoking Growth? originally appeared on Fool.com.Dan Caplinger has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends and owns shares of Johnson & Johnson. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
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OneTexFan offered a recap and his takes on the Titans game. So a big thanks to you onetexfan!!
~ Crimedog
In this past offseason there was mention of another NFL wannabee that could have been signed to replace or even back up good old reliable number 8. Seriously folks? With that in mind, welcome to another Sunday with the Houston Texans, starring Matt Schaub, as he delivers yet another earful to the NFL. And it's "old man" Andre Johnson still in the thick of things in the victory. Kudos to all the righteous Texans' fans for keeping the faith!
Dare I say it, …again, …"Watt a game!" Should I say, "Beastly?" Out of the starting gate the Texans controlled the tone of the game. But after that sack and devastating hit on Titans QB Jake Locker the complexion of the battle changed. The veteran Matt Hasselbeck stepped in for the injured 2nd year Draftee, which instantly added much needed leadership to the Titans.
That did not deter the "Bulls on Parade".
Who was it that scored the first Texans Touchdown? Was it the Full Back named James Casey, or was it the Tight End also named James Casey? Two positions for the price of one. Just who was it that came up with the idea of using a player like this? The year isn't over yet, but his efforts are deserving of applause.
On Defense it was time for Brooks Reed to try a JJ s'Watt immitation. Brian Cushing almost had one against Peyton Manning, but JJ s'Watt remains the master. This is written to try to get McNair's attention: Hey Bob! How 'bout stocking the gates at Reliant with at least 80,000 s'Watters for the home crowd? You can color them Battle Red, ok?
Coach Kubiak was 'Johnny-on-the-spot' with his challenge after the Texans first fourth down conversion attempt. And his challenge prevailed with the Texans maintaining possesion after Keshawn Martin's diving effort noses the football across the 1st down plane.
Soon after this point in the game Offensive Lineman Antoine Caldwell left the field. It appeared that his leg was bent backward, but the latest report was that he sustained an ankle injury on the play. Get well soon!
Kevin Walter had a phantom penalty called on him early in the 3rd quarter. It was called as a cut-back block. C'mon man, he didn't even touch the guy. (Sometimes these officials just…, er…, they do a good job don't they?)
High praises for Safety, Danieal Manning, on securing that 55 yard Interception for a Touchdown to give the Texans a 21-7 lead.
Tight End Owen Daniels was well on his way to accumulating 72 yards for the game with a 28 yard pass completion by Matt Schaub. That score put the Texans ahead of the Titans 28-7.
Congratulations are due for Kareem Jackson on keeping his eyes squarely on the ball during a well defensed pass attempt from Matt Hasselback with 1:36 left in the 3rd quarter.
The Titans converted on a fourth down attempt with 8 minutes left in the game, but promptly had a fumble that was forced by Antonio Smith. The fumble was recovered by JJ Watt! (Defensive Player Of The Week?…again?)
With 5:18 left in the fourth quarter, Shayne Graham puts his good leg forward again by adding 3 more points to the total for a healthy 31-7 lead.
Shortly after the Field Goal Texans' Cornerback Kareem Jackson Intercepted a Matt Hasselbeck pass for 63 yards. This would be more icing on the cake.
The rest of the game was an exercise in garbage time management as the Titans notched 7 more points onto the scoreboard.
The Victory goes into the record book with the Texans holding the ball for 32:26.
Monday Night Football
October 8th, 2012
Houston Texans
@ NY Jets
MetLife Stadium
On ESPN


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Human rights law expert Christine Chinkin will present a lecture on Monday, March 31, at Wayne State University Law School about alleged human rights violations by the United Nations interim administration in Kosovo.
The lecture, "An Experiment in United Nations Accountability: The Kosovo Human Rights Advisory Panel," is set for 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. in the Spencer M. Partrich Auditorium at Wayne Law, 471 W. Palmer St. The event is free and open to the public, and lunch will be provided. To register, email firstname.lastname@example.com. Parking will be available in Structure One across West Palmer Street from the law school for $6.50 (credit and debit cards only).
The lecture is presented by Wayne Law's Program for International Legal Studies.
Chinkin is a professor of international law at the London School of Economics and Political Science and a barrister. She has been a member of the Kosovo Human Rights Advisory Panel since 2010, and in that connection, also carries out research on the application of human rights standards by UN missions. The panel was established in 2006 to investigate individual complaints of alleged human rights violations committed by or attributable to the UN interim administration in Kosovo.
With H. Charlesworth, Chinkin won the American Society of International Law 2005 Goler T. Butcher Medal for outstanding contributions to the development of international human rights law. She is an overseas affiliated faculty member of the University of Michigan, has been a scholar in residence for Amnesty International and is editor of the American Journal of International Law. Chinkin is widely published on topics of human rights law and other aspects of international law.
Published: Wed, Mar 26, 2014


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August 2004
I like trees because they seem more resigned to the way they have to live than other things do. (Willa Cather, O Pioneers!, 1913)
A pathway encourages public enjoyment of a forest . Photographer: Mr Lob, Creative Commons
A new century of environmental consciousness is dawning. Under the pressures of explosive human population growth, our planet's natural communities are shriveling rapidly. They are shrinking on all sides because of the expansion of agriculture, urbanization, damming, forest fragmentation, contaminants into water tables, road building, and even more indirect human impacts such as the invasion by exotic species and the distribution of genetic crops.1 In Nepal, ecotourists flock to hike one of the remaining wilderness regions on the planet, but these hikers have stripped the landscape bare of sticks and twigs for fuel and left trash that spoils the experience for future visitors. In the Galapagos, the burgeoning number of visitors strains these sensitive and fragile islands. The impact of these visitors, manifested by disease, fire, and theft, has altered the natural balance of the island ecosystems. In the last decade, approximately 20 of the 230 species of plants face immediate extinction, and another 10 are thought to be extinct.2 In contrast, I have witnessed the salvation of exploited tropical regions by the interests of conservation and the economy of ecotourism working collectively.
What is ecotourism?
Ecotourism is loosely defined as nature-based tourist experiences, whereby visitors travel to regions for the sole purpose of appreciating their natural beauty. As early as 1965, responsible tourism was defined:3
- respects local culture
- optimizes benefits to local people
- minimizes environmental impacts
- maximizes visitor satisfaction
The first formal definition, coining the term "ecotourism," was published in 1987: "traveling to relatively undisturbed or uncontaminated natural areas with the specific objective of studying, admiring, and enjoying the scenery and its wild plants and animals, as well as any existing cultural manifestations (both past and present) found in these areas." 4,5 Subsequently, many other definitions have arisen.6-11
Ecotourism probably had its foundations in the ethics of conservation, but its recent surge has certainly been due to its economic benefits as developing countries begin to recognize that nature-based tourism offers a means of earning money with relatively little exploitation or extraction of resources. It is this economic incentive, perhaps more than the consciousness of human ethics, that has given rise to the global expansion of environmentally responsible tourism activities.
The objectives of ecotourism are to provide a nature-based, environmental education experience for visitors and to manage this in a sustainable fashion. As forests become logged, as streams become polluted, and as other signs of human activity become ubiquitous, the requirements of a true ecotourism experience are increasingly difficult to fulfill. To compensate for the "invasion" of human disturbance, ecotourism has promoted the educational aspects of the experience. Examples include opportunities to work with scientists to collect field data in a remote wilderness (e.g., Earthwatch) or travel with a naturalist to learn the secrets of a tropical rain forest (e.g., Smithsonian Institution travel trips). Environmental education serves to provide information about the natural history and culture of a site; it also promotes a conservation ethic that may infuse tourists with stronger pro-environmental attitudes.
Types of ecotourism
In most cases, ecotourism follows two important principles of sustainability:12
- to promote conservation of the natural ecosystems
- to support local economies
These underlying principles are the pillars that will provide a lasting basis for ecotourism and will also create sound economic support for the conservation of natural resources. They provide ultimately competitive reasons for the expansion of ecotourism above and beyond other types of leisure activities. A challenge arises, however, when ecotourism becomes successful, in the sense that too many tourists destroy the reason for success. In the case of ecotourism, as different from many other marketed products in our Western economy, economic success is a matter of limiting supply no matter how much the demand.
In a decade, this type of recreation has burgeoned to include many different intensities and levels of experiences, ranging from extreme rock climbing to nature journaling at a luxury mountain resort.5 There is soft versus hard ecotourism, alluding to the physical rigor of the conditions experienced by the visitors. Trekking on the Inca Trail is much more rigorous than taking a train or bus to Machu Picchu and staying in the lodge. There are arguments over the natural versus unnatural versions of ecotourism; in other words, proponents of ecotourism believe that humans are part of nature and that their impact is part of the natural process, whereas critics of ecotourism maintain that people simply should not visit natural areas because they invariably degrade them.
Ecotourism in, say, the Grand Canyon can be
- passive, such as viewing the canyon
- active, such as rafting down the Colorado River
- exploitive, such as staying in the lodge on the rim of the canyon
Ecotourism can also be
- mass tourism, where optimization of income is the most important factor, and expanding programs are measures of success
- alternative tourism, where environmental sustainability and limiting the number of tourists are the most important measures of success
Increasing popularity of ecotourism
Since Thomas Cook began the world's first travel agency in 1841,13 the number of people who enjoy organized travel has continued to increase. Today, an estimated 1.6 billion people from all cultures and all walks of life participate in different kinds of tourism, spending over $2 trillion.3 On a global scale, ecotourism is growing because of its international appeal. Costs have decreased. Mass media have also popularized the notion of nature travel, especially through television networks such as National Geographic, Discovery, and Animal Planet and associated magazines or videos. Tourists recognize that if they travel with sensitivity to the environment, they will not only contribute to conservation but also become educated about a new habitat, country, or culture.
Some countries have established eco-labels or certification for authentic nature-based tourism, such as Green Globe (international) or Committed to Green (Europe). This enhances the credibility of an experience for tourists who come to know specific reputable names. In contrast, some events in certain countries may impact tourism negatively, such as the recent bombing in Bali or the reputation of drug trafficking in Colombia. Exotic countries with stable governments, such as Belize, are the true beneficiaries of ecotourism and stand in contrast to some of their neighbors who cannot offer the same reliability of ecotourist experience. As politics continue to affect our ability (or lack thereof) to travel, regional tourism will be significantly impacted by government policies related to stability.
Global impacts on forest conservation
The following are three case studies that have assisted forest conservation:
- aerial tram in Costa Rica
- canopy walkway in Savai'i, Western Samoa
- canopy walkway and tower in Florida, USA
The Rain Forest Aerial tram, in Costa Rica
Many people see Costa Rica as a shining example of conservation, but it is neither better nor worse than many countries.14
- Banana cultivators, lumber harvesters, and farmers are stripping the lowlands of rainforest trees.
- Costa Rica has proportionally less rain forest left than many other tropical countries. In fact, only a few islands of relatively untouched lowland Caribbean rain forest remain. Less than 10 percent of Costa Rica's forests are national parks.
- Both the national park service and FUNDECOR, a nonprofit organization devoted to the conservation of national parks, acknowledge there is not enough money to protect the national parks and their boundaries from encroachment and destruction.14
- At the current rate, forests outside of park lands will only last 5 to 10 years in this country that supposedly represents the bastion of conservation in Latin America.10
The aerial tram had its origin in Don Perry's efforts to devise tree-climbing techniques for scientific investigation. After experiencing the limitations of single-rope techniques, he realized that to study the canopy effectively, researchers need a vehicle for access. In 1983, Perry teamed up with the engineering expert John Williams, and together they created the Automated Web for Canopy Exploration (AWCE) at Rara Avis in Costa Rica. This vehicle can carry scientists from ground level to above the treetops through approximately 22,000 cubic meters of forest.
After the AWCE was built, Perry and Williams designed the Rain Forest Aerial Tram, which was located closer to San Jose and more suitable for ecotourists.
- It occupies a 1.3 km route through pristine lowland rain forest.
- Twenty-four cars each hold up to six people, including one guide.
- The cars are attached to a cable that rotates around two end stations; the system is actually a converted ski lift.
- Approximately 70 people per hour are carried through the canopy, representing approximately 40,000 visitors per year.10
According to Perry,14 the site operated with enough profit to grant local school groups free admission. Displays at the site educate visitors about the tropical rain forest canopy and its inhabitants. This site is the first of its type worldwide, but more aerial trams and canopy walkways are now in operation in other countries such as Australia, Peru, and the United States.
Canopy walkway in Savai'i, Western Samoa
Paul Cox, internationally recognized ethnobotanist, has worked for many decades on the islands of the South Pacific. In particular, Cox spent many years in the village of Falealupo on the island of Savai'i. He befriended the village healer, a wonderful botanist named Pele, who taught him how Samoans use their local plants as an apothecary. In the early 1990s, Cox and I worked on an ecotourism project that we hope serves as a model for the application of ecotourism to conservation in the South Pacific.
The forest provides all the needs of the village—spiritual, economic, biological— and had done so for many generations.
- Island ecosystems are chance events because the combination of species collects by means of drift, wind, and bird dispersal. Savai'i has unusual diversity for an island ecosystem.
- The villagers depend on the forest for everything: food, clothing, medicines, and homes.
- The forests even nurture island ancestors whose spirits are embodied in the flying foxes (Pteropus samoensis) that live and breed within the forest.
The village was offered a large sum of money in exchange for logging rights to its forest. The chiefs were not happy about the proposal but they needed to pay for reconstruction after a devastating monsoon. Paul Cox had a novel suggestion for the chiefs: What about developing ecotourism to bring in a cash economy while managing the forest sustainably? He suggested a canopy walkway to attract tourists, who would in turn pay for the privilege of walking in the treetops of Samoa. A loan was obtained, and some generous seed money was provided from Seacology Foundation in the United States.
Two research associates and I, representing Canopy Construction Associates, joined Cox for a reconnaissance trip to determine the feasibility of an ecotourism walkway in Falealupo. After many hours of discussion with locals, it was agreed that an enormous emergent fig would represent the center of all construction, from which bridges spanning the forest could be built to adjacent trees. We measured and mapped the area to gather all of the pertinent information required to construct the canopy walkway several thousand miles away. One of the drawbacks to construction in developing countries is that it is impossible to ask for new measurements or to get something checked in the field. In this case, we needed to estimate carefully all supplies and equipment coming from the United States.
Canopy Construction Associates handed the job over to another, smaller construction team, Kevin Jordan and Stephanie Hughes, who were willing to build a simple platform around the fig tree and take on the risks of weather, financial liability, and lost or damaged equipment. The end result was a walkway that contributes to the economy of the village of Falealupo in a sustainable fashion and ensures the conservation of the forest for future generations.
Canopy walkway and tower in Florida, USA
In the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota, Florida, a handicapped-accessible canopy walkway was constructed in 1998; and in Myakka River State Park just outside Sarasota, a public canopy walkway and tower, open 24 hours a day to the public, opened in June 2000. Both of these projects came from public funding and awareness of the importance of bringing people into forests.
The botanical gardens walkway was the inspiration of a local builder, Michael Walker and Associates. Walker modeled his construction after the children's book, The Most Beautiful Roof in the World by Kathryn Lasky.15 Walker carefully built a child-friendly structure according to Americans with Disabilities Act regulations, so that anyone—in a wheelchair, with a stroller, or with a walker—can enjoy the treetops. Delegates in wheelchairs cut the ribbon, officially opening the walkway. Many tears of joy were shed by these wheelchair-bound adults who had always dreamed of climbing a tree.
At Myakka River State Park, I worked with a community leadership team to design and raise money for a public canopy walkway. The Myakka walkway
- spans 100 feet and includes a 70-foot tower that rises above the canopy
- has increased visitorship to the park by 42 percent in three years
- has become exemplary throughout Florida and beyond.
People from all over the country have learned about forests from the interpretive signage along the walkway. More importantly, they have also gained an appreciation for the beauty and value of forests in our daily lives.
Over the past five years, Sarasota County has continued to purchase and add parcels of environmentally sensitive lands to their system as part of a long-term vision of developing recreation and nature-based tourism in some of these natural lands. This unique land acquisition scheme, coupled with innovative public-private partnerships to operate ecotourism activities, is still in its infancy, but it is destined to become a national model for bringing the public into contact with natural landscapes. Canopy walkways are just one way to engage people's interest in these natural areas; the goal is to connect people to nature in their own back yards.
Ecotourism, in partnership with research, has the potential to significantly affect forest conservation in many positive ways. The question of sustainability remains unanswered because many sites with nature-based tourism are relatively new and the long-term impacts have yet to be measured. The challenges of removing trash from remote wilderness lodges, of bringing in electricity with low-impact electric wires, or of minimizing the introduction of exotic species require the test of time to determine their success.
In the not-too-distant future, our wilderness areas will be small islands of biodiversity amidst seas of domesticated landscape. As the planet's natural, relatively unaltered ecosystems become increasingly rare, ecotourism allows more people to see our isolated populations of wildlife, while benefiting local economies. Ecotourism has an impact on natural ecosystems, but more importantly, it offers a way to promote conservation in ecologically fragile regions.
© 2004, American Institute of Biological Sciences. Educators have permission to reprint articles for classroom use; other users, please contact email@example.com for reprint permission. See reprint policy.


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Last year, we talked you through some surprising selling points - housing hot-buttons that can get your home sold, stat, like having a Trader Joe's market nearby. There's so much information on the web these days about how to stage a home and create compelling curb appeal, that you might think you know all you need to on the subject. Just when you thought you'd mastered the matter, we thought we'd brief you on 5 more things that can get your home sold, some or all of which might never have occurred to you. 1. Your neighbors. Most homeowners contemplating selling their homes understand the importance of well-kept neighboring homes. Many a buyer has pulled up to an amazing house, viewed it, and left shaking their head with woe because they just can't cotton to buying the place on account of the shoulder-high weeds, car in the yard or crumbling ruins of the house next door. On the flip side, your neighbors themselves - not just the homes, but the people - can actually help sell your home. Many homeowners know people who want to live in their neck of the woods; this is one reason many seasoned real estate professionals hold their listings open to neighbors and send out postcards to neighbors announcing the listing - the neighbors might know people who are interested in your home! Also, neighbors who are out and about chatting with each other, laughing and playing with their kids, mowing their lawns or painting their fences, or even who just offer a smile and helpful area knowledge to the buyer-to-be they pass on the street can make a very favorable impression on prospective buyers. It's a good idea, if and when you decide to list your home for sale, to touch base with neighbors you know and let them know; it's in their best interests to get good new neighbors, so they might be able to go the extra mile in showing the neighborhood's biggest asset - themselves - off to its best advantage. 2. The right sights, smells and sounds. It's no news flash that the view of a used car lot; stinky foods or animal smells; and the siren song of a fire station next door could be deal-killers. What might surprise is some of the right sights, smells and sounds that can help seal the sale of your home. My experience has been - agents, chime in here! - that the more natural beautiful sights, smells and sounds are, the more favorably they'll be received by the largest population of prospective buyers. For example, playing a soundtrack of classical musical is fine, but will cause some skeptical buyers to wonder what noises you might be trying to cover up - especially if you're in a condo or other potentially thin-walled property where neighbor noise might be an issue. On the other hand, birdsong can be attractive to some buyers. Artificial air fresheners? Not so much. The scent of the jasmine or lavender that grows in your yard? Even allergy victims can appreciate that. You might be desensitized to the amazing views of trees, mountains or even water outside your window, but pulling back the curtains so prospective buyers can see for themselves is an absolute must. Home buying is a multi-sensory experience - visual staging of the property itself is no longer a plus, it's a must. But homes which create pleasant impressions that fire on all of a buyer's sensory cylinders definitely have the edge on their competition. 3. Your dog. The New York Times ran a piece a few months ago about sweet, well-behaved dogs (and cats!) who reportedly helped sell their owners' Manhattan apartments. In a departure from the conventional wisdom that dogs should be removed and every trace of their presence erased from the home during showings, the article featured several buyers and brokers attesting to their belief that the presence of a particular cat or dog "help[ed] sell a property by making the place seem warmer or more appealing." And I'm sure you've all heard me tell the story of the San Diego buyer who fell in love with a tract home listed at a price higher than all the nearly identical comparables he'd seen and wanted to make a full-price offer immediately - so long as the deal included the dog! Definitely consult with your agent before you decide to implement leaving your dog at home for showings as part of your plan. I'm a dog lover, and would be concerned that someone might inadvertently let one of "my girls" out, if I left them there while my house was being shown; as well, would-be buyers or their agents may have allergies your pet could set off. Lately, it seems like I've seen many brokers attempting to capture the best of both worlds by making sure that the family pet or even the broker's own pet is captured in a charming tableau in 1 or 2 of the listing pictures, even if they're not present at the home during showings. 4. Your happiness. Video and even written love letters that extoll all the virtues for which you love your neighbors, your neighborhood and your property are contagious to buyers. I've seen sellers help buyers see their homes through their own loving eyes by posting videos on YouTube and including the link on the listing flyer or even by putting a binder containing a letter plus menus and flyers from their favorite neighborhood restaurants, dry cleaners and other local merchants out on the counter during showings. Wide-open curtains that let light stream in, light and bright paint and decor colors and other home features that science has proven make residents more happy and functional also create this thought process in a buyer's mind: "Hmm, these people seem happy here. I could be, too." Similarly, indicators that you invested a lot of love in your home, by keeping it in immaculate order and pristine condition, by tending a well-cared for kitchen garden, lovingly furnishing and making comfortable (if not overly customizing) your kids' rooms, all create the feel that a home was happily lived in - it's like staging your home with a life well-lived, not just paint and tile. 5. The freeway or subway you thought was too close. There is such a thing as a freeway or elevated train tracks being too close to your home; if your place rattles or roars, for example, every time the train passes, chances any buyer will view that as a selling point are pretty slim. However, homebuyer attitudes toward being located near freeways and subways or bus lines are a-changing. Every upward click of gas prices renders buyers a tiny bit more interested in a location that is more commutable. Where yesteryear's buyers were all about the posh exclusivity of far-out suburbia, today's buyers are more interested in financial and ecological efficiency and convenience. I've never heard so many homebuyers looking to own homes that will allow them to ditch their cars entirely as I have in recent years! What might once have been seen as too close to the freeway has gotten a new spin, lately, as a highly convenient, commuter-friendly location. P.S. - You should follow Trulia and Tara on Facebook!
Read more posts on Trulia's Real Estate Realist »


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The sun returning to Scott Base after the long winter darkness.
Afternoon view of Our Lady of the Snows memorial on Hut Point Ridge in front of McMurdo Station not long after the last sunset at the start of winter.
Looking towards Mount Erebus from the summit of Mount Terror. Ross Island, Antarctica. Mount Bird is to the right at the northern end of the island.
Mt TerrorErebusterranovaantarcticaross island
The sea ice pressure ridges in front of Scott Base in early summer. Mt Erebus in the background.
The penguins at Cape Bird in the summer midnight sun.
Looking north from Hut Point after the sea ice has broken out.
Scott Base in March as the sea has just begun to freeze over again after being open water in front of the base a few days before.
A lone zodiac out among the icebergs on an overcast day on the Antarctic Peninsula.
LonePeninsulaBergsZodiacPanotouristsantarcticalindbladNat GeoOrion
Glacier face and caves on the Antarctic Peninsula taken from the deck of the Lindblad Nat Geo Orion ship.
GlacierFaceCavesPeninsulaBergsZodiacPanotouristsantarcticalindbladNat GeoOrion
The back room at Discovery Hut, from Scott's 1902 expedition.
Stitched HDR panorama made up of approx 10x HDR photos that were 5x bracketed and stacked photos each, so a total of about 50 photos.
Looking across the sea ice to the Barne Glacier as seen from Cape Evans, with a Hagglunds from Scott Base on the right of the picture.
BarneHagglundsPanoramasea iceglacier
Looking across Black Island towards Mount Discovery at the end of winter, just before the sun returns.
South Pole Panorama.
On the left is the Geographic South Pole, plus the ceremonial marker. behind it is the dome that housed the old station. The new South Pole Station is the buildings on the right.
View of Pram Point, at the southern tip of Ross Island. Observation Hill and McMurdo Station on the left, Scott Base on the right, Mt Erebus in the background.
PramPointMcMurdoScott BaseRoss IslandPanoramasea iceice shelfobservation hill
Panorama looking down the hill to Scott Base and across the Ross Ice Shelf. White Island is in the distance, Black Island is on the right, Mount Terror on the left.
Scott BaseIcePanoramaIce Shelfwhite islandblack islandpressure ridges
Panoramic view of the Royal Society Mountain Range after sunset
SocietiesPanorama Royal Mountains Antarctica twilight south Pole Hobb's Peak Anthony Powell Taylor Glacier
Winter Traverse in Pisten Bully vehicles across the Ice Shelf to Black Island.
PistenBulliesPanoramablack IslandAntarctica ice cold moonlight
Ross Island Sunrise.
Looking across the McMurdo Ice Shelf to Ross Island and Mount Erebus.
A pisten bully vehicle traverses the Ice.
The Hangar building at Scott Base with an aurora australis over the sea ice pressure ridges.
AuroraHangarTwilightPanoramapressure ridges
Panoramic 180 degree view of Lake Vanda, Wright Valley, Dry Valleys, Antarctica.
Mount Aztec in The Dry Valleys.
A larger 360 degree full-resolution zoomable version of this photo can be seen here: http://www.gigapan.com/gigapans/173370
Panoramic view of an iceberg stuck in the new sea ice at Cape Evans at the end of winter. Mt Erebus in the background.
Cape Bird penguin colony and the Bird Glacier on the northern tip of Ross Island.
A zoomable version of this picture can be viewed at full resolution here... http://www.gigapan.com/gigapans/173107
Emperor Penguins on the Ross Ice Shelf, looking towards the Royal Society Ranges.
EmperorPenguinPanoramarossice shelfAntarctica
180 degree panorama of the Cape Bird penguin colony. Approximately 60,000 penguins in this picture.
Waiting on the sea ice route to Cape Evans in McMurdo Sound for a hagglunds to arrive. Tent Island and Mount Erebus in the background.
Ross Island, as seen from the Ross Ice Shelf. Mount Erebus is on the left, Mount Terror on the right. Scott Base and McMurdo Station are on the peninsula at the base of Mount Erebus in the foreground.
RossIslandPanoramaice shelfvolcanoMcMurdo
Panorama of the Barne Glacier taken from the seasonal sea ice of McMurdo Sound.
BarnePanorama glacier antarctica ice erebus
Mt Lister and the Royal Society Mountains
360 degree panoramic view taken from the helicopter landing pad at Black Island, Antarctica. The large domes house the satellite dishes to protect them from the weather.
The Hagglunds from Scott Base having just crossed a crack in the annual sea ice near Cape Royds. They are towing bridging ladders behind them to lay across the cracks to drive over.
360 degree panorama of one of the riggers working on a radio repeater on Mount Coates in the Dry Valleys. The upper Taylor Valley is to the right, Lake Bonney is on the extreme right hand side of the picture.
CoatesPanoramaMountradiorepeatersolarriggerworkantennadry valleysMount CoatesLake BonneyTaylor Valley
Black Island as seen from Minna Bluff. Brown Peninsula is on the left, Mount Erebus on the right.
BlackIslandMinnaBluffPanoramaErebusAntarcticaRoss Ice Shelf
Near the summit of Mount Erebus on a foggy steamy day.
Working on the radio repeater on top of Mount Terror at the eastern end of Ross Island. Mount Erebus is to the west in the background.
360 degree panorama, looking down into the Taylor Valley from the 1882 Peak repeater site.
Glacier Flow Upper Taylor Valley
Under the awnings at Discovery Hut. Stitched HDR panorama photo.
Black Island Satellite Station in the winter twilight. The wind turbines provide about 25% of the power needed to keep the station running.
Helo flying past the mountains in the upper Taylor Valley
McMurdo Station as seen from the bridge of the annual fuel supply tanker ship.
Twilight returning to the daytime sky at Scott Base in late winter.
360 degree panorama from the repeater site on Mount Voslips looking down towards Lake Fryxl and across McMurdo Sound to Mount Erebus in the distance. An alternative angle zoomable version of this photo is available here: http://www.gigapan.com/gigapans/173372
Voslips360degreePanoramaDry ValleysrepeaterTaylor Valley
Glacier face on the Antarctic Peninsula taken from the deck of the Lindblad Nat Geo Orion ship.
Inside Shackleton's Hut at Cape Royds. A full 360 degree zoomable version of this image can be seen at the link below, large enough to zoom all the way in and read most of the labels on the cans. http://www.gigapan.com/gigapans/173851
This is not long after the NZ Antarctic Heritage Trust had finished their major restoration project on this hut. For more info visit http://www.NZAHT.org
Weighing penguin chicks at Cape Bird
Penguinschickscape birdcolonyweighing
Field research camp at Spaulding Pond in the Dry Valleys
Howard Glacier in the lower Taylor Valley


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OAKLAND — Days into a sit-in to protest the closure of Lakeview Elementary School, the Oakland school district police force is ordering the demonstrators to clear the area.
"We're hoping the crowd will disperse on its own accord," district spokesman Troy Flint said on Monday morning.
But well after the stay-away order was issued, around 5 p.m., about 80 protesters — many of them from the Occupy movement — still rallied outside the school.
Protesters started the "People's Campus" — summer courses teaching art, gardening and social justice in the closed school. Nearly 40 students were enrolled in the classes that are not affiliated with the district, but only seven children arrived.
"Unfortunately, the campus police from Oakland Unified School District scared the parents and children away, and they are not here," said Joel Velasquez, a parent leading the sit-in. "We're going to educate your children and show how education should look like."
Monday morning, organizers said that they would stay on the campus "until something changes." They were joined by more protesters later in the afternoon and were asking for Superintendent Tony Smith to resign. They are planning a noon Saturday at Frank Ogawa Plaza.
Lakeview is one of five elementary schools which the Oakland school board voted last fall to close at the end of the year as part of a downsizing plan; Smith said the $2 million a year in estimated savings would result in more money for the remaining schools. But supporters of Lakeview, Lazear, Marshall, Maxwell Park and Santa Fe elementary have argued those savings are not worth the pain and disruption that closures cause families and teachers. (Families at Lazear have managed to keep their school open by converting it into an independently run charter school; on Friday, the Alameda County Board of Education approved the charter application on appeal, though it's unclear whether the school will be able to remain at its current location.)
Over the weekend, supporters rallied outside of Lakeview, demanding that the school district change its decision. The marquee at the Grand Lake Theater, just across the street from Lakeview, reads: "Why is Oakland closing schools while squandering millions on consultants/ Support the sit in at Lakeview school."
Flint said the district administration allowed the sit-in to continue over the weekend, as school closures are "a legitimate civic issue to protest."
The district will maintain its headquarters on Second Avenue, but plans to move some offices to Lakeview.
Still, he said, "While we recognize that the demonstrators are extremely upset about the decision, it's one that we feel is in the best interest of the district at this point. We are not going to reverse course."
Read Katy Murphy's Oakland schools blog at www.IBAbuzz.com/education. Follow her at Twitter.com/katymurphy.


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Washington, D.C. (May 3, 2010)
— Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America President, International, Christopher Singer issued the following statement today on the U.S. Trade Representative's (USTR) "Special 301" annual report to Congress, outlining the Administration's global intellectual property agenda:
"Maintaining global incentives for research and development into new medicines is essential for continued innovation of treatments for improving the health and lives of patients. Worldwide respect for intellectual property is the engine that will enable patients around the globe to receive the benefits of future discoveries of life-saving medicines. This is particularly important for patients around the world who are waiting for the more than 2,950 medicines currently in development by PhRMA member companies.
"Protecting American intellectual property is also important to the U.S. economy. Effective protection of IP is a critical element of meeting President Obama's objective of doubling US exports over the next five years. For these reasons PhRMA and our members place a high priority on addressing the harm caused by inadequate IP protection and by the market access barriers put in place by some trading partners. PhRMA and our members appreciate the continuing efforts underway at all levels by USTR, the Departments of State and Commerce, and the effective advocacy of overseas missions to promote compliance with international obligations.
The value of IP protection should not be undermined by discriminatory market access barriers. We welcome USTR's recognition of market access barriers faced by U.S. pharmaceutical companies and their efforts to eliminate them in many countries in order to provide for affordable health care today and support the innovation that assures improved health care tomorrow.
"I applaud the report's discussion on counterfeiting problems that present public health concerns in the United States and elsewhere in the world. Our member companies are actively engaged in seeking solutions to these problems with the U.S. Government, governments mentioned in this submission, allied industry associations, the World Health Organization and concerned health professionals and patient groups. PhRMA and its members are committed to being active participants in addressing the public health risks and other public interests that are compromised by those who traffic in counterfeit medicines.
"As outlined in PhRMA's Special 301 submission, weak protection of intellectual property rights in Thailand is especially troubling. We therefore welcome the Administration in its announcement of an out-of-cycle review for Thailand.
"Out-of-Cycle Reviews offer a valuable opportunity for the U.S. government to work with trading partners to address IP concerns mentioned in the Special 301 report. I fully support this process and look forward to the active dialogue and cooperation it can foster. This is most effective when the OCR is completed as an interim review well before the issuance of the next year's Special 301 Report thus giving the country under review the time and opportunity to receive the OCR analysis and work to improve their IP practices. To delay these reviews undermines their efficacy and the value of the 301 report itself.
"I am encouraged that the Administration has taken steps to highlight the deficiencies of China. China continues to circumvent its data protection obligations and permit widespread distribution of unregistered active pharmaceutical ingredients. Also, we believe a PWL designation is appropriate in the case of India, due to significant delays in the provision of data protection, as well as concerns about the scope of patents and coverage of incremental innovation, delays in provision of patents and recent actions in the courts to limit or undermine patentability.
"The Special 301 process continues to be effective in gaining high-level attention from our trading partners, attention that is needed to redress intellectual property violations and market access concerns. PhRMA members look forward to working with the staff of the USTR as they continue to represent the interests of U.S. consumers, patients, workers and industry by addressing unfair trade practices in key countries around the world."
The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) represents the country's leading pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies, which are devoted to inventing medicines that allow patients to live longer, healthier, and more productive lives. PhRMA companies are leading the way in the search for new cures. PhRMA members alone invested an estimated $50.3 billion in 2008 in discovering and developing new medicines. Industry-wide research and investment reached a record $65.2 billion in 2008.
PhRMA Internet Address: www.phrma.org
For information on stories of hope and survival, visit: http://sharingmiracles.com/
For information on how innovative medicines save lives, visit: www.innovation.org
For information on the Partnership for Prescription Assistance, visit: www.pparx.org
For more information on public health emergencies, visit: www.rxresponse.org
For information on the danger of imported drugs, visit: www.buysafedrugs.info


text: Etihad Airways celebrates five years in Japan Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, is celebrating its fifth anniversary of service to Japan. The Abu Dhabi-based airline marked this significant milestone with VIP cocktail receptions in Tokyo and Nagoya attended by key industry clients and airline partners. Etihad Airways' Vice President Asia Pacific North and the Indian Subcontinent, Craig Thomas, said the airline was delighted to celebrate the auspicious occasion with the industry partners who had contributed to its success in Japan. "We owe a debt of gratitude to our travel trade partners for the strong support they have given Etihad Airways since it commenced services to Nagoya and Tokyo five years ago. "The route has gone from strength to strength in that time, and we are delighted to have carried more than 732,000 guests and thousands of tonnes of cargo to and from Japan since the launch. "Etihad Airways is deeply committed to the Japanese market and to ensuring that our industry partners share in our continuing success." Etihad Airways entered the Japanese market on 2 February 2010 with five weekly flights between Nagoya and Abu Dhabi, via Beijing. The Nagoya route became a daily operation on 30 March 2014. Non-stop services to the airline's second Japanese gateway Tokyo (Narita) commenced on 28 March 2010 with a schedule of five flights weekly and increased to a daily on 31 March 2013. To cater to the needs of its Japanese guests, Etihad Airways offers a range of bespoke guest services including Japanese-speaking cabin crew, Japanese language entertainment programs and special inflight cuisine with a kaiseki option in First and Business Class. Bizi Beğenin Facebook sayfamızı ziyaret edin! Bizi İzleyin YouTube kanalımızı ziyaret edin Bizi Takip Edin Etihad Havayolları | Etihad Kampanyaları | Etihad Yardım | Etihad Ödülleri


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This year, Matt Faccinto (Midwest Assistant Director for PSA) and Thunderhawk Canine will be hosting the PSA Midwest Regionals.
The event will take place in Cookeville, TN, on August 11 & 12 (Saturday will be the Regional event; Sunday will be a club trial).
This is sure to be a great time with all levels of PSA represented (PDC through Level 3).


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Welcome to the CRG Discussion Forum!Forum registration problems: Make sure you enter your email correctly and you check your spam box first. *Then* email KurtS2@gmail for help.Classified ads are not allowed on the forum.
Correct me if I am wrong but isn't the "pebble-grained" steering wheel that you are refering to and what GM refers to as the "grip assist" steering wheel the same?
Smooth steering wheel; horn buttons are "pebbled"
I am not sure if I got everyone and a couple I had to put a question mark, because they didn't give enough info if the car had the Z23 option or not. Maybe they can update the info when they see there cars build date with a ? by it. Smooth:11B Z23 RS/SS11D no Base convertible02B ? SS convertible03D ? Z/2804A Z87 RS04A Z87 RS05C no Z2808C Z23 09C no X44base coupePebble:09D Z87 RS/SS10C Z23 Z/2810D Z23 Z/2811A no Base convertible11D Z87 SS12C Z23 Z/2801C Z23 SS01D no Z/2802B Z23 RS02D Z23 X1102D Z23 SS03D Z23 RS/Z/2803E no base coupe04B Z23 RS/Z/2804C Z87 Z1104C no Z/2804C Z23 RS/Z/2805A ? RS/Z/2805A Z87 base coupe05A Z87 Z1005E Z23 X1106A Z23 (no handle?) convertible06A Z87 SS07A Z23 Z/2808C Z23 Z/2809A no ?09B Z23 Z/2809D no X6610A no Z/28


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I had pre-ordered the PS Vita from Amazon.com a few weeks ago and when we were contacted to see if we wanted to review Plants vs. Zombies I gladly accepted. My son and I had played the game on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 and we enjoyed it, so I figured the PlayStation Vita version of Plants vs. Zombies would be just as good. Plus, getting a free PlayStation Store game for my shiny new system didn't hurt.
When my PS Vita arrived I unboxed it and tried out the different built-in features before diving into the PlayStation Store to download Plants vs. Zombies; the augmented reality (AR) games; the free Twitter, Flickr, and Netflix apps; and a bunch of demos. I played the system over the past week when I had some free time here and there and have to admit that I gravitated towards Plants vs. Zombies the most.
I beat the main Adventure mode last night, which wasn't super long, but there are other Puzzle, Survival, and Mini Game modes for you to enjoy once you are done with the main game. You can actually restart the Adventure mode and play it again to earn more money to buy more plants and other items.
Speaking of items, there is a Zen Garden mode, which will allow you to care for plants by watering, fertilizing, and spraying them for bugs as they earn you money to buy more plants for use in the game and in the Zen Garden. This mode reminded me of games like Nintendogs or the old Tamagotchi toys that make you take care of your virtual pets. The Zen Garden mode is a nice diversion, but I doubt you will spend hours playing it per day.
Playing Plants vs. Zombies for hours could happen though, since it is addictive and the graphics on the PS Vita OLED screen are really crisp and vibrant. The plants and zombies are well animated and the whole game has a very bright and colorful appearance, which is kind of odd being that it is a game about zombies trying to eat your brains. Plants vs. Zombies never takes itself too seriously and that is what makes it so fun to play. The characters will make you laugh or at least bring a smile to your face every time you play.
Continuing the fun zombie theme is the music, which mixes synthesized piano that sounds like what you would expect in a scary movie, but with a lighter feel that is less moody and more upbeat. The sound effects are also entertaining. Plan on hearing the word "brains" a few times along with chewing sounds as the zombies try to eat through your plants to get to your brains.
I guess so far I have failed to mention the actual object of Plants vs. Zombies. The basic premise of the game is to grow plants in the front yard, backyard, pool, and on the roof of your house to try to stop the onslaught of zombies trying to get into your house. You have multiple spots in each row to plant your horticultural masterpiece to destroy the zombies. Harvesting the sun allows you to plant more plants before the zombies come and eat your brains. Plants vs. Zombies is a tower defense game with plants and zombies or you could also say it is a very simple Command & Conquer or Starcraft real-time strategy game.
Planting your army of vegetation in Plants vs. Zombies is totally controlled with the touch screen in the default configuration. You can switch the controls to use the digital pad and buttons if you don't want to get fingerprints all over your PS Vita's OLED screen. I played the game the whole time with the touch screen and I think that is how the developers wanted you to experience it.
Plants vs. Zombies doesn't take advantage of all the control options of the PS Vita, but you can tilt the system to pick up the suns instead of touching them if you like. I chose to tilt the system instead of touching the suns, but I found myself rocking the system back and forth the whole time I was playing, since you don't know when the suns will appear.
I tried one level using the digital pad and buttons and the difficulty level seemed higher using this control scheme, especially if you turn the tilt to collect suns option off. Doing this requires that you move the cursor around the screen to plant and collect the suns. This control scheme matches the Plants vs. Zombies experience on the Xbox 360 and PS3. If you want to play like you would on your home console then you have that option.
The only disappointing thing about Plants vs. Zombies for PlayStation Vita is the price. If you own an iPhone, iPod touch or Android device then you can experience it for $12.00 less. The game for these devices is $2.99 as of this writing and it is $6.99 for the iPad version. I think this is the nature of the PlayStation Store and its pricing structure, but it is hard to recommend it for PS Vita if you own one of the other devices that have it for less.
Final Verdict
Plants vs. Zombies for PS Vita doesn't have the latest 3D graphics or offer you an amazing digital surround sound experience, but what it will offer you is amusing and addictive gameplay that will keep you coming back for more. The game is the perfect pick up and play game for short periods of time, but don't be surprised if fifteen minutes turns into an hour or more once you get started. If you have never played Plants vs. Zombies and need a new game for your PS Vita then I definitely recommend downloading it from the PlayStation Store.
Comments [1]
sunfir66 - April 25th, 2012 at 1:46 pm
"The Zen Garden mode is a nice diversion, but I doubt you will spend hours playing it per day"
I would buy the game just for this, if I had a Vita. I love the "pet" features of any game, and there are more of us out here than you think =)
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Wednesday, August 31, 2011
And With Your Spirit etc
This an interesting little video from the Irish Bishops on excerpts from the new Missal, it is a bit stilted but I like the explanation of "And with your Spirit" which starts the video. It might indeed actually mean, "same to you" but Fr Patrick Jones unpacks it a bit.
3 comments:
- David said...
The emphasis should be on the your. The celebrant says "The Lord be with (the spirit which is within) you" and the response is "And with YOUR spirit". To emphasise it otherwise surely makes it mean something else.
- 31/8/11 8:41 pm
At the end of the video there are some interesting other videos on the new translation. One by a priest from the Archdiocese of Washington is particularly interesting explaining the different processes and admitting that the 1975 translation was 'more of a paraphrase.'
I was surprised to learn that the translations had indeed been read aloud to see what they sounded like as if this was done surely this would have eliminated the 'prairie tortoise' at first hearing?
Incidentally the priest who is a member of the 'Liturgy Office' said that this will not be the last or final word but happily many of us will not need to contemplate another change if they are going to go in 40 year cycles!
- 31/8/11 9:29 pm
- JTS said...
Hey Father,
Take a look at what the Diocesan Administrator in Kildare and Leighlin says...
He even manages a gratuitous swipe at "what is termed the Latin Mass in which the priest had his back to the people"
I guess we're in safe hands there!
- 6/9/11 11:04 pm


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I'm in grad school and notice there are no prerequisites required for QFT in the physics department. In fact, the system allows me to sign up for the course just fine as a technical elective.
But... my field is chemical engineering and I've only taken basic quantum mechanics. I would really love to learn more about QFT though since it's always been something I've really been interested and lightly study in my free time.
From the perspective of someone who knows the physics required to take this course, is the material required to understand the subject outside the range of what I would have learned for an engineer (+QM)?


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misleading advertisingMonday, October 8th, 2012 | tags: M&S, mannequin, marketing nonsense, one frown, shopping, wardrobe |
I rarely go into M&S. This window display is a prime example of why. The slogan says "the best of British style" the mannequins are wearing shades of biege jumpers, denim and undistinctive footwear. Neither classic, exciting, country, or any kind of combination that could really be described as style except perhaps 'comfortably numb'.
Poor show M&S
I'm confident that British styling can do a whole lot better!


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Well, it certainly seems like it. According to Pamela Paul's piece in Sunday's New York Times,
Mother's little helper of the new millennium may in fact be the sleeping pill – a prescription not likely to inspire a jaunty pop song anytime soon. Nearly 3 in 10 American women fess up to using some kind of sleep aid at least a few nights a week, according to "Women and Sleep," a 2007 study by the National Sleep Foundation, a nonprofit research group.
And anecdotal research indicates it's not just mothers who are starved for shut-eye, but women in general:
Sleep-medicine practices are overwhelmingly dominated by female patients. Dr. Nancy Collop, director of the Emory Sleep Center in Atlanta, said three out of four insomnia patients at the clinic are women…
In the 'Women and Sleep' study, 80 percent of women reported being just too stressed or worried to turn out the proverbial lights.
In a word: unshocking. I myself am firmly in the Fall Asleep Fine But Wake At 3 And Can't Get Back to Sleep camp. I don't have kids, but I do have several jobs, and a life. Last night I worried over the writing deadlines I have this week, the speaking engagement I have on Wednesday halfway across the state, and the new coaching client whose appointment I'm going to have to reschedule in order to travel to said speaking engagement… not to mention the shopping list, the whipping wind's effect on the palm tree that sways outside my front window, the doctor's appointment I've been meaning to make for, oh, the past five months, what I'm going to wear to said speaking engagement… I could go on — but I'm guessing you catch my drift. More than likely, it would seem, you do exactly the same thing. As Paul wrote:
According to IMS Health, a health care consulting firm in Danbury, Conn., the use of prescription sleep aids among women peaks from 40 to 59. Last year, the firm said, 15,473,000 American women between those ages got a prescription to help them sleep, nearly twice the number of men in that age group.
Those figures do not include those who are prescribed anti-anxiety or anti-depressant medications, frequently used off-label for insomnia. Nor do they include women who zone out with a glass of wine.
The question is, how is it that men aren't similarly affected?
Well, I'd guess there are more than a couple factors at play: it's personal, and it's political. Women hold ourselves to high standards — we internalize the messages that bombard us from all directions, from the media to our mothers. We want to be perfect: perfect employees, perfect partners, perfect moms, perfect friends, perfect looking, perfect yogis, chefs, decorators, you name it. We were weaned on the messages that we could have it all and that we could do anything — and so we fill our days with our valiant attempts to do it all, running at full speed ahead, from this to that and back again, so adrenalized that the only way to unwind, it seems, is to dive into a bottle, whether of pills or Pinot.
But it's not only our tough inner critic that's to blame. The fact is, the modern workplace–of which women are now the majority–is still set up as though the workers who fill it were Don Draper clones, men with a full-time Betty at home, able to take care of all of the stuff that keeps a life running smoothly. But the ladies (and gentlemen) of today don't have a Betty. So we do our best Don–and then we make the time to get Betty's job done, too. We work our full day–and then we fold the clothes. And do the grocery shopping. And pick up the dry cleaning. And attempt to cook healthy items (or contend with the parking lot at our favorite take-out joint), to exercise, to socialize, to sleep. To quote Germaine Greer:
When we talk about women having it all, what they really have all of is the work.
…and none of the Zzzs.
So, what to do? Being a little easier on ourselves would certainly be a start. Asking for help might be another. And then: start thinking bigger, recognize the deeper truths for the eye-openers that they are. The world has changed, but the workplace and expectations haven't. So maybe what we really need to be thinking about is what we can do to change that.
Just, hopefully, not at 3am.


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I heard a lot about the salt content in the P & Q. How did it work out for you? Was the rise time crazy long? Did anyone try it overnight? Do tell!
14 thoughts on "Tuesday Chatter"
Mine was a total failure…salty and flat as a pancake! Not a winning recipe for me at all. On to the next challenge!
A perfectly delicious bread! One I would expect to purchase at an Artisan bread shope. I did cup the salt down to 1 1/2 teaspoons. I will make this again soon–with fresh rosemary! Great recipe.
The salt was spot on…the rise was my issue. It rose, but not very high. Didn't have a razor…used a sharp knife, but hardly slashed it because it seemed like it was going to deflate. I stopped while I was ahead…maybe I should have baked it more to get a darker crust. Didn't care for the smell of the bread when it came out of the oven. It was sort of a sour dough type smell and butter…offputting. It was strange. Overall…it was ok.
The next day I made appetizers; slices of toasted bread topped with slices of London Broil drizzled with olive oil. This worked out well.
A repeat? Not for me…
I had to sit this one out, due to our extremely hot and humid weather recently. Turning on the oven to bake was more than I could handle ;) I've been reading the P&Q and the chatter and will be curious to see how mine turns out once it cools down enough to bake it! ;)
I thought it was good. Nice and crisp on the outside and soft and chewy in the middle. And really forgiving because those rise times kept getting away from me. I did cut down on the salt to 1 1/2 tsp and could probably cut it 1/4 tsp more. I will definitely make it again. It actually worked in super humid Houston! Yeah!
My pictures were thanks to Carmen at Baking Is My Zen. The true confessions are my own … http://www.praycookblog.com
Loved it!
I was worried after seeing all the complaints about salt level in the P&Q, since I stupidly went to check once the dough was on its first rise… but I actually found the salt level was just perfect (though, I do prefer my bread to be slightly salty, so that may explain it). I can see how it would be a bit much with salted butter or cold cuts, though.
My loaf came out very light and fluffy, probably because I used a fine semolina flour (same one we use for making pasta). The only adjustment I ended up making was baking for an extra 10 mins, because loaf was still quite pale after 35 mins in the oven.
I liked this bread. It was easy to mix, not like the brioche. For me 1.5 hours were absolutely enough for each rise. It was perfect with some wild garlic pesto. :))))
I did my first rise for 4 hours and my second for 8 AND overnight in the fridge… not intentional but I was gone longer than expected, it ended up working out very well
Mine wasn't overly salty, though I probably would drop the salt down to 1 1/2 tsp. Two hours at room temperature didn't cut it for the rises. I finished the rises in a warm-ish oven (90-120 degreees F); even then it didn't rise too much.
My loaf also had a third rise in a loaf pan after it flattened and spread during the second rise.
Besides the slightly more salty flavor, this bread was outstanding for me. I'm still new to the whole bread situation, but felt that as someone else mentioned it could have come from a real bakery!


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The Tutukaka Coast Loop Road
A pictorial guide to walks and places to visit on this beautiful section of Northland and its coast. A5 - 48 glossy pages.
1 / 3
I love New Zealand and even more so, Ngunguru, which is my home and the surrounding area commonly known as "The Tutukaka Coast." I live near the scenic Ngunguru estuary surrounded with native bush, birds and wildlife. When it blows I can hear the ocean. Melva, my wife, manages The Riverbank Homestay and B&B.
On realising that there really was little information available in one book about activities for visitors to this coast and the loop road from State Highway one around the coast and returning I set about changing that.
The result is this small A5 - 48 page book. This 70-kilometre loop from Whangarei returning via Hikurangi is one of the most scenic roads in New Zealand and certainly first in beautiful coastline. It doesn't have the South Island's mountains, rivers or lakes but what it does have to see and do is different, and very special. Wait until you see Whale Bay or walk some of the stunning coastal or bush tracks. Diving at the Poor Knights Islands is also a must.
Make the Tutukaka Coast your first New Zealand stay-over. It is an easy three hours from Auckland by car or van. There is ample accommodation, so stay longer. New Zealand is a big, little country. You did not plan enough time to see New Zealand anyway so why use it all travelling. You will find plenty of activities and scenery here to write home about.
When telling your friends about your New Zealand vacation you cannot say "Been there" until you have visited Northland and you have not been to Northland until you have been to the Tutukaka Coast, met the people, walked in the bush, strolled on the sandy beaches and kayaked the estuaries. This book is for you if you like bush, beaches, birds, boats and diving. It is all about exploring our natural wonderland.
Why didn't you know about it? That is the reason for this book. It introduces you to my wonderful playground. There is something here for you in all seasons. Try the winter when the only footprints on the beach may be yours.
I suggest that if you have time, start at page one and try to stay a week or more or plan to come back and continue the adventure.
I know you will enjoy my playground.
By the way, Ngunguru is pronounced Ngoo-ngoo-roo with a nasal ng, equal emphasis on all syllables and roll the r.
The Tutukaka Coast Loop Road is available for NZ$12 from the Whangarei Information Centres, The Salt Air Cafe at Ngunguru and Tutukaka Surf at Tutukaka.
By Hilton Ward
Artículo de
The Riverbank Homestay and B&B
Melva and Hilton welcome you to The Riverbank in this gorgeous bush setting near Tutukaka and Ngunguru. One large room with queen bed, single and en-suite. Welcome Wayfarers all. Make The Riverbank your holiday destination.


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Hello, my name is Lori. I live near Toronto, Canada. This is where I keep my inspirations, ideas, projects, and updates.
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Honestly. B.o.b is the most true Artist. I thinkg b.o.b is going to make a difference in Hip Hop, & I do think he is one of the people i think are the future of Hip Hop. I can't wait Untel All this other Bull shit is over with Rap wars and battles. B.o.b will always be my most favorite true artist. He Sing's about the truth & not money and hoe's and dumd stuff. "Honestly I Do even listen to Rap becaues when i turn on the radio out come crap" Lost Generation will always be my favorite song, So keep on playing your guitar, rap about aliens & sing about stars.
"Rap is not my favourite music, because most of the times it´s agressive and talks about sex,? drugs, alcohol, etc, but B.O.B is different, rap is beautiful when guys like Bobby perform"
-Said By a Fan
"this is what i call "music" all these other people:? Waka, Gucci, etc., all they talk about is weed and fuckin girls. Thats why im sticking with Lupe, B.o.B. and J. Cole"
-Said By another Fan
So, B.o.b congratz on everything forever & always a fan.


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How do you take what's in many ways a textbook platformer and make it special? Simple: you add in hand-drawn art and style until the game is just as fun to watch as it is to play. Before you read further, take a look at the newest Wario Land game in action in Nintendo's nifty youtube video, and see that graphics don't have to be 3D to be awe-inspiring.
The story is silly: there is a bottomless bag of coins, a busty pirate, some flying things... it doesn't matter. Wario is going to get paid, and he doesn't care who he has to save to get his cash. In each level, and there are five worlds with five levels each, you'll have to rescue a critter and then run back to the exit before the time runs out. To do this, you'll have to solve puzzles, do some platforming, or even jump into a vehicle; the surprises you encounter in the game will do much to keep the experience fresh. Don't expect any clever use of the Wiimote here, as you'll only need two buttons and a shaking motion, although what little motion-control there is adds some flavor to the experience.
While you'll be able to run through the game incredibly quickly, each level holds multiple treasures to find, along with a good array of secondary challenges. If you want to do everything, you'll need to beat the level, and then go back and maybe find 30,000 coins, or beat the level without getting wet, or stomp on a certain number of a certain enemy. Luckily the level design is very well done, so you'll be grateful for the excuse to fully explore things and see the world.
Still, this is a pretty simple game, and while some of the challenges are pretty devious, the difficulty level is not very high; I found myself losing interest after an hour or so of play. In fact, with short levels and a variety of challenges, I had a much better time playing this for thirty minutes to an hour every night to get some quick progress in before moving on to a meatier game, or even playing right after a bout of Mega Man 9 to prove that I don't completely suck as a gamer. Wario Land works amazingly well in short doses and as a palate-cleanser: this is the piece of celery with ranch that you bite down on after a particularly spicy meal, and it's just as refreshing.
The major technical gripe is the lack of widescreen support. The game is squashed into a 4:3 ratio by nearly-empty bars on the right and left sides of the screen. On a title with such lush colors and animation, this is a shame, but you quickly get used to it. This isn't a game for everyone, and it's not very long, but if you're in the mood for something very pretty, and very old-school, check it out.
Verdict: Rent
Developer: Good Feel
Publisher: Nintendo
Platform: Nintendo Wii
Price: $49.99
Rating: Everyone
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Rebels trample Golden Bears
The Moose Lake-Willow River Rebels football team trampled the Eveleth-Gilbert Golden Bears by a score of 61-13 on Saturday, October 27. The Rebels, led by Jake Disterhaupt's 209 yards and Michael Pender's 135 yards rushing, totaled 479 yards rushing and added 51 yards passing for a total offensive effort of 530 yards.
Pender scored the first of his two touchdowns on a three-yard run. Ben Moonen hit the kick for 7-0. Mike Gassert banged it over from a yard out and Moonen drilled the kick for 14-0. BJ Young rushed for seven yards and Moonen again hit the kick for 21-0. Pender closed out the first quarter with a 16-yard run and Moonen went to 4-for-4 with the kick for 28-0 after just 12 minutes of play.
Eveleth-Gilbert was able to get a quirky touchdown on a tipped pass for a 32-yard TD and they kicked the extra point for 28-7. ML-WR answered with a seven-yard run by Disterhaupt and a Moonen kick for 35-7 at halftime.
Disterhaupt picked up 100 of his 209 yards on two third-period scores of 70 and 30 yards, respectively. Moonen made it 6-for-6 for 42-7, but missed the next kick after Disterhaupt's second score of the frame for 48-0 and 6-for-7 on the boots. Young ran a 45-yard sprint for a TD and Moonen made it 55-7 as he went 7-for-8. Moonen closed out the Rebels scoring with a 17-yard jaunt and although he missed the kick, for 6-9 on the night, it was a big 61-13 lead for ML-WR.
Disterhaupt led the runners with 209 yards on 17 carries (12.30). Pender ran 14 times for 135 yards (9.64). Gassert ran seven times for 67 yards (.57) and Young carried two times for 50 yards (25 per carry).
Tony Adamczak was hot with four completions on three attempts for 51 yards and no interceptions. Layne Johnson, Isaac Coil and Pender each caught one pass for 23, 19 and nine yards, respectively.
Moonen led the tacklers with six stops. Brett Hawkins and Coil each had five tackles. Cameron Schmidt and Dan Leino each had one quarterback sack. Disterhaupt and Young each had one interception.
The Rebels, at 10-0, advance to the 7-3 Marshall School of Duluth on Thursday, November 1 at Duluth Public Schools Stadium with game time set for 7:30 p.m.


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7 High-Fat Foods You Should Eat
Our wildest dreams had ever pictured.
uo spent nearly a year prospecting in company with another Confederate officer, Captain James K. Powell of Richmond. We were extremely fortunate, for late in the winter of 1865, after many hardships and privations, we located the most remarkable gold-bearing quartz vein that our wildest dreams had ever pictured.
I had observed on the two occasions when I had seen her that the prisoner exchanged words with her guards, and this convinced me that they spoke.
I know that the average human mind will not believe what it cannot grasp, and so I do not purpose being pilloried by the public, the pulpit, and the press, and held up as a colossal liar when I am but telling the simple truths which some day science will substantiate.
I have never told this story, nor shall mortal man see this manuscript.
The servant of a state which had vanished with the hopes of the South. Masterless, penniless, and with my only means of livelihood, fighting, gone, I determined to work my way to the southwest and attempt to retrieve my fallen fortunes in a search for gold.
Possibly the suggestions which I gained upon Mars, and the knowledge which I can set down in this chronicle, will aid in an earlier understanding of the mysteries of our sister planet; mysteries to you, but no longer mysteries to me.
- My name is John Carter
- I am better known as Captain Jack Carter of Virginia.
- At the close of the Civil War I found myself possessed
I had observed on the two occasions when I had seen her that the prisoner exchanged words with her guards, and this convinced me that they spoke, or at least could make themselves understood by a common language.


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You must be connected to the Internet the first time you view this simulation, at which point the codebase for all the simulations will be downloaded to your computer. This process make take a few minutes, as the codebase is roughly 9MB in size. Subsequent viewings of the applets will run from your local copy.
This applet is a simulation of the TeachSpin
experiment, in which a magnet is suspended by a spring
between two current-carrying coils (in Helmholtz configuration).
As a current is run through the coils, the magnet, whose
orientation has been fixed such that its north pole
points upwards, feels a force dependent on the direction
in which the current is flowing in each coil. The two
basic configurations are one in which the current in
one coil flows opposite the direction of the current
in the other coil, and one in which the currents in
both coils flow in the same direction. In the first
case, the magnet will feel a repulsive force from one
coil and an attractive force from the other, causing
it to be displaced vertically. In the second case, the
magnet feels a repulsion or attraction from both coils
simultaneously, which cancel each other out, leaving
the magnet undisplaced between the coils.
In the applet, you can vary several parameters, including
the relative direction of the currents and their magnitudes.
In addition to varying the current manually, you can
turn on a signal generator that will produce a sinusoidal
current that causes the magnet to oscillate (or not)
at the given frequency and amplitude.


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Lab tech knows life is a miracle
Staff writer
Carrie (Richmond) Helmer could just as easily have been born dead as alive if circumstances hadn't worked to put the right people at the right place at the right time.
Now a lab technician at St. Luke Hospital in Marion, Helmer will be celebrating her 30th birthday in July. In a sense, she has two mothers.
Leona Hajek of Lost Springs was seven months pregnant with her second child in July of 1983 when she went to the doctor complaining of stomach pains.
She had been battling sporadic pains since Marion's Old Settlers' Day in the fall of 1982, and every time she went to see her doctor (Jeffrey Martin), she was told it was the flu.
This time, July 21, 1983, after she was once again sent home with the "flu," the pain got so bad that she ended up in the emergency room.
She had no fever but had a high white blood cell count, so Martin knew something was wrong. He ordered exploratory surgery, summoning the anesthesiologist. Dr. Don Hodson served as Martin's assistant.
They discovered that Hajek's appendix was twice the normal size and about to rupture and immediately performed an appendectomy.
They no sooner had closed Hajek's incision than Hodson was urgently called to the labor room. Betty Richmond was about to have a baby, and the nurses monitoring the baby's vital signs had lost the heartbeat.
Hodson determined the placenta had broken loose from the uterus, a serious condition known as "placental abruption," depriving the baby of nutrients and oxygen. The situation called for an immediate C-section.
Hajek was wheeled into the hallway. Her husband, Ron, was instructed to watch over her until more nurses could be summoned to take her to a hospital room.
Because of the urgency of the situation, the staff ignored the protocol for cleaning and sanitizing the operating room. Richmond was wheeled into surgery.
Richmond remembers the attendants had difficulty getting the hospital bed through the door but finally forced it through. Anesthesia was administered, and Carrie was born a short time later.
Everyone involved agreed if Hajek hadn't been there, having surgery, there wouldn't have been enough time for the anesthesiologist to arrive and a C-section performed before the baby would have died. The equipment for administering anesthesia was in place and ready to go, along with the anesthesiologist.
Hajek said she could complain about why the doctor could not diagnose her problem sooner, but she realizes that everything happens for a reason.
"If there's nothing else I've done good in my life, I can say I saved a child's life," she said.
Hajek delivered a healthy son, Darrin, on Old Settlers' Day, exactly a year after her stomach pains began.
Richmond sent Dr. Hodson a thank-you card that Christmas along with a picture of her baby.
Hajek and Richmond found out later that they are distant relatives. Hajek is a Richmond.
Hajek has been a beautician for 37 years. One time, six or seven years after her surgery, she was doing Sylvia Morovec's hair when Morovec described the above incident. She was a St. Luke nurse. She said she didn't know who the woman was that had saved the baby's life and was surprised to learn it was Hajek.
Carrie Helmer has a 10-year-old son, Randon, and is married to Charlie Helmer. They live in Haven. She has worked at St. Luke Hospital for almost seven years.
She is Roger and Betty Richmonds' only child. They call her their "miracle baby."
"I don't have any memory of the event, but it is wonderful that it turned out like it did, Helmer said. "I'm thankful Leona was there when she was.
"I'm thankful the doctors and nurses figured out what was going on and could do what they did to save my life."
Last modified May 9, 2013


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