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(visited by Helmut Resch and Babs Coleman)
01-Oct-2006 -- On Sunday at 7 a.m. we left Bauchi and headed for the A3 towards Darazo. At Darazo we turned off towards Duku. Our aim was to visit the confluence 11N 11E.
The previous day we had driven from Abuja to Bauchi where we spent the night. It is the fourth attempt to get to this Confluence. Last year we tried three times. The first time we had to cancel the trip because I discovered two hours before starting that I had developed malaria. The second time we abandoned the trip at Bauchi because Babs developed during the night severe stomach cramps and we returned to Abuja. The third time we offloaded our bikes around 30 km from the Confluence and one of our bikes did not want to start. After we tried for more than a very frustrating half hour, I decided to carry on alone. I managed to get as close as 700 meters when a heavy storm surprised and stopped me. It started raining cats and dogs and I had no option but to abandon the search for the Confluence.
Now we were at the bridge over the river Gongola just before Duku. We watched the fishermen harvesting their nets. It is amazing how they manage to stay on these calabashes. After this most excitingly interesting stopover, we continued. This time we have no bikes with us. We were test driving a Mercedes G for the next desert trip. At Duku we took a different route as previous and headed for Jamari. A motorcycle (Okada) driver showed us the way out of the village. It is a very remote area with very few villages on the way. During the entire trip from Duku to the Confluence and back to the tarred road, we did not once see a motorised vehicle.
Several times we wondered if we were on the right way, but eventually made it to Jamari. It is a small village which we by-passed and continued our way to the Confluence. We managed to get as close as 380 meters of it with the 4x4. The remaining distance to the confluence 11N 11E we walked almost along a small footpath. It was 11:30 a.m. and already very hot. The Confluence is amongst fields of sorghum, guinea corn, beans, and peanut on a piece of still virgin nature.
We did not spend much time at the Confluence and wanted to take a shorter route back to the main street. This proved to be not such a good idea since we lost the track in very difficult terrain, and after a couple of kilometres we had to turn back and take the same route as we came.
In the late afternoon, very glad that we managed this time to get to the Confluence, we got back to Bauchi too tired to celebrate the visit. The next morning we took a slow drive back to Abuja. Outside Abuja we stopped at one of the fish bars and had one of this deliciously tasty barbequed fish and a couple of Star beers to celebrate the successful visit of confluence 11N 11E. It took several attempts but we finally made it.


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Max and I had a lot of fun during this photo set and I believe the result turned out to be cute and fun. How do you think?
I was wearing:
Jeffrey Campbell shoes
Nice dress but i like the heels so much :D and of course the bag; is incredible; well I like everything :D You don´t follow me yet via Google Friend? :((
Today new post, don´t miss it!
Kisses from Spain, Kela
This is how I would style a pink dress as well - with not so twee accesories :) I think pink suits you great. You look lovely :)
so nice color on youReplyDelete
Your dress is very pretty and this color is very nice on you. Love your outfit.ReplyDelete
Здоровское платье, очень нравится цвет!
I totally love this kind of cute baby doll dresses, you look amazing, pink clothes fits very well on you, you should wear it more often for sure. Would you like to follow each other?
the dress is so sweet!
Love your hairstyle.
Pink colour agrees with you! I love the dress and think you look great! xx/MadisonReplyDelete
very cute dress! i love the colour
i wait you on my blog
Great dress and pink looks super on you.
Hola el color de su vestido es precioso, y te queda genial, quieres que nos sigamos?
Nice dress.
Recent post
you looks so cute in this dress!ReplyDelete
Какое красивое платье!!! Цвет хороший!
Angela Donava
wow love that top shop dress! what a fun blog! xoxoReplyDelete
I think it looks perfect on you...gorgeous shade of pink :)) I've never been a pink person, but lately I've been liking it xxReplyDelete
Sure! I'd like for us to follow each other :)
My dear you look fabulous, i love that dress!!
Don't Call Me Fashion Blogger
Hi! beautiful dress and bag!
Great dress!Kisses!ReplyDelete
beautiful dress!
answer: sure, I'm following you now. Don't forget to follow me back dear! xo
Amazing dress and shoes!!ReplyDelete
You look so pretty in pink, and even better in contrast with the green backdrop.
I love and want your shoes.
Ly, that color looks great on you! The shoes you are wearing are FABULOUS.
I find an balanced outfit, lovely details.
Thank you for following me darling, here I am back.
women and not only Blog
You are so pretty!!! beautiful dress!!!
Have a good week!! and my g+ for your post too!!!:)))
Besos, desde España, Marcela♥
You look gorgeous with this purple dress!
Video outfit YOUTUBE
You are great, i follow you!elenaReplyDelete
Cute dress dear ;) Thanks for visiting my blog!
Of course we can follow each other :))
Just followed you on both Bloglovin' #185 and GFC #1187 , now waiting for your turn!!
Stay in touch! xoxo
❤ Jenny Tsang
www.Tsangtastic.com | Tsangtastic on Bloglovin'
So cute! This color looks great on you.ReplyDelete
Pink is pretty but you have it the right amount of edge with your accessories - love it.
♥ Paula Shoe Fiend.
I love the colour of the dress! Great outfit :)
NEW POST: www.chriissydollxo.com
adorable. and it's a nice deep pink, so very close to red :DReplyDelete
Крутецкие туфли))))Спасибо за визит)come again)
Lyosha, you should wear pink more often instead! It definitely suits you! What a lovely dress, the shoes are to die for, such stunning look!:) Kisses and have a nice day! xoReplyDelete
Looking awesome
Just love it!
Kisses ,
Beautiful pics!!! You´re great!!!!
You should try to wear more pink since it certainly suites you in your own way. I adore the way you styled the dress! The shoes and the bag make it more cool and I think it fits you wonderfully ^-^
The Mad Twins
You look amazing. I love your cute dress and the way you styled it with the spiked heels(so cool) and the skull bag. The nail polish is the perfect addition to the look. Glad you had so much fun shooting. Wish you a happy day <3
xx Mira
Really nice this look!
Thanks for your lovely comment on our blog!
Of course we can follow each other, first passes from us and then reciprocate!
Kiss kiss from Italy:)
wow, you look adorable! amazing dress :)
I love the shade, but the cute of the dress fits you perfectly! I think this dress was meant for you my dear!ReplyDelete
Hi dear
Nice, love that dress, super girly!
Wanna follow each other?
You look amazing!!! I love your pink cute dress.ReplyDelete
I forgot to say your shoes too.they super hot!!!ReplyDelete
I love this shade of fuchsia and the shoes are very original on a cute dress, the result is great =)
Fashion and Cookies
Fashion and Cookies on Facebook
I think that color looks wonderful one you. A great choice of a dress, so smart. And those legs are fantastic as is your sweet smile and deep, wonderful eyes. Lovely photos!ReplyDelete
Love this dress and shoes. You absolutely rock this outfit!
Followed :)
Xo, Michelle
love this color on you! i never thought i was much of a pink girl, eitherReplyDelete
Adorable dress, the color is amazing!
Come back soon to visit me on Cosa Mi Metto???
how cool is this skull embellishment bag!? such a great statement piece. and goes perfectly with your pink dress. nice look indeed!
Maikeni blogi - part of me
oh that bright pink looks absolutely amazing on you! i love it!
That dress is fabulous and the color is very pretty on you!
Rowena @ rolala loves
love the color of your dress! looks so pretty on you.
that dress is so pretty! i love the colour and the pretty bow at the top!
♥ Ellen
Facebook + Instagram
У вас очень интересный блог! Теперь с удовольствием буду следить за вами на bloglovin ;)ReplyDelete
I love the colour of your dress:)
That dress looks great on you! Maybe pink is your color :)
xo Mary Jo
You look AMAZING as always:) and your blog makes me smile everytime I visit.
Check out my new post..Autumn fashion from Other Stories:)
Have a great weekend dear
LOVE Maria at inredningsvis - inredning it's, Swedish for decor :)
So so cute!!! I love your style here!
Miss Margaret Cruzemark
My Darling, you look awsome!ReplyDelete
Hey Very Nice Blog!!! Thanks For Sharing!!!!
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|The Archdeacon of Italy and Malta, pondering a point
His lecture was very engaging, and provoked an interesting discussion following. Fr Jonathan drew on references to three Florences, an ingenious approach given the location. The three were the Revd Florence Li Tim Oi, who was ordained to the priesthood in Hong Kong in 1944, Florence Nightingale, a spiritual director to many men, and Florence Margaret (Stevie) Smith, the poet.
|St Mark's, Florence


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NFL, NFLPA still haven't resolved all protocol for camps
The NFL and the NFLPA haven't come to an agreement on all protocols for training camp and the preseason as the report date for teams draws closer.
The two sides finalized the protocols regarding team travel, media, and treatment response, and have also updated the facilities protocol to specifically address training camp based on recommendations from a joint committee of doctors, trainers and strength coaches formed by the league and players' union.
The league sent a 42-page memo to teams last Friday outlining those proposals. But the NFL Players Association and its president, Cleveland Browns center JC Tretter, say testing and the number of preseason games remain unresolved.
"Our normal return date for training camp is quickly approaching and we are still far from back to 'normal,'" Tretter wrote in a letter on the union's website.
"Our main concern is player safety, both in regard to preventing the virus' transmission as well as preventing injuries after an extended and historically unique layoff."
Tretter reiterated that players don't want to play any preseason games and want a 48-day training camp schedule to give them more time to prepare for the season and avoid injuries. He cited an increase in injuries following the 2011 lockout.
The league last week decided to cut the preseason schedule from four games to two and pushed back the start of exhibition play an extra week to give teams more time to prepare because the coronavirus pandemic forced the cancellation of on-field workouts.
The league previously requested that players report to camp earlier than July 28 to give them more acclimation time for strength and conditioning because they held no formal workouts or team minicamps. But the union declined.
"When we asked for a medical reason to play games that don't count in the standings during an ongoing pandemic, the NFL failed to provide one," Tretter wrote.
A league official told The Associated Press that Tretter's comments were "disheartening" to read because "we've been working in good faith."
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the league doesn't want to engage in a public dispute similar to the contentious discussions between Major League Baseball and its players' union.
"It's not constructive. We'd rather do this face to face," the person said. "The committee understood the utility of playing one or two preseason games to get players ready for game-day conditions, which you can't simulate playing against yourselves, and also to practice the protocols. We will continue working together."
Tretter is concerned players could return only to have the season shut down before it starts.
"It has been clear for months that we need to find a way to fit football inside the world of coronavirus," Tretter wrote. "Making decisions outside that lens is both dangerous and irresponsible."
One idea suggested by the union's medical director, Dr. Thom Mayer, to help control the spread of the virus was to have players wear face masks. The league's engineers and sports equipment company tested prototypes for the masks but players shot it down.
More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL


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News Cameras Catch Cop Handcuff On-Duty Fireman Over a Parking Dispute
A California highway patrol officer handcuffed and detained a firefighter who was treating car crash victims last night after he refused to stop the rescue to move his truck.
The men had both responded to a car crash where a sedan had flipped over a concrete divider on the I-805. When Jacob Gregoir, a firefighter for more than 12 years, arrived at the scene, he parked his firetruck behind the ambulance to provide protection for the emergency responders — something the Chula Vista fire chief said fire crews are trained to do.
But the cop, apparently trying to clear the highway's fast lane, asked firefighters to move their trucks.
The CHP officer, whose name has not been released, told firefighter/engineer Jacob Gregoire to move the engine out of the traffic lane or he would be arrested, Hanneman said. He said Gregoire, who was checking the overturned car for any additional victims, answered that he'd have to check with his captain.
Instead, directly in front of CBS news cameras, the cop decided to handcuff Gregoire and detained him in the back of a squad car for approximately half an hour.
"To detain one of our firefighters in the middle of an incident is ridiculous," Chula Vista Fire Chief Dave Hanneman told CBS.
Supervisors from both agencies had to be called to intervene and Gregoire was eventually released without charges — probably a wise move on the highway patrol's part.
In 2008, a police officer was fined $18,000 after he arrested a firefighter who also refused to move his firetruck during a highway rescue.


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Along with the best tennis and entertainment in the world, the US Open offers premium-dining experiences from Mojito, our Cuban-inspired restaurant and bar to Champions Bar & Grill, a classic American steakhouse. Whether you are in the mood for a light snack, lunch, dinner, meeting friends for cocktails, or satisfying a sweet tooth, our restaurants can cure any craving. Come experience all the US Open has to offer.
Please note that the above categories represent levels within Arthur Ashe Stadium. Louis Armstrong ticket holders can purchase restaurant passes for the US Open Club, but not to Aces/Champions Bar & Grill.
All restaurant passes are subject to availability.


text:
Súhrn vedomostí
How To change Transfer Buffer Sizes
How To
- Select Favorites > Edit Favorites from the SmartFTP menu. The Favorites window appears.
- From the SmartFTP Favorites window select the Favorite to be used. Right click on the Favorite and select Properties. The Properties dialog appears.
- Select Transfer > Performance. From the Performance tab under Buffer Sizes you can change the transfer buffer sizes.
Setting the Send Buffer Size value too high for slow connections might cause timeouts and the transfer speed calculation becomes inaccurate. To read more about the settings please see the Performance - Transfer Buffers article.
Kľúčové slová
slow transfer upload size buffer
Podobné články
Slow transfers
Performance - Transfer Buffers
What do you think about this topic? Send feedback!


text:
Mea Maxima Culpa
It's been over three months since my last post. My apologies to the readers of this site -- both of you.
Mea maxima culpa! What else can I say?
Great Expectations
Wow. It's been over a month since I last posted an article. I apologize to all those readers who have been anxiously awaiting my next post. When I posted my last article, the world was aglow with Obamania. The Big Change was coming and with it a new world order. The overwhelming response around the world to Barack Obama's inauguration was one of hope and excitement. Our new president was the media darling and had practically been deified by Oprah and her fawning hordes. Change we can believe in. A New Hope. Abraham Lincoln, F.D.R., and J.F.K. all rolled into one.
Presidents are judged by the effectiveness with which they met challenges and adversity. Barack Obama has the opportunity to become one of the greatest presidents ever to serve our country. We're facing the greatest economic crisis since the Depression. Our military occupies two countries on the other side of the world. We must deal with a madman in North Korea who may have the capability to deliver nuclear weapons to our soil. Much of the world regards us as overbearing imperialists and even our staunchest allies seem to view us with suspicion.
Heroism is not only in the man, but in the occasion. --Calvin Coolidge
So, into this minefield of challenges steps a great new hope. A man who has fired the fervor of much of America. A man who represents change and a new era. A man who, much of the world believes, can meet these challenges and reaffirm the idea of an America dedicated not to power but to ideals. But can he? How can he possibly meet the expectation level set for him? The bar seems to be incredibly high. What happens if he doesn't meet these impossibly lofty expectations? Will he be considered a failure? Will it harm his ability to accomplish great things? Will the fanatic fervor of his supporters be transformed into a bitter backlash of disappointment?
Being a hero is about the shortest lived profession on earth. --Will Rogers
President Obama must make some very hard decisions that will be unpopular with a lot of people. He's a man, not a messiah. And we're a culture that loves to tear down its heroes -- as witnessed by the recent news frenzies about athletic heroes Michael Phelps and Alex Rodriguez. We can't resist tipping the pedestal upon which our heroes stand. And the higher the pedestal, the more we rock it. It's going to be an interesting ride.
On The Bookshelf
It's been quite a while since I last posted my reading queue. Here's what I'm reading at the moment.
- The Early Asimov, Book One by Isaac Asimov
- The Book Of Martial Power by Steven Pearlman
- blink - The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell
- O'Hara's Choice by Leon Uris
I've always been a fan of Asimov, especially his Foundation series. So, reading a collection of his very early short stories is interesting in that the stories give glimpses of his future storytelling prowess, but mostly reveal a smart and talented young man struggling to learn his storytelling craft and find his voice.
Pearlman's book is fascinating. He not only discusses generating power through the use of proper structural frames and body mechanics, but also about achieving more power by removing impediments to power. Improve the efficiency of your techniques -- instead of relying on muscular exertion -- to achieve more power. Pare away superfluous movements until the techniques are fluid, efficient, and powerful.
Blink is, at its core, about listening to your intuition. It's filled with anecdotal support of trusting your gut but also offers up examples of where 'gut feelings' lead people astray. The author examines how some people seem to consistently make good decisions. He postulates that the best decision makers are those who have learned to examine the information available at decision time and quickly winnow the chaff from the grain -- to filter the pertinent factors from the white noise.
I've just started reading O'Hara's Choice, but it is quickly becoming the dog of this list. I never thought I would say that about a book written by Leon Uris. This is Uris' last book, and I believe it was published posthumously. This book is disjointed and lacks the flow of his other works. It's sad that the storyteller that wrote such great books as Battle Cry, Mila-18, Trinity, Mitla Pass, and Exodus, finished his career with a dud like this. I rarely give up on a book, but I may make an exception in this case.
Be Careful What You Wish For
I recently wrote about the difficulties I had getting an appointment with an ENT to fix a broken nose. I finally was able to see an ENT six days after breaking my nose. He came into the examination room with Michael, a medical student functioning as his assistant.
After a bit of chitchat about how I broke it while training for a black belt test, the doc examines my nose and X-rays (yes, it's broke). He said the nasal bone had a broken piece that was crushed inward and needed to be pushed back up into place. He then asked me if I would like to schedule a surgical procedure to set my nose or if I wanted him to go ahead and try to set it right then.
I hate to admit it but, as someone who is self-employed and carries a high-deductible on his health insurance policy, when he said "surgical procedure" I swear I heard the cha-ching of a cash register.
"Doc, if you can set it now, go ahead and do it," I said. "But you hear that 'if' loud and clear, right?"
The doctor assured me that he both heard and understood exactly what I was saying. He then shot some topical anesthetic up my nose and told me he'd be back in about 15 minutes.
Fifteen minutes later, the doctor is back and asks me if I'm ready. Like a fool, I said yes. Michael, the medical student, tells me he has a morbid excitement as he's never seen this procedure performed. In hindsight, I should have handed him my cellphone to video the next couple of minutes; I'm sure it would've gotten a million hits on YouTube.
The doc quickly puts on a glove, squirts a lubricating gel on his finger and rams his finger up my nostril, pushing on the misplaced bone fragment with all his might.
Now I know that I only had a broken nose -- not a major injury. But, trust me, having someone jam their finger up your nose, pressing on a broken bone, is a very intense experience. He literally lifted me out of the chair by my nostril. Still, that didn't work. He quickly reaches over and grabs an instrument that resembles a reinforced, stainless steel coke spoon. He jams that up my nose and starts prying on the bone piece to pop it back into place.
It was toe-curling, testicle-shrinking pain.
As this is happening, I glance at Michael and he's actually cringing!
At the very peak of the pain -- as I'm about to attack the doctor to make him stop -- the misplaced bone pops back into place. Instant relief. In fact, I felt high from the sudden relief and the huge amount of adrenaline that I'm sure was pumping in my system.
The doc then packs some gauze and antibiotic ointment in my nostril. While the doc applies a hard shield over my nose, Michael starts gushing about how he couldn't believe what he had just witnessed and he'll be telling stories about me forever. I'm so glad I could impress him.
The doc gives me a prescription for a few Tylox and some Percocet. As I checkout of the doctor's office, I joke with Michael and the office staff. In my 'sudden pain relief' state, I didn't notice that I did not receive any care or follow-up instructions. I go get the prescriptions filled and am actually feeling pretty good about now, even posting my picture via mobile upload to Facebook.
That night, however, the pain begins again. And worsens. And worsens some more. Tylox is not making a dent in the pain, but it is making me almost comatose. All Wednesday night, Thursday, and Thursday night, the pressure and pain is horrible. Almost to the pain point I felt when the doc was setting my nose. I'm thinking I have a raging infection in my sinuses and call the doctor's office. Unfortunately, I miss their return call but their message says I cannot have an infection due to the antibiotic ointment and to just continue with the painkillers.
On Friday, I call the doctor's office again, looking for an appointment with him. Instead, they say I already have an appointment scheduled for Monday and instead write a prescription for more painkillers but say I must come pick it up. After two nights without sleep and constant use of painkillers, I can barely walk around the house so I must wait until the afternoon when my wife can pick up the prescription. When she goes to the doc's office, the doc's nurse -- his normal assistant who was not there on the day I went -- tells my wife that I should continue with sinus washes. Sinus washes? I was never told anything about that.
So, while my wife was having the prescription filled, I give myself a sinus wash. An hour later, a huge plug of gauze, blood, and slime comes sliding out of my nose (sorry, no pictures). Again, the pain relief was immediate. A couple of hours later, I do another sinus rinse. And again, another plug comes out of my nostril. Now the relief is complete and the pain is gone.
On Monday, I see the doc at my appointment and he commiserates for a moment about my suffering. I told him about the sinus washes and the plugs; he nods and says the plug was probably pressing directly on my nose break. As the gauze absorbed more blood and slime, it grew and pressed all the more on the break. He apologized profusely for the lack of post-procedure instructions.
So now my nose is set and healing. In about 4-6 weeks total, I'll be able to start sparring again. Hopefully, I'll be a little more elusive when my opponent throws a big overhand right over my jab. If not, I know which of the two treatment options I'll choose.
Pain is only valuable once you know that you've learned from it. --Anonymous
And for those of you who say I should choose a more benign pasttime,
Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever. --Lance Armstrong
Of Broken Noses and Health Care Systems
As I wrote a couple of weeks ago, I've been training hard in preparation for a black belt test scheduled for this Saturday. Thursday night, I sparred with several visiting black belts who had graciously agreed to participate in my testing. Unfortunately, one of them caught me with a punch that broke my nose.
"Yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him?" - William Shakespeare, Macbeth, 5.1
So, Friday morning I call my doctor to see about getting my nose fixed. Unfortunately, my doctor was moving his office to a new location and could not see me. So I ask the receptionist if the doctor can just refer me to an ENT specialist.
"No, the doctor cannot give referrals without seeing the patient first. You'll need to go to Urgent Care."
"Can you make an appointment for me at one of your practice's other locations? With another doctor?"
"No, we've already booked up all the other doctors with referrals today. You'll need to go to Urgent Care."
Instead, I decide to call my insurance company to see if I can just make an appointment directly with a specialist, cutting out the middleman as it were. Yes, it turns out I can "self-refer" to a specialist as long as they are a participating provider.
So, I call the ENT and spend the next 30 minutes arguing discussing whether my insurance will allow self-referrals or not. Finally, they call my insurance company and find that I was indeed correct.
"Our first appointment for a non-referral is December 23.", I'm told.
"That's 11 days from now! I'm self-referring; what do you mean by non-referral?"
"You don't have a referral from your doctor."
"If I had a doctor's referral when could I be seen?"
"In 3-5 days, when your swelling subsides."
Arrrggghhhh... I feel the rabbit hole open up beneath me.
I give in and go to Urgent Care. After only two hours, I'm seen by a doctor. I tell him that all I want is a referral to an ENT. He says he can't give a referral without a diagnosis and he needs X-rays to ensure I have a broken nose. He ignores me as I volunteer to ensure a broken nose by punching myself in the nose.
So, I have X-rays and, yes, my nose is broken into 3 pieces (surprising given that I don't think it's that misshapen). The doctor says he will give me a referral to an ENT. Great, I think, I'm on my way.
The staff member charged with dismissing me tells me that I'll need to take my X-rays to the ENT when I see them. So, I ask if I can just have the X-rays right then to save a trip later.
"No, you must have an appointment with a specialist before we can release your X-rays." he says with a kind of sigh that tells me the he's been down this road before.
"But they're my X-rays! Why can't I have them? And once I have an appointment with an ENT, how are you to know whether I'm telling you the truth anyway?" I argue with him.
"I know. The system is screwed up isn't it? All I can tell you is that you need an appointment first."
I walk out of Urgent Care and call the ENT, hoping to get an appointment and immediately pick up my X-rays. The ENT has not received the referral from Urgent Care. I'm amazed that such things aren't automated, but apparently Urgent Care usually faxes referrals. The appointment manager at the ENT tells me that Urgent Care is usually prompt with referrals and since it's now late Friday afternoon, I should call back Monday morning for an appointment.
Monday morning comes...still no referral from Urgent Care. Monday noon comes...still no referral from Urgent Care. I call them and am told that they're running behind from the weekend and will fax the referral shortly. Monday mid-afternoon comes...still no referral. I call again and ask if I can pick up the referral in person to take the ENT. Of course not.
Tuesday morning comes...still no referral from Urgent Care. Tuesday noon comes...you guessed it, still no referral. Finally, the ENT staff has pity on me, calls Urgent Care, and has the referral faxed immediately. I wish they had done this yesterday.
So now I can make an appointment with an ENT. Unfortunately, the earliest opening they have is at 3:15pm on Wednesday at their office on the other side of town. Oh, and they'll be "working me in" so I may have to wait a while. Want to bet that they look at my nose, confirm that it's broken, and schedule another appointment to fix it?
The Splinter
Our doubts are traitors and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt. --William Shakespeare
On December 20th, I am scheduled to test for a 1st dan black belt in karate. As the date approaches, I'm recalling how I used to feel every semester in college as finals approached -- a strange mixture of anticipation and dread. I'm eager to prove myself worthy of the honor, yet wondering if I'm truly up to the task.
Logically, I know that I wouldn't be invited to test if my Sensei didn't think I was ready for this challenge or worthy of the rank. And I'm confident that I know the material and can perform well. But there's still the little splinter of self-doubt that has burrowed into me, causing a bothersome worry out of proportion to its size. A single heckler plainly heard over a large audience.
When in doubt, sing loud! --Robert Merrill
So, how do I pluck the splinter and quell the doubt? All I can do is to keep training and honing my skills, while trying to keep perspective on how far I have progressed instead of dwelling on my weaknesses and shortcomings. In other words, focus on the journey traveled instead of the remaining distance. I've heard it expressed as "not thinking in the gap". When assessing your progress towards goals, focus on your progress and accomplishments instead of obsessing over the gap between your current capability and the idealized goal. Because by the simple striving for the goal, I have progressed mightily and greatly increased my capability.
Consult not your fears but your hopes and your dreams. Think not about your frustrations, but about your unfulfilled potential. Concern yourself not with what you tried and failed in, but with what it is still possible for you to do. -- Pope John XXIII
He Chose…Poorly
Today, I ran across this list of poorly chosen domain names and I'm still laughing about it. I would normally attribute the source of this list, but a quick search reveals that it has been plagiarized many, many times. So, what's one more? Instead, I present it verbatim.
All of these are companies that didn't spend quite enough time considering how their online names might appear - and be misread...
- Who Represents is where you can find the name of the agent that represents any celebrity. Their Web site is
- Experts Exchange is a knowledge base where programmers can exchange Advice and views at
- Looking for a pen? Look no further than Pen Island at
- Need a therapist? Try Therapist Finder at
- There's the Italian Power Generator company,
- And don't forget the Mole Station Native Nursery in New South Wales,
- If you're looking for IP computer software, there's always
- The First Cumming Methodist Church Web site is
- And the designers at Speed of Art await you at their wacky Web site,
Election Debris
As I drive around town, I am struck by the large amount of election sign clutter on the roadways. Everywhere I look, there is an election sign littering the landscape. I think of all the raw materials, energy, and time wasted on manufacturing, distributing, and placement of this litter; it's enough to make Al Gore cry...or maybe not.
When I arrive home and check my mailbox, it's stuffed full of election material. I wouldn't mind this printed material so much if it contained thoughtful and detailed treatises of a candidate's platform, views, and plans. Instead my mailbox is stuffed with election fluff: postcards, flyers, and brochures; none of which have a single useful bit of information other than to shout the candidate's name. Again, what a tremendous waste of materials and energy for something that will go straight into a landfill.
And it's not just physical signs and literature. Every day my voicemail is cluttered with recorded election messages. What's the use of a "do not call" telemarketer law when the caller is a computer playing a recorded message? How is it that election campaigns are allowed to skirt the "do not call" lists? Is the American electorate so shallow as to be truly influenced by a 20 second recording?
I am so glad today is election day so that the phone calls and junk mail will end. Unfortunately, I will still have to see roadside election signs for weeks to come. I know that campaigns are supposed to clean up after an election, but I somehow suspect that they're lacking in motivation and manpower after an election. I've noticed that some of signs are cleaned up, but I'm guessing that over half the signs are left to rot on the roadside.
I'm certain there's an insightful symbolism between the wasteful clutter and our frenzied election process, but I'm too tired to articulate it at the moment.
Halloween – The Gateway Holiday
While driving around town, I've noticed a number of churches having events on Halloween night. I know that most Christians consider Halloween to be a harmless holiday that holds no threat to the spiritual lives of children. Yet there are some denominations that shun the holiday because they believe it celebrates, and therefore trivializes, evil and the occult. Apparently, they consider Halloween to be like marijuana, a gateway to more powerful and harmful influences.
It all begins harmlessly enough -- a toddler dressed up as a cute pumpkin as he shyly asks neighbors for treats. Soon, little Johnny's wearing a pirate costume and intimidating smaller children into giving up their candy. Next, Johnny is flinging toilet paper through the trees of the neighborhood crusty curmudgeon's yard. As a young man, Johnny is leading a cult and sacrificing goats in a clearing in the woods while chanting Satanic curses!
Finally, Johnny adopts a sinister nom de guerre, hatches plans to conquer the world, and kills people using sharks with frickin' laser beams!
And it all began with a Tootsie Roll.
In The End
A few months ago, I posted a list of dead-end jobs. Jobs with a sinister meaning to the term 'termination'.
This job doesn't quite qualify as a "dead end" job, but it's definitely in the end.


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I was chatting with my girlfriend earlier tonight when she told me of a strange occurance with her computer at school. Not quite what to make of it myself, so I thought I'd run it by my fellow AO folks.
Apparently earlier today, she was using her computer, and on either Google or Yahoo at the time. For a moment, she turned around to talk to one of her roommates and when she turned back around, her screen had turned blue (though not the typical Blue Screen of Death) with a message that said 'You have the RPC Doom Virus'. Also on this screen apparently were Yes/No buttons and some question relating to those...don't remembe exactly what. Instead, she just clicked the X to close the window. I Googled around to try and find some info about this message, but I didn't find anything decent. I'm pretty sure she doesn't have an antivirus program installed, nor a firewall (and yes, I've harped on her plenty about that). So what could be the cause of this? Could it be that she's infected by one of the many MyDoom's out there or could it be just a normal pop-up? Is there even a such thing as an 'RPC Doom Virus'? She is on ResNet at school, so that's why I worry.
Briefly, also today somehow her IE start page managed to get changed from being set on mail.yahoo.com to this exact page: www.syspage.com/ads/homepagesai.php?id=start1. Attached is a JPEG of the exact page that she saw (with some identifing info edited out). Now, I'm not so concerned with the actual page itself as browsers have a bad habit of giving away tons of info and it's an ad screen. I'm just curious as to how it could have been automatically changed without her doing anything. Any thoughts on that?
Her machine: P2 300, 64 MB ram (I think), Win98 (possibly SE), not sure which version of IE.
Thanks in advance as any help or light shedding would be appreciated And I apologize for the potential vague-ness as I'm unable to actually take a look at her machine myself (damn these long distance relationships!!)


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NUI Galway Lecturer Recognised with National Teaching Award
NUI Galway Lecturer in Geography, Dr John Morrissey, is among fifteen higher education staff representing six different institutions recognised as exemplifying excellence in teaching at the annual National Academy for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning (NAIRTL) awards. The award presentations will take place at a special ceremony in Dublin in September.
Now in its fifth year, the NAIRTL awards recognise higher education teachers who demonstrate outstanding dedication to their teaching and have made an exceptional impact on student learning. This year's winners are no exception and were chosen from thirty-one detailed submissions from fourteen different Higher Education Institutions across Ireland. The 2012 winners represent disciplines as diverse as Business, Chemistry, Geography, the Humanities, Paediatrics, and Physical Sciences, and were nominated by senior staff in their institution to go forward for the highly competitive award.
Dr Morrissey is a Lecturer in Geography and Director of the MA in Environment, Society and Development at NUI Galway. His research interests are in geopolitics and post-conflict development, which he has published on widely. He was an IRCHSS Fellow in 2007/2008. His teaching is driven by a passion for engaging his students and to this end he is a keen advocate of both field-based learning and technology-enhanced learning. In 2011, Dr Morrissey won NUI Galway's President's Award for Teaching Excellence and in 2012 he completed an MA in Academic Practice at NUI Galway.
Dr Jim Browne, President of NUI Galway, said: "It is great news that Dr Morrissey has been recognised by NAIRTL as an exemplary teacher. NUI Galway has a successful record at the NAIRTL awards, with awards being presented to our lecturers each year since the formation of NAIRTL. This is a huge achievement and a testament to the quality of nominations put forward by this University. Dr Morrissey was a recipient of our internal awards for teaching excellence in 2010-11. This scheme recognises the outstanding efforts academic staff make to ensure NUI Galway students receive the highest quality learning experience. We look forward to continued collaboration with NAIRTL and to further success in the national awards scheme in 2013."
NAIRTL was established in 2007, and its vision is one where research and teaching go hand in hand. Previous recipients of the National Award for Excellence in Teaching include senior and junior staff members from thirteen different Higher Education Institutions in Ireland.


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Government Affairs Committee
The Government Affairs Committee oversees government affairs activities, including the development of position papers, calls to action, and related activities, as well as representing the Institute on legislative-related committees for the National Association of REALTORS® as stated in the official Institute bylaws.
Responsibilities & Functions
Stay current with government affairs issues that are relevant to the Institute membership with timely responses and action when appropriate.
Assess government affairs issues
- Collaborate with the Institute Legislative Staff Liaison
- Develop appropriate response white papers and position statements following Institute policy
Promote Legislative Update programs
- Communicate through Electronic communications
- Have legislative informational programs at the National Land Conference
- Write summaries of meetings to share with members on the Institute Website
- Contribute timely articles to the official biannual Institute publication, TERRA FIRMA
- Include updates on the Institute's website under the Government Affairs Tab


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For most, putting on deodorant is a necessary ritual on par with brushing teeth or washing hands. But for people who produce no armpit stench, it is totally unnecessary.
Despite that, nearly three-quarters of those people still use deodorant daily, a new study finds.
The findings, published January 17 in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, show just how much a person's daily life is dictated by what's considered normal.
"They're spending their money, exposing their skin to what may in a few instances not be good for their skin. It sort of suggests to me that there are a lot of conformists around," said study co-author Ian Day, a genetic epidemiologist at the University of Bristol. [10 Odd Facts About the Female Body]
Smelly genes
Several years ago ago, scientists discovered that a gene called ABCC11 determined whether people produced wet or dry earwax. Interestingly, people who produce the "dry" version of earwax also lack a chemical in their armpits that bacteria feed on to cause underarm odor.
"This key gene is basically the single determinant of whether you do produce underarm odor or not," Day said.
While only 2 percent of Europeans lack the genes for smelly armpits, most East Asians and almost all Koreans lack this gene, Day told LiveScience.
No one knows exactly why gene prevalence varies so much between populations, but its absence in East Asia suggests that being stinky was evolutionarily selected against there over the last several thousand years, he said.
Unnecessary routine
The new findings came as a surprising twist on a larger study investigating chemical exposures in 6,495 women and their babies in Britain. Researchers took blood samples (which contain genetic material) from the women and asked them what types of hygiene products they used daily. As a result, the researchers could investigate how genes related to product usage.
About 98 percent of the women had the gene for smell-producing armpits. Of those, 95 percent used deodorant on a regular basis.
But of the the 117 non-odor producing women, over three-quarters still used deodorant daily. That suggests the majority of women are using a product every day, when they have no need to, Day said.
Though the team didn't look at men, they think the results should generalize. (Other studies have found that men in general are slightly less fastidious in their deodorant use, Day said.)
Because the study didn't intend to look at deodorant use, the researchers can't tease out why smell-free women continue to slather on the odor-reducing product. But one possibility is that social pressure or conformity plays a large part in some of our most common hygiene routines, Day said.
- Macho Man: 10 Wild Facts About His Body
- 10 Things You Didn't Know About You
- 15 Weird Things Humans Do Every Day, and Why
Copyright 2013 LiveScience, a TechMediaNetwork company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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No matter how big or small the hospitality business is hoteling software is its lifeline. It has features that make it easier to manage. It has been especially designed to help resorts, motels and hotels, the backbone of hospitality industry. It has been designed by experienced software professionals ensuring the features suit the hospitality module. It works excellently with multiple OS platforms and thus is an effective software solution in handling daily routine work.
This hotelling software brings along with it savings of time which is an added advantage. It is designed to initiate automatic processes, which in turn cuts down on required for additional resources.
The use of hotel management software has gained prominence in the hospital industry. Inexpensive and affordable, it perfectly suits large, medium and small-scale motels, hotels and similar accommodations. Everything that is involved with a motel or hotel such as accounts, inventory, restaurant, inventory or reception is taken care by it. The software is imbibed with features such as record keeping. This helps to authorities for automatic management of guest history profile, daily business book and many more.
LAN compatible, backup facility, instant preparation of invoices/bills, user definite data access, view of current liabilities and assets coupled with balance sheet, cash receipt management, and credit card management, etc. are some of its fantastic features. All these features contribute in getting the work done faster and quicker with bare minimum faults.
The hotelling software developers responsible for coming out this software also entertain customized needs. Be it a reservation or management software, they incorporate latest technological features such as web booking engine in your website. In other words, integration of personalized menu buttons is possible if you so desire. Inclusion of such features goes a long way in enhancing your performance and subsequent revenue generation for your hospitality venture. Emphasis is given to keep the operation requirements of the software to fewer steps thereby bringing comfort for your workforce.


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Bluetooth. Think about Bluetooth. Are you thinking about 10th-century bloodshed and Danish warmongering? You should be. The same tech you use to make dorky phone calls is named after a man responsible for uniting the modern nation of Denmark. Violently.
The firm itself has no qualms about its militant Viking past:
Bluetooth technology was named after a Danish king, King Harald Blatand, who had a penchant for snacking on blueberries and was known for uniting warring factions in what is now Denmark, Norway and Sweden. Uniting devices from different manufacturers and with different purposes, like computers from Apple and mice from Microsoft, is what Bluetooth technology is all about – all at a low cost, with low power consumption and a secure connection every time.
Not only that, but Bluetooth's ugly logo is derived from the old Danish runes of H and B.
You see, your wireless headset is like one warring Danish faction, and your iPhone is like another warring Danish faction. Harald, whose teeth may or may not have been blue from eating blueberries (or the frozen flesh of the dead) brought these groups together, and then proceeded to conquer his opposition and foreign intruders. Bluetooth on your phone is just like that. So it's a fitting tribute by the Swedes at Ericsson, who invented Bluetooth—although somewhat of an odd nod, given that Harald and Sweden were at odds.
But that was long ago. The Scandinavian blood has dried, and in that sanguine patch, convenient, safe wireless conversations, and crappy streaming audio. We salute you, Harald.
[Bluetooth, Thanks Ari Tiziani!]


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Obama's catch phrase: 'Let's be clear'
a) Pencils up: This is the takeaway.
b) What I've said doesn't mean what you might fear it means – or what my opponents will tell you it means.
c) I am not going to get rolled on this one.
d) All of the above, and then some.
"Let me be clear."
In the first six months of Obama's presidency, this simple sentence has gone from political pet phrase to full-on rhetorical signature, appearing (along with its variants "let's be clear" and "I want to be clear") scores of times in the commander in chief's pre-written and extemporaneous remarks – sometimes more than once in a given speech.
But what does he mean when he says it? And why does the president who made "transparency" a national buzzword use it so often?
It depends on whom you ask.
"All speakers have verbal tics – habits they repeat, usually without even consciousness," says former George W. Bush speechwriter David Frum, who believes the president's repeated use of the phrase is just that – a verbal twitch.
But the phrase is not simply an overbred "um" – it serves a function. At its most basic level, says Kathleen Hall Jamieson, director of the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania, "It's a pointing phrase. It's a phrase that says, 'What I'm about to tell you is important.'" And not coincidentally, notes Jamieson, when the president says it, "What's your natural response if you're a reporter? Sound bite."
Agrees David Kusnet, a former speechwriter for Bill Clinton: "If you're going to say something you want the audience to remember, you have to say something before it." He notes that the bridge to FDR's famous "fear itself" line was "So first of all, let me assert my firm belief that…" – a kind of era-appropriate version of the same idea.
The phrase "let me clear" is hardly unique to Obama, even among presidents. Ronald Reagan used it as a warning: "Let me be clear—if Congress passes legislation that endangers our arms reductions, or undermines our national defense, I will have no choice—I will veto it." Clinton favored its use for thorny issues, although he generally preferred "make no mistake about it." (Obama sometimes uses the short form, "make no mistake.")
Critics on both the right and the left have flagged the phrase as a sign that Obama is being disingenuous, a la President Nixon's favored iteration, "Let me make one thing perfectly clear."
"'Let me be clear,' says Obama, and, as with George Bush's rapid eye movements when he was telling a lie, you know the forty-fourth president is on the brink of some absurdity," opined The Nation's Alexander Cockburn earlier this month. Or as one Salon.com commenter put it: "Whenever I hear Obama say 'let me be clear,' I know what he is about to say is full of s—-."
But this is too glib of a gloss.
If Clinton peppered his speeches with the phrase, Obama salts his liberally with it – and not at random. When taken together, the statements that have followed it read like the Cliff's Notes to the first six months of the administration, with the president carefully staking out positions both foreign and domestic with an eye toward controlling the message and bringing along the skeptics in the crowd.
In foreign affairs, he uses the phrase to assert policy, to take and assign responsibility, and to warn against mistaking diplomacy for weakness, sometimes amassing multiple "clear" statements over time to achieve a complex and highly specific result:
"Let me be clear: The United States strongly supports the goal of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security."
"Let me be clear: America is committed to Israel's security. And we will always support Israel's right to defend itself against legitimate threats."
"But let me be clear: The United States has made a lasting commitment to defeat al Qaeda, but also to support the democratically elected sovereign governments of both Pakistan and Afghanistan."
"And I want to be clear: We cannot turn a blind eye to the corruption that causes Afghans to lose faith in their own leaders."
At home, the president frequently uses the line not only to get his audience's attention, but also to anticipate his opponents, and to steer the public's interpretation of his words:
"Now I want to be very clear: While we are making important progress towards fiscal responsibility this year in this budget, this is just the beginning.
"…so let me be clear: If you like your doctor or health care provider, you can keep them. If you like your health care plan, you can keep that too.
"But let me be clear: The choice we face is not between some oppressive government-run economy or a chaotic and unforgiving capitalism."
"Let me be clear: The United States government has no interest in running GM. We have no intention of running GM.
(The method is not entirely foolproof; the Fox News web headline on the GM story read, "Obama Says He Has 'No Intention' of Running General Motors).
"One of the knocks on Obama during the campaign was that he kind of speaks in platitudes, these kind of feel-good principles," notes Thomas E. Nelson, an associate professor of political science at Ohio State University who studies political communication. When he says "let me be clear," Nelson says, the president is "conveying determination, he's combating this sort of platitude criticism, and he's signaling that this is the take-home point and to ignore anything that appears to diverge from that."
Although she doubts it is deliberate on the part of the president or his speechwriters, Deborah Tannen, professor of linguistics at Georgetown University and author of "The Argument Culture," sees the phrase as potentially working on three levels:
"I'm pointing to the point I want you to listen to, I'm pointing to the interpretation that I want you to have, and maybe there's something there on the meta level, where I'm saying something about me as a person, that I'm being clear," she says.
That third level in Obama's case is one that ties into his public image as a foe of smoke and murk, the enemy of Beltway business as usual.
Says Jamieson: "It's a way of saying, I'm a candid person. This is who I am" – something she says signals back to the president's campaign themes of open, honest government.
Whether it is conscious or not is not even necessarily important. Any time people engage in a habitual rhetorical move, notes Jamieson, "it tells you something."
So if Clinton's frequent use of "make no mistake about it" suggested an underlying sense on the part of the Rhodes Scholar that his audience wasn't always smart enough for him – and Bush's regular extemporaneous use of the phrases "I fully understand" and "I'm fully aware" were on some level rebutting the rap that he didn't and he wasn't -- Obama's constant repetition of the phrase "let me be clear" is perhaps a tell that he's greatly concerned with his own…transparency – and defending the public perception thereof.
"With Nixon, "clear" was "You can trust me," says Kusnet. "With Obama, it's, "I'm going to speak clearly, to cut through the political fog."
And above all else, he wants to make sure we're clear on that.


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Recently there has been some terrific news, it is now legal to smoke medical marijuana in New Jersey, you can now smoke legal medical marijuana in 14 states. I am sure more and more US states will follow as it is high time that the government helps its citizens who are in medical need.
New Jersey is that latest US state to recognise the huge value of medical marijuana. For both seriously ill patients and people who are trying to minimise the affects of various illnesses.
The debate against medical marijuana is that the medicine could fall into the hands of recreational users. Fortunately the majority of the New Jersey senate realised that there was more good than harm from passing this law.
Many people with illnesses such as AIDS, Glaucoma and cancer could reap the benefits of medical marijuana. Sure a few extra recreational smokers may get their hands on some of the medical marijuana but this is a small price to pay.
Fortunately it looks like the USA is leading the way by encouraging other countries to legalise medical marijuana.
We would like to hear from anyone who is using legal medical marijuana. How has using legal medical marijuana changed your life?


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Biomarkers /
Back to Biomarkers List
Associated Genetic Biomarkers
Associated Diseases
Associated Pathways
NRAS A146V is present in 0.01% of AACR GENIE cases, with cutaneous melanoma, mature T-cell and NK-cell neoplasm, and pleural biphasic mesothelioma having the greatest prevalence [4].
Biomarker-Directed Therapies
NRAS A146V is a predictive biomarker for use of binimetinib, cetuximab, and panitumumab in patients.
Of the therapies with NRAS A146V as a predictive biomarker, 2 are FDA-approved and 3 have NCCN guidelines in at least one clinical setting.
Colorectal carcinoma and melanoma have the most therapies targeted against NRAS A146V or its related pathways [5].
Binimetinib +
Melanoma -
|Biomarker Criteria:
|Predicted Response: Primary Sensitivity
|Clinical Setting(s): Metastatic (NCCN)
|Note: Recommended for NRAS mutated tumors that have progressed after prior immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy (category 2B).
Cetuximab +
Colorectal Carcinoma -
Biomarker Criteria:
Sample must match one or more of the following:
|Predicted Response: Primary Resistance
|Clinical Setting(s): Metastatic (FDA, NCCN, ASCO)
Panitumumab +
Colorectal Carcinoma -
Biomarker Criteria:
Sample must match one or more of the following:
|Predicted Response: Primary Resistance
|Clinical Setting(s): Metastatic (FDA, NCCN, ASCO)
Significance of NRAS A146V in Diseases
Melanoma +
1. Hart R and Prlic A. Universal Transcript Archive Repository. Version uta_20180821. San Francisco CA: Github;2015. https://github.com/biocommons/uta
2. The UniProt Consortium. UniProt: a worldwide hub of protein knowledge. Nucleic Acids Research. 2019;47:D506-D515.
3. Liu X, Wu C, Li C, and Boerwinkle E. dbNSFP v3.0: A one-stop database of functional predictions and annotations for human nonsynonymous and splice site SNVs. Human Mutation. 2015;37:235-241.
Liu X, Jian X, and Boerwinkle E. dbNSFP: A lightweight database of human nonsynonymous SNPs and their functional predictions. Human Mutation. 2011;32:894-899.
4. The AACR Project GENIE Consortium. AACR Project GENIE: powering precision medicine through an international consortium. Cancer Discovery. 2017;7(8):818-831. Dataset Version 8. This dataset does not represent the totality of the genetic landscape; see paper for more information.
5. All assertions and clinical trial landscape data are curated from primary sources. You can read more about the curation process here.


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Postersfrom $8.95
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text:
Tiger Nursery Art | Baby Girl Zoo Art | Grey and Pink | Safari Wall Decor | Jungle Nursery Art
Tiger Nursery Art | Baby Girl Zoo Art | Grey and Pink | Safari Wall Decor | Jungle Nursery Art
Sale Sold out
Regular price $10.00 USD
Regular priceUnit price per
Sale price
This sweet tiger print will look so cute hanging on the walls of a baby girl zoo nursery. Colors can be changed to match a baby boy's nursery also.
- Shown in baby pink and shades of gray (color chart in listing photos).
- Select color options at checkout - add custom colors in note section.
- Please note colors may vary slightly from what you see on your monitor.
- Color chart for purchase here.
- Freshly printed to order on heavy 69 lb luster paper.
- Paper has a nice sheen to it without being glossy.
- Premium archival inks are used for vibrant color and longevity.
- Paper prints need to be framed and DO NOT come matted or framed.
- Prints last a lifetime under glass.
- Design is printed on 19 mil (thickness) 450 gsm (weight) matte finish archival canvas.
- Premium archival inks are used for vibrant color and longevity.
- Canvas is hand-stretched and wrapped tightly around a wooden frame & neatly stapled in the back.
- Available in a depth of 0.75" or 1.5".
- Canvases will not yellow or scratch.
- Comes ready to hang with hardware already attached. No need to purchase frames!
- Paper prints are carefully packaged in a cellophane acid-free sleeve in a large sturdy flat mailer (or tube for larger prints) with cardboard inserts to prevent bending.
- Canvas prints are packaged in an acid-free cellophane bag and placed in a sturdy heavy-duty cardboard box.
PRODUCTION TIME (this is our normal turnaround time):
- Paper prints: 1-3 business days
- Canvas Prints: 2-4 business days
Feel free to contact us with any questions.


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The Lord is shown here as the Good Shepherd, and He carries on His shoulders the Lost Sheep symbolizing all of us who have strayed from the perfect path of righteousness in thought, word, and deed. Christ is not a passive God, indifferent to our alienation, suffering, and pain, but a most interactive God Who will never rest until everything possible is done to bring us the blessedness of Heaven, but still honoring our own necessary but free choice to cooperate in our little will with His big Will to save us.
God, having given us His Image and Likeness in our creation and the stamp of His freedom in that Image, gives each of us a most important choice. Although He will do all the difficult things to make us be remade into the Heavenly Man, our synergy (Greek for cooperation) is an absolutely necessary ingredient for our salvation. God will not save us against our own will.
His choice has been made and is free from all guile. He would save all that call upon Him in truth, so all that do not follow Him have made a choice, either consciously or unconsciously. Behold the Bridegroom cometh! Let us go out to meet Him.


text: SOS Children's Village Santa Ana Many families in El Salvador lack the necessary support to better their situation and thus ensure that their children will be able to escape the cycle of poverty as they become adults. The safety, health and education of children must be ensured to achieve long-term improvement and a peaceful society. El Salvador has not yet completed its post-war transition to a peaceful society Children In the village often form close relationships with each other. (photo: SOS archives) Santa Ana is the capital of the department of the same name in western El Salvador and has a population of over 250,000, making it the country's second most populous city. The department was once inhabited by the Mayas and contains a number of archaeological sites. Today, Santa Ana's economy is based mainly on commerce, the service industry, and agriculture such as coffee growing. The new Longitudinal del Norte highway running through the Santa Ana department all the way to Guatemala has resulted in an increase in drug trafficking in the region, mainly by the Mexican-Colombian Texis cartel. This type of organised crime leads to violence and insecurity for the already struggling population. Children need education and support on the road to becoming successful adults Due to the very difficult socio-economic conditions many families here face, it is not uncommon for children to have to work, sometimes in very hazardous environments. Children participate in agricultural activities, work as domestic employees, sell merchandise on the streets or shine shoes. Many children are also involved in picking through the large rubbish dump just outside of Santa Ana, searching for recyclable materials to sell. The children usually work in pairs, with the older of the two picking through the new rubbish delivered by the trucks, and the youngest children guarding the day's loot. They then divide whatever money they earn and take it to their parents. Often, these children are from fragmented families where parents struggle with unemployment, alcohol or drug addiction, and in some cases, children themselves become substance abusers. One of the reasons that child labour is common is that for many families, the struggle to meet immediate needs, such as food and clothing, is more pressing than long-term goals such a solid education for their children. SOS Children's Villages cares for children whose parents are no longer able to look after them, and we provide support to young people on their path to becoming adults. What we do in Santa Ana Boys and girls in Santa Ana can enjoy playing in a secure environment (photo: SOS archives) Boys and girls in Santa Ana can enjoy playing in a secure environment (photo: SOS archives) SOS Children's Villages began its work in Santa Ana in 1985. Today, 15 SOS families can provide a loving home to up to 144 children who are no longer able to live with their parents. In each family, the children live with their brothers and sisters, affectionately cared for by their SOS mother. When young people from the children's village are ready to leave their family in order to pursue further education or vocational training, the SOS Youth Programme provides shared accommodation. The young people live here together and, with the support of qualified counsellors, they can learn to take responsibility, plan their future and prepare for independent adult life. One of our SOS Vocational and Training Centres is also located in Santa Ana. Here, future SOS mothers and co-workers are comprehensively educated and prepared for the important roles they will take on in an SOS Children's Village.


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Home >
News & Policies >
Policies in Focus
The President Has Enacted New Free Trade Agreements That Are Benefitting American Farmers, Workers, And Small Business Owners
The President leveled the playing field for American workers by increasing the number of countries partnered with the U.S. on free trade agreements (FTAs) from three to 16. One additional agreement has been approved by Congress but is not yet in force and agreements with three countries are awaiting Congressional approval. Thanks in part to President Bush's leadership on free trade, America's exports now account for a larger percentage of our Gross Domestic Product than at any other time on record.
The United States currently has trade agreements in force with:
Overall goods and services exports have increased by more than 50 percent between 2000 and 2007 to a level that accounts for more than 13 percent of our GDP, greater than any time in history. Exports to the 11 trade partners with FTAs that went into effect between 2001 and 2007 grew more than 70 percent faster on average than U.S. exports to the rest of the world during the periods in which the FTAs were in effect. President Bush opened new markets for American farmers and ranchers, which helped create a record level of U.S. agricultural exports of $92.4 billion in 2007, up more than 70 percent since 2000. In addition, he ensured other countries abided by trade rules and won or settled 24 trade disputes brought by the United States to the World Trade Organization since 2001.
This Administration negotiated and signed a trade agreement that helped increase U.S. exports to Central America by nearly $8 billion from 2005 to 2008. U.S. exports to Central America dramatically increased following initial entry into force of the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR). CAFTA countries increased their annual goods exports to the U.S. from $14.7 billion in 2005 to an annualized $15.6 billion in 2008, an increase of 6.5 percent, which has supported jobs in the region.
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Does Sudan have more pyramids than Egypt? In this series, we explore the splendours of the ancient Kingdom of Kush and the legacy it left behind in the land of the Black Pharaohs
The Island of Meroe
Following the Nile as it flows north, some 200 kilometres from Khartoum, one comes close to the last capital of the Kushite Kingdom, one of ancient Africa's most prominent cultures. The site, known as the Island of Meroe, is no island at all, but rather an expanse of land that stretches between the Nile and the Atbara River. One of two UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Sudan, the archaeological sites of Meroe includes Meroe itself, Naga and Musawwarat es-Sufra.
Visitors to these isolated sites will find pyramids, temples, relics of residential buildings and irrigation infrastructure dating from as far back in time as the eighth century BC.
The Kingdom of Kush, which was heavily influenced by Ancient Egyptian culture, built its own pyramids, over two hundred of them. Whether at Meroe, El-Kurru or Nuri, the unique architecture of these pyramids is self-evident.
Unlike their Egyptian counterparts, the Nubian pyramids are much smaller in size (a base no broader than eight metres), very steep (an angle of seventy degrees) and rather elongated (no higher than thirty metres). Before delving into more details, we start with the first site.
Naga, at the Hall of Natakamani
A monumental pylon looms at a distance. As we came closer, we could decipher the bas-reliefs: the King Natakamani and his wife and co-regent Queen Amanitore appear grasping their enemies by the hair and beating them triumphantly.
This first-century temple is dedicated to a local god: Apedemak, the Kushite lion-headed warrior deity. On the sidewalls, Natakamani is accompanied by Apedemak, Horus, and the ram-headed Amun, while a curious image of Apedemak as a lion-headed snake emerging from a lotus flower never fails to grasp attention.
Back to the pylon, one can easily understand why many visitors like to think of this temple (and other Sudanese ones) as Pharaonic, while, in reality, they are only of Pharaonic inspiration.
These monuments are all Kushite, and a closer look would reveal artistic features typical of their culture: the Queen has clear African features, and the same goes to the broad-shouldered King with his round head and his necklace of large beads. Moreover, the Queen is depicted as the same size as the King, something symbolic of an equally important role.
A stone's throw from the temple is an interesting kiosk with a hybrid style that fuses Egyptian, Greek and Roman elements. No interpretation whatsoever is offered. Not far from here is yet another temple, a big temple dedicated to Amun, also commissioned by the King Natakamani.
In addition to the hypostyle plan and the colonnades, the Temple of Amun has its own avenue of rams, reminiscent of the one in Karnak, Luxor.
Musawwarat es-Sufra
The Great Enclosure, dating from the Napatan Period, is the name given to an architectural ensemble comprising three temples, all with courtyards, chapels and ramps. Why ramps? The answer comes from a funny-looking statue of an elephant.
Other reliefs of elephants here and in the nearby Lion Temple led many Egyptologists to conclude that the Great Enclosure served –among other things- as a place for training elephants for battles.
As for the Lion Temple, it is a compact and elegant structure dedicated to Apedemak by the King Arnekhamani. Dating from the third century BC, it is one of the earliest Merotic monuments, and its interior presents a fantasy world of elephants, lions, sphinxes and griffon-like creatures depicted on the walls and the columns. The temple in its current state is a reconstruction dating from 1969.
"Clearly visible from the Khartoum-Atbara highway, the pyramids of the Royal Cemetery of Meroe stand alone on a sandy ridge like a row of broken teeth," Paul Clammer, the Bradt Travel Guide – Sudan.
These teeth were broken (or better said, these pyramids were decapitated) by Western explorers and treasure-hunters in search for gold. Giuseppe Ferlini is probably the one name responsible for most of the damage.
Someone once said that the pyramids were archeologically significant but visually unimpressive. As we approached the Royal Pyramids of the Northern Cemetery (one of three pyramid fields of Meroe), we quickly came to realise that that was wrong.
The landscape in this pyramid field, dominated by the perfect harmony of the massive yellow sand dunes and the reddish hue of over thirty pyramids, is made even more serene by the absolute absence of tourists and touts tying to sell you a papyrus roll or a camel ride.
The site has a melancholic feel, and the clustering of so many pyramids in such compact a space only adds to the magic. The pyramids here have funerary chapels attached to their eastern side, something that cannot be seen in Egypt. Some thirty kings, eight queens and numerous princes were buried here, with the oldest burials dating to the third century BC, and continuing all the way to the fourth century AD.
Several construction styles are visible, and can be classified into types: stepped stone courses, smooth surfaces, moulded corners, hybrids; the examples are many. As we silently roamed between these pyramids, we came to wonder about the fate of Meroe, which came to an end with the rise of Axum in Ethiopia and the vandalism of the Bedouins, among other factors.
My travel companion and friend Ahmed Yehia, who has a graduate degree in cultural management, summed it up nicely: "Meroe is a place where you not only see the history in front of you…you also feel it. I couldn't have believed that such a place existed with all these pyramids around you…I'm sure people in Egypt don't know about this amount of pyramids in our sister country Sudan."
Our words were swallowed by the looming silence. A slight breeze carried the sand westwards, towards the direction of our next destination: Jebel Barkal and the land of the Black Pharaohs.


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Publications by Research Area
Sheppard, Colin, Julia Szinai, Nikit Abhyankar, and Anand R. Gopal."Grid Impacts of Electric Vehicles and Managed Charging in California." (2019).
Park, Won Young, Nihar Shah, Brian Holuj, Noah Horowitz, and Alex Hillbrand."Model Regulation Guidelines for Energy-Efficient and Climate-Friendly Air Conditioners." (2019).
Shah, Nihar, EE Task Force, and UNEP TEAP."Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, Volume 3: Decision XXX/5 Task Force Final Report on Cost and Availability of Low-GWP Technologies/Equipment that Maintain/Enhance Energy Efficiency."UNEP Report of the Technology and Economic Assessment Panel 3 (2019).
Rajagopal, Deepak, and Amol A. Phadke."Prioritizing electric miles over electric vehicles will deliver greater benefits at lower cost."Environmental Research Letters 14.9 (2019).
Phadke, Amol A., Won Young Park, and Nikit Abhyankar."Providing reliable and financially sustainable electricity access in India using super-efficient appliances."Energy Policy 132 (2019). DOI
Shah, Nihar, Max Wei, Virginie E. Letschert, and Amol A. Phadke."Benefits of Energy Efficient and Low-Global Warming Potential Refrigerant Cooling Equipment." (2019) 59.
Abhyankar, Nikit, Jiang Lin, Xu Liu, and Froylan Sifuentes."Economic and environmental benefits of market-based power-system reform in China: provincial versus regional grid optimization." (2019).
Bauer, Gordon S., Amol A. Phadke, Jeffery B. Greenblatt, and Deepak Rajagopal."Electrifying urban ridesourcing fleets at no added cost through efficient use of charging infrastructure."Transportation Research Part C: Emerging Technologies 105 (2019). DOI
Park, Won Young, Nihar Shah, and Amol A. Phadke."Enabling access to household refrigeration services through cost reductions from energy efficiency improvements."Energy Efficiency (2019). DOI
Phadke, Amol A., and Elif Tasar."Working Paper 004: Big Batteries on Wheels - The economic, environmental, and resilience case for rapidly converting diesel locomotives to battery-electric." (2019).
Letschert, Virginie E., Nihar Shah, Won Young Park, Nihan Karali, Ambereen Shaffie, Sarah K. Price, Nikit Abhyankar, Ari Darmawan Pasek, Edi Sartono, Hari Kusmardianto, and Andi Novianto."Accelerating Cooling Efficiency in Indonesia." (2019).
de la Rue du Can, Stephane, Lynn K. Price, Nan Zhou, and Amol A. Phadke."China and India: Energy Service and Related Material Demand Projections."38th International Energy Workshop (2019).
Hu, , Junfeng, Qingyou Yan, Xingmei Li, Zhong-Zhong Jiang, Fredrich Kahrl, Jiang Lin, and Peng Wang."A cooperative game-based mechanism for allocating ancillary service costs associated with wind power integration in China."Utilities Policy 58 (2019) 120 - 127. DOI
Letschert, Virginie E., Nihan Karali, Won Young Park, Nihar Shah, Gilberto Jannuzzi, Fernando Costa, Roberto Lamberts, Kamyla Borges, and Suely Machado Carvalho."The manufacturer economics and national benefits of cooling efficiency for air conditioners in Brazil."eceee 2019 Summer Study (2019).
Covary, Theo, Stephane de la Rue du Can, and Mercy Shuma-Iwisi."A Review of the Residential Efficient Lighting Programme Rollout in South Africa."eceee 2019 Summer Study (2019).
Yin, Rongxin, Girish Ghatikar, and Mary Ann Piette."Big-Data Analytics for Electric Grid and Demand-Side Management." (2019).
Shah, Nihar, EE Task Force, and UNEP TEAP."Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, Volume 4: Decision XXX/3 Task Force Report on Cost and Availability of Low-GWP Technologies/Equipment that Maintain/Enhance Energy Efficiency (Advance Copy)."UNEP Report of the Technology and Economic Assessment Panel 4 (2019).
Park, Won Young, Nihar Shah, Chao Ding, and Yi Qu."Challenges and Recommended Policies for Simultaneous Global Implementation of Low-GWP Refrigerants and High Efficiency in Room Air Conditioners." (2019).
McNeil, Michael A., Nihan Karali, and Virginie E. Letschert."Forecasting Indonesia's electricity load through 2030 and peak demand reductions from appliance and lighting efficiency."Energy for Sustainable Development 49.April 2019 (2019). DOI
Deshmukh, Ranjit, Grace Wu, Duncan S. Callaway, and Amol A. Phadke."Geospatial and techno-economic analysis of wind and solar resources in India." (2019).
Khanna, Nina, Chao Ding, Won Young Park, Nihar Shah, and Jiang Lin."Market Assessment of Multi-split Air Conditioning Systems in the Chinese and Global Market." (2019).
Zhou, Nan, Lynn K. Price, Dai Yande, Jon Creyts, Nina Khanna, David Fridley, Hongyou Lu, Wei Feng, Xu Liu, Ali Hasanbeigi, Zhiyu Tian, Hongwei Yang, Quan Bai, Yuezhong Zhu, Huawen Xiong, Jianguo Zhang, Kate Chrisman, Josh Agenbroad, Yi Ke, Robert McIntosh, David Mullaney, Clay Stranger, Eric Wanless, Daniel Wetzel, Cyril Yee, and Ellen Franconi."A roadmap for China to peak carbon dioxide emissions and achieve a 20% share of non-fossil fuels in primary energy by 2030."Applied Energy 239 (2019) 793 - 819. DOI
Zhou, Nan, Jingjing Zhang, Nina Khanna, David Fridley, Shan Jiang, and Xu Liu."Intertwined Impacts of Water, Energy Development, and Carbon Emissions in China."Applied Energy 238 (2019) 78 - 91. DOI
de la Rue du Can, Stephane, Aditya Khandekar, Nikit Abhyankar, Nina Khanna, David Fridley, Nan Zhou, and Amol A. Phadke."Modeling India's energy future using a bottom-up approach."Applied Energy 238 (2019). DOI
Dutton, Spencer M., Chris Marnay, Wei Feng, Matthew Robinson, and Andrea A. Mammoli."Moore vs. Murphy: Tradeoffs between complexity and reliability in distributed energy system scheduling using software-as-a-service."Applied Energy 238 (2019) 1126 - 1137. DOI


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The Central government has given Rs 5 lakh each as compensation to two Mizo women who lost their sanity after being allegedly gangraped by Indian Army soldiers 47 years ago, at the beginning of a 20-year insurgency in what is now the state of Mizoram.
Relatives of the two women told The Sunday Express that they "wept for joy" at the Centre's gesture, which came after former members of the Mizo National Army (MNA), the armed wing of the Mizo National Front (MNF) that fought a guerilla war against Indian armed forces between 1966 and 1986, lobbied with Union home ministry officials for compensation for the women.
Sources said the ex-MNA members, who were helped by retired Mizo IAS officer H V Lalringa, visited Home Secretary R K Singh in New Delhi on May 16. Singh is learnt to have advised them to open bank accounts for the women in order to channel the compensation.
Official sources confirmed that the money was recently paid from a secret fund after clearance from the highest authorities in the home ministry. The home ministry declined to comment officially on the matter.
"I wept when I heard the news from bank officials on Wednesday evening," J Laldula Sailo, a brother of one of the women told The Sunday Express over the phone from East Lungdar in Mizoram's Champhai district.
"I immediately hugged my sister and told her God has been kind to her after all the suffering," he said.
Sailo, who retired as a teacher from a government middle school and the son of the erstwhile tribal chief of Mualcheng village where the alleged sexual assaults took place, said that his sister these days sits around smoking most of the time, with a blank expression on her face.
He said she can do almost nothing by herself, and needs help to go to the bathroom or relieve herself. "She eats very little, and can only perform small tasks like putting her plate in the sink after she has eaten," Sailo said. "But she is generally not at all troublesome. She just sits quietly in a corner."
Sailo said his sister and her childhood friend were raped one night in November 1966 at Mualcheng, after Army personnel advanced towards the village after being fired upon by MNF rebels in East Lungdar. The soldiers were fired upon again as they came close to the village, and in retaliation, they herded all the villagers together and set fire to their homes.
Lalnghakliani Lailung, a state government employee and the younger sister of the other woman who was raped, said the two girls were kept separately in a small shack, where soldiers allegedly took turns raping them. Both the victims were daughters of prominent villagers — while the father of one was the erstwhile chief, the other was the daughter of the head of the village council.
"Since our parents died long ago, my siblings and I take turns to look after my sister. She has extreme paranoia, and for many years after she was raped, she would sew together long nightgowns and refuse to sleep alone. Even now she keeps talking of a big dark man she sees in nightmares, and is very suspicious of everyone. She says we are impostors who have dressed up like her siblings to harm her," Lailung said over the phone from Kolasib, the headquarters of a nothern district, where she plans to build a house to live with her sister. Her sister currently stays with relatives in another small town.
"I was so happy that I wept and prayed when I was told the compensation had come. The former MNA men have been very kind to us, pursuing the issue all these years," Lailung said.
"In a sense, we feel this gesture is an acknowledgment and an apology by the central government for the atrocities committed during those troubled times," she said.
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A long-time defender talks grizzly conservation
A Q&A with Louisa Willcox, who has spent 30 years fighting for grizzly protections.
Updated 4/12/2013
Ever since she first saw a grizzly bear while backpacking in Wyoming's Absaroka Mountains in the early 1970s, Louisa Willcox has been fascinated by them. Other than stints in outdoor education and journalism (including an internship at High Country News in 1979), Willcox has spent most of her professional life at the center of grizzly bear conservation in the Northern Rockies. While at the Greater Yellowstone Coalition, she organized a successful campaign to block a proposed gold mine next to Yellowstone National Park and was a lead advocate for halting clearcutting in grizzly habitat on the Targhee National Forest. In 2002 she became the Natural Resource Defense Council's senior wildlife advocate, and later aided the effort to get grizzly bears re-listed as a threatened species after the Bush administration removed them from the Endangered Species List in 2007. When federal funding for research on a key grizzly food source, whitebark pine, was delayed, jeopardizing the study, NRDC jump-started the work. The group paid for a series of airplane flights that revealed how much pine beetles had decimated the trees, showing that whitebark pine was functionally gone from most of the ecosystem. Recently, two of Willcox's pet goats were killed by mountain lions, an experience she says helps her continue to empathize with ranchers who lose sheep and cattle to predators. Willcox, now living in Livingston, Mont., recently retired from NRDC, and HCN caught up with her by phone.
HCN: Can you give a brief overview of grizzly conservation, both before and since 1975, when they were listed as a threatened species by the Endangered Species Act?
Willcox: Bears then were, and still are, at roughly one percent of the former numbers in about one to two percent of the former habitat. There were roughly 100,000 grizzly bears when Europeans first set foot on the continent. They were west of the Mississippi to the California coast, Canada and Alaska to Mexico. And in 1975, when they were listed, the scientific experts at the time were very fearful that grizzly bears would not survive. They were in a downward, sort of death spiral. And but for the ESA protections, they probably wouldn't be here today.
HCN: How did the ESA help grizzlies?
LW: What the ESA brought to bears was first was the halting of hunting. And that was because of low reproductive rates. You couldn't hunt 50 bears a year and have a stable population. The second thing that happened was that Yellowstone Park, which had been the center of conflicts with people, including a couple of fatalities, cleaned up what were open pit garbage dumps, and then they instituted a very strict program of bear-proof dumpsters in all the campgrounds and food storage poles in the backcountry. Over time, Yellowstone, which was the epicenter of dying bears, completely changed. And now bears hardly die at all in the park.
Another thing that happened was, under the ESA section seven requires federal oversight by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service of any activity that could adversely affect grizzly bears. Several projects were mitigated or altered or stopped by virtue of this oversight provision. And then another thing that's hard to quantify is the prohibition against illegal killing of bears. There can be very, very high fines. And that probably had a positive impact against poaching.
HCN: What changes in attitudes towards grizzly bears have you seen in that time?
LW: I have always been impressed with the amount of respect and fondness for grizzly bears by people. Hunters and ranchers do not demonize bears. They're not monsters of God. I think one thing that has helped over the years is the consistent voice of government officials but also of scientists who have been out in the public arena talking about why bears are cool and what challenges and threats they still face. And I think people understand that.
HCN: But some people do oppose federal grizzly bear protection, arguing they should be managed by the states.
LW: Idaho, Montana and Wyoming are increasingly aggressive about trying to get the keys to the car of managing grizzly bears. The states have become a major force proposing delisting (removing grizzly bears from the endangered species list). Unlike other states that have broadened the funding base (for their wildlife departments), the three states around Yellowstone are largely driven by license fees. And hunter numbers are declining. But instead of figuring out how to broaden their base financially, to reflect changes in the demographics of the region, the states are really narrowing their focus and continuing to cater to hunters. You can take a look at what's going on with the gray wolf situation where the hunts have been very, very aggressive. If that occurs with grizzly bears, they are going to be in really deep trouble.
HCN: Last summer, then-Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar told Wyoming Governor Matt Mead that he would delist grizzlies by 2014. What are your other concerns about delisting?
LW: One of the really disturbing things over the current debate over delisting is that it appears as if the Interior Department has already made a decision to delist, even though there is current science underway relative to the impacts of the loss of whitebark pine (which grizzlies rely on for their fatty, high-protein seeds). Whitebark pine ended up being a centerpiece in the litigation that got the grizzly bear relisted in 2009. The federal government didn't even think about that in their 2007 delisting decision, but that turned into a pretty key piece of the two court rulings that said whitebark pine loss is a major threat to grizzly bears and you need to consider that before delisting. I believe that delisting is grossly premature. There are too many unknowns and too many threats that haven't been dealt with.
HCN: What is your level of faith that states would manage the grizzly bear population well after they're delisted?
LW: There would be a period of time, after delisting, for about five years or so where the federal government will be looking over the states' shoulders. But after that all bets are off.
And we're seeing more and more direct political interference with state and federal management by ultra-right-wing, highly mobilized groups, especially groups sponsored or supported by the National Rifle Association. We're seeing a radicalization of the Safari Club and Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, and the creation of Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife, whose ideology is based on demonizing predators. And those forces were not around when I started this work. In the 1980s and 90s you could find bipartisan support for a variety of environmental problems, not just endangered species, but it's very, very hard to find that now, especially related to large carnivores.
HCN: How will government funding and staffing cuts affect grizzly conservation?
LW: Budget constraints are always an issue. And where I've seen it the most pronounced is one of the most important areas of conservation, and that is reducing conflicts (between grizzlies and hunters, ranchers and herders). Budget priorities are not in expanding the cadre of supportive conflict-reduction specialists that make a huge difference in whether the bears live or die. And then you compound that with direct political intervention in decision-making, like Governor Mead pressuring the Secretary of Interior, asking 'when are we going to get the de-listing,' that kind of thing. It creates an environment where those in state or federal agencies are always looking over their shoulder at what Congressional office is going to be on their case next. I really saw this increase with the Reagan administration and when James Watt was Secretary of the Interior. And the Clinton and Obama administrations have not reversed that trend.
HCN: You have said that agencies are "are perpetually us versus them — your forest, your park, your state, your county — rather than bringing people together. I've rarely seen any kind of useful coalition being formed by the agencies." Can you talk about that a little bit more?
LW: There is the superficial appearance of coordination. Here's an example. In the discussion of hunting bears after de-listing, one logical idea is to try to create a total ecosystem-wide cap on mortality, so that if Wyoming kills a bunch of bears, and if you've had a high level of human-caused mortalities in a year, then the next year you don't hunt bears in the whole ecosystem to try to make up for that. And the states would not agree to that. They don't want to be constrained by what other states are doing.
HCN: What's are the biggest challenges in grizzly conservation?
LW: I think a lot of the easy stuff in terms of grizzly bear conservation has been done. The low hanging fruit has been plucked, like garbage-related issues.
The harder efforts relate to habitat protection outside (Yellowstone), and connectivity. Yellowstone is an isolated population of grizzly bears, and it has lost a fair amount of genetic diversity since its isolation over 100 years ago. The agency's response to that is, let's just truck a bear in every 10 years. And our response to that is, that's not really recovery. So if you can connect bears to other populations, then you don't have to be bound to this artificial importation of bears every 10 years, which is expensive and might not work.
HCN: It seems like the groups with the most sway over government policy are the ones that are most vocal and have the most money to spend, right?
LW: Federal agencies are really ill-equipped to deal with a broad array of public interests. And because of that they tend to then answer to a very narrow set of public interests that's sort of biting them at the moment. For example, on the de-listing decision in 2007, 99.9% of the public said no, yet the federal government just barged ahead based on pressure from the states and a narrow set of the public: outfitters, ranchers, agriculture groups and energy interests.
This isn't just any landscape. This is the nation's first national park. And it's one of the last intact ecosystems in the lower 48 states, one of the last places that has grizzly bears in it, one of the last places where we can get it right. And there's been always a great deal of public interest in Yellowstone and what happens there. And yet there is not a system in place that really coherently and systematically tries to understand those different public values and respond to them in a proactive, productive way.
Interview conducted, condensed and edited for clarity by Emily Guerin, assistant online editor at High Country News.


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03 veebr. Being In Balance – Dr. Wayne Dyer
In this inspirational work, beloved best-selling author Dr. Wayne W. Dyer shows you how to restore balance in your life by offering nine principles for realigning your thoughts so that they correspond to your highest desires.
Imagine a balance scale with one end weighted down to the ground, and the other end—featuring the objects of your desires—sticking up precariously in the air. This scale is a measurement of your thoughts. To restore the same balance that characterizes everything in our universe, you have to take up the weighty thoughts so that they match up to your desires.
The seasons reflect the overall harmony of life. For example, winter passes and the blossoms emerge. This is balanced by a need to have the trees rest, so autumn arrives on time and helps the trees ready themselves for another period of repose. This book is dedicated to the idea that we're a vital component of this creative process and have within ourselves the wherewithal to create all that we want if we recognize and revise out-of-balance thoughts.