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One of the last things you might imagine seeing hovering above the dense jungle canopy of the conflict-riven Democratic Republic of Congo in Central Africa is a futuristic-looking air ship powered only by the sun.
But for the last 30 years, Canadian entrepreneur Jay Godsall has been hoping to do just that. Since high school, he has dreamt of building a solar-powered airship to help deliver critical supplies to remote areas in Africa. Now, finally, his project is beginning to grow some wings.
"Airships are older than radios, older than automobiles," claims Godsall, Founder of Solar Ship, the Toronto-based company now building the unique aircraft, "but no one has quite had the mission to do something like this with one."
The solar ship is a hybrid aircraft - part bush plane, part airship - powered by solar panels, lifted by helium, and designed to access some of world's most hard-to-reach places, where roads don't exist and planes can't land.
Solar panels - spread across the topside of the aircraft - power an electric motor, which then turns a propeller and provides the thrust necessary for taking off, flying and landing. The aircraft is suspended by a giant helium-filled balloon, which generates lift statically (exactly like a blimp.) The buoyancy from the helium also helps counterbalance the weight of the solar panels and batteries.
The real secret to the solar ship, however, is its ability to land just about anywhere. Unlike an airplane or airship, it is capable of taking off and landing in an area the size of a soccer field- one piece of infrastructure found virtually everywhere in Africa.
So far, the company has successfully built and piloted three solar ships of different sizes in Canada's rugged and remote northern territories. All of these reasons are why Godsall believes the ships are perfectly placed to deliver critical supplies to remote areas in Africa.
Hospital ship
One of the greatest challenges to providing emergency relief services — such as medicines, vaccinations, food and essential supplies — is access. Traditionally, small bush planes and fully loaded 4x4's have been used to serve the more "off-grid" communities, but their reach can be limited.
For example, in a place like the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, thick jungles and rolling hills make it impossible for even the smallest planes to find enough space to land. Most rural roads are seasonal, and in the rainy season - when you have the highest potential for the spread of deadly diseases like malaria, dengue fever and cholera - these roads become nearly impassible.
If a car gets stuck or runs out of fuel, an entire stock of cold vaccines (which need to be kept below a certain temperature) can spoil.
A solar ship could simply drop in to these places without infrastructure, roads, or landing strips, and deliver the essential goods.
Godsall says it's about solving the "last mile problem", a phrase more commonly used to describe the difficulties in connecting the final leg of telecommunications networks to remote customers. In the context of international aid word, however, fixing the last mile gap can mean the difference between life and death.
"The project is about delivering medicines, and making sure people don't die" claims Michel Reugema, Godsall's former classmate who is from Burundi, in a Solar Ship fundraising video "The idea really hit home when my younger brother went 80 km outside of Bujumbura [in Burundi] and had a medical condition. He needed supplies, couldn't get them, and died."
While the humanitarian need is clear, whether a giant solar-powered airship is the solution Africa really needs, or can afford, is perhaps less so.
Dr Amy Lehman, founder of Lake Tanganyika Floating Health Clinic, an organisation that uses small boats to supply medical treatment around the great lake, including eastern Congo, has her reservations. She says a giant hovering aircraft no one has seen before might bewilder some communities. "The eastern Congo is not a place you can just pull up in your hospital ship."
Dr Lehman's organisation uses small boats in its operations, although they would eventually like to build a large ship — of the water going kind. However, she says the organisation has taken its time "because we need to build the right relationships with local communities and partners," something she believes anybody using a solar ship would also have to do.
However, Solar Ship is not an aid organisation. They are an aircraft manufacturer with a social agenda, aiming to lease or sell solar ships to organisations and partners as another tool in their transportation arsenal.
Still, they may find it difficult to lift off in the African market.
Defying gravity
First, they are not cheap. A 30m (90ft) ship able to carry 500 kg (1000lb) - enough for one medical personnel and supplies to service a town of 2,000 people - costs around $1 million to buy outright, or around $30,000 a month to lease. While this is far less than a new bush plane, which can cost upwards of $5M, it's still no small chunk of change.
"It's priced for large agencies and foundations," Dr Lehman says, "but they aren't always the ones reaching the last mile. It's usually the smaller, grassroots organisations who are on the ground- who know where soccer fields are, so to speak."
She says other technology focused projects, such as Matternet, a project that aims to use a network of unmanned drones to perform similar deliveries, could also face the same problem.
Then, there's the issue of helium. The price of helium - normally generated as a byproduct of natural gas mining - has doubled in recent years, from $95 to $200 for a 500-baloon capacity tank. While you can find balloon vendors in almost every African city, creating a supply chain for a fleet of 30m wide balloons won't be easy, or cheap.
In fact, California-based Airship Ventures, operators of the world's largest passenger airship, the Zeppelin Eureka, which ferried passengers around Northern California, shut down last year after just four years in operation. The company cited a "world helium shortage" that increased the company's operating costs and a long-term sponsor "had not materialised"
There may be more financial support for aid delivery than for luxury Zeppelin cruises over California's wine country, but Solar Ship may still find themselves up against similar challenges.
Late last year, Solar Ship launched a $1m crowdsourcing campaign on the IndieGoGo crowd-funding website to pilot their first 'African Mission.' Sticking to Godsall's 30-year old dream, they will fly a solar ship from Cape Town to Lake Victoria, stopping every 500km to deliver fresh medical supplies to surrounding villages through local partners.
With less than 20 days to go, they've raised barely $6,500. However, Godsall claims that they have investors willing to back the full $1m, if the campaign doesn't succeed.
"Many people have been trying to bring back the airship," says Godsall "but then the laws of physics kick in and these projects have a tough time finishing. When you're defying gravity with something new, everything needs to be checked out and properly tested before you send it up."
So why should they succeed where others have failed? Persistence, he says. "We build em', fly em', build em' and fly em', and now, we've nailed it."
If you would like to comment on this story or anything else you have seen on Future, head over to our Facebook page or message us on Twitter.


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subset: commoncrawl


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Large forest fires have occurred more frequently in the western United States since the mid-1980s as spring temperatures increased, mountain snows melted earlier and summers got hotter, according to new research.
Almost seven times more forested federal land burned during the 1987-2003 period than during the prior 17 years. In addition, large fires occurred about four times more often during the latter period.
The research is the most systematic analysis to date of recent changes in forest fire activity in the western United States. The increases in fire extent and frequency are strongly linked to higher March-through-August temperatures and are most pronounced for mid-elevation forests in the northern Rocky Mountains.
The new finding points to climate change, not fire suppression policies and forest fuel accumulation, as the primary driver of recent increases in large forest fires.
"I see this as one of the first big indicators of climate change impacts in the continental United States," said research team member Thomas W. Swetnam, director of the Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research at The University of Arizona in Tucson.
"We're showing warming and earlier springs tying in with large forest fire frequencies. Lots of people think climate change and the ecological responses are 50 to 100 years away. But it's not 50 to 100 years away -- it's happening now in forest ecosystems through fire."
The researchers found the wildfire season now starts earlier, fires last longer and the fire season ends later.
"The length of the fire season has increased almost two-and-one-half months compared with 1970 to 1986," Swetnam said. "That's a remarkable thing in itself."
In recent years, wildfires in the western United States have burned hundreds of homes annually and caused extreme and sometimes irreversible damage to natural resources. Fire-fighting expenditures for wildfires now regularly exceed one billion dollars per year.
The research report will be published in the July 6 issue of Science Express, the online version of the journal Science. Anthony L. Westerling, formerly of Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla, Calif., led the research team, which included Scripps scientists Hugo G. Hidalgo and Daniel R. Cayan and UA's Swetnam. Westerling is now at the University of California, Merced. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. Forest Service and the California Energy Commission funded the research.
The fire management and scientific communities have thought that U.S. forest fires have been increasing since the 1980s. Research to explain such fires has focused on either climate or 19th-and-20th century land-use practices, such as livestock grazing, logging and fire suppression.
To see what role climate might play, the Scripps-led research team compared western U.S. fire history, the timing of snowmelt, and spring and summer temperatures for the 34 years from 1970 to 2003.
From wildfire data covering western U.S. Forest Service and National Park Service lands, the researchers compiled a comprehensive time series of 1,166 forest wildfires of at least 1,000 acres that had occurred between 1970 and 2003.
To figure out the timing of peak snowmelt in the mountains for each year, the researchers used the streamflow gauge records from 240 stations throughout western North America.
The team also used other climatic data including seasonal temperature observations and moisture deficit, an indicator of dryness.
The researchers determined that year-to-year changes in wildfire frequency appear to be strongly linked to annual spring and summer temperatures and to the timing of spring snowmelt.
"At higher elevations what really drives the fire season is the temperature. When you have a warm spring and early summer, you get rapid snowmelt," Westerling said. "With the snowmelt coming out a month earlier, areas get drier overall. There is a longer season in which a fire can be started and more opportunity for ignition."
The researchers found that 56 percent of the wildfires and 72 percent of the total area burned occurred in early snowmelt years. By contrast, years when snowmelt happened much later than average had only 11 percent of the wildfires and 4 percent of the total area burned.
Climate model projections suggest warmer springs and summers are more likely to occur in the West, amplifying the region's vulnerability to wildfires, the researchers note in their article.
The researchers suggest that more severe fires could change forest composition so drastically that the western forests, which currently store atmospheric carbon dioxide, could become a source of atmospheric CO2. Additional carbon dioxide could further warm the climate and exacerbate the fire problem.
Swetnam was initially skeptical that climate was driving recent large-scale changes in fire frequency. Doing this research changed his mind.
"I had thought it was primarily fuel load. These results suggest that for most western U.S. forests, climate is a primary driver and fuel is secondary." He added, "In the Southwest we know we have a fuel problem. You lay on top of that warming temperatures and now we have the worst of both situations -- changed forests and changed climate."
Story Source:
Materials provided by University of Arizona. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.
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ibiza portrait
Enrich your interior with this art photo. We work with crystal clear, museum quality Plexiglas, razor sharp prints and polish the edges. This gives you impressive depth, superior image quality and allows you to present your artwork professionally. In addition, the robust hanging system ensures absolute shape retention and durability of your artwork. Our artwork has the Hallmark of Photo Art. Would you like a different size or color/black and white version of this artwork? If so, please contact us.
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Are you still hesitating between formats, material or multiple works? Send us a photo of your interior and receive a digital preview on your wall. Our interior stylists can also give advice.


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Al Jazeera America nears 1st birthday voicing confidence, building 'for the long run'
As it approaches its first birthday, Al Jazeera America anchor Tony Harris says he's surprised by how good the network is.
The journalistic performance of the network hasn't been reflected by its audience size, though. Viewership remains very low.
But like Harris, network President Kate O'Brian voiced confidence on Tuesday that viewers will catch up with it. She called its corporate parents — the Qatar-based Al Jazeera Media Network — "extremely supportive" and in it for the long run.
Al Jazeera America, which launched on Aug. 20, 2013, has marketed itself as a hard-news and documentary network without a political slant and little interest in fluff.
Harris and O'Brian made the comments during the summer television critics' tour.
Contact Frazier Moore at http://twitter.com/tvfrazier


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January 10, 2013
By Jason Wells
Last fall I gave a presentation in Silicon Valley about mobile analytics. Before the presentation someone asked me what the biggest difference between mobile analytics and "regular" online analytics is.
My reply was simple: Pretty much everything.
Mobile marketing is full of myths
The principal problem with mobile marketing right now is that mobile marketers grew up as online marketers. Thus, they have built-in biases, habits and traditions. Mobile marketers think like online marketers. They market like online marketers. They look at analytics like online marketers. And they optimize their marketing like online marketers.
The only problem is this: mobile marketing is vastly different than online marketing.
How is mobile different?
The biggest difference might be in how users engage with mobile marketing compared to how they engage with regular online marketing.
A stunning 90 percent of mobile searchers take action within one day. A more stunning 70 percent of mobile searchers take action within one hour.
Did you know that the two most common actions after a mobile search are a phone call and a map look-up? Yep, true story.
Mobile is fundamentally different. Yet myths about how to track mobile's effectiveness remain.
The four myths
1. Traditional online analytics are enough
Online marketers know what they are doing. They know how to market, how to measure, and how to optimize. Every online marketer has his or her list of five or six metrics they look at to determine effectiveness. Maybe they look at bounce rate, unique visitors and abandon rates. Or, perhaps, they look at visit duration or total pages visited. They are, no doubt, tracking conversion rates and page views.
This is great – for online marketing.
But here is the problem: far too many mobile marketers are trying to use the same metrics to track their mobile campaigns. They are trying to hammer a square peg into a round hole. That is silly when, according to Google, 68 percent of mobile searchers look up maps to businesses, 61 percent of local mobile searches result in a phone call, and 59 percent of mobile users regularly interact with businesses via social media.
Do traditional online analytics measure any of those things? No, absolutely not.
Traditional online metrics are secondary in a mobile environment. Tracking calls and social media engagement is paramount. Tracking the time someone spent on a mobile site and bounce rate is secondary at best.
Traditional metrics are important—do not get me wrong. But they do not measure the most common forms of mobile response.
2. There are not enough mobile analytics tools available
In 2010, 30 percent of mobile marketers said they did not have enough analytics to measure ROI effectively. That was a problem then. It is not a problem now.
There are dozens of tools that track mobile engagement.
There are entire suites of products that measure social media engagement via mobile devices. There are extremely sophisticated call analytics platforms that go far beyond standard call tracking to truly gather true analytics in a mobile environment.
The bottom line is this: you no longer have a mobile metrics blind spot. There are many tools available for you to use. Do not settle only for traditional online analytics platforms, which do not tell you much about mobile anyway.
3. Do not worry about the phone
This might be the biggest myth of all. The phone lost its swagger as a conversion rate machine in the 2000s. Well, guess what? Mobile has resurrected the phone.
It is back.
Market researcher BIA/Kelsey says that businesses will receive 70 billion new calls from mobile devices by 2016. It also expects that mobile will spark a deluge of calls to businesses that will more than double call volume by 2014. It is literally saying that businesses receiving 20 calls a day now will be receiving 40 calls each day in just over a year.
Mobile produces calls. Nielsen recently said that 73 percent of mobile searchers call a business as a result of their search. Wow.
And getting all of these calls is a good thing. Phone calls are the highest value leads most businesses receive. Our own data shows that inbound phone calls are 15 times more likely to convert to customers than an inbound Web lead that downloaded a white paper or ebook.
Calls are awesome and with mobile you will be getting a lot of them.
4. Gather as much data as possible
This might be the biggest myth of all. Wait – I already said that. Well, this is a big one, too.
The rule of thumb for "regular" landing pages is to include as many form fields as you can without impacting conversion rates.
Mobile, again, is different.
Your mobile landing pages should have one form field at most. They should, ideally, include a click-to-call phone number. Mobile landing page company Atmio says that the majority of mobile landing pages have too many fields.
Remember this: mobile landing pages with only one to two form fields convert 60 percent-plus more than pages with more form fields.
THESE ARE four fundamental myths about mobile analytics.
Before you begin mobile campaigns in earnest make sure you know what you are trying to accomplish and make sure you know how to measure success.
If you are tracking bounce rate and page views, but ignoring phone calls, map look-ups and social media engagement, you are missing the boat. And it is going to be a very big boat.
Jason Wells is CEO of ContactPoint, the developer of LogMyCalls.com, St. George, UT. Reach him at email@example.com.
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Does Oconee County need a new $ 25 Million Courthouse?
January 20, 2014 - By Wendell Dawson, AVOC, Inc
Does Oconee County need a new $ 25 Million Courthouse?
The Oconee County Courthouse has been on this site since Oconee County was created in 1875 and
before that was the courthouse site for Clarke County which included Oconee County.
1.The present courthouse was extensively renovated with a ribbon cutting in November 1998;
Longtime officials posed for this picture when the renovated courthouse was reopened and dedicated in November 1998.
L-R, Wendell Dawson, BOC Chair; Judge James Barrow, Clerk of Court, Sandra Glass, Probate Judge Reba Hammond, Sheriff Charles Holcomb, and jailer, Willie Mae Carson.
2.The present courthouse includes a suite for a Superior Court Judge behind the courtrooms on the third floor;
3.The Courthouse Renovation in the late nineties had considerable input from the Sheriff and Chief Judge Joseph Gaines;
4.Many citizens do not want the courthouse moved from downtown Watkinsville, the County Seat;
A.Security Concerns;
- The renovation of the late 90's left the Old Jail and cells for entrance and holding inmates transported to the courthouse;
- The renovation of the late 90's had a dedicated elevator in the rear of the courthouse for transport of inmates and secure passages were built around the courtrooms for movement of inmates to court;
B.Parking and Access:
- A more long-term solution for parking is a parking deck in the courthouse parking lot;
- Acquire the adjacent 8-10 acres for sale on the south side of the existing complex;
Booth-Marable Tracts Viewed from Old Jail
- Water street or a new route should be upgraded to allow traffic to flow from Main St at the Traffic Light at Hardin Hill Road behind the complex to a revised intersection at Main St and GA 53;
FOR DETAIL, SEE:Oconee County Courthouse Complex Details 10.12.08.pdf x
- Build an Administration Building on the adjacent properties and move the non-court functions to the new Administration Building;
- Pending construction, some administrative functions could be moved to the houses on the adjacent property to avoid the cost of financing and debt for the Courthouse;
C. Downtown:
- Courthouses were traditionally built at the center of town;
- Courthouses that have moved have had a detrimental impact on local businesses and the downtown areas, see Walton-Monroe and Jackson –Jefferson;
- Courthouses remain in the center of town in most area counties;
- Courthouses have remained downtown in Athens-Clarke, Fulton County, DeKalb County, Newton County, Henry County, etc;
- Downtown can allow walking to restaurants, etc during court breaks;
- Does a new courthouse rank higher in importance than increased library space, improved roads, waterlines, sewer improvements;
- New Structures have name plaques on the building and that is a perceived legacy of some elected officials;
- What impact do large, new facilities have on future Property Taxes paid by local citizens for maintenance and operation needs;
- Often one hears that a new facility will provide for "next fifty years" but is that really what happens?
a.The current jail was built less than twenty years after the one that was torn down; the 1980'a model had modal expansion (Pods) possibilities;
"Old 19 Year Old Jail" Torn Down for New Jail
b. The current leaders seem interested in replacing a courthouse that was extensively renovated and expanded in the late nineties, or less than 20 years ago;
c. Do current officials presume to be smarter than past and future county officials – really something to think about!
- Often times new facilities are driven by egos and politics;
- Who benefits from sale of land for a courthouse- are there political connections?Where? Will it be more accessible to major traffic arteries? State law requires the courthouse to be located in the county seat, i.e. City of Watkinsville;
- Do citizens really see public facilities as Memorials to current officials?
- We started hearing about SPLOST 15 in the middle of 2013, a much longer period than earlier SPLOST referendum planning;
- Do our 'approaching retirement" leaders really desire a personal legacy by having a General Obligation bond be part of the vote to allow them to build the courthouse before leaving office?
- How much behind the scenes planning and politics have preceded this perceived rush for a new Courthouse?
- Do we want the same leaders planning the courthouse that located a $1-2 Million Farmington Fire Station on a single lane country road out of sight of taxpayers and hard to access?
9-27-13 Farmington, GA, has new Landmark- a 'State of the Art' Fire Station
Old Farmington Road Looking North –Fire Station on Left
- Many county roads remain subpar for the population, and age in which we live: a number need long-range planning and improvement: i. e.; Colham Ferry Rd is narrow and substandard; Hog Mountain Rd from Butler's Crossing to US 441 is narrow and substandard; Hodges Mill Rd was built for farm-rural traffic of the 50's; and there are many others throughout the county;
- It is hard to make mistakes on road and infrastructure improvements so they may last longer than our "so-called 50 year projects";
- SPLOST was created by the Legislature in the 80's to help local governments provide for infrastructure and capital project needs but seems to many to have become a SLUSH FUND for local officials with large egos and lack of vision;
- Oconee County has considerable needs that rank higher in priority than a $ 25 Million Courthouse; i.e.Roads, Bridges, Water lines in areas needing more fire plugs and protection; expansion of sewer capacity;
Article-Engine © by AlexScriptEngine.de


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Sure, you go to Mexico to relax. We get it. But let's say that, after a few days of margaritas and beach time, you're a little antsy. A quick day trip might be just the ticket.
The nearest colonial town to Cancún is ready for its close-up after two years of polishing. Valladolid is luring visitors with its replanted town square, buildings lavished with fresh coats of colorful paint, and a brand-new crafts bazaar, the Centro Artesanal Zaci, where vendors sell embroidered Mayan dresses, leather bags and huaraches, the rubber-soled sandals favored by locals. Parking spots that once surrounded the square have been banished; visitors now leave their cars in well-marked lots nearby. Stone frogs spout sparkling water in the restored fountain; handsome lampposts surround the square. This small city (pop. 90,000) founded in 1543 has never looked better.
Valladolid (pronounced vaya-doe-leed) is about a two-hour drive west of Cancún—it's near Chichén Itzá, but don't try to do both in the same day. This is a town rich in history. The two churches are both worth a visit. The first, the Iglesia de San Gervasio (known to locals as San Servasio), is right on the main square. A 10-minute walk southwest on Los Frailes Street will take you to the second, the 16th-century terra-cotta-colored Iglesia San Bernardino, a church and Franciscan monastery. Look for ancient frescoes, carved altarpieces and elegantly crumbling plaster walls. Retrace your steps to the town square, stopping on the way atCoqui Coqui. This stylish, Italian-flavored boutique sells gorgeous handmade scarves, fringed bags, and seven different perfumes using local scents like eucalyptus, cedar, agave and plumeria. You can even have a relaxing massage on a table in the garden.
If the day is hot, a refreshing dip will sound tempting by now. A couple of blocks away is the Cenote Zaci, and if you've brought a bathing suit, you can take a swim. (Cenotes are natural freshwater pools found throughout the Yucatán Peninsula, some underground.) The water is 260 feet deep and wonderfully cool, and there's a thatched-roof restaurant overlooking the pool.
Your best lunch spot is steps away from the Iglesia San Bernardino: the surprisingly sophisticated Taberna de los Frailes, with tables in a pleasant walled garden. Try the Frailes Satay for a light meal: skewers of chicken, shrimp and beef; or shrimp Kukulcán—grilled, with achiote. Or stop at the El Mesón del Marqués hotel, right on the square, with tables surrounding an interior courtyard.
Iglesia de San Gervasio: +52.985.856.3116
Coqui Coqui: Calle 41A 207A, Sisal; +52.985.856.5129; coquicoquiperfumes.com
Taberna de los Frailes: +52.985.856.0689
El Mesón del Marqués hotel: Calle 37 #203 x 40 y 42, Acceso #2 Recepción/Estacinamiento; +52.985.856.2280; mesondelmarques.com
NOTE: Information may have changed since publication. Please confirm key details before planning your trip.


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Last week at E3, I got to chat with the fine folks behind the next two Zelda games: the action spinoff Hyrule Warriors and the recently-announced open-world Zelda that will be out next year. Both games are on Wii U.
We talked about what Hyrule Warriors will do, what "Zelda" actually means, and whether a Zelda game will ever star a lady, among many other things. I couldn't resist slipping in a question about Majora's Mask, too. And of course we talked about what next year's Zelda will bring.
The cast, from left to right in the above photo:
Eiji Aonuma, Zelda producer and the guy in charge of the series. Enjoys dancing like a chicken.
Yosuke Hayashi, head of Team Ninja, and a lead on Hyrule Warriors.
Hisashi Koinuma, a producer at Tecmo Koei, also a lead on Hyrule Warriors.
Reiko Ninomiya, a translator who works for Nintendo's Treehouse, who helped us all communicate.
I've already posted a few excerpts from this talk, but some readers have requested the whole transcript, so here's the whole thing, edited for clarity and brevity.
Schreier: There was a lot of talk about the main character of the trailer—is it Link, is it not Link, is it a boy, is it a girl? One of the big questions that it got people talking about is: Would we ever be able to play as a female hero in a Zelda game? Is that something you've ever thought about, or something you're considering?
Aonuma: The main character isn't actually Link—it's the player. Of course we have to have a main character in the story, so Link is that main character. But I don't want him to be like a superhero. I want him to represent any player, have that possibility. So that's why I don't really know if we need or want to define it so clearly.
Schreier: But when you look at Link, you see a certain type of person—you see a male character... There was a case I remember where a father coded Legend of Zelda and made it so you could play as a woman because his daughter wanted to feel like she was really represented in the game. Mr. Aonuma, have you ever thought about that, and whether it'd be more inclusive to female players if they could play as someone of their own gender?
Aonuma: Is it that simple—that creating a female character means bringing more female users into the world?
Schreier: I guess what I mean is, when I'm playing and I see a man—in response to what you said about Link being a representation for the player, and the player being the main character—when a man is playing, he can feel more represented by the player character than a woman playing might.
Aonuma: So there are actually many female characters you can play as in Hyrule Warriors. We've introduced Midna, we've introduced Princess Zelda, and Impa as well. So if that connection needs to be there—I'm not saying that it does—let's see what happens with Hyrule Warriors, if as a result of there being more female protagonists, more women pick up the game, I'm all for it, so I've decided to see what happens with this title.
Schreier: I wanted to talk a little about the open world in the next Zelda game that you announced. I played Link Between Worlds, and I liked it very much, and it was very interesting in the way it changed things up and was non-linear in that you could rent items and choose which dungeons you wanted to go to in whichever order you wanted to go to them. But for Link Between Worlds, in each of the dungeons, you could really only use that one specific item that you needed to bring into the dungeons, and there weren't the multi-item, really complicated, difficult puzzles that other Zelda games often have.
I'm wondering—if the new Zelda is also non-linear, will you run into the same problem? How do you make a Zelda game that is non-linear and also has those kind of difficult dungeons that require you to use multiple items and are very complex and complicated and interesting?
Aonuma: I hadn't actually thought that because there was only one item per dungeon that puzzle-solving was made simpler because of that, and that in contrast multiple-item puzzle-solving was more complicated, so I guess I'll keep that in mind.
About the open world though in the new Zelda game—I heard that there was some concern out there about whether or not the images that were used in the trailer were cinematics or if they were actually in-game graphics—they are indeed in-game graphics. So you saw behind me there were mountains in the background; you can actually go to those on your horse. You can actually ride out to those—I just wanted to clarify that.
But today we're here to talk about Hyrule Warriors, so if possible I think we should shift the conversation to that project.
Schreier: So I know that you can play as Zelda and Midna in Hyrule Warriors. A lot of people have been looking at that and saying, 'Hey, I would love a game where I could play as Zelda, or Sheik'—have you ever thought about making a game where you get to play as Zelda and Sheik as the main character or hero?
Aonuma: I mentioned this earlier, but there are female characters in Hyrule Warriors, and I'd like to see what the result is of people actually being able to do all these things they want to, and if we get the results that in fact do say if people are given the opportunity to play as a female character, then more people will start playing, my ultimate goal is to have as many people as possible enjoy a game so I'd like to see what happens with Hyrule Warriors.
Schreier: So Hyrule Warriors is very much like Dynasty Warriors. Dynasty Warriors has traditionally had a very niche, specific audience. And Zelda, on the other hand, has always had a very broad audience—a lot of people are very interested in Zelda, and Zelda appeals to anybody. Anybody can pick up and play. How do you make something like Hyrule Warriors appeal to a broader audience like Zelda does?
Hayashi: In the past, traditionally the Dynasty Warriors series has been taken place in settings that aren't familiar to Westerners. They have been historically Chinese, or something like that. Because this time the theme is The Legend of Zelda, a franchise that has appealed to such a broad audience, we think this is a good opportunity for first-time players to try the game out, test the gameplay out, see if it fits for them, and maybe open their eyes to a new type of gameplay.
Schreier: So how much involvement did Mr. Aonuma actually have with the development of Hyrule Warriors?
Aonuma: Initially, Hayashi-san and I worked very very closely together in the planning stages, but once we were able to come up with something that gave us a good sense for what our ultimate goal was gonna look like, then I stepped back a little bit and moved into more of a consulting role. So once they started development, it was more of them checking in, looking at new builds, new versions of the game, the progress they were making. I have to admit though, coming up to E3 we talked almost on a daily basis.
Schreier: So Hyrule Warriors is, from what I've seen, it's a very action-heavy game, there's a lot of fighting monsters, and fighting enemies. But when you think of a Zelda game, you don't just think of action, you think of exploration, and puzzle-solving, and dungeon adventuring—are there any of those elements in Hyrule Warriors, or is Hyrule Warriors only going to be about action?
Hayashi: From the initial conceptual stage, when Aonuma-san and I were in the planning phase working really closely together to get a sense of what the game was gonna look like, we decided it didn't really make sense for the team at Tecmo Koei to make a copy of what Aonuma-san and his team develop, but one thing we did make sure to do was to include elements that would make the fans of the Zelda series happy, include things that they would appreciate.
So our decision at that time was to let Aonuma-san's team develop the more traditional Zelda games with the gameplay like the exploration and the puzzle-solving, let him take care of those, and we would work on the celebration title, but I have to say though that sense of accomplishment that is so key to the experience in the Legend of Zelda titles, you do have that in Hyrule Warriors.
Schreier: Does Hyrule Warriors use the GamePad? What kind of ways does it use the GamePad?
Hayashi: There's a co-op version, there's a co-op mode in Hyrule Warriors where two people can play. But we've used the GamePad as kind of the second screen. So in the past when there's been multiplayer in Dynasty Warriors games we've used the split-screen approach. But this time because we have the two screens both players can be playing on a full screen.
Schreier: When I think of Zelda, I don't just think of Link and his sword and shield, I also think of the hookshot, and boomerang, and bombs, and all of the other items and familiar tropes in Zelda's world. Will those all also be in Hyrule Warriors?
Hayashi: Yes, they do, and they're not just used in those battle scenes, but I'm hoping that players look forward to the different ways these tools are used in Hyrule Warriors.
Schreier: Mr. Aonuma, since you talked about Hyrule Warriors during the preproduction stage and then went off to work on the traditional Zelda, how do you feel about other people working on your baby, the series you're in charge of? Is it scary?
Aonuma: Actually, no, I had the same concerns that I do when I leave my team in Kyoto—I give them an assignment and we work on developing a game. Because the check-ins that I do with Tecmo Koei are pretty much in the same frequencies as the ones that I have with my team internally, they happen about once a month. There is the physical space difference, where my team is local, but having worked with the development team at Tecmo Koei, I really get the sense that they are very passionate about the Zelda franchise, and they really love the Zelda franchise. So I really got the strong sense that it wasn't a mistake, that this is actually a really good move, and every check-in that I have where they show me the new version, what they've done with the Hyrule Kingdom is just confirmation of that.
Schreier: You've talked a lot about shaking up the series traditions, and kinda changing things for Zelda in some big ways. For either Hyrule Warriors or future Zelda games like the one you just announced, would you ever consider giving Link voice acting and a personality?
Aonuma: Actually the voice issue is a little bit tricky. We could just make him talk, we could just give him a voice and have him speak, but does that add to how fun the game is? Does that add to the experience? It might actually just make it the same as a lot of other games. By not having him talk, it kinda lowers the hurdle for the player to really feel attached to Link, so that's something that I'm still having to think about.
Schreier: Is it something that you've ever actually experimented with, or made a prototype or anything like that?
Aonuma: (laughter) There are actually a series of videos called Nyan Nyan Mario Time, that are only in Japanese. In those videos, Link was talking, and not only was the actions and the voice a little bit strange, but it just felt strange overall.
Schreier: Why did it feel strange?
Aonuma: (laughter) Link doesn't talk yet, but if he did, he probably wouldn't sound like this.
Aonuma: But you know, in the same way that I have a strong sense for the way Link should sound, I think everybody has a sense for how their Link sounds. And Tecmo Koei I think they agree with me because they opted not to make Link have a voice in Hyrule Warriors either.
Schreier: Do the other characters? If I play as Zelda will she talk in the game?
Aonuma: They just do the "ahhh" sound. This is actually the first Warriors game where characters don't talk.
Schreier: Ah, interesting. Is there a story at all in Hyrule Warriors?
Hayashi: There certainly is. The story happens in kind of this separate Zelda Hyrule world, and Link starts off as a trainee. Through a series of interactions, that's how the story transpires. But in the process I feel like we've really provided players with a little bit different gameplay, and maybe some gameplay they've been looking for, something they're excited to experience.
Schreier: So is the Link we see in Hyrule Warriors the same as the Link we see in Smash Bros and also the Link we see in the new Zelda and all the other Zeldas we've been looking at? Are these all different generations? I don't wanna get into the timeline, but just like a brief overview.
Aonuma: I don't want to get into the timeline either. (laughing)
Hayashi: This is actually a new Link, specifically created for the Hyrule Warriors. He exists within the world that Hyrule Warriors' story takes place. If you can think about Hyrule Warriors and the Legend of Zelda worlds, they're existing in separate dimensions but there is some crossover between the two. And through this crossover you've got shared characters, you've got Link, you've got Princess Zelda, you've got Impa, Midna, and most of the other characters, and enemies, that also have crossed over to this Hyrule Warriors world.
Schreier: If someone is a Zelda fan but hasn't played the Dynasty Warriors games, how would you convince them to play Hyrule Warriors?
Aonuma: In Hyrule Warriors, the Tecmo Koei team did a great job of including a lot of content from the Zelda universe that I think fans of the series will be really excited to see in this new context. We've talked a little bit about the playable characters—there's a host of characters as well that normally you can't play as, but in Hyrule Warriors you can. And in addition, as you're playing as these chars, they've got a variety of attacks and even the team in Kyoto who works on the Legend of Zelda series, as they're playing the game, they're like oh my gosh they're doing things that we couldn't even imagine were possible, or could happen.
So there's lots to enjoy for fans of the series. I think they'll have a lot of fun playing it. In addition, because of the gameplay system that is available, there's a huge battlefield and there are all these battles that take place in these different areas on the field, and depending on how the players should decide to claim those different spaces on the map, the flow will change, the experience will change.
In addition, with the boss battles in Legend of Zelda, the door comes down and you're in the boss's room fighting it out, but in Hyrule Warriors, the boss actually moves around the field, and attacks you and attacks the other enemies and it's all really dynamic. So I think they did a great job of balancing those elements from Zelda that will definitely charm and delight fans of the series but also taking those game system elements from the Warriors series that will create a really exciting experience.
Schreier: I have to ask... I asked readers what questions I should ask you, and the number one question was that you've hinted so many times about a new Majora's Mask or a Majora's Mask remake for the 3DS—will we ever see that?
Aonuma: I do know that fans want to see Majora's Mask. I've heard that voice, it's very, very strong, and I'm always listening, is what I would say.
Schreier: I think people reacted to the teaser in A Link Between Worlds, the mask in the house. People saw that and thought it was a hint for the future, so that's why people are excited about that.
Aonuma: Maybe I was toying with them a little. (laughter) I'm doing everything I can. I hear the voices of the fans. There are so many out there. It's very loud, and just to acknowledge the fact that the need, the want is out there, I put that in there.
Schreier: So in Skyward Sword, a few years ago, I think that a lot of people loved that game—I enjoyed that game quite a bit—but one of the biggest criticisms or complaints was that it took a very long time to actually jump into the gameplay because there were a lot of tutorials and a lot of introduction and cut-scenes in the beginning. Then Link Between Worlds came along and you just jumped in right away. So I wonder, when planning for future games, are you going to go more towards that Link Between Worlds approach or Skyward Sword, or something in between? How do you feel about intros and tutorials these days?
Aonuma: Yes. When we created Skyward Sword, I really felt the need to make sure that everyone playing the game understood it. But I also understand now, in hindsight, that when you go out and buy a game, you buy the game because you want to play it, and you don't want to have any obstacles in the way. And I guess it was received as a bit of an obstacle. In a game, it's when you get stuck, when you want that help. And I kinda frontloaded all that in Skyward Sword, and it doesn't really help to get that information when you don't know what to do with it. So that was a real learning experience for me. So I'm going to be careful not to do that.
Schreier: Is that why Link Between Worlds had the Hint Ghosts?
Aonuma: Yes.
Schreier: Something we've been talking about a little bit is, with Zelda going in so many interesting different directions, like Hyrule Warriors and the new open-world game, what exactly is Zelda now? I think the answer to that question might have been different a few years ago, but in the abstract, what do you see Zelda as? How do you define Zelda?
Aonuma: I think it's both complicated and wonderfully appealing at the same time. You know, people have asked me how I've been able to work on something so complicated and complex for so long, and my answer is always "This is all that I know." I think, especially in recent years, Zelda has proven to be something really flexible. I'll explain that a little bit. In Link Between Worlds, there's a scene with baseball in it, which doesn't always fit with all environments. In contrast, in the trailer the other day you saw a beam, like a laser almost, come out of an object, so I feel like it's got a lot of flexibility. It's defined, but it's also loose and flexible. And I also think it has a lot of potential.
Schreier: I just have to slip in one question that a lot of people are wondering—Mr. Aonuma, you've talked a lot about changing traditions and shifting away from the series formulas. Can you give me one example of a tradition that people are familiar with in Zelda that you've changed in a big way for the new Zelda that you're working on for next year?
Aonuma: So you know we've talked a little bit today about the puzzle-solving element in Zelda, and how that's kinda taken a different shape in Hyrule Warriors. But I think people have come to just assume that puzzle-solving will exist in a Zelda game, and I kinda wanna change that, maybe turn it on its ear.
As a player progresses through any game, they're making choices. They're making hopefully logical choices to progress them in the game. And when I hear 'puzzle solving' I think of like moving blocks so that a door opens or something like that. But I feel like making those logical choices and taking information that you received previously and making decisions based on that can also be a sort of puzzle-solving. So I wanna kinda rethink or maybe reconstruct the idea of puzzle-solving within the Zelda universe.


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Also Read
- Florida Real Estate Website: Check out our rankings of Florida's listing websites to find the best one.
- Florida Real Estate Market: What do you think will happen to FL's housing market in 2023?
- Discount Real Estate Brokers Florida: Work with agents and brokers offering a discount in Florida.


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Veratox® for Histamine Tuna Pack
Item No. 700002749 | Catalog No. 9506
- Simple water extraction
- AOAC-PTM approved method
- Equivalent recovery to traditional fluorometric methods
- Quantitative test -1-19 samples at a time
|Result Type
|Limit of Detection
|2 ppm
|Testing Time
|Cross Reactivity
|Specific for histamine. No cross-reactivity with other biogenic amines.
|Prop 65 Warning
WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals including thimerosal, which is known in the State of California to cause birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information, go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.
|Quantity per Package
|456 tests
|Package Dimensions
|13.60 in x 7.80 in x 4.50 in
|Package Weight
|3.20 lb
- 48 12-well antibody-coated microwell strips
- 48 12-well red-marked mixing well strips
- 24 yellow-labeled bottles (4 bottles each of 0, 2.5, 5, 10, 20 and 50 ppm histamine controls)
- 4 blue-labeled bottles of histamine-HRP conjugate solution
- 8 foil pouches of sample extract diluent buffer concentrate of 10 mM PBS dry powder
- 4 foil pouches of wash buffer concentrate of 10 mM PBS-Tween
- 4 green-labeled bottles of K-Blue® Substrate solution
- 4 red-labeled bottles of Red Stop solution
- Veratox for Histamine Extraction Kit (Neogen® item 9510)—Contains 38 bottles, 38 filter syringes and 38 tubes
- Disposable bottles with 125 mL capacity (Neogen item 9398)
- Filter syringes for histamine (Neogen item 9420H), Whatman #1 filter paper (Neogen item 9430), centrifuge or equivalent
- Sample collection tubes (Neogen item 9421, 9421B)
- 100 mL graduated cylinder
- Blender
- Test tube rack (Neogen item 9440)
- Tubes, 15 mL, graduated (Neogen item 9474)
- Scale capable of weighing 10–50 grams (Neogen item 9427)
- Microwell strip reader with a 650 nm filter (Neogen item 9303)
- Pipettor, 12-channel (Neogen item 9273)
- Pipettor, 100 µL (Neogen item 9272)
- Tips for 12-channel and 100 µL pipettors (Neogen item 9410, 9407, 9417)
- Paper towels or equivalent absorbent material
- Microwell holder (Neogen item 9402)
- Timer (Neogen item 9426)
- Waterproof marker
- Wash bottle (Neogen item 9400)
- 1 L bottle with lid (Neogen item 9472)
- 2 reagent boats for 12-channel pipettor (Neogen item 9435)
- Distilled or deionized water
To access certificates, please use our technical document search page.
Safety Data Sheet (SDS)
Assay Principle
Veratox for Histamine is a competitive direct enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (CD-ELISA) that allows the user to obtain exact concentrations of histamine in parts per million (ppm). Free histamine in the samples and controls is allowed to compete with enzyme-labeled histamine (conjugate) for the antibody binding sites. After a wash step, substrate is added, which reacts with the bound conjugate to produce blue color. More blue color means less histamine. The test is read in a microwell reader to yield optical densities. The optical densities of the controls form the standard curve, and the sample optical densities are plotted against the curve to calculate the exact concentration of histamine.
Our customers' success is our shared success. Our experts are ready to train you and your team on our solutions, so you can rest easy knowing procedures are performed properly and yield accurate results. In addition, we provide certificates upon completion of training to provide you with the documentation needed for audit traceability.
Our experts are here to help. If you need information beyond what is provided in Validation Reports under the Documents tab, please contact us and we will be happy to assist you. Learn more


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I wanted to start a new thread because some of these discussions get so long that half of the blogs get lost!
I think we all want to grow our blogs. I'd love to find other passionate bloggers out there. We can help each other grow and find new inspiration in each other while we're at it.
Just POST YOUR LINK and then CLICK AROUND!
I'm Henna. Here's my blog ----> http://hennablossom.com
facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/hennablossomblog
PLEASE "LIKE" my facebook page and/or leave a comment on my blog. I'd love to visit yours as well.
Views: 5768
Hey Carla!
Oooh, I'm so late. I just checked out your blog. I especially like your maternity focused fashion posts! Such great finds!
Henna (http://hennablossom.com)
Instagram: http://instagram.com/hennablossom fb:http://facebook.com/hennablossom
pinterest: http://pinterest.com/hennablossom
Hi Henna,
I just liked you on FB. I love the pics on your site...they tell such a story. My site is http://thisdaymatters.com/ - stop by when you have a chance.
Looking forward to getting to know you.
Take care.
just followed all :) HennaBlossom :)
Hi Carla,
I just linked to your FB page. I also took a peek at your etsy shop with the onesies. Super adorable! When you have a chance, please check out my site at This Day Matters and leave a comment. Any feedback would be great too!
Looking forward to getting to know you!
just followed :)
I posted on another one, but I'll post again here. :)
Hi, Everyone! My name is Hannah and my blog is called Save the Bread - http://savethebread.com.
As the parent to five kids, I've got a lot of material floating around my house so I blog about a little bit of everything. Mainly, I try to keep it real and honest, throw in a bit of humor every now and then ('cause Heaven knows we could all use the occasional comic relief), and mostly cover the issues that are important to me and happening in my life.
It's a brand new blog, but would still love for any of you to swing by. I would love to connect with you all!
You can also find me on...
Twitter - @savebreadblog
and Facebook - http://facebook.com/savethebread
Look forward to connecting with you! Follow me and I'll follow you back. :) Happy Blogging!
Hi! I am Felicia and I blog at www.PrincessAndTheRock.com
I am a stay-at-home mother of two who is aspiring to be their greatest teacher. I occasionally dream to be a fashionista in my too big maternity T-shirt and shorts while I indulge in some jewellery designing and crafting.
My two children, the Princess and the Rock are now four and two years old respectively. They are both really funny and kooky in their own ways. These two munchkins have changed my life and perspective like I have never imagined, but I will never trade them for anything else.
This blog aims to detail some of thoughts and learning on being a parent of my Princess and the Rock and my homeschooling journey with them.
Twitter - @PrincessandRock
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/PrincessAndTheRock
Pinterest - http://pinterest.com/PrincessNRock
I'll go pop over your blog now! :)
just commented on your little dinasaur painting project. I need to get more creative with my little boy! I always find it inspiring to see other mamas doing projects with their little ones!
Henna (http://hennablossom.com)
Instagram: http://instagram.com/hennablossom fb:http://facebook.com/hennablossom
pinterest: http://pinterest.com/hennablossom
I really liked your blog too and added it to my reading list!
just followed please come check out my blog n pages :)
great place to find inspiration! thanks for sharing. :) I liked the navy nursery. For some reason, although I love light and airy, sometimes I like to see, dark moody rooms too!
Carla said:
Hi, I'm Carla and my blog is Sweet Little Nursey http://www.sweetlittlenursery.blogspot.com
I blog about baby lifestyle, I talk about pregnancy and also I give ideas and tips for decorating nursery, and feature baby photographers. I also have a online boutique with a baby onesie line. I'm just starting and I'm looking forward to meet new bloggers and make some friends!


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The only thing that stands between a man and what he wants from life is often merely the will to try it and the faith to believe that it is possible.Richard M. Devos
Few things in the world are more powerful than a positive push. A smile. A word of optimism and hope. And you can do it when things are tough.Richard M. DeVos


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Aumont will be a reliever again
Really, the only way to categorize Phillippe Aumont's first season in the Phillies' system is that it was a lost year. He was the highest rated prospect that came from Seattle in the Cliff Lee trade last off-season and the tall Canadian righthander had trouble dealing with the pressure that came with that label.
At the same time, he was also handed the task of shifting from the bullpen -- where he had spent all of 2009 -- to becoming a starter. The Phillies wanted to stretch Aumont out so he could work on his secondary pitches. They also had Aumont change his arm slot.
So the 21-year-old had a lot on his plate. He probably started a level too high and his 11 games for double-A Reading were simply disastrous. In June, the Phillies demoted him to single-A Clearwater, admitting their mistake of pushing Aumont too far.
Now, they will attempt to correct another one.
Aumont will be a reliever again in 2011, Phillies assistant general manager Chuck LaMar said.
"That's where he's comfortable," LaMar said. "We wanted to start him last year and we did. His results weren't very good. But we put him in that position. I felt bad sometimes for the kid. He wants to relieve. He feels comfortable relieving. That's what he did in Seattle."
The Mariners had Aumont change his arm slot before the 2009 season to go more over-the-top, so his fastball would play bigger as a reliever. This past spring, the Phillies told Aumont to go back to his three-quarters arm slot, which he used as an amateur.
They also had Aumont rely more on his sinker than that four-seam fastball. Seattle, thinking Aumont was better suited as a power reliever, had it the other way around.
So it'll be interesting to see what changes Aumont keeps.
All three of the prospects exchanged for Lee were in big-league camp last spring. But this year, it'll just be J.C. Ramirez, who is on the 40-man roster. Both Aumont and Tyson Gillies will be in minor-league camp.
That wasn't done for any specific reason, LaMar said. Aumont and Gillies were around last spring because they were new to the organization and the Phillies wanted their major-league staff to have a look.
The Phillies and Braves will play in baseball's annual Civil Rights Game on May 15 at Turner Field. Both teams will wear throwback jerseys from the Negro Leagues and many events are planned.
Working on a Sunday story that will detail the competition the Phillies are planning for their younger pitchers to fill out the bullpen this spring. After the quest for a rightfielder, this figures to be the most intriguing storyline this spring.
Just 31 days until pitchers and catchers report.
Want your question to be answered in Matt's weekly Phillies mailbag? E-mail him with your question and hometown.


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DJIA 15,000 Is Here, and Why This Record Matters!
The Dow Jones Industrial Average has just hit a new milestone: DJIA 15,000! The move is on the heels of a weak earnings season, as far as revenue growth, but a better-than-expected unemployment report. Usually market technicians say that there is nothing magical about a new "thousand" point mark. That may not be the case this time.
At the start of the year we forecast a top price on the DJIA of 14,590 based on our same methodology that came within about 1% of the DJIA peak or year-end in each of the prior three years. We need to update this target, but so far all we have said is "higher" than the original 14,590.
Another record is also being seen in the S&P 500 Index. That index has crossed above 1,600 for the first time ever this week. The current daily range on the DJIA is 14,831.58 to 15,006.30, with a 173-point DJIA gain. The S&P 500 Index is up 20 points, and its new daily range is 1,597.60 to 1,618.40.
Hopefully this rally is not being missed out by the public. As we said in our 2013 primer for Sell in May and Go Away, maybe the bulls only cared about a strong ISM projection for 2013 and a surprise in consumer confidence report. Now they have a better-than-expected jobs report to add fuel to the bull market too. What more can be said in a major bull market?
Read Also: J.P. Morgan Says to Buy These High-Yield Dividend Stocks
Filed under: 24/7 Wall St. Wire, Active Trader, ETFs & Mutual Funds, Personal Finance Tagged: featured


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EVERETT — Rosa Bartol proudly wears a blue lanyard while on the job at the Boeing Company.
The words "Boeing" and "Veteran" stand out in bold white letters around the neck piece that holds her work badge.
Bartol, who lives in Arlington, is a security specialist at Boeing. She has worked for the company for 15 years and serves in the Washington Air National Guard. She joined the U.S. Army in 1986, shortly after graduating from high school in Los Angeles because she wanted to see the world. In the more than 26 years since, Bartol has completed tours in Germany and Iraq.
Adjusting to her work environment after coming home from a 2008-09 tour in Kirkuk, Iraq, was difficult, Bartol remembers. The sound of rivet guns in the company factory were especially upsetting.
"When I went out to the factory where the rivet guns went off I had an episode which ended up with me blacking out to where I don't remember a thing," she said. "When I came back from Iraq, it was really hard, but being that my boss is a veteran as well, he helped me find the resources within the Boeing Co."
Bartol, 44, is now about a year away from retiring from the military. As an active participant in the new Boeing Employee Veterans Association in Everett, Bartol sees a way she can help other veterans further their personal and professional development and help those who are new to the workforce make the transition from military to civilian life.
About 24,500 veterans are employed at Boeing and many continue to serve in the National Guard and Reserves. In the past 21 months, the company reports having hired 3,000 veterans, and it is a sponsor of Hire America's Heroes, a Redmond-based nonprofit that works to increase employment of military service members.
"This is great because now we have returning military personnel coming back from war looking for jobs," Bartol said. "Those in the Hire America's Heroes program are all gathering together to make a plan to help them transition into the civilian world."
The U.S. Census Bureau, in a 2011 survey, reported that about 57,620 veterans were living in Snohomish County. About 11.9 percent of them were unemployed, compared with a 10.6 percent jobless rate among nonveterans.
Other organizations, such as WorkSource Snohomish County, are striving to help veterans find work. The employment agency holds two annual job fairs to help veterans who are looking for jobs connect with potential employers. Hundreds of people last Thursday attended the most recent Snohomish County Regional Veterans' Job and Resource Fair at the Armed Forces Reserve Center in Marysville.
Neil Collins, of Whidbey Island, has been looking for work since September. He took a class offered by WorkSource that helped him revise his resume and learn how to make business cards. He had copies of his resume and cards in hand as he moved among the more than 40 employer booths at the event.
Collins, 37, served as a fuels specialist in the U.S. Air Force at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Fla. His four years of service included a tour in Turkey. After his military service ended in 1998, Collins found employment in the hotel industry. He later found work as a video production technician and as an insurance-claims adjuster.
"I want to showcase my other abilities and do something else," Collins said. "All in all, I just want to find happiness in doing something else, but with the tough job market, I may have to go back to insurance."
Veterans need to remember to talk about skills they have outside their military job classifications, especially when they're first entering the workforce, Collins added.
Many veterans can find that difficult, agreed Paul Stayback, a disabled veterans outreach specialist with WorkSource.
"One of those challenges is pulling in those additional skills they've gotten through collateral duties or additional duties," he said. "Just because somebody may have been a truck driver or a cook doesn't mean that they weren't doing inventory and they weren't doing community resource functions and other transferable skills."
Many of the skills people learn in the military are important to potential employers like Geoff Weatherbie, guest services manager at Comcast Arena in Everett. He spoke to veterans last week about available part-time positions.
"I found that veterans entering the workforce have a skill set that is unlike anything else and is really valuable," he said. "I think they understand professionalism … They have a lot of respect for greeting people, looking them in the eye and things that are staples of military life but are rare nowadays" in the civilian world.
Lora Turner, 44, plans to retire from the U.S. Navy in early December. After 26 years as an oceanographer, she'd like to work for a company with positions in environmental science. The Mill Creek resident said looking for a new job is stressful but she's trying to stay positive.
"If you want to work, you can work," Turner said. "It's scary but I am looking forward to staring something new."
Amy Daybert: 425-339-3491; firstname.lastname@example.com.
Amy Daybert: 425-339-3491; firstname.lastname@example.com.
Learn more
Boeing earlier this month launched television advertisements to honor veterans. The commercial "Their Story" features Boeing employees who are also veterans, reflecting on their military service. Boeing this month also included veteran stories in print and online advertising and on their new website, Honoring Those Who Serve, at www.boeing.com/tribute.
For more information about WorkSource Snohomish County, go to www.worksourceonline.com.
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Applesauce is a healthy baker's best friend. Not only does it add sweetness to recipes, but it does so with significantly fewer calories than sugar. And without butter, you're cutting the saturated-fat content of baked goods like muffins, breads and brownies. Not to mention the added dietary benefits of apples' fiber.
MORE: Study: An Apple a Day May Keep Stroke at Bay


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1 year sentence in fatal bike crash
APPLETON, Wis. (AP) — A Fox Valley woman has been sentenced to a year in jail for a fatal bike crash.
Prosecutors say PaKou Xiong struck Jim Weiss from behind as he rode his bike in Kimberly in July of last year. Authorities believe Xiong was texting at the time of the crash.
A judge in Outagamie County on Tuesday also sentenced Xiong to serve five years of probation and do 100 hours of community service each of those years while wearing jail orange and a pin memorializing Weiss.
WLUK-TV reports an accident reconstruction showed there were no signs Xiong attempted to brake before hitting Weiss.


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Apple may be forced to drop the Lightning connector for charging the iPad and iPhone in Europe.
A European Parliament's consumer protection committee has voted to standardize smartphone connectors in a move to reduce waste.
As a result it is possible that Apple will have to abandon the Lightning connector at the base of the iPad and iPhone that is used for charging. Certain accessories are also plugged in to the devices using the Lightning port.
Brussels is attempting to make every mobile phone use the same charging standard. The microUSB standard seems the most likely winner based on the fact that in 2009 the European standards agency chose it to be the universal port for smartphones, and hence most of Apple's smartphone competition now use microUSB connectors.
Indeed, Apple actually came out in support of the International Electrotechnical Commission's recommendation for a universal microUSB mobile charging standard, so many expected it to launch the iPhone 5 with a microUSB connector, and yet it didn't.
However, Apple sells a Lightning to microUSB connector in the European Union for this reason. Apple's Lightning to Micro USB Adaptor costs £15. The Lightning to Micro USB Adapter lets you connect an iPhone, iPad or iPod with Lightning connector to micro USB cables and chargers to sync and charge your device.
It still seems likely that Apple will be forced to adopt the same port should this latest move become law.
The ruling still needs to be approved by the European Parliament, however, and a new law may well take years to be implemented, by which time there may be a new way to charge devices such as induction.
Read: Complete guide to ports on Macs, iPhones and iPads
What is Apple's Lightning connector?
Apple's lightning connector was introduced with the iPhone 5 last year as a replacement for the decade old 30-pin connector previously used in the iPad and iPhone. At the time there was an outcry as people with older iPhone and iPad accessories didn't want to update to the new port as it would make these products redundant.
At the time Apple launched the Lightning connector we pondered why Apple didn't adopt microUSB. We concluded that Apple's Lightning port is a superior option because it offer more functionality than standard micro USB connectors, such as the ability to directly control accessories from the iPhone screen.
If Apple has to move away from its proprietary ports if will lose an important revenue stream as it makes money from its connector licensing program.
UPDATE January 2021: The EU could bring in a law standardising charging in 2021.


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Our Services
When you choose OHSU you have access to leaders in dermatologic care, with decades of combined experience. We offer you a one-stop medical care setting for all problems related to the skin, hair, nails and mucous membranes, whether you require routine treatment or specialized expertise. As an academic health center practice, we have highly trained doctors, many of whom provide sub-specialized care within the field of dermatology.
Clinical Services
General Medical Dermatology
The General Medical Dermatology clinic covers the majority of dermatologic conditions such as skin cancer (including annual skin checks), acne, vitiligo, rosacea, unusual moles or rashes, warts, non-healing wounds and most other dermatologic conditions including those that have not been diagnosed. There are 11 providers available within the General Medical Dermatology clinic, including one Physician Assistant and two Nurse Practitioners.
Specialty Services
Many of our doctors have special expertise in specific dermatological conditions and offer specialized clinics for people with those issues. The specialty clinics include nail disorders, contact dermatitis, eczema (atopic dermatitis), phototherapy treatment, a non-melanoma skin cancer clinic for high-risk patients, and mole monitoring medical photography booth for people with a history of melanoma or unusual moles.
Pediatric Dermatology
We have three board-certified pediatric dermatologists, who specialize in the care and treatment of children and the dermatologic conditions that are unique to them.
Surgical Dermatology
Our skin cancer experts provide diagnostic and surgical expertise in the removal and treatment of basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas, melanoma, and other benign and pre-cancerous skin growths. The department specializes in Mohs micrographic surgery, an advanced treatment procedure for skin cancer.
Laser & Cosmetic Dermatology
Trust your skin to our dermatologic skin care experts who will help you look younger, reduce the appearance of aging, and correct undesired conditions. Through the most modern and effective procedures and lasers, we can help you achieve your personal goals.
DermatopathologyOHSU's dermatopathology services provide you with the expertise you can trust when a biopsy is needed to help confirm a diagnosis.
Clinical Trial Opportunities
Many of our faculty are active in clinical research and seeking new treatments and finding answers to specific health questions. Learn more about available clinical trials and how you can participate.


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Our editors will review what you've submitted and determine whether to revise the article.
- Key People:
- Dot Richardson Henry Howard Kessler
- Related Topics:
- skeleton human skeleton arthroplasty internal fixation epiphysiodesis
orthopedics, also called orthopedic surgery, medical specialty concerned with the preservation and restoration of function of the skeletal system and its associated structures, i.e., spinal and other bones, joints, and muscles.
The term orthopedics was introduced in 1741 by French physician Nicolas Andry de Bois-Regard in his work L'Orthopédie, which featured an engraving of a crooked tree splinted with a post and a rope that later became a symbol of the field. The practice of orthopedics was pioneered in the ensuing decades by Jean André Venel, who established an institute in Switzerland for the treatment of crippled children's skeletal deformities. A vastly increased knowledge of muscular functions and of the growth and development of bone was gained in the 19th century. Significant advances at this time were the new operation of tenotomy (the cutting of tendons, which made correcting deformities easier), the surgical correction of clubfoot, the invention of the Thomas splint (which provided better support for fractures of long bones in the limbs), and the introduction of quick-setting plaster of Paris for use in orthopedic bandages. The efforts of Sir Robert Jones and the massive casualties of World War I led to the founding of many orthopedic training centres in the early 20th century.
Modern orthopedics has extended beyond the treatment of fractures, broken bones, strained muscles, torn ligaments and tendons, and other traumatic injuries to deal with a wide range of acquired and congenital skeletal deformities and with the effects of degenerative diseases such as osteoarthritis. A specialty that originally depended on the use of heavy braces and splints, orthopedics now utilizes bone grafts and artificial plastic joints for the hip and other bones damaged by disease, as well as artificial limbs, special footwear, and braces to return mobility to disabled patients. Orthopedics uses the techniques of physical medicine and rehabilitation and occupational therapy in addition to those of traditional medicine and surgery.


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ATLANTA — Georgia police shot and killed a Bengal tiger on Wednesday after it escaped from a truck and wandered along a major interstate near Atlanta, frightening residents of a nearby subdivision.
Feld Entertainment spokesman Stephen Payne said Suzy, a 6-year-old Bengal tiger that had once performed in the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, somehow got loose when the truck hauling 14 big cats stopped south of Atlanta on its way from Florida to Tennessee.
"We stopped in Georgia to feed and water the cats and for a quick rest break for the driver, and that's where we believe the animal escaped and was later confronted by law enforcement," Payne said.
Suzy was headed back to its European owner, animal handler Alexander Lacey, after the circus this year ended its 146-year run, Payne said.
"They've been raised around people their entire lives, so they're comfortable around people," Payne said.
Motorists spotted the tiger early Wednesday along Interstate 75 in Stockbridge, southeast of Atlanta, Henry County police said. The interstate was jammed with traffic as people flee Hurricane Irma that could hit Florida or the Gulf Coast.
The cat ended up in a subdivision, where it began chasing a dog, police said.
The tiger jumped on the dog — a Dachshund named Journey, its owner Brittney Speck told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution . The dog survived the attack and is OK, she said.
The cat was shot after it "became aggressive toward pets in the area," the Georgia Department of Natural Resources said in a statement late Wednesday.
Payne said he didn't know how the tiger managed to get free mid-way through the trip to Tennessee, and didn't have many details of its encounter with police. The driver did not realize one of the animals had gotten loose during the night until the truck arrived in Tennessee, he said.
But early Wednesday morning, neither police nor anyone in the neighborhood knew where the cat had come from — or how it ended up in metropolitan Atlanta. After seeing news reports about the tiger hours after it was killed, a Feld Entertainment employee reached out to authorities in Georgia to let them know they were missing a tiger, state officials said.
The remaining 13 cats were to be transported to Germany. "I believe they will be joining another circus," Payne said.
In September, the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus ended its storied history with a final show at the Nassau County Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. The performance was Lacey's last big-cat act with the Florida-based circus.
Its parent company, Feld Entertainment, decided to end the circus billed as the Greatest Show on Earth after years of pressure by animal rights activists who objected to having animals travel around the nation and perform. The circus removed elephants from its shows in 2016. When it closed for good the circus cited citing high operating costs and declining attendance as fewer fans came to shows with no elephants.
Tears on last night for Ringling Bros. 'Greatest Show on Earth'
The final days of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
Column: The circus just ran out of time
Watch the latest movie trailers.


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Party pics: Warren Moon's VIP Pro Bowl Party
Football and fashion enthusiasts gathered at Pearl Thursday evening to be a part of the 2013 Warren Moon VIP Pro Bowl Party, a benefit for the Crescent Moon Foundation. Moon established the foundation in 1989 to raise funds for college scholarships and was named NFL's Man of the Year for his humanitarian work in the community.
The fashion and business elite of Honolulu were able to meet, or at least catch a glimpse of, Moon and football legend Eric Dickerson, along with a number of Pro Bowl cheerleaders, models and pageant title holders. We got to chat with another football great, Christian Okoye, named to the Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame in 2000, and celebrity stylist and make-up artist Crystal Pancipanci.
Speaking of fashion, the men on the red carpet were dressed to impress while the ladies were dressed to kill. They wore looks ranging from designers like of Rachel Roy, Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci and Tory Burch to classic Pinup Couture. The delish appetizers and cocktails were flowing, and Pearl's house DJs and emcee Roxy on the Mic kept the party rolling late into the night.