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Mother of toddler abandoned in Sydney suburb of Auburn comes forward
The mother of an 18-month-old girl who was left on the front doorstep of a Sydney home has come forward.
The girl, named Mai, was left at the Auburn home in Sydney's west about 10:00pm on Monday.
The residents at the house answered the doorbell to see the child on the doorstep and a white sedan speeding away.
A bag with a bottle and baby formula was also left with the child.
The woman turned up at a police station in Flemington on Tuesday afternoon and police have confirmed she is the baby's mother.
She is being interviewed by officers to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The child is being looked after by temporary foster carers.
Topics: missing-person, community-and-society, police, auburn-2144, nsw
First posted

subset: commoncrawl


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Triactol Bust Serum – Clinically Proven Natural Breast Enlargement Option
"Mirror, mirror on the wall, tell me who has the fullest breast of all?"
If that be the rhyming query you have repeated as a daily morning routine then Triactol bust serum is what you require.
A well shaped and positioned breast adds glamour to a woman's beauty and it is the most widely sought after beauty enhancer that women world over look for. Of course there are other ways of bringing about an enhancement of the breast and which include both surgical as well as non-surgical methods. The Triactol bust serum falls into that group that will let you enhance the looks of your breast without going under the surgeon's knife. And to top it off, it won't burn your pocket though the results will be there to be seen in a fairly quick time.
Understanding Triactol?
Drawn from nature, the Triactol bust serum has its origin in an herb named Pueraria Mirifica, a herb that is known for its bust enhancing properties. The extract in its botanical name is called Mirofirm and Triactol as the market name contains this proprietary extract in it. SmithMeyers Laboratories markets this product and guarantees uplifting of breasts in just seven days time. It also assures an increase in size by about a cup in periods lesser than a month.
The plant from which the extract is drawn is found in the northern and north eastern reaches of Thailand and Myanmar. The local people use it as folk medicine due to its potent effect on rejuvenation especially of the bosom, hair skin and nails. Females in this region also use it due to its phytoestrogens which it contains in high amount.
The herb's bust enhancement properties have been utilized by the makers of Triactol to optimal levels. By making this extract of Mirofirm as the base item of their product, the makers have ensured the product delivers in a focused manner, that of leading to a well shaped and firmer breasts. The product Triactol also contains Miriestrol & deoxymiroestrol, isoflavonoids and coumesan which also ensures breast shape enhancement. To guard against breast tissue damage from free radicals, tocopheryl acetate or vitamin E has also been added to the product.
Click here for a more detailed information on Triactol ingredients!
The serum state of the product rather than pills makes it easy for application by its intended user. That the makers paid attention to such small details spell a lot about the user friendliness of the product and of its makers being concerned about user convenience. The application regime of twice daily especially after a shower is all that the Triactol bust serum is about.
The method of application is to take just a drop or two on your palm and then gently apply the serum upon your bosom in circular motion. The serum gets quickly absorbed under the skin in this process. Also, there is a natural scent associated with the product that's extremely mild so no one would have an inkling of what you are up to. Further, the product is clinically tested so there won't be any irritations or after effects to be worried of.
Click here for clinical studies on the effectiveness of Triactol!
Is Triactol Effective?
Well, that's the one question that many out there are dying to know. And in that respect, what can be safely said is that the Triactol is not just about big talk but testimony provided by Triactol users would sure lead you to believe the effectiveness of this product.
A simple online search about Triactol bust serum would throw up a lot of results containing reviews that have been submitted by users of this product. The effervescent words that these reviews emote would give you the surety that you are not just one in this world who had been looking for a bust enhancement solution. Further reading of the review would also assure you that after using the Triactol bust serum these same users have greatly benefited not only by achieving an attractive and youthful body shape but also from the boost in confidence that they have got.
There are however reviews that you would come across and which could be degrading the product. This is a natural phenomenon to occur as human physiology differs between every two individuals, which again is a well established fact. The effects of the product would therefore be different in a few cases. But then, the Triactol bust serum in not for those who seek to have huge unnatural breasts.
The positive reviews though far outweigh the negative ones and that would sure be a reason for you to give this product a try. Especially so for it renders unnecessary to go for any risky surgical invasion into your body that can lead to you ending up with artificial looking breasts. However it is advisable to read the Triactol review with great care and interest before finalizing your decision to go for the Triactol solution for your breast enhancement.
For more information on this clinically proven, natural and safe breast enhancer, please visit Triactol official website.


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Don't want to "Keep up with the Kardashians?" That is exactly what this new app allows you to do.
KardBlock is a first-of-its-kind Google Chrome extension that blocks any mention of the celebrity family from the Internet for you, app founder James Shamsi told CNBC. (Tweet This)
"If there's anything on your newsfeed, the website you're on, whatever... we simply make it disappear. You won't ever know the stories about the Kardashians are there, because you won't ever see them," according to kardblock.com.
The app aims to prevent Kardashian news from overshadowing "real" news, according to kardblock.com.
"We don't care about how Kanye & Kim didn't care when Amy Schumer 'fell over.' We don't care about who the Kardashians are or aren't sleeping with. We don't care that Kim dyed her hair blonde. We don't care about the Kardashians," the app's webpage reads.
Read More 'Kashing in' on the Kardashian klout


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"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.
The Gathering Dark
By Christine Johnson
Publication Date: February 12, 2013
From Goodreads:
A mysterious teen boy knows the secrets of Keira's dangerous hallucinations in this gripping romantic fantasy from the author of Claire de Lune.
Keira's hallucinating. First it's a door hovering above the road; then it's a tree in her living room. But with her parents fighting and her best friend not speaking to her, Keira can't tell anyone about her breakdown.
Until she meets Walker. They have an electric connection, and somehow he can see the same shadowy images plaguing Keira.
But trusting Walker may be more dangerous than Keira could have ever imagined. The more she confides in him, the more intense—and frightening—her visions become. Because Walker is not what he appears to be. And neither are her visions.
I don't remember where I heard about this book, but the cover caught my attention right away. I love books that deal with visions and the like, so when I read the book description, it looked like a book I would enjoy reading.
What's your "waiting" on pick this week?


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If your dog has Kidney Disease we want to help!
Since 2003 we have been helping dogs with our Canine Kidney Health Nutritional program. Our program is based on the same methods, therapies and herbal formulations used by Dr Richard Schulze and Dr John Christopher that have helped thousands of people nourish their bodies back to health. With the help of Herbalists and Veterinarians we have specified this safe and highly effective program for dogs.
The Canine Kidney Health Nutritional Program works pretty much like a specialized diet giving different herbs (safe concentrated foods full of vitamins and minerals) 3 to 4 times a day (see Instructions page for administration details), specialized home prepared meals (see Diet page for recipe suggestions) and working with your Veterinarian to monitor your dog's health and response to the diet. Our goal is for your dog to get healthy by supporting his system naturally. A dog with unhealthy kidney function will deteriorate over time if symptom management is your only approach.
Our program helps to nourish and support the healthy function of the kidneys. Symptoms of kidney failure are generally not visible until there is less than 25% of kidney function left. Most people don't realize that their dog's kidneys are having trouble until they start noticing the symptoms, lack of appetite, excessive drinking and urination, weight loss, nausea, poor coat, hind end weakness, etc.
Blood tests are generally how kidney failure is diagnosed. The problem is, blood tests cannot tell us a specific percentage of how much of the kidneys are actually working. It is believed that the numbers do not start creeping above normal range until there is a loss of 75% of the kidneys' function. What this means is that the kidneys are not truly failing to do their job until they are on their last 25%. This means we only need a little more than 25% to survive. So when your Vet tells you that your dog only has 25% or less of his kidney function, it is not always as bad as it may seem. The goal of our program is to support the healthy function your dog's kidneys still have and get that working as efficiently as possible so it can keep up with the demands of the body. Blood tests in normal range mean that the kidneys are no longer failing to do their job and they are effectively keeping up with the demands of the body.
Canine Kidney Disease comes in various forms, dogs on our program have had the following conditions:
• Acute Kidney Failure
• Chronic Kidney Failure
• Congenital Kidney Disease
• Glomerulonephritis
• Kidney Failure due to Lyme and other tick born diseases
Canine kidney disease is a devastating and aggressive disease. While it is commonly seen in elderly dogs and thought to be part of the aging process, more and more we are seeing younger dogs being affected. Canine kidney disease is considered irreversible and canine kidney failure is usually considered fatal by conventional veterinary medicine.
Conventional treatment focuses on treating symptoms and managing the disease with fluid therapy, drugs and prescription low protein/low phosphorus commercially prepared diets. In some cases, this can prolong the life of the animal but will never repair the damaged kidneys.
It is no surprise that treating symptoms does not restore health. Conventional treatment does nothing to support the body in healing so how can we expect our dogs to recover by only doing conventional things?
The Canine Kidney Health program comes in where conventional treatment leaves off. Our program focuses on nourishing the cells of the body by giving them the support they need in the form of herbs and a natural whole foods diet. The herbs in our formulae help to support the kidneys function, cleanse impurities from the blood and allow the body to focus energy where it is needed to support healing.
Every living being has the ability to heal itself of any disease if given the chance. Your dog's body has a blue print for how to repair itself from injury and disease. Since the body is so full of intricate inner workings it only makes sense that the body itself has the ability to heal from within, conventional drugs and processed foods in the long run just add more toxins to the body therefore, debilitating the body even more, further compromising the healing process.
"Both my vet and I didn't think that she would live for much longer."
My 16 year old toy poodle, Brea, was diagnosed with both kidney failure and heart failure a few months ago. Both my vet and I didn't think that she would live for much longer. Brea had stopped eating, lost 3 pounds, and was vomiting on a daily basis. I had a difficult time accepting the idea of losing her, and began researching alternative therapies. I came across several websites, but Five Leaf gave me the most hope. So many positive testimonials from people with pets in a similar condition coming from all over the world, made me at least want to give the products a try. I called the 1-800 number and talked to Amanda personally. Talking to a real person, who also happens to be the founder of Five Leaf, gave me much hope. Amanda was cordial, friendly, and most importantly, gave me customized advise regarding Brea's specific condition.
Five Leaf has not and will not pay me for this testimonial. I am compelled to write, only because my pet has recovered her quality of life, her happiness, and is still around. I would like to see pets in similar condition being offered a chance to recover their health. That's all.
On March 2, 2012, Brea's BUN was over 130 mg/dL (way high and off the charts. The normal range is between 7-27 mg/dL), the CREA was 4.0 mg/dL (normal range is between 0.5-1.8 mg/dL), and her ALT was at 347 U/L (normal range is between 10-100 U/L). After doing two 3-week cycles of both the kidney and the heart treatments from Five Leaf, the numbers are still a bit high, but have come down so much, that my vet was puzzled. The numbers, as of April 16, 2012, were: BUN at 76 mg/dL, CREA at 1.9 mg/dL, and the ALT at 198 U/L. I have started a third 3-week cycle which will end in one week, and am confident that these numbers have improved additionally.
There are some veterinarian websites that, without having tried these products, state that they can be dangerous, that they do not work, and that IF they work it is due to the placebo effect! How can it be the placebo effect on a pet??? Plus, the numbers clearly indicate that the products work! So, my advise to anyone with a pet in a similar condition as my Brea is: GIVE IT A TRY. You have nothing to lose! Correction, you will be short of a couple hundred dollars, but in my opinion, our little companions are worth that small investment.
Thank you, Five Leaf, and thank you Amanda, for the wonderful and important work that you do. Brea and I love you lots!
Dr. Alexandra David
Professor of Piano
Central Michigan University*
*Results shared in reviews are not typical; your results may vary.
"The vet was very surprised and almost speechless!"
The day after her twin sister passed, Anya (14 1/2 years old) was diagnosed with kidney failure. (Her creatinine level was 7.2.) Imagine our horror at thinking we would loose both of our beloved shelties at once! Immediately I went on-line and began a search for a solution. After reading all the amazing testimonials and saying lots of prayers, I ordered the program. Anya stayed at the veterinarian's for 2 days and received IV fluids and her creatinine level dropped to 4.2 which gave us even more hope. Once she came home, we immediately began the program. For the first several weeks we had to feed her babyfood and other soft foods with a syringe as she would not eat on her own. But we just kept gently talking to her while we did her therapy 4 times a day and by week three she began eating on her own. We knew the program must be working because our doctor told us that she would probably not eat well until her creatinine level got into the low 3's or 2's. We finished the first three weeks and immediately began the program again and continued to see improvement in her appetite and energy levels.
She is now running to the door for walks which is something she has not done for over a year! We just got back from the vet's today and her creatinine level is down to 2.6! The vet was very surprised and almost speechless! We are going to do another round of the program again for the 3rd time and she if she shows even more improvement. I can't thank Amanda enough for developing something that has blessed our family with more time with Anya. The vet had originally told us to enjoy her for a couple more days and it has been almost a month and a half! Anya is acting more youthful than ever. If you believe in herbal remedies than you should try this one! It has honestly made a huge difference in all our lives! God bless!
Kim Clair
Shawnee, KS*
*Results shared in reviews are not typical; your results may vary.
The kidneys play just as important a role in cleaning your dog's blood as the liver. When the kidneys are healthy they take on the job of filtering blood plasma, they return good clean blood to the body and create urine to expel the waste. They also regulate the acid/alkaline balance, as well as the water and electrolytes of the blood. In natural healing not only do we focus on the problem area (in this case the kidneys) we also make sure the rest of the body is working properly.
There are many reasons why our pets get sick, probably thousands of reasons. The hundreds of chemicals we use for food production, lawn care, plastics, the air we breathe, vaccines etc. These toxins all get ingested into our pets' bodies and can lead to liver disease, heart disease, kidney disease and cancer among many other serious and life threatening illnesses.
You see, a healthy pet's body doesn't just say "hey, let's start making a disease" it's all the toxic waste the body is trying to expel that gets trapped within that starts the disease process.
The first step you must take in the fight against canine kidney disease is stop giving your dog toxins. Feed a home prepared whole food diet. Commercial pet food, dry or canned, WILL NOT DO even if it's the newest, best, number one, organic or human grade food, it is simply too processed. Feeding your dog whole foods that you have prepared will ensure there are no hidden toxic ingredients that will harm your loved one. Our Diet page offers high quality protein/low phosphorus recipes that you can lovingly prepare for your best friend.
The only true improvements in health we have seen have been realized in dogs that were fed exclusively home prepared meals as required in all of our natural healing programs.
"the Vet told us that Moongchi only had one month to live"
On 13th September 2009 our 8 year old cocker spaniel Moongchi was taken to the Vet in a very serious state as he was not eating, he could not walk properly, he was only drinking a tiny amount of water and his stools were most unhealthy. The Veterinarian conducted some blood tests and diagnosed Moongchi with renal failure, reporting raised levels of electrolyte and BUN of 214. As a temporary measure the Vet ensured that Moongchi was placed on an IV drip and hospitalised for two days. Before he was released the Vet told us that Moongchi only had one month to live but if we were lucky 6 weeks, and we just had to try to make his life as comfortable as possible for him. We were absolutely devastated at the prospect of our dog slowly dying and not being around at Christmas. This was especially heartbreaking for us as he had only just been released from 6 months Quarantine in May. We could not accept what was happening, so my wife and I started looking on the internet for other solutions as a final last chance. We came across Five Leaf, read the testimonials, and were really encouraged by other peoples experiences. However we did ever so slightly wonder whether the treatments really worked, but due to Moongchi's condition, had no choice but to put our faith in Five Leaf. We have absolutely no regrets, we contacted Amanda by telephone and found her very attentive and helpful as not only did she suggest a course of treatments but also gave us helpful dietary tips tailored for his condition. Two days later the FedEx man arrived, and we began the course of medication combined with Moongchi's new diet. After only 2 to 3 days we began to notice an immediate improvement in Moongchi as he seemed more lively and bubbly and he was at least drinking water normally. Moongchi continued to improve leaps and bounds and then after about 2 weeks he was actually begging for food – which we cannot remember him ever doing, drinking normally, and his stools had never looked better. We were so delighted as the medication and change of diet was having a real impact. These days Moongchi is an extremely healthy cocker spaniel who would have died many months ago if we had only listed to our vets. His course of herbal medication finished some time ago but we are sticking to his diet which includes dog greens and contacting Amanda for further tips to ensure that we are doing all we can to maintain his health. Now Moongchi runs around the house like crazy and has more energy than we can ever remember. He is so bubbly and happy. We are so grateful to Five Leaf and all the help Amanda has provided on the way.
Graham and Younyoung Harvey
London, UK*
*Results shared in reviews are not typical; your results may vary.
The following are additional steps we strongly recommend to give your pet the very best chance at recovery.
Step 1: Pure drinking water, be it through carbon filter, reverse osmosis, distilled etc. Clean filtered water is essential. Tap water is full of poisons. Why make your dog's kidneys work harder having to filter more poisons from their blood. Distilled water also aids in flushing toxins from the system.
Step 2: Plant based vitamins and minerals from grasses, sea vegetables and seaweeds known as superfoods. In the right combinations, these superfoods contain every possible nutrient, amino acid, vitamin, mineral, etc. This will ensure your pet's body is getting all the nutrients it will need to support the healing process and fight against disease. Synthetic vitamins and minerals don't cut it, they are made from dirt, stones, clam shells and even chemicals. They are poorly absorbable and can be toxic. Synthetic substances will put unnecessary strain on your pet's system. If you can obtain a nutrient from a natural source that should be your first choice. We were given plants to convert inorganic non-absorbable earth minerals into highly absorbable organic nutrients that animals can digest.
Step 3: Specific herbs to not only help stimulate and support the kidneys but to cleanse your dog's system, strengthening his immune system while cleansing and supporting the liver. The liver and kidneys are your dog's filtration system, when one is diseased or not working properly it puts more strain on the other organ which may lead to it becoming compromised as well, recirculating toxins within the body causing disease.
Step 4: Hydrotherapy, this therapy utilizes alternating hot and cold water on the affected area, which promotes rapid healing. This therapy has been used for centuries in Europe to heal every kind of disease. Recently in America body builders and athletes have found hydrotherapy beneficial in repairing torn and injured muscles more quickly by bringing more blood, oxygen and nutrients to the affected area. We have seen hydrotherapy alone heal a dog from chronic sinus infection, repair torn ligaments, rebuild heart muscle and remove lumps and bumps.
Step 5: Exercise, this is something many neglect when their animal is sick. Often exercise is only seen as something necessary for keeping fit or to lose weight. Many don't realize that exercise not only stimulates circulation and strengthens muscles it also strengthens your dog's organs, intestines and stomach and creates wonderful healing chemicals within the body. Of course common sense must be used if your dog is extremely sick and you should always start off slowly with short walks and build up day by day.
The Canine Kidney Health program uses an array of therapies, herbs and whole foods to restore your loved one to good health. No one therapy is more important than another. This program is a life change for your dog and will offer his best chance at recovery.
"My regular vet was pleasantly surprised"
August 17/07
My dog Blackie is a 14 year old Cocker spaniel. I adopted her 8 years ago. She is blind and over the time I have had her, her only health issue has been an issue with inflammatory bowls. Other than that and more recently some hip issues, she has been healthy. About four months ago she rather quickly became ill–not eating, throwing up. I took her to the emergency room where she was diagnosed with kidney failure. Her creatinine number was 6.1 and her BUN,216. She was hospitalized and placed on fluids and antibiotics–the latter in case the issue was an infection. I was told if after 48 hours the numbers dropped by 50% it would be a good sign. Unfortunately, They did not–only about 25%. I was sent home with aluminum hydroxide (a phosphorus binder) and fluids to give to her under the skin and told to get and give her azodyl. Although not said bluntly, I felt the message was: there is little that can be done and this is palliative care. The first day she was home I felt powerless, hopeless. That night I prayed and when I got up the next day I was resolved not to surrender without a fight. I went to the Web and found CannineKidneyHealth.Com. I called, I listened. Hope was restored. I immediately moved her to the recommended organic diet and distilled water–and was happy when she ate it and kept it down. I ordered the greens and the drops. I took the program to my holistic vet, and he told me he was familiar with the Dr.'s who had put it together and approved me putting her on the program. One week later, her numbers were: creatinine 1.46 and BUN 103. My regular vet was pleasantly surprised. About three weeks later her creatinine was 1.1 and her BUN was 81. Her phosphorus was also within normal limits–a little on the high end but normal, and that is where they have remained. The numbers are only part of the good story: She is more alert and active than in several years. Her bowls are normal–which seems to be a byproduct of the new diet. I have given her the aluminum hydroxide, the fluids and the azodyl too, and for good measure I have had acupuncture and given her Chinese herbs recommended by my holistic vet, but I am absolutely sure that the improvement has been primarily do to the Canine Kidney Health program. I know she cannot live forever–none of us can–but I am sure that I am going to have for a lot longer than I would have had I not found CanineKidneyHealth.com
Thank you Skye!
September 10/07
Just wanted to let you know latest on Blackie had blood work done on Saturday results are essentially same on creatinine and phosphorous–both normal. Good news on BUN—went down 35 points from 80 to 55. I have been doing the hydro twice daily and it seems to be working.
Larry Boggs
Virginia, USA*
*Results shared in reviews are not typical; your results may vary.
Dogs of any age are capable of recovery, a large majority of the dogs who have seen wonderful results by following our program are elderly dogs who are in their mid to late teens so don't let your dog's age deter you from giving them their best possible chance at having many more happy years with your family.
The sooner you start doing everything you can to support your dog's body in the healing process, the better his chances will be for recovery.
Canine Kidney Health Program Packages
The Canine kidney Health Program is organized in 3 week cycles. To get your dog started on the program please choose a package below based on his weight. The packages include all you will need for each 3 week cycle and may last longer than 3 weeks depending on your dog's weight.
With your order you will receive a copy of our Canine Kidney Health Program Handbook. This book includes important information on:
• Detailed Program Instructions
• Daily Schedule Samples
• Dosage Chart
• Diet and Exercise
Please visit the Instructions page on this site for dosage and administration information.
We are available for support or questions on our toll free line from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST Monday through Friday or by email 24 hours a day.
It is essential to work with your Veterinarian to monitor you dog's recovery and supply you with tools to keep your dog hydrated. If your Vet has not already suggested fluid therapy ask them about administering subcutaneous fluids at home. We highly recommend you do everything you can to ensure your dog stays as hydrated as possible while on the program, as it has proven to make a big difference in the results seen. Your Vet can show you how to administer the fluids and supply you with all you will need to do so. This is common practice, so you should not have trouble finding a Veterinarian to help you.
If you ask the right questions, your Veterinarian can be a wealth of knowledge. Try to educate yourself on the stages and symptoms of canine kidney disease. Symptoms of this aggressive disease can be varied and wide spread. The more you know the better prepared you will be to manage your dog's situation.
Your vet can run blood work once you have completed 3 or 6 weeks and this will tell you if you need to repeat another cycle or if your dogs values are in normal range in which case continuing with a healthy lifestyle including natural whole food nutrition will keep him healthy.
Click Here To Choose Your Package


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So, why did I go from cheerleader to skeptic?
- Command and Control is too strict
- Resolving combat is unclear
- How locations are used is unclear
- Combat too random
- Strong British bias
Command and Control is too Strict
The command and control rules basically fall around a few simple mechanics.
- The Commander-in-Chief uses his ability to activate subordinate Generals.
- Subordinate Generals use their ability to activate units.
- Activated units can move and fight effectively.
- Unactivated units cannot move and only skirmish at their current location.
What was telling is when the American General Ward (ability 2) was saddled with A Fop and a Poltroon, lowering his Ability to 1, allowing him to attempt to activate only one of four subordinate Generals. In addition, because he was at a different location from all others, activation would only be with 1D6.
The problem here lies with the fact that no subordinate General will activate for any reason other than his Commander-in-Chief telling him to "Commence giving orders, Sir!", on a turn-by-turn basis. No external factors change that, like the presence of an enemy General and forces attacking you...
Resolving Combat is Unclear
This is the most distressing, as this is the heart of a miniatures rules system, and the part that I was so looking forward to, given its good review.
Combat occurs when a unit is successfully ordered into Close Range Firefight or is at the same location as the enemy, but not ordered, in which case it Skirmishes with the enemy.
Skirmishing occurs by location, so the exact position of each unit is undetermined. No limits on the number of units that can participate is apparent. The total casualties inflicted are calculated, with the owner determining which specific units receive the hits. Each hit can be saved, negating the casualty.
The Close Range Firefight occurs by pairing off units and having those two units resolve combat between them. Casualties are inflicted on the target unit (or an attached artillery piece) and hits can be negated by saves, as with Skirmishing. The problem with the close range firefight is the use of several key phrases, such as "Pair off units on a one to one basis by how they are deployed at a location." As you do not apparently "deploy" at a location (or do you?), you cannot exactly pair off by position. If you do deploy, there are no rules to tell you how to do so.
What is also unclear is what happens when some of the attacker's units, which are already at a defended location, are successfully ordered to Close Range Firefight, but the remainder are not. Will the ones ordered pair off for Close Range Firefights and the remainder Skirmish? Or is it an "all or nothing" proposition (e.g. you can only do one or the other at a given location on your turn)? This is especially troubling where there are two Generals at a location and one fails to activate. The rules indicate that you can only Skirmish at a location where a General failed to activate, but it gives no exceptions where two Generals are concerned.
Given that these are British-style rules, it is usually assumed that you will figure out the "filler details" by yourself. That said, it is always good to understand the game designer's intent before you go off filling in the missing gaps.
How Locations are used is Unclear
This is the part of the rules that I was so looking forward to, given the Battlegames review on how innovative the movement system was.
A location is where troops conduct combat. The only other "place" modeled on the tabletop are links, which are the paths between two locations. Although a unit can be positioned on a link (when it takes more than one turn to move between locations), no combat can occur there.
Conceptually, it appears that a location is broken down into four abstract parts, as shown in the figure to the right. Note: there are no references in the rules to what follows; this is simply my analysis based on what happens in the combat rules.
When a side occupies a location, it has taken a position in the terrain. It is not clear if its exact position within the location is determined at that time or later, when combat occurs. The position comes into play when an attacking unit enters close combat with a defending unit and wins. At that point the attacker occupies the defender's position.
The most obvious effect of being in a position is that you get the benefit of the terrain in the location (e.g. in the village, at the crest of the hill, along a fence around a field, etc.).
Assume for a moment that some attacking units can perform a Close Range Firefight, while others Skirmish, based upon whether they accept their orders or not. Also assume for a moment that the attacker determines any pairing off (i.e. which unit is attacking which defending unit), so that leaves us with four groups of units:
- Attacking units in Close Range Firefight
- Attacking units in Support/Skirmishing
- Defending units in Close Range Firefight
- Defending units in Support/Skirmishing
Those in support/skirmishing position come into play in Skirmish Fire, and post-Close Combat pursuit. All of this can be conceptualized as a four box system as shown in the figure. The problems arise when the defenders of a position become the attackers (during their turn) and when there are more units that the terrain piece size.
If all this sounds confused, that is because I am. There are no real answers in the rules.
Combat is too Random
Most systems with savings rolls generally have a low chance of saving, unless the unit is in cover. TWTUD is the exact opposite. The basic save chance is 50% with cover increasing that to 67%. So, if a unit inflicts 6 hits on an enemy, the number of actual casualties that might occur are anywhere from 0 to 6. That's pretty random. Granted, the average is 3 casualties, but the variance is pretty wide. That makes the game much more luck-intensive.
Strong British Bias
Okay, so maybe the bias is mine. I read about the Southern Campaign, where the British might technically win tactically because they possessed the field, but the field had no advantage (Guilford Courthouse), or they might even lose tactically (Cowpens). Battles like Monmouth Courthouse, Freeman's Farm, Brandywine, and Germantown did not really interest me as much. (Maybe I should read them more though.)
That notwithstanding, as the use of a General's Ability permeates throughout the game, and a strong strategic ability automatically gives one a strong tactical ability, and vice versa, the British end up overpowering in both the tactical and strategic game. One has to see if somehow the campaign game offsets that, however I doubt it.
But, Tarleton as a '5'?!? Come on!
So Where does that Leave Me?
At this point there are some good ideas. I think the campaign game will be awesome to play. The tabletop rules require a lot of answers at this point, and I have to consider it unplayable, as is. Maybe with the right insights and answers I will hit the "Aha!" moment.
I still have an issue that the number of figures used is far larger than I expected.


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I'm going to try and write this objectively, even though I'm openly leftist and saddened by this weekend's NZ election result. These are just my thoughts and they're not scientific or anything.
For outsiders: National, the right-wing government, has won a 3rd election running and increased its share of votes and MPs. It's not only surprising to increase support after 2 terms, but they now have enough MPs to govern without making a coalition with other parties - rare for NZ's proportional MMP system.
Labour and the Green Party are the main losers, who failed to capitalise on National's failings and actually lost MPs.
Internet-Mana, the socialist-progressive party, lost its only MP the firebrand Hone Harawira, after Labour - its closest ally - defeated him with the support of the right-wing parties. Baffling.
Many of my friends are shocked, depressed, stunned, angry and physically upset. We have seen the destruction of the environment and the brutal victimisation of the poor, and it looks like this will continue.
But the shock is not valid. Myself and my friends - mainly left, green, progressive, and Wellington-centric - have clearly wrapped ourselves in a cocoon, now easier than ever in social media. None of us had any idea what was actually going on across NZ as a whole.
We assumed National's evils and failings were obvious, and assumed that after 2 terms there would be a weakening of the government - at the very least.
The dirty politics scandal and Kim Dotcom's "moment of truth" had the potential to change or even destroy the government. Certainly for us on the left, and those who care about politics in general, they both proved National's corrupt and immoral approach to governing.
But its clear the majority of New Zealanders DID see both of these as a distraction - if not a "circus" and a "hijack" of the election.
While this is ironic to me in some ways - National did not seem to actually campaign on any policies to be distracted from - all these events did was exaggerate the difference between the left and the mainstream.
People are also talking about non-voters, with approx 1 million eligible Kiwis not voting.
Engagement is obviously an issue for the whole country, but it is the left who are complaining the most, because most non-voters are young and young voters mostly vote left.
A government report on non-voters in the 2008 and 2011 elections puts the 18-24yr non-voting rate at 39% and 42% respectively - vastly higher than rates for older people. It is unlikely to be lower for 2014.
It seems clear to me the primary issue - in a complicated and bizarre election - is Labour's inability to convince and invigorate young people.
Labour are the primary opposition party - without them hitting 45 MPs, there simply is no left government.
The Green Party would love to become the primary opposition party but anyone would be deluded for thinking this major change is likely or even possible within the next 15 years.
I have written before about how the Labo(u)r parties are performing abysmally in UK, NZ and Aus all together. The mainstream left in all 3 countries is a shambles and the socialist left is fragmented, ineffectual and tiny.
Something is wrong when young, leftist, cosmopolitan Wellington Central votes for Grant Robertson (Labour) as its MP but votes for National as the governing party.
Again, it is up to the Labour Party to get their shit together and provide a confident, dynamic and convincing option as the next government. Because it is not enough to just wait for the National government to simply fall over, and at times it has felt like Labour's campaign strategy was exactly that.
Anyway I just wanted to write all this down, even just for my benefit.


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|Up a level
Betts, James, Richardson, Judith, Chowdhury, Enhad, Holman, Geoffrey, Tsintzas, Kostas, Thompson, Dylan (2014) The causal role of breakfast in energy balance and health: a randomized controlled trial in lean adults. ISRCTN31521726. [Data Collection]
Buchard, Antoine (2014) Advanced optimisations of fac-mer and trans-meso isomers of Zr(3)(OiPr)2. [Data Collection]
Buchard, Antoine (2014) Preliminary DFT study of the isomers of a Zirconium complexe of bipyrrolidine derived Salan ligand. [Data Collection]
Hatchard, Jenny (2014) Data from: A critical evaluation of the volume, relevance and quality of evidence submitted by the tobacco industry to oppose standardised packaging of tobacco products. [Data Collection]


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Vishwas Physician Leadership Program
Who is a Physician Leader?
Why do we need Physician Leadership?
What does the program comprise of?
- health psychology
- health promotion programming
- motivational counselling
- health communication
- health information technology
- health economics and policy
- public speaking
- community mobilization
- leadership.
Who qualifies for the program?
- a MBBS degree, or MD/DNB in Family Medicine
- Your own clinic, or desire to establish your own clinic in the next year
- A passion and desire to transform your community!


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It's true! Unfortunately, some minds are in too much of a state!!
As far as I am aware Happiness does not come with a convenient on/off switch that we can use at will. Please correct me if I am wrong.
So thanks, A, but I do already know how to count my blessings, one by one, each and every one, including,
* My DH is alive and is sometimes the only one who can raise a smile.
* Beautiful Son, Number 1
* Gorgeous Son, Number 2
* A roof over my head, food to eat and clothes to wear
* Living in a free and relatively safe country, in a beautiful county.
* Having a lovely car, a bed, an oven, a computer, a kettle, a pair of scissors, and a needle.
* I might not have many friends, I can count them on one hand, but the ones I have are the best, KT, FM, NB, SO.
* 2 wonderful nieces and assorted other acquired family cast members.
* plus 100,000 other blessings (I didn't want to put a million in case that was an over-estimate)
But just because I can count them, doesn't always make it better and M if I could find a Happiness Coat that I could just choose to put on today, I'd buy it immediately. If you could point me in the direction of the shop, I'd be very grateful. However, until it's in my wardrobe, I certainly can't "turn my frown, upside down", no matter how much I'd like to.
Actually I'm quite liking the idea of Mood Coats, do you think they would come in appropriate colours? Today I'd like to put on my assertiveness Coat, but it's buried at the back of the cupboard, behind my PMT coat and I'm wearing my Lethargic coat so I can't quite reach it!!
Lots of Love Arwedd xx
Friday, 6 July 2012
Happiness is a State of Mind
Labels: Happiness
4 comments:
brilliant postReplyDelete
I can see that no matter how low you get you never seem to loose your sense of humor! Humor is an important tool in my book & as I often say "keep smiling" - it works for me...... so keep smiling & poking fun. SxReplyDelete
PS: I love watching peoples faces when I make a joke, it's quite revealing as they are usually so uptight themselves & trying to make out they are in total control they cannot quite see whats funny :0
- Anonymous7 July 2012 at 15:33
Today I'm wearing my "Don't even bother" coat, my "bu%%er off" gloves, my "Are you flipping kidding me?" hat and my "You want me to what??" boots.ReplyDelete
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Four users of the social networking site Blippy.com had an unwelcome surprise April 23 when it was discovered that a Google search turned up their credit card information.
Blippy.com provides a way for people to post information about their shopping habits-what they buy, how much they spend-to share with friends. The data leak was the residual effect of a situation uncovered months ago in a beta test, the company said.
Before the situation was fixed, a Google search exposed four credit card numbers used for purchases at locations including Exxon Mobil and Starbucks.
Blippy explained in a statement that when the company was first building the site, some raw data could be viewed in the HTML source of a Blippy Web page. Most of the information was nonsensitive data such as store numbers, and it all was removed and the issue was fixed quickly, the company said.
Further reading
"Turns out Google indexed some of this HTML, even though it wasn't ever visible on the Blippy Website, and was removed from the HTML code months ago. Which exposed four credit card numbers (but a scary 196 search results)," Blippy co-founder Philip Kaplan said in the statement.
"We are hugely focused on security and are making efforts to bolster our security to ensure that nothing like this ever happens again," Kaplan said, adding, "We are also conducting third-party security audits, and will be a lot more careful before new features are released, even if it's during a small, limited beta test period."
A spokesperson for Google said the company first learned about the situation around 9 a.m. PT. The numbers became discoverable in Google search snippets as part of the search engine's normal crawling and indexing processes, he said.
"Blippy contacted us and we took special measures to remove the numbers from search results," the Google spokesperson said. "We fixed the problem by 11:20 a.m. Pacific and the numbers should no longer be discoverable in search."


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Maximize Productivity, Increase Uptime, Improve Efficiency
The agriculture technology market is changing; there is a movement from aftermarket to factory integrated solutions that better suit customers' needs. Farmers are looking for complete solutions from a single source. Fuse® Connected Services is designed to help farmers improve overall farm efficiency; it's not just about upfront machine costs, it's about total cost of ownership and cost per acre.
Fuse Connected Services utilizes Fuse technology to enable customers to receive equipment and operational support from their AGCO dealer to improve efficiency, increase productivity and optimize farming operations season-to-season, throughout the crop cycle.
Fuse Connected Services will improve productivity and increase yields through a combination of technology products and dealer services including off-season inspections, preventative maintenance, condition monitoring, training and year-round support. These services will increase productivity through optimization and uptime.
Fuse Connected Services Levels
Get the support you need, when you need it, with the flexibility of different levels of dealer engagement, ensuring maximum productivity for your operation.
Make informed decisions using information generated from AGCO and/or non-AGCO equipment, while proactively managing equipment through automated reports and condition monitoring. Level one puts you in control.
- AgCommand® set-up & training for:
- Self condition monitoring
- Machine alerts
- Online self help
- Fuse Contact Center support
- Data transfer support
- Access to AGCOpartsbooks.com
Rely on the expertise of a dedicated dealer analyst to monitor equipment, inform you of potential issues and provide recommendations for operational improvement. Level two adds hands-on support from your dealer, so you can focus on your business.
- Proactive condition monitoring by dealer expert
- Off-season inspection:
- Advanced machine inspection
- Preparing machine for first use of season
- Prepare machine for off-season storage (optional)
- Fluid sampling (optional)
- Off-season consultation
- Machine & precision agriculture tools operational training
- Field campaign & warranty review
- Machine efficiency & performance review
- Technology seasonal review
- On-site task data transfer support
- Fluid sampling review (optional)
Contact your local dealer for more information.


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Chances are…YOU DON'T.
It is very nice to have emergency travel coverage as part of your benefits plan, but prior to any travel, you should understand any restrictions and limitations associated with the travel coverage. Although many people may think that they are completely covered, this isn't the case. Plan booklets are often vague and do not offer detailed information about the travel coverage that you should know to protect yourself while traveling abroad.
A few things to be aware of prior to any travel (by calling the designated travel line or claims line of the insurance carrier):
- Know the carrier's definition of medical "stability", especially if you take any sort of maintenance medication
- Know what qualifies as a pre-existing condition…. yes, there are some restrictions here…remember it is "emergency" coverage only
- Know what qualifies as an "emergency"
- Know what countries would be considered "unsafe" for travel
A couple of other items that are not considered as part of your benefit plan travel coverage would be trip cancellation and lost baggage insurance. These items might be covered by your credit card, or you can purchase this coverage separately.
The last thing any traveller wants, is a large bill associated with an unexpected medical claim while travelling outside of Canada. Be sure you understand how you are protected, what's covered, with which company and who is your contact, just in case. If you have a travel insurance be sure to pack it. Happy holidays!
Sean Ross


text: > >Hi > > >Hummm, first, file is by misstake recognized as mp3. >[mp3 @ 0x8501060]Could not find codec parameters (Audio: mp1, 160 kb/s) > >After, you can still force input format with -f. >For that file, ffmpeg -f m4v -i mpeg4_dump.mp4 will force raw mpeg4 video. > >The file is playable with no artefacts it seems, decoder spits errors >though. > Thanks for the quick reply, Is this file not behaving as a normal m4v stream ? Or where can a patch be applied that this file would be recognized by ffmpeg? Thanks, Thijs


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Next Episode of A Thousand Skies is
not planed. TV Show was canceled.
A Thousand Skies follows the life of the legendary Australian aviator Charles Kingsford Smith, from his war years to his brief spell in Hollywood as a stunt flyer, his first job as a pilot at Australian Airlines in 1924, to the final realisation of his dream to fly across the Pacific.
Looks like something went completely wrong!
But don't worry - it can happen to the best of us,
- and it just happened to you.
Please try again later or contact us.


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LONDON, England - It was the only thing missing from her legendary career, and with her huge power game in full flow and without hesitation, she made that career even more legendary. Serena Williams crushed Maria Sharapova in the final of the Olympics on Saturday, 60 61, for a Career Golden Grand Slam.
The No.4-seeded Williams unleashed a barrage of winners against the No.3-seeded Sharapova, 24 in total - including 10 aces, five forehand winners and six backhand winners - and kept her unforced errors a lowly seven. It took her only 63 minutes to seal the deal and she sealed that deal emphatically, hitting her ninth and 10th aces on the last two points, then letting out a huge war cry.
"I didn't expect this. I can't even... oh my gosh. I have a gold medal in singles, oh my gosh," an overwhelmed Williams said in her on-court interview moments after winning. "I got the gold. I'm just so happy. I don't know what to do.
"I just feel good about my game. I've practiced so hard. It was time."
After some time to cool down, Williams elaborated on the gold medal match.
"I've never played better," she said. "Playing against Maria you have to be at your best. I knew that. She won the French Open, she never loses this year. She's playing the finals of everything so I knew it was going to be tough."
Williams had put on a similar performance in the semifinals, taking an identical 63 minutes to beat the No.1 seed, Victoria Azarenka, 61 62. In that match she had a whopping 33 winners to just five unforced errors, a +28 differential.
The stats from Williams' victories are plentiful: she has now won 34 of her last 35 matches; she has now won her last 13 matches against Top 5 players, 12 of those wins coming in straight sets; she now has 44 WTA titles, passing Venus Williams for most among active players and now a standalone No.10 all-time.
But the biggest one? She is now just the second woman ever to complete the Career Golden Grand Slam, winning all four Grand Slams and Olympic Gold. The first player to do it was Steffi Graf, a gold medalist at Seoul in 1988.
"It's too much. I never expected gold in singles. I was so happy with my doubles golds. I thought if my career's over I have my gold medal, now I have everything, literally. I have everything there is to win in tennis. Where do I go from here?
"Now I can go to Disneyworld," she added.
Sharapova, who would also have completed a Career Golden Grand Slam if she had won, was disappointed but had a lot of bright sides to her tournament.
"Serena was playing incredibly confident tennis today, particularly considering how windy it was. With every match in the tournament she was playing better and hitting harder," Sharapova said. "There are always things you think you could have done better, but my opponent just played too well today; she was too quick and too powerful. She wasn't making many mistakes either.
"A silver medal means a lot to me, though. It's always disappointing to lose in the final but it's great to get a medal in my first Olympic Games.
"For sure I'll be trying again in Rio. I want that gold medal!"
The bronze medal match was played earlier in the day, with Azarenka beating No.14 seed Maria Kirilenko to bring Belarus its first ever tennis medal, 63 64. There were some nervous moments in the second set, with Azarenka building a 3-0 lead but Kirilenko fighting back to tie it 3-all; but Azarenka broke in the next game and the two held the rest of the way until the World No.1 got bronzed.
"I felt so nervous today because it's not very usual for a tennis player to lose and come back the next day and play," Azarenka said. "It feels like everything came off my shoulders today. It was so incredibly hard but I'm so glad I did it."
It was a special few minutes on Centre Court as Williams, Sharapova and Azarenka received their medals, even more special for Williams as their three national flags were raised into the air with The Star-Spangled Banner playing. But the actual star-spangled banner didn't get to hear the whole song: midway through the US anthem, the US flag detached and blew away in the wind.
Williams had a perfectly good explanation for the flag malfunction. "It was probably trying to come and hug me because it was so happy," she said.


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Wittner234 Bridge Road Richmond, VIC, 3121, Australia Ph: 9429 8781 www.wittner.com.au
Opening Hours
- Mon
- 9.30am-5.30pm
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We've been passionate about shoes for a very long time. Since 1912 to be exact, starting as a family business dedicated to designing high quality fashion footwear that not only looks beautiful but makes you feel it too. We've always believed in the unmistakable power of wearing the right shoe. Nothing completes a look more perfectly or makes you walk taller. And over a century later, nothing's really changed. Except the latest runway trends we interpret in our collections each season, and our company size.
We've gone from one Melbourne retail store to over 75 Australia wide, employing over 450 staff, all equally committed to excellence and impeccable service as the Wittner family, who three generations on still run the business.
It's this timeless love affair with leather shoes and accessories that gives us our Modern Classic Style every season. The combination of a wide range of on-trend styles with a heritage of quality and craftsmanship creates a product that makes us unique in Australian fashion, and the world.


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After I earned my undergraduate degree and it became inevitable that I would pursue further studies one of the many things that suffered was my love for reading. Of course I still has to read textbooks and journals and manuals, but my passion for everything nontechnical waned. Upon it befell the fate of a loyal and devoted but forgotten and neglected lover. I deemed it less necessary to my survival, shoved to the back seat (the trunk actually) by the lame excuse "I don't have enough time!" The weekly book sadly became the yearly book.
How many of us have suffered from this deadly affliction?
How much of the world does not read, whether by choice or by circumstance?
Remember the Queenie Lee-Chua article that came out on the Inquirer last year which revealed a decline in reading among Filipinos? Don't panic, the trend is worldwide. The local study was based on a survey by the Social Weather Stations, as commissioned by the National Book Development Board to determine the state of Filipino readership, reading habits, and preferences.
I know we Filipinos love to read but are sadly limited by other factors such as the cost and availability of books: only if the average Pinoy could afford them, only if they were available in the first place. Ask the next guy in the jeepney stop, the kid hawking cigarettes and sweets in traffic, or kids forced into evacuation centers by the hostilities in Mindanao. Reading has simply become a privilege instead of a birthright.
To those of us fortunate enough not to be hindered to read, I wonder when will we realize that distractions such as television, video games, and other activities which make us feel we don't have enough time, are so trivial? That if we want to do something, and if that something was important enough we will always find time for it? (Like most things, like exercise. But that's another story.)
So I am going to challenge myself: ONE BOOK A WEEK.
That means 16 books until the end of the year.
I have dust on an entire bookshelf of unread books waiting to be disturbed. On top of that I have accumulated nearly a gig of fiction ebooks.
Reading is on the decline but those of us who can change the numbers should do something.
Let's start with ourselves.
(The book/s I am currently reading will be posted under Literally Speaking, while read books for the challenge under Recent Reads.)


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Check out the second video from the Fiddle/Sticks project for a glimpse into 2 days of collaboration and musical exploration with drummer/percussionist Futureman back in October, 2012.
Have a listen to some of the music that was captured in the session with Futureman.
FiddleSticks Podcast: Episode 2 is available on iTunes. This episode is taken from conversation and interview with Drumitar inventor Futureman in which we discuss (among many other things) a phone call from Max Roach, boxes to drums to Drumitar to RoyEl, growing up Wooten, Golden Ratios, the name Futureman, history of the Chop, Bruce Lee, and a room without corners. You'll also get to hear a bit more of the music we made as we reflect upon our two days together.
As a companion piece to the podcast, I put together a playlist of recommended tracks Futureman has been on—including an early Whitney Houston track in which he played the acoustic hi-hat. (Please note, not all tracks may be available on Spotify).
KENNY MALONE: Click here to check out the Video, Music, Podcast & Playlist from the first Fiddle/Sticks installment with drummer and percussionist Kenny Malone.
JAMEY HADDAD: Click here to check out the Video & Music from the third Fiddle/Sticks installment with drummer and percussionist Jamey Haddad.


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The first line to address wellness through the skin, Pomega5 is a revolutionary system of pure, luxurious skin recipes based on bioactive botanicals and rare Omega 5 oil extracted from pomegranate seeds. Using the purest, freshest organic ingredients derived wholly from nature, we strive to create efficacious products that go beyond skin care to genuinely feed and nourish the body from the outside in. Each Pomega5 product has been carefully formulated to reflect a balanced combination of essential fatty acids, botanical extracts and essential oils - completely without the use of any parabens, petrochemicals, fillers, or synthetics.
Working with doctors and experts on healing plants, founder Tzeira Sofer developed Pomega5 based on ancient recipes and support from the latest scientific research to help people achieve healthier skin and a healthier body. Pomega, Inc. was established in 2005 and is based in Marin County, California, just north of the Golden Gate Bridge.» click here to read the full story


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Personal Checking Account Service charges are based on your account balance. A $8.00 service charge is applied if balance falls below $500. Also, there is a $0.15 per check charge after 20 checks per statement cycle.
First Delta Bank Club Account is full of banking services:
Bank Club Benefits For These Low Monthly Fees:
Student Checking We are happy to provide our full-time student bank customers with a checking account with no monthly service charge.
First Delta Senior Checking Account is designed exclusively for those customers who are age 55 and over. A $100.00 minimum deposit is required with no monthly service charge.
First Delta Gold Club is designed for our customers 55 years and over. A minimum balance of $1000.00 into any account or having three other services will qualify you.
Club Features
Two Boxes Selected Wallet Style Checks per year
Club Parties
FREE Cashier Checks
Educators Checking is for teachers, school administrators, and school affiliated people.
Now Account Checking This checking account is designed for customers who want to earn interest on their checking account. The "Now Account" allows unlimited check writing while earning interest on your daily balance. (Interest is compounded monthly). If your balance falls below $1000.00, there will be a $10.00 service charge, however interest will still be earned.
Super Now Account Checking For our customers who would like to earn an even higher rate of interest (compounded monthly) on the daily balance of their checking account, "Super Now" checking is designed for them. This account allows unlimited check writing. If the balance falls below $2500.00, a service charge of $10.00 will be imposed, however interest will still be earned.
Business Checking Account is designed for our "Business" Customers. There is a $8.00 per month maintenance fee.
First Delta's Check Imaging is provided on all deposit accounts. It's an easier way to bank and help simplify your record keeping. Since your checks are now "imaged" and automatically organized for you, there's no need to sort through a stack of checks each month. Each check image is laser printed on easy to read 8 ½ x 11 pages, pre-punched and ready for easy filing in your statement organizer.


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We've got a fantastic reader offer for you inside this week's paper.
We've teamed up with Pizza Hut to offer our readers free garlic bread.
Just fill in and cut out the voucher inside this week's paper and present it at the counter to collect your free four pieces of garlic bread - worth £3.99.


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Beach scene
Sorry, content browsing has some technical issues. If you want to switch main category (on the right), choose -Any- and then choose the category you want to see next. I'm trying to fix the issue soon.
A Small experimental diorama made as a gift.
I've been drawing Pulut -sarjakuva (Pigeons -comics) for a Finnish young's community site, and like I've often drawn these pigeons to guestbooks and in greetings, I decided to create a decoration for our wedding cake of these comic characters. The same theme was seen in wedding invitation, where one pigeon 'accidentally' prod a ring closer to another pigeon - and the wedding cake decoration was made from this picture.


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Your browser does not support iframes.
Mora Co-op vote
(NOTE: The Mora Electric Co-op's annual meeting is Saturday at the MHS gym, with registration from 9 a.m. to noon).
My name is Jerome Lucero and I am a retired Electrical Engineer whose background includes working for Public Service Company of Colorado for approximately 28 years. In addition, I was the General Manager For the Mora San Miguel Electric Cooperative from April of 2005 to April of 2006, but as is the case in Northern New Mexico, I only lasted as the Manager for one year.
R/C works with FAA
There has been an ongoing discussion involving the FAA and the American Modelers Association for a couple of years now concerning the free, unregulated use of radio-controlled airplanes, or drones, if you wish.
For years, the FAA and the AMA have worked together to make the radio-control hobby a safe means of recreation. When remote control first started, a ham radio license was required and used the ham frequencies — usually 10 and 6 meters.
Introducing himself
I'm Peter DeBenedittis, Ph.D. I'm running for governor of New Mexico. I'm a Progressive Democrat who has lived in Santa Fe since 1995. I've spent the last 20 years teaching youth alcohol prevention at schools across New Mexico. For the past 2-1/2 years I've has volunteered as director of Alcohol Taxes Save Lives & Money.
Alzheimer's proposal
If you're like me, you know someone living with Alzheimer's Disease or have lost someone to the disease. Alzheimer's is the 6th leading cause of death in the US, one for which there is no prevention, treatment, or cure.
Church in need
Among the many historical attractions in Las Vegas, there is one historical treasure that is often written about, and that is the Kilgen Pipe Organ located at Our Lady of Sorrows Church in old town.
I won't repeat the historical facts regarding this organ, but I do want to emphasis that this marvelous instrument belongs to all of us who live here. Most people know that the organ still needs expensive renovation to bring it to its full capacity.
Patios encouraged
I read Optic's May 14-16 cover article on "Borrachos patio plan" with much concern. It was difficult to understand why a newer woman-owned business was told that they could not open up a sidewalk patio, when a number of other restaurants and lounges have similar summer venues in the Historic District. For a small city, there are already great choices for food and drink, and here's a welcome addition!
Recall is sour grapes
First of all, our fair city is recovering under the current administration. It was devastated by the prior leadership in that staffing was filled to enhance political favors.
This practice threw the city budget into deficits which the current administration has had to manage to avoid layoffs, etc.
Constituents, taxpayers and staff must understand that staffing changes were necessary to address the budget shortfalls created by unqualified political fill-ins at various positions.
Serving millions
May 22-26, 2017 marks the first-ever Rural Health Week and Alta Vista Regional Hospital joins community hospitals and caregivers across the nation to highlight the positive impact we have on the patients we care for and the communities we serve.
When you hear rural community, you may think small town. However, when combining the population of areas like ours across the country, it equals nearly 60 million people, or one in five Americans. At the heart of many of those communities is the local hospital.
Thank teachers
This week is National Teacher Appreciation Week. We have wonderful teachers and education employees! We need to celebrate the incredible teaching happening all over New Mexico.
New Mexico has more students graduating and better test results, thanks to teachers!
License to ill
After reading the Optic article on the new federal regulations to obtain a drivers' license, I thought adding a little humor may soften the stress.
If you were born before the 1950's and come from a Hispanic family, I figure you are one caught in this web of stress. I definitely include myself in this group.
Copyright © 2019
The Las Vegas Optic is your source for local news, sports, events, and information in San Miguel County and Las Vegas, NM, and the surrounding area.


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It's here and now at TCW that we chat resolutions. There's something so freeing about a fresh start – who doesn't love a chance to shed the weight, start using a planner (for real this time), up water intake, become a better listener, or say no to snooze?
A new year stirs the soul and invites change, but though inspiration strikes and we thrill in new-found motivation, our resolve to BE BETTER tends to fizzle out. Discouragement and despondency settle in. And for those of us who make up the majority of classic Resolution Fizzlers, I've realized our goals are lacking the absolutely necessary foundation; the foundation that, in fact, should be another (if not the only) resolution we have:
Whatever the desires of your heart, whatever the ambitions, the dreams, the bad habits we try to tackle every January 1st, we need more Jesus because it turns out the Lord cares. It's not an idea we ever consider – what does Jesus have to do with my workout regimen or plan to spend less and save more?
Ahem – everything.
Jesus said, "I came that they might have life and have it to the full" (John 10:10); it's obvious and real that our personal improvement is what he desires, too.
Our desire to improve, to be better is a draw heavenward; God is goodness itself, love itself. Though it might not look like it on the surface, our hopes for a richer life are hopes for closeness with God.
And chances are, it was God who put the desire on your heart in the first place to show you that he's the one who can fulfill it. Who better to see you through?
But it's tempting to leave Jesus out of those parts of life. "I like to leave church at church."
But I tell you that keeping him out of our hopes and resolutions is like taking the wind out of a sail. We might drift, but we don't reach that thrilling, full potential. And ultimately, our goals in and of themselves will be incomplete. St. Augustine said, "Our hearts are restless until they rest in you, Lord." That's ideal insight for our resolutions – they simply won't be enough unless we ask Jesus to come on in and transform like he does.
So go bare your soul to Jesus. "Prayer is a launching out of the heart towards God," St. Therese said, and heartfelt prayers do not have to be verbose or eloquent. Two of my favorite prayers are "I want to be better, Jesus," and a simple "Change me."
Tell Jesus what you're shooting for, what you wish you could overcome but feel impossibly stuck or even hopeless. Ask that he grant the desires of your heart; couple it with "If it is not your will, give me the grace to bear my desire." Pray simply and invite Jesus into your goals and hopes. Do it all the time. In a moment of weakness. In a moment of strength.
And once we invite the Lord into our resolutions, we'll see just what grace can do and how far we can go; the Lord will bless what we offer (you read the Loaves & Fishes, right?). We'll be able to see more clearly through Heaven's eyes what is and isn't worth ambition.
Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters, "Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. (Isaiah 43:18-19)
Happy 2017, friends! God bless you!
Looking for a speaker for your retreat, conference, or event? Find my video, topics, and endorsements here!


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Well this might not be the wisest time to post about this.
But the collection seriously got me really not blinking.
Bravo Uniqlo x Lemaire !
And the inspirational story that makes the collection even more worth it, the hand-made and heart-beats that go to every inch of it.
Pretty much my favorite pieces standing side by side.
Anastasia Siantar as the host.
And the what i wore section:


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Yellow Light on the Yellowstone
FWP proceeds with caution as it works to maintain the lower Yellowstone River's diverse native fishery in the face of diversion dams, water withdrawals, and growing numbers of anglers.
This story is featured in Montana Outdoors May-June 2013 issue
I've always found solitude on the Yellowstone River. Even in rare instances when the parking lot at a ramp is full, it's usually easy to distance myself from other boaters once I'm on the water and riding the river's strong current.
I learned to row a drift boat on the Yellowstone near Livingston. I've fished the river from its humble beginnings above Yellowstone Lake to as far downstream as Columbus. But never have I felt so isolated on the river as I did during a 2005 trip from Intake Diversion Dam to the confluence with the Missouri River at Fort Buford.
Learn more:
Some changes on the
Roche Jaune
FWP requests new options at Intake for pallid recovery
Pallid Sturgeon: A Whisker Away from Winking Out
Boating on the Missouri and Yellowstone Rivers
Photographer Erik Petersen and I launched my 15-foot aluminum fishing boat into the Yellowstone just below the dam shortly after dawn. As rain fell from thick clouds overhead, I lowered the 40-hp outboard, fired it up, and pointed the boat downstream. We hadn't gone 50 yards when the prop hit a rock. I shut off the motor, raised the outboard, and hung on as the boat bounced off the bottom through a shallow riffle.
It was going to be a long day.
Plenty of guidebooks cover the upper Yellowstone River, from Big Timber upstream to Yellowstone National Park. Local fly-fishing shops post river conditions daily. Shuttles are available, access is plentiful, and riverside homes abound.
Not so downstream. In his book Floating and Recreation on Montana Rivers, author Curt Thompson devotes only two paragraphs to the entire lower Yellowstone (generally considered the portion between Billings and the confluence with the Missouri). And on this final 70-mile stretch of river we were completely on our own. None of the few people we saw could tell us how long it would take to reach the Missouri.
We eventually trimmed the outboard enough for it to stay clear of the bottom. But we took a couple of wrong turns down channels that became too shallow to navigate and had to hop out and push the boat back upstream to deeper water. Not wanting to spend the night on the river, we decided there was no time to fish. Shortly before dusk we reached the confluence at the Fort Buford Historic Site in North Dakota. We'd seen hardly a soul all day, just a couple of agate hunters walking the banks.
Other than our vehicle, the parking lot at the Fort Buford boat ramp was empty.
Rediscovering the Yellowstone
Since then the river has seen some dramatic changes, many caused by oil. In July 2011, an ExxonMobil pipeline running under the river near Laurel ruptured, spilling more than 60,000 gallons of crude into the Yellowstone. The oil fouled 70 miles of riverbank and took months to clean. Long-term consequences to the river's aquatic life are unknown.
Oil is also partly responsible for a rise in recreation on the Yellowstone. Over the past six years, jet-boat traffic has markedly increased, no doubt driven by high wages in the Bakken oil field to the northeast. "From Billings to the confluence, jet-boating keeps getting bigger," says Matthew Lothspeich at Riverside Marine in Miles City. "The oil patch is definitely having an effect on sales."
Jet boats are propelled by engines that eject a powerful stream of water, allowing the craft to move through shallow, rocky riffles like those on parts of the lower Yellowstone. "People didn't know about the river, but now they see jet boats out there and want to give it a try," says Lothspeich, whose best seller runs about $20,000.
High oil field wages aren't the only thing driving renewed interest in the Yellowstone. Anglers are discovering that the lower river holds more than paddlefish and catfish. Mike Backes, FWP regional fisheries manager at Miles City, says sauger fishing is excellent throughout most of the lower Yellowstone. So is angling for walleye, the sauger's larger, non-native cousin.
Fishing for the river's rapidly growing and expanding population of smallmouth bass, another non-native, has become a huge attraction. Backes says bass entered the Yellowstone via the Tongue and Bighorn Rivers after they were stocked years ago in upstream reservoirs. Smallies are now found as far up the Yellowstone as Big Timber and are plentiful downstream to the mouth of the Powder River. (Below there, the river is generally too turbid for the sight-feeding predators to find prey fish.)
While the increasingly popular smallmouth bass fishery thrives on its own, FWP works primarily on managing the river's 33 native species, especially sauger, channel catfish, paddlefish, and the federally endangered pallid sturgeon. The biggest challenge to keeping those diverse populations healthy, says Ken Frazer, FWP regional fisheries manager in Billings, is diversion dams.
Although it's commonly referred to as the longest undammed river in the Lower 48, six diversion dams exist on the Yellowstone. These 3- to 12-foot-high concrete or rock structures span the river and divert water into canals that irrigate thousands of acres of cropland in the river valley. The dams also block fish migration—most significantly that of the pallid sturgeon. The cream-colored, shark-shaped fish, which can weigh 80 pounds, was once plentiful in the Yellowstone, considered one of its best habitats. Today the species has been reduced to an adult population estimated at just 120 wild fish, living in the lower Yellowstone and the Missouri River below Fort Peck Dam. The Yellowstone hasn't been truly undammed since water was first diverted at Intake in 1906, a century after Captain William Clark floated down the river on his return trip from the Oregon coast.
Big-river fish evolved to make long migrations. Sauger tagged at Miles City have been caught 319 river miles downstream at Lake Sakakawea in North Dakota and upstream 160 river miles just below Huntley Diversion Dam. Shovelnose sturgeon tagged just below Fort Peck Dam have been caught 360 river miles away at Miles City after swimming down the Missouri then up the Yellowstone. "Fish need different types of habitat throughout the year, for spawning, for newly hatched fry to escape predators, and for spending the winter," says Frazer. "You block that movement and fish suffer the consequences."
Movement blockers Progress to help fish negotiate the dams comes in fits and starts. A passageway built to allow fish to swim around Huntley Dam in 1997 has never worked correctly. And only recently were screens installed at the headgate above Intake Dam to prevent fish from being diverted into the irrigation system. "We were losing half a million adult fish a year down that ditch," Frazer says.
Though they block fish migration, diversion dams aren't tall enough to fully impound the Yellowstone. During high-water years, the structures sometimes even disappear beneath the muddy torrent, allowing some species to swim over or around them. Backes says the 2011 flood washed boulders off the top of Intake Dam, creating a channel that allowed a record upstream migration of walleye and northern pike the following spring. "They were able to access areas they hadn't reached in years," he says. In 2012 the Bureau of Reclamation replaced the boulders, so the dam continues to impede fish movement as before.
Even if fish could find a way past the dams, they would still struggle without adequate water. "Allocation of river water for growing municipal and agricultural use is a huge issue," Backes says. "In this dry environment, there's not an endless supply."
Sauger mystery
Another challenge facing native fish is competition from non-native species. Sauger, especially, must compete with walleye and smallmouth bass for habitat and food. While the sauger population is healthy in the lower reaches of the river, there are far fewer of the fish from the mouth of the Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone downstream to Forsyth. Mike Ruggles, an FWP fisheries biologist in Billings who studies sauger, says a population decline in that stretch during the 1980s was blamed on drought. Yet numbers have remained low since then despite years of higher water. Are irrigation dams blocking upstream sauger movement? Is the problem "entrainment"—the loss of sauger down irrigation canals? Is the river's growing smallmouth population, which is steadily moving upstream, hampering sauger production?
Whatever the cause, DNA analysis shows those sauger to be genetically unique. That may be due to the barrier-like effect of the diversion dams that restricts free movement and interchange of genetic material with sauger in lower stretches of the Yellowstone. Ruggles says repairs to the fish passageway at Huntley, scheduled for later this year, should increase genetic exchange among sauger and allow them and other species to expand their range and multiply.
Another species receiving close scrutiny is the paddlefish, a primitive species that can weigh over 100 pounds and is caught for its meat and eggs (made into caviar).
Because paddlefish grow slowly—females don't reproduce until age 12 to 15—FWP closely monitors the recreational take. In recent years the agency has reduced bag limits to protect the population from overharvest.
Biologists also keep tabs on the lower Yellowstone's small native fish, such as flathead chubs, emerald shiners, longnose dace, and other minnow species eaten by game fish. As smallmouth bass numbers increase, the voracious predators could be taking a bite out of minnow populations—to the detriment of native game species. Another potential problem is commercial minnow seining. Streams in the Yellowstone drainage have become the main source of minnows for bait shops throughout eastern Montana. Overharvest by commercial seiners could devastate minnow populations and reduce this important forage base, necessary for maintaining game fish populations. Commercial seining also could spread disease and invasive species. Frazer says the state needs tougher commercial seining restrictions. "Montana's are liberal compared to other states," he says. "We're looking into whether additional ones might be necessary."
Another concern is access. Of the 51 Fishing Access Sites (FAS) on the Yellowstone, more than half are in the first 185 river miles from Gardiner to Billings. From there to the confluence, 382 miles downriver, the sites are few and far between. Use continues to grow from increasing numbers of people drawn to jobs in the nearby Bakken.
Steve Marx, an FWP warden in Glendive who regularly patrols the river, says on a typical summer day half the people he sees on the river are fishing and the other half are hunting the gravel bars for Yellowstone (moss) agates, a legal activity. Though increasing river use means he writes more citations for fishing and boating violations, most folks he runs into are well behaved. "We don't have a ton of problems on the Yellowstone," the warden says. "There's definitely an increase in traffic, but the people out there have respect for the river."
Even so, the combination of more anglers and faster jet boats moving quickly between hot spots means added pressure on the Yellowstone's fishery, says Backes. "Right now game fish populations are doing well, but we want to maintain those fishing opportunities as use increases."
More coming
On a late January afternoon, the parking lot at the Fort Buford Historic Site is empty except for my vehicle, even though the visitor center is open. From inside the building a row of south-facing windows offers a scenic view of the confluence. Surprisingly, a dozen or so ice-fishing shacks are scattered across the mouth of the Yellowstone, the unstable river ice apparently no deterrent to some winter anglers.
To the east of the ice shanties, on a prominent point above the two rivers, is the site where Captain Clark camped on his return trip in August 1806.
Behind the visitor center, a few hundred yards to the north, a derrick methodically pumps oil from the ground. A 4-foot-high flame of natural gas burns brightly nearby, a process known as flaring. To the north and east is the hustle and bustle of the Bakken oil patch. A seemingly endless line of oil field trucks rumbles along Montana Highway 16, which follows the river south to Glendive.
Truck drivers barreling past catch only an occasional glimpse of the lower Yellowstone as it braids and weaves through the cottonwoods that grow thick along the river bottom. With summer, the river again will become a recreational centerpiece of eastern Montana, attracting more anglers, agate hunters, and boaters than the year before. The Yellowstone here has undergone dramatic changes in recent years.
Undoubtedly, more are coming, both upstream and down.
Parker Heinlein is an outdoors columnist for the Bozeman Daily Chronicle.
Some changes on the Roche Jaune
For roughly 12,000 years the lower Yellowstone region has attracted hunters, anglers, and others drawn to the lush valleys, abundant water, and plentiful fish and game. Named by Indians for its limestone cliffs, the river was also called Roche Jaune ("Yellow Rock") by French trappers.
Almost all of what National Geographic called the nation's "last best river" still contains the warm, murky water and countless braided channels, sandbars, and islands that early explorers encountered. Though these features continue to provide essential fish habitat, several changes over the past century have altered the river's historic fishery.
The first came in the early 1900s, when the federal government built diversion dams and extensive irrigation systems. In addition to blocking and impeding upstream fish movement, the dams divert sauger, channel catfish, and other species into irrigation canals, where they are either pumped out into fields or left stranded in the ditches.
Another major development was the completion, in 1967, of Yellowtail Dam on the Bighorn River. Built to control flooding and generate hydropower, the dam vastly reduced the flow of warm, turbid water that attracts spawning pallid sturgeon, paddlefish, and other species. Though cold water from the dam's base has created the Bighorn's world-class trout population, biologists say the river's contribution to the Yellowstone's warmwater fishery has been greatly reduced.
Riprap and levees are another problem. For decades railroads, municipalities, and farmers have built shoreline dikes (levees) to prevent flooding on their property, and have lined banks with boulders (riprap) to lessen erosion of rail beds and irrigated cropland. But by narrowing the river, the cumulative effect of hundreds of shoreline reinforcements increases water speed and energy, leading to greater flooding and increased erosion downstream.
—Tom Dickson
FWP requests new options at Intake for pallid recovery
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has recently proposed building a new concrete diversion dam at Intake that would be taller than the existing rock dam, already the largest on the Yellowstone River. That, along with other recent decisions on Intake by the Corps and other federal agencies, has FWP officials concerned. "We don't think these new proposals are in the best interests of federally endangered pallid sturgeon or the many other game and nongame species that occupy the lower Yellowstone," says Jeff Hagener, FWP director.
The Corps is proposing the new structure as a way to build up a higher water level—or "hydraulic head"—behind the dam to feed a new headgate. The headgate controls water diverted from the Yellowstone into a network of canals used to irrigate 55,000 acres of cropland along the river in Montana and North Dakota. Built in 2012, the headgate includes screens that reduce fish "entrainment"—the loss of sauger, young pallid sturgeon, and other species diverted into the irrigation canal. The new structure was built 200 yards upstream of the old one and requires a higher water level behind Intake Dam to provide enough irrigation flow.
Building the screens was part of the Corps's obligation under the federal Endangered Species Act to recover pallid sturgeon. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) determined the Corps was responsible for pallid recovery because the Fort Peck (Montana) and Garrison (North Dakota) Dams it owns and operates on the Missouri River have contributed to the almost complete disappearance of naturally produced pallid sturgeon, currently reduced to just 120 adult wild fish (which also use the Yellowstone below Intake). Most of these remaining pallids are more than 60 years old. Though they spawn, they haven't successfully added new young sturgeon into the population in decades because the larval fish can't survive in the altered river conditions. By impounding the Missouri, the dams also rob the pallid sturgeon of vital habitat and fluctuating water cycles the species has evolved with over millions of years.
In the mid-2000s the Corps announced that the most cost-effective way to recover pallid sturgeon would be to create natural upstream fish passage at Intake Diversion Dam on the Yellowstone, the other river that historically held large populations. In spring the bottom-hugging sturgeon are unable to move past the 12-foot-tall rock structure, owned and operated by the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR), to reach upstream spawning habitats. "A dam that's 12 feet high is as big a barrier to a pallid sturgeon as a dam that's 1,200 feet high," says Hagener. "For these endangered fish, Intake Dam might as well be Hoover Dam."
In 2010, the Corps and BOR decided the best option for helping pallids bypass the dam would be to replace it with a concrete weir that spanned the channel, behind which would be built a shallow-sloped "rock ramp" made of boulders. The weir would impound enough water to feed the
irrigation system while the ramp's gentle
incline would allow pallids and other species to swim over the weir during spring runoff. In addition, a new headgate would be built to include fish screens that
reduced entrainment of any young pallids resulting from the increased sturgeon reproduction made possible by the ramp.
The rock ramp would be "the least cost[ly] option," the two federal agencies wrote in their final Environmental Assessment (EA), issued in 2010, and "would [also] be easier for pallid sturgeon to navigate than the other alternatives." (Alternatives were (1) to maintain Intake Dam as it was, or (2) construct a new 2.4-mile-long main river channel sloped in a way that would provide ample water for irrigation while improving upstream fish passage.)
As the new headgate was being built in 2012, the Corps announced it had vastly underestimated its cost as well as the expense and engineering feasibility of the rock ramp. Instead of the ramp, they proposed constructing a fish "bypass"—a new channel built around Intake Dam—and building a new concrete dam on the Yellowstone that would be 2 feet taller than the existing one. In addition, a small existing side channel that currently allows some fish passage in high water would be blocked off.
FWP has long stated that if the existing dam were to stay in place, the rock ramp was its preferred alternative. "Instead of pallid sturgeon having 100 percent of the river flow as proposed with the rock ramp, they would only receive, with the bypass, about 15 percent," Hagener says. "We are also faced with the very real possibility of an even taller dam at Intake. Along with the loss of fish passage in the existing side channel, we are unsure if the net results would do much to help sturgeon."
In January 2013, the USFWS announced that if the Corps built the fish passage at Intake, then the agency could be absolved of any future responsibility for pallid recovery—even if the structure didn't result in significant wild sturgeon natural reproduction and recovery. "This latest decision, if made final, brings to question a previous promise by the USFWS that the Corps would be held accountable for using biologically based criteria to judge the success of any passage modifications at Intake," says Hagener.
"It also appears to negate promises made that the Corps would still be responsible for
recovery actions on the Missouri River, like adjusting Fort Peck Dam flows to improve pallid spawning conditions downstream."
The Corps plans to issue a draft EA on the new taller dam proposal for public comment later this year.
"What we'd like is to see all the options back on the table—including the rock ramp and the option of removing any dam at Intake altogether and pumping water from the river into the irrigation system," says Hagener. "We recognize that irrigation water is the lifeblood of this region's farm-based economy, and we recognize those needs must be met. But the current proposal of the bypass channel and a new, taller weir is not the only way to fulfill the needs of irrigators. It's certainly an expensive option for taxpayers, and we think there are definitely better solutions for fish passage at Intake."
—Tom Dickson