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Do some Blog Posting and article writing twice a week
Budżet $15-25 AUD / godzinę
My company needs movement on its social media & a blog needs to be started(articles and the like) - [login to view URL]
I am looking for a writer interested in sustainability & the environment (a background in scientific research would be great but not necessary).
Looking to have two articles (300-500 words) written each week to be posted to our website, linkedIn and twitter etc.
All articles need to target the issue of glyphosate use, our products , environmental damages caused by poisonous and toxic weed killers, current protests around the world and so on so forth. We are targeting domestic and commercial business's so require both academic writing articles and puff pieces to cater to both sides.
Our company aims to restore balance to the environment for a sustainable & organic future (which is exactly what our product helps to do)
The company sells the safest weed control solution ever brought to market that has added environmental benefits. Basic knowledge of agriculture or weed control highly regarded.
The job will commence at the beginning of November and this will be ongoing work.
39 freelancerów przeciętnie składa ofertę za $22/godz. do tego projektu
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Boutique Bozeman Luxury Hotel
The Gallatin River Lodge is a secluded, boutique luxury Bozeman hotel, Montana fly fishing lodge, and fine dining facility, located on a ranch with private access to the Gallatin River just west of Bozeman, Montana. Reviewed by our guests on TripAdvisor as one of the top rated hotels in Bozeman, the Lodge offers much more than other lodging in this region. We offer accommodations for up to 25 guests. Six guest rooms in the Lodge have Jacuzzi tubs and fireplaces. Our new Trout Cabin Lodge has six rooms, including a two bedroom suite. As a world class, destination Montana fly fishing lodge, we specialize in unforgettable accommodations, romantic getaways with that special person, and the perfect venue for a group event.
Fly Fishing, Fine Dining and More
Our fly fishing adventures are led by the most experienced fly fishing guides. Our five-star restaurant, the Gallatin River Grill, is recognized as the premium fine dining establishment in the region. Take a look around our website, view our videos and read about our experienced Montana fly fishing guides, fly fishing adventures and luxury Bozeman hotel. Join us in 2016, our 18th year!
"I sleep in hotels almost 200 nights a year, and have been this comfortable only once before. The staff is friendly, intelligent and well-supported; the rooms are welcoming & luxurious; the lodge finely situated on the river's edge; the food rich and refined. I SLEPT SO WELL. Our little business group had some special privacy needs, which were swiftly and competently accommodated, and all the little requests (a ride to the airport, a fishing guide, a massage) were handled with equal ease and grace, and excellent results. These folks are true professionals."
Albuquerque, New Mexico

subset: commoncrawl


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Socially Inc. necesitaba un nuevo diseño de logotipo y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 344 diseños de 68 diseñadores freelance.
Socially Incorporated Clothing
My name is Daniel and i have started a clothing company in NC. The designs are classic casual street style that can be dressed up or dressed down depending on your need. We make mens clothes at the moment, sorry ladies. We will work on yours soon. I like the designs to be something that you can wear through and through, a classic style that will remain and fads fall out. Right now i am having a website designed and i am looking for a a logo to throw up there to represent the name and company. The feel of the company comes all from growing up skating, playing music, friends, traveling, and a feel for style. The company is not about flair and loud colors to make your style known, but the smoothness in how it looks.
Male demographic, ages from 18-up, surfer/fashionable/casual
I want a design that stands alone from all else. The logo can be a play of S.I.C, on the whole name itself (Socially incoporated clothing), a symbol, and animal, or just a little design you come up with. Get as creative as you can. Just keep in mind that my line is not about bright loud colors, or crazy designs. I am looking for simple, but really catchy designs. I am open to all ideas that might pop up. If there are any questions please feel free to contact me. Cheers
Descubre cómo funciona un concurso de diseño u obtén más información sobre nuestros servicios de diseño de logo.


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L'oreal has 7 new shades of Glam Shine Fresh and 5 new shades of Glam Shine 6 Hour Lip gloss and they are very bright, shiny and bold!
If there is one thing I really like about L'oreal lip gloss it is the heart shaped applicator, which fits the lips really nicely.
Here are the shades I was sent to try. I usually go for more pigmented lip gloss but it's nice to have something that's a bit different:
It screams fruit bowl to me!The Fresh Lemon Tonic is a bold yellow which is actually quite sheer on but with a yellowish shimmer.
The Shine Fresh 6Hour seems to me to be more pigmented than the Glam Shine Fresh glosses.
Aqua Curacao is a a sheer turquoise, and Aqua Watermelon is a pretty pink.
Lip swatch time!
Lemon Tonic:
Does this lip gloss last 6 hours? It can if you don't eat or drink. Also with it being a sheer yellow I can't really say that the colour lasted – there isn't much pigment – but the texture and shine of the gloss lasts if that makes sense.
Aqua Curacao:
This leaves a very pale sheer icy glow to the lips. Very natural indeed.
Aqua Watermelon:
Once again very sheer, very natural looking. If that is what you are looking for then this gloss is ideal.
Both of the Glam Shine Fresh's are free of shimmer, whereas the Glam Shine Fresh 6H has shimmer to it.
All the glosses are very glossy and add plumpness to the lips.
Overall I do like these for spring and summer, they're real no brainer lip glosses.
Glam Shine Fresh is £7.65 each
Glam Shine Fresh 6 Hours is £8.67 each


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"We don't take unnecessary risks. We're not speculators on absolute price movements. It may surprise some of you to learn that we actually prefer lower, rather than higher prices. High and rising prices increase dramatically our working capital requirements and result in ever greater margin calls, both of which are not good for your cash flow." –Ian Taylor, group president and CEO, Vitol Group
Truckers are beholden to petroleum and the fuel distilled from it like few other businesses in the world, so it wouldn't surprise me in the least if they regarded oil traders with thinly veiled contempt.
After all, these are the folks buy and selling oil futures, hammering out contracts for moving it around the world into various markets, in many cases distilling and selling off the precious products produced from "black gold."
In the end, they ultimately function as one of the biggest siphons attached to trucking's cash flow, for the cost of fuel remains among the top three -- if not top two -- expenses on any fleet's bottom line.
Yet in some respects, truckers and others might be laboring under some misconceptions here. The growth of the "oil trading" industry may, in many respects, be at least partially responsible for keeping up a steady supply of oil despite burgeoning demand from many heretofore dormant corners of the globe, China's rip-roaring economic revolution being one of the biggest.
With that in mind, I'd to share with you parts of a speech Ian Taylor (at right), group president and CEO for the Vitol Group, delivered in London during the International Petroleum Week Conference.
You may not agree with many of his views, but I think you'll find his perspective on the world's oil markets interesting, to say the very least – markets that are at the moment quite shaky due to all the unrest swirling through the Middle East and North Africa at the moment, home to nations that control a good bit of the globe's oil supply.
"I want to emphasize my key point that energy markets work and work well, despite what can be challenging circumstances and rapid changes," he noted.
[Below is a short video providing an overview of Vitol's many different energy and oil-related businesses.]
Taylor pointed out that he's witnessed a lot of ups and downs over his 30 year career in the oil trading world, selling big VLCCs worth of oil (a term for a type of oil tanker called "very large crude carriers" weighing from 160,000 to nearly 320,000 in deadweight tons DWT) at 7$ per barrel (bbl) in 1987 and then "sadly bought" VLCCs of at 147$/bbl in 2008.
"Since then the oil price fell to $35 in December 2008 and is now today above $105," Taylor said. "The huge global recession of 2008-09 resulted in the first fall in oil demand in 30 years. It was followed in 2010 by the second largest annual increase in demand in the last 30 years."
Yet despite many changes, wars, hurricanes, increasing environmental pressures, frequent price hikes and collapses – "Who remembers $10 oil now? But it was a reality during the Asian financial crisis in 1998," Taylor noted – and against a backdrop of population increase and economic growth, the energy sector has constantly met demand with rarely a serious supply shortage, he said.
"That's a tribute to the industry. It's a tribute to its dominant can-do mindset. And it's a tribute to the open market system," Taylor stressed. "As an industry we are always under the spotlight of the politicians and the media. What impresses me most is the sector's endless capacity to handle every challenge thrown at it."
If risk exposure is managed properly and if encouraged by governments to introduce new technologies and new ways of doing business, Taylor said he's more than confident the global oil and gas industry can go on meeting growing energy demand to 2030 and well beyond.
"But meeting this growing demand will not be easy," he warned. "The search for new hydrocarbon resources has taken the industry into ever-riskier places: Deeper waters, more extreme climates, more fragile natural environment, less predictable political and financial jurisdictions."
Taylor emphasized that nothing stands still in the oil markets, and that goes for the traders themselves.
"Traders are, by necessity, at the forefront of change – we adapt to changing circumstances or we fail," he said. "We start with a blank sheet of paper each year. Nothing is guaranteed. We have to search ceaselessly for the next deal and the next innovation. There's more competition from new players. There's greater market transparency and more regulation. There are new arbitrage plays. And we're all taking selective positions on real assets and moving into new markets."
For example, his company ships nearly 400 million tonnes of crude and product a year. That, my friends, is an awful lot of oil to move about the world, but it pales in the face of what Taylor believes will be an explosion of demand in the near future.
"The underlying pressures driving this renewal are well enough known," he said. "Population growth is one, with an additional 80 million new customers for commercial energy each year. Energy consumption continues to rise, especially in emerging economies, which now account for close to half of global demand. Worrying issues around climate change. Resource nationalism and anxieties about energy security also come into play."
Now, how concerned should businesses that rely on oil be about the future given these pressures?
"The line between confidence and smugness is a fine one. Yet the reality is that time and again our sector has demonstrated its ability to rise to a new challenge. I think it will do so again," taylor stressed.
"The last decade was characterized by tightness along the whole energy supply chain but we have currently moved into a period of surplus," he said. "OPEC [the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries] has an estimated six million barrels a day of spare capacity. Iraq's capacity is growing fast, with huge reserves. There are surpluses in the tanker business. Even LNG [liquid natural gas] terminals are in surplus. But these surpluses appear to us to be cyclical rather than chronic. Indeed there are already some signs that some of the surplus in the refining industry is receding."
What is clear, Taylor emphasized, is that markets have worked; price does its job.
"High prices have led to plentiful supply and are making some fuels more economic. New sources of energy are being discovered including recent material discoveries offshore Brazil and Ghana," he noted. "In terms of demand, the Chinese – the key driver of global demand increase over the last decade – are diversifying their energy mix rapidly. Much greater reliance is being placed on renewables, nuclear and domestic coal options. In the medium term this will ease pressures on oil and gas supplies."
But what about the short term, and the threat posed by civil unrest in oil producing nations such as Libya right now?
"Right now we believe that global economic conditions are positive," Taylor said. "Energy demand is robust, mainly in the emerging economies. Stocks, though declining, are at comfortable levels. And OPEC so far shows no inclination to increase production."
The huge and unexpected political uncertainty in most parts of North Africa and the Middle East can be expected to support prices, he stressed, and there's also what Taylor called "significant" passive fund money invested in all commodities – with probably more to come.
"So in our view further price rises are possible in the short term. But if OPEC put more barrels on the market, prices should stabilize in the $90-100 range or even fall back a bit further," he noted. "We all know predicting oil prices is a fool's game. And the inflow of financial funds to oil markets in the past five or six years has made that even more the case."
Yet Taylor noted that's one reason why Vitol does not trade the flat price of oil; the risk and volatility in oil prices means that the company hedges all of its physical trades.
"To do this we need to use futures and derivatives markets – without these we would not be able to ensure that oil moves around the world efficiently," he said. "We are therefore concerned that some of the possible regulatory changes that are being considered will severely hamper the industry's ability to trade and deliver energy."
[The video below details some of the "physical" investments Vitol is making in the oil business; investments that traditional players such as Shell and ExxonMobil aren't doing much of anymore.]
Still, Taylor noted that high oil prices hurt consumers and economies. "We welcome regulation that may prevent some of the larger swings in prices that we have seen. But regulators need to be clear about where the problem comes from. It does not come from those of us in the physical markets since we are by definition short in derivatives markets," he stressed.
"Not wishing to point fingers, but oil stocks are higher today than five or ten years ago while oil prices are five times as high. The difference to me seems to be the long-only financial money sitting on the futures exchanges and that needs to be better understood," Taylor added. "It's difficult to get a pure number for energy only, but we estimate that financial investments in all commodities have increased from a small amount to over $350 billion in the last 10 years."
Finally, Taylor talked about oil prices themselves, noting that the current $11 spread between the West Texas Intermediate or "WTI" and Brent market prices – two mainstay "benchmarks" for global crude trades – falls in words "very firmly in the camp of a development that none of us would have believed two years ago."
But the spread is entirely understandable as it is the simple result of supply being greater than demand but with no mechanism to allow demand to increase. "The logistical constraints restrict how much oil can be moved out of the price setting region. It may take many months before any logistical changes can be made that will allow demand for WTI to increase to meet supply," said Taylor.
But while the price action can be understood it nonetheless raises significant issues for the global oil industry.
"There are essentially only three crude oil price benchmarks in the world and one of them is currently compromised," he stressed. "In the short term it means that the more reliable Brent futures contract will take centre stage but longer term an alternative to WTI will be needed as Brent is also a small volume crude. Perhaps now is the right time for major oil producers … to allow the industry to develop the new risk management tools it will need in the future to manage the many challenges that will undoubtedly face."
In the end, Taylor noted that change is the one sure thing everyone can expect in the future. By way of illustrating this, he said that 40 years ago the first microprocessor was invented and North sea oil production began in Norway.
"Since then the world's population has doubled, global GDP [gross domestic product] has risen by more than threefold and energy consumption increased two and a half times. Yet we coped. As an industry we rose to the challenge," he stressed. "Today we face new challenges, for energy remains the driver of economic progress for all nations."


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9th Graduation Day on Sunday, 6th July 2014 -9.30 am at Anandha Arangam A/C, Paavai Campus. The Chief guest is Dr.Mylswamy Annadurai, Scientific Programme Director, Chandrayan 1 & 2, Indian Space Research Organisation, Govt. of India, Bangalore.
University UG Theory Examination-2016
Anna University UG Theory Examination Commences on 27.04.2016
University PG Theory Examination-2016
Anna University PG Theory Examination Commences on 10.05.2016.
Association inaugural function
Association inaugural function of all departments was held on 19.07.2017 and the function was inaugurated by the Chief Guest Dr.
Trekking at Yercaud
Our First Year Students are going to Trekking at Yercaud on 23.09.2017.
Courses Approved
Four Courses (Assistant Electrician, Field Technician – AC, Helper – Construction Laboratory & Field Technician and Machining & Quality Technician)
A one day Workshop was organized by EEE and ECE departments in the title of "Interpretation on Electrical Components". The
A one day Workshop was planned to conduct EEE department in the title of "Theory and Hands on Training on
PCE-Re-opening day-2017
Re-opening day for the next semester: 03.07.2017(Monday)
UG Re-opening day-2017
UG Re-opening day for the next semester: 18.12.2017(Monday)
PEC-Re-opening day-2017
Re-opening day for the next semester: 03.07.2017(Monday)
I am the Product of Paavai.
Come to Paavai! We are providing beyond your expectation.
Education is Excellence at Paavai.
Love Paavai, Be with opportunities.
More opportunities in Paavai College.
I am impressed with the Vision and dedication of Management of Paavai Group of Institutions. A lot of work is being done for the educational...
An amazing college with truly amazing people. Thank you so much for this very special moment.
Thank you so much for your hospitality & for providing me with the opportunity to address your students. They impressed me with their Intellect, Passion...
I am just astonished not only when sees such an excellent infrastructure but also when I heard the best achievements of their Great Educational Institute...
Great to be in PAAVAI Institutions.
Most brilliant complex Institute for now and future.
நாளும் வளர்கிறது பாவை கல்வி நிறுவனம் கட்டமைப்பு அற்புதம் விரைவில் பல்கலைக்கழகமாக வாழ்த்துகிறேன்.
A great honor to be the chief guest of this very grand festival – Annual Day participated by 13,000 students and their parents and staff....
பெயருக்கு என்று இல்லாமல் பாவை நிறுவனம் ஒரு நிஜ குடும்பமாய் இருப்பதை கண்டு மிகவும் மகிழ்வடைந்தேன்.
I am able to visualize the vision of Mr. Natarajan Chairman, Paavai Institutions. It is a knowledge factory for the nation. Paavai Institution has really...
Disciplined students, Transparent Management and committed faculties. Enjoyed associating with PAAVAI Group.
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August 7, 2012
The Water's Edge condos make most of great Kelowna location
Condominium development features high build quality and high degree of unit customization
Location: Okanagan Mission
Residence size: Phase 1, 64 condominium units in 28 floor plans, ready for occupancy; 60 per cent sold.
Current price range: $355,900 to $1,450,900.
Developer: MKS Resources
Architect: Garry Tomporowski
Interiors: Norelco Cabinets, Dannburg Interiors, Tubello Stoneworks, Lights Plus
Sales centre address: 3865 Truswell Rd., Kelowna
Hours: Mon. through Sat. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sundays & holidays 12 to 4 p.m.
Website: www.thewatersedgekelowna.com
Telephone: 250-764-3104
Occupancy date: Now ready
Kelowna's Okanagan Mission neighbourhood takes its name from the Catholic residence occupied by Father Pandosy in 1859. The Mission, though, encompasses a far greater area than simply the historic site, and has lent its name to a vast array of geographic and civic place names, as well as commercial enterprises. Mission Creek is the name of the largest river that flows through the central Okanagan, which empties in to the lake adjacent to The Water's Edge, one of Kelowna's newest real estate projects.
Local developer Steve Shoranick took his time in acquiring the four parcels of land needed to build The Water's Edge. It wasn't an easy decision to continue with the project when ground was broken, due to the fact that its timing concluded with an economic recession that has created a glut of second and retirement homes on the market. However, as of midsummer, The Water's Edge is more than 60 per cent sold, an enviable percentage in today's market, and the reason for its success is partly based on location, but more on the reputation for build quality and design that Shoranick brings to his projects.
Chris Greenway worked for the city of Kelowna as a building plans examiner and has seen first-hand several of Shoranick's projects. "Being close to retirement I wanted to buy a condo from a developer with integrity, reliability and honesty—someone who has been involved in the community and has a good name," said Greenway. "Steve is very proud of what he builds and will try to please his customers. Location and quality of construction were important to us."
Greenway adds, "It is probably the best location in Kelowna—within a stone's throw of houses worth $3.5 million." Greenway and his wife Brenda purchased a 1,678-square-foot unit configured with two bedrooms and a den. They like the airy spaciousness of the nine-foot ceiling and the angle of the unit that lets in plenty of light, since the windows are at different planes throughout the unit. Indeed, as The Water's Edge sales manager Bonnie Kaumann says, "this is anything but a cookie cutter box-size development. There are 28 different floor plans in a building which only contains 64 units."
Greenway continues: "The floors have superior soundproofing, well above the code requirements. This building is far superior to other wood-frame condos. The building has a sprinkler system including sprinklers on the balcony, which is where many condo fires start because there are no sprinklers. Each unit has its own magic pack (forced air furnace/air conditioning unit) so that heated air or air conditioning is supplied through ductwork to each room just like in a house."
Similar thoughts about reputation and location are echoed by Kelly and Colleen Preston, longtime Kelowna residents with experience in investing in Okanagan rental properties. "We were so happy dealing with Steve and Bonnie (Shoranick) that we decided to invest in two condos at Hollywood Station. Our son and one of our daughters moved in there and rented for a while. We have now had it rented for a couple of years. It is in a great neighbourhood with all the amenities close by."
As for The Water's Edge, "We felt we could not go wrong with buying into this project. Again, Steve definitely picks good areas to build in. We have not even considered any other developments. We put a deposit down in 2008 and stuck through the economy and waited for The Water's Edge to be built. Bonnie has always been so wonderful to deal with. She has become a friend and we feel so comfortable dealing with her." The Prestons are renting out their unit, but can see themselves living there at some point. "There are great restaurants within walking distance, you can walk to a coffee shop or walk and get a few groceries. It is so great that is right across the street from the lake."
Special to The Sun
Comments are closed.


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Coastal Marine and Wetland Studies
The Master of Science degree program in Coastal Marine and Wetland Studies is taught and administered by College of Science faculty with expertise in the issues and problems facing coastal areas and wetlands both locally and globally. It was selected and developed to take educational advantage of the unique natural resources of the region and thus faculty and students become important intellectual resources for the region. The purpose of this degree program is to provide students with the tools and abilities to assess, comprehend, and synthesize a broad range of scientific information. This will, in turn, allow them to assume employment as professionals in the environmental field, to become stewards of the environment, and to also pursue further graduate study. The goals of the program are satisfied through coursework, teaching opportunities and either the completion of a thesis or an internship.
The Coastal Marine and Wetland Studies graduate program consists of 24 credit hours of coursework and 6 credit hours of either thesis research or an internship. Courses are taught primarily by faculty members from two academic departments: biology and marine science. The coursework involves three core courses stressing coastal physical processes, ecology, and environmental policy. Various electives provide students with skills in conservation biology, geographic information systems, statistics, wetland delineation, geophysical surveying as well as the theoretical background in specific areas of organism biology and ecology.
Located near coastal marshes, swamps, a large unregulated river, barrier islands, and the ocean, the program offers exceptional opportunities for basic and applied research. Students pursue projects that contribute to the characterization, preservation or management of the coastal ecosystem and the organisms that thrive in this ecosystem. Research conducted by graduate students and their faculty mentors is typically presented to the public via seminars, conferences or publications. Teaching assistantships, research assistantships and fellowships are available on a competitive basis.
Student Learning Outcomes
- Identify and explain the biological, chemical, geological and physical processes influencing the coastal zone.
- Describe connections among the biological, chemical, geological and physical processes influencing the coastal zone.
- Describe how a coastal zone policy or regulation is influenced by scientific research in the coastal zone.
- Demonstrate proper research, writing and oral communication skills.


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1. Olympians shine at NCAA Outdoor Championships
2. American Milers Club High Performance Series kicks off in Indianapolis
Nellum, Barrett, Brooks, Coburn lead Olympians at NCAA Outdoor Championships
Bryshon Nellum (400m), Brigetta Barrett (high jump), Tia Brooks (shot put) and Emma Coburn (3,000m steeplechase) all claimed individual NCAA outdoor titles last week to lead a large number of 2012 Team USA Olympians at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, which concluded Saturday in Eugene, Ore.
Nellum, the University of Southern California senior and London Olympic 4x400m silver medalist, claimed the 400m title in a time of 44.73 before taking home third place honors in the 200m in 20.27.
Barrett, the University of Arizona senior and London Olympic silver medalist, won the high jump with a height of 1.95m/6-4.75. It is the sixth NCAA indoor and outdoor individual title in her career.
Brooks, who has won each NCAA indoor and outdoor title in the women's shot put since 2011, claimed her sixth NCAA title in that event with a mark of 18.91m/62-0.5.
Coburn, who made the Olympic final in the women's steeplechase in London and is the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials champion in the event, won the NCAA title in the steeplechase in 9:35.38.
Additionally, Erik Kynard, who won silver in London in the men's high jump, and Georganne Moline, who competed in London in the 400m hurdles, each placed second in their events in Eugene.
American Milers Club High Performance Series kicks off in Indianapolis
For the tenth straight season, the Indiana Invaders are playing host to the American Milers Club High Performance Series, which kicked off June 8 with the first of three race dates and will continue Wednesday and conclude Saturday.
The American Milers Club Performance Series is designed to target qualifying times for the USA Outdoor Championships and World Outdoor Championships, which will be held later this summer. Competition begins at 9:30 p.m. each evening and is held at Carroll Stadium on the campus of IUPUI.
Competition June 8 featured the 400m, 800m and 1,500m while competition Wednesday will feature the 800m, 1,500m and 3,000m steeplechase and Saturday the 400m, 800m, 1,500m and 5,000m.
More information on the American Milers Club High Performance Series, including results from the first night of competition, can be found here.


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BOSTON — Democrat Maura Healey, a candidate for attorney general, came out in opposition to expanded gambling on Monday, throwing her support behind a proposed ballot question that would make casino gambling illegal in Massachusetts.
Healey, a former assistant attorney general under Attorney General Martha Coakley, also broke with her former boss in arguing the proposed ballot question that would, in essence, repeal the 2011 expanded gaming law should be allowed to proceed to the ballot. Coakley ruled it ineligible, but proponents are fighting her decision in court.
"I'm opposed to expanded casino gaming and I support the current effort to repeal of the gaming law. I do not believe a modern economy that is focused on creating opportunities for every person can be built on gambling," Healey wrote on the liberal Democrat blog Blue Mass Group. "The few communities that have voted in favor of casinos are going through tough economic times and many see casinos as a much-needed boost. But evidence from across the country tells a different story. Casinos don't lay a foundation for diverse economies, they take over."
Healey is running for the Democratic nomination for attorney general against former state Sen. Warren Tolman. A spokesman for Tolman could not immediately be reached for comment, but Tolman has said previously he does not support repealing the casino law.
Healey said the experience of communities around the country where casinos have been located is that local restaurants and entertainment venues lose patrons, personal bankruptcies and home foreclosures jump and the cost for police and other services skyrocket.
Speaking to some areas beyond the reach of the attorney general's office, she advocated instead for infrastructure development, investments in education and job training, a more "progressive tax structure," an increase in the minimum wage and "unionizing our workforce" to help create jobs and prepare residents for the modern economy.
If casinos are allowed to be built, Healey said she would hire the "best lawyers" for a newly formed Gaming Division in the Attorney General's office that the gaming industry should pay for. She also said she would create a team of investigators to be stationed full-time in casinos to monitor for abusive or predatory practices.
Coakley in September declined to certify the ballot proposal to prohibit casinos based on her determination that contract rights are considered property and may not be "taken" by an initiative petition. Her office contends that applicants for casino licenses have an "implied contractual right" and an expectation that the licensing process will play out as set forth in the expanded gaming law.
The organizers behind the ballot question argue that prospective casino developers entered the licensing process knowing that the law legalizing expanded gambling in Massachusetts could be changed at any time. The Supreme Judicial Court is expected to hear arguments in the case the first week in May.
"The opinion stated that it is improper to shut down the licensing process now that several casino operators have applied. But voters made a decision to shut down the greyhound tracks with a ballot question and that was an industry that had been running for years," Healey wrote in her blog post. "I am not concerned about the well-being of casino operators. I am concerned about the well-being of the residents of Massachusetts. The final decision is up to the courts, but I believe on a matter of this magnitude, the voters should have a chance to be heard."


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Warne bows out of cricket on a low
Shane Warne bows out of professional cricket tomorrow after a frustrating final Indian Premier League season replete with rows, fines and other off-field distractions.cricket Updated: May 19, 2011 12:54 IST
Shane Warne bows out of professional cricket on Friday after a frustrating final Indian Premier League season replete with rows, fines and other off-field distractions.
The Australian legend announced earlier this month that he would retire as a player after the tournament, making Friday's clash between his Rajasthan Royals and the Mumbai Indians the last performance of an extraordinary 15-year career.
"I've had a great time -- but it's time to say goodbye to IPL," the Aussie superstar wrote on Twitter on May 6, announcing the end of his association with the tournament that offered the last chance to watch him in action.
The 41-year-old, widely regarded as one of the best bowlers of all time, retired from international cricket in 2007 after resurrecting the art of leg-spin and becoming the first player to take 700 Test wickets.
Friday's game will be the last for the Rajasthan Royals after a poor run that has seen them fail to qualify for the play-offs despite starting as one of the favourites.
After scripting a title triumph with a rag-tag team in the first edition of the Twenty20 IPL competition in 2008, Warne's final season in charge of Rajasthan did not offer the fairy-tale end he would have wished for.
He started well on the pitch, initially managing to fox batsmen with his turn and flight, but gradually lost his rhythm as even inexperienced youngsters began hitting him for sixes with ease and regularity.
His returns from the tournament have been unimpressive -- 12 wickets from as many games while giving away 267 runs for an average of 22.25.
Off-field troubles have also spoiled his valedictory season.
He had an ugly spat with a local cricket administrator, a tiff with Indian superstar Sachin Tendulkar, and has appeared dejected in recent matches after criticising the pitch used at home games.
On Wednesday, Warne was fined $50,000 for his part in a row with the secretary of the Rajasthan Cricket Association, whom he berated in front of the television cameras over the choice of wicket at home for the team.
Rajasthan's last game against Kochi saw Warne's men capitulate for just 97 and Warne did not even bother to bowl, uncharacteristically for a sportsman who prides himself on his fiercely competitive instincts.
He could be forgiven for wanting a hasty end to his Indian adventure to start life in retirement, which is expected to include more sports commentating for television, commercial work, charity, and possibly coaching.
As well as the fine and argument with his local cricket association, Warne appeared to cross Tendulkar, revered by many on the subcontinent, after the record-breaking batsman complained about the Rajasthan wicket.
"Certain sections of the media please stop trying to create a stir between Sachin and I -- not on," he tweeted afterwards. "If Sachin and I had a problem with each other we would call and sort it out -- that's what friends do."
As has often been the case with Warne, his very public love-life has also kept the local press busy.
The flamboyant bleach-blond player, forced to deny rumours he had a facelift ahead of the IPL, was frequently pictured canoodling with British model and actress Elizabeth Hurley who was on hand to watch a number of Rajasthan games.
Despite the fizzle at the end of a record-breaking career, he will ultimately be remembered as one of Australia's best ever cricketers -- in the eyes of many second only to legendary batsman Don Bradman.
On his Test debut in 1992 he posted inauspicious figures of 1-150 but he then knuckled down under his mentor Terry Jenner and 18 months later caught the cricketing world's attention with the "ball of the century" against England.
The delivery, Warne's first in an Ashes Test, turned prodigiously to bamboozle England's Mike Gatting and herald the arrival of a cricketing superstar.
Rob Steen, a sportswriter and senior lecturer at the University of Brighton, was brutal in his assessment of the star spinner in a column posted on the cricinfo website.
"To some he's been the Messiah of spin, a rebel with a hell of a cause, the greatest Australian contribution to global culture since the Bee Gees, the personification of competitive artistry," wrote Steen.
"Others, especially older Australians, see a larrikin, a beach bum, a source of embarrassment and even disgust, the very embodiment of insufferable cockiness."
First Published: May 19, 2011 12:50 IST


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Will The Supreme Court Give Steinbeck's Heirs Back The Rights To Some Of His Works?
from the watch-this-space dept
With changes to copyright law in 1976 and again in 1998, this right was once again reiterated -- along with a clause saying that this right to terminate such grants exists "notwithstanding any agreement to the contrary." The reasoning, supposedly, was that this would stop powerful publishers/studios from getting content creators to sign away such termination rights (which had happened prior to 1976). This has resulted in a series of lawsuits, where heirs of old content creators are trying to reclaim the rights to certain content. Some of the famous cases have involved the characters Superman and the dog Lassie.
The latest battle involves Steinbeck's heirs, and their desire to regain control of certain Steinback works -- mainly for the purpose of selling the movie rights. Different circuit courts have ruled in somewhat contradictory ways on the issue -- which is the sort of thing that is helpful in getting the Supreme Court interested.
That said, it's difficult to see either side having much in the way of moral high ground here. Historically, this wouldn't even be an issue, because the works of Steinbeck should be public domain material by now -- under the terms of copyright when he wrote them. The fact that they're not in the public domain is a huge travesty, and makes the squabbling over which individuals or organizations (who had nothing to do with the actual content in question) should get to profit from these works particularly silly.


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As 2012 comes to an end, there are three new books about figures who have immeasurably changed people's lives.
It was in 1962 that Rachel Carson published the seminal book of the environmental movement, "Silent Spring," and that same year American James Watson won a Nobel Prize with Francis Crick and Maurice Wilkins for determining the structure of DNA. In response to his stance against apartheid in South Africa, Nelson Mandela spent 27 years in prison, but prevailed to become South Africa's president and to win the Nobel Prize in 1993.
There is something to be learned from each of these luminaries.
"Double Helix" was written in 1968 by James Watson as a personal memoir of the two years he and his colleagues toiled to discover the structure of DNA. Written as seen through his 25-year-old eyes, the book is more adventure story in tone than history, and it was an immediate best-seller.
Alexander Gann and Jan Witkowski, who both work at Watson's Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, recently found some interesting new material that Francis Crick had left from that period. That inspired them to put together an enlarged version of the classic book that would add more viewpoints to the story, more pictures and more background information.
To honor the original author, they chose to publish it on the 50th anniversary of his receiving the Nobel Prize, and they include his account of the event in the new book, "The Annotated and Illustrated Double Helix."
William Souder has written an absorbing biography in "On a Farther Shore, the Life and Legacy of Rachel Carson." Born in 1907, Rachel Carson was a woman ahead of her time. She received a master's degree in zoology when the field was dominated by men and she was one of the first women to take the civil service exam and be hired by the Bureau of Fisheries in a professional position.
Carson wrote and edited the bureau's publications for 15 years, all the while writing articles for magazines to supplement her income. Here she gave expression to her lifelong love of nature and developed a clear and eloquent style that led in 1952 to the publishing of her prize-winning biography of the ocean, "The Sea Around Us."
Author Souder tells how the freedom that this success brought allowed Carson to fully engage herself in studying the natural world and in teaching others to respect and enjoy it. Soon she became appalled at how the unchecked use of pesticides (DDT in particular) was threatening this world, and she used her influence to demand that the government step in and examine the damage being done.
Souder vividly describes the derision and threats Carson faced from chemical companies and agricultural entities, but she persevered to publish "Silent Spring" in 1962, 50 years ago. This book ignited the grassroots environmental movement in the United States and led to the formation of the Environmental Defense Fund and eventually to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency. Carson died before most of these changes came about and before she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, but Souder presents a moving and meaningful tribute to her legacy.
A third compelling figure is celebrated in "Notes to the Future," a collection of quotations from Nelson Mandela. Archbishop Desmond Tutu calls this collection "a miracle," since it was illegal in South Africa to quote this man for 38 years. This material was uncovered in personal papers and recordings and reveals the wisdom of a life unbowed by persecution and imprisonment.
As befits a humanitarian, the selections cover his many concerns – social equality, poverty, peace, women's rights, AID – and they form a kind of autobiography of his thoughts from prisoner to elder statesman.
SOURCE: A.K. Smiley Public Library


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OSWEGO — In an article published Jan. 8, SUNY Oswego biology faculty member Dr. John Laundre suggests that a forest preserve in the Adirondack Mountains can accommodate the reintroduction 150 to 350 cougars, challenging previous findings.
In "The Feasibility of Northeastern U.S. Supporting the Return of Cougars," published in the international conservation journal Oryx, Laundre cites cougars' successful return to the urban interface of western cities and compares their recovery to similarly developed habitats in the Black Hills of South Dakota and the Big Cypress National Preserve of southern Florida.
In proposing to return the cougar to the giant New York State Forest Preserve, Laundre in his paper provides an updated re-evaluation of a 1981 study by emeritus SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry biologist Rainer Brocke, who concluded that road density would hinder any chance of cougar recovery to the 6-million-acre Adirondacks.
"Thirty years ago everyone thought cougars needed to live in the most remote places," said Laundre, who studied the Western hemisphere's second largest cat for 20 years in Idaho and Mexico. "But, they've demonstrated that they are as adaptable as coyotes."
He cited the black bear's comeback in New Jersey as further evidence of the viability of this kind of re-introduction.
He emphasized that a small population of cougars safely co-exists in the Santa Monica Mountains of West Los Angeles north of Malibu.
"There's even a young, radio-collared male running around LA's Griffith Park," he noted. "That's like taking up residence in Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx."
Market hunting of prey like white-tailed deer nearly to extermination combined with state-sponsored predator bounty programs wiped out the cougar in the Adirondacks by the end of the 19th century.
Laundre noted that white-tailed deer have recovered to super-saturation, critically threatening forest regeneration throughout the state, a pending ecosystem collapse highlighted in the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's 2011 State Forest Management Plan.
Laundre's ecology research in Yellowstone after wolves were restored to the national park in 1995 was the first to identify how predator presence changes prey vigilance and browsing behavior.
"Cougars hunt at the edges of rivers and in forests that provide lots of cover," said the author of the 2012 book "Phantoms of the Prairie: The Return of Cougars to the Midwest." "Deer learn where they are in most danger from predators, which self-restricts where they feed; plants start coming back that the deer would normally just vacuum up."
His groundbreaking Yellowstone study and subsequent research found that "wolves and cougars are, in a sense, shepherds of these wild herds of deer, keeping them from overgrazing the forest."
Considering years of cougar predation studies, his Adirondack analysis suggests that cougars annually would take about 8 percent of the forest preserve's estimated 50,000 to 80,000 white-tailed deer, a number he called easily sustainable in conjunction with the current hunter harvest and wildlife management protocols.
"If 5,000 cougars can co-exist with 37 million people in California, then the cougar's ancestral home, our nation's first wilderness, the Adirondacks, can certainly support them," Laundre said.
A visiting instructor in SUNY Oswego's department of biological sciences and an expert in wildlife ecology and conservation, Laundre is vice president of the Cougar Rewilding Foundation.


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Accommodation, Activities and Tourism Information
Monday, 14 May 2012 08:32
iSimangaliso St Lucia Half Marathon – 20 May 2012 entry form attached!Written by Administrator
Monday, 23 April 2012 09:25
Vote St Lucia for Town of the Year!Written by Administrator
ST LUCIA is in the finals to win TOWN OF THE YEAR award as many of you know. We are really doing our best to get in as many votes as possible before tomorrow's closing date of 24th April, so we ask YOU to PLEASE to send your sms to cast your vote. The more votes we have….the more chance of winning.
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Wednesday, 25 May 2011 21:57
iSimangaliso Scoops Top Award!Written by Administrator
The iSimangaliso Wetland Park, the World Heritage site that stretches 220km along the northern KwaZulu-Natal coast, has been proclaimed one of the three destinations in the world with the best sustainable tourism management policies.
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Friday, 17 December 2010 08:52
St Lucia Eatery SpecialsWritten by Administrator
Tuesday, 14 September 2010 11:34
SA National Parks Week 2010 13-17 SeptemberWritten by Administrator
SA National Parks Week 2010 13-17 September The week-long campaign giving free access to the national parks will take place from 13-17 September 2010,
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Monday, 07 June 2010 20:30
National Geographic on St LuciaWritten by Administrator
Published in About St Lucia
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Thursday, 29 April 2010 16:46
Dolphins - Our beautiful coastal mammalsWritten by Administrator
It is a delight to spot dolphins along the coast of South Africa. They are air-breathing mammals that suckle their young, and have adapted to their surroundings in interesting ways.
Published in About St Lucia
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Thursday, 22 April 2010 07:36
Earth Day 22 AprilWritten by Administrator
History of Earth Day Earth Day -- April 22 -- each year marks the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970.
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Thursday, 15 April 2010 11:08
St Lucia Malaria InformationWritten by Administrator
St Lucia Malaria Information and Risk Map St lucia and most of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park is classified as low. Please read this information.
Published in St Lucia Facts
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Thursday, 15 April 2010 10:58
Amazing photos from St Lucia South Africa 'Life'Written by Administrator
Some amazing photos of Life around St Lucia... Stop watching discovery come and experience it yourself! ;-)
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Friday, 26 March 2010 09:48
Amazing photos from Discovery's 'Life'Written by Administrator
CREDIT: Discovery Networks
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Thursday, 11 March 2010 15:32
MabibiWritten by Administrator
Mabibi is Situated on the coast between Lake Sibaya and Sodwana Bay, It forms part of the Kosi Bay coastal forest reserve. This spectacular section of coastline offers uncrowded angling and is a well known snorkeling site.
Published in Near St Lucia
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Weberwoman's Wrevenge
Weberwoman's Wrevenge was an Australian science fiction fandom and literary zine by Jean Weber.
It was published from 1981 till 2000.
Art work was contributed by Sheryl Birkhead, Steven Fox, Alexis Gilliland, Craig Hilton, Peter Lempert, Adrienne Losin, Mike McGann, Bill Rotsler, Margaret Sanders, Arthur Thomson (The ATom Anthology), Julie Vaux, and Mel White.
Written contributions were by Andy Andruschek, Glen Crawford, Stephen Dedman, David Evans, Terry Frost, Irwin Hirsh, Paula Johanson, E.B. Klassen, Dave Locke (Time and Again) Lyn McConchie, Ellie Miller, Pete Presford, Charlotte Proctor, Julie Vaux, Sam Wagar, and Joy Window.
Letters came from Linda Blanchard, Pamela Boal, Bev Clark, Buck Coulson (Yandro), Mary Gentle, Joy Hibbert, Terry Jeeves (ERG), Eric Mayer (E-Ditto), Eunice Pearson (Calaban), Jessica Amanda Salmonson (Windhaven), and Sue Thomason.


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On December 26, 2004 ROH Champion Samoa Joe stepped into the ring for what looked like another successful title defense. As streamers flew through the air, challenger Austin Aries waited across the ring from him, ready to take his opportunity to upset the champion.
"I just wanted to go out there and tear the house down. Joe was the champ for twenty months, so I was on him as soon as the bell rang and tried to keep the intensity up. It was a good feeling to be in there with him," Aries told SLAM! Wrestling in his first interview since the show.
After close to twenty minutes of action, Aries connected on the champion with a brainbuster and started to scale the turnbuckles. As the Philadelphia crowd started to buzz with anticipation, Aries took flight and connected with a 450 splash.
"I was just concerned about hitting the move. I was really focused on the match and the crowd didn't register until after the match. When the referee's hand hit the mat, I looked out and saw the audience's response and that was when I started to really feel the emotion of the moment. The last few seconds of the match I was just trying to follow the gameplan."
Three seconds later and the 20-month reign of Samoa Joe had come to an end. The crowd exploded and Aries was visibly emotional as he was handed the title.
"It was crazy," he recalls. "I have never personally been part of something with that emotion, the people did erupt and I think that really spoke about what Joe did with his title reign. He made it so important that when that moment came when he lost it that meant something. You don't see that in wrestling nowadays, with someone holding a belt that long and building a storyline that people care about. When they do it correctly, this is the end result. People witnessed what they felt was a part of history in ROH, and it was. I don't know if anyone will hold the belt that long again."
The emotional impact is comparable to the WWE championship wins of Eddie Guerrero and Chris Benoit, two major influences on Aries.
"It was a big sense of accomplishment. A lot of things ran through my head at that time. I thought of my grandmother, who has passed away, and how she was looking down on me proudly. I thought about the people who have gotten me to this point, and the last eight months. Eight months ago nobody on the East Coast had really heard of me, and here I am holding the ball in the top independent promotion in the U.S. I also thought about Joe, how hard he worked with the belt and what he had put forth. I was thankful for that moment of passing the torch to me. It is somewhat like Benoit and Guerrero's title wins, I thought about people who say 'You can't do it, you're not big enough.' Their wins were on a grander scale but at the time I felt like them. The emotion took over."
The title win resulted in crashing the message board at ROHwrestling.com as people gave their opinion on the title switch. While many celebrated the new champion, others were very unhappy. As for Aries, he is just happy that people are talking.
"It's great, no matter what they think there is a buzz, and people aren't indifferent. Sure there are people who are pissed off and say I don't deserve the belt but my response is 'give it time and see what happens.' Some people didn't want Joe to ever lose it. The important thing is that people care, and have been sucked in enough to care. I think a lot of people didn't expect me to win the belt, especially on my first try so there was the shock factor. People want to play the booker and say what was right and what was wrong, but the bottom line is that there is a buzz and invested emotions on how people feel, whether they are happy or not, and that's important."
There are comparisons to March 22, 2003 when Samoa Joe dethroned Xavier for the title, and many people felt that Joe didn't deserve the belt compared to other people in the promotion. Joe took the ball and ran with it, making the belt special and Aries is determined to follow in those footsteps.
"I wasn't following ROH at the time Joe won the title so I've heard the comparisons even from people in the company. My title reign is going to be different from Joe's. I'd like to say I am going to beat his reign and hold it for 21 months or two years, but what he did was amazing so realistically to beat that would surpass anything I could imagine. My goal is to take this company and raise the bar. I am going to follow in his footsteps by defending the belt wherever I can, with honor, and keep this company steaming along. Since I debuted the company has kept building steam and a buzz and I want to keep that going. The other thing is that I am just one guy, sure having the belt makes me the top guy but there are a lot of people on the cards that people are coming out to see. 2005 is going to be an exciting, fresh year and those are all positives."
It's been a remarkable shoot to the top since Aries wrestled on the afternoon "Do or Die" card on March 13th in Elizabeth, New Jersey in hopes of earning a shot at the ROH roster. Aries feels that what really established him on the East Coast Wrestling scene was the annual ECWA Super 8 Tournament. The night saw him defeat Shawn Davari and John Walters before losing in the finals to "The Fallen Angel" Christopher Daniels.
"It was an awesome experience. That is what really put me on the map, when Jim Kettner called me and offered me a slot he told me it was going to catapult me and it has. Before that no one out East knew who I was. If I wasn't in the Super 8 I wouldn't be ROH champion right now. I was contacted when I called Tom Pritchard about some WWE dark matches and he told me Jim was trying to get a hold of me. I called Jim and he asked me to send him a tape, and he liked what I sent him. I really seized that moment. Working Davari was nice because we were familiar with each other. That was the first time I worked John Walters, and that was the easiest match of the night, we meshed well. Nobody expected me to beat him. Working Christopher Daniels is great, he is a professional in every sense of the word and his experience that he brings to the ring is great to learn from."
After that tournament, his Ring of Honor superstardom began in a tent in Philadelphia on May 22nd, 2004. At the start of that show Aries, Alex Shelley, Jack Evans and Roderick Strong stormed the ring and announced that they were there to take the spots of the established talent. They dominated the show, beating Special K in a six-man tag and going 45 minutes in an 8-man tag against John Walters, Jimmy Rave and the Briscoe Brothers.
"We were excited and carried that show from the get-go. It was one of my favorite nights, the tent atmosphere was unique. Something like losing the venue (The armory ROH booked was closed due to arms storage) would cancel just about anyone's show, but this company went out, got a tent and dealt with the cards. At the end of the night it added to the experience. We saw the effort they put in to getting the show together and it made us want to give it our all. I think we did that and it established us as guys who can be in the top rankings in ROH and we have done that. I didn't know any of them very well before we formed. I knew Alex from his IWA:Mid South work and met Rod the week before. We all live in different parts of the country so we don't hang out a lot, but when we get together we have a pretty good vibe. They are all really cool guys."
Aries feels that the eight months since that event has really seen all four collectively seize the opportunity and put on some great matches both as a group and individually. That came to an end on the 26th when Aries and Strong turned on Shelley. Evans was in Japan and as of this writing hasn't made clear where his loyalty lies. The question is, why turn on Shelley? Chicks dig him and he made Generation Next cool.
"That's what people like to think, maybe he thinks so in his own mind. The fact is, he missed three shows in a row. We took care of business. Alex Shelley may have been looked at as the leader of GenNext but he was simply the mouthpiece and there is a big difference. We will see how he does on his own, how Jack stands on this when he gets back."
Some fans feel that Shelley signing with TNA this year affected his push and Aries was instead given his push and title run. Aries disagrees.
"You would have to understand that with Alex signing with another promotion, it's a promoter's prerogative to be careful about how far they push someone. At any point if TNA wanted to yank him they could have. From that respect they did have to protect themselves, and it would be hard to put someone in the top position who could be yanked and leave you with nothing to do about it. It probably did hurt him in ROH, that's doesn't mean he isn't enjoying what TNA can give him. As far as my push goes, I don't really worry about that. I felt that I had the ability and talent and with the right situation I could show people that, and I did. So I don't think my push had anything to do with his TNA stuff."
One of Aries breakthrough performances in 2004 was the 75-minute two-out-of-three fall classic with "American Dragon" Bryan Danielson on August 7, 2004. The match built slowly but kept the packed Ramada ballroom in Philadelphia enthralled.
"That was my longest match, I had done some 30-minute matches and the eight-man GenNext tag was 45. I knew with Dragon's style being more methodical and mat based, I could pick up the tempo when I felt like I could and otherwise it was just pacing myself. We ended up going 75 minutes, it didn't feel like it when I was out there. If you watch the tape, you can see I am moving pretty slow trying to conserve my energy towards the end of the match."
It's been a winding road for the 26 year old, who broke into the business under Eddie Sharkey and Terry Fox in Minnesota at the age of 22. Austin feels that starting late gave him an advantage.
"I did the college thing and played baseball there. A good friend of mine called me up out of the blue and told me he was training in Minnesota. I went and visited him and checked out the camp, and that was it, I packed up and moved onto his couch because I realized at that moment that is what I wanted to do. I was late getting in by today's standards. That seems to be a trend right now and I am not sure if it is good or bad. Kids are breaking in young which is good in a way because by the time they are 25 they have seven years experience. But there aren't as many veterans as there used to be. I've heard that today's Indy scene sometimes looks like a bunch of kids in their backyard. In my case, I do wish somewhat that I had gotten in a bit sooner, but coming in more mature helped me as far as how to conduct myself. The learning curve was also quicker."
The Sharkey/Fox camp was an experience.
"Terry didn't do much in-ring teaching, while Eddie taught you how to be a worker because he was always working you. He would tell you you were the next Sean Waltman, which was flattering until you heard him tell the three people behind you the same thing. He'd say 'Get a mask and you'll go to Japan kid.' There are lots of funny stories about Eddie. He is an old carnie worker who wanted to make his money. He made his reputation with guys like The Road Warriors and a lot of guys in that area. Terry Fox is an old AWA hand and a good fellow. He was limited in what he could show you as well. A bulk of the training came from just working with everyone else and learning on your own. I would love to have had the types of training facilities that are available now like the Inoki Dojo, Chaotic Wrestling in Massachusetts or the ROH camp. These are well-run camps. I learned the basics and the old school mentality that I have in Minnesota, from there I have just gotten to work amazing workers who are better than me and that is where I have improved. In the last eight months I've been able to wrestle guys like Homicide, American Dragon, CM Punk, Samoa Joe. That's only going to make you a better wrestler."
Aries grew up a wrestling fan, his early memories are of going to the Mecca in Milwaukee with his father when stars like Hulk Hogan and the Road Warriors ruled. "I have been as long as I can remember. My earliest memory is watching Blackjack Lanza and Bobby Heenan vs. Hulk Hogan in a cage at the Mecca in Milwaukee. When I was four I touched Jesse Ventura's ass because my Dad had told me that the wrestlers padded their asses with cardboard so it wouldn't hurt. I was over the railing and I touched it, and it did feel like there was cardboard."
The glory days in Minnesota have passed and today the area's wrestlers get no press, regardless of their talent. Aries doesn't regret moving to the East Coast.
"I miss my family but I don't miss the area or the cold. I don't miss the wrestling scene -- it is really dead there. A lot of talented people around the time I left bolted. Either the promoters don't have a clue, or the ones that do don't have any money. There was no promotion to the press, nothing in the magazines or exposure for the boys, the promoters were just trying to make their money. We pretty much had to learn and grown on our own. There isn't anything big there that is making people stand up and take a look. I told Jim Kettner if you want to be a really good wrestler that nobody will ever hear about, move to Minnesota."
Although his early days were filled with monster wrestlers in the AWA, Aries favors smaller wrestlers like himself as influences such as The Dynamite Kid, Guerrero, Benoit, Jerry Lynn and Dean Malenko. The success of smaller wrestlers in the business helped Austin believe he could make an impact on the business.
"The bottom line is it is about entertainment. Big guys are always going to have their place in the sport because of their larger-than-life image. But the small guys take these big guys and put on entertaining matches with them. You have a lot of huge guys in the WWE who aren't really good workers. They are young and pushed because of their size, but the top guys are Guerrero, Benoit, Jericho. I knew at 150 pounds I wasn't going to make an impact in the WWE -- you need to look like a wrestler. But I don't think that because someone is 6', 225 they shouldn't be taken seriously as a wrestler. If they understand the business and the mentality of it, that is more important than being 6'6", 275. How many arenas did Dusty Rhodes sell out? These days he wouldn't be looked at twice and laughed at but he sold out arenas. You couldn't understand a word he said on the mic but you gave a shit. There is too much emphasis on how people look. The Road Warriors were special because they were the muscle-jacked guys who would just kick your ass. Lex Luger was over because he was the total package and ripped. Now everyone looks like that, so who is special?"
At the same time as breaking into the business, Aries was involved in a band called "Zeno's Revenge."
"I was three months into training, when I was training, I got a call from some friends from College. They wanted to start a new band and wanted me to be the singer because I was notorious as the Karaoke champion of Winona. I funded many bar and beer runs on those shows. I hadn't started wrestling yet and it was a two-hour drive so I thought I would give it a shot. It was a lot of fun. I had been in choir since I was small. Wrestling and singing are similar in that you are in front of people and letting out all your emotion. We covered heavier stuff like Godsmack and Metallica, and you really belt that out and let the angst out. That lasted for a year, we did a lot of local gigs. At the time I was making better money doing that then wrestling, I was making $20 a show for wrestling and $100 for singing. In the end, I knew I wanted to wrestle. With wrestling it's all in your control where in a band you rely on other people. In both cases you have to put your all into it. The lifestyle is different, I was trying to eat healthy and hit the gym four times a week, and then spending my weekends in a smoky bar drinking like a fish. It was opposite of what I wanted to be doing for wrestling. We did our last show, it was a great experience. My voice isn't going anywhere so I can sing in the future if I want. I'll be the new Jericho and kick him out of Fozzy."
Fans compare Aries to former wrestler Dan "Casual" Sexon, but Aries insists there are obvious differences. "I haven't seen Dan for awhile, but he had one of the coolest mustaches I have ever seen. That guy was all about style and pizzazz. People think we are the same guy, but I don't have a moustache and he doesn't have a tattoo. Our personas are completely different. Dan 'Casual' Sexon and 'The Piston' Ted Dixon were a great tag team. They were great entertainers."
His name is a combination of his astrological sign and a major influence. "I am an Aries (his birthday is April 15, 1978). If you read horoscopes and astrology I embody what an Aries is. Austin came from writing down a bunch of first names. I really dug Austin Idol back in the day, he had a cool look and I liked the name so I yanked it. People think it was because of Steve Austin but that isn't the case."
From there Aries began to develop his style. He is currently best known for his excellent all-around technical wrestling as well as his finishing brainbuster and 450 splash and a submission hold where he fishhooks his opponent, inserting his finger and pulling back. Aries talked about how he chose those moves.
"In Minnesota, if you did the 450 everyone thought you were God. I remember one time I did the Tajiri handspring elbow and people flipped out. I spent a couple of days at a camp with a crash mat and was doing some crazy stuff, I did a shooting star and landed on my head, but a 450 was easy. I know now its not a big deal, people miss it all the time but I kept it. In the match with Joe the 450 was the cherry. I was a big fan of Jimmy Garvin so that is where I got the brainbuster from, when it is done well it looks really good. The fishhook came from sitting around with Lacey one day, I tried the move, didn't put my finger in her mouth just her chin hooked. I started using it and one time my finger slipped and started to go into his mouth so I just fishhooked him and kind of liked it."
Like many wrestlers, Aries' girlfriend is also in the wrestling business, Lacey of Special K in Ring of Honor. Although it seems that relationships between those in the business seem doomed to fail, Aries feels the positives outweigh the negatives.
"A girl in the business obviously understand the business and what it entails. It is hard for a lot of guys to sit and talk wrestling with their girlfriends. When you are dating someone who is there, it's nice. In history it doesn't seem like a lot of relationships work out, just because there are some devious (people) in the business and it is hard to find someone who stays faithful because we are all just whores for the business. There are positives and negatives in any relationship and as long as the positives outweigh the negatives then it can work."
Aries has had the chance to work matches for both TNA and WWE. He faced Mad Mikey (Michael Lockwood, aka Crash Holly) in an Xplosion match shortly before his death, and wrestled a number of dark matches for WWE.
"The match with Mikey was really easy and short. He was easy to work with and he knew what they wanted, I just followed along. I wish I had gotten more out of the match, in terms of them seeing if I was someone they wanted to use. I had interest in going there at one time but they didn't seem that interested. They wanted me to go down on my own dime and work four-minute Xplosion matches which I couldn't afford to do. In retrospect it has worked out best that way so I don't regret it."
He speaks fondly of his WWE experiences, although presently he has no desire to go there.
"The first time I went I worked Shawn (Khasrow) Davari. That worked out perfectly because you are nervous the first time going out in front of a crowd that size. Whether you like the product or not, all wrestlers want to say they stepped into a WWE ring and wrestled a match. I was comfortable working with Shawn because I had done it many times. It was a good experience and we got carte blanche and let me win the match with the 450. We got to have fun and the crowd gave a great response. It was a good experience. The next night I worked Mortis (Chris Kanyon) and that was also an easy match. Another time Davari and I teamed against the Dudleyz. I had a lot of fun in WWE and learned more sitting around the ring listening to the agent like Arn Anderson and Fit Finlay give people advice. People run camps and charge a couple of hundred bucks just to pick their brain or listen. To get to do that for free, see how they run their business, that experience alone was fantastic and wrestling on top of it was great. Looking at a guy like Benoit and Guerrero and the road they took, that is my motto. Right now I wouldn't be happy signing a developmental deal and being tucked away in a territory for five years waiting to be called up to do nothing. Benoit and Guerrero got experience and knowledge everywhere and stuck with it and became the best there are around."
What a lot of fans don't know is that Aries is a strict vegetarian. SLAM! asked Aries how he balances the late night diners and life on the road with his diet needs.
"It isn't as hard as people think it would be. I've been vegetarian for about four years, I ate chicken the first few months and then went completely veg for a lot of different reasons. When I first stopped eating meat it was great because I didn't really pay attention to my diet, I could just stop in and grab fast food. I can eat at Taco Bell, they have bean burritos and stuff. At Denny's you can substitute the veggie burger for any of their hamburgers so I get a double Boca burger with cheese, which is 40 grams of protein. Plus my diet is really low fat so I don't have to worry about my fat content. My biggest concern is eating enough food to keep size on. I was 150 pounds when I broke in, I am about 180 � 202 right now depending, usually 202 when I come out of the curtain. I've put on a good 40 pounds and keep working at getting bigger. The more size you have the more cushioning for the bumps."
Winning the ROH belt as well as his talent opened up doors for Samoa Joe and Aries hopes doors will open for him as well. "I want to go overseas and Japan. The belt puts you in the limelight, people want to have the ROH champ on their shows so it will open up a lot more opportunities for me. Keeping the prestige of the belt is the most important thing to me."
Aries has been consumed by a business he loves, and intends for it to be his future. Although he doesn't know exactly what the future holds, he knows wrestling will always be part of it.
"Once I made a commitment to do this, I knew it was a marathon race. I am in this business for the long haul, and if you keep the right attitude, have a passion and work hard good things will happen to you. You look at a guy like Benoit who had to bust his ass for twenty years to get that main event push. He could have gotten frustrated and given up. Sooner or later you have to recognize talent, and with all the experience he built up he made it. If something happens to me and I can't compete in the ring, I will be in the business doing something; announcing, booking, managing. I am a lifer."
Jason Clevett is a long distance Ring of Honor fan from Calgary, Alberta. He can be emailed at email@example.com.


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On the day of Joe Gargano's last run at the Texas Mile in October 2009, the wind blew from left to right at a blustery 25 mph, with gusts up to 35 mph. This, of course, meant Gargano had to make constant corrections to keep the nose of his 996TT from wandering off line. In his experience with 911s, he said that at 150 mph or so they have a tendency to wander off line even without a crosswind so on that last run, he had to deal with both the car's natural tendency to wander and a crosswind. But he kept his foot in it, fought through it and felt the car settle in as it climbed into the 180s, 190s and past the 200-mph mark.
And then at 230 mph, just 500 feet short of the finish line, he heard a boom. His first reaction was to pull the parachute. The force of the 'chute yanked the car to the right before it straightened out. The sunroof, which because of some aero-created vacuum anomaly, was the source of the boom he heard seconds before, flew off the car and sent it out of control, off the pavement, onto the grass and into a deadly Tilt-a-whirl spin. As Gargano fought back with countersteer and brakes, the thought of the car flipping was foremost in his mind.
It didn't flip, but Gargano wouldn't get another chance to break the record for Porsches he had set at a previous Texas Mile run in March earlier that year (231.459 mph) because his wife gave him an ultimatum, she would divorce him if he went for another run. And in his mind, Gargano probably realized he'd used up all his luck and his nine lives on that last run.
But he was so close, just 500 feet from the finish line and the car wasn't even at full boost, 26 psi vs. 30 psi, which meant the engine was roughly 125 awhp short of its max (975 awhp versus 1,100 awhp). That last run was actually a test run before John Bray, senior engine builder at Evolution Motorsports (EVOMS), was going to turn it up to 30 psi to reset the record.
Gargano's record for Porsches was eventually beaten in 2010 by Eddie Bello in a highly modified 964-bodied Turbo (236.6 mph). But Gargano's car still holds the record for 996s in the standing mile and the record for any Porsche from 0-300 kph (186.4 mph) in 14.3 seconds. Equally impressive are the other times pulled from his last run: 60-130 mph in 4.8 seconds and 130-190 mph in 6.1 seconds. Just let that soak in for a few seconds. In the time it takes a respectable car to go from 0-60, Gargano's car will go from 130-190 mph.
Gargano didn't start modifying his 996 with the intention of setting records. Running the car at the Texas Mile was simply one of the few places where he could see just how fast it would go, legally and relatively safely. What he really wanted was a car that could hold its own against the twin-turbo Vipers and 1,000-hp Supras that were dominating a scene (in the late '90s and early '00s) where Porsches were perceived as weaklings.
His instructions were fairly straightforward when he dropped his car off at Evolution Motorsports in Scottsdale, Ariz. He said, "Build me something that scares me." More than happy to oblige, they fitted his car with their 800-hp package. He was impressed but it still wasn't the kind of power that had him questioning his mortality or sanity. Then they turned it up to 1,000 hp, but Gargano sent the car back and asked for even more.
He said, "Build me something that scares me." More than happy to oblige, they fitted his car with their 800-hp package.
After applying every trick in the book to make 1,350 hp, engine builder John Bray told Gargano, "If you aren't afraid of this, there's something wrong with you." After Gargano drove it, he called Bray and said, "OK, I'm scared now."
The engine is based on EVOMS' 3.8L GT 1200 Power Package. The package uses a GT3 crank, JE/EVOMS 102.6mm custom pistons and Carrillo/EVOMS H11 rods to bring displacement up from 3.6 to 3.8 liters. Darton/EVOMS custom ductile iron sleeves and Total Seal rings finish off the internals. The heads have been CNC ported and polished, with EVOMS race-spec cams nudge titanium valves and springs inside. Head studs and the main studs are upgraded EVOMS H11 pieces and Cometic .040-inch head gaskets keep them sealed. Fuel is delivered via their twin 044 fuel system that features billet machined fuel rails, larger braided stainless lines and a rising-rate fuel-pressure regulator.
A custom EVOMS Y-pipe feeds intake air into a GT3 intake manifold with an 83mm throttle body. The turbos are Tial GT3582 HTA and Tial 44mm wastegates and 50mm blow-off valves help keep boost at their proper levels. The intercoolers are EVOMS' Club Sport units with custom inlet and outlet locations. On hot days, they're kept cool by EVOMS' 044 intercooler halo spray system. EVOMS' 47mm headers flow into a custom 70mm exhaust system. Gargano's engine makes more than the 1,200 hp the kit is designed to make thanks to even more aggressive tuning.
The front-drive section of the all-wheel-drive system has been removed to shave weight, and the transmission features a Guard Transmission GT2 80/80 limited-slip differential designed to handle what is more than two times the amount of power a stock transmission endures. The axles are also stronger EVOMS 300mm units, and a Tilton carbon-carbon triple-disc clutch and 8-pound flywheel have to manage clutch duties. Future reinforcements will include Guard's forged main shift rod, gears and steel syncros and a billet diff cover.
Being that it was, and still is, the most powerful car I had ever driven, you can understand my apprehension as I dropped into the GT3 carbon bucket and secured myself into the five-point harness. We're talking about a better power-to-weight ratio than a Veyron. I imagined Gargano having second thoughts as well considering that it was the first time he would be in the passenger seat while someone else drove.
"Don't worry, I'm not a maniac," I told him. Gargano chuckled nervously. And then as I feathered the revs and slowly let out the clutch, the engine died. The Tilton carbon triple-plate clutch and lightened flywheel wouldn't let this interloper off the line so easily. More revs and a slower clutch release got us rolling onto a deserted stretch of a Long Island highway that ran along the beach.
One thousand-plus horsepower is something you want to work up to instead of letting rip on the first go, but I didn't have much choice because Gargano said that there was a good chance the locals would call the police. We'd get two runs, maybe three before we'd have to tone it down and pretend like we're driving to the store for ice cream.
As expected, the big turbos took some time to wind up before they did their best work. From low revs there was a wall of torque pushing the car forward, the tach making lazy progress and the monster still snoozing. To prod the monster from its slumber, I dropped it into Third to the get the revs up, checked the mirrors and scanned as far down the road as possible.
I saw Gargano being thrown into the back of his seat, arms and legs flailing as if he had been blown back by a multi-megaton bomb.
When I pulled the trigger, I saw Gargano, who was leaning forward at the time, being thrown into the back of his seat, arms and legs flailing as if he had been blown back by a multi-megaton bomb. And that was with the revs just past 3000 rpm, when the turbos were just getting warmed up. But they came on quickly and with a ferocity that defied description. You can feel the spike in the power curve just after 3500 rpm, and on a dyno chart it would look like one of those stages in the Tour de France where the ascent is so steep it defies categorization.
The tach needle spun as if the car was running on slicks in the snow. While Gargano sat silently impaled to the back of his seat, I looked down just in time to catch the needle at 7000 rpm and make the shift up to Fourth. Gargano takes it up to 8000, but I didn't want to risk anything to an $80K engine.
Into Fourth and it was another fast-forward surge of violence multiplied by brutality and sprinkled with absurdity. Then into Fifth, foot to the floor and the surge is just as demonic, as if wind resistance wasn't an actual physical phenomenon. And then the road imperfections, which I couldn't feel at cruising speeds, started to make the car jiggle and shake. I backed off the throttle, looked down and we were at 150 mph. That all happened so quickly there wasn't even enough time for my life to flash before my eyes. So I did it again. And a third time just so it would burn into my mental hard-drive, just to somehow remember it. Then we went for some ice cream.
People use that tired cliché about "taking it to another level" so often that it's lost its meaning and been thrown into the bin with "pushing the envelope." More often than not, all that talk about the next level is really just a slight improvement instead of a noticeable shift or a new standard. Until people start building them to post the types of numbers that this EVOMS 996 can produce, there should be a moratorium on that phrase or else those claims will ring hollow.
2003 Porsche 996 Twin Turbo
Longitudinal rear engine, rear-wheel drive (front-drive delete)
Evolution Motorsports 3.8L GT 1200 Power Package: GT3 crank, JE/EVOMS 102.6mm custom pistons, Carrillo/EVOMS H11 rods, Darton/EVOMS custom ductile iron sleeves, Total Seal rings. CNC ported and polished heads, EVOMS race-spec cams, titanium valves and springs. EVOMS H11 head and main studs, Cometic .040-inch head gaskets EVOMS twin 044 fuel system, EVOMS Y-pipe, GT3 intake manifold, 83mm throttle body. Tial GT3582 HTA turbos, Tial 44mm wastegates and 50mm blow-off valves. EVOMS Club Sport intercoolers with EVOMS 044 intercooler halo spray system. EVOMS 47mm headers, 70mm exhaust system
Bilstein PSS10 coilover shocks and springs
Wheels and Tires
BBS Motorsport Porsche Cup 8.5x18 (f), 12x18 (r)
Toyo R888 225/40 (f), 315/30 (r)
GT3 carbon fiber seats


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WASHINGTON After Friendster came MySpace. By the time Facebook dominated social media, parents had joined the party, too. But the online scene has changed dramatically, as it turns out and these days even if youre friends with your own kids on Facebook, it doesnt mean you know what theyre doing.
Thousands of software programs now offer cool new ways to chat and swap pictures. The most popular apps turn a hum-drum snapshot into artistic photography or broadcast your location to friends in case they want to meet you. Kids who use them dont need a credit card or even a cellphone, just an Internet connection and device such as an iPod Touch or Kindle Fire.
Parents who want to keep up with the curve should stop thinking in terms of imposing time limits or banning social-media services, which are stopgap measures. Experts say its time to talk frankly to kids about privacy controls and remind them again how nothing in cyberspace every really goes away, even when software companies promise it does.
What sex education used to be, its now the technology talk we have to have with our kids, said Rebecca Levey, a mother of 10-year-old twin daughters who runs a tween video review site called KidzVuz.com and blogs about technology and education issues.
More than three-fourths of teenagers have a cellphone and use online social networking sites such as Facebook, according to the Pew Research Centers Internet and American Life Project. But Facebook for teens has become a bit like a school-sanctioned prom a rite of passage with plenty of adult chaperones while newer apps such as Snapchat and Kik Messenger are the much cooler after-party.
Even Facebook acknowledged in a recent regulatory filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission that it was losing younger users: We believe that some of our users, particularly our younger users, are aware of and actively engaging with other products and services similar to, or as a substitute for, Facebook, the company warned investors in February.
Educators say they have seen kids using their mobile devices to circulate videos of school drug searches to students sending nude images to girlfriends or boyfriends. Most parents, they say, have no idea.
A stay-at-home mom of eight kids in Burke, Va., Eileen Patterson said she used to consider herself fairly tech savvy and frequently spends time on Facebook. But she was shocked to learn her kids could message their friends with just an iPod Touch mp3 player. She counts nine wireless devices in her home and has taken to shutting off her homes Wi-Fi after 9 p.m., but she describes her attempt to keep tabs on her kids online activity a war Im slowly losing every day.
I find myself throwing up my hands every now and again, Patterson said. Then Ill see something on TV or read an article in the paper about some horrible thing that happened to some poor child and their family, and then I try to be more vigilant.


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LeAnn Rimes: Temporary Wedding Vow Tattoo!
LeAnn Rimes takes a walk with a male friend while out and about in Los Angeles on Friday (August 12).
Earlier in the day, the 28-year-old singer landed at LAX Airport after performing in Utah.
Last week, while attending the Lollapalooza festival, LeAnn got a temporary tattoo on her ribcage with her wedding vows.
The tattoo read "You gave me the courage to be truthful. I promise to give you the comfort to be trustful," according to Us Weekly.
FYI: LeAnn is wearing a Riller & Fount "Pearl" Sleeveless Draped Front Tunic.
15+ pictures inside of LeAnn Rimes out and about…


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Saturday, December 7, 2013
San Bernardino
Posted by Frank Cadillac at 2:09 AM
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Film written and directed by Minos Papas, son of the famed Cyprian film maker Michael Papas, starring Nando del Castillo,Frank Cadillac,Mary Round,and many other great actors.
I am a veteran of the New York City Rock Circuit.
Presently a member of Screen Actors Guild and Broadcast Music Inc.,I have been acting in films since 1999.I am marketing all my originals at the cdbaby website where you can download my music or have a hardcopy dropshipped to your office or residence. it is available for anyone to listen to any of my five albums at www.cdbaby.com/frankcadillacwh
Also checkout this music video by Frank Cadillac And The Elvis project The Ballad of Elvis


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Beef demand. What is it, and how can the Beef Checkoff Program influence changes in demand? These are questions that a recent checkoff-funded "U.S. Beef Demand Drivers and Enhancement Opportunities: A Research Study" tried to answer.
Every 10 years, the beef industry takes an introspective look at the activities completed and what lies ahead. The 2008 study, completed by Drs. James Mintert and Ted Schroeder, professors in the Department of Agricultural Economics at Kansas State University along with Dr. Glynn Tonsor from Michigan State University, intended to quantify key factors leading to beef demand shifts over time and use that knowledge to guide future decision-making.
So where does the beef industry currently stand?
First, it's important to keep in mind that increasing beef demand doesn't just happen at the shelves of the grocery store. It requires a joint effort by all vertical segments of the beef production, processing and marketing chain or, as is commonly said, from pasture to plate. This offers plenty of opportunities for checkoff programs to make an impact on beef demand.
"We have our work cut out for us," says Cattlemen's Beef Board (CBB) Chairman Lucinda Williams, a dairy producer from Hatfield, Mass. "We had no way of foretelling the future and the economic struggles we're all faced with as producers and consumers. In spite of all this, we remain grounded and committed to making the best decisions we can to fund the right programs that have the potential to increase producer profitability along the way.
"We need to focus on the things we can have some impact on," Williams continues. "We can't impact the economy; there is no secret recipe. We have to react to the economy, make wise program choices, and therefore influence beef demand through our beef checkoff dollars."
A Lock on the Wallet
One of the first conclusions Mintert draws is that beef demand is very responsive to changes in consumer expenditures on goods and services. On average, he notes, a 1 percent increase in total U.S. consumer expenditures results in a 0.9 percent increase in the quantity of beef demanded. Given the state of the economy, one might assume (with good reason) that consumers won't be rushing out to spend the nest egg. Therefore, a decline in U.S. retail beef demand is likely in 2009.
If consumers are more price-conscious, what then does that mean for beef demand? Mintert suggests that although price is integral to attracting consumers to purchase beef, small price increases or declines by themselves have small discernable impacts on beef consumption. The key for the beef industry is to provide consumers with products that meet their needs. If the industry fails to do that, consumers may be encouraged to look at other protein sources such as poultry and pork. So, that means the industry needs to continue focusing some of its efforts on providing consumers what they want, which is a product that is nutritious, flavorful, tender, safe, healthy and convenient.
That leads us to our next point: food safety. As witnessed with the "cow that stole Christmas" in 2003 and the latest debacle at Hallmark/Westland, food safety recalls adversely impact consumer demand for beef. And, the increase in food safety recalls caused retail beef demand to decline 2.6 percent in 2007.
"As the industry develops programs designed to improve beef demand, ensuring consumers have a safe supply of beef is critical to maintaining consumer confidence," Mintert reports. "A cooperative effort among vertical market participants is essential to protecting food safety and beef's image among consumers."
Telling the Beef Story
Beef demand benefits from increasing published information regarding health benefits associated with zinc, iron or protein in diets. Studies show that beef demand also responded positively to extensive publication of information promoting Atkins, high-protein or low-carb diets. Likewise, beef demand declines when articles are published linking diet and fat consumption to cholesterol, heart disease or arteriosclerosis.
Mintert suggests that when consumers receive a consistent, positive message with respect to beef consumption and human nutrition, it boosts beef demand. Prior to this study, data showed that when consumers received a consistent, negative message with respect to beef consumption and human nutrition (e.g., cholesterol), beef demand declined. Now, the industry can help countermand that by identifying and publicizing positive information to health professionals, nutritionists and, especially, consumers.
Times are a Changin'
From the early '80s to the late '90s, the number of women employed outside the home jumped from 53 percent to 60 percent. As this percentage increases, time available for in-home food preparation declines, thereby increasing consumer demand for products that can be prepared quickly and easily. As a result, consumers are increasingly demanding convenience. Studies reveal that as female employment outside the home and food consumed away from home increases, beef demand decreases.
Yet poultry and pork demand continues to thrive when women are working outside the home. Why? Mintert says it's likely related to differences in the pace of new-product introductions. For every new convenience beef product introduced, poultry releases 1.6 new products. That's why the Beef Checkoff Program has increased its focus and resources on development of new convenience products in recent years. Something has to compete with the chicken nugget and the slew of other newer poultry products.
"The checkoff is making a distinct difference bringing the value cuts through muscle profiling back to the consumers," Williams says. "And it does help build beef demand when we have new cuts of beef that consumers are enjoying and purchasing. That brings dollars back into producers' pockets."
The Verdict
According to the latest USDA numbers, on Jan. 1, 2009, the U.S. beef cow herd was estimated at 31.7 million head, 2.4% smaller than a year earlier. Looking ahead, Mintert expects the herd shrink again during 2009. But, he points out that there is a potential upside to the herd reduction currently underway. Producers are learning to make more with less, and consumers have the same mindset when it comes to personal finances.
"Cow-calf producers need to keep their eye on the future. With a shrinking U.S. herd, over time we're reducing the quantity of meat provided to consumers. When the economy turns around and beef demand recovers, we do so with a tight supply base," Mintert concludes. "In the past, that has created potential for a strong upswing in prices. Cow-calf producers need to get through 2009 and possibly 2010, and then things may really bounce back as the U.S. economy recovers. They also need to invest in risk management to manage downside risk.
"In the past 18 months, the equity drain on cattle feeders has been huge and will continue to be for a while longer. Cattle feeders need to rationalize what's taking place and might end up ratcheting down the price we pay for feeder cattle. Feeders didn't anticipate demand dropping so drastically and that's what this market has been about: demand, not supply."
Mintert states there is "no single dominant beef demand driver that the industry should focus all of its attention on." The beef industry is dynamic, flexible and responsive to many outside influences, which makes it even more necessary for Beef Board and state beef council leadership to monitor and adjust to change, and to work with every vertical segment along the way. So while there's no secret recipe for increasing beef demand, that doesn't mean that producers involved with making decisions on where beef checkoff dollars should be invested quit cooking.
To view the corresponding graphs and sidebars, link to the full article here.