text:
New Cable Car Gives Easier Access to the Kuélap Ruins
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The Kuélap ruins in the Amazonas Province of Peru (near the town of Chachapoyas) have been considered to be one of the most important archaeological sites of Peru for some time already. They are the remains of the oldest fortified stone city in South America. Until a few years ago, people had to hike 10 kilometres uphill to reach the site – now it takes 20 minutes sitting in the comfortable new cable car.
We were fortunate enough to visit the site just one month after the opening of the brand new 'Telecabinas Kuélap'. We would like to share our experience of this visit to Kuélap, and give you more practical tips at the end of the post.
The Cable Car to the Kuélap Ruins
The new cable car was opened in March 2017. It now offers an easy alternative to the 32 km dirt road leading to the ruins entry. This road is so narrow and rough that it takes a normal car 90 minutes to drive, and for larger vehicles (like our Berta) it's a real challenge.
The cable car was built at a cost of 81 million US$ (far exceeding the initial budget of $21M). The current price to use it is S/ 20 for a return trip.
An impressive new departure building has been constructed above the village of Tingo Nuevo. With its natural stone walls and grass covered roof, it looks like a mountain lodge – Peruvian style. It blends into the environment quite well. You buy your tickets there and board the shuttle bus, which takes you to the base station of the cable car. There seems to be plans for future development, with spaces set aside for a coffee lounge and a gift shop (both currently still empty).
Please click thumbnails below for a larger photo with description.
The base station of the cable car sits at 2,000 metres; the Kuélap entrance station is at almost 3,000 metres. Along the way, the 8,200 metre long cable crosses a deep river gorge (people suffering from vertigo might want to shut their eyes).
The City of Kuélap
This walled city was built by the Chachapoyas culture, which dominated the region in the Amazonas province of Peru from 500 AD onwards. They were fiercely independent and often referred to as the "Warriors of the Clouds". For a long time, they even held their position against the mighty Inca Empire. Unfortunately, the Spanish invasion brought an end to the city of Kuélap and the place was abandoned. It was rediscovered in 1848, then nearly forgotten again until major archaeological work commenced there in 1997.
The main city is located on a ridge at roughly 3,000 metres altitude. It covers a site of around 600 metres in length by 110 metres in width, and is laid out on distinct levels. The impressive limestone wall, which surrounds this complex, is up to 30 metres high.
The prominent feature of this city are the remains of around 470 cylindrical buildings. If you follow the current main path into the city you soon come to the top layer, where you also find ruins of several rectangular buildings. The first attraction on this level is a large tower at the northern end, called 'Torreón Norte'. It sits right at the edge of a steep cliff face.
At the southern end of the lower level, there is a large circular turret in the shape of an inverted cone, which is called 'Templo Mayor'. This structure almost defies gravity and must have been a challenge to build. It contains an inner chamber in a bottle shape.
Recent excavations discovered almost 150 human remains around this site, but it is not completely clear if these were human sacrifices or warriors killed in battle.
Please click thumbnails below for a larger photo with description.
Most of the complex is covered in tropical trees, whose roots wind around the rock structures. Part of the site is currently closed for further archaeological digs; another section for the reconstruction of the ancient drainage system (as some of the outer wall is under threat from rain water seeping into it). Stage one of the restoration work is targeted to be finished in early 2019.
Our Visit to Kuélap
We certainly didn't come on a good day – it was Good Friday, and 'Semana Santa' is one of the major holiday weekends in Peru. The site was packed like it has probably never been before. On the way back down on the cable car, we had a long and interesting conversation with one of the leading archaeologists for the site, Cristian. He told us that on Monday to Wednesday there had been around 50 visitors per day, on Thursday (the first day of holidays) there were around 800, and on Good Friday the number exceeded 1,000!
You buy your entrance tickets for the site near the cable car end station. From there a paved walkway, with many stairs, takes you roughly 2 km uphill to the site. Then you have to skirt along some narrow earth paths to the far right of the complex, to the current entrance (Entrance #3). The regular entrances #1 and #2 are both closed for restoration. These walkways were absolutely not suitable for the number of visitors on the day.
Most of the pathways inside the complex are covered with a slatted timber boardwalk, which is not suitable for shoes with high heels, which we saw some local women wearing. Sometimes we encountered "traffic jams", particularly when large guided groups wanted to proceed along the narrow boardwalk.
But we are certain that on 'normal' days you won't experience crowds like this – yet!
Although Kuélap is sometimes referred to as the "Machu Picchu of the North", the site doesn't receive anywhere near as many visitors: Machu Picchu had 4 million last year – Kuélap a little over 40,000. Thanks to the cable car, they are expecting close to 80,000 visitors for 2017, and a steady increase in numbers thereafter. This is still a far cry from the masses of people you find around Cusco!
The naming "Machu Picchu of the North" only creates wrong expectations. The two cities were built in totally different periods; Kuélap is much older and doesn't display the same precise stone work the Incans are so famous for. In its time, Kuélap was of great importance for a much larger region, than is evident for Machu Picchu. Finally, the tropical vegetation covering the site gives Kuélap a completely different feel. There have been discussions about removing some of it, but apparently us foreigners like the atmosphere all that dense green creates.
Future Plans for Archaeological Sites in Peru
[We received some of the following information from Cristian, the archaeologist responsible for Kuélap and nearby Karajia (burial tombs in the cliffs, see below)]
Peru wants to promote its other significant archaeological sites to spread tourist attendance and money into different regions, and to reduce the pressure on Machu Picchu. There are 10 sites which are in the plan to implement this, with better access to, and facilities at, the sites. Pachacamac (our last post) is one of these. The tourism ministry realises that better preservation is also a key corner stone of any plan to bring more visitors to these sites.
I found this article about Peru's ambitious plans for the future . Though some are already well behind schedule, as we have experienced first hand: we drove several sections of the planned 'Carretera Longitudinal de la Sierra', which includes the PE-3S and PE-3N , and there was no sign of any building activity. Unfortunately, bits of the already upgraded sections have been severely damaged by fresh landslides. There's certainly a long way (and slow way) to go…
Concretely, for Kuélap this means:
- there are plans to upgrade the airport of Chachapoyas
- the site has been submitted for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List .
This UNESCO page goes a lot deeper into the history and significance of the Kuélap ruins – well worth a read!
Practical Information for a Visit to the Kuélap Ruins
Best time to visit seems to be on weekdays, but avoid Mondays unless you want to drive up to the site. An information board at the 'Telecabinas Kuélap' showed that they are usually closed for maintenance on Mondays (with a few exceptions).
A return ticket for the 'Telecabinas Kuélap' is S/ 20 per person and has to be bought at the departure building (there are no ticket sales where the cable car starts). They don't offer any concessions (meaning no discounts for students, children, or aged people).
Pets are not permitted!
Entrance to the Kuélap Ruins:
- S/ 20 per person regular entrance fee
- S/ 10 for university students, accredited teachers, and seniors 60+
- S/ 2 for children and school classes
The ruin site is open 8:00-4:00 (on Easter they kept longer hours).
For some unknown reason, the 1st bus to the cable car leaves at 9:00am.
Allow at least 2 hours for the site visit (including the 2km walk to the ruins and back); we spent 2½ hours, including a short break for a snack.
Take a rain jacket, as the site is very exposed. You can expect short rain showers and strong cold winds at times. It's best to wear solid shoes with good grip. Don't forget that you are at 3,000 metres! It's cooler than in the valley (where the cable car leaves from) and breathing isn't as easy, so walk at a slow and steady pace. Take some snacks and drinking water, but please don't leave any trash behind!
Chachapoyas as a Base to Explore Many Ancient Ruins
The nearest city is the laid-back Chachapoyas with its lovely colonial town square.
The region offers numerous other sights nearby, which are well worth a visit. You could base yourself in Chachapoyas and spend several days exploring.
"Every week you could have a new story about a newly discovered site."
[Quote Peter Lerche, a historian and former mayor of the Chachapoyas, from this article on abc.net.au ]
The best known highlights of the region, aside from the Kuélap, are:
- The Sarcophagi at Karajia. The Chachapoyas tribe is well known for burials in cliff faces and walls. At Karajia you can see sarcophagi of high-ranking leaders and ordinary people , side-by-side.
- Revash, south of Kuélap, is where the Chachapoya built small houses into the cliff face to bury their dead. Unfortunately, due to our outdated guidebook, we didn't visit this site. Later we learnt that access has been made easier by a new dirt road, which now takes you within 3km walking distance. (The link above, abc.net.au, shows a photo of Ravesh.)
- Roughly 90km from Chachapoyas is the small town of Leymebamba with its excellent museum, Centro Mallqui, which houses mummies and artifacts found around the Laguna de los Cóndores. Ask staff to turn the lights on in their mummy room (this is usually kept dark to preserve the mummies)! There are also a couple of interesting ruins sites around the town, like La Congona. If you take a tour to the museum enquire beforehand if they will include a visit to at least one site. The narrow road to Leymebamba follows a river valley through beautiful green rural pastures and small mudbrick settlements.
Right now this limits the number of tourists visiting the region – an advantage for individual travellers. The planned airport upgrade will give Chachapoyas a well deserved tourism boost. On the other hand, you might not find the same peace and quiet to enjoy what the region has to offer.
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text: One of the first tasks was to create a creative partnership contract. I couldn't find the tutor handing out the sheets by the time we had sorted out our group, so I created this document using the file uploaded onto estudio. In the document is basically outlined my specific interests and skill set, and it's a contract that binds all three of us to work together for this project.

subset: commoncrawl


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Kevin Keene 's head hurt.
Kevin Keene's head hurt and he was laying down.
Kevin Keene's head hurt, he was laying down, no wait, strapped down. or something. He couldn't move very much. The fog had yet to clear from his head. What had happened? He last remembered going to answer the door to his office to help one last student…
He heard a female voice. He tried to lift his head up to see who was speaking, but his head was strapped down. The drop ceiling gave no details as to his location. It just stared back.
"Looks like he is awake, Doctor."
A familiar voice could be heard further off, it sounded like it was coming from a speaker of some kind. No, a cell phone, set to speaker mode.
"Good. Just in time."
Kevin struggled to loosen his bonds. "Who are you people? What do you want?"
"Just calm down Professor Keene." A male voice, not the one on the cell phone. Younger, still somewhat familiar. "Just relax and this will all be over before you know it." It was a student, maybe? But who was that other voice?
Kevin sputtered, still struggling, "I will not calm down! Where am I?"
The cell phone spoke up. "Kevin, you really should do as you are advised. We don't want you hurting yourself. You are in the Flansburgh Photonics Building, on campus, but away from prying eyes. You're going to help us with a little experiment."
"I refuse," Kevin strained. His bonds were tight and secure. "Whatever it is you want, I will not help you."
"Now now, Kevin. I always thought very highly of you. You were my star pupil. You even gave me the golden egg that got this whole enterprise started." The cell said pridefully.
Kevin stopped and his heart ran cold in realization. "Dr. Kael? Former head of the Com Sci Department, my old professor?" He spoke slowly, whatever he was drugged with had addled his mind, but it was coming back to him now.
"He goes by The Programmer now," chided the other male voice. "Show him some respect."
"It all makes sense now. My old programs being manipulated, twisted. You altered the program I was working on to get into Videoland…"
Dr Kael's voice responded proudly, "Kevin, don't be so modest. The program you had was so close to complete, and it is even more so now. All it needs is just a few components from the other side, and we should be able to open a permanent bridge between Video Land and reality. Imagine the implications!"
Kevin was quiet for a moment. he said softly "You're insane…"
Kevin's world bloomed into bright colors and sharp pain as he was rapped across the temple by a strong hand. The young man's. "You better watch your mouth, professor. We need information from you so we can finish this little project. You're going to help us."
"I will not."
Kevin braced himself for another hit that did not come. Dr Kael's voice said, almost pleadingly, but mostly threatening, "Kevin, you really need to cooperate here. I really need these kids to join me on the other side so we can finish the program, but they were kicked out by your son. For safety reasons, they have to stay out for three days, but with you here, I think we can finally bypass that safeguard. You are going to reveal the secrets of travel to Videoland to us. You will help us recover the Ultimate Warp Zone from the Palace of Power, and you will stop your son from interfering any further in our plans."
"Charlie… I will not help you fight my son! I will not help at all! Let me go now or so help me, I will have this place torn apart looking for you!"
The young man looked into Kevin's field of vision now. Gary Grant, all-star athlete. His student did not look happy.
"Professor Keene, we really didnt want to have to do this, but you are going to help us, whether you want to or not."
Gary filled a syringe, tapped it, evacuated the tiny drop of air remaining. A young woman with purple hair he had seen around campus before walked in from the other side with an alcohol swab. She swapped the crook of his elbow and Gary injected him with the liquid from the syringe.
"What the hell was that?"
"Sodium pentathol, truth serum," Gary said. "Once it takes effect, you will tell us everything you know."
Dr Kael sounded from the other end of the cell. "After that, my prized pupil, you will join us in Video Land and I will show you what Video Land and your beloved Princess Lana have taught me. "
"Lana…" Kevin struggled mentally against the truth cocktail running through his system but it was only a matter if time now. He grew quiet now, his mind fogged at the edges.
The Programmer delegated to his subordinates, "Once he reveals what he used to travel to Video Land in the first place, recover it, and meet me at the palace. If I'm right, it should be safe to pass through. Bring your professor with you. I will need to see how the tether subprogram works on human beings."
"If it doesn't?" asked The Freak. She didn't sound very enthusiastic. The Jock shot her a cold look.
"Then we will use him to keep The Captain under control, as our hostage." The Programmer conceded. "Either way, he's more useful to us on this side than out there."
"Understood." said Gary. "We will move out as soon as possible"
"Good. See you on the other side." The Programmer hung up on his end.
"What the hell was that all about?" Gary demanded.
"Nothing," The Freak said quickly. "Let's get this over with."
They both turned to Professor Keene and without much difficulty at all, began to reveal through Kevin's medically induced state, the story of Captain N, the Game Master, and all of his secrets.


text:
Welcome to the IUPHAR Pharmacology Education Project for learners in pharmacology and clinical pharmacology.
This website is being developed by the International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology (IUPHAR), with generous support from our sponsors, as a learning resource to support education and training in the pharmacological sciences. The materials will be of value to students of pharmacology, clinical pharmacology and indeed anyone who is looking to develop a stronger grasp of the pharmacological sciences. The aim is to produce a simple, attractive, easily searchable resource that will support students of the biomedical sciences, medicine, nursing and pharmacy as well as those who teach them. It is also intended that it will set in context and act as a 'stepping stone' towards some of the cutting edge data curated within the IUPHAR/BPS Guide to PHARMACOLOGY and allow those who are less familiar with such material to have some understanding.


text:
Bilal contributes to the institute's work on peace and security and is editor of the PeaceLab Blog.
Thorsten's interests include the UN, security, data and technology politics, and the making of global (dis)order.
Aryaman is interested in German and Indian foreign policy and political and security developments in South Asia.
Sarah focuses on conflict analysis, security governance, and foreign policy planning.
Sarah focuses on German foreign policy, crisis prevention, and UN peacekeeping.
Mark works on humanitarian action with a focus on governance, financing, and non-Western actors.
Jonas's research interests include human rights and humanitarian action, particularly forced migration.
Alex has expertise in humanitarian and development policy, and a keen interest in multi-stakeholder initiatives.
Thomas supports the institute's work on promoting multilateralism in a changing global order.
Wade focuses on public-private partnerships and development. He also manages GPPi's finances and operations.
Katrin is interested in how to promote human rights through diplomacy and development cooperation.
Steph contributes to the institute's communications, publications, and outreach activities.
Julian explores international law and policy on refugees, human rights, and humanitarian aid.
Melissa contributes to the institute's work on German foreign policy, crisis prevention, and peacebuilding.
Theresa contributes to the institute's work on peace and security and helps run the PeaceLab Blog.
Claudia focuses on humanitarian action, peacebuilding, and the use of technology in conflict settings.
Garima works on Indian foreign and security policy, BRICS, and UN peacekeeping.
Katharina manages GPPi's communications, publications, and outreach activities.
David focuses on data and technology politics as well as illiberal and authoritarian influences in Europe.
Wolfgang's expertise includes global governance, economic institutions, and public-private partnerships.
Philipp leads the institute's work on peace and security in a changing global order.
Joel's expertise includes intercultural communication methods and the role of rising powers in global governance.
Tobias's expertise includes insurgency and counterinsurgency in the contemporary Middle East.
Mario's research interests include stabilization and security governance in post-conflict environments.
Janika works on quantitative human rights research and the protection of human rights defenders.
Julia conducts research and leads GPPi's evaluation practice on humanitarian and development issues.
Sonya contributes to the Global Governance Futures program and GPPi's work on rising powers.
Kristina's areas of expertise include public-private partnerships and European law.
Gunther oversees the technical development and administration of GPPi's websites, systems, and networks.
Marie focuses on development cooperation, human rights, and humanitarian action.


text:
Pennsylvania Ferret Rescue Association Pennsylvania Ferret Rescue Association
Here's a sample of our volunteer opportunities:VIEW AS
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To educate the general public about domestic ferrets; To provide shelter and rescue services for domestic ferrets particularly in the state of Pennsylvania; To assist in any situation in which the domestic ferret is in need, either physically or in reputation; and to respond to any issue within the state of Pennsylvania that could affect the needs of the domestic ferret.
We are an organization that rescues and shelters homeless, abused and abandoned ferrets. We provide medical care and adopt them into new homes. We also provide education on the domestic ferret to new and current ferret owners and the general public.
This information
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Do you work for this organization?
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text:
Now and then my husband asks me for a call on our investments. My thoughts on the Intuitive Surgical Story have run away with me.
Intuitive Surgical is a US based company that makes robotic surgical systems. There is a surgeon who sits on a computer console from where he directs the robot to perform laparoscopic surgery.
Laparoscopic surgery means surgery where the surgeon has no direct visual access to the surgical field. He sees through the laparoscope. The laparoscope is a tube attached with video cameras, and it is inserted into the patient through a smaller incision. Using the image from the endoscope, the surgeon traditionally uses long handled instruments to perform the surgery. This is also called Minimal Invasive Surgery – MIS for short.
Suppose you dropped your ring in the trashcan. You could wade in and get your hands dirty or you could shine a torch and look carefully before picking it up with a pair of long handled forceps. The second option requires more skill. What you do is key when that trashcan happens to be a human body. Surgeons receive special training for laparoscopic surgery.
The Intuitive Surgical Robot is called 'da Vinci'. It has 4 arms and it can be moved around the operating table. 2 arms have surgical tools like scissors scalpels etc. 1 arm has electrocautery instruments, 1 arm has the endoscope with two lenses.
Using the console the surgeon maneuvers with his two hands the two tool arms of the robot. With his left foot he manipulates the lever that controls the robot's endoscopic 3rd arm that gives stereoscopic visual access to the surgical field. With the right foot he controls the AC current flow to the 4th electrosurgical arm for cutting/blood coagulation/ cauterizing purposes.
So you're not struggling with those long forceps, you have your own friendly robot, wristed and all, capable of listening to your remote control commands to pick that ring up. An expensive but probably the better solution, right?
Makes sense, and the operational and financial success of Intuitive Surgical attests to it. It has helped that the company has pursued an aggressive and concerted marketing strategy, managing to make inroads in the medical sector, selling the robots in greater and greater numbers. How did they do this? By going directly to the customers to explain the advantages of robotic surgery so that patient demand drove hospital purchases. The sales team is linked into the use of the machines in the hospitals and is looking at all times to increase applications.
Intuitive Surgical has shown great results. It is trading at USD 500, with a Price to Earnings ratio (exactly what it means - Price of the share divided by the Earnings per share; Earnings per share is again what it means Net profit of the Company divided by the Number of shares of the company) of 29; Net Income at USD 657 mio has exceeded expectations. And the market for revolutionary surgery techniques should only grow.
However some questions have been raised. Apparently evidence that robotic surgery delivers much benefit when compared to other MIS (minimally invasive surgery) is scarce. Since it is much more expensive this puts a question mark on insurance funding. Then there is the matter of lawsuits that allege that system malfunction has resulted in adverse surgical results, which would definitely be a negative. An FDA investigation has seen people scurrying to the MAUDE (Manufacturer and User facility Device Experience) database to make sense of what is going on. The product replacement initiated last week by Intuitive Surgical I feel is very key although the market has not responded to it.
The naysayers like Citron say that the P/E multiple should be in line with that of the medical devices industry while the yaysayers like Motley Fool contend that the numbers look good, it is the technology of the future and what more do we need.
So buy or sell?
I was very ambivalent about rat dissection in school. I was never starry-eyed about cutting up a rat and labeling its innards, I was clear I did not want to be a doctor. But Biology came easy to me, as a good middle class Indian I did not want to close a door to professional success, just like that. But I was bad at the cutting pasting, knotting and sewing kind of craft. The dissection started with one delicately pinching and pulling outward the chest skin of the rat with forceps, then making a tiny incision with the scissors. The technique now was to maneuver the scissors into this incision and through that split open the rib cage without cutting the heart. I could not do it.
I remained nonplussed until tired of my own hesitation I grabbed the rib cage with my hands and split it apart. It was neat and it worked. My dissection looked the same as everyone else but had been performed by touch rather than sight. My teacher commented as she walked by, "She will be a doctor!" I have no idea what she meant, but I wonder how many doctors depend on tactile feel for completing their surgery. Now the ones who perform traditional laparoscopy are obviously the superior craftsmen, so how about the ones who are not, who are being co-opted into new age techniques that rely on optics rather than haptics (communication by touch)? How many of them are being coerced into jumping on the new age bandwagon? Nothing wrong with that, but only some of them will be able to do it. Who is monitoring that?
It reminds me of the derivative business of banks. Derivatives have great value. They monetize risks, parcel out value and cut across market inefficiencies. But in the hands of fools and rogues it can become dangerous. More fools than rogues they.
What are derivatives? Let me give you an example. You want to buy your rented house but not at current levels. At some point the market starts to move down, down, down until at last you feel it is time to buy. But now you have a new problem; your landlord also feels that the property market cannot go any lower, or he is in the middle of a messy divorce and has no time to look at your bid. What do you do? You curse your luck of course. But what if you buy a different apartment? As and when the landlord decides he needs to sell to pay off his alimony, you could sell the apartment you had bought and buy the house. If the property market had risen like you thought, you would still make the gain on the sale of the purchased apartment, which would offset the higher costs of the house. If the reverse happened, well, you were going to buy your house at a higher price anyway.
What if you have an agent who sells apartments whose value corresponds to the house that you are trying to buy? The apartment is a derivative asset, standing in for your intended house, and the agent is your derivative salesman. But the more transactions you do, the greater are your transaction costs, and the cost of unwinding your arrangements if circumstances change. There is also the risk that the linkage between your derivative asset and the underlying asset starts to unravel. But your agents' commissions increase all the time. If apartment prices collapsed while bungalow prices skyrocketed- the agent is fine, you are the one with the big hole in your pocket. So here is a high value, high involvement, agent-intensive product, which does not reward the agent for alignment with your needs but for turnover. And if you disregard this basic fact, at some point, the sh—t will hit the fan. If a business imagines that a high involvement and high-risk product should be a revenue stream, then that business is a high-risk business.
That is what I think is happening to Intuitive. It is a high-involvement product that requires high-end practitioners and regulatory oversight, both of which are missing now. Another story where the marketing is overreaching itself. Further the product design is not being driven by the practitioner, but by the manufacturer. And for every doctor who embraces the da Vinci Robot enthusiastically, there is one who is taking it doubtfully perhaps fearfully, but the learning curve they say is steep and soon everyone is jollying alone. Until the sh—t hits the fan. This is not the iPod or the Tesla car, with its hyper perfectionist sexy bosses but a regular nuts and bolts operation, with an aggressive marketing department. I will not give it a different P/E multiple than the rest of the medical devices industry.


text:
The South Asian Disaster Knowledge Network (SADKN) is a gateway to knowledge and information on disaster risk management in South Asia. Designed and developed by the SAARC Disaster Management Centre , New Delhi, the SADKN web portal will act as the common platform for sharing knowledge and information among the multiple stakeholders of the member countries of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) on the multi-disciplinary and multi-sectoral issues of disaster risk assessment, risk prevention, mitigation and preparedness and disaster response, relief, recovery and reconstruction.
The SADKN portal will provide ready access to clear, understandable and user-friendly information about real time, impending and historical disasters, details of hazards, vulnerabilities and risks of disasters in structured layers of digitized maps in WebGIS platform, and wealth of resources, references, images and videos on practically every aspect of disaster management that the users would be interested to know.
The SADKN will provide decision makers with the instant geospatial support for assessing risks and communicating about hazards and the exposure that vulnerable people and infrastructure have to these hazards and assist them in locating disaster occurrences and probable fall outs, and taking important decisions regarding evacuation, damage and loss assessment, recovery and risk reduction.
The SADKN has dynamic features like Disaster Dashboard, Real Time Weather Forecasts, Networks, Discussion Forum, Chats and Blogs, FAQs, Kids Corner etc that would enable the users to meet and interact with each other to share their experiences and find solutions to their problems and issues. It will create an environment to encourage people to create, learn, organize, share, use and reuse knowledge on disaster management.
The SADKN is a network of networks, with one regional and eight national portals, that would involve the national, provincial and local governments, international organizations, scientific, technical and academic institutions, non-government organizations, media and corporate sectors, communities and individuals in South Asia in sharing knowledge and good practices on disaster management.
The SADKN has the vision to create one stop unified point of access to disaster management knowledge and services and thereby accelerate and improve the quality of disaster mitigation and response in the region.


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Fire in PvP.
I've been specced fire on the Public Realms for a couple weeks now, and I feel it is only fair that I provide a somewhat more in-depth analysis of how it plays out at 70.
Well…. where to start?
The first thing you notice is that the damage you can unleash on hapless foes is… ridiculously high.
Like, we're talking I three-shotted a fellow mage in Arathi Basin. With fireball, fireblast, and Dragon's Breath.
We're talking I fight a rogue, and they pop sprint and run for it. To slow them down, I hit Dragon's Breath… which outright kills them.
We're talking a fireball/fireblast combo that drops a hunter from 100% life to 20%.
We're talking sheeping a warrior, killing the paladin in 6 seconds, then slaughtering the warrior in another 8.
We're talking a stalemate on the alliance bridge in AV, where a bunch of hunters/healers are bunched there holding off the entire horde offensive. And Blastwave/Dragon's Breath scattering them like flax. And netting me over 20k damage done in 3 seconds.
If that isn't a good enough idea, it's effortless to top the damage charts when you're in the game. The damage fire dishes out is at an unholy level, and I found myself the #1 kill target within minutes of each fight.
In a Warsong Gulch, I fought middle with a warrior and a holy priest. 66 honorable kills later, the alliance stopped trying to attack us. Needless to say, I was top of the damage meter, beating the number two slot by… get this… 202k damage.
I was even responsible for killing 5 alliance flag carriers, who made the fatal error of trying to "Go Tun".
Quite simply put, Fire is devastatingly power of you leave the mage alone for 2 seconds or longer. And even then, it still kicks ass.
Also, sheeping something and getting off a full-cast Pyroblast is an incredibly evil and fun thing to do. Especially when it drops half their health in a non-crit. L2Trinket, imo.
The second thing you learn is that you are incredibly squishy. Like, we're talking three shotted by a dual-weilding warrior squishy.
A geared Season 2 Warrior killed me in under 4 seconds.
That's how squishy a fire mage in PvP is.
But to be fair, we have better survivability than arcane mages, because Dragon's Breath, quite simply, is a godly spell. About 1k damage on non crits that stuns for 3 seconds? AND it's an AoE?
I fully support renaming it "Summon Warlock" because it can be that devastating. It can shut down 5 or 6 healers at once, and do enough damage to them that they won't be healing anyone else for a while… or ever.
As fire, there is no end to how badly you can fuck with a healer. First off, you have a ton of damage. Then, every fire spell you cast has a 10% chance to stun. Third, you have a ton of damage. Second… err… fourth, you have a spell that interrupts, stuns, has a chance to stun more, and does more damage. Oh, yeah, and Counterspell, which prevents any healing spells from being cast for 8 seconds.
Now, go find a Holy Priest. Make it your bitch.
Paladins are also acceptable. Please be sure to Spellsteal Blessing of Freedom and Frost Nova the hapless Paladin.
The tl;dr version: Dragon's Breath is a sadistic spell, that causes emotional anguish among anyone and everyone who gets struck with it. Used properly, it's like an AoE deathcoil with a twenty second cooldown.
Used wrong, you look stupid.
A critical problem with any non-frost build is the lack of a certian reliable crowd-control breaker.
Every mage has access to Blink and (unless you suck) a trinket. That gives every mage two reliable ways to break things like fear and stunlocks. But… thats not enough.
What if you need blink to escape Intercept? What if you escape Kidney Shot with it, but then find yourself Blinded seconds later? Hmm? What then?
Quite simply, to be better able to survive this highly unfortunate situations, you want, nay, NEED to have a third reliable stun-key (opposite of stun-lock… get it? Oh, I'm so classy!).
And that skill, that tool, is the godly Ice Block.
Damn, I'm like a priest for that ability.
I should go form the church of Ice Block or something.
I cannot believe how incredibly awesome that ability is.
And I am finding hard to believe how I survived without it.


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CHELSEA v West Brom: Prediction & Stats
Posted on March 2nd, 2013 by Chelsea D
Ok, so the statistic we really want this afternoon is a 3rd successive departure after a West Brom game but unlike us, the brilliant KickOff.co.uk stick to doing what they do best. So if you want all relevant match stats and prediction, click here.
Filed under: Chelsea statistics, Links, Match Day


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Cord clamping refers to putting clamps the umbilical cord so it can be cut after baby is born. In low risk childbirth, immediate cord clamping is an outdated procedure that makes baby miss out on important health benefits. While many hospitals have already updated their standard practices to modern standards, many still haven't! You can delay cord clamping at birth if you say that in your birth plan.
When your baby is born, many hospitals and doctors spring to standard routines. They clamp the still-pulsing umbilical cord then cut it. Baby is officially a separate person.
But in the rush, your baby lost the awesome stuff pulsing through the umbilical cord – additional oxygenated blood, iron, and stem cells. Babies are born with about two-thirds their total blood supply so their passage from inside to outside is easier. Letting the cord pulse until it stops means your baby gets that extra portion of blood. For any baby that's important; for preterm babies, that's huge.
Studies show that 30-50% of your baby's blood volume is still being pumped from the placenta to baby at birth[1]. By three minutes later, baby has received up to 100mL extra oxygen-rich blood . Given that many preemies have partially-developed lungs, having as much oxygen as possible is very valuable for them.
So why rush to clamp? Clamping the cord at birth is important if your new baby needs resuscitation. In the hospital, your resuscitation team needs to take your baby across the room to the emergency equipment and place him on a warming bed. Of course, that means cutting the cord. You can acknowledge this unique circumstance in your birth plan.
At home, some midwives have been trained to bring a flat surface to the baby in mom's arms and keep the pulsing cord attached while they resuscitate baby. Some hospitals have begun using the LifeStart resuscitation bed, which allows for the cord to stay attached to the placenta, and for baby stay with mom[2].
Low risk babies do not need to have their cord clamped and cut at all. In some cultures it's normal to leave the cord attached until it naturally falls off. This is called a "Lotus Birth."
So, why not give baby as much of the iron and stem cell rich blood as possible? Some busy hospitals and doctors clamp immediately as a matter of routine because it is easier and faster. The value of delayed cord clamping may not have been known when those facilities originally set up their procedures and protocols.
Another argument for immediate cord clamping is, if you leave the cord intact and baby gets that rich placental elixir, those extra red blood cells could cause newborn jaundice.
True! Because newborn jaundice is caused by breaking down extra red blood cells. Jaundice is very common, especially in preemies and breastfed babies. Most of the time it doesn't require any extra treatment except a little more sunshine,. You can ask your pediatrician to tell you the signs of newborn jaundice.
Your birth plan can say – in the absence of an emergency – you want to delay cord clamping until the cord has stopped pulsing. And, you can contact your local hospital to find out if they have the LifeStart resuscitation bed[3] or a similar device or practice.
From a scientific point of view, experts still don't know the best amount of time to wait before cutting the cord. Delayed cord clamping (as little as 30 seconds) reduces the need for blood transfusions and prevents anemia, low blood pressure, and intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) – bleeding into the brain. Preterm male babies are especially susceptible to IVH. Research shows that low birth-weight male babies whose cord clamping was delayed also had improved motor skill development.
The ideal time to wait is at least three minutes.[4] If your birth plan says you want to wait until the cord stops pulsing, you'll give your baby all the goodness they can get.
Having immediate skin-to-skin contact at birth – with cord intact – gives you both a chance to rest together after your mighty efforts. Your baby has the warmth of your skin, the rhythm of your heartbeat, and the sound of your voice to soothe them. It helps you bond with your babe, to fall in love and commit to its wellbeing, which will last a lifetime.
When the copy of your birth plan in your hospital bag checklist tells birth attendants to delay cord clamping, it can be like packing a life preserver for baby into your hospital bag. That's no small thing.
[1] http://www.midwiferytoday.com/articles/neonatalresus.asp
[2] http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/New-Preemie-Bed-Sharp-Mary-Birch-Hospital-Snyder-LifeStart-267196811.html
[3] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2AnD0sCePE
[4] http://www.bloodtobaby.com/#!research/c380
To learn more about your birth choices, download our free Birth Plan eBook now. After three years of research, collaboration with more than 100 childbirth experts and resource centers from Healthy Child Healthy World to the American Association of Neonatal Nurses, the Best Ever Baby Birth Plan Guide is available for a free download.
This new resource for pregnant families is a compilation of top tips and advice from more than 20 nationally-recognized experts in the field including renowned pediatrician, Dr. Alan Greene and GraceFull Birthing founder, midwife Elizabeth Bachner. These trusted experts offer thoughtful guidance for whatever type of birthing experience parents want, in whichever setting they choose.
Published: September 6, 2015 | Reviewed by: Kim Walls, Natural Products Expert, Elizabeth Bachner, LM, CPM, L.Ac., Midwife | Last reviewed: September, 2015


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I often get asked whether it is legal to record phone calls and occasionally a client will come in with a great volume of recordings, expecting great results. There are some apps for smartphones that can automatically record calls. It's usually a lousy idea.
- It's illegal in the United States to record calls to which you are not a party (unless you are the NSA or law enforcement with a court order). That means if you are a parent and your child is having a telephone conversation with your co-parent and you are not in the room, it is a federal crime to record the call.
- It is legal in Missouri to record a call to which you are a party, provided the person on the other end of the call is also in a state where it is legal to record a call to which you are a party. If the person on the other end of the call is in a state in which it is illegal for either party to record a call, then it is potentially illegal to record the call without the other party's consent.
- It is always legal to record a call with the consent of all parties to the call.
- It is unethical for attorneys to advise clients to secretly record calls, particularly to illegally record calls or to record calls to represented parties.
- It is unethical for attorneys to secretly record calls as that is a deceptive practice.
- Because it is deceptive for attorneys to secretly record calls, it is conceivable that a party who secretly records calls could have their credibility impeached at trial for engaging in the deceptive practice of secretly recording calls.


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Organisation und Presse
Werbegemeinschaft Europa-Center
Frau Ute Fabry
Tauentzienstr. 9-12
10789 Berlin
Tel: +49 (0)30 26497940
Fax: +49 (0)30 26497950
Email: email@example.com
URL: www.europa-center-berlin.de
Office and retail unit rental
EUROPAHAUS Grundstücksgesellschaft mbH & Co KG
Ernst-Reuter-Platz 10
10587 Berlin
Tel: +49 (0)30 3480080
Fax: +49 (0)30 34800863
Managing Director: Mr Christian Pepper
Inspectorate: Berlin Charlottenburg District Court
Commercial Register: EUROPAHAUS Grundstücksgesellschaft KG, HRA 3 EUROPAHAUS Grundstücksgesellschaft GmbH, HRB 2514
VAT ID No. DE1366667559 Offices are also available for rent in the Office Tower complex adjacent to the Europa Center.
Further information can be found on Office Tower's website.
Website design by
wycomco GmbH
Fasanenstraße 35a
10719 Berlin
Tel: +49 (0)30 3036281-0
Email: email@example.com
Web: www.wycomco.de
Managing Directors: Max Haustein and Daniel Zapf
Inspectorate: Berlin Charlottenburg District Court
Commercial Register: wycomco GmbH, HRB No. 96787
Tax number: 27/041/00268
Sources of Photographic Material
All banners were created by wycomco GmbH. The owners of the photos from Fotolia (www.fotolia.de) used here are:
Fashion: Tomasz Tulik
Jewellry: Patrizia Tilly
Books and Media: Michael Flippo
Multimedia: Ivan Montero
Art and Crafts: Scott Griessel
Specialist Retailers: Pressmaster
Services: Nyul
Restaurants: Steve P.
Cafés, Bars and Pubs: Paul Turner
Food and Snacks: Birgit Reitz-Hofmann
The following photos for the undersides Car Park and Fitness Company were also researched and processed by wycomco GmbH:
Fitness Company: Yuri Arcurs
Car Park: Uolir
The photo for the underside Transport Connections was provided by Herr Donath of the Berliner Verkehrsbetrieben (BVG).
The photo for the underside The Sights was provided by Zoo Berlin.
All photos of shops and tenants in the Europa Center were provided by Photo Huber.


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On the banks of India's holiest river, a film company has been trying to portray the harsh life of widows in 1930's India, outraging conservatives who say it insults Hindu tradition.
Although the social stigma of being a widow is no longer so strong, a widows' shelter a few feet from the movie set in Varanasi mirrors the life that Deepa Mehta, a director and producer, plans to depict in her film ''Water.''
Life seems to stand still in the dim light of the shelter, where eight residents sit listlessly, staring at the peeling walls -- outcast from society because of their husbands' deaths.
Conservative activists say they will block the shooting of ''Water,'' the last of a trilogy by Ms. Mehta, a Canadian of Indian origin. Their protests have succeeded in driving the production out of Varanasi.
But some say the film fairly reflects what social workers call the worst form of discrimination against women in India. Under ancient Hindu tradition, widows are considered bad luck, even blamed for their husbands' deaths. It is frowned upon for them to remarry -- though no such social barriers exist for men.Continue reading the main story
As a result many are left homeless and destitute. About 2,000 abandoned widows are thought to live in Varanasi, an ancient holy city 420 miles southeast of New Delhi.
One of the women, known only as Vibha, was shunned by her in-laws when her husband was killed two years ago in a road accident. Vibha had ceased being part of her birth family when she married. At 40, with two children, she had nowhere to go. She drifted to Varanasi, where she found refuge with other widows in the basement of the Ganapathi Guest House on the Ganges River.
''Once I became a widow,'' she said, ''no one cared about me at home.''
At the Ganapathi Guest House, meat, onions and garlic are banned, in the belief that they create heat and arouse sexual desire. The widows' hair is kept close-cropped, and their heads are covered in public.
The 25 women sleep together on a single threadbare rug in the single large room. Dingy white saris, their only change of clothing, hang on a washing line outside. There is no electricity or running water. In the corner is a small Hindu shrine where they pray.
The owner of the guest house -- which caters to tourists or pilgrims to the holy Ganges -- provides the widows with rice or flour for two meals a day as an act of charity.
Most of the women are in their 60's and 70's. Some work as domestics to supplement the meager food. Others beg on the steps leading to the river, where Hindus say devotions.
Since independence from Britain in 1947, India has adopted laws ensuring the right of women to divorce and widows to remarry. The legislation has helped ease the stigma of widowhood, but traditions still have a strong hold, especially in rural India.
On Jan. 30, just before shooting was to begin on Ms. Mehta's film, about 500 demonstrators ransacked the set.
The film unit abandoned the site on Monday after a protester tried to commit suicide. Fearing violence from Hindu nationalists who find the film offensive, the state government asked the crew to leave Varanasi.
On Tuesday, Ms. Mehta told reporters in New Delhi that she would choose another location in India.
''I am a victim,'' she said. ''The script was cleared by the federal government and even local religious leaders.''
She denied that the film is anti-Hindu, saying it revolves around a young widow who seeks to lead a normal life.Continue reading the main story


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Accessories & Related Products
KEH Specifications
Canon Powershot A2500 Red Digital Camera {16 M/P} Description
With such amazing features this camera is certainly at the top of its class. The Canon PowerShot A2500 digital camera has a DIGIC 4 Image Processor that is able to produce extremely clear images with stunning detail. This fantastic camera also offers SmartAUTO, which will be able to help you determine your shooting mode from the 32 available modes. The ability to record 720p HD video makes this camera stand out, as well. As if all of these features were not enough, the Canon PowerShot A2500 digital camera also offers 5x optical zoom, which will help to focus and zoom in on those subjects that can't get close to the lens. The Canon PowerShot is a force to be reckoned with. Add it to your collection today and you will not be disappointed.
KEH Specifications
- Megapixels: 16 MP
- Body Color: Red
- Sensor Size/Type: 1/2.3" / CCD
- Resolution: 4608 x 3456
- ISO: Auto, 100-1600
- White Balance: Auto, Cloudy, Custom, Daylight, Fluorescent, Fluorescent H, Tungsten
- Shooting Modes: Auto, Fireworks, Fish-Eye Effect, Long Exposure, Low Light, Miniature Effect, Monochrome, P, Portrait, Poster Effect, Snow, Toy Camera Effect, Vivid Color
- Image Stabilization: Digital
- Optical Zoom: 5x
- Aperture Range: f/2.8-6.9
- LCD Size: 2.7" LCD
- Shutter Speed: 15 - 1/2000 sec
- Built-in Flash: Yes
- Continuous Drive: 2.9 fps
- Video: Yes, NTSC/PAL
- Memory Card Type(s): SD, SDHC, SDXC
- Battery: 1x NB-11L rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack (3.6V DC, 680mAh)
- Weight: 4.4 oz / 125 g
- Dimensions: 3.8" x 2.2" x 0.8" / 97.7 x 56.0 x 20.9mm
- Manufacturer's Model #: 8255B001
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Obama: Times are Hard Right Now
U.S. President Barack Obama conveys the importance of emergency relief, extension of unemployment insurance, tax cuts and lending for small businesses.
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
I ... we gotta stop blocking emerged relief for Americans were out of work ... we got to extend unemployment insurance ... we need to pass those tax cuts for small businesses ... and lending ... for small businesses ... times are hard right now ... we're moving in the right direction ... I know it's getting close to an election ... but there are times when you put Elections aside ... this is one of those times ...


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NCAA College Football Point Spreads: Week 6 Odds
What an amazing weekend of college football in Week 5! You won't see a better game this year than that fantastic Tennessee-Georgia SEC thriller. Meanwhile, the University of Washington emphatically showed that it's finally back among the nation's elite with wipeout of Stanford. On the flip side, Florida State's College Football Playoff hopes disappeared with […]
The post NCAA College Football Point Spreads: Week 6 Odds appeared first on Sports Interaction Blog.
Read more at the SportsInteraction Blog!


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Apart of the World
'When you're working with kids who haven't seen apartment
buildings, trains, cows and pigs, a lot of the things they read
are foreign to them.'
Charles Kashatok director of Yup'ik studies,
"I think [other villagers] stay because their families need help at home. I also think a lot of them didn't have the role models I did, and maybe weren't as exposed to the outside world," says Don, who took 10 years of intermittent attendance to earn her degree from Alaska Pacific University in Anchorage, a common pattern among educated village residents.
"As a Yup'ik person, I think I'm being looked up to here," Don says. "You can go to college, you can graduate. I'm proof that it's possible."
Meanwhile, some Alaskans believe that the schools need to adapt more to the native culture, both to pass on the skills needed for village life and to make other options more possible by making school seem more relevant.
"We are trying," says Polson, Akiak's principal, as he is interrupted to sign a purchase order for rabbit snares.
Adult residents come to the Yupiit and the Lower Kuskokwim schools to teach traditional skills like trapping, fishing, and skinning a caribou.
Some of the schools have paid staff members who teach Yup'ik studies. Mary Ann Lomack teaches high school girls in Akiachak to make items like quilts and Eskimo dolls. She also teaches the Yup'ik language, which is taught in all the schools in the region. The Lower Kuskokwim district has launched Yup'ik immersion programs in a few schools that the Yupiit district is considering emulating--if officials can find enough Yup'ik-speaking teachers.
In the larger Lower Kuskokwim, 74 of 268 certified teaching positions are filled by natives, the highest percentage in the state. The districts offer scholarships to teachers' aides who seek degrees. The University of Alaska also has a program that aims to recruit natives and offers summer training programs for white teachers who intend to work in rural Alaska.
Finding relevant instructional materials to support the cultural work also is a challenge. The Yupiit district commissioned a custom-made set of readers about 10 years ago that focuses on local topics. Teachers also try to make lessons more relevant with projects and examples that students can more easily relate to. Shop students in Akiachak, for example, make dog sleds and gun racks. The hallway of Akiak's high school is lined with a mural depicting tundra animals.
"When you're working with kids who haven't seen apartment buildings, trains, cows or pigs, a lot of the things they read are foreign to them," says Charles Kashatok, the director of Yup'ik studies for the Lower Kuskokwim district and a native of the village of Kipnuk, located on the seacoast about 100 miles from Bethel.
"It won't make sense, it's not going to seem important, it's not going to help them learn to think, reason, and solve problems," Kashatok says. "They may not be able to solve a problem that talks about the space shuttle, but they sure can understand a problem about a snow machine."
But the core of the curriculum would be familiar to educators from the Lower 48.
"There are some who argue that it should be different, but we try to give them the same thing kids are taught everywhere," Polson says.
There is a growing movement among native Alaskan educators to weave the indigenous culture more tightly into the curriculum by "teaching in the culture, rather than teaching about the culture," in the words of Oscar Kawagley, a University of Alaska education professor who is the acknowledged leader of this movement.
His 1993 book, A Yupiaq World View: Implications for Cultural, Educational and Technological Adaptation in a Contemporary World, has been influential in spreading the idea that "native ways of knowing" should be given equal footing in rural schools with the more linear, compartmentalized, fact-driven Western curriculum.
Sometimes, it appears that the priorities of teaching traditional values and contemporary knowledge are in opposition.
For example, at the Yupiit district's annual education summit in March, Kawagley was a featured speaker. He said students should be taught to blend traditional and Western knowledge and that too much dependence on textbooks "destroys curiosity and creativity." He said that children should be taught "from the perspective of the Yup'ik--a connection to Mother Earth" and that children should be taken out into the tundra to learn.
Superintendent Weise followed, taking a decidedly different tack. Despite years of effort, he said, the district's test scores are "still at the bottom."
"Parents' reading levels often determine the children's reading level," he told the gathering of about 200 educators and parents. "Yes, I agree with Dr. Kawagley--go out into the tundra--but when you go, take a book!"
But the debate itself was deceiving--with the educators on the same side in actuality.
Weise, a part Eskimo who hails from Bethel, agrees with Kawagley that traditional values and knowledge should be taught along with the Western curriculum that students must master if they aspire to the kind of success the educators have enjoyed themselves.
"I was trying to get their attention," he says later. "I'm in increasing-awareness mode. I think there's been a tendency to assume the tests from the Lower 48 aren't relevant here and dismiss the results."
But he, too, sees progress. When he visits families, more parents "are expressing concern about where their children are in reading, writing, and arithmetic. I think a change is coming. They see that their children are going to be more a part of the world and need to be ready for it."
The bottom-line question for educators is what future the Yup'ik children are being prepared for. Will they live in the American mainstream or in the village? Educators are particularly concerned about the villages' ability to survive, especially once the new federal welfare reforms kick in this summer that give most adults only two more years of benefits. Alaska, however, is trying to find community-service alternatives for the unemployed in the Bush.
"We have to give our people the kind of education that will make their lives more meaningful and help them not be dependent on public assistance or other programs," says state and local school board member Michael Williams.
"We need teachers and medical providers. We need accountants and administrators, we need equipment operators, we need pilots. We need carpenters, and we need accountants to run businesses in our villages," Williams says. "We also need to have the best-educated hunters and fishermen around."
|Educators are particularly concerned about the villages' ability to survive, especially once the new welfare reforms kick in this summer.
When Carole Seyfrit, a sociology professor at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Va., surveyed students in rural Alaska about their aspirations in 1995, a whopping 90 percent in the Yupiit high schools said that they planned to attend college. The response rate stands in stark contrast with the handful of residents who have actually taken the jump.
"One of the things we're looking at is the conflict between the push to go to college and the pull of staying in the village," says Seyfrit. "There's ambivalence in the responses. You could interpret it to mean they plan to do different things at different times in their lives or they just don't know." But, she says, it also "could be evidence that attitudes are changing and big social changes are on the way. What this means for the villages is a good question."
Others look for meaning in far less clinical ways. "These are the children we will depend on in the future to run the villages. It's very important for them to have some understanding of the native culture and way as well as the American way of life," school board Chairman Kasayulie says. "Our mission is to provide understanding of survival [techniques] as well as to help people who get out of the communities to seek jobs in larger cities.
"Some will leave and not come back," he says. "Some will come back, and we'll be waiting for them."
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10:00 am
10:00 pm
This is your time to get away from children and work on your scrapbooks and make new friends. Share your work of art and get lots of great inspiration from others. Space is limited so sign up now!!!! (Bring a covered Dish to share)
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(Eds: Adding additional quotes and inputs) Chennai, Apr 17 (PTI) AIADMK (Amma) leader TTV Dinakaran, booked for allegedly trying to bribe an Election Commission official, today vowed to fight the case filed by the Delhi Police and claimed efforts were being made to "destroy" his organisation "politically". The crime branch of the Delhi Police booked Dhinakaran for trying to bribe an Election Commission official to get the AIADMKs poll symbol of two leaves in a by-election to the R K Nagar Assembly seat in Tamil Nadu. An FIR was filed against him following the arrest of an alleged middleman, Sukesh Chandrasekhar, from a five-star hotel in Delhi yesterday.
A senior police officer said the police was probing Chandrasekhars links with Election Commission officials.
"It has been learnt that Sukesh had struck a deal for Rs 50 crore for helping the AIADMK faction to keep the two leaves symbol. Police have recovered Rs 1.30 crore from Sukesh. Two cars -- a BMW and a Mercedes -- have also been seized," the officer said.
"I didnt bribe anybody," Dinakaran told reporters before leaving for Bengaluru to meet his aunt, jailed party chief Sasikala.
The factions deputy general secretary also denied that there was a revolt against him by some ministers, describing such reports as a "planned campaign of lies." He reiterated that no minister had asked him to step down, as was being reported in a section of the media. He also denied he was meeting Sasikala to apprise her of the "rift" in the party. "I have already told you, there is no rift. The other day, ministers had only come to wish me for the Tamil New Year. This (issue) has been going on that after the bypoll I would be removed. There is no such move. This is a planned campaign of lies," he said. Claiming he had no knowledge of the alleged middleman, Dinakaran said he had come to know of the development only through media reports. He said he had not received any summons or communication from the Delhi Police. "I will answer if I get the summons. I will face it legally. How does a broker or somebody say the money was from TTV Dinakaran? I dont know anybody by that name (Chandrasekhar) nor have I come across any such name in my life," he said.
"It is basically wrong to say that Sukesh has spoken to me. I dont know any such person. I dont know what is the plan and who is doing it," Dinakaran said.
He said such information was being spread to "destroy our organisation politically."
He added his faction had sought more time on the symbol issue, and that there was no likelihood of a ruling by the Election Commission today. "There may not be a hearing today according to me." The EC had frozen AIADMKs symbol after two factions led by Sasikala and former chief minister O Panneerselvam staked a claim to it. The bypoll to the R K Nagar Assembly constituency was scheduled for April 12, but the EC cancelled it, saying the electoral process had been "seriously vitiated" by parties through use of money power. Dinakaran was the candidate of the Sasikala faction. The bypoll was necessitated following the death of then Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on December 5.
On his meeting with Sasikala today, Dinakaran said he had not met her for some time and had therefore scheduled it for today. "She (Sasikala) is my aunt. The visit is to meet my aunt who is the general secretary of the AIADMK," he said. On Friday, Dinakaran had termed as "rumours" reports of a revolt against him by some ministers and ruled out any immediate shakeup in the two-month old K Palaniswami cabinet. PTI SA SLB BN BDS


text: Hi Family: She did it again.....She Relapsed "It's what they do"...is all anyone can tell me. Meanwhile, I sit here and look at her son and ask myself .....Will she ever be ready to be a mother? I'm pretty sure Y'all can guess the answer I've been coming up with..... She went to detox yesterday and admitted to being Not Sober for the last 2 weeks at least....... She sure fooled me, cause when I went back in my records, we had left the baby and her alone in my apt one night to go shopping......I thought she was fine....... I have been feeling down lately myself......I quit my job for prideful purposes....(long story, my issues).....I am stressing to find something else.....Now this, I am kind of numb. I haven't really felt this way in a long, long time. DF went away this week on a fishing/camping trip...so thank goodness he can't see me this way. You'd think I wouldn't feel this way, with the wedding coming and all.....I just feel dragged out and exhausted. I can't believe she was able to fool me again!!! Sorry for venting, I haven't contributed much lately. It has been hectic, but I do read here and my prayers are with you all. Thanks for being here. Blessings, Melissa


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Over deze norm
|Aantal pagina's
|Gepubliceerd op
This International Standard specifies a method for estimating the mean release rate of biocide from an antifouling paint over its entire lifetime (in-service period) using a mass-balance calculation. If required, the cumulative total release of biocide over the first 14 days of the specified paint lifetime can also be calculated. This International Standard is applicable to any antifouling paint that releases a biocide. Where an antifouling paint releases, or is assumed to release, more than one biocide, the calculation can be repeated to allow estimates of the release rate of each biocide to be obtained. The calculated estimate of the total amount of biocide released by the coating over its lifetime can be considered as a worst case for the maximum amount released to the environment, and so the calculated mean release rate value should also be considered as the maximum possible mean release rate over the lifetime of the paint. The calculated estimates are suitable for use in general environmental risk assessments, and the application of appropriate correction factors will allow the most accurate and representative environmental risk assessment to be made in the relevant scenario and risk assessment case[4]. There are no minimum or maximum limiting values of release rate which restrict the use of this method. This International Standard is primarily directed towards the release of biocide from antifouling paints that have been applied to ship and boat hulls. It can, however, also be used for estimating biocide release from antifouling paints that have been applied to other objects.
|Nederlandse titel
|Verven en vernissen - Modelberekeningen voor de biocide uitloog van aangroeiwerende verf ('antifouling') op basis van een massa-balans
|Engelse titel
|Paints and varnishes - Modelling of biocide release rate from antifouling paints by mass-balance calculation
|Vervangen door


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A nice cruisey work day in The Lady Cave @ Needy Nails Taupo on this MANI MONDAY
Mum Gina and her just turned 18 yr old daughter Nina were in for some duo nail pamper of acrylic extensions and Shellac manicure. Donna had a double dose of acrylics for hands and tootsies followed with Shellac paint overs and a bit of oohlala. Joy, Misty and Aroha had their acrylic back-fills and Shellac manicure's. A fantastic start to our week thanks ladies and not long till March is in and Feb is out.
Weird weather indeed with 4 seasons in one day LOL... happy to rock out my PMs early so can get my viewing on GO THE GOURLEY FAMZ hehehe... Have to say 50 shades of grey THE MOVIE didn't do it for me. I think after knowing JAX (Sons of Anarchy) wasn't playing the role of Christian kind of made me bias beforehand... oh well...smile and wave .
Catch y'all back 2moraz


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The talent pages have been updated with new content based on feedback from you. Thank you for your hard work in putting the talent reviews together. We will continue to update the talent pages with the latest builds and add the descriptions that we can.
In addition, we have gone through the tedious task of adding tooltips that explain what every talent does. When you hover over the talent image, you should be able to see the official talent description.
If you have spare time, please feel free to give us your thoughts on any talents/talent builds in the Content Feedback: Talents forum.
Talent Pages Updated
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In the fourth of a series, we follow participants in Hometown Health's Motivate U Program as they work toward making healthy, lasting lifestyle changes. Join us in following their journey.
Cheryl Le, child nutrition program manager for the Food Bank of Northern Nevada, is one of more than 200 participants in this year's Motivate U Program through Hometown Health. Follow Le as she learns to combine healthy eating habits with regular exercise each day to reach her goals.


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Learning how to skateboard has been in my list of 'the things I want to do before I die' for years so when I saw my brothers doing it yesterday I decided to join them. I'll admit, I am pretty embarrassed of how bad I am, considering that my younger brother can do flips and all, but it was fun and was planning to try again today... until it started snowing (why!?).
wearing: Sirens top + shorts, Spring shoes, my older brother's cardigan


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I've been playing and DMing RPG's since 1980 or so. Anyone who grew up playing in that era, regardless of the game or hybrid mix of systems they played, learned how to do so in one of only two ways. The first, and most common way was to play. Simple. You knew some folks who played and asked them if you could join. Then someone (the DM most likely) would show you how to roll up a PC and you joined in the fun. Total ignorance and confusion quickly turned to understanding. It was usually a whole bunch of fun as you watched what the other folks around you were doing, and when it came to your turn, you followed suit.
Then your PC died.
It's cool, cause you just rolled another, better guy and started again. Easy Peasy.
The only other way to learn to play/DM was to read the manuals. This method was sketchy at best, but I guess the lone individual, first of his kind to emerge, must have had no other choice. He would then find some willing friend to bite at the hook and become his first player. Together they would muddle their way through and play, maybe mostly wrong, but that really didn't matter. Point is, they played. They had some fun. Eventually they connected with a few other guys who had done the same thing, they hammered out what each group was likely doing wrong and right, and a consensus formed they would play at the next level. Such was the evolution of D&D where I'm from, and it's probably not too dissimilar from your experience, again assuming you are of a certain age.
I bring this up because we don't live in 1980 anymore, and we are not the diaspora as that time before the internet forced us to be. These days, and with the help of our advanced communication systems, we are able not only to quickly locate others of our kind and come together at the local Coffebucks to decide if we'd like to play D&D together, but those of us still stuck in remote areas where people are few and comrades far fewer can still learn to play. Websites, Forums, and best of all Videos can quickly bring us up to speed on how the game is played.
Me? I'm at a high level of expertise. I am a great player, I am an awesome DM, and I am a superb flinger of flub-dubbery. I could teach anyone to play, were I to choose to do so. Thankfully many such people are running websites, hosting forums, and best of all creating videos from how-to to actual gameplay. I don't watch them, but I appreciate their value to folks new to the hobby who have no local, experienced source to turn to. There's Matt, who has a bunch of videos I've never watched but he seems smart and intense and passionate, so you can watch his stuff. Then there's Critical Role with Matt (different Matt. Lot's of Matts in RPGs) if you'd like to watch people play the game in real time. If you prefer reading to watching, just google 'How to Play D&D' and then tumble down the rabbit hole. This last method is a good one if you have alot of time, a case of Jolt, and a multi-monitor setup for all the tabs you're about to open.
I am not a great photographer. Probably i'm not even very good.
This is what started me down this rambling path of thought today. I exist alone here in my cave with my cameras. I was barely able to take a decent picture with my phone, which as we all know even toddlers can achieve with little or no instruction.
The internet has quickly allowed me to access the technical knowledge I need to use my gear. Beyond basic usage, I was able to review the recent history of photography, the types of photography, the reasons to operate the camera in a certain way given a particular environment or subject, and watch people in real-time taking photos with the gear I owned in all types of situations and places of interest.
I may not be a good photographer yet, but now I can use my camera. The personalities I follow online who teach photography have been great, and I've learned a great deal about the art and technology of taking good photographs. In essence, I've learned how to play, and now the only way to advance my skills is to go out and take photos.
What I'm getting at, I think, is that it's great to use the internet to learn how to do something, but in the end you've got to get out there and do it! Go play! Find a game store with a weekly game, join a group using the Meetups app, use craigslist or reddit to find an IRL or online game to play. Put the internet to good use!
Go Play. Have fun. Make memories.
|My Friend Dean, Jamming with his Reggae Band Jah People


text: hi, I am currently using zenfire to collect my data, they dont have a backfill options so if there is some reasons i miss the data, the data is lose for good. also i notice there is some missing ticks occur, without a backfill, there is no way i can confirm and check my data integrity. can anyone recommend a good data provider (futures) with ticks, bid and ask level, and a backfill (1 day is good enough), an API connection so i can collect my own data and reasonably priced. Bonus if they clean the data for bad ticks so i dont have to clean it myself. i can consider a broker if it is good. thanks


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Linuxworld informatics pvt.ltd. invites students for Internship in various technologies.
Thursday, 26 February 2015
Always go for a promising career
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The mode of education had changed a lot when compared with the previous days. The traditional method of using black board and chalk pieces are gone. Online learning or E-learning had emerged with........
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Inugami Circus-dan
Release: 2005/04/06 | CD
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+ Extra Points!
Inugami Circus-dan
Release: 2005/04/06 | CD
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+ Extra Points!
Like arriving at the gates of hell after a long, arduous journey, Inugami Circus Dan finally finds themselves on the doorsteps to popularity that they deserve. On first sight, one tends to be repelled by their gaudy make-up, which seems the work of pure terror; however, you should-no must, without hesitation, listen to their music at least once...those are the words I'd like to shout at the world to introduce the band. I imagine there exist quite a few people who were prejudiced by the look of the band into thinking that this band makes very disturbing music. Of course, I can't deny that. I couldn't even say so in flattery. However, I'd like to say to those of you looking for peace of mind: Hey, go listen to some new-age! To all of you who want to rock and roll, I'd like you to try out Inugami Circus Dan. Before you start, please take a moment to abolish any unnecessary preconceptions of the band that you've made just on their looks: that they are "scary" or "visual-kei." I'm not overstating when I say that their new album, "Sukeban Rock" is so straight-up rock n' roll that it should be called "Orthodox Rock." When you hear the voice of their big-boned and somehow cruel sounding singer Kyoko, your preconceptions of the band will be completely erased.
Before you find fault with the band, look for the fault in your own heart; these guys are absolutely making talented music. After first hearing this album, I felt deep in my heart that Inugami Circus Dan is a band that one can't understand without actually listening to them. To be truthful, I can't declare that those of you who don't prepare to listen to the album will not be surprised at all the suggestive things in the lyrics. But more than that, you're going to be surprised at the skillful, powerful, easy-to-listen-to voice of their lead singer Kyoko. Her voice will, in the best sense of the word, betray your image of her. Then, as you listen to the solid rhythm section and technically rich guitarist, I guarantee you'll be drawn into the Inugami world. No, not drawn, seduced...yes, in a process akin to brainwashing. Reading this page right now is nothing short of plunging one leg into the world of Inugami Circus Dan. Of course, you're free to decide whether you'll listen to them or not. However, I'd like to finish this by saying that if you only judge them on their looks, it's going to be your loss.
+ Official Web Site +
Inguami Circus Dan Interview
Q: I see you're musical direction has changed a bit since you first started. Was there some reason for this change?
A: We didn't consciously change, but, regardless, we tire of things easily...(Laughs)
Q: What direction were you aiming for when you went in to record?
A: First and foremost, we just wanted to make a lot of good songs!!
Q: Could you tell me what you think is the most important theme in your new album, "Sukeban Rock"?
A: It's a story of love and peace.
Q: What aspect did you exert the most energy on when you were making this album?
A: The level of completeness of the music.
Q: You're last album was also quite excellent. Was it difficult this time to make something exceeding your past work?
A: It wasn't difficult at all. I'd say it was fun!
Q: Looking at the lyrics, I feel like you're trying to say something about the absurdity present in our world. Do you project yourself in your lyrics or are most of the situations imaginary?
A: The ideas are self-projection; the situations, imaginary.
Q: When do your lyrics come to you the most?
A: They come to me constantly!
Q: In the title track, "Sukeban Rock" you sing the lyrics "Ashita wa nai kara, chi hedo hakinagara inochi moyashite hashire!" ("There's no tomorrow so run burning bright, spitting blood and bile!") When do all of you guys in the band feel like you are "burning bright, spitting blood and bile"?
A: When we're playing an encore at a show...(Laughs)
Q: You've set all of your songs to a really easy-to-listen-to tempo. Do you have any preferences to the speed of your songs?
A: We set our tempo at the speed that sounds the most right for the song.
Q: Whom did you listen to the most while you were recording?
A: Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple.
Profile: Members of the Inugami Family
Inugami Kyoko
Responsibility: Vocals
Birthday: July 12
Blood Type: 0
Inugami Joji #2
Responsibility: Six-string
Birthday: July 20
Blood Type: AB
Inugami Jin
Responsibility: Four-string
Birthday: January 18
Blood Type: AB
Inugami Akira
Responsibility: Poison drums
Birthday: December 27
Blood Type: B
1994/12 After a
100 year lapse, Kyoko and Akira are reunited through the correspondence
section of a magazine. They start Inugami Circus Dan (ICD).
1995/08 ICD plays their first show at a certain local live spot.
1995/12 ICD appears on TV Asahi's "Ebisu Onsen" show. They shine on as the champions for four weeks before finally losing.
1996/03 ICD plays their first show after appearing on television at Club 251 in Shimokitazawa. They also publish the poetry collection "Roba no Shojomaku."
1996/07 ICD plays their first solo show, "Noryo! Inugami-sai," and publish "Roba no Shojomaku Vol.2." Kyoko and Joji #2 form the folk duo, "Jokyo Gekijo."
1997/01 ICD self-produces their first record, "Goreizen." (Now impossible to find)
1997/04 ICD announces their rock suite "Hebikamihime."
1997/08 In conjunction with their performances, ICD announces "Rock Rokyoku Onnagoroshi Hibashi Jigoku"
1997/09 Kyoko and Joji #2's folk duo performs at Shibuya Apia.
1997/11 Three band members are found to be of incorrect lineage for the band, and are forced to leave. Inugami Jin is revived for the first time in 100 years to join the band.
1998/02 The re-formed ICD plays their first show at Shibuya club La Mama.
1998/07 ICD embarks on their summer tour "Kaki Gentei Tokubetsu Kogyo" ("Limited Special Summer Show") and announce their rock suite, "Yoru ga Owacchimau Mae Ni." Using footage from the first half of 1998, they produce a video released under the same name (out of print).
1998/12 ICD hosts and performs at their concert "Mizukara no Penis wo Kiritotte, Hahaoya no Shikyuu ni Nejikomero!" They hand out a copy of their video "Nozoki Karakurikyo Inushibai" to everyone in the audience.
1999/04 ICD hosts their show "Terayama Junana Kaiki Kogyo Kessoku Zaikokuya." They exhibit Mr. Terayama's work, "Kamen-geki Inugami" with former Tenjyou Sajiki member Seigo Showa. ICD opens their fan club, "Kyoken Club"
1999/07 All members of ICD perform in Seigo Showa's show "Jidai wa Circus no Zou ni Notte" at Shibya's Club Jan Jan
1999/09 ICD releases their second album, "Jigoku no Komori Uta" on the Flesh Label. To commemorate the release of the album they invite Hideshi Hino, the artist of the album's cover art, to their performances.
1999/12 ICD participates in Seigo Showa's performance of "Kamen-geki Inugami" at Shibya's Club Jan Jan. For Christmas they present their rock suite, "Kaidan! Kekkai Yashiki"
2002/02 Kyoko and Joji #2's acoustic duo "Akaneko" perform at ICD's show "Anya Gento Gyakusetu Hana Matsuri."
2000/05 ICD performs at "Terayama Shuji Tsuito Kessoku Zaikokuya 2." Continuing the tradition started the previous year, they present "Kamen-geki Inugami" with Seigo Showa.
2000/06 Marcy from the band Earth Shaker produces the album "Hebikamihime" for ICD. They release the album on his label Wide Tread.
2000/08 In collaboration with Guru Guru Eizokan they release "Akai Hebi." To celebrate the release they perform at Heaven's Door in Sangenjaya.
2000/12 ICD release the five-song EP "Akaneko" on Wide Tread.
2001/01 ICD lends a version of the song "Stop Jap" to the tribute album, "365: A Tribute To Stalin," dedicated to Michiro Endo's band Stalin.
2001/03 ICD performs at Heaven's Door in Sangenjaya, dubbing the show "Reimei Torai! Inugami Matsuri."
2001.05 ICD releases "Jinko Ninshin Chuzetsu" on Wide Tread and embarks on their first all Japan tour. The tour closes off at Loft in Shinjuku.
2001/09 ICD covers "Takeda no Komori Uta" for the 70's folk cover omnibus album, "Forever Young."
2001/12 ICD releases "Ankoku Zankoku Gekijo" on Wide Tread.
2002/01 ICD performs "Chi Mamire Naizo Rock n' Roll Show" at On Air West in Shibuya.
2002/07 Kyoko and Joji #2 go on a Japan-wide promotion tour for ICD's release of "Kaidan Kubi Tsuri no Mori" on Wide Tread.
2002/09 ICD performs five separate shows nationwide, naming the series "Heisei 14 Nendo Tandoku Kogyo Jungyo Inugami Circus Dan no Bakuso All Night Long!!"
2002/12 ICD performs and handles the New Year countdown at the end-of-the-year party "Fabyway 02->03" held at the club Omotesando Fab.
2003/02 ICD releases their first single DVD "Yomi no Kuni" on Wide Tread in preparation for their upcoming full-length release "Inu no Kami."
2003/03 ICD releases their second single DVD "Senno" on Wide Tread in preparation for their upcoming full-length release "Inu no Kami."
2003/04 ICD releases their third single DVD "Chinkonka Requiem" on Wide Tread in preparation for their upcoming full-length release "Inu no Kami"
2003/05 ICD releases their concept album "Inu no Kami" on Wide Tread.
2004/06 ICD plays shows in Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka, naming the series "Heisei 15 Nendo Tandoku Kogyo Jungyo Inugami Circus Dan no Rock n' Roll Fire." They also play the TBS Network's show "Utaban" where they garner the highest listening rates for that show.
2003/09 ICD releases the CD single "Saigo no Idol" (with DVD) at the cost-busting price of 2000 yen on Wide Tread.
2003/10 Amidst numerous rumors, ICD gets their major label debut. They release the maxi-single "Inochi Mijikashi Koi Seyo Jinrui!" on Zetima Records.
2004/04 ICD releases their CD single "Saisho no Tobira" and embarks on the Tokyo leg of their tour "Mou Modorenai 2004."
2004/05 ICD releases their best collection "Greatest Hits," and ties up the Tokyo leg of "Mou Modorenai 2004" tour at club Shibuya O-West.
2004/06 ICD releases their music video collection DVD "Seppuku" and continues the "Mou Modorenai 2004" tour nationwide.


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In Bad Bots will follow Sam McRae, the last survivor of the Titan Team Hauler. In this game the hands of Iran's Point 5 Projects to survive hordes of robots and try to find a way to avoid a catastrophe that could destroy the world. Sam McRae was in cryogenic sleep and not really know what happened to everyone, only that when he awoke found only bodies.
Bad Bots is a 2D shooter in the last remnants of a battleship converted into toxic waste carrier. Enemies as I mentioned are robots that have turned against humans, leaving the player to survive against their hordes. To succeed in doing will have access to a vast arsenal that will help you survive the onslaught of robots and all the other threats that appear while exploring the ship.


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About us
Webworks Internet was established in 2003 in Darlington in the North East of England.
From modest beginnings with four staff and a £50,000 annual turnover, we've become one of the UK's leading Internet/web design companies and now boast a team of over forty people and a multi-million pound annual turnover.
While we've grown as a business, we've kept the same values, taking care to maintain both the exceptional quality of the websites we design and the high standard of sales and after sales service that we offer. This focus on excellence has played a major part in Webworks Internet's achievements.
Customer first
If there's a secret to our success — other than world class products and services and a first-class team — it's our commitment to our customers. We put them first every time: that's why they recommend us to other businesses and keep on coming back.


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I have always loved the water. Some of my earliest memories are of swimming lessons and most of my fondest memories involve the water in some form. Lake, ocean, river, waterskiing, swimming, splashing, paddling. That I never attempted surfing could be attributed to many things: I am a girl, I didn't see myself as athletic and, possibly most influential, I lived in a landlocked city.
When a career opportunity to live in California coincided with a knee injury that ended my running hobby, I took to walking the beach. It didn't take long for me to fall in love with the grace and skill of surfers. I was mesmerized. One morning I was walking along the beach, morose and complaining to myself that I couldn't run, yearning for a sport I could love as much as running. It occurred to me: why not try surfing?
So I did. And I loved it, instantly. Although it didn't provide the same sense of achievement that running had, it provided a sense of flow and spirituality I had never encountered. Surfing refined me: from noticing that every wave is different, to patiently waiting for the right one, to accepting whatever the ocean deigns to offer. What a lesson for my life, my career. I was totally hooked and began a love affair with all things surf-related.
As my skill increased, I thought I might like to compete one day. Nothing big or important, just to do it. To stretch myself. But one thing I would never dare to attempt is big wave surfing. I mean BIG, like a four story building or bigger. I know I would love the thrill but I acknowledge I don't have the physical capability. Nor am I that fearless. But I can dream!
Thanks Kate for the opportunity to dream about something I could only attempt if I were sure I wouldn't get hurt. I would definitely use one of my nine lives to surf a big wave. And, since we're dreaming, I'd do it in a bright pink bikini.
This piece is titled Dare2Dream and was painted, pieced and stitched like a crazy woman racing down the face of a wave yelling "Kowabunga!"


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The Amazon rainforest is one of the biggest forests on the planet. It contains large biodiversity and
While this might sound evident to most people, unfortunately it's not the case in reality. The Amazon rainforest is in reality seriously endangered with heavy deforestation and pollution. The consequences of these actions aren't just the loss of biodiversity but they also affect the lives of many people every day in a way unknown to most people in developed countries.
Deforestation is the biggest danger to the Amazon. The entirety of the Amazon rainforest lies on the territory of industrially developing nations that are in desperate need of resources to drive their economies. The rainforest comes in very handy for this purpose. Politicians of these countries acknowledge the natural hazards of deforestation but they claim that for the well-being of their country they have no choice then to export logs and products manufactured from wood.
The statistics regarding the deforestation of the Amazon are very terrifying. If someone claims the contrary then please refer to the following statistics: Since 1970 around 20% of the rainforest has been cut down; every year the rate of deforestation of the Amazon is increasing considerably despite international pressures; the total area of current deforestation is almost of the size of Texas or almost two times that of Peru.
So, not matter what kind of information you read before this, the message that the data above conveys is very terrifying. And if you think that it's not a problem since new trees are being planted in the place of the old ones then you are wrong. The deforested areas are being used as pastures or agricultural land, meaning no new trees will be planted whatsoever.
Amazon watch already pointed out on multiple occasions that if deforestation continues it will soon reach a point where the forest will not be able to recover anymore.
Pollution is another serious concern to the biodiversity of the rainforest. With the industrialization of countries like Brazil, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia the rainforest is seriously engendered through the use of fertilizers, pesticides and other chemical compounds. Not only do these kill wildlife and insect live, they also have a negative effect on people's health.
Indigenous People of the Amazon
What most people actually aren't aware of is that the Amazon rainforest is populated by a large number of indigenous tribes and peoples. Most people would think that deforestation and the other enumerated problems don't affect these people since their rights are respected. In reality this is totally wrong.
Governments of the countries owning partitions of the rainforest have shown numerous times that they have no regard whatsoever to the rights of indigenous people and tribes. Often tribes will simply be evacuated from the areas that are supposed to be deforested without the right to appeal or compensation. Protests are usually met with violence by the police or even the military.
The Story of the Achuar People
Perhaps the most affected Amazonian people are the Achuar. The Achuar comprises of around 18,500 individuals dispersed between the borders of Ecuador and Peru. The Achuar are one of the last people that weren't completely wiped out or assimilated due to the negative effects of the deforestation of the rainforest.
The Achuar are an old people with a long tradition and unique customs. They are part of the cultural heritage of these countries but the recent developments in deforestation and pollution are heavily affecting their lifestyle and future.
The lifestyle of the Achuar completely depends on their surroundings such as the forest and rivers. This makes then extremely vulnerable since once these natural surroundings disappear basically they would not be able to maintain their lifestyle. And were aren't just talking about maintaining ancient traditions and customs, it's about actual survival, since the natural surroundings are actually what ensure food and shelter, or in other words, the survival of these people.
Deforestation is the biggest danger to these people. They incidentally live in an area that is targeted by the government of both countries for economic deforestation. The constant intrusion of agriculture and thus pollution into their lands also endanger the rivers and their wildlife that are since ancient times used as fishing grounds by the Achuar.
So bottom line is that for the Achuar it's about life and death really. And unfortunately without outside help these people will not be able to win this battle. This is why Amazonwatch spends a great deal of time and resources raising awareness of this problem, trying to determine people from all around the globe to contribute and aid this cause.