text:
First Time After Miscarriage, Ankita Bhargava Steps Out & Parties With Karan & Friends
We had earlier reported to our readers how in a shocking and tragic accident, television actors Ankita Bhargava and Karan Patel lost their to-be-born child. On 25 June 2018, Ankita Bhargava suffered a miscarriage and lost her unborn baby. The accident happened just a day after she attended Zee Gold Awards with her husband Karan Patel. Ankita was reportedly around four months pregnant when she suffered the miscarriage.
Motherhood is undoubtedly one of the most precious experiences of a woman's life. When she gets pregnant, she knits a life around the fetus. The expecting parents start dreaming of a perfect future with their little one. With pregnancy comes unfiltered happiness, hope and dreams. But when such unfortunate accidents occur, those dreams shatter and the couple mourns the loss of something that wasn't even there. Miscarriage is, indeed, some of the hardest tribulations a couple can go through. But such is the grit and determinations of some souls that they somehow sail through the hard times.
That's exactly what Ankita and Karan are doing these days. Amid the sorrow of losing their unborn baby, the couple didn't lose their heart and stepped out to spend some quality time in the company of their close friends. Afterall, it is our friends in the company of whom we forget our problems and world seems like a better place. Ankita and Karan recently attended a small get together organised by their close friend Ekta Kapoor at her residence. The party was also attended by their other friends as well. Anita Hassanandani, Rohit Reddy, Aly Goni, Rithvik Dhanjani, Asha Negi, Mushtaq Shiekh, and others.
Ekta shared a picture from the evening on her Instagram. Ekta and her gang are all smiles for the camera as they pose. They seem to be having a good time. Check out the picture:
Ankita Bhargava took to her Instagram and also shared a couple of pictures from the party.
When the news of their miscarriage started doing the rounds on media, Ankita and Karan released an official statement. It read "I would urge all media personnel to please allow Karan and Ankita Karan Patel enough time to deal with the miscarriage. It is a difficult time for them individually and for the families involved. This sudden turn of events happened a few days ago and ever since we have tried to keep it low key, only so that we allow them enough time to cope with it."
It further stated "However, given the nature of the lives they live we do understand there will be speculation and concern from many, while we are ever thankful to the love and concern shown I'm sure we all agree that it is a tough time for them and coming to terms with it will take a few days!! Please consider this as a formal acceptance of the misfortune that has occurred in their lives and thank you in advance for respecting their privacy."
Before they officially announced the pregnancy, the rumours were rife on social media about Ankita's pregnancy. Then Karan had confirmed the pregnancy in the most unique way. He posted a quirky picture of them announcing the upcoming arrival of the baby. He wrote: "A lifelong festival begins for @ankzbhargava And Me this November …! #ConnotWait #Excited #Blessed#MomAndDaddaSoon ….! 🙏🙏 thankyou @shrutitejwaniphotography for the #Dhamakedaar #Photoshoot"
Ankita, too, shared the same picture and wrote: "Thanku All for the Love,Support,Prayers and Positive Energy that U all have consistently backed us up with…. Our very own #DiwaliDhamaka2018coming soon 😍
#maa #dadda#cannotwaittomeetyoulittleone
Thanku @shrutitejwaniphotography for making this photoshoot sooooooo effortless for the both of us 😍 U r a star 🤩"
In an interview with Bombay Times, Karan had shared, "It's sinking in slowly, and I am ecstatic. I can't go through the emotions and transformations, which Ankita is going through. It's a beautiful phase for her as she will graduate from a wife to a mother. I plan to spoil our baby silly with love and pampering once he/she is born. We would like to have two kids – both Ankita and I are the only children of our parents and we understand the need for a sibling."
Ankita, who was very excited about becoming a mother, had shared: "I have started prenatal yoga and will start pre-natal Pilates too. I have been advised to walk as much as possible. I find it because I have always been into functional and weight training. Earlier, I would focus on my whole body by trying to improve my stamina. But, now I want to become flexible and correct my posture with each passing month. I have also been advised to meditate which is on my list as well and I will be doing it."
It is endearing to see how Ankita and Karan are being brave and smiling despite the sorrow. We send them good vibes and hugs!


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Wednesday, March 11, 2015
Life Encompassed in an Illustration
131 comments:
yes, it does...whew i am on the uphill there more toward the right...ha...ReplyDelete
Yes, sometimes it does.. Lovely image, enjoy your day!ReplyDelete
I can see a life time from early childhood to the grave but what happened to the husband?ReplyDelete
A beautiful illustration.
Good illustration.ReplyDelete
Wow that is really cool. I'm enjoying my dog walking stage.ReplyDelete
push that cross off the end of the page. haReplyDelete
Love love love!!!!!!!!!!!!ReplyDelete
It certainly does.ReplyDelete
An interesting piece of art.... No one gets out alive but life goes on.ReplyDelete
I'm on the uphill. A picture is worth a thousand words, isn't it? :)ReplyDelete
Kind of sad to see that I am more than hallway to the end.ReplyDelete
You're right, life comes full-circle, well done Keith.ReplyDelete
Life is a cabaret, old chum.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousMarch 11, 2015 at 9:11 AM
amazing! Brilliant!!!ReplyDelete
That's really pretty! Julie Taymor would like this. She's a deep thinker. I love her TED talk, and interview with Bill Moyers. She directed Frida and The Lion King on Broadway. She's super into puppetry. Shadow puppets are something she's really into. I know these are not puppets, but they remind me of them.ReplyDelete
Thought provoking and stunning, but pretty much suchs up our "dash" that we live :) Now we just have to live it well since it really is a short one, no matter how many years we live.ReplyDelete
Reminds me of Joni Mitchell in her song the 'Circle Game'......life goes round and round in a circle game.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousMarch 11, 2015 at 9:57 AM
What a beautiful picture!ReplyDelete
Seems to for sure.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousMarch 11, 2015 at 10:04 AM
Lovely image. My body is going up the left side but my brain seems to be mulling and recalling the right side recently. Memory flood.ReplyDelete
Lovely, KeithReplyDelete
it's so full of fun and magic, how did i loose my bookmark of you? don't worry I've lost many bookmarks laptop is kinda wonky lately, but hey, I'm back and I love thisReplyDelete
Oh how utterly amazing!ReplyDelete
All of life's experiences are laid bare...here...all the experiences we universally share - whatever our colour, race or creed.
Oh WOW...I am filled with awe. Truly! :)
Yes...so well illustrates the journey of life!ReplyDelete
I think I'm still in the childlike stage!ReplyDelete
This is awesome :)ReplyDelete
Hi Keith - I'm near the top .. but definitely feel near the bottom .. lots to do, places to see, life to experience ... enjoy the road ahead - cheers HilaryReplyDelete
That is an interesting illustration. Makes you think, doesn't it?ReplyDelete
...and the cycle is really very short, when you think about it.ReplyDelete
I'm finding the older you get the more often you think about the circle.
Nice to see you today. ;)
http://outofsightl.blogspot.ca/ my blogReplyDelete
- AnonymousMarch 11, 2015 at 11:01 AM
Ah - so very beautiful!ReplyDelete
At first I thought it was the closing shot of Ingmar Bergman's "The Seventh Seal". This is quite telling and displays how short our life is. Let's hope we all make the most of itReplyDelete
Amazing, Keith!ReplyDelete
I LOVE THAT!!!!ReplyDelete
I love this, Keith. Extremely thoughtful and beautiful.ReplyDelete
It does indeed and I'm enjoying every stage too. I'm near the end, but it's been a fabulous experience. I've lived my life to its fullest and will continue to do so for as long as I can. No regrets here.ReplyDelete
Have a fabulous day. ☺
pretty neat.ReplyDelete
Hits pretty much every period we go throughReplyDelete
Funny how all of our lives are different and all our lives are the same.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousMarch 11, 2015 at 11:59 AM
So cool, light and shadow along our journey together! Thanks for sharing this Keith. Hugs.ReplyDelete
Alas, life comes full-circle all too soon.....ReplyDelete
What a cool picture!ReplyDelete
I'm okay with each and everything, life throws at me ... as long as it happens in a timely manner ... Love, cat.ReplyDelete
beautiful, I am at the one with the dog.ReplyDelete
It does indeed, but not usually so beautifully.ReplyDelete
What an image.ReplyDelete
Uphill or down, we learn from the different perspectives provided.ReplyDelete
Beautiful image. =)
LOVE this beautiful picture, the circle of life. Starting from the left, getting older and older. What; no questions today?ReplyDelete
Life at the surface, how it looks like for the eagle maybe, from the sky...we all - on the way., at different stages and lessons, but at the distance - we all together walking up or down...ReplyDelete
Neat image, Keith! Hope you and your new bride are well!ReplyDelete
Oh, isn't life wonderful ...ReplyDelete
Wonderful image ..
Be well,be happy :)
Life is wonderful! Great image.ReplyDelete
Very impressive concept. I am in the winter of my life and it has been a great ride! Blessed.ReplyDelete
Big hugs, honey...
This is so beautiful, Keith. It even brought a tear to my eye.......good tears though. :~) Thank you for sharing this, it's wonderful.ReplyDelete
this is beautiful~ReplyDelete
it sure covers every stepReplyDelete
Very beautiful. Stirs the emotions....ReplyDelete
That is so cool!!!ReplyDelete
It sure seems to.ReplyDelete
to me almost on a daily basis!ReplyDelete
Yes it does - sometimes many times daily. Yet most of us neglect to notice - not you or Beate. You appreciate it all.ReplyDelete
Been through most of the stages. Now I'm between dog walker and too close to the bent over old lady.ReplyDelete
Cool picture. :)ReplyDelete
Very beautiful illustration. It's nice to see it like that to quietly contemplate the transiency of earthly life and the rebirthReplyDelete
Keith... I love this picture... I saw you blogged early and saw the picture in my feed, I opened it to see what you had to say... but the picture spoke for itself... amazing xoxReplyDelete
Life in one shotReplyDelete
So it does, smiles ~ReplyDelete
Oh, how beautifully composed! :)ReplyDelete
Super awesome!ReplyDelete
Such a depiction of life with a different view. Loved this.ReplyDelete
We must embrace death as part of life. That's how I see it. Great picture.ReplyDelete
And so it does. (But I don't want it to end!)ReplyDelete
Anna :o]
Well, thank goodness I'm not near that tree on the right.ReplyDelete
But I'm close.
How fun. Where did you find that?ReplyDelete
Yes, indeed. I've been doing a lot of thinking about this very thing lately.ReplyDelete
Wow, this is beautiful! Yes, it does. And I think sometimes we fear it.ReplyDelete
Love that depiction!ReplyDelete
That's beautiful. I move toward death each day, but not without happiness along the way. I also have no fear or dread of death, so I keep moving.ReplyDelete
It made me look twice...ReplyDelete
A beautiful pageant. Thank you, Keith.ReplyDelete
This is so beautiful ...ReplyDelete
How honest and straightforward. Life's like that summarized. It's the in-between moments that counts. :)ReplyDelete
It's really odd that an animated lion, of all things, educated us about the great circle of life. Then an animated evil Pokémon taught us the value of life. What a strange world we live in.ReplyDelete
That's a good one. Thanks for sharing!ReplyDelete
Definitely - it all comes round in a cycle, so just sit back and enjoy the ride! - TashaReplyDelete
Beautifully Illustrated!ReplyDelete
Lovely and oh so true!ReplyDelete
What a beautiful illustration! Thanks for sharing.ReplyDelete
That sums it up rather well!ReplyDelete
What a beautiful, thought provoking, and inspiring picture!ReplyDelete
That really does capture the essence of the journey..ReplyDelete
Absolutely beautiful. We could only be so lucky to reach every stage in the photo!ReplyDelete
Beautifully tragic... this thing called life!ReplyDelete
Hello Keith!:) A beautiful image indeed. Have you heard of "Attraction" an Hungarian Shadow Theatre Group? It's amazing, and they do tell stories about the circle of life. You can see them on U Tube I'm sure.ReplyDelete
Best Regards.
that's a lovely image! xReplyDelete
and it goes by that quick too.ReplyDelete
startling image!
and as for the good old days, people were doing the same things then as they are now, just with less technology! there is nothing new under the sun.
i took plenty of "selfies" in my younger days, just less people saw them! probably better that way!
btw, thanks for keeping up with me!
Goosebump inducing; beautiful and bittersweet at the same time. Best wishes, TammyReplyDelete
What a beautiful picture. It certainly depicts the true essence of life.ReplyDelete
Hi Keith, As always, thought provoking! Clever as well. Neat post! JohnReplyDelete
INDEED . . . love how you stir my mind, remind me of, provoke me, tease me . . . happy day wonderful person.ReplyDelete
Aw it really does. I see the kiddos moving along to places I used to be. It's nice. :)ReplyDelete
It's perfect life.ReplyDelete
Absolutely beautiful! The picture gives me a lot to look at and a lot to think about. Love the colors and the images. Thanks for sharing. :)ReplyDelete
And it happens so quickly. I remember my mother-in-law telling me when I was in my 30s that I'll be surprised when I see how quickly time passes. Now I'm as old as she was and I'm thinking the same thing. I didn't truly grasp it then.ReplyDelete
This picture states it all :-)ReplyDelete
WOW. This is really powerful. Awesome.ReplyDelete
I love pictures that tell a story!ReplyDelete
I posted a HERE'S TO YOU on Friday. I dedicated something to you:)ReplyDelete
For some reason I think we are the birds in this illustration just circling these experiences unable to fully understand them until they pass.ReplyDelete
So true, if we are lucky.ReplyDelete
I'd like to think that closing the circle is a long way off yet.
I love this picture. Now if only flying up high among the birds was one of those steps...ReplyDelete
As an old lady, when I think of life coming full circle --here's what I think it means: A child ---raised by parents/adults; The child grows up, gets married and raises her own children; As the child becomes an older adult, her children grow up, get married and raise their own children ; As the child continues to get old, she takes care of her elderly parents (who have become like children themselves again)..... Life has come full circle!!!!!! (I remember taking care of my kids when they were little ---and I remember taking care of my father-in-law who at age 101 had become a child again in so many ways!ReplyDelete
That's why Elton wrote such a great song about it :)ReplyDelete
And at every stage of life - look up. The sky is amazing. :)ReplyDelete
Beautiful image.ReplyDelete
Its a beautiful circle Kieth :)ReplyDelete
Hi Keith, it's been a long time and I thought I'd check in. My last post was March 4th so I'm glad to see I'm not the only one. Hope you're loving your German life so far!!!ReplyDelete
Hey Keith, just popping back over to your blog to see how you're doing! Hope life in Germany is treating you well. - TashaReplyDelete
Update posting admin, very good and nice sharing this article and good for all peopleReplyDelete
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Jaket Kulit Asli

subset: commoncrawl


text:
- For the horde equivalent, see Volatility (daily).
Chief Engineer Boltwrench aboard the Skybreaker wants you to use the [Smuggled Solution] at the Broken Front.
Using the solution will require an Abandoned Helm, Abandoned Armor, and Pile of Bones, all found at the Broken Front.
- Frostbrood Skytalons Destroyed (3)
Oh, yes, yes. Back again, are we? Never enough practice, I suppose.
Here we are, the solution to that pesky frostwyrm problem.
Make them scarce, <race>. The more you take out now, the less we face when we are again ready to attempt our march on the citadel.
Best of luck, now. And do bring back whatever you don't use.
- [Smuggled Solution] (provided)
Yes, friend?
Good show! Good show indeed. You're turning into a regular wyrmslayer!
Come back when you're ready to thin their numbers even further.
This quest is available after completing Borrowed Technology.
Quest progressionEdit
- [80] Your Attention, Please
- [80] Borrowed Technology
- [80] Killohertz
- [80] Leading the Charge
- [80 Daily] Static Shock Troops: the Bombardment
- [80] Watts My Target
- [80 Daily] Putting the Hertz: The Valley of Lost Hope


text:
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Gender, Equity, and Diversity: CARE's Gender Inclusion Workshops
Gender and Diversity Workshops at CARE
CARE understands that gender transformative work relies on individuals to be agents and models of social change. Our Gender Equity and Diversity (GED) training materials for work with our staff, partners, and beneficiaries are the best of the best, an industry standard praised by USAID and other partners.
Since 1998, CARE has dedicated full-time staff who have developed an extensive curriculum and facilitate trainings for building staff capacity around the globe. In FY 14 alone, 140 trained facilitators have trained over 2100 people including staff, partners and program participants in GED issues. CARE has also trained corporations, peer INGOs, academic institutions, and donors on Gender, Equity, and Diversity issues, and offers the trainings to other interested parties. For information on working with CARE for trainings in your organization, reach out to Kassie Mcilvaine at email@example.com .
Our Services
CARE offers a menu of services to support and advance gender and development practice. The range of services fall across programmatic and operational considerations and span the programmatic cycle. View our full offer here.
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Introduction to how diversity impacts programming by exploring identity, worldview, power and work styles. Teaches skills for functioning effectively in a diverse workplace.
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Teaches dialogue skills that foster a safe and productive work environment where employees trust one another.
301: Managing For Diversity
This model focuses on how a manager can apply diversity competencies to managing employees and discusses how to best utilize diverse resources within a team to enhance effectiveness.
401: Gender Training
This module provides training tools to promote a better understanding of gender within the organization. It aims to build participants' skills in incorporating gender into programming issues and organizational culture.
501: Engaging Men and Boys
Designed to support program strategies that engage men and boys in advancing gender equality. The training covers thematic content and practical skills.


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The Maestro
Latest posts by The Maestro (see all)
- CFL Beat: Your 2019 Season Wrap-Up – November 28, 2019
- CFL Beat: Playoffs – Grey Cup – November 21, 2019
- CFL Beat: Playoffs – Division Finals – November 14, 2019
Well, folks, it's the end of the line for me here. I've enjoyed my time gallivanting across the world, doing my best to discover hidden secrets and expose the deep-state globalist cabal, but other duties are calling me as the weather warms up and great minds turn their attention back towards the games that men play… with training camp just two months away, I need to get back to my prep for this. This week, I took my final adventure in the Mystery Machine before I head back to Seattle for the rest of the year. Fitting that at the end of my line, I'd be learning more about lines this week…
Location: Nazca Desert, southern Peru
Date: c. 500 BC – 500 AD
The Story: In a remote, arid desert in southern Peru, massive drawings were discovered in 1927 when a Peruvian archaeologist spotted them while hiking through the nearby foothills. These giant drawings, which were made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994, are a highly complex series of lines that include large mazes and a wide variety of animals. To date, more than 70 of these drawings, known as geoglyphs, have been identified, with more emerging as archaeologists expand their research of the site. The lines were created by removing the red sand and rock on the surface of the desert to expose the lighter-colored sand and rock below; they are only between 10 and 30 centimetres in depth, making them potentially quite vulnerable to erosion, wind and heavy rain. As a result of this, their continued existence for possibly over 2000 years makes them an important piece of world heritage, but tricky to restore and protect as well.
What's Weird: Nobody is exactly sure what the purpose of these lines are, or even when they were initially constructed. It's believed that the majority of the lines were built by the Nazca people in the first millennium, but some are believed to be even older, likely constructed by the Paracas and Topará peoples, who predate the Nazca in the area. What makes this most curious is that the drawings are absolutely gigantic – while all of them are observable from hillsides nearby, the best views of the drawings come from planes flying overhead. Considering the primitive tools available to the people of this era, the size of the drawings is all the more remarkable.
What might have happened?
A number of theories abound about the purpose of the lines; many people believed initially that the lines were intended to be used initially as guide markers to help point the way to certain key places – possibly as a series of arrows, but they may also have related to constellations of stars in the night sky. Others today believe that the lines are somehow connected to irrigation drains; the Nazca people were successful in constructing canals and aqueducts to help move water through an arid landscape, and some researchers believe the lines may have been a part of that somehow. If this is has some semblance of truth to it, then it also leads to the idea that the Nazca were in fact a far more advanced civilization than previously thought, which would be a very interesting development in the study of the indigenous peoples of South America.
The most exciting, although admittedly implausible, theory to date on the Nazca lines is that they were in fact actually created by visiting aliens, or were the work of collaboration between the people of the region and the visiting space travellers. Due to the enormous size and inability to perceive the lines well from the ground, the use of flying saucers, spacecraft, etc. to guide the drawing thus has some possible merit to it…
Coach Carroll's Hypothesis: If ANY of my guys say it wasn't aliens that made these, they are CUT. Even Russell. Sick of this bias against extraterrestrials!
Information for this article taken from here, here, here, here, and here.
Banner image courtesy of Low Commander of the Super Soldiers.
Thanks to everyone who's enjoyed this series over the last few months – it has been a real treat for me to get to tag along with Coach Carroll as we jetset around the globe in a minivan. No, I'm not quite sure how that works either, but somehow, it's all okay. The [DFO] CFL Beat returns next week in this same timeslot – I look forward to bringing you news about the best football that Canada has to offer, and also the Montreal Alouettes. – The Maestro


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The Real-Time Library
Submitted by Blake on August 25, 2009 - 10:21am
The Real-Time Library Academic libraries always had elements of Web 2.0 to them, but without the 2.0 technology. Much the same, the exchange of information in real-time (think phone and F2F reference) is not new to libraries, but now we have the convenience, immediacy and community presence of the real-time web world. We are poised to move there.


text:
From the enchanting forests of sparcely populated Dalsland -Sweden, comes Kristoffer Emanuelsson. For several years he's been devoted to dig deep in the rich and rootsy soil of American folk music, and to spread it's treasures on stages all over Sweden. He's been doing so via the bluegrass band South Drive as well as the country/folk duo Blue Eyed Blondes.
With the new solo project TREEHUGGER, he strives to create his own form of acoustic indie folk music. Songs that attracts the listener with good stories and folky melodies, told with a characteristic form of humoristic seriousness . A reacurring theme is longing for (or from) a place, person or situation. The music is mainly influenced by genres such as folk, blues, oldtime and country, all mixed with a pinch of singer-songwriterpop.
Treehugger get's inspiration from artists such as Steve Earle, Joni Mitchell, Stephin Merrit (The Magnetic Fields), Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes) and Gillian Welch. Soulful vocals, steel-stringed guitar and open-back banjo helps him create a unique sound and feel, often acompanied by magnific guest artists on stage.


text:
She's been the glamorous monster often enough—tyrannizing bank tellers in Bonnie and Clyde, TV execs in Network and even Argentina in NBC's Evita Perón last February. But nothing Faye Dunaway has done before comes close to perfecting the illusion the way she does it as Joan Crawford in Mommie Dearest. Playing the neurotically compulsive screen legend in the scathing film treatment of Christina Crawford's 1978 best-seller, Dunaway, at 40, eerily captures the Crawford whose charms turned into disgraces under pressure.
And yet for Dunaway the characterization of Crawford was much more complex than the book allowed. Adopted (and disinherited) daughter Christina painted her mother as a raging egomaniac—a pathologically clean, sex-crazed, alcoholic child abuser who adopted her children as publicity ornaments. Dunaway does all of that; her triumph is that she found—and conveys—a reason for Crawford's bizarre behavior.
Without condoning the abuses, Dunaway sees Crawford as a Hollywood victim. "She was getting older, had suffered a number of miscarriages, her career was sliding. She had to fight," says Dunaway. "Christina may disagree, but I think Joan must have felt that Christina was undergenerous of heart. Crawford was born poor and grew up scrambling, Christina didn't." Still, the sight of a berserk Dunaway angrily hacking off Christina's golden locks, whacking her with a wire hanger and choking her to near unconsciousness leaves audiences bruised and critics hot or bothered. The New York Times touts Dunaway as "an Oscar winner," while Variety flogs her for a "high-camp" desecration of a star. The film, like the book, unsettles, disillusions, provokes.
Nor was Dunaway herself immune from its discomforts. The mother of a 16-month-old son with English photographer Terry O'Neill, 42, her lover of four years, Faye found it practically impossible to beat her movie child as the script required. "She used to wake up at night petrified," reports O'Neill. There were other nightmares. "If your mind is on a woman who is dead and you're trying to find out who she was and do right by her, you do feel a presence," says Dunaway, who read obsessively and interviewed Crawford cronies like Myrna Loy and director George Cukor to prepare for the role. "I felt it at home at night sometimes. It wasn't pleasant. I felt Joan was not at rest."
Sometimes it seemed unpleasant for everyone. Though Christina (now recovering from a stroke in August) only once visited the set and Faye avoided a meeting, they fought for their respective interpretations through the men in their lives. At Faye's request, O'Neill was named executive producer and Christina insisted on the same deal for her spouse, film producer David Koontz. Wails producer Frank (Silver Streak) Yablans: "I had two husbands to deal with. David driving me crazy that Faye was trying to sanitize Joan, and Terry worried we were pushing Faye too far and creating a monster."
Like Crawford, Dunaway is known as a fearsome perfectionist. Her Chinatown director, Roman Polanski, labeled her "a gigantic pain in the ass." "She's incredibly demanding," says Yablans of reports that she made the Mommie Dearest set a battleground, "but I'll take her any day over someone who doesn't care. I would work with her tomorrow and forever." Faye freely owns up to her flaring temper. "I really like things to be done right. I'm like Joan in that way."
Faye admits to certain parallels in her own life and Crawford's that contributed to the fierce ambition common to both stars. "I was very driven," she states. Both poor and from broken homes, each developed an early self-sufficiency. Faye's dad, a Florida farmer turned Army career man, moved out when Faye was 13. The divorce was bitter. "I don't see him now," says Faye, though she has only praise for her mother. Thanks to her encouragement, "My brother and I are the only two in a family of 24 grandchildren who finished college." Brother Mac, 38, is a Washington lawyer who handles her business. "We're all very close," she says proudly.
Always determined to be an actress, Faye graduated from Boston University and put in three years at New York's Repertory Theatre of Lincoln Center before attracting attention in off-Broadway's Hogan's Goat in 1965. Bonnie and Clyde, her third film, followed in two years and made Faye a star. But bad pictures and the wrong men followed. Her well-publicized romance with the married Marcello Mastroianni, her co-star in the 1969 flop A Place for Lovers, ended in part because he refused to father her child.
"I was very much a victim of the American Dream," explains Faye, who discovered success doesn't "guarantee that you meet the right man, love the right person, have a family life. I realized I had been consummately driven and involved in work only." In 1974 she married rock singer Peter Wolf of the J. Geils Band, but career commitments caused frequent separations, and Faye entered analysis.
Then O'Neill showed up to photograph Dunaway and Wolf for a 1977 PEOPLE cover story. "We fell in love," says Faye simply. Of her failed marriage, she explains: "It was finished before I met Terry. It was just a question of two lives that we'd hoped would come together and didn't on any real level."
Faye credits Terry with being "the one person responsible for helping me grow up to womanhood and a healthy sense of myself." What's his secret? "Just loving and understanding her, I guess," says Terry. "The film world is the toughest business. Now she's started to see more of life and have more of a feeling for the world."
Neither claims things have been perfect. "Obviously there was a lot of disruption in both our lives," says Faye of their mutual divorces. Dunaway claims the secrecy about her pregnancy and son Liam's (the name in Irish for William) birth was to smooth Terry's divorce from actress Vera Day and to protect his relationship with his own two children, Keegan, 8, and Sara, 15. "I can be very quiet when I want to," she smiles, though the press did note her growing chubbiness, putting it down to a bad diet. The secrecy was so complete that reports circulated suggesting Liam was actually adopted. O'Neill denies the assertions, but the adoption rumors persist. "I've always wanted children," Faye says now, "but my relationships always seemed so complicated. As it happened I'm happy I did wait because I'm glad Terry's the father." They'll soon try for a sibling for Liam. "I've still got a few years," grins Faye, "and we've always loved the name Claire for a girl."
There are even prospects for the wedding they said would take place last June. "We're hoping to arrange it before Christmas," Faye enthuses, "but I haven't had time to plan it. We've been working nonstop for six months." Although born a Protestant of Scottish, Irish and German descent, Faye is considering converting to Terry's Catholic faith, which could further delay the wedding date. "We have to have my first marriage annulled even though it wasn't a Catholic ceremony," she explains. "I want to raise my son in a religion I truly believe in." And that's certainly not the Hollywood faith. "I would hope Liam wouldn't be involved in that world," she says. "But, God knows, I wouldn't forbid anything. I just want to give him a normal, varied life."
These days she's sharing all decisions with O'Neill, who is moving from photography (he received more than $20,000 for shooting Ringo Starr's marriage to Barbara Bach) to a new role as a producer. They have several projects in the works, including film versions of John Jay Osborn's novel The Man Who Owned New York and the quartet by Ford Madox Ford (a Dunaway favorite), Parade's End. They are also considering a remake of another show business corruption tale, 1957's Sweet Smell of Success. Particularly intriguing to Faye is a possible return to Broadway this spring in a play based on the life of 1920s actress Jeanne Eagels, who died of a heroin overdose. "I began on the stage and I will go back there," she insists.
In the meantime, Faye and Terry (aided by a nanny, secretary and maid) hole up in the New York apartment she's rented for 14 years. Overlooking Central Park, the eight-room aerie contains various bird, plant and animal etchings, Degas and Rockwell posters, ancient wooden icons, Faye's Oscar for Network and piles of scripts that neatness-crazed Crawford would have filed away long ago. They own a New York town house. "I'm house mad," Faye confessses. "Terry and I share that, plus a love of history, architecture and travel." They also have a flat in London and recently sold an $800,000 Connecticut mansion because Faye prefers staying in the city. Their social life tends more to intimate restaurants like Laurent and Mr. Chow's than to gaudy niteries ("We don't go to discos").
Today Faye sees herself "as starting on a second phase of my professional life, just as Crawford did, but," she adds quickly, "with more help and less agony. It has worked with Terry, thank God, and I'll certainly be with him for the rest of my life, which I hope is a lot of years." There's no hint of the movieland Medea when she adds, "I'm the healthiest and happiest I've ever been."


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On Saturday Mila, Scout and I went to the park.
Warning: photo overload. I couldn't help myself, the lighting was just right and they were too darn cute not to take a million photos.
Scout loves this hat, he found it by the door and picked it up yelling, "hat! hat! hat!"
This one kills me
We went again on Sunday, this time with the rest of the fam.
It was nice to get some fresh air, we were turning into couch potatoes.


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- Even if its flat, it doesn't seem flat because of the trees.
- Black Bear? No, I'd rather not see where they hang out.
- 5 wonderful days aren't really 5 days when you consider that its an 8 hour drive up there.
- Holiday weekend traffic in the cities sucks.
- I was thankful to be driving the hybrid and still getting good gas mileage.
- I averaged 37.2 mpg thank you very much
- Uncle Eric is getting more used to the kids (and kids in general) each time we see him.
- Watching Eric and Ryan wrestle on the air mattress with the kids was adorable
- My little rockstars were great on the drums. Scott didn't stop moving while Bethany would take occasional breaks to sit on her Uncle Eric's lap and drum.
- Night at the Museum (2) was a much needed break.
- A movie and Dairy Queen was a great way to celebrate our anniversary while in MN. Although I must say I missed our annual viewing of wedding photos, etc.
- WallyWorld kept sucking us in - I think we went every day, sometimes twice a day. Good bye paycheck!
- Eric's church had a really cool Memorial Day celebration during their church service. I cried. Thank you to those who served and continue to do so. I appreciate you.
- Two full days of fast food plus way too much good food in between equals unhealthy!
- I'm not sure if I like kamboocha (it's a drink). It's home brewed and some of it was good but I had one that tasted like a fizzy apple cider vinegar. They say its an appetite suppressant, I could understand why.
- Organic foods are expensive! When we bought, it was NOT organic. Sorry Eric.
- Scott decided he doesn't want to eat anymore because he doesn't want to go poop. Not sure what to do with that kid. But he's had more accidents in the last week than the whole time he was potty training.
I think that's enough. Being gone was great. Spending time with Ryan's family was great. Having no phone, no email, and almost no TV was awesome. Getting back to the crazy life, well it's been crazy!
We got home in time to do some grocery shopping, unload the vehicle and then I was off to my first spanish class for my Mexico trip. Elaine came home with me. She's staying with the kids today and hopefully tomorrow. I still need to find help for Friday. I hope she survives the kids and is willing to come back! This morning didn't start off well. Scott woke and had wet the bed. He doesn't do this usually. I got to work late and then left mid morning for a chiropractor appointment. May the rest of the day go well...


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[A] sizable percentage of the Tea Party types were born into a segregated America, many of them in the South or in the new working-class suburbs of the North, and lived through the marches and riots that punctuated the cultural and political upheaval of the 1960s. Their racial attitudes, like their philosophies of governance, reflect their complicated journeys…In other words, we are living at an unusual moment when the rate of progress has been dizzying from one generation to the next, such that Americans older than 60, say, are rooted in a radically different sense of society from those younger than 40. And this generational tension — perhaps even more than race or wealth or demography — tends to fracture our politics.These numbers probably do reflect some profound racial differences among the generations, but they are more indicative of how young and old Americans approach the issues of the day, generally. Older Americans now — no longer the New Deal generation, but the generation that remembers Vietnam, gas lines and court-ordered busing — are less enamored of expansive government than their parents were. They fear changes to their entitlement programs, even as they denounce the explosion in federal spending. They are less optimistic about the high-tech economy, more fearful of the impact of immigration and free trade.
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CCB Market
Art, Fashion, Decoration, Design, Catering and Events
The CCB Old&New Market is dedicated to the different areas of design, antiques, fashion, plants and gastronomy. Its most distinctive feature is its connection with the CCB's artistic and cultural programme. Music can be heard in the Market every time it is held on the first Sunday of each month, whether it is played by musicians performing on the stage erected outside or whether it is the result of spontaneous performances. On this day, there will also be a 30% discount on all shows and concerts.
Since its first anniversary in October, the market has had a new presentation and is now located in the CCB Square. Other novelties include the presence there of a school of Fine Art, Design and Architecture, and of a specially invited guest association. Each market has a special section devoted to the fruits and vegetables of the season, affording great prominence to the seasonal nature and certified quality of this national produce.
Those who are interested in selling their talents and/or their products, new or old, in the areas of culture, antiques, fashion, plants, gastronomy and decoration should contact the CCB.
Contact: Vera Ribeiro / 21 361 2872 / firstname.lastname@example.com
CCB Virtual Visit | CCB Market
markets in 2019
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4 August | 1 september | 6 october | 3 November | 1 December
Dias da Música Special Edition - 27 and 28 april
Christmas Special Edition - December 15


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2017 Nuts and Bolts . All Rights Reserved. Home / Hardware / Nuts and Bolts Compare. Find at another store . Check My Delivery Address. Check to see if you are within this store's delivery area. Enter your home or business delivery address below. Enter Delivery Address. Check Address. Modal Title Placeholder. Ace Rewards members are eligible to receive free delivery on orders of $ Your Fasteners Hardware Store herees to fasteners, we have what you need. We can help you finish your basement floors with concrete screws, find the right brad nails for your carpentry job and show you the best nuts and bolts hardware for your project.
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The new president and chief executive officer of Rehabilitation Hospital of the Pacific is Edward Clair Jones, who was the hospital's program manager from 1977 to 1987.
His appointment takes effect in mid-September. He replaces Fujio Matsuda, who has served as interim president and chief executive officer since Stuart Ho retired last month.
He also taught graduate-level courses at San Diego State University and recently served as president of the San Diego Brain Injury Foundation.
Before joining Sharp HealthCare Rehabilitation Services, he directed rehabilitation for Scripps Memorial Hospital in Encinitas, Calif.
As program manager at REHAB Hospital of the Pacific, he was responsible for program development, fiscal performance, marketing, quality assurance and staffing for the Injured Workers' Center and Pain Center.
"We welcome Clair back to the REHAB family after so many years," said John Komeiji, chairman of the REHAB Board of Directors. "His wealth of experience on the mainland working in various leadership capacities will serve REHAB and our patients well."
REHAB has a 100-bed hospital and seven outpatient clinics serving people with physical and cognitive disabilities.


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Dog Days Kennel
Veterinarian of Record is:
Dr. Paul Mack
Dr. Charles Witte
Dunnellon Animal Hospital
2238 W. Dunnellon Rd.
Dunnellon, Florida 34428
(352) 489-2074
On this page I offer insights into my program plans to accomplish my end goal of producing the perfect American Pit Bull Terrier. I also include personal experience observations and yes, even a few rants. Some of the information posted here was previously posted on other pages and scattered about. I thought it would be a good idea in accordance with suggestions received by clients to consolidate all this onto one page. Here you will find why I am so enamored with the American Pit Bull Terrier, lots of detailed factual information on my foundation bloodline (Ruffian) and other good stuff to know if you are considering making this regal dog a part of your life.
Traditional vs. Bully come lately
I became enamored with the American Pit Bull Terrier in the early part of 1990 when I first saw a picture of "PR" "GRCH" Ruffian Hercules of Har-Wyn. Strictly speaking Hercules was not a an American Pit Bull Terrier but rather an American Staffordshire Terrier, but more to this point a little later. Since my early days as a hobby breeder, I have had a traditionalist attraction to the Pit bull of yesteryear. Back to a time when the dog was bred for agility, grace and strength. When men like John Colby, Eric Stratton, Joe Corvino, Ed "Sonny" Crenshaw and too many other distinguished and accomplished individuals to name, bred a dog with purpose. These individuals were true to form "Dog Men" (I know that many women came later). That purpose today has lost it's significance, as well it should. I have always loved the dog but not the original intent. Dog fighting is barbaric. Still, one has to appreciate the subtle implication of power and impressive visual angular contour of the American Pit Bull Terrier. It is to me comparable to the appeal many sports car enthusiasts may feel when they see a Z02 Corvette. The American Pit Bull Terrier is a true "Muscle Car". Or perhaps more accurately stated, the original true to form American Pit Bull Terrier is.
I will not be disingenuous. My motivation for breeding the American Pit Bull Terrier is two fold. I expect to make money doing it. I will leave the breed better than it was before I started. I do not always make money on every litter I produce, but I do believe that I make sometimes marginal, sometimes significant strides forward in my quest to produce what I believe is a better dog. What is it that I believe is a better dog? How about an American Pit Bull Terrier that is true to form but is not dog aggressive. Now, wouldn't that go a long way to dispel all of the bias and media hype that plagues this breed? I suppose that the "Dog Men" of yesteryear would be turning in their graves if they knew what I am doing. I can just imagine what they would have to say of the Bully Breed Fad.
The Bully style "Pit Bull" was the brain child of Dave Wilson who in 1990 began to experiment with the creation of a bigger, heavier dog with a lower, wider body profile and a disproportionately larger head. The early "Razors Edge" dogs, were in all honesty, handsome dogs. It is the Bully style dog of today that is in my opinion an abomination of the breed. It seems that every back yard breeder with poor english composition skills is advertising in every online puppy for sale web site the following:
Razors Edge Bloodlines, Heavy Muscular Structures, Super Thick Bones , Mega Wide Chests, Massive Head Piece.
I have to shake my head. This reads like a movie trailer for a low budget science fiction that could aptly be named ROBODOG. These Bully style dogs are so far removed from the original so as to not be an American Pit Bull Terrier. I am in complete agreement with the by-laws of the United Kennel Club that disqualifies from show any American Pit Bull Terrier that exhibits the extreme physical characteristics of the Bully style dog. I believe that this may be one of the reasons that Bully style registration clubs like the ABBA and the ABKC have suddenly risen from nowhere offering their services. Personally, I view this as a good thing. I have thought for a long time now that what is being called the American Bully should be divorced from the American Pit Bull Terrier and recognized as a breed apart. I can only hope that in time the distinction becomes clear. I would like to see a dedication to preserving and improving the traditional breed standard of what is the American Pit Bull Terrier.
Enter Ruffian Hercules of Har-Wyn. Here was a truly handsome dog. Not truly a "Pit Bull" but a very close cousin. The American Staffordshire Terrier is a branch from the same tree as the American Pit Bull Terrier. In the early 1900's breeders made a decisive commitment to take the breed in two directions. That of a show dog and that of a game dog. I have made the decision to recombine the two in order to produce a slightly more robust but still conformation correct American Pit Bull Terrier with little or no game. Nearly every dog in my kennel is a descendent of "PR" "GRCH" Ruffian Hercules of Har-Wyn.
My vision of the perfect American Pit Bull Terrier is not shared by all. There are those that would say that I am as guilty as Dave Wilson in that I am taking the breed in a direction that diverts it from purity. Since the cornerstone of my mission is to produce a line of dogs that is better suited for family interaction then for the traditional purpose, I suppose that they may have a point. I have had to explain my reasoning more than once to my peers. I remember one such inquiry not very long ago by one very prominent breeder. I will not mention his name but I will say that he had a lot to do with the "Going Light" dogs. He was initially upset in that he felt that I was diverting from breed purity. By the time i finished explaining my vision, I believe that he understood my point of view. He complimented my dogs, then wished me luck and success.
I passionately believe that the work I am doing is noble and necessary. With all of the bad press that this gentle and intelligent breed gets and with all of the breed specific legislation that is either in effect or proposed and continually attempted, the time has come for an American Pit Bull Terrier that is non dog aggressive. Only time will tell if my vision and labor producing and promoting them was worth the effort.
You Game?
I do not know of any other breed of dog that has such a wide, acceptable interpretation of breed standard. The ADBA standard is not the UKC standard. Many a ADBA dog that has placed well or even championed in an ADBA sanctioned event has failed miserably in a UKC sanctioned event. I personally do not know of any UKC show breeder that would contemplate entering an ADBA event. Yet both registries hail that the dog they represent is the real American Pit Bull Terrier. This is sad. This is confusing to many new would be owners. This is the fodder of many arguments and animosity between those that breed to show and those that breed for game. My rant will undoubtedly add to this. I will begin my dissertation commenting about those that still believe that the American Pit Bull Terrier is primarily a Game dog.
Gamedoggers breed a dog for ... well game. Game is an adjective that seemingly, innocently, for some in the Pit Bull community today describes a dog with drive and determination. That drive and determination traditionally had one intended focus. It was the gauge used to measure a particular dogs ability to win a match. What kind of match? A dog fight match. Die hard purists believe that a dog without game or one that has not proven itself (again in a match) is not worthy of being call an American Pit Bull Terrier. I have read proclamations to this in some Pit Bull chat forums. Forums that are thinly veiled meeting places for dog fighters and those that fancy them. Where those that offer any input converse in "game speak" to prevent suspicion and attention from being drawn to them. When a Gamedogger talks about "testing", I assure you that they are not discussing OFA hip grades.This is a sect of people that even today firmly believe that the American Pit Bull Terrier is first and foremost a blood sport tool. I believe that people with this mentality are far more dangerous to the future of the American Pit Bull Terrier than even the most self serving political zealot that is fixated on passing legislation that would facilitate the abolition of the American Pit Bull Terrier either by outright ban or more abhorrently, by extinction. We already see evidence of this movement in such cities as Denver and Miami - Dade County. The Humane Society of the United States has proclaimed in memos and other communications that it is a stated goal of the organization to make the private ownership of any American Pit Bull Terrier type dog ILLEGAL in the United States. A simple Google search of the keywords HSUS Pit Bull Ban will bring up page after page of documents that support this claim. Better yet, click on this link that will take you to Regulations dot Gov to view an HSUS comment posted in the comments section requesting citizen input to the new APHIS regulations for sales of cats and dogs: http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=APHIS-2011-0003-3677. You will have to decide how credible any of those sources are but I have to believe that where there is smoke .. well you know the rest.
There are some ethical Gamedoggers in the Pit Bull community. Some breeders and purists that wish to maintain the traditional form, drive and energy that is indisputably within the genome of gamedogs are channeling that energy into other activities. Weight Pull, Fly Ball, Schutzhund and Game hunting to suggest a few. I think that these are all worthy diversions but they are just that, diversions of an energy to other activities. Diversions of energy and drive that was bred for many decades to specifically be used as canine gladiators in a contest of determination and strength will always lie just below the surface. Have two Alfa game dogs in close proximity of each other to see evidence of this. This is the Game Bred American Pit Bull Terrier. For some, it is the only true American Pit Bull Terrier. For me it is a sect within the family whose time has past and society will no longer tolerate.
The American Pit Bull Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier were at one time the same dog. As I explained in an earlier writing, in the early 1900's stewards and aficionados of the American Pit Bull Terrier were at a crossroads with where the breed should go. Some believed the the breed should remain true to the original propose. Others thought it was time to move away from the notoriety attached the that reputation and begin to promote the dog in a more positive light. Gamedoggers continued to breed dogs with high energy, drive and dog aggression. Showdoggers started to breed lines that were less dog aggressive and added traits with bloodline manipulation that they considered attractive. I know that the American Pit Bull Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier at one time in history were one and the same dog, I admit that as a result of breeding along distinct lines since the initial separation, form and function for both dogs has changed. I believe that by carefully recombining the two, a more perfect American Pit Bull Terrier that is true to form and accepted by society, can be produced.
The History of the Ruffian...
- by Richard Gray (Rounders Kennel)
If I try to tell the story of the Ruffian line without giving the founders some credit, I would feel like an Ingrate. Even before Clayton Harriman, the Ruffian line was being formed. The people chiefly responsible were Martin, Klump, Schroeder, and maybe even others should receive some credit. In my opinion none of these follows had a complete concept that they were forming a line, but begin a line they did.
From my research I couldn't find a single entry In the AKC's Stud Book by Schroeder. Floyd C. Klump had a few dogs entered Into the Stud Book. Ed C. Martin had many dogs entered Into the Stud Book. Martin's AKC involvement was from 1939 - 1949. How long he was In the other registry I do not know, but all these men had an Impact.
In going through the AKC Stud Book I noticed a strange geographic coincidence. The first was a strong correlation between the states of Michigan Texas. and Colorado. Martin, Klump, and later Harriman all resided In Michigan. Harriman moved from Texas to Michigan. He had a brief stay In Kansas City between Texas and Michigan. While In Texas, Harriman met W. D. Harper. Harper later developed her Har-Wyn strain. William M. Whitaker lived In Colorado. Whitaker, Harper, and Harriman seemed to work closely together.
Today Monske and Nowicki along with others Live In Michigan. Gigi and Jerry Rooney Lived In Michigan until they moved to Colorado. Of course, I live In Texas. This group with other Ruffian fans, cooperates very well together.
Mr. Harriman, from what I can determine by studying the AKC's stud book, did have a solid view of what he was doing. I never met the man, but when you see the number of litters the man bred and how those litters were bred, I felt this was a gentleman Intent on developing a line. He was successful, and his line has lasted over fifty years. Of course, there have been Infusions of dogs from time to time, but each Infusion of this purest of strains was based on Ruffian dominated dogs. Harriman's good dogs were too numerous to list, but The Ruffian himself was a landmark dog as was Ruffian Our Teenie, Ruffian Walkway, but I fell In love with the picture In Ormsby's book. I find It strange that today none of the blood from Bubbling Over Is still In Am Staffs.
Even though I never saw Mr. Harriman's early dogs, from the pictures I did see that Mr. Harriman's stock was very stylish (type), and not over sized. Even today when the purest of Ruffians are crossed with other lines the original style often holds true. Unfortunately, I don't know how sound they were.
The first entry In the AKC's Stud Book by Clayton Harriman was in 1939. His wife Letti seems to have taken over the kennel after Clayton passed on and the last entry I could find was in 1949 as well.
Enter William Whitaker and Howard Hadley into the picture of developing the Ruffian Line. Howard I don't think was in the least bit Interested In developing a Ruffian line. Howard was developing the Mounthaven line from William's dogs. However, Howard had used a dog-named Ruffian Scalawag. Scalawag was as strong a Ruffian bred dog as one could find. Howard also had a dog-named Mounthaven Tex of Har- Wyn, a litter mate to Ruffian Grayboy of Har-Wyn So this was a powerfully bred Ruffian dog. Ruffian dogs such as Ruffian Contact of Har-Wyn, Ruffian Rudy of Har-Wyn were intertwined into the west coast infusion of our brood so that I could not help but think of them as Ruffians. Indian Doc was a result of this west coast style of dog. If you have never heard of Indian Doc, he was special.
Howard produced a pair of females know as Ruffian Janet of Mounthaven and Ruffian Janet of Har-Wyn. This pair was outstanding. I do not think either was ever shown, and I couldn't understand why they were not shown. These two play a role In the development of Ruffian Red Rack of Har-Wyn. Howard was Active In AKC dogs from 1943 to 1968 at least.
William Whitaker was developing his Jolly scamp line . However, his dogs were as pure Ruffian blood as a dog could be. His most powerful Influence was the fine dog Jolly scamp Blueguard. Blueguard Is as Important to the Ruffian strain as any single dog I can think of, save his sire Gallant Ruff. In fact, the two may be the corner stones of the breed. I am not sure of that last statement as I have not studied all the pedigrees for Am Staffs. Mr. Whitaker may have been one of the three best Ruffian Breeders to this date.
While the basic style of dog Whitaker had was similar to Harriman, more size and variety were added. Other Important dogs Whitaker was responsible for were Puddin Pie Pepper Duster, Puddin Pie Blue Smoke, and Jollyscamperpuss. While Whitaker greatest activity In brooding AKC dogs was between 1945 and 1958. He had profound Influence on the brood.
Ed Ringold kept the Gallant line In tack until his death. Gallant Ruff was the corner stone for the Ruffian and Gallant line. Gallant Kimbo I think was responsible for any phenotypical difference between Peggy's dogs and the Gallant line (Ed's dogs were very stocky for the most part) , but In fact, I see the two lines being Parallel lines. Ed produced so many fine dogs and such a fine type that he needs more credit. Some of Ed's finer Stock should be noted were Gallant Pistol Pete, Gallant Golden Girl, and Gallant J.R.. Mr. Ringold was active with the breed from World War One until his death In the mid 80's.
Charlie Lloyd was active helping Ed keep the Gallant strain alive. Charlie was a mainstay In the breed from 1954 until very recently. Charlie had some big winning dogs In his time. He should receive the credit he deserves.
Ike and Joan Stinson brought his Crusader dogs Into the mix because they were such good show dogs. Ed, Peggy and others couldn't resist using them and In fact the Crusader dogs had liberal doses of Ruffian blood from Gallant Ruff and Howards Hadley's stock. Knight Crusader and Knight Bomber were Just outstanding and Knight Crusader for many years was the biggest winning Am Staff In the breeds history. From the few Crusader dogs I did see, these dogs appeared to be based on soundness.
Some people to this day will say that Crusader was not a line just a kennel name. These people do have a point, but the same fault can be made about many of the other famous lines In the breed.
Peggy Harper visited the line next and she scrambled the genes. Peggy used Howard's dogs, some of Ed Ringold's dogs, Peggy used William Whitaker dogs , she even used Tacoma all- A- Blaze, she also put some of her fathers' pit bulls Into the Mix, and some Crusader blood. Peggy broods The Ruffian of Har- Wyn, she used Ruffian Headlight Hal In large amounts. Other major Impact dogs were Ruffian Sika, Ruffian Dreadnought, Ruffian High Ace, Ruffian Grayboy, Ruffian Chita, and others I am sure I have left out. Peggy even produces Ruffian Hercules of Har-Wyn, for years the top producer In the history of the breed. Ruffian Red Rock of Har-Wyn her most famous show dog, and for awhile, the top winning Staff In history, and he was one of the last Peggy bred. The old Tacoma dogs trace their roots back to the same base as the Ruffian line does so All - A Blaze was not an out cross.
However, Peggy may be most remembered for Introducing Blitz and especially Sky King Into the Ruffian Mix. Some would argue that Blitz and Sky Kings Impact changed from the Ruffian line to Har-Wyn line at this point and time. I would agree that the Sky King Influence altered the line, It would not be too big of a stretch to suggest that the line could be called the Har-Wyn line Instead of Ruffian.
Blitz and Sky King were litter mates. They were 5/8 Ruffian, 1/8 X-pert, l /8 Tacoma, and I /8 unrelated to any major line. She did this because Sky King was such a sound dog and a big winner of his time. He gave her dogs an edge In the show ring. A great female behind Sky King was Jones Gaye One Roxie. I've seen only the one picture, but what a picture. I asked Peggy who was the best Am Staff she had ever seen not of her kennel. Peggy replied " Jones Gage One Roxie."
I do not know that Peggy really knew what she was doing In so far as genetics were concerned, but she was doing It anyway. Her method of breeding was based on numbers. She had many different looks In her kennel. Many were sound, some were not real sound physically, but what drew me to her line was the out going temperaments they had. This was Important to me and no easy trick with a kennel of 60 + Am Staffs In her runs. You know they had little or no socialization, and still they wanted to be your friend.
Peggy was one of a kind. She would have made a fine Am Staff, Except she wasn't nearly as stable as our dogs. She acquired Ruffian Headlight Hal from Whitaker for Just being willing to take the dog off his hands. Hal was very dog aggressive and hard to control. Peggy was maybe 5'1 ", Whitaker was a big man, but Peggy grabbed the leash from Whitaker, took Hal Into the ring, won , and then she took him home. I heard other stories about other dogs and how Peggy acquired them, Including Tacoma All-A- Blaze. Knowing Peggy It might have been true. I still pray for her.
Peggy Harper or Winnie Doris Harper was In AKC dogs from 1947 to 1977. Remember Stud Book entries will always be a gear or two behind.
After Peggy's death Melvin Powdery took over for at least 3 months. Richard Bell became Melvin' partner and soon had all the dogs to himself. Richard used his dog Ruffian Hercules of Har-Wyn and produced many dogs For a good length of time Hercules was a top producer of champions. Richard was soon forced out of Am Staffs.
In the late 60's and In the early 70's many players were active In the Ruffian arena besides Richard Bell. Among these were Susan Rogers, Walter Patton Jr., O.L. Hill, Mr. D Mrs. Hartnet, and others. Shortly before this were Hendrix Harper, William F. Peterson, Richard Pascoe, myself, and Charlie Lloyd.
Richard Pascoe had Ruffian dogs. This was not Important to Dick. Dick wanted good obedience dogs and that he had . Dick' strain went heavily Into Indian Doc type dogs. Doc was a big winner. Indian Doc was a winner In more than one arena. Dick then bred Into Ruffian Hercules . The dogs were Impressive and to my view he produced one of the very best I've ever seen, Whiterock Grover. One of Grover's daughters, Penny, when bred to her uncle, Bomber, produced a group of dogs that made Dick famous for years. Among these dogs were Whiterock Perry the Fridge and Rounder's Whiterock Azure Some remnants of that breading still exist. Dick slowly Introduced Ruffian Rolls mixes along with some Tacoma Into his line. Currently he has few, If any, of the purest Ruffians one can have. However, Dick really likes what he Is producing, and can anyone fault that.
Wm. F. Peterson brought with him a strain of Crusader dogs That was as pure as driven snow. Bill called his line Wlllynwood. 01 hill also used Ruffian Hercules as a stud. Wow! The offspring were just great Brae Bull Adam of Topstaff, Wlllynwood Liberty Belle, Wlllynwood Blue Lotus, and too many more to name. Bill next bred Into Ruffian Red Rock of Har-Wyn and had good dogs, but not as good as Bill wanted. Bill started brooding Into Ruffian Rolls Mixes and I think he Is happy with what he Is getting, but his pure Ruffians are no longer, at least I can't find them.
O.L. Hill, this man was not a show person first. He did know how to be effective at showing. In my view he was very Interested In what the breed was supposed to be " the original function". He started off with a Ruffian dog Ruffian Harper of Har-Wyn. Harper was out of Sky King and a Sky King daughter. He bought Ruffian Chita from heavy old Ruffian blood. Next he bought females from other lines ( Ruffian the line was not Important to Mr. Hill as function was) . Mr. Hill also used the dog Heffiers Maccaundo from my old line. However, to stay on his place, the dog had to function and the Ruffians were the ones who stayed. I think only one female from other strains was breed at O.L.'s place. While the Ruffian line was not Important to O.L. his Concho dogs remained the strongest Ruffian till the end.
I think Susan Rogers had one of the better concepts concerning what the Ruffian line was, or at least as to how a dog should look (for the show anyway). Susan's main dog was Ruffian Sky Bolt of Har Wyn (Ruffian Red Rack of Har-Wyn sire). She picked him up as the Har Wyn kennel was being destroyed. She also put Ruffian Hercules of Har-Wyn Into her line. She didn't realize how closely related these two dogs were. However, she may be responsible for as many good looking dogs as Anyone. Some of her more impressive dogs were Herks Harper, Tryarr Strawberry Fields, and others. Her Tryarr line was maintained pure for the relatively short time she was In Am Staffs. The Hartnets were not In dogs very long. They did produce Mountshire's Barn Bass a fine dog.
Walter Patton Jr. did know who to listen to. His major claims to fame were brooding Atchley's Fanny to Ruffian Red Rock of Har-Wyn. This produced Skillet, Josephine, and Lucy Belle. I think his pride prevented him from repeating the breeding. He had some other successes but nothing that matched his first litter. He really didn't care about the Ruffian line just success. Walter did a lot of breeding and spread his dogs around quite well. At present he Is not In Am Staffs.
Ruth Alexander developed her Atta Boy and Atta Girl line from mingling the Har-Wyn strain with the Gallant Strain. She produced many a good looking stylish dog. She has more Gallant blood than any of us within the strain.
Rudy and Nancy Estevez owned Ruffian Red Rock of Har -Wyn. They owned Ruffian Little Herc of Har-Wyn, a dog Hendrix and I took to help our Ruffian blood.
Hendrix Harper understands genetics as well or better than anyone. In fact he Is the one that sold me on keeping the line pure. He Introduced me to Dr. Roy Fangue, a Genetics professor at Texas A&M . Roy sold me on Quantitative Genetics . Hendrix was already using It. Hendrix could predict things that did come true, and I was Impressed with the predictions, If not the offspring.
Hendrix was In part responsible for Ruffian Harper of Har-Wyn. He was also the breeder of Ruffian Texas Queen. Later he produced Tonkawa Big Tex. Big Tex has been used over and over. The results are still out on the dog, but I am betting on him. His line Is the Tonkawa line and he maintains some Interest In the purest of Ruffians. He has other dogs with backgrounds other than pure Ruffian. No matter which dogs you ask Hendrix about, he Is pleased with where his dogs are.
Gigi & Jerry Rooney had the Rowdytown line. This line was based on Skillet. They had branched off Into a strain that was not as pure (they were being successful with those dogs) as what could be, but realized what the Ruffian line was and came back to It. This was a major show of faith. These two made the Ruffian line popular again. If the line Is to be maintained they should have major amounts of the credit. These two were responsible for Rowdytown Hard Rock Cafe, Can Am's Iron Skillet, and too many others to mention. Jerry Is out of Am Staffs right now but Gigi continues.
Now as to myself, I really had no clear cut vision of what I was doing In the mid/to late 60's as I showed, and from time to time bred my bitch. However, after I listened to Dr. Ray Fangue at a seminars I began to formulate a plan of action. Dr. Fangue, when asked about out crossing responded, "why would you want to." After listening to responses, Dr. Fangue countered with two basic answers. One If you like the other guys dogs better than yours leave yours behind and get the other guys. ( You don't want to be Mixing up the hidden genes.) Two If your line Is lacking a trait find the best dog within your line ( Insofar as that trait Is concerned) and use that dog to improve your line slowly. Now Dr. Fangue made a lot of other points about the form of genetics he works with (Quantitative Genetics) . but It would take too much space to put all his points down. People have written books about the subject. To be blunt about this breeding program, It does have some down sides, but It has
been fun trying to overcome the genetic bottle necks and polygenetic difficulties.
While I do feel we are making progress, I must admit that progress will be cyclical and not always steady.
Now as to some ups and downs already experienced by me, Ruffian Gentleman's Gem (Man) was Best of Breed at the STCA specialty. After Man I had few dogs that I was pleased with, some of the displeasure was due to some out crossing I did and some was due to poor selection on my part. In fact, Hendrix and I were breeding dogs strictly on paper and we were very unsuccessful all because we put little emphasis on selection. After that I realized It takes good dogs as well as a good program to have what you want.
Rounder's Top Sergeant was a big boost. I admit Ruffian Gentleman's Gem was as much luck as skill, and at least as much of Peggy's planning as mine. Sergeant was the result of breeding my best pal, Ruffian Sunset of Romar, to Whiterock Grover. Sunset, or "Hope as I called her, can be traced back directly to Mr., Harriman and Whitaker dogs. I used Hope and her daddy, Ruffian Little Herks of Har-Wyn as much as I could. At that time I believed I could still salvage the old strain before Sky King and the other Infusions. Unfortunately, I could create no Interest and the dream disappeared.
However, the line still was strong If you considered the west coast strains, Sky King, Crusader, and Gallant as part of the Ruffian strain. I did. Now A dream Is born. As the Skillet, Lucy, and Josephine litter was Important for Walter Patton. The breeding of Rounder's Dotty to Rounder's Casey was a life saver for Rounder's kennel. In the early to mid 80's I had lost almost all of my stock to a virus. I had only two pups left. However, my brother had Dotty and a friend had Casey. By a quirk of fate I was given both back. The two produced the best litter I had up to that point (except perhaps Grover to Hope). Not only were we alive, we were competitive. Until that time we were holding on by the skin of our teeth. We have had many good litters since Dotty to Casey, but most of these go back to Dotty &, Casey.
Dotty can be traced back to Ruffian Gentleman Gem (Man) who had a big dose of Sky King and the old Ruffian blood. Dotty also has a dose of Concho blood which was very similar to Man. Rounder's Casey Is the result of Lucy Belle and Stanley. Stanley was the last of the old time Ruffians.
I did manage to pick up Dinah Girl from Mr. Bally's stock In Laredo, TX. ( I found out later what they were being used for the original function), Dinah went back to my old stock (Man). Dinah produced some pups for us and led to a female ( Rounder's Pokey) who was what this breed should be, In the mind at least.
Rounder's White Rock Azure came from Dick Pascoe's kennel. This was one of his last pure breeding But Azure, while not being prolific, did produce Rounder's Blackheart, and this girl has a lot of what I want In an Am Staff.
Hendrix produced a male Tonkawa Big Tex and he may have even been too hot even for me, but, oh my, was he good looking. He had a look that was very Intense and you know he accepted no trash form any dog. I bred him to as many of my bitches as I could.
During the decade of the 80's I had few dogs and a smaller market. The Ruffian line was down to about 25 dogs of the purest blood. While Hendrix and Dick still had a few ( purest of Ruffians) It was obvious that their plans lay elsewhere. I knew there were others, but where? The answer came at a STCA specialty held In Louisville Ky. In the Mid 80's.
I had searched for any who had these few purest of Ruffians none of the owners were Interested, except for Jerry &, Gigi Rooney. These folks did a lot of work researching where the Ruffians were. Sometimes we were successful, sometimes we were not. One example of what happened was Jerry getting a female from Bill Harbor who had a number of these Ruffians from O.L. Hill, but was only mildly Interested In what we were doing. Jerry also had great luck recruiting young, eager people to join the program, something I could not do.
The Rooney's sold to Ruth Prehn. Ruth started a line known as Ledgerock. Her dog Ledgerock's Copper Corn was a superior dog. Unfortunately I have not found him In any of our purest of Ruffian pedigrees. Ruth's fabulous moving female Rowdytown's Jazz of Ledgerock Is behind much of the Rowdytown stock. Ruth's stay In the breed was short, about ten years In the 80's. However, Ruth has gone on to become an AKC Judge.
I have built my line based on having physical and mental soundness. I have been faulted on not having more type or on not even developing a type. To me physical and mental soundness are the correct type and all else Is secondary. I am at this time slowly developing a type but making sure that we don't lose soundness.
I should mention that Eric Jackson has brought some solid dogs that go back Into the Tryarr and Gallant strains. This should make the line stronger. Eric also has some of the remnants of the pure side of the Whiterock dogs. Eric's Tryarr dogs were brought In from Jane Robello. Eric acquired them after Jane died. He also has a fraction of my stock.
Jerry and Gigi brought In Keith Monske, Lisa Jenkins, Jodi Petiach, Randi Holtzman, Eric Jackson and others. These folks have recruited other bright face too numerous to mention.
We have as many or more people with these Ruffian dogs now than we had Ruffian Dogs In the middle of the 80's . Things look good now with many young outstanding dogs on the way, but who knows what will happen next. I can tell you this- I am excited about going down this chosen path with this group of people, they are quality.
At present, I believe we are starting a period of Improvement. How much, will be hard to predict. We just do not know the limits of the line. I am seeing a great number of good ones, and they should lead us to even better ones. Whatever happens, I am satisfied that we have done the best job we could, and the effort was well worth making.
Puppy Purchase or Shelter Rescue
People sometimes ask me why would I want to bring any more dogs into this world when there are so many in shelters that need homes. Homes that may have been available to shelter/rescue dogs if someone had not bought a puppy from me. My answer to this question is often overlooked by those that would ask in the first place. Clients that pay what I charge for a puppy are not likely to adopt a puppy or dog from a shelter even if I were not the one selling it to them. You see, the logic here is not complicated. Clients that purchase one of my puppies, have a very good idea of what they want. Be it a home, car or dog. My clients have a connection to their puppy from the time it is conceived to the time it is delivered. This connection, sadly is not possible with a rescue dog. There is no anticipation or chronological bond. This is important to many of my clients. It is like planning for a baby and then watching that baby grow from conception to bringing it home. This is an important transition that fosters a lifelong bond. There is also the argument that many rescue dogs have health issues or temperament problems and most certainly, unknown histories. I understand that this is not the case with all shelter/rescue animals but lets be honest here, it is a very real problem with many animals in shelters. Additionally, I know that in tough economic times, many high quality well behaved dogs will also find themselves in a rescue or shelter in anticipation of a new home. I know that unfortunately for many of these well bred, well mannered dogs, this hope of a new home will not be realized. Historically however, this is not typical of the kind of dog one will find in a shelter.
Still, there are times when I feel deeply conflicted. It is at times like this that I re-evaluate what my motivations are to bring more innocent puppies into an already crowded world. Then the answer comes to me. It has been there all along. I have a mission to produce a more perfect American Pit Bull Terrier. One that is not dog aggressive. I have made significant strides to this end and there are always clients that specifically want what I offer to sell. Clients that demand to know the pedigree, temperament and health status of the puppies they purchase. An unfortunate unknown quantity with a shelter dog.
There have been numerous times that a prospective client has inquired about one of my puppies but found the price to be an obstacle. These are people that want to include a dog or puppy in their families. These are people that have kindness of heart and responsible character, just not the means to acquire one of my dogs. There are times when I have low or no cost adoption puppies and dogs to offer families with the desire to open their home to one of mine but more importantly, these are people that can best provide what a shelter dog desperately needs. A compassionate friend and a loving home.
What is a Merle Dog?
The "Merle" color pattern in the American Pit Bull Terrier is considered a disqualifying fault by the standards of The United Kennel Club, The American Dog Breeder's Association and The National American Pit Bull Terrier Association. Dog Day Kennel does not produce, sell or condone the breeding of "Merle" colored American Pit Bull Terriers. It is the opinion of many experts, show judges and researchers that the "Merle" gene has been introduced into the breed by unethical breeding practices that include out crossing to other breeds of dogs. Most notably, the Catahoula Leopard Dog. This is an opinion that I share. Below is an article by Scot Dowd Ph.D. that explains in detail what a merle dog is.
By Scot E. Dowd Ph.D.
The recent appearance of merle patterned APBTs and a couple breeders specializing in the "new" and "rare" color pattern has stirred up a controversy in the APBT community. The general thought among those that have been around the breed for the greatest number of years is that, these new color patterns were brought about by unscrupulous outcrossing to a separate breed such as Catahoula Leopard dogs. Several breeds are known to carry merle as a color pattern but the APBT is not one known to have ever carried this "infected" allele. What is known is that Catahoula Leopard dogs along with pit bulls are often used in the sport of hog catching and it is known that crosses of these breeds have been made in attempts to produce more competitive catch dogs.
The following comments from the APBT standard committee provide prelude to a brief essay on the merle locus in relation to the APBT
Walt Pasko Show Judge, United Kennel Club. Grand Master, American Pit Bull Terrier Association. President, Sunshine Terrier Kennel Club. "I feel the emergence of the merle color pattern in our breed has raised the questions of how it was introduced into our breed and what health problems the merle gene could cause. From all information I've read, I have to recommend that the merle color be made a disqualification in the APBT Breed Standard."
Carol Gaines Stephens "I strongly oppose the color pattern 'merle' in the APBT since it has never been there in the past and has just recently risen it's ugly head with the popularity of the catch dogs in the south. I have spoken to several people from the south that say that they know and do so themselves, cross the APBT with the Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog to make a better catch dog. If the gene has never been present in all these decades/centuries then how did it finally come about just recently? I am a firm believer in leaving the standard the way it was originally, but when something surfaces that has no rhyme nor reason, then I think we have to address the matter."
Cheryl Larum "I am in agreement with the other committee members on the merle issue"
Scot E. Dowd " First it should be noted that there are ways that the merle can remain hidden such as within a complete phaeomelanic coat where the merle would not be evident, also there are cryptic merles, however this absolutely would fail to explain the relatively recent appearance of this color pattern in the APBT. I feel that another allele with defined health problems associated with this locus, is not a positive thing for our breed"
The following information is submitted on behalf of the NAPBTA standard committee - Scot E. Dowd
There are two issues of concern with the merle as a color pattern. The first, as mentioned, is that merle pattern in the APBT may have come about through unethical outcrossing to another breed of dog. This practice would then have been followed by falsely registering such a outbred animal either with the ADBA or UKC as a purebred APBT. Such false registration would be termed hanging papers. The other issue is related to the health aspects of the Merle allele. Here I will try to answer the predominant questions that arise regarding the merle allele and the APBT without making a judgment of my own other than that expressed above.
Why is a color or color pattern so important to the stewards of the breed?
The entire process of coloration and color patterns in dogs starts with embryonic development. The specific cells that become melanocytes (pigment producing cells) are derived entirely from the neuronal crest of the embryo. This essentially means that pigment cells are directly produced along with the same cells that give rise to the nervous system. Though not entirely true, it can be assumed that if you have defects in genes associated with color genetics you might also have nervous system defects because both types of cells are derived from the neuronal crest. This provides a logical genetic indicator and explains why it is likely that certain dilute or patterned dogs, such as extreme piebalds, or other types of homozygous dilutes common in the APBT, as well as those that may be carrying the Merle pattern are prone to psychological, neurological and/or immunological problems found in other breeds that carry these alleles.
Merle like other dilution alleles acts to lighten whatever color would otherwise have been expressed. However, with merle the lightening effect is not spread evenly over the coat, but produces patches of undiluted color (dappled pattern) scattered over the dog's body. The merle gene when heterozygous Mm (only one copy of the gene) on an otherwise black dog produces a blue merle which is phenotypically a bluish gray dog that is dappled with full color black spots. A homozygous or MM dog (carrying two copies of the merle gene), often called a double merle or a homozygous merle, will be a mostly white dog (similar to an extreme Piebald). The normal state of the merle locus is dual recessive mm and completely lacks the offending transposon resulting in normal color.
Maybe merle has been in the breed throughout its history and only now is it being noticed?
The response to this question is also genetic in nature. The genetic and phenotypic nature of the Merle locus and the merle allele (M) is such that it would not remain unnoticed in a breed and suddenly appear. It would take crossing to another breed that carries the merle allele for it to be transferred into the breed. The reason it could not remain invisible or hidden is because the Merle allele is expressed with incomplete dominance. This means, if it is within the genome at all, even in a heterozygote (one copy of the gene) state, it is still expressed and evident. The M allele is not found in all breeds; in fact most breeds do not carry it. Finally, this specific transposon cannot arise spontaneously or through mutation as some have claimed.
What are the health problems associated with the merle allele?
The merle allele like a couple other dilution factors when expressed in a homozygous state is correlated to psychological, neurological, and usually immunological issues. Here I will mention a few of the issues. The first are eye development problems that are superficial in nature affecting appearance such as heterochromia iridis (A difference of color between the iris of one eye and the other), thus a dog with one brown and one blue eye has heterochromia iridis. Note that this defect is not necessarily or always indicative of having the merle gene because it can also be found in dogs with extreme piebald or double blue dilution for example. In addition to superficial indicators there are also major effects such as absence of tapetum lucidum. Tapetum lucidum is a reflective substance that lines the back of the dogs eyes. This reflective structure acts like a mirror and reflects light back through the retina, like a satellite dish giving the retina two chances to catch the light. Dogs that lack tapetum licidum have night blindness or reduced ability to see in low light. Another defect is lack of retinal pigment and microphthalmia. Microopthalmia (smaller than normal eye) is described as dogs having prominent third eyelids and seemingly small eyes which appear recessed in the eye socket (enophthalmos). Another problem known as coloboma is actually a physical cleft in a portion of the eye, particularly the iris . In addition to the eyes which are a key indicator of neurological defects, there is also evidence for effects on the ears that result in reduction in auditory sensitivity or complete deafness because the merle color locus exerts epistatic effects on ear development. Excessive white or dilution in a dog of any color can be a warning sign of potential hearing problems. If there is no pigment in the inner ear the dog will be deaf; white ears are more likely to lack inner ear pigment.
More technically, what is the genetic explanation of the merle pattern?
The merle allele is considered to be caused by a transposon or transposable element. A transposon is a piece of DNA that has the potential to actually jump out of, or excise from the gene it has infected (disrupted), during cellular division and genetic DNA replication. This means that while melanocytes are migrating from the neuronal crest during embryonic development the merle transposon can remove itself from the gene in some of the melanocytes when they are derived and produce normal coloration on those parts of the coat to which they migrate. Thus, the merle allele acts to cause eumelanic areas in the coat, to become diluted, but other areas to be fully and intensely pigmented. Such fully colored areas occur in scattered patches throughout the body. The merle locus is autosomal (not carried on one of the sex chromosomes) acting as a dominant mutation (it is expressed in all dogs that carry this gene). It should also be noted that genetically such transposons do not arise spontaneously but must be passed from sire and/or dam to offspring. This means that if the APBT did not carry this allele to begin with, then only through outcrossing to another breed, that does carry this transposon, could it be integrated into the APBT genome.
Dog Days Kennel position.
In conclusion of this topic I would like to offer my personal observation and the official policy position of Dog Days Kennel as submitted to The National American Pit Bull Terrier Association on December 5, 2005:
As members of the National American Pit Bull Terrier Association, we are presented with the issue of the Merle coat color dilution pattern that very likely has been introduced into the breed by unethical conduct. The Merle coat dilution pattern has not been known to naturally exist within the genome of the American Pit Bull Terrier and the presence of this dilution pattern is a known marker to other serious health issues. As stewards of the breed we have to choose to continue to honor our current standard and to reflect that the Merle color pattern, with all of it's associated health issues, is not an acceptable color pattern for the American Pit Bull Terrier.
These are two merle pattern "Pit Bulls".
Parts reprinted with permission. Copyright© 2009 The Encyclopedia of the American Pit Bull Terrier. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2004 - 2013. Dog Days Kennel. All Rights Reserved.


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Port Douglas Entertainment Guide - For fun, recreation, and relaxation
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As would be expected, there is some fantastic scuba diving and snorkeling to be had near the shore and within a couple of hours' boat ride, along with unbeatable bushwalking and hiking. You can also kayak the Daintree River or kitesurf Four Mile Beach and even play golf at the Mirage Country Club.
Great Barrier Reef tours
The Great Barrier Reef proper is only a few miles offshore from Port Douglas and tours of the likes of Batt and Tongue reefs are popular. In addition, there are many fringe (inland) reefs to check out, with Morey Reef literally steps from town to the north and Alexandra Reef just off of Four Mile Beach.
Snorkeling and diving
As gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, Port Douglas has good options for diving and snorkeling, with tours regularly leaving Marina Mirage. You can snorkel over reefs and see all sorts of exotic fish and even whales, as well as take to the Mossman River and snorkel there.
Mirage Country Club
Located just south of town, the Mirage Country Club is perfect for the active, and especially for golfers. There is an 18-hole championship golf course here, along with an aquatic driving range, several tennis courts, a swimming pool, saunas and a Jacuzzi.
Rainforest tours
Rainforests surround Port Douglas and to discover them you can get on a tour or go it alone. Four-wheel driving tours and river cruises are both popular and you can also go kayaking or bushwalking. Mossman Gorge and Daintree National Park are both fun, while Cape Tribulation is farther north.
Kitesurfing is a very popular water sport in Port Douglas on account of the long, wide beach and windy conditions in season. The best time of year to kitesurf is during the June to August winter months when trade winds blow up from the south. Due to its northerly locale, it never gets cold in Port Douglas.
Port Douglas is not touted as a party town but there are many bars, pubs and live music dens here. Many of them can be found at the waterfront, along the Esplanade, behind the beach and at the port in Marina Mirage, while Macrossan Street (the main street) has loads of bars and cafés.
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