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Travel to India is not just an excursion; it's a life-altering experience! How do you discover a country whose civilization spans 5,000 years of history yet matches pace with 21st-century progress? How do you explore and understand a nation of such complex, astounding diversity – linguistic, religious, geographical, cultural, artistic, and culinary – where to journey even a short distance is enough to experience a whole new spirit and quality? How do you evoke the quintessence of a land whose vitality comes from ancient myths, enduring legends, and time-honored traditions? How do you describe India?
The answer is to embark on an extraordinary journey that you must take – to see, to listen, to taste, to savor, to smell, to touch, to feel…to remember and cherish – to experience a country that has no equal in the world. Traveling to India takes you to a tropical subcontinent, an enchanting land that will throw open its doors and reveal the assorted treasures of its glorious heritage, architecture, art, music, dance, festivals, customs, attire, cuisines, and peoples to you – layer by secret layer.
The majestic snow-capped Himalayas form a natural barrier in the north and northeast while the beautiful warm seas of the Indian Ocean curve around the peninsular south, ensuring that India's geographical boundaries are well-defined. India's South Asian neighbors include Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Bhutan, Nepal, and Myanmar. The country also shares borders with China high in the northeast. The archipelago that sits as a cluster of emeralds in the Bay of Bengal on India's east is the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. In the west lie the Lakshadweep Islands, in the Arabian Sea.
Your trip to India can take you to rain-forests, jungles, hills, mountain ranges, glaciers, deserts, valleys, plateaus, caves, coral reefs, waterfalls, lakes, beaches, coastlines, seas, islands, rivers and fertile plains, mangroves, wildlife and bird sanctuaries that are home to some of the world's most rare and endangered species, and biosphere reserves; summer, monsoon, autumn, winter, and spring – India has nearly every type of terrain and climate making its bio-diversity unparalleled in the world.
Set against this great natural beauty are exquisitely carved temples and sculptures, colossal fortresses, grand palaces, deep step-wells, stunning mosques, mausoleums, and monuments, prehistoric ruins, serene monasteries, beautiful churches, and remarkable archaeological sites – standing testament to how India's many different histories and legacies have seamlessly come together to form a marvelous tapestry. Not for nothing a Trip to India is so often termed as once-in-a-lifetime-adventure!
India has been home to many dynasties and empires – from the mighty Mughal emperors to elegant Nawabs to the valorous Rajputs to the splendid Maharajas to finally the European colonial rulers – who have given it the finest traditions of not only luxurious living but also superb architecture and craftsmanship, and the finest caliber of classical art, music, dance, theater, and literature. India is also the birthplace of the holistic healing tradition of Ayurveda and the practice of Yoga.
India's villages and its tribal regions – where the real India lives – are steeped in beautiful folklore, dance, music, and indigenous craft, imparted by skilled artisan communities. Rural tourism as part of a comprehensive itinerary for travel to India is a wonderful way of enriching a traveler's India experience – with organic farm visits, home-stays, cultural performances, plantation tours, and village tours – blending tradition and comfort.
You can look forward to a marvelous food fiesta when you are here and visit places which represent examples of the finest in local flavors. The astonishing variety of outstanding cuisines you can sample and the overall food experience on your trip to India are aspects that are seldom truly captured by Indian restaurants anywhere else in the world.
If you love adventure, the great outdoors, or even the offbeat, India's extraordinary land and seascapes offer some outstanding activities – from extreme mountain climbing to thrilling whitewater rafting on ferocious rivers; from surfing, snorkeling and diving in the seas to sky-diving; from wildlife, desert or high-altitude road safaris to cycling, motor biking, camel or horseback riding – that not only enhance your experience but also give you the chance to see local communities and cultures up close.
Come calling on India. Come take the first step with us. Welcome to India!
Best Time to Travel To India
From the Taj Mahal to the forts and palaces of Rajasthan, to the beaches of Goa, to the backwaters of Kerala, to the highland areas of Western India, to the plantations of Darjeeling, to the mighty Himalayas, to the tigers in Central India, to the temple heritage of Central and South India, to the Buddhist heritage areas of North India and Himalayas, to scuba diving in Andamans, India is a complex country with 22 official languages, divided into 28 states and 9 Union Territories based on language and cultural lines.
While traversing in India, one can expect authenticity and a wholesome set of crafts, culture, cuisine and heritage experiences along with superb hotels and hospitality. A trip across India can hardly be considered seamless and that's where the real ubiquity of India lies, with a distinctly unique panorama unfolding with every state and every destination.
Major Festivals of India
Seasons and Weather of India
What is the Best Month to Visit Central India?
When should I go to Northern India?
For birding and wildlife areas of Uttarakhand (Corbett, Binsar, Sattal), October – May is the best time barring January, (even February and March for higher areas) when it can be too cold for North India tour packages.
When to go in Western India?
What is the Best Time to Visit Tamil Nadu and Kerala Backwaters in South India?
What Month is Best to Visit East India?
Highland and wildlife areas of North East India (Assam, Meghalaya) are best visited during November to April. This is the driest season and parks are open for safaris. Remote Himalayan destinations or Arunachal Pradesh have a limited window for a visit during March-April and October &November. During other months it could be too rainy (May-September) or too cold (December – February).
Travel To India Checklist
Do you need visa to travel to India?
As per Indian immigration laws, all foreign nationals are required to hold a passport valid for the next 6 months from the date of arrival in India and a valid visa issued by an Indian Mission or Post located in home location. The image above effectively displays the visa to India requirement for various countries. Image attribution: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Visa_policy_of_India.png
The visa process has been simplified by introducing e-Visa facility where an individual can apply for obtaining the visa online. Please refer to https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/.
Is it Customary to Tip in India?
Tipping is not mandatory but a general norm as prevalent in most other countries, as a sign of good service.
Tour Guides, Drivers, Hotel bellboys, etc. do expect tips. We recommend around 100 for hotel service personnel/porters and Rs. 300-500 per day for drivers and guides. No tip is payable at restaurants that levy a"Service Charge" ranging between 5% to 10%.
Currency and Currency Exchange
The official currency is Indian Rupee. Currency notes are available in denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 2000. Coins are in denominations of 1, 2, 5 and 10.
The country has a well-established banking system with 24-hour ATMs available in most locations, except in remote areas like hills and villages. Home currency can be exchanged easily with money changers available at all airports, train stations and places of tourist interests, hotels etc. Larger notes can be difficult to change outside big cities. We advise you to look for authorized money changers offering best rates.
Health Advisory & Travel Insurance for a Trip to India
India is the size of a continent with a tropical climate in general. However, climatic conditions vary from region to region, state to state and location to location, which can sometimes can result in minor infections.
We recommend some precautions for a favorable stay:
- Drink only bottled water that is easily available everywhere. If ever in doubt, buy a carbonated water bottle, called soda here. It's clean, and you can be sure of its purity since it is processed.
- Digestive tablets help if you've had too much chilly or spices. Eno and Digene should be helpful to your palate and tongue too.
- Coconut water is an amazing antacid and electrolyte booster. Drink it fresh from any roadside vendor but avoid the packaged stuff. Do request the vendor to clean the knife before cutting the coconut.
- Staying hydrated should be your first choice while in India. While natural sources like coconut and bananas can help, we advise you to buy a few packs of ELECTRAL– the most trusted brand of Oral Re-hydration Salts. Once or even twice a day is a safe option.
- Generally, avoid tap water and ice cubes or crushed ice in your drinks.
- Bathing in holy rivers is a risky proposition. The same water is processed and supplied to your hotel room in the city. Wash your sins there!
- While the cosmopolitan cities of Delhi, Mumbai etc. have a good supply of continental food, small towns may require you to adjust your eating habits. We advise you to turn vegetarian for a few days. That way you can also be sure of hygiene and purity of ingredients as people there still prepare meals with a religious zeal.
- Avoid roadside street food kiosks
- Try to avoid raw fruits and vegetables.
- Buy a good quality hand sanitizer- Dettol is a good option.
- Making food spicier comes naturally to us! Request for a 'without-tadka' daal or curry and you can save your system from hot spicing.
In case you ever need any medical assistance then most tourist destinations have world-class medical facilities and practitioners. We recommend visiting hospitals, nursing homes or polyclinics. Travel Insurance is a must as medical treatment can be expensive.
Indian Cultural Etiquette
India has a very diverse and rich cultural heritage. Guests are equated to God ("Atithi Devo Bhavah"). Barring religious places (where one must be modestly dressed), there are no specific restrictions in terms of dressing. The only word of caution is that the clothes should be formal/semi-formal/smart casuals.
A common gesture used for greeting is "Namaste" (said with a slight bow and hands pressed together, palms joined with fingers pointing upwards, thumbs close to the chest) meaning"I bow to the God within you". "Hello" is also a commonly used greeting.
Many an international travelers complain about being ripped off by small shopkeepers in returning change. Almost every packed good has a price mentioned, and it's the MRP- Maximum Retail Price. They can very well sell you below that price but if they ask for a higher price, look for another shop. Sometimes, and specially in hilly areas, there are not too many shops, so just buy it if it is essential. We as Indians too do it since the profit margins are eroded by high transportation costs.
If you plan to visit a religious establishment like a Hindu temple or a Muslim mosque or a Sikh Gurudwara, follow the traditions or be prepared to a lecture by a random elderly aunt. Spend a few moments in observing how a typical person approaches them and emulate him. You can hire a guide too but remember they are there to make a living and ripping-off comes naturally to them. The best choice is to buy flowers or prasadam from one of the shops outside, ask him to keep your shoes there, and also request him to send someone over to accompany you. NEVER pay a single dime to anyone; only donate in designated boxes. If you feel you're being trapped, finding a nearby cop or a temple elder and raising a voice is 100% helpful.
Money and Costs in India
- CASH is still the king. While most of the shops accept credit and debit cards, it's always better to use cash here.
- NEVER exchange your currency at the airport; they usually give you the worst rate possible, and a difference of 10% is not unusual. If you need money at the airport, ask a handler for the nearest ATM and withdraw local currency from there.
- Indian ATMs never shell out more than Rs. 10000 except for Citi Bank, which lets you withdraw whatever you desire. But they are few and far between. The best alternate is to withdraw multiple times from different ATMs. Every major market has a number of ATMs, so that shouldn't be a problem.
- Try as much as possible to keep only 100 and 500 denominations as the 2000 ones create an issue of not enough change.
- If a bank is nearby, request them to change about Rs.1000 into a wad of 10 rupees notes- they will come in handy while bargaining, tipping and even temple donations.
- Try to keep your money hidden, especially the bigger denomination ones. Pouches are a direct giveaway so try to carry a small backpack, though money is best kept in your pockets.
Public Transport in Major Cities of India
Metro transport systems are available in major cities such as New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Cochin and some are under construction. These can be used for easy and quick navigation within a city.
Uber and Ola are popular radio cab providers available in most cities. And they are all fitted with an AC so you can expect a comfortable journey. We prefer to attach a credit card to Uber for payment so you can avoid the perennial conundrum of exact change in cash.
Auto rickshaws and electric rickshaws are common all over India, and your best bet for covering small distances. Invest in a good quality kerchief or a pollution mask though as the inner roads are dusty and dirty!
City Buses are not advisable unless under a proper guidance from a local. Inter-State and long-distance bus travel is not advisable unless accompanied by a local or an experienced India traveller.
Languages of India
India has 22 official languages and hundreds of dialects. However,English (along-with Hindi) is widely spoken for official and commercial purposes and is understood across the country. Understanding of English by drivers, porters, bellboys may be basic and therefore, use a few words and keep it simple while passing any instruction.
Is India Safe for Foreign Tourists?
Once they decide on the destination, first time travellers to India often grapple with the question – Is India Safe to travel?
Well, simplest of questions demand greatest of attention and research. Having covered the length and breadth of the country- and mostly with travellers from countries like the UK, USA, Australia etc. – let us try to give you an honest perspective on an oft-repeated query- Is India safe?
Safety of Female Travellers in India
Informal discussions with our friends from overseas time and again brings up the topic of safety in India, especially for female travellers. Almost all of our women guests agree they did feel attention they are not accustomed to in their native places yet, it was totally harmless and more of a curious glance rather than a hunter preying his target.
If we believe a discerning source like WSJ, Control Risks, a global risk consultancy firm, in a travel briefing issued in response to the alleged rape of a Swiss woman, said that "although the incident is serious, violent crime against foreigners remains relatively rare in India."
Yes, there have been sporadic incidents in Goa and Delhi that have birthed doubts but let me assure you, these are as rare as an unbiased newspaper. If you analyze carefully, every such incident happened only where the travellers chose to stay at shady, small and unrated low priced guest houses or they decided on wandering in remote areas with strangers.
Here are a few tips to follow for travel to India if you are single:
- Learn to say NO. And say it to mean it. A feeble No in India as taken a maybe, or even yes. Be open-minded but closed to being taken advantage of.
- Dress conservatively. At all times; even in cosmopolitan cities of Mumbai and Delhi. A single female warrants unwanted attention, more so if she's from another country.
- DON'T get drunk. Repeat.
- Buy a cheap trinket called 'Mangalsutra' and wear it on your neck. That way you'll be taken as someone married to an Indian, and you can successfully avoid more than 93.7% of unwanted stares.
- Solo first-time travelers are in itself treading an unknown path, and that is compounded if you're a female on a travel to India. Either hire the services of a good travel organization like Holxo or research a little bit on the internet.
India is an economical destination no doubt but the hunger to save more money can have misfortune knocking aggressively on your doors.
India today gets around 10 million international visitors every year and this is multiplying every year. A lot of women groups coming to the country is testimony to the fact that it is a safe country. We have very strict laws related to women safety, and in the unfortunate event of an international tourist, our courts ensure justice is served swift.
Remembering a few travel tips should help a traveller eager to explore India:
- Dress modestly in public places
- Do not wander off to remote locations
- Pick accommodation that has positive reviews and ratings
- Book your accommodation / holiday with a reputed travel agency (offline/online)
- Do not trust strangers. Never get too close or appear too friendly to a stranger
People of India in general are warm, friendly and afraid of getting on the wrong side of the law. Still, good and bad elements are present everywhere and India is no exception. Hence, we request you to be mindful of your belongings and surroundings and use your intuitive senses to keep distance from situations that make you uncomfortable.
Air Pollution in Delhi
Of late, one query that is often raised in many online travel communities is about pollution- Is India safe during pollution? There are only a few days in October/ November when Delhi's pollution grows over permissible limits. This is just a temporary phenomena which occurs due to farm stubble burning in some neighboring states. Lots of measures are being taken by local authorities, which has considerably reduced pollution this year.
We advise using a nose mask during these days. Rest of the northern region is not impacted with these phenomena.
Public Transport
Use of Public transport can help travellers reduce overall transport costs and therefore may seem attractive. However, public transport and their suitability for foreign travellers in India vary across the country. So we recommend a selective use only.
Large cities such as Delhi, Kolkata, Kochi, Mumbai, etc. have metros that match steps with any other such service around the world. However other local trains or trams at these cities are not recommended by us. State transport buses for some states are very organized and offer good quality air-conditioned buses.
India has one of biggest organized rail networks. Air-conditioned Class is recommended for International Travellers. Non Air-conditioned Class suffers from poor cleanliness and overcrowding and is therefore not recommended by us.
Airline services in India are ranked among the best in the world. Connectivity except to some remote locations is now excellent. India is the size of a continent – therefore, booking through a travel agent will make for a genuinely memorable tour to this amazing colourful country.
Summary- Is India good for Tourism?
A Trip to India is a remarkable and transforming experience. It remains a safe destination to travel; however some large cities require you to be a little more careful like you will be in any big city in Europe, America or South East Asia.
Here's a handy list of Dos and Don'ts for visiting India that would do you a world of good to remember before you embark on a trip to India:
India Travel Tips: Do's:
- DO make friends with the locals. Use common sense to choose between good and bad.
- DO have a sense of humor.
- DO keep an open mind.
- DO remove your shoes at religious temples.
- DO observe and follow family rituals if at a local home.
- DO wear traditional Indian clothes at special occasions.
- DO try to pay in cash if at restaurants with Indians.
- DO use hand sanitizer or wash your hands with soap.
- DO know Indians' are usually not too punctual -1 min may mean 5 to 10 mins.
- DO be prepared to be swamped to have your photo taken.
- DO bring a small gift if you stay at a home. Even a pack of chocolates or anything sweet is appreciated.
- DO take extra precautions with drinking water. Repeat: be very careful about the water you intend to drink.
Don'ts for Travelers Visiting India:
- DON'T wear short skirts or revealing outfits. Keep your shoulders, midriff and legs covered
- DON'T get exasperated and show your anger in public.
- DON'T EVER touch a female.
- DON'T smell flowers in a shop or a temple.
- DON'T drink alcohol in public.
- DON'T take pictures in temples and other religious places.
- DON'T offer your hand for a shake unless the other person does. A folded-hands Namaste is good enough.
- DON'T eat from a street vendor unless you're very near to your hotel or a medical facility.
- DON'T buy anything from someone who does not have a permanent or even a temporary place.
- DON'T be hesitant to ask questions, or ask for help.
- DON'T give money to anyone at any religious place- only donate in designated boxes.
You can book your travel to India trip with Holxo India. Or go solo with the above tips in mind. Either way, you're in for a memorable time on an unforgettable holidays to India.
I remain thankful to Asher for his India Travel Tips inspirational article.


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Morrisons is late to the online party but could reap mobile rewards
It's crunch time for Morrisons. The supermarket is late to the party in launching an online operation and it will need to leverage Ocado's expertise, if a deal is agreed, in order to bring something new to the table and convince shoppers to switch services.
The supermarket confirmed earlier today (14 March) its intention to move into the internet grocery market and said talks with the online grocer "may lead to an agreement" that would see it use Ocado's technology and know-how to launch an online service.
Morrisons says it now has a plan to make its online grocery offer profitable and set it apart from rivals.
A lack of a branded online presence has stifled sales. It reported a drop in like-for-like sales of 2.1 per cent for the year to 3 February 2013 whereas the multichannel services of rivals such as Sainsbury's, for example, helped them to deliver positive results over the festive period.
Online retail sales in the UK are predicted to top €64bn (£51.9bn), up from €40bn (£34.6bn) by 2017, according to Forrester. This trend is being accelerated by consumers using mobile devices and is an area that could pose some last-mover advantages for Morrisons – provided there is a strong enough link between its bricks-and-mortar offerings.
Mobile is an area yet to be properly mined by supermarkets, but it has become a bigger focus in the last 12 months. Asda announced predictions for grocery orders placed on mobile to double through its click and collect offer this year.
Ocado has also made a real effort in this space, with the company reporting that 28 per cent of all orders are now placed via a mobile device. It's a clear indication that m-commerce will continue to shape the course of its business over the coming years and is where Morrisons should look to focus discussions between the two.
The company needs to look at ways of bolstering its customer insight offering as a lack of a loyalty card scheme could dampen the impact of its online service through lack of information. Once you better understand your customers, once you know what makes them tick, the business can put the right package before them, whether that's an e-commerce site or a shopping app.
The supermarket's last-mover status could work in its favour but it will need to make mobile a key differentiator if it is convince shoppers its online push has been worth the wait.

subset: commoncrawl


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including Molecular Interventions
Posted January 1, 2008
Abstract – PubMed.gov
Mobilization of human CD34+CD133+ and CD34+CD133%u2212 stem cells in vivo by consumption of an extract from Aphanizomenon flos-aquae-related to modulation of CXCR4 expression by an L-selectin ligand?
This article is not included in your organization's subscription. However, you may be able to access this article under your organization's agreement with Elsevier.
Gitte S. Jensen, Aaron N. Hartb, Lue A.M. Zaske, Christian Drapeau, Niraj Guptad, David J. Schaeffere and J. Alex Cruickshank
a. Holger NIS, 601 13 Avenue NE, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2E 1C7
b. NIS Labs, 1437 Esplanade, Klamath Falls, OR, USA
c. StemTech Health Sciences Inc., 1011 Calle Amanecer, San Clemente, CA, USA
d. Cancer Treatment Center, Merle West Medical Center, 2610 Uhrmann Rd, Klamath Falls, OR, USA
e. Department of Veterinary Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA
The coauthor C. Drapeau is Chief Science Officer for StemTech Health Sciences, which distributes the product StemEnhance, used for the in vivo part of this paper. No other authors have any commercial interest in the subject matter. Available online 29 August 2007.
The goal of this study was to evaluate effects on human stem cells in vitro and in vivo of an extract from the edible cyanobacterium Aphanizomenon flos-aquae (AFA) enriched for a novel ligand for human CD62L (L-selectin).
Experimental approach
Ligands for CD62L provide a mechanism for stem cell mobilization in conjunction with down-regulation of the CXCR4 chemokine receptor for stromal derived factor 1. Affinity immunoprecipitation was used to identify a novel ligand for CD62L from a water extract from AFA. The effects of AFA water extract on CD62L binding and CXCR4 expression was tested in vitro using human bone marrow CD34+ cells and the two progenitor cell lines, KG1a and K562. A double-blind randomized crossover study involving 12 healthy subjects evaluated the effects of consumption on stem cell mobilization in vivo.
An AFA extract rich in the CD62L ligand reduced the fucoidan-mediated externalization of the CXCR4 chemokine receptor on bone marrow CD34+ cells by 30% and the CD62L+ CD34+ cell line KG1A by 50% but did not alter the CXCR4 expression levels on the CD34 cell line K562. A transient, 18% increase in numbers of circulating CD34+ stem cells maximized 1 hour after consumption (P<.0003). When 3 noncompliant volunteers were removed from analysis, the increase in CD34+ cells was 25% (P<.0001).
AFA water extract contains a novel ligand for CD62L. It modulates CXCR4 expression on CD34+ bone marrow cells in vitro and triggers the mobilization of CD34+ CD133+ and CD34+ CD133 cells in vivo.
Keywords: L-selectin; Ligand; Human; Adult stem cell; CD34; CD133; KG1a; K562; Bone marrow; Mobilization; Blue-green algae; Cyanobacteria; Aphanizomenon; In vivo; In vitro
Abbreviations: AFA, Aphanizomenon flos-aquae; PBMC, Peripheral blood mononuclear cells; PMN, Polymorph-nucleated cells
Article Outline
1. Introduction
2. Materials and methods
2.1. Buffers and media
2.2. Cyanobacterial extracts
2.3. Monoclonal antibodies
2.4. Capturing of ligand using Dynabeads and chimera proteins
2.5. Electrophoresis
2.6. Human subjects
2.7. Immunostaining for L-selectin
2.8. Immunostaining for CXCR4 expression on different types of progenitor cells
2.9. Induction of CXCR4 expression on various types of stem and progenitor-type cells
2.10. Study design for in vivo testing of consumption of an LSL-rich fraction of AFA
2.11. Statistical analysis
3. Results
3.1. AFA contains a ligand for human L-selectin (CD62L)
3.2. AFA-W specifically reduces TQ1 immunostaining of L-selectin on human PMN cells
3.3. AFA-W inhibits the fucoidan-induced CXCR4 expression on CD34+ cells from bone marrow and on the KG1a CD34bright cell line but not on the CD34%u2212 cell line K562
3.4. In vivo: consumption of an AFA extract rich in AFA-LSL resulted in a transient increase of circulating CD34+ cells
4. Discussion
Download Complete Article Here: http://twurl.nl/2ne65h
2 Responses to 'CARDIOVASCULAR REVASCULARIZATION MEDICINE'
Great imformation keep up the great work I look forward to your next post.
[…] CARDIOVASCULAR REVASCULARIZATION MEDICINE This post was written by SuperFoodie on May 20, 2009 Posted Under: Superfood Talk CARDIOVASCULAR REVASCULARIZATION MEDICINE […]


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30 Years ago today: Tea party at the pole
Here we see the famous photo of the first U.S./British coordinated surfacing at the North Pole, 18 May 1987, with three nuclear-powered hunter killer fleet submarines chilling in the Arctic.
The ships are, left to right: the Swiftsure-class HMS Superb (S-109), and the Sturgeon-class submarines USS Billfish (SSN-676), USS Sea Devil (SSN-664).
-Superb paid off 26 September 2008 after service in the Falklands (kinda) and Afghanistan.
-Billfish was decommissioned on 1 July 1999 and recycled by 2000.
-Sea Devil was decommissioned on 16 October 1991 and recycled by 1999.
While the Sturgeons have been turned to razor blades, some of their parts are on display such as the 22 fairwater planes located at Magnuson Park at Sand Point in Seattle and 11 emplaced (along with 11 Soviet fins) at Miami's Pelican Harbor Park, North Bay Villages:
Notably, the Miami installation includes fins from both of the Sturgeon's that surfaced for our tea party!
Seattle fin pod: Seahorse SSN-669, Simon Bolivar SSBN-641, Puffer SSN-652, Gato SSN-615, John Adams SSBN-620, Plunger SSN-595, Whale SSN-638, Bergall SSN-667, Flying Fish SSN-673, Tullibee SSN-594, Pargo SSN-650, and Gurnard SSN-662.
Miami fin pod: Sea Devil SSN-664, Pogy SSN-647, Sand Lance SSN-660, Pintado SSN-672, Trepang SSN-674, Billfish SSN-676, Archerfish SSN-678, Tunny SSN-682, Von Steuben SSBN-632, Sculpin SSN-590, Cavalla SSN-684.
There is also the intact sail of the Sturgeon herself (SSN-637) at the U.S. Naval Undersea Museum at Keyport, Washington.
Tags: HMS Superb, Magnuson Park, Naval Undersea Museum, Pelican Harbor Park, SSBN 620 John Adams, SSBN 641 Simon Bolivar, SSN 595 Plunger, SSN 597 Tullibee, SSN 615 Gato, SSN 638 Whale, SSN 650 Pargo, SSN 652 Puffer, SSN 662 Gurnard, SSN 667 Bergall, SSN 669 Seahorse, SSN 673 Flying Fish, SSN-664, SSN-676, USS Billfish, USS Sea Devil, USS Sea Devil (SSN-664), WUWT
About laststandonzombieislandLet me introduce myself. I am a bit of a conflict junkie. I am fascinated by war and warfare, assassination, personal protection and weaponry ranging from spud guns and flame throwers to thermonuclear bombs and Soviet-trained Ebola monkeys. In short, if it's violent or a tool to create violence it is kind of my thing. I have written a few thousand articles on the dry encyclopedia side for such websites as Guns.com, University of Guns, Outdoor Hub, Tac-44, History Times, Big Game Hunter, Glock Forum, Firearms Talk.com, and Combat Forums; as well as for print publications like England Expects, and Strike First Strike Fast. Several magazines such as Sea Classics, Military Historian and Collector, Mississippi Sportsman and Warship International have carried my pieces. Additionally I am on staff as a naval consultant and writer for Eye Spy Intelligence Magazine. Currently I am working on several book projects including an alternative history novel about the US-German War of 1916, and a biography of Southern gadfly and soldier of fortune Bennett Doty. My first novel, about the coming zombie apocalypse was released in 2012 by Necro Publications and can be found at Amazon.com as was the prequel, Chimera-44. I am currently working on book two of that series: "Pirates of the Zombie Coast." In my day job I am a contractor for the U.S. federal government in what could best be described as the 'Force Protection' field. In this I am an NRA-certified firearms, and less-than-lethal combat instructor.
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So — what is different about being an Associate?
In a word, responsibility. You now have your own number and are launched as a fully fledged dentist with clinical freedom and a list of patients who have the capability to be pleased with you………. or not.
You have freedom to develop your practice as a business how you wish, and set your own goals. This opens many positive avenues – but which are best?
You also have financial freedom. You move from being a PAYE employee to self employed status. You alone are now responsible for dealing with your tax affairs, ensuring Returns to HM Revenue and Customs are made on time, correctly, and that you are paying the right amount of tax, Student Loan, superannuation, and the rest.
The tax system is now strongly penalty-based, and most errors or misjudgements are now addressed with pain rather than the negotiation or understanding of old. This means that first and foremost you have to get your compliance right, and this means taking good advice from a reputable and experienced accountant who understands what they are doing. You can't expect to know all the rules and regulations, but your advisor should. You will have enough to do chairside, building on the theoretical and early practical experience of your career without worrying what is around the corner from the Taxman.
So park this up, hand it over to someone who knows what they are doing, and let them do the job you are paying them for, whilst you get on with the job that the patient is paying you for.
Tax payment dates
You will come out of your Foundation at the beginning of August. Your tax from then on will be dealt with the self-employed rules, which means that the profits that you make from 1 August through to 5 April will give rise to a tax bill the following 31 January. So it will seem like a tax holiday that first 17 months – but it is not!
At the time of that first January payment you will also start to pay 6 monthly on account for the next year. However, remember the first "year" is only 8 months long, so the amount you are paying on account will only be 8/12's of what it should be. Your monthly generation of profits will also be rising as you become more dexterous, so when it comes round to the next January payment, all the back catch-up tax will produce a monster bill.
This often catches new associates out, before their liabilities settle down from Year 3 onwards. This highlights the value of using a dental specialist advisor, as they will have an understanding of how you work, and the recurring patterns relevant in the dental industry.
There are a number of forms and actions which need to be completed which will start off your self employed National Insurance contributions, alert HMRC to your existence, and so on. These are quite boring, unless they are not done on time, when penalties arise and suddenly they become less boring.
Your "year-end" need not be 5 April. If one is dealing with a mixture of NHS and private work, then patterns of profit will fluctuate. There are also reasons why profit might fluctuate month on month, such as holidays, maternity and so on. It is often interesting to play a "what if" game with different year ends when one is starting in practice, as different patterns of profit generate different tax levels and the timing of these tax payments vary.
We do this as a matter of course, and will undoubtedly recommend the pattern and year-end which results in the least amount of tax payable by you. In some instances, the variations can be quite substantial.
What else?
Of course dealing with your finances and taxation does not end with simply complying with the tax law. There are always wrinkles and nuances in the system which can be approached in different ways, and which can be worked for your advantage. This is where specialist advice comes into its own, because dentists are different.
They work differently to other professions, they get paid in a unique way, and they work in a world which is changing and insecure. You need someone on your side who has a detailed awareness of your world, and so can manipulate changes in financial and taxation legislation to suit your specific circumstances, and hand the benefits to you.
In summary, moving from Foundation Dentistry to Associate involves a change in responsibility level in all sorts of areas. It pays dividends to use specialists on whom you can rely to take some weight from you, leaving you free to do what you do best, concentrate on being a dentist. It is such an exciting time.


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Ample July precipitation in a large portion of the U.S. corn and soybean production areas, coupled with very high crop condition ratings for both crops, have generated expectations for large yields for both crops. Those expectations have resulted in a sharp decline in prices beginning in mid-June for corn and early July for soybeans.
The USDA is scheduled to release the first survey-based yield and production forecasts of the season on August 12. As the release date approaches, yield estimates by private analysts are becoming available, more for corn than for soybeans so far. According to University of Illinois agricultural economist Darrel Good, the USDA calculates the trend corn yield for 2016 at 168 bushels per acre and corn yield expectations are generally high. However, there is a surprisingly large range in the estimates. Expectations are clustered between 167 and 172 bushels, but appear to range between about 160 and 175 bushels per acre.
Good says a number of factors likely contribute to the large range in expectations.
"Yield expectations at the low end of the range may reflect relatively dry conditions in some important production areas over the past two weeks, and for longer periods in some areas," Good says. "In addition, those expectations may reflect ideas that periods of above-normal temperatures during June and early July may have resulted in some pollination issues and that upcoming periods of above-normal temperatures may adversely affect grain fill. In sum, yield expectations at the low end of the range reflect the possibility of some crop issues that are masked by the weekly crop condition ratings. For example, the incidence of ear 'tip back,' which is when corn kernels do not extend to the end of the cob, has received a lot of discussion this year in terms of potential impact on yields."
Good says quantifying the incidence and impact of such conditions on U.S. yield potential is extremely difficult, as discussed in a recent article by Emerson Nafziger in the Department of Crop Sciences in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at U of I. "Yield expectations at the high end of the range likely reflect the incidence of above normal rainfall in many areas during July, lack of extended periods of above normal temperatures, and generally healthy plant conditions as reflected in the weekly crop condition ratings."
So what yield is the market actually trading?
"It's difficult to extract a yield expectation from current futures prices for the 2016-17 marketing year because the market trades both supply and demand expectations," Good says. "USDA marketing year, supply, demand, and price projections can be used as a starting point. As indicated, the USDA calculates the trend yield for 2016 at 168 bushels per acre, which would produce a crop of 14.54 billion bushels."
As projected in the July 12 World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report, a crop of that size points to 2016-17 marketing-year ending stocks of 2.081 billion bushels and a marketing-year average farm price centered on $3.40 per bushel. The USDA's Economic Research Service (ERS) has developed a model that projects the marketing-year average farm price of corn based on current futures prices, 5-year average U.S. seasonal basis values, and 5-year average monthly farmer marketing weights. "Using the closing futures prices of August 5, that model projects the season average price at $3.21 per bushel," Good says.
"Assuming market expectations for corn demand and consumption during the year ahead are similar to those projected by the USDA, that price projection suggests that the market is likely trading a corn yield above 168 bushels and near the high end of expectations."
The USDA calculates the soybean trend yield for 2016 at 46.7 bushels per acre. Good says current private-sector reports of expected 2016 soybean yields are less numerous than for corn, but appear to be clustered in the 47 to 48 bushel range. Above-trend yield expectations generally reflect very high crop condition ratings. Like corn, however, there are some late season uncertainties about the soybean crop.
"More numerous incidences of disease, such as sudden death syndrome, brown stem rot, and white mold, seem to be popping up. There is also some concern that the lush vegetative growth that has resulted in high crop condition ratings may be at the expense of yield potential. The importance of August weather also contributes to yield uncertainty," Good says.
Based on the projection of harvested acreage near 83 million, Good says a trend yield of 46.7 bushels would produce a crop of 3.88 billion bushels. "Based on a crop of that size, the July 12 WASDE report projected 2016-17 marketing-year ending stocks of soybeans at 290 million bushels and a marketing-year average farm price centered on $9.50 per bushel. Using the ERS model that forecasts the marketing-year average farm price of soybeans based on futures prices, closing futures prices on August 5 pointed to a marketing-year average farm price of $9.28. Again, assuming the market expectation of soybean demand and consumption during the year ahead is similar to that of the USDA, the market appears to be trading an average yield above trend value and near the expected levels being reported in the trade.
"Although both corn and soybeans are receiving some modest support from late-season demand strength in the export market, prices remain pressured by expectations for above trend yields, and record crops in the U.S. yield expectations reflected by current corn prices are especially high," Good says.
Source: University of Illinois Extension
A Closer Look at U.S. Pork Exports from USDA's Economic Research ServiceMay 20, 2020
2020 Replant RemindersMay 22, 2020
Specialty Crop Growers to Get $2.1 Billion in Direct PaymentsMay 20, 2020
Row-Crop Planting Slows, But Remains Ahead of Average PaceMay 27, 2020
View From the Cab-Farmers Get TestyMay 21, 2020
Future of WTO in TurmoilMay 22, 2020


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Some of my favorite posts to look at on other blogs are those that divulge decorating tips or give me a glimpse into different styles of decor. This ultimately has inspired me to start a little series in which I show you a part of my room or apartment to share how I decorate and give tips on what does and doesn't work for me.
The first thing I wanted to focus on is my dresser. This is how I set up my dresser in my bedroom at home. To me, dressers are something that can be so girly and feminine and I love making mine unique and personal. I'm constantly looking for ways to change it up.
A dainty jewelry box, several style books, summery candle and endless perfumes.
LC is always helping me stay stylish :)
I store my perfumes and body sprays in an acrylic organizer from The Container Store for the time being. I'm looking to get a mirrored tray to place everything on, but I just haven't found the perfect one yet.
I like to have my jewelry out on display so I know what my options are. Otherwise, it will never get worn! This jewelry tree is from PBteen from forever ago, but they still have several similar pieces.
This shelf hangs directly above my dresser. I love that it has both personal and decorative touches. Some favorites include my Capri Blue Volcano candle and my tissue paper poms.
xo Ellyse


text: Mystic Sands is a true gem in Vava'u Tonga. Situated right on the beach with its own pier for pickup to go diving, whale watching, sailing or sports-fishing, you can spend your whole vacation without having shoes on. Mystic Sands is a relaxed owned and run motel style accommodation. We will always do our best to make you welcome!! The owners, Kjell & Adriana are originally from Norway and Ecuador. We can tell you all about how and why we ended up in Tonga when you get here.


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Registration is now open! The Triangle Association of Freelancers (TAF) invites all to our 9th annual freelance writing conference. It promises to be our best event yet! Save the date! April 30, 2016
Keynote Address:
Getting Published in Today's World
by Brian Klems, Editor at Writer's Digest
Brian will also be presenting a session: 15 Tips in How to Write Like the Pros.
Brian will be joined by other fantastic presenters such as:
Scott Myers on Character Development for Screenwriters
Linda Formichelli with Pay the Writer: Making Sure you Get What you Deserve
Tom Welch shares Running Your Business: Financial Tips for Writers
Don Vaughan on The Seven Pillars of Freelance Success
Frank Hyman shares Column Writing for Beginners
Laura Poole gives us tips on Self-Editing Made Easy
Connie Gentry tells us about Writing for Trade Publications
Please note that Write Now! 2016 will be held at a NEW location: The McKimmon Conference & Training Center 1101 Gorman Street Raleigh, North Carolina 27606
TAF has worked extremely hard to keep the cost affordable for all writers.
Registration is just $69; $59 for students with valid ID & seniors 65-plus; $80 at the door.
Registration includes all conference activities, coffee before the workshops, a catered box lunch, and all beverages. We also will be giving away some EXCITING DOOR PRIZES!
To learn more, or to register via PayPal,
please visit


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I've been gushing on about how festive I've been feeling a lot this past month. I've written about decorating the house, Christmas jumpers, seeing the lights in London, reading Christmassy books and spending time with friends over a Christmassy meal. I love this time of year so much; it's such a sociable time. There's always so many exciting things to do!
With that in mind, here are megabus.com's top twelve things to see around the UK at Christmas! I'm DESPERATE to go on the Harry Potter studio tour! Has anyone been? Is it amazing??
Happy Holidays everyone xo


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Kim Kardashian's Thick, Caked-On Makeup — Love Or Loathe? Vote
Kim Kardashian has taken it way too far with the makeup! She usually looks absolutely amazing, but on Feb. 11, she was spotted in her car, arriving at Khloe's house with a ton of makeup on her face. Do you love or loathe her cakey look?
33-year-old Kim Kardashian definitely left little to the imagination on Feb. 11. She had on layers and layers of makeup — not natural at all! We love her natural beauty as we've seen on her reality show Keeping Up With The Kardashians. Why conceal your gorgeous skin, Kim?
Kim Kardashian's Heavy Makeup — Too Far?
Kim stopped by little sis Khloe Kardashian's house. She was spotted getting out of her SUV with thick, caked-on makeup and we have to say… it did not look good. Kim had a full face on. We don't love this look on Kim — do you? Vote below.
How To Keep It Natural
A great way to see if you've applied too much makeup on your face is by going near a natural light source. Instead of using your light bulb as a source, try applying your makeup next to a window.
Another way is by going outside and taking a picture of yourself. If you see a thick layer of make-up on your face, it might be best to start over.
Your natural skin is the best skin. Don't keep your skin from that fresh air it needs! If you want some coverage, try a tined moisturizer or BB cream.
Do you think Kim is wearing too much makeup, HollywoodLifers?
— Isabella Kim


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Flosstradamus is the duo of two Chicago DJ's/Producers J2K (Josh Young) and Autobot (Curt Cameruci) and these guys absolutely kill it. They incorporate elements of Hip-Hop, dubstep, electronic into some serious tunes. Some call it trapstep, but I think it is harder to classify. I'm going to post a few of my personal favorite Flosstradamus tunes for you to enjoy.
Original Don-Major Lazer (Flosstradamus Remix)
This is and absolute banger. Make sure you play it on some nice speakers or headphones for full effect.
This song combines rap lyrics, gentle vocals and sweeping synths for a truly chill track
This song is just absolutely ridiculous. Combine Lil Jon, Kernkraft 400 and Sandstorm and this is one rowdy fucking song.
Finally Total Recall has got hip-hop influences, great sampling and a progressive beat. Make sure you listen to this on good speakers or headphones to really appreciate the depth to this song.
Download Total Recall-Flosstradamus


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My title is Content Lab Editor, which sounds like I'm mixing chemicals over here, but really I'm just making sure you have interesting things to read on the site.
In life before CafeMom, I was an editor at The Bump, iVillage, Bridal Guide, and more and I have written for Self, Good Housekeeping, Parents, Parenting, WhattoExpect.com, and other national magazines and websites.
I love a good book, redecorating my 102-year-old home, singing (only slightly off-key), playing soccer in the backyard with my kids, and exploring my new digs in the Hudson Valley.


text: On 23 June 2011 00:32, Kostis Sagonas <kostis@REDACTED> wrote: > > Others have already explained the problem and suggested a fix for it. But > these kinds of errors (forgetting one set of list brackets) are very common. > They can easily be avoided if one writes in more modern Erlang rather than > in Erlang of 10 years ago. In this particular case, you can use a spawn with > a fun that makes the call to function format_temps/1 clear: And while searching, I found this -> http://www.erlang-factory.com/upload/presentations/347/Kostis.pdf I suppose that's a good start on modern Erlang. Are there more? :) Sid


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Maybe in addition to janitors there is a role for high achieving kids as newspaper proofreaders too.
That reminds me of this photo I took outside our elementary school last fall.
Everybody makes typos and other trivial mistakes and fails to proofread, but it's more embarrassing in some settings than others.


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FitzGerald, Elizabeth
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This paper presents the findings from a study that investigated how geolocated audio could be used to provide opportunities for public learning of history. The project, utilising mobile media and informal learning, was a collaboration between academic and community-based historians interested in enhancing public understanding of selected aspects of the history of Nottingham. It was concerned with supporting the enhancement of historical literacy, historical 'empathy', and participants' abilities to draw informed conclusions about contested historical subject matter. The historical subject matter was the 1831 Reform Riots in Nottingham, around which a local community history group designed a guided 'history walk'. The project supported a realisation of this walk and also gathered participant responses from both a 'people-led' walk and an alternative 'technology-led' version of the walk, where a media experience was delivered to participants through handheld devices that triggered the playing of audio files with information contained from different historical sources at specific locations of relevance to the Reform Riots around the city of Nottingham. Responses were recorded via a combination of methods: by questionnaires filled in immediately after each walk, researcher observations, and debriefing sessions of selected participants.
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text: UFDC Home | Help | RSS TABLE OF CONTENTS HIDE Front Cover Firewood situation in Botswana Previous work Project objective Study sites in Kgatleng Distri... Firewood provision in Kgatleng... Firewood consumption Firewood collection Summary comments Bibliography Tables Group Title: Conference on Gender Issues in Farming Systems Research and Extenion, University of Florida, February 26 to March 1, 1986 Title: Assessing firewood resources and labor requirements, district, Botswana CITATION THUMBNAILS PAGE IMAGE ZOOMABLE Full Citation STANDARD VIEW MARC VIEW Permanent Link: http://ufdc.ufl.edu/UF00081728/00001 Material Information Title: Assessing firewood resources and labor requirements, district, Botswana Series Title: Conference on Gender Issues in Farming Systems Research and Extenion, University of Florida, February 26 to March 1, 1986 Physical Description: Book Language: English Creator: Gritzner, Janet H. Publisher: University of Florida Publication Date: 1986 Subjects Subject: University of Florida. ( lcsh ) Spatial Coverage: Africa -- Botswana Record Information Bibliographic ID: UF00081728 Volume ID: VID00001 Source Institution: University of Florida Holding Location: University of Florida Rights Management: All rights reserved, Board of Trustees of the University of Florida Table of Contents Front Cover Front Cover Firewood situation in Botswana Page 1 Previous work Page 2 Page 3 Project objective Page 4 Page 5 Study sites in Kgatleng District Page 6 Firewood provision in Kgatleng District Page 7 Page 8 Firewood consumption Page 9 Firewood collection Page 10 Page 11 Summary comments Page 12 Bibliography Page 13 Tables Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Full Text . -. .-. .. .....-- .. -.- .-.....J i ' Sat the urniversrity.fn Floidar- -- Conference on GENDER ISSUES IN FARMING SYSTEMS RESEARCH AND EXTENSION Assessing Firewood Resources and Labor Requirements District, Botswana Janet H. Gritzner, Remote Sensing Institute and Linda Baer, Department of Rural Sociology, South Dakota State University Firewood Situation in Botswana Firewood supplies over 90 percent of the total domestic energy in Botswana and over 52 percent of total energy for the country. The dependence on firewood in this southern African nation is similar to that of other poor nations of Africa. More fortunate than several of its neighbors, Botswana currently produces sufficient firewood to provide the needs of its population (Tietema, 1984). This is because the country's present firewood resources are adequate for the existing relatively low population and population density. By the year 2003, however, the population will double if the current annual growth rate of 3.3 percent is maintained (Tietema). With increased population, the demand for firewood soon may indeed exceed supplies. Today, the primary firewood problem in Botswana is one of distribution or location. The larger villages and towns are growing in population at the expense of the small and more remote village settlements. Table 1 shows percent population changes - 1- between 1971 and 1981 for villages and rural settlements. Around these larger settlements, firewood consumption frequently exceeds local production. Firewood resources are diminishing due to overharvesting of locally available wood, overgrazing, and the clearing of land for crops. The problem is compounded around the rapidly growing capital city, Gaborone. The capitol, established in 1964 with national .independence, has a population of approximately 80,000 (Central Statistics Office, 1981). It has an estimated annual growth rate of about 12.9 percent, making it one the fastest growing cities in Africa. With rapid urbanization often comes deforestation. This has become a permanent condition around the capital cities and other urban areas throughout much of the continent. Reversing the process of deforestation is a major undertaking, ultimately involving a number of government and community action programs. Planning programs to mitigate the conditions of deforestation require detailed information on what is presently happening to forest resources and what. may be expected in the future. Without good planning and management data, programs for conservation and reforestation have little chance for success. Previous Work Fortunately for Botswana, the firewood situation has received a good deal of attention and several excellent papers have been written on the subject. They have been an important source of - 2- data for the work reported on in this paper, especially those that contained information directly relevant to southern Kgatleng District. The majority of studies have dealt with what has come to be known as the "other energy crisis" on a community basis, or they have made national projections of potential shortages. Tietema (1984) looked at supply of and demand for fuelwood on on countrywide basis. He suggested that the firewood distribution problem could be solved by means of an organized harvest of indigenous woodlands and firewood plantations. Arntzen and Kgathi (1984) examined the determinants of firewood energy consumption in rural Botswana, emphasizing the various adaptions made to firewood scarcity. Jelenic and van Vegten (1981) studied the firewood situation in Botswana's south-western Kgatleng District. Their concern was the human-side of the energy issue and how wood shortages were forcing the gatherers to search for wood at greater distances and with poorer results. The study focused on two villages in southern Kgatleng: Oodi and Matebeleng. Arntzen (1985) modeled his study on the earlier Jelenic and Van Vegten work. He assessed the firewood situation at Mosomane, which is in a relatively sparse populated grazing area in southern Kgatleng and compared it with that of Oodi and Matebeleng, in the more crowded mixed farming area. - 3- Van Vegten (1981) addressed the issue of vegetation change in eastern Botswana's hardveld in Kgatleng District between 1950 and 1975. The study showed the rate of woody vegetation change and the predicted loss in terms of economically valuable vegetation biomass. Project Objectives The goals of this research were similar to those of previous works, but with several differences worth noting. Key issues addressed in this project were: 1. Will there be enough firewood within range of the towns and villages of Botswana given present and projected population trends, current firewood distribution and projected supply and demand? 2. Because traditional firewood collection is basically women's work, how do the projected supply and demand affect women's work roles in terms of availability of labor? 3. To what extent can computer technology be used to assess present and future firewood situations? The purpose of this research project is to assess firewood resources in Kgatleng District and the implications of firewood - 4- shortages on the allocation of female labor. The research attempts to be predictive, and has as a long range objective the development of a monitoring strategy that is able to be duplicated elsewhere in Botswana. The study utilized quantitative measures, remote sensing, and Geographic Information System (GIS) technology to accomplish its objectives. The technical project objectives are fourfold. 1. To evaluate human-induced vegetation changes in Kgatleng District from 1950 to 1982; 2. To prepare a model for projecting vegetation change in Kgatleng district; 3. To develop an interpretive model to evaluate existing and' potential firewood production and consumption and an interpretive model to evaluate potential firewood production; 4. To analyze the data for female labor allocations to firewood collection and to consider implications for labor shortages in agricultural and domestic sectors. Remote sensing and Geographic Information Systems (GISs) technology provide data to calculate firewood production for existing and projected conditions. Consumption rates are based on - 5- information derived from the firewood use studies already completed for Kgatleng District and the Population and Housing Census of 1981. Labor requirements for collecting fuelwood are derived from the same sources. Study Sites in Kgatleng District The two village sites with their surrounding firewood collecting areas are situated in southwestern Kgatleng District, some 20 30 km northeast of Gaborone. The Mochudi study site is an urban-suburban area in which a range of settings from urban to rural (mixed farming) is found within a space of 150 sq km. Mochudi is the administrative center and, with an estimated population of 18,386, the largest village in Kgatleng District. Today the town covers an area of 20 sq kms and is spreading southward across the river, westward and to the east Mochudi is experiencing rapid population growth. Since 1971, the community has grown by some 165 percent. Because of urbanization, Mochudi offers a complicated pattern of vegetation degradation due to expansion of cropland, overcutting for firewood, overgrazing, and progressive bush encroachment. The Oodi-Modipane village site is a mixed farming (livestock keeping combined with crop agriculture) area between Oodi and Modipe Hills. The area is comprised of four villages and their - 6- communal lands. Oodi is the largest of the villages with a population of 1600. Matebeleng has a population of some 400 and is located 3500 metres from Oodi on the opposite bank of the Notwane River. More distant Mokatse and Modipane had 1981 populations of 34 and 1225, respectively. Firewood Production in Kgatleng District The basic objective of this study is to develop an automated geographic data base to assess vegetation change and its implication for potential firewood production in southern Kgatleng District. This data base was developed at the Remote Sensing Institute, South Dakota State University, using the AREAS (Area REsource Analysis System) geographic information system (GIS). AREAS has the same basic capabilities as other geo-based information systems. Its functions include accepting and updating data in a variety of formats, the storage and retrieval of spatial and tabular data, interpretation and analysis, and output of results in a variety of formats. The basic data for the GIS are maps of the two study sites displaying eight classes of vegetation density for different time periods. Vegetation density maps for Mochudi include those for 1950, 1963, 1973, and 1982. Oodi-Modipane maps are for 1950, 1963, and 1975. The majority of map data is modified from Van Vegten's study of man-made vegetation changes in Kgatleng - 7- District. Aerial photography is used directly to produce the 1982 vegetation density map for Mochudi. Mapped data were entered into the GIS by means of a coordinate digitizing table. Once converted to AREAS program format, basic maps were produced and areal statistics compiled. Tables 2 and 3 display statistics for firewood production for the Mochudi study site for 1950 and 1975. For each of the eight vegetation density classes, percent area and area in hectares have been calculated. Van Vegten (1981) provides the statistical basis to convert vegetation density class data to woody biomass. The calculation of woody biomass production in metric tons is the result of multiplying the area in hectares of each density class by the average fresh biomass in kg/ha for that density class. Tietema (1984) supplies the means of estimating the actual amount firewood available from estimates of total woody biomass. Woody biomass is first converted to dry weight and then to its useful firewood fraction. Dry weight of four dominant species (Acacia tortilis, Acacia erubescens, Acacia fleckii, Acacia mellifera) lies around 70 percent of fresh weight. For Dichrostachys cinerea, a shrubby species, the dry weight percentages is 76.6 percent. A useful firewood fraction is calculated, assuming not all aboveground parts of a tree are suitable for firewood. All wood thicker than 2 cm diameter is considered firewood size. Tietema studies of hardveld savannas in eastern Botswana show the firewood fraction ranges between 50 and - 8- 60 percent of the total tree fresh weight. Using a useful firewood fraction of 55 percent and a weight of 70 percent, it is estimated that about 38.5 percent of the total fresh weight of tree will present dry firewood. Based on these tables, the firewood production estimate for the Mochudi study site in 1950 is 80,320 metric tons and for the same area in 1975 a declining total of 68,636 metric tons. The map data sets for Mochudi for four different time periods were interpreted and composite, using the AREAS/GIS composite functions. Vegetation density classes are interpreted for enclosure into cropped land, fallow land, and firewood resource area classes. Composite maps were made depicting the changes in the three categories of cropped land, fallow land and firewood resource areas from 1950 to 1982. Table 4 is graph of changes in hectares of cropped land and fallow land from 1950 to 1982. This table shows that agricultural land (cropped land plus fallow land) has increased at the general expense of natural savanna land. Firewood Consumption The percapita use of firewood needed depends on the amount of wood, per unit of time, and the total number of individuals. Table 5 shows the estimated total annual consumption of firewood for Mochudi. Values for firewood consumption for Mochudi are derived from Jelenic and Van Vegten studies of Oodi village. - 9- There is a consistent correlation between the household size and the household's firewood consumption. Households of more than 6 members consume from .40 2.99 kg of firewood per person per day. Higher consumption is found in the smaller households. Households from 1 5 members use 3.00 7.50 kg per day per person. Firewood usage also varies by season. Winter consumption of fuelwood is considerably greater than summer consumption due to use of firewood for heating. Annual consumption of firewood for the village of Mochudi is calculated by multiplying the number of individuals by the rates of usage by household size and season of the year by number of days. The total firewood consumed annually by Mochudi's 17,973 fuelwood users is 18,527 metric tons. Comparison of firewood production and consumption figures for Mochudi and its firewood collecting areas shows consumption in 1981 based on 1975 production estimates is 26.99 percent. Based on 1981 production estimates, annual consumption in Mochudi is 26.25 percent. Firewood Collection In Kgatleng, all routine activities connected with domestic fire are carried out by women and children. Typical chores are fetching firewood, transporting it to the homestead, making the fire, cooking, and heating the house in the winter time (Jelenic and Van Vegten, 1981). Girls begin carrying wood from the age of - 10- 6 years. Boys under 10 help fetch wood. Women from the ages of 15 to 55 regularly collect wood in their domestic routine. The quantity gathered per collecting trip varies by household needs, the age and strength of the collector, and time of day during which the bundle is fetched. Table 6 is the potential firewood collection in Mochudi. Age/sex class of potential collectors is described in the table. Numbers of potential collectors in each class from Mochudi are listed. The information was provided by the 1981 Botswana population census. Values given for the average bundle weight in kg for various age classes are derived from Jelenic and Van Vegten's study of Oodi village. Numbers of potential collectors multiplied by the average bundle weight in kgs give the potential firewood collection per day by age class. The total amount of potential firewood collection in Mochudi is an estimated 141128 kg. This figure is multiplied by the total number of firewood collecting days per year to obtain the potential annual collection of firewood. In Oodi, firewood is fetched an average of once every three days. If the same schedule applies to Mochudi, there would be about 122 firewood collecting days in a year. Potential annual collection for Mochudi is then some 17,161 metric tons. This amount falls short of the 18,527 metric tons of firewood consumed in Mochudi village in 1981. Table 7 is a modification of potential firewood collection in - 11- Mochudi to reflect actual conditions. Not all potential collectors are involved in gathering firewood. Numbers of collectors indicated in Table 7 are adjusted according to Jelenic and Van Vegten's profile of collectors by age class in Oodi. The same calculations used in Table 6 are applied to obtain the potential firewood collection per day. With a reduced number of collectors, the potential daily firewood collection for Mochudi is 76,298 kg. Based on collecting firewood every three days, potential annual collection is 9,282 metric tons. This is not nearly enough to sustain Mochudi's firewood needs. If calculations are based on gathering firewood every two days, the total is 13,924 metric tons. Collecting every day gives a potential annual collection of 27,849 metric tons. Summary Comments Three aspects of the firewood situation in Kgatleng District have been studied. They are firewood production, consumption, and collection. The study revealed that firewood production in the Mochudi area declined from 1950 to 1982. During this thirty-two year period, a significant increase occurred in the amount of land devoted to agricultural use. The study further disclosed that firewood gathering places considerable pressure on existing wood fuel resources. With an annual consumption rate of 26 percent of the existing available firewood, it is probable that an increasing amount of living biomass is being harvested each year, thereby - 12- placing the availability of this essential resource in future jeopardy. Selected References Arntzen, Jaap 1983 Firewood Research Note No. Collection in Mosomane: Kgatleng. National Institute of Development (NIR). Research 11. University of Botswana, Gaborone. Arntzen, Jaap, and D. L. Kgathi 1984 "Some of the Determinants of the Consumption of Firewood Energy in Developing Countries: The Case of Rural Botswana." Pula. Botswana Journal of African Studies. 4:1:24-44. Central Statistical Office 1982 1981 Population and Housing Census. Summary Statistics Central 1983 on Small Areas (for settlements of 500 or more people). Gaborone, Botswana: Government Printer. Statistical Office 1981 Population and Housing Census. Guide to the Villages and Towns of Botswana. Gaborone, Botswana: Government Printer. Jelenic, N. E. and J. A. Van Vegten 1981 A Pain in the Neck: The Firewood Situation in South-Western Kgatleng, Botswana. National Institute of Development and Cultural Research (NIR). Research Note No. 5. University College of Botswana, Gaborone. Tietema, Tabe 1984 "Firewood For Botswana. Towards a Sustained Harvest of Firewood." Paper presented at UNESCO (MAB) Zimbabwe Regional Workshop on Woodlands and Water Resources. Harare, Zimbabwe. Van Vegten, 1981 J. A. Man-made Vegetation Changes: An Example from Botswana's Savanna. National Institute of Development and Cultural Research (NIR). Working Paper No. 40. University College of Botswana, Gaborone. - 13- TABLE 1. PERCENT POPULATION CHANGE IN BOTSWANA BY CENSUS DISTRICTS SINCE 1971. % Change % Change Since Census % in Villages % in Villages Since 1971 1971- Other Districts 1971 est. 1981 Census in Villages Settlements Ngwaketse 40 55 + 99 + 13 Barolong 86 88 + 44 + 23 South East 72 79 + 67 + 14 Kweneng 46 51 + 98 + 63 KGATLENG 50 75 +114 29 C. Serowe n.a. 59 + 72 n.a. C. Mahalapye n.a. 62 + 73 n.a. and Tuli C. Bobonang n.a. 45 +116 n.a. C. Boteti n.a. 50 + 85 n.a. C. Tutume n.a. 49 n.a. n.a. North East 34 77 +219 50 Ngamiland 58 52- + 26 + 66 Chobe 82 65 + 25 +191 Ghanzi 45 48 + 70 + 54 Kgalagadi 56 63 + 78 + 35 *Combination of three Census Enumeration Areas - 0CM PV r. m () 0) u 4J o q % In co co r. C (cA. fa to o3 0n CM (C cn C-% S- S M0 c 0 CD u- u. Cm 0 0 o U. LL. o 4V 0 U S 0 10 o m- 4 O 0 ml %0 w M 0 E ) Lf mr U o Q q C4 j m o o*O p u i m -r - uIc oj 0c c c c (o co wlr~ o 01 I I C r I co o cyi OCLC 0 . 7 )Q to c to m o e C oN C m aD > u 0 10 to C71 c10 M C% S. t v ( W cn c o- 'a B W n M n n CD 10 N 0 N .0 ai c M 1 P CM ;0 10 a M CC% &e 10 0 M Ca ( a I 'a4J 0 N I r-. 0 ai a a *- dl ^ 3 cn* C S W *Q I) 4- : j V) o LO C m o ko )(L) a> w r, cu Mo t/la~ m kO E C C 10 A. LLc uI 4J 0 CT C J N C 40 Cr I %0 P> coI i c- pN CD U, o, SL LO ta U 04 c n C 0 *t U L. ) % in oo o co U, UM 3 *. Cf 0 o c 4 N o o o C l( S. U to O to % M 0 m 0 CM P C. CM we 4C 0V W 0 W to IAo U, o m "4 0 C = v IM C I # I- Ul M 0S CE 0 0 1 o c c Io S t o Qf *o M CCj ge- *- - CL ( *i co r. S0- uu, "" U, C' .C OfJ ceo -5 u- -- .- *-o o-o*o ^ a C Ve. 0 CL "4 U, '-4 0 LL 0 "4 '. L 0 C C' U, I C t 0i a C S) C'- CM tb .C a C 0c '*s_ EU' CC aflC r , TABLE 4. CROPPED LAND AND FALLOW LAND 1950 TO 1982 HECTARES DROULTGHT -'/ \/EAR. L/ 1963 1975 7500 7000 6500 6000 5500 5000 4500 4000 3500 3000 2500 1950 1982 TABLE 5. ESTIMATED TOTAL ANNUAL CONSUMPTION OF FIREWOOD FOR MOCHUDI For individuals living in households 1 5 tn sfze: 5452 x 3.00 kg per day x 165 days (summer) 5452 x 7.50 kg per day x 200 days (winter) Sub Total (Firewood) For individuals living in households 6 1(+: 11521 x .40 kg per day x 165 days (summer) 11521 x 2.99 kg per day x 200 days (winter) Sub Total (Firewood) TOTAL = 2,698,740 kg = .8,178,000 kg 10,876,740 kg = 760,386 kg a 6,889,558 kg 7,649,944 kg = 18,526,684 kg (metric tons) TABLE 6. POTENTIAL FIREWOOD Potential Nos. of Firewood Age/ Potential Average Bundle Collection Sex Class Collectors Weight in Kg per Day in Kg. Females 2608 8 20864 6-14 Males 1270 8 10160 6-10 Females 1030 16.5 16995 15-19 Females 2061 25 51550 20-34 Females 681 39 15000 35-44 Females 600. 25 26559 45-54 TOTAL 8251 141128 121.6 firewood collecting 3 days. 141,128 kg x 121.6 days days per year--collecting once every = 17,161,164 kg (or 17,161.164 metric tons) potential annual collection COLLECTION IN MOCHUDI ADJUSTED POTENTIAL FIREWOOD COLLECTION no. of Potential No. of Collectors Firewood Age/Sex Potential Adjusted Average Bundle Collection Class Collectors by Oodi Data Weight in Kg per Day in Kg Males 1270 87 8 696 6-10 Females 2608 180 8 1440 6-14 Females 1030 612 16.5 10098 15-19 Females 2062 1591 25 39775 20-34 Females 681 326 39 12714 35-44 Females 600 463 25 11575 45-54___ _ TOTAL 8251 3259 76298 __ __ I __ __ 76298 x 121.66 collecting days 76298 x 182.5 collecting days 76298 x 365 collecting days = 9,282,414 kg ( or 9,282.414 metric tons) =13,924,385 kg ( or 13,924.385 metric tons) =27,848,770 kg ( or 27,348.770 metric tons) - MOCHUDI TABLE 7. Contact Us | Permissions | Preferences | Technical Aspects | Statistics | Internal | Privacy Policy © 2004 - 2010 University of Florida George A. Smathers Libraries.All rights reserved. Acceptable Use, Copyright, and Disclaimer Statement Last updated October 10, 2010 - - mvs


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ok there are plenty of places to buy parts i say shop around and get the best deal.
i buy alot of parts from walmart.com. even before i started to work there you get great prices and site to store is very handy.
break down of my computer
haf 932 case from walmart they had a great price on the haf 932 advanced i bought it.
evga z68 sli motherboard newegg but i think they sold me a faulty one returned it to evga they sent me a new one but it cost me an extra $70.00
my cpu core i7 sandy bridge 2600k the k stands for unlocked that means you overclock it. this is a very powerful cpu but if you plan to over clock it get yourself a water cooled cpu cooler i suggest the corsair hydro series 100 that why you get the haf 932 case to mount a big radiator for your cpu cooler.]
my cpu cooler i won in a contest at the evga web site this is a very good air cooled cpu cooler i can overclock my cpu to 4.5ghz with out going over 70c
everything else is preety general my ram i have 8 gigs fro corsair my power supply is cooler master slient pro 1000 watts . why so high i plant to add to mre gpus to it so thats the reason. my gpu is a nvidia gtx 560 ti this thing makes games look beautiful would like to get two more. i am going to wait to hear about the new 660ti if they ever come out. but with the nvidia gpus you will be able to hook a tv up to your pc thru the hdmi input now try play freelancer with a 50 inch hdtv with a 120 refresh rate winning. just wanted to edit this to tell you the power supply you should buy is a modular power supply only because you can plug in the wires that you need to use to have a nice clean look to the cables. less cables means better air flow into the case and thats the main thing airflow.
Last edited by rsabatino on Wed Aug 08, 2012 12:29 pm; edited 1 time in total


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Ambulatory Surgery Centers
AllianceMed will do an analysis of your surgery center to uncover missed opportunities within, not only to ensure quality patient care, but to increase facility and physician reimbursements while doing so. AllianceMed's educated and professional staff will guide you every step of the way. We want you to enable patients to choose your facility, not only because it is the best option for them clinically, but also because it will help limit out of pocket costs as well. AllianceMed has strategic partnerships that allows us to help brand new surgery centers. We work with our current clients to fill the surgery centers by taking other cases to the facility. AllianceMed has both DME and biological company's available so the physicians can provide a new level of "Concierge Medicine". We insure these extra services will be reimbursed and we bring state of the art implants to the center.


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May 1, 2017. The Mojave Foundation is proud to announce that Panera Bread will be selling box lunches on the Airport every Wednesday starting May 10th from 11:00-1:00. Panera Bread will provide a choice of 5 box lunches out of building-1, at 16922 Airport Blvd, as well as drinks. This is a test case to prove out the concept, and if this works there is a possibility of a more frequent schedule and permanent establishment here in Mojave. The Mojave Foundation is committed to bringing more amenities to our community, and Panera Bread represents a growing number of national brands to express an interest in investing here. We welcome Panera Bread, and encourage all residents and employees to sample the lunches starting Wednesday the 10th.
Category Archives: Lifestyle Businesses
Monster Fitness Considering Coming to Mojave
Mojave Air & Space Port is in negotiations with Monster Fitness in Lancaster to expand into the new community center on the Airport. Monster may provide amenities, such as state-of-the-art equipment, martial arts classes, Zumba classes, and personal trainers to provide the most modern, comprehensive fitness center in the Antelope Valley – right here in Mojave!
However, Monster needs to know how many people in the community are interested before negotiations continue. If we can get 200 people in Mojave and the surrounding areas to say they would be interested in joining, Monster could locate to Mojave as early as spring 2014! Memberships are expected to be around $35 per month, with a one-time $95 initiation fee. Just fill out this form below if you want Monster in Mojave. (This is for market research purposes only, and will not result in any sales calls.)
Roberts Challenges Entrepreneurs to Adopt a New Thought Process
January 20: Mojave's bi-weekly Entrepreneurship Workshop kicked off again with Raimone Roberts of the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in Los Angeles. With approximately two dozen in attendance from all over the Antelope Valley, Raimone challenged residents and small business owners to rethink their vision for 2014. "Where will you be on January 16, 2015?" he asked the audience, and gave them "homework" to rethink what they did last year and challenge themselves in 2014. Highlights of last Wednesday's meeting were to Set Goals, Dream Big, and Imagine.
1) What is your business, product or service?
2) Get mission critical – what is your mission? Has to be simple, clear and practical.
3) Focus on a better business. Build and strengthen your skill set.
4) Daily Habits – Are they progressing you or hindering you.
5) Relationships – People do not get where they are alone
6) Network – Build relationships, build community
Roberts went into detail on each step of his challenge, and looks forward to seeing what entrepreneurs come back with next week – giving entrepreneurs a direction and goal to focus their energies. There were real estate owners in this week's meeting, potential investors, Career Services representatives, and small business mentors – all willing and eager to provide financial and inspirational support to aspiring entrepreneurs throughout the Antelope Valley.
The Mojave Foundation is dedicated to proving aspiring entrepreneurs with the support and resources necessary to start their own business – right here in Mojave, and the Antelope Valley. Our classes are free and open to the public, and a great way to network and meet other people with possible resources to compliment your business idea. Our next workshop is Wednesday January 29th at 6pm at Anthony's Grill in Mojave. If you have any questions, call Mike or Susan Fortuna at 661-824-2275, or email@example.com.
Stoken's Donuts Celebrates 5-YEAR Aniversary
January 3: "I can't believe it's been five years" says store owner James Stokes, "things were really rough for those first two and a half years, but we never lost our 'personal touch', and building a relationship with the community, and we really built up a loyal customer base here in Mojave". Stoken's, a Mojave landmark, has been recently awarded "Business of the Year" by the Mojave Chamber of Commerce, and ranked number 1 on Yelp, and has seen business steadily expand since emerging from the ashes of the financial crisis in 2009. "It's amazing what you can achieve with the right people, and passion, and we have a great staff that is passionate about quality and preserving that relationship with our customers. Stokens, located one block east of Sierra highway on Belshaw Street, has become the central meeting place in Mojave for community discussion and social gatherings. Stokes has built up an especially loyal relationship among workers from the airport and renewable energy companies, whom Stokes credits with keeping him afloat during the rough times. "We try to get to know each of our customers who come in the shop, and we ask what they need and what they want to see."
Local residents held their breath in 2009 when Jame Stokes purchased the old library, an historic Mojave landmark. But Stoken's was universally acclaimed when he preserved the classic ambiance of the building while serving quality food and paying homage to Mojave's history. Stoken's, generally known for its high quality sandwiches and natural ingredients, has become a mainstay of motorists throughout southern California. "We get a lot of the traffic between L.A. and Mammoth," cites Stokes, "and we want people to learn a little about Mojave while they're here." Stokes, a local job creator with five full-time employees, sees opportunity in Mojave. "We want to keep growing, responsibly, with the community – and we think there's a lot of potential in this town."
The Mojave Foundation celebrates Stoken's success, and their entrepreneurial zeal. We appreciate Stoke's commitment to the community – demonstrating that there is a market for high-quality service and offering to share that success with other aspiring entrepreneurs. We wish James and Leigh and his staff even more success in 2014.
Mojave Foundation Receives 501(c)3 Status!
December 3: The Mojave Foundation is proud to announce that we have received our 501(c)3 status from the IRS. This means that the MF can now receive donations, which the donors can deduct from their taxes! This is critical to our mission to clean up Mojave, and allows us to put real resources behind our big ideas. We have accomplished a lot in 2013 with no money and a highly-motivated group of volunteers – starting a volunteer police squad (CSU), demolishing and cleaning up lots, and launching a series of entrepreneurship and educational workshops. But community-scale infrastructure projects will require substantial investments from both public and private donors. Some of our funding priorities in 2014 are (1) to demolish vacant hazardous structures that blight our downtown area, (2) to increase the public lighting for safety and security, (3) to build a railroad park on the west side of Sierra Highway, as well as community gardens. We believe that this community has the means and the motivation to change this town for the better, and we humbly encourage all residents to get involved – either by volunteering at the school, or the senior center, or with the Mojave Foundation! We intend to match this incredible outpouring of community support with tangible results in a relatively short period of time. We will execute all projects quickly and efficiently, with 100% transparency. Individuals can make general donations to support the Foundation's operations, or can donate to a specific project; we will work with you to find a project that fits your priorities for the community. To make a tax-deductible donation to the Mojave Foundation, click here!
Next Entrepreneurship Workshop: Thursday, Nov 21th
The Mojave Foundation is proud to continue offering these free informational sessions to the public, helping aspiring business owners to draft a business plan, secure financing, select a location, and hire local employees. These workshops have already inspired several businesses to start here in Mojave, and we expect many more in the next several months. This week's workshop will be led by Raimone Roberts of the Small Business Development Center in Los Angenles. Raimone will cover the basics of writing a financial outline for your business plan, and help entrepreneurs develop their "elevator pitch", which is designed to help business owners clearly articulate what they do in 30 seconds or less. The next class will be at Anthony's Grill, right next to Stater Bros., and will start at 6pm on Thursday, November 21st.
Entrepreneurship Workshop makes an Encore
Due to popular demand there will be a follow up Entrepreneurship Workshop on Wednesday, Nov 6th at 6pm at Anthony's Grill in Mojave. This week's event will be led by Jay Thompson of the Small Business Development Center at CSU Bakersfield. Jay is a longtime business leader, mentor and coach in Kern County, and will be explaining the basics of writing a business plan. Jay will also discuss how to apply for grants and loans to help your business get started, and will be an excellent primer for his Access to Capital event later this month. Last week's event saw 61 aspiring entrepreneurs, of which two have already started a business in Mojave! We will also cover several business models that are in dire need in Mojave that didn't get talked about last time, such as an events/catering/movie scouting business, storage facilities, and contractor services. Our objective is to identify the talent internally, and put the tools in their hands to start a successful business in Mojave. This event is open to all residents and businesses in Mojave and the Antelope Valley. If you have any questions, call Todd Quelet at 248-835-5239, or email at firstname.lastname@example.com


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Human anatomy and physiology refer to the study of the structure and functions of the human body. Anatomy specifically refers to the structure and relationships between body parts, while physiology refers to the function of the body parts and the body as a whole. The discipline of anatomy can further be broken down to macroscopic (or gross) anatomy and microscopic anatomy. Macroscopic anatomy refers to the study of visible body parts, including those which can be seen when dissected. Microscopic anatomy refers to the study of structures at a microscopic level, including Histology – the study of tissues, Cytology – the study of cells, and Neurophysiology – the study of how the nervous system works.
Specific areas of study within anatomy and physiology include the:
- Skeletal system
- Muscular system
- Cardiovascular system
- Digestive system
- Endocrine system
- Nervous system
- Respiratory system
- Immune/lymphatic system
- Urinary system
- Reproductive system
- Integumentary systems (an organ system consisting of the skin, hair, nails, and exocrine glands)
Methods for understanding the structure and functions of the human body have improved dramatically over the years. Beginning methods included the examination of animals and the through dissection of cadavers, to the use of X-rays, ultrasounds, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Image Credit: [Wikimedia Commons] - Skeletal System
Image Credit: [Wikimedia Commons] - Muscular System
Image Credit: [Wikimedia Commons] - Endocrine System
Anatomy. (n.d.) Retrieved February 6, 2014 from Wikipedia the Free Encyclopedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anatomy
Cliff Notes. (n.d.) What is Anatomy and Physiology? Retrieved from http://www.cliffsnotes.com/sciences/anatomy-and-physiology/anatomy-and-chemistry-basics/what-is-anatomy-and-physiology
Inner Body. (n.d.) Anatomy Systems. Retrieved from http://www.innerbody.com/© BrainMass Inc. brainmass.com May 30, 2020, 10:40 pm ad1c9bdddf


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Why go snorkel when you are in Costa Maya? Mainly because we are one of the top dive destinations in this hemisphere, with a rich array of healthy, pristine and easy to reach, shallow reefs that are perfect for snorkeling as well as diving. So where are the best places in the area? Okay, I'll tell you!
If you are in town on a cruise ship and only have an afternoon to snorkel, you are limited, but not at all without some very nice options. It is not necessary to travel far from the port or the downtown area to find shallow reefs and great snorkeling in the Costa Maya area. The best way to snorkel the area is to take one of the many small boats that take visitors about 10 minutes out of town and away from the high human impacted area of downtown. Each boat has their favorite spots, usually where they can anchor behind a shallow reef to knock down any ocean waves. These reefs, because of the limited and heavily regulated development of the area, are still healthy, plentiful and full of very vibrant marine eco-systems. These boats typically take 5-15 people per trip and the usual tour keeps you in the water on a very nice reef for about an hour. Cruise ships can arrange guest's trips from inside the port or take the short 3 minute taxi ride into the downtown, where the local walk-up prices are much less.
For those who come into town and have their own gear and do not want to take a snorkel boat, you do still have some downtown options. The downtown Mahahual beach is one of the most beautiful beaches you will find anywhere. It's just over a mile of white sand and clear blue water, always protected by a reef/sandbar that spans the entire city beach. The result is our perfect, always calm and undertow free waters. We say the downtown beach is like a giant swimming pool with coco trees!
However, that is also the reason we have very limited snorkeling inside the downtown area. The area is okay and snorkelers will see lots of fish that are of the sort less affected by human activity; sun screens, motor boats and too many Coronas, all affect marine life and especially the smaller and more colorful varieties. This, in addition to the shallow water inside the downtown reef, over time did not allow the formation of the sort of coral that is typically habitat for much of that same marine life. The downtown reef area is great for kids wanting to learn to snorkel in calm clear water but if you want to see the really good stuff, go outside the immediate downtown area, which in a place like Mahahual, is not very far.
A quick lesson of the area's water is in order at this point so that guests can better understand how easy it is to find really good snorkeling close by. The location of the original fishing village that is now the downtown beach, was chosen so for several reasons. One was the protection the downtown reef provided during storms and hurricanes. Another reason was that at both ends of the town's reef, are deep water natural inlets that became the route out into the ocean for the local fishermen. At both locations it makes sense that piers would be built and today you will find a private pier on the north end of town and the city pier at the south end. The private pier is owned by one of the pioneer restaurant beach breaks in Mahahual, the Tequila Beach Club, and is still today a popular destination and also host to several regional and national fishing tournaments each year. The pier on the south end is for larger commercial boats and military vessels that escort cruise ships in and out of Costa Maya. Those who want to walk to some very good snorkeling need only walk past these two piers to find the more developed corals, deeper waters and interesting marine life that those deep inlets provide. Just swim out to the reef and turn away from the downtown and the habitat changes completely. From the center of the downtown area, these piers are 5-6 minute walks. Take the short walk, what you find in those areas is worth it.
For those staying in the area longer than the afternoon, you are in for a real treat. Costa Maya is home to 75 miles of shore line and shallow reefs. There are no bad spots in the area. There are some that are better than others though. Ask a local and they can give directions to the best drive to spots. As a very general rule, the beaches to the south of Mahahual tend to be a bit more reef protected, which means better snorkeling on rougher days. It also means more sea grass, both in the water and along the shore. The heavier sea action in the less reef protected areas to the north, has prevented as much sea grass to grow, making the beaches usually less grass covered and less to deal with getting into and out of the water. As a local though, I can say you'll find excellent snorkel water and marine habitat to the north or south of town. My rule is if the ocean is rough, I go to the south of town. If not, I go to the north, only because there are fewer opportunities to go there with the number of windy days we have here, not because there is better snorkeling. As I said, it is all great!
Anytime you find this much blue water, coral and sandy beaches, you'll find some good diving and snorkeling. If you like to snorkel, come here and get certified as part of your vacation next time and become a diver instead. These days visitors do the classroom theory portion of the certification course at home on the internet before they arrive. Once here, they connect with one of the many PADI certified dive shops to do the fun part of certification, the water part! In just a couple days, you'll be certified and diving these same reefs, except at depths that only diving can provide.
Come to Costa Maya to snorkel or dive some of the area's best waters. Divers will find the best kept diving secret in this hemisphere and snorkelers will understand why. They might even become divers while they are here in the process. Saludos!