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The eight Ivy League colleges, renowned for their academics, were also once among the country's highest-achieving athletic institutions, with national champions and multiple prominent and ranked sports teams.
But that was 70 or 80 years ago, right?
This month, the Harvard men's basketball team, which has played the sport for more than a century, was ranked in the nation's top 25 for the first time. For two months last season, the Yale men's ice hockey team was No. 1 in the country. Cornell's wrestling team was No. 1 throughout the same winter, one year after the Cornell men's basketball team advanced to the final 16 of the N.C.A.A. tournament.
In the last two years, the Ivy League has produced 108 first-team all-Americans and won numerous individual national championships. Nineteen of its athletes competed at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, and 10 won medals.
This renaissance in a league known as the Ancient Eight can be traced to something that has nothing to do with sports: new policies that have substantially enhanced financial aid for all admitted students, making it easier to recruit elite athletes, coaches and athletic administrators said.
The Ivy League does not award athletic scholarships, but led by endowment-rich members like Harvard, Yale and Princeton, the conference has spent hundreds of millions of dollars in additional need-based aid — with most of the universities all but eliminating student loans and essentially doubling the size of grants meant for middle-income families.
The financial-aid enhancements have had a profound effect on the quality of athletic recruits. Rosters are now fortified with top athletes who would have turned down the Ivy League in the past because they would have been asked to pay $20,000 to $30,000 per year more than at other colleges.
"We're seeing a significant change in the caliber of the student-athlete," said Steve Bilsky, the University of Pennsylvania's athletic director, one of more than 50 Ivy League administrators and coaches interviewed. "It's not even the same population because the pool has widened. We see a considerable number of student-athletes turning down athletic scholarships from places like Stanford, Northwestern or Duke to come to Penn."
Andy Noel, Cornell's athletic director, said: "Eighty percent of our best recruits in the current freshman class would not have come here 10 years ago because we couldn't match other schools' offers. The impact has been enormous. And will continue to be."
A recruited Ivy League athlete must have the academic credentials to survive the stringent and highly selective admissions process at each institution. Coaches have little sway in the admissions process, although they do provide a list of potential athletes to admissions officials. Across the league, about 13 percent of each university's incoming class is composed of athletes chosen from coaches' lists.
But the new, plentiful financial aid awards have permitted Ivy League coaches to compete head-to-head in the same recruiting arena as some big-time scholarship programs. And in sports like baseball, soccer, wrestling or lacrosse, where most athletic scholarships are split into partial scholarships worth a half or a quarter of the cost to attend, it is not uncommon for an Ivy League financial aid package to be superior to the athletic scholarship.
At most Ivy League institutions, families earning less than about $65,000 annually are now asked to make no contribution to their children's education. Families making $65,000 to $180,000 might be expected to pay 10 percent to 18 percent of their annual income on a sliding scale. Ten years ago, such families would have been expected to pay almost twice as much, and their child would probably have accumulated a debt of about $25,000 after four years.
The current guidelines vary from institution to institution and can be affected by multiple factors, but each Ivy League member has significantly increased aid packages and has shown noteworthy largess. And in another unprecedented move, a vast majority will match the aid package offered by another Ivy League member. That makes the financial aid awards in the Ivy League generally the most generous of any group of colleges or universities in the United States.
"When I was a senior in high school, I had about 20 basketball scholarship offers from all over," said Shonn Miller, now a star 6-foot-7 freshman forward at Cornell. "But when they said I could come to Cornell for $2,000 a year, it made my decision pretty easy. I mean, are you kidding me?
"With the finances out of the way, a lot of good players are taking the education, the prestige and the athletics in one package."
Christian Webster, the second-leading scorer on Harvard's basketball team last season, made the same choice even when the cost to attend Harvard was $20,000 a year, including room and board.
"It's a sacrifice, but it's doable," said Webster, a junior who was Maryland's high school player of the year in 2009 and had about 25 full athletic scholarship offers. "It's not free, but it's also not the full price of $50,000 or more. To me, it was a 40-year life decision, not a four-year decision."
Around the Ivy League, financial-aid initiatives adopted in the last few years and directed at all students have significantly altered the decision-making of as many as 700 top recruited athletes. Erica Reetz, an outside hitter on Yale's two-time defending Ivy League championship volleyball team, was weighing full athletic scholarship offers from colleges near her Wisconsin home as a high school senior.
But when Yale's financial aid office offered her $33,000 to attend, she could not accept soon enough.
"Now I was going to Yale for the same cost as any other kid going to a state school," Reetz said.
The Ivy League gradually stepped away from the upper tier of college athletic competition beginning in the late 1950s, most conspicuously in football. As other larger universities gave away thousands of athletic scholarships and relaxed admissions standards for superior athletes, the Ivies retreated to focus on play against peer institutions with similar academic and athletic philosophies. Regional and national team championships were still won but more rarely, especially in major sports.
For decades thereafter, if elite athletes were also standout students, they were increasingly lured away by places like Notre Dame, Vanderbilt or Duke, which offered athletic scholarships and academic excellence.
"It got to the point where the only elite athletes we could reasonably recruit were either relatively poor or very wealthy," said Rob Koll, Cornell's wrestling coach for the last 19 years. "That's because in either case, money was out of the equation. One kid was going to get full aid from us and the other kid's family wasn't much concerned by the cost.
"The new financial-aid policies level the playing field with middle-class recruits. Of course, we still lose recruits all the time."
Indeed, no one is predicting that Ivy League football teams will be competing for a national championship any time soon. For starters, they have not been allowed to compete in the postseason for decades. There are other rigorous institutional checks, with Ivy League presidents routinely wielding complete authority over athletics. Last month, Ruth Simmons, the Brown president, announced she was cutting the number of recruited athletes admitted by 20 spots. And getting aid at an Ivy League university is not like accepting an athletic scholarship; it involves filling out arduous federal financial aid forms, writing admission application essays and taking multiple standardized tests.
Still, Ivy League coaches have enthusiastically entered the recruiting wars with a new zeal, and one of the first things they do is direct recruits to the financial aid calculator on their institutions' Web sites. After students enter personal data, the costs to matriculate are revealed in less than 10 minutes.
"That calculator is the greatest thing," said Erin Appleman, Yale's volleyball coach. "Parents call me right back and say, 'Hey, we can pay that much.' "
Appleman, like more than a dozen other coaches interviewed, said at least half of her recent recruits were from middle-class families who would not have attended Yale, or any Ivy League university, even five years ago.
"I can tell the demographics of my team are changing because not everyone is going to Cancún for spring break," she said, laughing. "The middle-class kids are going home."


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DIY Shibori Wall Hanging
I have recently fallen in love with Shibori. If you don't know what that is, to put it simply, it's a form of tie-dye. The difference being, Shibori technically uses real indigo dye to create the designs on the fabric.
I bought an indigo kit online which made the process much easier. It came with all the items you will need to create the Shibori effect!
With Shibori there are a lot of different ways to fold, tie, and secure your fabric to create different designs.
The basic idea is to fold your fabric, securing it with rubber bands or twine.
Then, you dip your tied fabric in indigo dye and let it oxidize.
Once complete, undo the folds, and rinse it out well. You are left with fabric that has really awesome designs.
I was really thrilled with the how my Shibori dropcloth turned out. It was a simple pattern that did not overtake the entire fabric and it was muted enough to work well with my home décor.
If you want to read more about the Shibori dying process you can see the whole tutorial here.
I have previously made pillows with my fabric but really wanted to make a DIY Shibori wall hanging. It's another great way to add some color and pattern into your home, and a very easy DIY project.
All you will need for this project is:
- Shibori cloth
- Dowel or rod (I used a copper rod we had laying around)
- Hot glue gun
- Scissors
I really love the frayed edges on unfinished fabric and wanted to keep that look for my wall hanging. I clipped the edge of the fabric and tore it straight down. This will give you a straight cut and also add that frayed edge. I did this to all sides and made it a rectangular shape. If you don't like the unfinished look, you can hem the edges but that will take just a little bit more time and skill.
Next, I laid the fabric down and set the copper rod at the top where I wanted it to hang from. I folded the fabric over the rod and checked to make sure everything was straight and even.
Now, take your hot glue gun and run a bead of glue on one side of the fabric. Fold the fabric back over and secure it to the glue. This creates a pocket for the dowel or rod to sit.
Now take some twine or rope and tie it to one end of the dowel or rod. Pull the rope up to create a triangle shape. You want to do this so that the rope can hang nicely. I like mine to pull about 5 inches from the dowel.
Tie the rope to the other end of the dowel and cut the excess rope.
Now you are ready to hang it!
The process couldn't be simpler. There are so many options for this DIY project - I hope you'll try it out and give your home some color!
For more DIY projects: 5 Easy Planters to Make for Your Home This Spring | DIY Chicken Wire Mason Jar Candle Holder

subset: commoncrawl


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Buhanga sacred forest is located in Musanze district in Northern Rwanda. Its surface is estimated at 31 ha. This forest was inhabited by Gihanga, the King who founded Rwanda a thousand years ago; and it has latter become his worship place.
By the end of the 16th century, an expansion conflict erupted between Rwanda and Bunyabungo during which the monarch Ndahiro II Cyamatare fought to the bitter end.
Nations are born and expand and so did Rwanda. Her cradle is the hill of Gasabo. The summit of this historical hill is called Rwanda and has given the name to the whole country..
Rubengera heritage site is located in Karongi district in Western Rwanda. In oral traditions, it is referred to as Ibigabiro bya Rubengera, meaning the state's shrine. .
Nyange Secondary School is located in Ngororero district in western Rwanda. The bravery of its students has awarded them to be among national heroes under Imena category.


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- It is unknown what animal he seems to represent (as making a moo similar to the tractors (cows)), as there is no such thing as a giant animal.
- Its appearance and size are based on a Haul Truck, a very large dump truck used in mining operations.
- Its appearance is also similar to Lotso's Dump Truck.
- Mater: "Heh, heh."
Lightning McQueen: "Wow. Yeah, uh... I don't know. Do you think?"
Mater: "This is gonna be good."
(Mater honks his horn and Lightning revs his engine. Colossus XXL tips over and hits the ground hard)
Mater: "Ah, ha ha ha ha ha!"
Lightning McQueen: "Ha ha, did you see that?"
(they stop laughing when they hear oil from the exhaust)
Mater: "Uh, oh. This ain't gonna be good."
(Colossus XXL backfires a burst of smoke from his exhaust sending Lightning McQueen and Mater away)
- —Lightning McQueen and Mater tip Colossus XXL.


text: BUSINESS Google Strikes Deal for New $1.6 Billion U.K. Headquarters 2:30 AM PST 1/18/2013 by Georg Szalai FACEBOOK TWITTER EMAIL ME The property development next to London's King's Cross is scheduled to be completed in 2016. LONDON -- Internet giant Google has reached a real estate deal for a site here, which will house its new 1 million square foot site U.K. headquarters. Google and the real estate firm said that the King's Cross building should be completed 2016. Financial terms weren't disclosed, but the Financial Times spoke of a $1.6 billion development. Google bought the new site from King's Cross Central, which oversees one of the British capital's biggest area redevelopment projects. The site is right next to the King's Cross train station and in a statement was described as "the best connected location in Europe." King's Cross Central is looking to revive the neighborhood by developing 1,900 new homes and office and retail space that could provide around 35,000 jobs. "The move is a major boost to the transformation of King's Cross and is one of the biggest ever commercial acquisitions in the U.K.," a joint statement said. "It confirms the importance of King's Cross as one of the largest development schemes in London." Google's current headquarters is in London's Victoria district. "This is a big investment by Google. We're committing further to the U.K. -- where computing and the web were invented," said Matt Brittin, Google's vice president for Northern and Central Europe. "It's good news for Google, for London and for the U.K." Construction on the new building is expected to begin late this year. It will set on top of cafes, restaurants and retail stores, the developers said. The new Google headquarters is expected to be state-of-the-art and have a campus feel, according to Simon Allford of architecture firm Allford Hall Monaghan Morris. "Working with Google is a special opportunity to create an innovative new headquarters of scale and significance that both builds on King Cross's rich tradition of heroic construction and contributes to the fulfillment of the development's visionary master plan," he said. "The proposal for a campus within a building that engages with a new, yet historical piece of London is a very exciting one that we look forward to developing further." Email: email@example.com Twitter: @georgszalai FACEBOOK TWITTER EMAIL ME Georg Szalai email@example.com georgszalai


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I share my real life experience or lesson in relation to each day's message so the reader can reflect and apply it to their everyday lives. Each day the reader receives tools that empower them to release the effects of fear and to choose love in every way, through their thoughts, choices and actions. One of the most important tools that has created miracles for over 3000 students and clients is the "daily practice" which inspires the reader to ask the simple question, "What would love do?" for every situation in their life. Every day there are inspirational stories and real world examples that illustrate how this simple question can create miracles and how it empowers the reader tap into their own intuition to receive the divine answer to any question.
Each day ends with three questions for contemplation so the readers can integrate the teachings and deepen their personal journey to empowerment. The pure intention of this forty-day journey is to inspire the reader to re-member that love is the answer to all that they are seeking and together through love, we will change the world, one heart at a time.


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MarylinBaby video. More videos (2)Free chat with MarylinBaby
Free chat with MarylinBaby
Hot. Sexy. Wild. Passionate. Open minded. Easy-going. Sensual. I like to tease and be teased. I like being spoiled, watched. It turns me one knowing that I make u hard. Tell me your fantasies and I will make them come true. Join me! Take your time, relax and u won't regret it!


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Clostridium difficile infection is the bacteria-caused infection affecting the digestive system, often experienced by people treated with antibiotics. This is the forum for discussing anything related to this health condition
There are no posts in this forum.
Use this control to limit the display of threads to those newer than the specified time frame.
Allows you to choose the data by which the thread list will be sorted.
Order threads in...
Note: when sorting by date, 'descending order' will show the newest results first.
Forum Rules


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Your Money is More Powerful Than You Realize – Interview with Todd Howell
Todd Howell, a partner at Universal Retirement, shares how you can make your money twice as powerful than you previously thought. He also shares some tips for business owners and entrepreneurs that he's picked up over the last 25 years.
Please tell us about yourself.
I love helping people with their money. I've always been fascinated with making money. I was the kid in high school that was following the stock market while other kids were following basketball and football. I show people how to multiply the power of their money, lower their taxes, while maintaining access to their cash. I have an MBA and a Master of Aeronautical Science degree (because I love to fly helicopters in my spare time).
What services do you offer?
Universal Retirement helps people with all aspects of their money; from creating an initial budget to long term investing. I specialize in advanced strategies of helping people double the power of their money and creating tax-free incomes. I think it's important for entrepreneurs and business owners to be able to access their retirement funds without early withdrawal penalties and tax bills. The strategies I use are typically only used by the ultra-wealthy so they're often overlooked, but they can be used by anyone.
What inspired you to get into this business?
I've always enjoyed working with money and learning different investment strategies. I got into this business because I saw the tremendous need people have for securing their financial future. We have a serious problem in America today. Most people live paycheck to paycheck and have a negative net worth and little to no emergency funds set aside. When people do have retirement savings, most of the time their money is at risk. I like showing people how to secure their financial future.
What are some of the challenges facing business owners that you see?
I currently see several issues facing business owners. First, they are having a difficult time finding qualified employees. Second, most business owners have a hard time keeping up with changes in technology. They keep doing things the way they've always done it and that can make them obsolete if they're not careful. Finally, like always, cash flow is critical. Business owners have to stay focused on cash flow.
What advice or tips would you give to new business owners or entrepreneurs?
This is my list that I use with new business owners or entrepreneurs. It may be a long list, but it'll give them the best chance for success.
- Get a Coach or Mentor
- Know Your Niche
- Knowledge
- Products
- Industry
- Tax Laws
- Competition
- Allies to work with
- Business Plan
- Cash Flow, Cash Flow, Cash Flow
- Keep your cash liquid
- Business Structure
- Sole Proprietorship
- Partnership
- C Corporation
- S Corporation
- Limited Liability Company
- Business Taxes
- Reduce Your Taxes
- Separate Personal & Business Finances
- Know Your Strengths and Weaknesses
- Know Your Clients
- CRM software
- Know Your Client's Needs
- Marketing – Market Yourself
- Track & Analyze
- Always Evolve
- Don't get Discouraged
- Remember the Benefits of Business Ownership
- Put your money into a financial product that keeps your money working for you all of the time
- CRM software
If people need help with their finances, whether it's to create a budget or to multiply the power of their money, or get a tax-free income, what's the best way for them to contact you?
People can visit https:uniret.com/money


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Great Cardinal Cartoons
Ok, I know I promised you a hot stove article today and I'll still deliver on that. However, in the mean time, all you Cardinal fans will enjoy this cartoon (used by permission) found over at toonrefugee.com.
If you enjoy this one be sure to jump over and check out the rest of his sports cartoons too. There are some great ones. Enjoy!


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Wonder Dog Ranch
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220 Taylor St.
Monrovia, California 91016 US
Email Us
View Mobile Site
Administrative Login
Display Number: 24095
Ranch Philosophy
Here at Wonder Dog Ranch we want to make everyone happy. We enjoy caring for dogs, and we want you and your dog to have an enjoyable and safe experience. In order to accomplish these goals, we check to see that all dogs have had proper inoculations, and give each dog a free temperament test to determine what level of play and exercise can be tolerated by each one. For you human clients, we want you to have an easy check-in, and check-out, and want you to feel good about giving some good healthy exercise to your canine
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Wonder Dog Ranch Cage Free Dog Day Care and Boarding Cage Free Dog Day Care & Boarding We are located at
220 Taylor Street, Monrovia CA


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The expansive wilderness of the Kruger Park holds an elevated place in the hearts of all who have been there. Being able to fly in to the reserve provides a spectacular perspective of an unspoilt land before man. Text: Graeme Wuth
Pafuri Camp lies in the northern most corner of the Kruger Park, in the lush floodplain between the Limpopo and Luvuvhu rivers. Beyond the Limpopo to the north, the wilderness stretches into Zimbabwe as the Sengwe corridor and to the east is the Mozambican section of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park.
Being in the northern-most section of the park, where there are far fewer people, and no fences between South Africa and the neighbouring countries, makes Pafuri one of South Africa's last true wilderness areas. Adding to specialness of the place, the rich floodplain is the most bio-diverse part of the park – three quarters of Kruger's biodiversity occurs within the Pafuri region. The flora ranges from Lebombo ironwoods stoically rooted to the rocky koppies and gorges, to ethereal golden fever tree forests, to grass plains with lala palms reaching skyward. Magnificent, ancient baobabs watch over the land, their gnarled, globular bark testament to their enduring lives – some older than 1,000 years.
The perennial Luvuvhu, broad Limpopo and the pans scattered across the floodplain are a haven for animals. Over 450 bird species have been identified in Pafuri, and birders come from around the world to see the teddy-bear like Pel's fishing owl, the brilliantly coloured yet elusive Racket-tailed Roller, and the tiny, nimble Bohm's spinetail.
In the dry season, herds of elephant come to find food and water. Huge buffalo herds crash about in the mopani woodland while the grumpy 'dagga boys' wallow in the pans.
Until 2013, the Pafuri Camp was run by Wilderness Safaris and Wilderness Air used to provide charter flights. In 2013, floods washed away part of the camp and covered much of the Luvuvhu floodplain, including the runway, in sediment. Wilderness decided to pull out of Pafuri, and the camp was closed until 2015, when it was taken over by ReturnAfrica. They cleared the runway and re-opened it at the beginning of this year. Private pilots are now allowed to fly in if they are staying at the camp.
The seven hour drive to Pafuri from Gauteng is one of the reasons the area has remained largely untouched, but the 300 nm by air means you can get there in about two hours. Practicality alone makes flying the best way to get to the camp. But how many pilots fly for practical reasons? And we all know the maxim: 'If there is time to spare, go by air.'
My wife, Romy, regularly works in the Pafuri area as an environmental consultant, and I jump at any opportunity to join her in the field – Pafuri is where I find peace and is probably my favourite place on the planet. We managed to coordinate our work schedules and so flew there from Hoedspruit in SA Flyer's Saratoga, OFH.
FLYING INLowveld Info cleared us for 3,500 ft. We flew north, skirting the western boundary of the Kruger Park. You can still spot plenty of game at just under 2,000 ft AGL, so with the autopilot looking after altitude and heading, we peered down outside to see what we could find, occasionally glancing in the cockpit to confirm everything was behaving as it should as.
It was early March and the drought was disturbingly evident from above. The end of the rainy season was nearing and the rivers should have been swollen as they meandered north-east towards the Indian Ocean; instead almost all were sandy river beds. The trees were green, but the grass was thin. Vultures drifted by, completing the scene.
We passed the 3 km, tarred Punda Maria runway about 5 nm to our east, and the eastern tail of the Soutpansberg appeared on the nose. The Mutale and Luvuvhu rivers, which flow into Pafuri, originate in the Soutpansberg and have cut magnificent gorges, which we were now flying over. Thankfully, these northern rivers still had a fair amount of water in them.
As would be expected when flying in to the Kruger Park, you have to arrange prior approval. In Pafuri's case your arrival is co-ordinated with Pafuri Camp as well as The Outpost, which keeps a record of all flights to and from the landing strip, and there is a specific routing. There are a number of waypoints to follow, but basically you route via the Pafuri gate at 3,500 ft and head east, keeping the 'Pafuri Main' tar road on your right. No circuits are allowed, and only after a specific waypoint are you allowed to descend. The approach is a descending right turn onto final for Runway 17. The departure and landing procedures are aimed at minimizing the disturbance to those on the ground. As a result the preferred landing is downhill and takeoff is uphill. Obviously allowances are made for strong tailwinds.
We passed overhead the Pafuri gate and followed the road. It's just under 10 nm from the gate to the strip, and I knew there is little time once you can start the descent before you would be on final approach, so soon I started slowing OFH down, to avoid rapidly cooling the turbo and cylinder heads, and to get setup for the landing.
We called ready for descent, and started our right hand turn. The wide, 1,000 m dirt strip lined up with the nose as we nailed a 75 KIAS Vref over the slight ridge to the north of the strip. Waiting for us half way down the strip on the left hand side was a Land Cruiser to clear any wandering game off the strip prior to your arrival. There is a cleared area to the side of the threshold of Runway 35 where you can leave your plane – but there is no hangar, shelter or tie down loops. You might want to put a whole lot of thorn bushes around the tyres to deter curious hyenas, but I think if a hyena or honey badger wants to nibble your tyres, it's going to. Our protecting the tyres with thorns brought on a chuckle from Isiah, our guide. Clearing away the thorns when you want to leave is also quite a mission, as thorns that have broken off from the branches become a real puncture hazard.
I have been to Pafuri a number of times, but every time I walk onto the central deck for the first time I have to pause to take in the scene. You have an uninterrupted view up and down the river. Nyala peacefully browse on the river banks, bee-eaters swoop and roll above the water, and with a little luck an elephant meanders down the river, sampling the trees along the way and splashing water on its back.
Down to your right is a welcoming pool with neatly laid out loungers under big umbrellas, and a little further on is a real African-style bar. Staff are on hand with warm smiles to offer you a drink and take your bags.
THE CAMPThe camp is built on raised wooden decks along the Luvuvhu River, under enormous leafy Jackalberry, Nyalaberry and Mahogany trees. There are 19 luxury safari tents, each with their own private view of the river. These are linked by boardwalks which extend for over a kilometre from one end of the camp to the other.Each tent sits under a thatched roof, so it stays relatively cool, even in the heat of the day. There is a small veranda with from which to watch the animals. The interior is typical of a luxury safari tent: subtle yet distinctly African decorations and furniture, with a king-sized bed covered in big puffy pillows and white linen, over which a mosquito net is draped. Towards the back of the tent behind a separation is the bathroom, with basins for two and an indoor and outdoor shower.
Two activities per day are included in your stay, these are either a walk or drive. Although it can be sweltering, I hugely encourage doing at least one or two walks. Pafuri, although it obviously has the big five, is about so much more than hunting for the cats, and it is difficult to appreciate all the area has to offer unless you walk.
After waking with the vibrant, almost deafening, morning chorus, led by the white-browed robin-chat, to hot coffee and a quick snack, you head out on the Land Cruiser. Guides pack more coffee and rusks for a stop out in the bush. A trip through the fever tree forests, full of birds flitting from tree to tree is magical, and you emerge to find yourself at 'Crook's Corner', the confluence of the Limpopo and Luvuvhu rivers. Here you can get out and walk in the vast Limpopo riverbed, look out into Zimbabwe and Mozambique, and have a cup of coffee while watching hippo eyeing you out and grunting.
When you return from your morning outing, there is a delicious and hearty brunch, after which you can put your feet up, have a snooze or watch the endless trail of game coming and going from the river. In the afternoons, you are treated to a high tea, after which you head out on another drive to beautiful sundowner spots for an idyllic close to the day. Particularly breath-taking for sunsets is Lanner Gorge. Here you sit high up over-looking the Luvuvhu River while the sun catches the same golden cliffs early settlers in the area gazed upon.
Hurricane lamps lining the paths and boardwalk welcome you back to camp, a drink or two from the bar, and a delicious dinner. We were lucky enough to have a Pel's fishing owl return each night to what was clearly its lucky fishing post – a dead branch sticking out of a small island in the river, right in front of camp.
Three beautiful African sunrises and sunsets quickly go by and long before you are ready to say good bye, it's time to leave. The remote, abundant wilderness that is Pafuri holds inexhaustible experiences and places of discovery. Even guides who have worked all over Africa hold it as one of, if not their favourite, places in the world.
GETTING THEREFlying in requires prior notice and special procedures. Contact reservations on firstname.lastname@example.com for detailed arrival and departure procedures and clearances. Flight procedures are also available on EasyPlan.


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You are my strength
You are my sun
You are my light
You give me life
You give me joy
The power that
Drives me even
In my weakness
You are appreciated!
Your grace is sufficient
The enabler of my all
The silent helper
In times of need
Never letting go
Even with my dwindling
Faith in your ability
You are appreciated!
And for this
I will praise you Lord
Lifting your name high
In times of joy and laughter
In times of sorrow and need
For you deserve all
Our loving God
You are appreciated!


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There is a feature on Walter in the May issue of Acoustic Guitar Magazine on Walter's playing of West African stringed music on the guitar. The article is written by Teja Gerken and includes an interview, instructional videos and musical transcription/tablature.
Here is an excerpt from the interview:
Gerken: What comes to mind when you think of African guitar?
Strauss: The first thing I think of is ornamented but very groove-based stuff. It really varies with the region. If I think about Malagasy guitar and look at the way people play, it's quite different from Malian guitar. When I'm playing guitar and trying to do African music, I'm looking at playing guitar like the harps of West Africa. So I'm playing a harp style where I'm doing big stretches and a lot of cross-picking. The two realms of West African music I'm most familiar with trying to play on the guitar are the kora and the kamale ngoni. The kamale ngoni is Wassalou music—from the southern part of Mali. It's similar to the kora but it's a smaller gourd and has fewer strings.
Read and view the full feature online at the Acoustic Magazine website or stop by the news stand to pick up a copy of the issue in print.
To learn more about the author, visit Teja Gerken's website.


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The Council on Responsible Cannabis Regulation (CRCR) is a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization that advocates for the establishment of legal cannabis markets within thoughtfully designed regulatory frameworks. There are certainly other organizations working diligently to end cannabis prohibition, but CRCR is entirely unique in focus and approach. Unlike the majority of cannabis advocacy organizations that focus primarily on social justice issues related to prohibition, CRCR believes that when exposed to evidence showing that cannabis can be regulated and controlled just like alcohol — with fewer social problems associated with its use — the willingness to enact laws that establish regulatory systems will grow. CRCR advances cannabis reform by helping policy-makers understand the numerous and varied benefits of legal, regulated cannabis, as well as the regulatory structures themselves. Policy expertise and a commitment to evidence- and experience-based education are at the core of CRCR's distinctive approach.
CRCR works to ensure laws and regulations balance control with practicability, to encourage responsibility and self-regulation within the industry, to educate policymakers on the particulars of how regulation works, and to generate true collaboration between industry and advocacy.
We work to ensure that legislation, ballot initiatives, and regulations are written to lay the foundation for proper regulation, both by government and industry. Our core goal is for the cannabis industry to be able to operate efficiently, while consumers and non-consumers alike enjoy the benefits of regulation that are felt in Colorado and Washington today.


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Jewish World Review June 4, 2010 / 22 Sivan 5770
Why the White House bribed Romanoff to drop out of Colorado senate race
By Dick Morris And Eileen McGann
http://www.JewishWorldReview.com |
We now know that Obama's Deputy Chief of Staff, called Colorado House Speaker Andrew Romanoff in September, 2009, to offer him one of three enumerated jobs if only he would drop out of the Democratic Senate primary in which he was challenging appointed Senator Michael Bennet. But the question is why?
Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes what many in the media and Washington consider "must-reading". Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here.
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© 2009, Dick Morris


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The continuum of views is likely to start from teacher/adult/ societal oversight and control, through explanation and discussion, to moderated self-control, which is where the majority of CYP / adults end up. The large majority learn how to behave and to take responsibility for their actions.
The notion of responsibility puts the onus on the individual to develop self-awareness. For some this will be easier than others, as their wider environment, family and friends, may well seem to allow other views to prevail.
The Golden Rules are expressed as:-
- think before you do
- trust your own feelings
- ask for help if you need to
- make up your own mind
- you can say NO!
- Education is about people, one generation enabling the next to understand their world. Good communication makes it work better.
- Children are children, learning about their world. They need to learn that everyone makes mistakes and (hopefully) learns from them.
- School managements work with and through the efforts of others. Their role is to make the front-line job easier to achieve.
- Life issues impact on everyone; be aware and on the lookout.
- If you think it is going wrong, look at yourself first. It may not be other people's fault.


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A limited liability company (LLC) is a popular type of business organization used in California. LLC owners receive the benefit of protection against personal liability for organizational actions of the LLC. Those who wish to assign economic interests and change the ownership of the LLC should review California law to ensure that any change in ownership is lawful.
Review the economic-interest assignment rules in both the articles of organization and operating agreement. An economic interest is an interest in the profits of the LLC. It is separate from management or membership interests but allows the interest holder to receive shares of money made by the LLC. Every California LLC must file articles of organization when forming the company. An operating agreement determines individualized rules for your particular LLC. According to Section 17301 of the California Corporations Code, the articles of organization and operating agreement may prescribe the rules for the assignment of economic interests.
Read More: Can an LLC Be a Member of Another LLC?
Follow the rules in the articles of organization or operating agreement if the rules for the assignment of economic interests exist. Otherwise, California LLC law provides that a member with an economic interest can assign his economic rights to another person. However, the person obtaining nothing but economic rights does not become a member or owner with voting or management rights.
Check the articles of organization and LLC operating agreement for any rules on the assignment of membership interests. Section 17301 of the California Corporations Code also states that the articles of organization and operating agreement may govern the assignment of membership interests. Follow any existing membership modification rules to change ownership of an LLC.
Assign the membership rights by conducting a vote of the members not assigning their membership rights. The LLC conducts a vote if the articles or operating agreement have no rules for interest assignments. According to Section 17303 of the California Corporations Code, the members may induct a new LLC member by majority vote. The new member then obtains the rights and powers of a member upon the majority vote.
Change the required list of economic interest holders. Section 17058 of the California Corporations Code requires the LLC to maintain a list of the full name, address and economic interest of all interest holders in the LLC.
Modify the articles of organization and operating agreement to reflect any changes of personal interests in ownership of the LLC. An LLC does not have to file operating agreements with the state. However, file any changes of the LLC articles of organization with a "Limited Liability Company Certificate of Amendment." As of February 2010, the fee was $30. Pay by check payable to the Secretary of State and send the check and form to the following address:
Secretary of State Document Filing Support Unit P.O. Box 944228 Sacramento, CA 94244-2280 916-657-5448 sos.ca.gov
Use a written contract to reflect a change in any ownership interests. Although the LLC members do not have to file any contracts with the state, a writen agreement can help to prevent legal disputes. Contact the lawyer who set up the LLC or any other California business lawyer for assistance in writing a contract.
Always inform the other members when assigning an economic or membership interest. All members should be aware of the assignments even if the articles of organization or operating agreement do not require such a notice. Keeping all members informed helps to avoid disagreements among the members.
Photo Credits
- Jupiterimages/Goodshoot/Getty Images


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Frankie Rose proved herself to be the restless type during the second half of the aughts. Upon her arrival in New York City, Rose embarked on a stint in Vivian Girls here, a jaunt with Crystal Stilts there, and an interlude with Dum Dum Girls tucked somewhere in that timeline. But each time she left a band scrambling to find a drummer to take her place, it never seemed like an issue of incompatibility. Rose always seemed to be chasing different sounds, while still looking for someone to bounce ideas off of. Interstellar represents the conclusion of Rose's experiment, as she jettisons collaboration altogether (including backing band The Outs, who joined her on her 2010 album, Frankie Rose and The Outs), straps her career prospects to a rocket and blasts into space, leaving her previous lo-fi oriented sound preferences in a pile of burning scraps behind.
Yes, Interstellar is a proud pop album, but it stands out in its artful dodging of modern pop's glassy-eyed maximalism. The album consists of a compact ten tracks, with only two types of songs within that: irresistibly bubbly jams that hit on all of the best moments of bands like New Order, the Cure, and other post-punk luminaries, and slower, more atmospheric work where Rose indulges some of her more heady ideas. Producer Le Chev, no stranger to maximalism due to his work with Fischerspooner, gives all of the songs here a beautiful sheen while still retaining a great deal of warmth and human detail. Songs contain gobs of atmosphere and puff-cloud dream-pop moments while remaining tethered to the ground by heavy bass parts. Rose never elevates her voice above mid-level singing, but it still possesses a certain power and confidence to it. Interstellar is an album that succeeds greatly due to its strict adherence to these balances.
The only place Interstellar isn't balanced is in its ratio of good tracks to bad, as there isn't really a clunker to be found here. "Know Me" is the obvious choice for the highlight- its highly syncopated bass part in the chorus and "Close To Me"-jacking drum machine pattern cause it to possess a giddy joy. "Daylight Sky" sports an entire team of woozy synths punctuated by sunburst choruses. "Pair Of Wings" begins solemnly with warm keys, Rose's isolated voice, and in a brilliant reality check, the clicking of a metronome in the background. The track follows an almost post-rock structure, building bit by bit, slathering multi-tracked choruses of Roses and other keyboards before finally dropping thunderclap drums and M83-ish background moans. Then, there's the title track, a prog-pop monster that ebbs and flows between rolling verses and a wordless chorus almost regal in nature. For as great a track as "Know Me" is, it sure does seem small when sequenced next to the opening title track.
And really, Rose's occasional over-reliance on sounds already familiar to listeners is just about the only reason why the number you see above isn't higher. While the unabashed pop moments on Interstellar are truly great and welcome, Rose easily proves she's capable of more daring things, as illustrated by closer "The Fall," which is built entirely on a cello loop, vocals coming from every direction, and absolutely glowing guitar work. By entirely abandoning just about every sound that brought her to this point, Frankie Rose already established herself as brave. That the large ideas all work as well as they do establishes her as ahead of the curve.
Band/Music: www.missfrankierose.com
Label: www.slumberlandrecords.com


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What better time than a long weekend to pull out the games we remember fondly and give them another look? Like Final Fantasy VI, one of the first RPGs I played, and the game that taught me to expect amazing female heroes in all my games (an expectation that led to a lot of disappointment over the years, I might add). Final Fantasy VI did something else that was quietly revolutionary for video games in 1994: it told a story of loss, pain and isolation, where heroics alone were never enough to fix everything that had fallen apart.
A couple years ago, A.V. Club published an article about FFVI and its themes of pain and hopelessness. Just like the game it discusses, that article stands the test of time.
No Final Fantasy game has been so committed to loneliness as Final Fantasy VI, though, which is strange considering it has the largest cast of colorful world-saving heroes. Stranger still, they fail to save much of anything, and the world ends, at least for a while. But the World Of Ruin isn't a place for nihilistic moping or stoic melodrama, though there are dollops of both here and there. Final Fantasy VI uses its gutted world to explore how people overcome failure and loss to build hope in new lives.
The landscape and experience of the World Of Ruin should be familiar to anyone who's been truly hurt. If a loved one dies or you're traumatically injured, recovery starts small. Myopia is a crucial part of the healing process: You focus on the small things in front of you to get through the day. When Celes wakes up in Final Fantasy VI, a year after Kefka broke everything, it seems like all that's left in the world is a tiny island. Cid, an old engineer and Celes' surrogate father, has been caring for her, but now he's ill. At first, all you can do is go to the beach, catch fish, and feed Cid. That's it. Go out onto the only land left, get something to eat, help who you have left.
That myopia should also be familiar to anyone who struggles through episodes of things like major depression. Your world shrinks down to the things you can manage, and everything else feels quite beyond your control.
Celes was pulled back from the brink of despair by the hope that there were still people out there who cared about her, that they'd survived the collapse of her world. Her journey from there isn't easy, and she has to struggle to find the support she believes might be out there in the world somewhere, but knowing that she might not be alone is the one lifeline that keeps her going when everything else seems lost.
Nostalgia often makes us remember the games of our youth as being better than they really were, but it can also make us forget that they could be as important and socially relevant as so many games are today. Final Fantasy VI is still there to remind us that hope can be the answer when everything seems lost, and that we can all be someone's lifeline in a moment of need.


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Equipment tests to verify the reliability of safety systems installed at TVA's newest nuclear plant have not detected any problems so far, TVA officials told regulators Tuesday.
In a status meeting with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission in Atlanta, TVA top nuclear officials said the utility has improved procedures and rechecked equipment at the Watts Bar Unit 2 reactor being built near Spring City, Tenn.
Last year, the NRC cited TVA with three apparent violations for installing thousands of parts at Watts Bar that were not documented or tested for nuclear-grade quality and for not following proper quality control to detect the documentation failure.
Ric Wiggall, senior engineering manager at Watts Bar, acknowledged Tuesday that TVA likely violated NRC requirements for equipment verification in the new Unit 2 reactor. In response, TVA is reviewing more than 550 parts or safety systems and has overhauled its equipment verification process.
"We are greater than 80 percent complete with evaluations and testing," Wiggall told NRC officials reviewing TVA's license violations. "Results to date have confirmed that the components or systems meet the criteria to be able to perform their safety functions. To date, no safety significance has been identified, nor do we anticipate any safety significant issues once evaluations are tests have been completed."
TVA spokesman Mike Bradley said the testing for all of the suspect equipment should be completed by this summer. In its quarterly report filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission last week, TVA said it still expects to complete its work on building Watts Bar Unit 2 by 2015 at a cost between $4 billion and $4.5 billion.
TVA may still be fined by the NRC for installing commercial-grade equipment that had not been tested for the higher nuclear-grade quality at Watts Bar. NRC spokesman Roger Hannah said regulators will review TVA's report and issue its findings in the next few weeks.
Tennessee rated best state for retirees
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BANGKOK, 13 March 2013 The Prime Minister has turned down rumors, which suggested another round of Cabinet reshuffle is now on the horizon.
PM Yingluck Shinawatra said on Tuesday that there is no plan for a Cabinet shake-up being considered at the moment while promising to keep the public informed of such development when a decision is made.
The PM stated that any change to the Cabinet line-up requires thorough and careful consideration before a conclusion can be drawn.
When asked about the government's pushing for amnesty law, Ms. Yingluck said the issue is the responsibility of the Legislative Branch and the chief whips of the government, the opposition and the Senate have already been asked to discuss the details of this widely-watched law.
The Premier also rejected claims that she has been pressured by former PM Thaksin Shinawatra for a speedy passing of the draft National Reconciliation Bill.
She asserted that reconciliation in a country requires more discussion and exchange of ideas among all related parties in order to identify the best and violence-free way out of the years-long conflicts, for the good of Thailand and its people.


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2018... Healing #metoo
You can control how you think about yourself.
You can tell your own truth about the experience.
As Brené Brown says, "Shame cannot survive empathy." But the truth is, sometimes we have to be our own provider of that empathy.
We need to find the people who matter. Who will hold us and hold us to account.
And until we do, we have to hold ourselves.
Speaking our truth is the power of holding oneself with respect & love.
It is self care. No one else can speak your truth.
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Lewis & Kappes, P.C.
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Lewis & Kappes, P.C. is a general practice law firm composed of experienced attorneys delivering innovative services in a cost-effective manner to clients including individuals, businesses, institutions of higher education, public school boards, not-for-profit corporations and other entities. Lewis & Kappes, P.C. represents and advises clients from all over the world and has offices in Indianapolis and Zionsville, Indiana. Lewis & Kappes, P.C. provides a wide range of legal services with the same commitment to excellence as larger firms, but with the client service and personal attention of single practice area firms.
Headquartered in downtown Indianapolis, Lewis & Kappes is in the heart of the business district, adjacent to federal and state courts and the governmental agencies with which we interact.
We represent business and individual clients in a wide variety of practice areas.
The Lewis & Kappes App is designed for use by clients as well as the general public.
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As anyone who has mowed their lawn dozens of times in a season knows, grass does not stay short. However, it also does not grow infinitely.
Each species of grass wants to mature to a particular height before moving on to the next stage of its life cycle. Bamboo, which is technically a type of grass, can rapidly grow to over 100 feet tall. The tallest grass species in North America, a reed called phragmites, grows in marshes and can reach a height of 13 feet.
The grass species found in lawns are much less ambitious, stopping their growth at a height of about 2 feet. Once these species have reached their mature size, they begin the reproductive stage of their life by forming flowers. Because grasses are pollinated by wind rather than by insects or birds, their flowers are small and inconspicuous.
Next, pollinated flowers mature into seeds. In grasses that are grown as commercial crops, such as wheat and corn, the part of the plant that is harvested forms at this stage.
If left alone, the seeds will disperse and, if they're lucky, grow into new grass plants. The cycle of life continues.
When grass is regularly mowed, it is kept perpetually immature and unable to reproduce through flowers and seeds. However, it can still reproduce! Just as a mown grass plant quickly grows back its lost part – the blade – grass clippings will try to regrow their own lost parts. If left lying in a favorable location, clippings will form new roots and become independent plants.
The great diversity of the grass family means that it's possible to put away the lawnmower forever and still have a short lawn. Some species, such as dwarf mondo grass, look similar to traditional lawn grasses but never get more than a few inches tall. Other species, like Pennsylvania sedge and the fine fescues, grow a little taller but flop over into soft mounds. These grasses are great alternatives for homeowners who are interested in mowing less but are not yet ready to abandon the aesthetic of a lawn.


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Special Education Advocacy sparks student's interest in law
Some students always envision attending law school. They work tirelessly as undergraduates to build up their GPAs and study endlessly for that daunting LSAT, eventually celebrating their acceptance into law school.
For 3L Carolyn Cole, the path wasn't so straightforward.
"It took me 26 years to figure it out," Cole said."So every time the 23-year-olds say they don't know what they want to do, I tell them, 'You don't have to; it's OK. It took me a really long time.' "
She earned two other degrees — a dual-degree in physical and health education and psychology from Queen's University in Canada and a master of education in therapeutic recreation management from Springfield College in Massachusetts — before she decided law school was where she belonged.
Cole said she owes her direction to an unexpected job offer. After she finished her undergraduate schooling, she worked as a personal trainer, until a client offered her a very different job one day.
"One of my clients asked if I'd be interested in teaching children with autism because her best friend ran a private school for children with autism. So I randomly got the job, and it pretty much changed my life forever," she said. "I loved every second of it and knew I wanted to do something involving individuals with disabilities, but wasn't quite sure what it was."
In graduate school, she studied therapeutic recreation management, which is basically using sport and recreation to help individuals with disabilities. "I liked it, but I didn't love it. After my first semester I got sick and had to take a semester off of school. While I was home, I had a little more time to think about what I wanted to do."
After some thought, she saw where her true interest lied: in helping individuals with disabilities get the opportunities they deserve.
Three weeks after finishing her master's program, Cole moved to Columbus, where she found her perfect fit.
"Honestly, I could not have picked a better place to be. I feel completely comfortable around everyone, professors and students, and there's always someone there to support you or help you out. I really didn't think law school was going to be like that," Cole said. "So I'm just really happy I picked Ohio State."
Because she was interested in special education advocacy, Cole said Professor Ruth Colker, one of the leading scholars in the country in the area of special education advocacy and disability discrimination, was largely the reason she chose Ohio State.
Cole said she reached out to Colker right away, and since then Colker has been "the best mentor, supporter, and most encouraging person I could've asked for." Over her 1L summer, Cole worked with Colker as a research assistant, analyzing accessible technology for individuals with disabilities.
"She's so intelligent and passionate about (special education and the law)," Cole said. "And the combination is just really inspiring. When you talk to her, you know exactly why she's a leader in the field. She just loves it, and I think being around her just makes me like it even more."
While special education law inspired Cole to attend law school, her horizons have since expanded after taking Torts and Product Liability, two classes she found especially interesting. She said her goal is to combine these two areas of the law with helping individuals with disabilities because many product liability cases involve someone becoming disabled due to a product malfunctioning or a toxic substance. "That's my dream job, to work in product liability litigation, negotiating settlements involving individuals who have become permanently disabled, and then do my pro bono work in special education advocacy," she said.
For now, Cole said she's just enjoying her time in law school.
"I have absolutely loved law school," she said. "I've never enjoyed school before, which makes me feel like I'm doing the right thing with my life. I think if you are there for a reason, and you know why you're there with an endgame in mind, it's much easier to enjoy it."
One of the classes that contributed to her happiness was Special Education Advocacy, taught by Colker. The experiential learning course uses simulations to encourage students to research different areas of the law in order to accurately represent a party.
"Special Education Advocacy was probably the best class I've taken thus far. I'm not just saying that because I love the topic, but it's just completely practical,"she said. "It's like: Here's an IEP (Individualized Education Program); here's your role; now study what you need to know about the law for your role."
She emphasized liking the practical aspect of the class especially.
"You really feel like if you had to go advocate for somebody tomorrow, you would at least know what you're doing," she said. "Whereas in some of the other classes, it's more studying the material – and that's great, you're learning what you need to know – but there are so many things you don't know until you go do it."
While she experienced different fields of study before settling on law school, Cole said the perfect fit made it worth the wait, and having the support of her family made her decision easier.
"I don't think I would've ever been able to do it if I didn't have the family I have," Cole said. "They are the most selfless and supportive people I know. When I told them I wanted to change paths and go to law school, all they said was "If that's what you want to do, go for it. We love you and believe you can do anything you want to do.' I said, 'Really? You're not going to tell me I'm crazy?' They didn't. They just never, ever judge me for anything. I'm very lucky. I know not everyone has that, and that's probably the only reason I'm where I am right now."


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Ammad Naeem
Lewis Holtby is attracting more than his fair share of attention at present. A Germany international, who turns out with Schalke in the Bundesliga, Holtby is one of the hottest transfer targets of the season.
The midfielder joined Schalke from Alemannia Aachen in 2009 and had spells on loan at Bochum and Mainz before heading back to Gelsenkirchen primed for first team football in the summer of 2011. Holtby's father is English, while his mother is German – a combination which means he could have played for the England national team, but opted for Die Mannschaft instead.
It was at Mainz where Holtby started to make a name for himself, alongside forward Andre Schurrle, now at Leverkusen. The pair were part of a Mainz side that stormed to the top of the Bundesliga table after eight games in 2010/11, beating even Bayern Munich along the way. Soon Schalke realised their midfielder was blossoming and brought him back to the Veltins Arena at the end of the season.
Holtby has not disappointed at Schalke, becoming a popular figure with the club's fans and playing a pivotal role in the fine form of Huub Stevens' men, both in the Bundesliga and in Europe. As part of an attacking force with Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Jefferson Farfan, Julian Draxler and Ibrahim Afellay, Holtby has played a big role in a Schalke side which has put rivals to the sword, most recently seeing off Arsenal with ease, recording a 2-0 win at the Emirates Stadium in the Champions League before coming back from 2-0 down to draw with the Gunners in the reverse fixture in Gelsenkirchen.
Still just 22 years old, his fine domestic displays convinced Germany coach Joachim Low to call him up to the national team, capping the midfielder to end any hope England had of tempting him to represent the Three Lions.
While his international future is now certainly not in England though, his club future might be, with both Arsenal and Liverpool having been strongly linked with a bid for his services. Holtby's contract at Schalke expires in the summer and his agent admits offers have arrived from the land of his father's birth.
Ahead of Schalke's match against Arsenal at the Veltins Arena, Holtby was questioned about a potential switch away from the Ruhr giants. "I think people talk about it too much", he told the assembled media. "I am blue and white, I am with Schalke and agents are there to deal with that. My focus is on the squad, the team, the club and tomorrow's game. I play for Schalke, I don't play for Liverpool, Arsenal or anyone else."
Holtby's father hails from Merseyside, which on the face of it would appear to favour a switch to Liverpool, but for the fact his dad is a lifelong Everton fan. Holtby has admitted to following Everton's fortunes closely, something which could get any potential Liverpool career off on the wrong foot.
The jury is out on whether Holtby will remain at Schalke or choose to fulfil his ambition of playing in the English Premier League. Schalke have struck a confident note over a new contract, though an acceptance of Holtby's "English dream" hints to an uncertainty over whether he will put pen to paper.
Schalke are firmly of the opinion that their young star still has growing to do – and where better than in Gelsenkirchen? "Holtby's doing well", explained sporting director Horst Heldt. "But he can still learn a lot."
Now Holtby must decide: is it Arsenal, Liverpool or the more comfortable surrounds of home which will provide the best platform?
Photo courtesy xtranews


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OK, rant over. I just don't get these directorial choices, as I've made clear in my reviews of other pieces, especially period pieces, that utilize them to an absurd degree. So let's forget them for a moment and move on to the many pleasures that await the viewer in John Adams.
I recently had the pleasure of reacquainting myself with PBS' sterling miniseries from the 1970s, The Adams Chronicles, which I reviewed here some months ago. At the same time, HBO was offering a free weekend and I was able to watch one episode of John Adams, which struck me then, due to the directorial "tarting up" mentioned above, as less than stellar. I'm happy to at least partially reverse that verdict now that I've seen the entire seven episodes. Though Paul Giamatti would probably have been one of the last people I would have thought of to portray our second President, his work here is beautifully full and remarkably varied. While other Adamses, like William Daniels (in both the stage and screen versions of the superb musical 1776) and George Grizzard in Chronicles may have the edge on Giamatti in terms of patrician rage and obnoxiousness, it's Giamatti's doleful eyes, often full of pain and regret, that set his Adams apart from those other portrayals. As the Continental Congress sings to Adams in the musical version of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, "You're obnoxious and disliked," but Giamatti is able to bring something else to the table here: a surprising self-awareness, even ruefulness over his personality faults, that make this Adams a living, breathing character and not some kind of animatronic mannequin from a lost wing of the Smithsonian. While I felt that Giamatti was outright mimicking Daniels' famous vocal interpretation of Adams, the resemblance really ends there. Giamatti's Adams has a scrap and grittiness, not to mention vitriol, that makes it a very unique creation.
Matching Giamatti every step of the way is a lovely and at times heartbreaking Laura Linney as Adams' wife Abigail, surely one of the greatest women in American history. Every part her husband's intellectual equal (some might argue convincingly his superior in this regard), and certainly more even-tempered and politically savvy, Abigail is a character needing equal parts spunk and restraint, and Linney delivers in both categories. The playfulness between Abigail and John in this miniseries is expertly handled, and the deep bond between them is absolutely palpable. Abigail's brilliantly eloquent mind is revealed in some excerpts from her actual letters to Adams, all of which never fail to impress with their incredible verbiage and depth of emotion, all couched of course in that quaintly restrained manner of the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
The series, which spans the years 1770 to 1826, is notable as much for what is leaves out (or deals with only tangentially) as for what it includes. Therefore, such world-shaking events as the Boston Tea Party are mentioned only in passing, and even some of the intricacies of the negotiations between northern and southern colonies in the agreement to declare independence is glossed over. The Revolutionary War itself is almost a sidebar here, as Adams finds himself in France for most of it attempting to woo various European governments into alliances, both formally and monetarily. The hedonism of the French court is nicely contrasted to that of the English when, after the American victory (which is dealt with via a message delivered to Adams), Adams then becomes the first American Ambassador to Britain. The scene of Adams and King George meeting for the first time is a wonderful moment in awkwardness covered by florid language, and one wonders how accurate it might be, though as an actors' piece, it certainly gives both Giamatti and Tom Hollander a great moment. While the series goes on to portray the big moments in Adams' life, including becoming our first Vice President and second President, it's really more notable for the personal matters it explores away from the headlines of history that really only serve as its backdrop.
There are an abundance of fascinating little factoids dropped throughout the seven episodes, some cultural, some historical and some personal. I was amazed to find out that the relatively primitive medicine of that day had a sort of inoculation for the smallpox epidemic which ravaged America during the 1700s and beyond. Though this segment is a bit graphic, with live pox being squeezed and that effluent being knifed into uninfected people to create a hoped for immunity (as the physician in the episode admits, it actually kills quite a few), it showed an amazing foresight into what would centuries later would become the idea behind vaccines. In one of the last episodes, when it's discovered that Adams' daughter has breast cancer, there's an amazingly frank discussion about mastectomy. On a personal historical level, it's fascinating to see Adams take an individual journey from hatred of the Monarchy, to a pained respect (once he becomes Ambassador), to actually arguing that the United States might need a King in order to prevent dissolution! There are also some nice throwaway moments, such as when Adams is assuming the duties of President and looks around at the slaves surrounding the doorway, making the subtle point that refusing to deal definitively with that issue during the negotiations behind crafting the Declaration of Independence sowed the seeds for what would a half century or so later become the Civil War. Also nicely portrayed is the growing animosity between Adams and Jefferson (well played by Stephen Dillane), who start out as quite close friends (in fact, the Paris episode shows Jefferson flirting more than a little with Abigail), but who soon find themselves on opposite sides of virtually every issue, especially with regard to the Franco-British war, ultimately rending their friendship asunder. Tom Wilkinson of Full Monty fame makes an appealingly playful Ben Franklin, though I was surprised to hear the hint of an Irish brogue in his interpretation which I'm not absolutely sure is historically accurate.
There's also, as might be expected, quite a bit of drama concerning the Adams children. Aside from daughter Abigail's health problems, and a mismatched marriage, the miniseries doesn't shirk from alcoholism and other tribulations that beset Adams' sons, including a sad early death. The family dynamic is brilliantly portrayed here, with the thrust and parry between John and Abigail leaving indelible marks on their children, as it always does. Adams' almost constant tours away from the homefront in the early episodes gives Linney some of her best moments, where she teeters rather precariously between anger and sorrow.
The miniseries, when it isn't beset by the constantly shifting and patently absurd camerawork, has a beautiful look to it, with some stunning location work. The courts of France and England come fully alive here, and the segments in Amsterdam look (I think intentionally) like something out of a Brueghel painting. But watch out for those weirdly askew camera angles--by the time this had happened for the umpteenth time, I wanted to yell at two Netherlands councilmen, "Watch out, you're going to slip out of frame," when they were filmed at about a 90 degree angle.
John Adams closes on July 4, 1826, the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and the date on which both Adams and Jefferson, now semi-reconciled, die mere hours apart. Adams' death is ridiculously overplayed in one of the few missteps in the series, one that virtually has "Emmy Award Screener Material" stamped on it, replete with drool oozing out of Giamatti's mouth as his character shuffles off the mortal coil. Thankfully, after the deaths of Adams and Jefferson, there's a brief epilogue culled from Adams' letters to Abigail and vice versa and it brings home the fact that despite its epic historical figures, John Adams really is at its core a beautiful love story between two absolutely remarkable people who together helped change world history.
The DVD
Video:The basic image, aside from the camerawork, is absolutely great in John Adams. The enhanced 1.78:1 transfer is crisp, clear, and with excellent color. An attempt is made to recreate natural lighting throughout this piece, so some of the nighttime scenes are a bit underlit, which actually works here.
Sound:The DD 5.1 soundtrack is exceptionally well detailed, with excellent separation and fidelity. There's not a whole lot of low end sound here to push the limits of your subwoofer, but everything is crystal clear. There's also a Spanish 2.0 soundtrack, as well as English, Spanish and French subtitles.
Extras:Each episode comes with an optional "Facts are stubborn things" text subtitles option, which presents further information about the history behind the events portrayed. Each episode also features a "Previously on" submenu choice, though you need to select it to view it, or else the episode will simply begin. The final disc has two superb featurettes, the better of which is a 50-odd minute documentary giving a nice intimate look at author David McCullough. The less satisfying piece is a fairly standard "Making Of" featurette.
Final Thoughts:If you're not prone to motion sickness or at the very least have a good supply of Dramamine handy, John Adams is a superb portrayal of one of the seminal figures of American history. Sticking almost exclusively to the intimate side of his life, while letting the broad historical events play out in the background, Adams is fueled by two knockout performances by Paul Giamatti and Laura Linney. Highly (QUICK ZOOM TO THE CORNER OF THE ROOM WHERE NO ONE IS STANDING) recommended.
____________________________________________"G-d made stars galore" & "Hey, what kind of a crappy fortune is this?" ZMK, modern prophet


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I'm not that pleased with the newspapers/media, who fell for and reported the #Karen26 story without verifying it in any way, are currently engaging in what looks like a witch hunt against VisitDenmark and seem to be asking for heads to roll (or at least somebody fired). I wonder who seeded the ad to reporters - and why didn't reporters contact fictional Karen through youtube inmail?
Links mentioned: Talegaver.wordpress.com "How you drive Extra Bladets editorial staff mad" and #Karen26.
Link mentioned in this one Labconfidentail.dk: Pas på kildekritikken (check the source!)
More ad examples: Murketing revealed: Mobile phones can not pop pocorn, the Big ad, and Sony Bravia "Balls" (spoofed by Tango) as mentioned in this short Bambuse. (The sound is terrible, as the mike picked up noise from outside.)


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We receive a lot of great feedback from BrowZine users and we get to see the new, innovative ways people are integrating BrowZine into their research workflow. We recently received an email from Dr Ken Riopelle, a professor from Wayne State University (now retired but still very active); in it, Dr Riopelle details how he is using BrowZine with Atlas.ti, a popular QDA tool, to perform literature reviews.
Third Iron is not affiliated with Atlas.ti, but we understand that our users rely on many different services to accomplish their research. This is why we have built BrowZine to be cross-functional with these services, such as RefWorks, Mendeley, Zotero and many more.
Dr Riopelle has kindly agreed to allow us to reprint his discussion! We'd love to hear how you are using BrowZine, too. Let us know and we'll share it with the thousands of BrowZine users worldwide.
-Kendall Bartsch
CEO, Third Iron
Using BrowZine with Atlas.ti for Literature Reviews
Dr. Ken Riopelle
Here is a an easy way to use BrowZine with the Atlas.ti iPad app for literature reviews. In short, use BrowZine to browse your favorite journals, then download selected PDFs into Atlas.ti for coding.
First, open BrowZine and browse your favorite journal by subject area, title or from your Favorite Journals page. After selecting a journal and finding an article of interest, tap the title of the article to view the PDF. Here is a screenshot of my favorite journals:
For example, after selecting the Journal of Organizational Behavior, I found the article "Reflections on Cross-Cultural Collaboration Science" and just tapped it. (Note: BrowZine authenticates using your library access ID and password, which are stored in the Settings, to open selected articles.)
Second, in the upper right of the PDF view, tap the action box and select "Open PDF in…" from the drop down options:
Third, choose Atlas.ti from your options:
Fourth, the Atlas.ti app opens and asks you to select an existing project or to create a new one. Choose your project, select your document, and code away.
Here I added a code, "Collaboration: Definition" to a text segment.
Fifth, I also added the document to my bibliographic database, EndNote, again from the "Open PDF in…" option. Or, you may choose Zotero, RefWorks or Mendeley.
Finally, I use a code "Get Article" and highlight those references in an article that I wish to obtain for additional research.
Pretty cool!


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(If you're a new visitor to the blog, you can read this explanation of alternate histories.)
Tipping points. Deforestation tipping points. Tipping points of rising seas, tipping points with ice melt.
The next day, C went to the library to return one book of dire predictions and take out another. On her way, she stopped the car by the salt inlet and looked out over the eelgrass and mudflats, the ways the water and soil and roots and dead matter and sand meshed with and ate at one another. She thought about the delicacy of their arrangements, the ways in which they were never still, growing and dying, eating and rotting, silting up and subsiding—the small changes that couldn't survive a big change. She thought of the inlets swamped and choked by rising water and never coming back. Her mind didn't even get as far as the wider world. She leaned against the warm hood of her car and sobbed.
C wasn't afraid of loss or change in human civilization, or human culture. She was afraid of human disappearance; she knew that for that to happen, land, water and air would have to alter so drastically that they'd take hundreds, thousands, of other creatures and relationships with them. She knew that to prevent these alterations, other things would have to alter drastically instead: systems of production and exploitation, the supply chain of her wine and bread and salad greens, people's imaginations of one another and of other living creatures. She wanted to support the second kind of alterations; hence the books, hence the conversations she tried to navigate, hence some of the small choices she knew didn't do much but helped her feel connected to efforts of change.
What she feared, what she was crying for by the side of the road, was that no support she could give mattered—not just that she couldn't do anything to hold off the deadly changes, but that no one could, that even the second kind of alterations would not replace the first. That the future was not a delicate and changing saltmarsh but a static, settling graveyard.
Why work toward changes that don't matter, that won't save anything you love, C thought? Why not just wait for the dead water to cover everything?
What is it too late for? To save ourselves. To keep ourselves going forever.
What is it not too late for?
In the weeks and the years that followed, C behaved like a person with an illness that they know will kill them soon, and so did many other people. They didn't hoard much; rather, they gave things away. They made various kinds of amends, not just to human people, but to trees and insects, birds and waterways. They were kind. They sat down in strange places—in front of tanker trains, on the hoods of police cars, in front of the houses of lawmakers. They drank what was left of the wine, and didn't ask for any more.
And the trains slowed and stopped, because the drivers didn't know if they would live to collect their pensions. The cop cars rusted out, because there were so few years of human life left total; who'd risk their own, or take another's? The lawmakers didn't bother consolidating their power for their next term; they might not get to have one. They worked to make amends, to heal beyond damage, to nourish the present, while they waited for the dead water to cover everything.


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SINGAPORE (Reuters) - The good news for Australia is that it can expect a flood of cash from resource exports this fiscal year because of rising exports and relatively strong prices for iron ore, coal and liquefied natural gas (LNG).
The bad news is this windfall is unlikely to be sustained for long, and export earnings are likely to fall in four of the five years after the current 2018/19 fiscal year.
The risk for Australia is that its politicians will be tempted to lock in permanent tax cuts and spending measures based on a likely temporary windfall, especially given the expected federal general election in May.
The Australian government's Resources and Energy Quarterly, released on Friday, forecasts total earnings from commodity exports at A$277.8 billion ($196 billion) in 2018/19, up 22 percent from the prior fiscal year's A$227.5 billion.
Australia is the world's largest exporter of iron ore and coal, and is on the verge of overtaking Qatar as the biggest shipper of LNG.
It's little surprise that these three commodities make up the lion's share of resource earnings, with iron ore expected to contribute A$74 billion, coal A$70 billion and LNG A$50 billion.
Much of the strength in earnings from these three heavyweights is down to demand from China, the world's biggest commodity importer.
The quarterly report said China's efforts to stimulate its economy will be positive for commodity demand, but Beijing also faces risks from the as yet unresolved trade dispute with the United States.
But while Australia is enjoying the boost to earnings from higher export volumes, and rising prices for some commodities, as well as a weaker domestic currency, the government's forecaster doesn't expect this to persist.
The nominal value of commodity exports are expected to drop to A$271.7 billion in the 2019/20 fiscal year and to A$256.1 billion by 2023/24.
The decline in earnings is despite rising volumes for the three major export commodities, with the report pointing to weakening prices as the main culprit.
The report expects iron ore prices to drop to $63 a tonne by 2023/24 from its forecast of $66 in the current fiscal year, and LNG is slated to drop from the current A$12.60 per gigajoule to A$10.80.
The price of coking coal used to make steel is expected to slip from $202 a tonne in the current year to $172 by 2023/24, while that for thermal coal is forecast to dip from $101 to $88 over the same time period.
The decline in prices for most commodities is likely because of global supply additions and moderating demand growth from major importers such as China.
The quarterly report makes for somewhat gloomy reading even beyond the major three commodities, with lower earnings forecast in real terms by 2023/24 for gold, alumina, copper, crude oil, aluminium and zinc.
The only two commodities where earnings are expected to increase over the forecast period are nickel and lithium, which not coincidentally are also two of the main metals used in batteries for electric vehicles and power storage.
The key takeaway from the report is that Australia's resource sector is enjoying good times right now, but will have to work harder in the future, and even that is unlikely to be enough to stop declining earnings.
That should be a concern for politicians, but given the short, by world democratic standards, three-year terms for the federal government, it's more likely that both major parties will be tempted to boost popularity by spending the current windfall as if it is a permanent structural change.
The opinions expressed here are those of the author, a columnist for Reuters.
Editing by Christian Schmollinger


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On the eve of Ireland's opening game in the 2011 Cricket World Cup versus Bangladesh, it made me recall an article I read one day on the connection between Kilkenny hurling and cricket.
It makes interesting reading, although I dont really expect to see wickets and stumps out in our hurling pitch over the summer!
An Irishman's Diary
Never mind the mythology. The status of hurling as Ireland's alleged national sport has always been suspect in the eyes of those of us who are genetically incapable of throwing a small ball into the air with one hand and swinging a hurley with the other, in such a way as make the two objects collide meaningfully, writes Frank McNally .
A more plausible explanation is that the game is an impostor, introduced to this country at some stage by undercover British agents intent on sapping the morale of the indigenous majority who would never be able to play it properly.
A book called The History of Cricket in County Kilkenny - the Forgotten Game does not quite clinch the case. But it does provide enough circumstantial evidence to keep the conspiracy theory alive. Certainly, it will be a source of comfort the next time the hurling demi-gods of Ballyhale and its environs humiliate the finest that the rest of the country has to offer. And in hinting at what might have been for Irish cricket, inter alia, it will also add poignancy tomorrow if our high-flying world cup team has its wings melted.
The central argument in Michael O'Dwyer's book is that barely 100 years ago, cricket was by far the most popular game in Kilkenny, while the national sport was nowhere. Although described by one pre-Famine commentator as "foreign hurling", cricket had spread far beyond the big houses to be played in every town and village, by labourers and peasantry alike. At its peak in 1896, there were 50 teams in Kilkenny, even though the GAA was well up and running.
By contrast, in the county that would one day dominate the game, hurling was in a decrepit state. In 1887, an envoy dispatched by Michael Cusack's journal noted that a game in the city drew no spectators, proving "what little hold the GAA has taken on Kilkenny". Worse than the lack of spectators, however, was the quality of play. "The hurling of both teams was, we believe, the worst and most spiritless ever witnessed on an Irish hillside," lamented the writer. "It would break the heart of a Moycarkey or Galway Gael to witness such a contemptible perversion of the grand old dashing game."
Kilkenny was not unique then in its passion for cricket - not even among the counties later regarded as hurling aristocrats. Tipperary has a very similar history, detailed in a 2004 book by Patrick Bracken. In 1850, there were more cricket teams in that county than in all of Ulster. The village of Toomevara alone had four. And, as in Kilkenny, the game was played regardless of religion or class.
But Tipperary's love affair with cricket peaked earlier than Kilkenny's and ended more abruptly. The game in Tipp revolved around the big towns, of which Kilkenny had none (bar the city itself). It was tainted by association with army garrisons. and during the land agitation of the 1880s, cricket's affiliation to the big houses further weakened it. In Kilkenny, by contrast, cricket had put down roots in the general farming community, and the nationalist appeal of Gaelic games was slower to catch on.
For a while, hurling and cricket coexisted happily. In Kilkenny around 1900, a "dual player" was someone who wielded both bat and hurley. Henry Meagher, the father of hurling legend Lory, was one such all-rounder. But the growing popularity of Gaelic games was not universal. As late as 1898, the ancestral homeland of a later legend, D.J. Carey, could still be described categorically as "a cricket village".
Having given the rest of the country a head start, Kilkenny finally got around to winning an All-Ireland hurling title in 1904, and the rest is history. Yet even then, cricket died hard in the county. Whereas it was all but gone in Tipperary by 1905, the game was still viable in Kilkenny until the outbreak of the first World War, and was revived strongly in the 1920s and 1930s, until a second war intervened.
It was not quite finished then, either. In 1948, a farmer in Kellsgrange created his own cricket pitch and hosted games until 1953. Meanwhile, it struggled on in Gowran too. It had taken a teacher from Cork to implant hurling firmly in the local school, which claimed a first under-age title in 1956. After that, the writing was on the wall for cricket, even in Gowran, where it finally succumbed in 1958.
Its demise will have cheered the ghost of Archbishop Croke who, 74 years earlier, had regretted cricket's popularity alongside such other "foreign and fantastic field-sports" as tennis, polo and croquet. While conceding that these were all "health-giving exercises in their way", he lamented that they were "not racy of the soil, but rather alien to it".
And there's the rub. The mystery, surely, is that the rich, loamy soil of Kilkenny and Tipperary seems to have been equally suited to hurling and cricket. Whereas, for all its alleged raciness, the national game languishes wherever land conditions are anything less than excellent - which is most of the country. Maybe Teagasc should conduct soil tests.
None of this proves my deep-seated suspicion that hurling is a foreign game. But for the majority of Irish people who lack the hand-eye coordination and wrist skills necessary to play it well, confirmation of its close relationship to cricket is welcome. So is the ready-made excuse, should the worst come to the worst in Guyana tomorrow. After all, if history had taken a different turn, Henry Shefflin might be opening the batting for Ireland. Then the English bowlers would be quaking in their boots.
( The History of Cricket in County Kilkenny is available from O'Dwyer Books, College Gardens, Kilkenny at €35 + €7 p&p. It is also on sale in Greene's of Dublin, and in most Kilkenny bookshops.)
© 2007 The Irish Times
News...LATEST!!! >


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Over the weekend, sOs (pictured) beat out 15 other competitors to take the title of 2013 StarCraft II World Champion. Dude seems pleased.
As he should be! That's not just the leap of a man who's now a champ, but a man who is also $100,000 richer for his troubles.
The pic was taken by photographer Morten Skovgaard, who took some incredible pics during BlizzCon; his Flickr has a huge gallery of the best ones.


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Makers of Hunter's Vodka—a spice-infused spirit with myriad approaches to the recipe—have aimed high and low for flavorful flair, from kitchen cabinets to wintery woodlands. "I've seen everything from infusions focused on scents of the forest floor to straight-up baking-spice elements," says Israel Morales, bar director and co-owner of Kachka in Portland, Oregon. "Our infusion straddles those two styles." Morales and his wife, Kachka co-owner and chef Bonnie Morales, styled their adaptation after the homemade versions sampled in homes and restaurants in Russia and Belarus. Spiced with whole peppercorns, juniper and cloves, it's an aromatic vodka that conjures up a woodsy whiff. Try using your next batch to make Kachka's Chervona Wine cocktail.
1½ tsp. whole allspice berries
1½ tsp. juniper berries
½ tsp. whole black peppercorns
½ tsp. whole coriander seeds
½ tsp. whole fenugreek seeds
1 stick cinnamon
1 blade of dried star anise
1 whole clove
1 750 ml. bottle of vodka
1 Tbsp. maple syrup
Tools: small skillet, quart-size jar, fine-mesh strainer, funnel
In a small skillet over medium heat, toast the allspice, juniper, peppercorns, coriander, fenugreek, cinnamon, star anise and clove, stirring until aromatic (1-2 minutes). Place the spices in a quart-size jar and add the vodka. (Save the vodka bottle for the finished infusion.) Seal the jar and let the mixture steep for 4 days in a dark, cool place. When the infusion is ready, pour the maple syrup into the reserved vodka bottle. Strain the infused vodka into the bottle using a fine-mesh strainer and funnel. Discard the spices. Close the bottle and shake to combine. Freeze for at least 1 hour before serving.
Reprinted with permission from KACHKA, copyright 2017 by Bonnie Frumkin Morales. Published by Flatiron Books.
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I've never been much of a car guy. I have one but the last time I put gas in the tank was in April. Of 2011. I didn't have my first set of wheels until I was 23, an enormous town car that I drove into the ground on the dirt back roads of southeast Ohio. I later drove a Yugo around those same Appalachian foothills for five years. That remains the only new car I ever bought. And this remains the only car I even remotely covet.
It's Voiture Citroen DS 19 which sculptor Gabriel Orozco famously trisected and reassembled in 1970. An old friend used to say that I was one of the select few who could actually look good driving a Yugo. She'd no doubt be weak in the knees if she saw me driving around in this.
This was shot at the Airs de Paris exhibit at the Centre Pompidou in Paris in the summer of 2007, one of just under 1,600 photos on my flickr stream that I've made available under a Creative Commons license. I only ask that credit is given exactly as specified with each photo. Strictly non-commercial, please. Follow the links if you're not sure.
There are now just over 3,000 photos on my flickr stream, and they are for the most part grouped in sets geographically, with 20+ countries and nearly 40 bigger cities currently listed. That's one place to start looking. I'm also fairly anal about tagging, so if your mind works in a way remotely similar to mine (my heartfelt sympathies go out to you), you can also hunt around on the tags page.
For previous updates, check the creative commons tag here on Piran Café.
Anyone have any CC experiences they'd like to share? Good or bad? I'd love to hear 'em!


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Health Officials Call on New Yorkers to Stop Vaping Amid Uptick in Illnesses
State health officials reissued a warning to New Yorkers on Friday
encouraging them to stop using e-cigarettes and other vaping products amid a
rise in vaping-related lung illnesses and deaths reported across the country in
recent weeks.
Health Commissioner Howard Zucker issued updated guidance for health care providers with
clinical information about the 81 known cases of severe pulmonary illnesses confirmed in
New York, procedures for reporting case information and instructions on
collecting devices for testing at the state's Wadsworth Center.
Zucker urged New Yorkers of all ages "to stop vaping until we have better
information on what's causing this public health crisis."
The renewed warning came just days after the Public Health and Health
Planning Council adopted emergency regulations banning the sale of most flavored
e-cigarettes in New York. The state Department of Health will begin
enforcing the temporary policy, which exempted menthol and tobacco-flavored
products, beginning on Oct. 4, health officials said.
Zucker, in pushing for the flavor ban, argued that it was needed to crack
down on the recent spike in youth e-cigarette use, as well as to prevent new
cases of vaping-related lung illnesses.
But while most of the lung illnesses reported in New York have been tied to black market products containing cannabis, the health
commissioner told reporters earlier this week that he was not too concerned
about vaping devices regulated and sold through the state's medical marijuana
"There's a risk-benefit issue here: If it's truly the only thing [patients]
can do — using a vaping product — they should know that the medical marijuana
program is very closely monitored, and we have not found a problem with it," he
said Tuesday. "We would ask them to speak with the health care provider —
the physician, the nurse practitioner — who has actually recommended that they
use medical marijuana and whether there's an option not vaping, or something
The health department recently issued
guidance on the use of vaping products for medical marijuana patients,
which also noted that all New Yorkers are encouraged to stop using vape
products until the case of vaping-associated illnesses nationwide can be better
"There have been no adverse events related to vaping associated with an
approved NYS Medical Marijuana Program product since the investigation began.
However, out of an abundance of caution, we are also urging patients in the
medical marijuana program to consult with their health care providers on
potential alternatives to vaping products while the investigation continues,"
it stated.
Stephen Dahmer, the chief medical officer for Vireo Health, which
participates in New York's medical marijuana program, said in a statement that
his company's products undergo strict "third-party safety testing to ensure
that it does not contain contaminants like mold, fungus, pesticides and heavy
Vireo also does not add vitamin E acetate, a compound linked to
vaping-related illnesses, in its products, he said.
To view online:
The Doc Lookup service includes only current members of the Medical Society. The Medical Society of The State of New York is not responsible for validating any information supplied by physicians.