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Look, No Hands!
Look, No Hands!
I had the 'no hands' hold going on here this
afternoon. She was just out cold, so I was still
able to maneuver without much trouble.
She handles me pretty well, actually. Unless she needs to be fed (which I obviously can't do -- although I tell most people I can whip one [boob] out, but it won't do any good), she and I get along pretty well.
Anyway, this afternoon she fell asleep on me, so I just laid back on the couch and watched some TV. Beth came in to the room, saw the picture, and decided to take one (she actually took a few). And here's the result. You can actually see I wasn't really 'holding' her any more at this point in time.
So yeah, that's my little pumpkin story for the day. Until next time...


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Cancer Walk: Break the silence on ovarian cancer this Saturday in Fairmount Park. Support the Delaware Valley Chapter of the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition in their annual 1.5-mile walk. Come out for a day of team photos, food, drinks, health stands and more. Hear the sounds of soft rock and reggae group, Anthony Renzulli Band. Fairmount Park, 4231 North Concourse Drive, Philadelphia, Pa. 19131, 7:15 a.m.
Soulful Saturday: R&B singer Corinne Bailey Rae returns to Philly Saturday night. Her soothing voice and jazz-inspired albums are sure to have you on your feet dancing or cuddling with your partner all night. Sing along to hits "Like a Star, "Put Your Records On" and the latest, "Paris Nights/New York Mornings." Electric Factory, 421 North 7th Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 19123, $27.50, 8:30 p.m.
Beats & Rhymes: Hip-hop lives Saturday night at Johnny Brenda's. Head to the local No Libs joint to hear four hours of the best producers and MCs in Philly. Featured DJ acts include DJ Kwestion, DJ Skipmode, Dumhi, Luke Raws with musicians The Mighty Flipside Esq., Ethel Cee and DJ Akshun on the Wheels. Johnny Brenda's, 1201 North Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, Pa. 19125, +21, $5-$8, 9 p.m.
GreenFest Philly: Get green this Sunday at the annual GreenFest on 2nd and South Street. The free street fair includes over 200 exhibitors, vegetarian food, live music, yoga, local produce, green contests, an eco-friendly fashion show and clothing swap, a food symposium and our favorite, the Green Film Festival. This year's theme is fashion so bring your unwanted items to donate or swap with organic fabrics. South Street Headhouse Square District, 2nd and South Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 19147, Free, 11 a.m.
Restaurant Week: It's Restaurant Week again in Center City Philadelphia. The annual discount deal begins this Sunday and is sponsored by TD Bank. Dine at your favorite restaurants for lunch or dinner, $20 and $35 respectively. Each deal offers a three-course meal. Book your reservation today as many restaurants are filling up. Center City, Philadelphia, Pa. 19106.
Still need more to do? See our events calendar.

subset: commoncrawl


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Urban vs. rural: Two Twin Cities transplants offer distinct perspectives on place at Mia
Two Minnesota-based artists open exhibitions at the MAEP galleries at the Minneapolis Institute of Art this week.
Catherine Meier's "Standing Witness, site: Sage Creek" is a large video installation that will fill one wall of the gallery. "It's really slow animation," she says. "It'd be better to call it a moving drawing of the land around the Sage Creek Campground in the Badlands National Park."
The Nebraska native always wanted to be an artist, but her studies took a detour after high school when she married into a ranching and truck-driving family. Her home state and the landscapes she saw during a stint as a truck driver fueled her fascination with the plains. "I'm really drawn to open land," Meier says. "I'm intrigued by how I, and people, respond to that landscape. All of my work revolves around this question of: How do I describe, artistically, in visual art form, the experience of open landscape?"
Firmly centered in realistic and detailed drawing, Meier, who has an MFA in art and design, was influenced by South African artist William Kentridge's narrative charcoal animation. In addition to her video installation, Meier will also display a photograph and other works that document an earlier stage of the "Standing Witness" project, a period last summer when she used a solar generator to project the animation onto the South Dakota skyline. "Occasionally, the landscape would line up with the animation," she explains. "The drawing of the place was projected on the place itself."
"Standing Witness" also addresses the passage of time on the land. "I find being in that kind of landscape to be a very temporal experience," she says. "A walk through the land could also be a walk through time. Sometimes, there are places where there's little trace of human activity and some of it is so ancient."
Though Meier doesn't have any expectations of what her art will evoke in audiences while she is making it, she does want viewers to envision the land as extending both beyond and behind them, as well as remind them of how small they are in the grand scheme of nature. "I want to create landscapes that are really calm and meditative," she says. "I didn't start out with that as the goal, but that's what I'm finding. It's great. [The exhibition] is a place that someone can sit and be in that space for a while."
Meier, who now lives in Duluth and does contract design work to support her art projects, also hopes to offer a fresh perspective on what some people see as a dull landscape that must be suffered through on road trips. "I think they're really beautiful," she says of the plains. "I hope people can see the beauty that I see."
Meanwhile, Edinburgh-born, Minneapolis-based Jamie Kinroy will open his exhibition "Edgeworlds" this Thursday in the MAEP galleries as well. "Most of my work is about environments," says the 2014 graduate of the University of Minnesota's MFA drawing and painting program. "The American urban landscape really impresses me."
"Edgeworlds" includes a combination of drawings, prints, and a large-scale, life-sized piece. He creates fictional environments that sample from photographs he's taken on his travels throughout the world. Places like Scotland, Japan, Istanbul, and Minneapolis have influenced the predominantly black-and-white art in "Edgeworlds."
"I'm interested in spaces and environments that you see often in film, video games, graphic novels, and comics… spaces that can be immersive, that you can step into and imagine yourself in them," he says. "They're rich environments."
Catherine Meier, "Standing Witness, site: Sage Creek"
Jamie Kinroy, "Edgeworlds"
October 15 through January 3, 2016
Minneapolis Institute of Art, MAEP Galleries
There will be an opening reception this Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m. during the museum's Third Thursday festivities
There will be an artists' talk 7 p.m. Thursday, November 19.
For more info, click here.


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The breed where quality comes naturally with full traceability!
Croeso / Welcome
Herd History
Herd Health
Stock Bulls
Stock Bulls 2
Stock For Sale
Contact Us
In 2020 the "Rees" family will celebrate 90 years at Brysgaga since Rowland Pryse Rees moved to the then rented farm in 1930. The 1930's were hard times, it was only by milking the Welsh Blacks and selling the milk from door to door allowed the rent to be paid and food put on the table.
Times improved during post war years with the opportunity arising in 1959 for the son, John Pryse Rees and his wife Dorothy to purchase Brysgaga from the Gogerddan estate.
During this period and up until its dispersal in 1978 a dairy herd ran alongside the beef and sheep enterprises. New bloodlines were then introduced to expand the Welsh Black herd in the early 1980's notably from Ysguboriau, Rhydygarnedd, Penywern, Dysynni and Doldowlod herds. There followed a sustained and successful showing period to raise the herd's profile, showing ceased in 1995 after winning best group of three cattle at the Royal Welsh.
John Pryse Rees was honoured with becoming breed president in 1998-1999 and was privileged to judge the millennium Royal Welsh show in 2000. His autobiography "In Garni's Wake" was published in 2003, two years before his untimely death in 2005.
Further development of the Brysgaga Herd is now in the safe hands of Rowland Rees, his wife Janice, and their two boys, Dafydd and Daniel, the fourth generation to breed Welsh Black Cattle at Brysgaga.
John Pryse Rees showing "Egryn Garnedd" Royal Welsh Champion 1951 - 1955
Brysgaga Nerys first prize winner Royal Show 1989
Rowland and Janice Rees, showing Ysguboriau Bleddyn 13th, Champion Bull Meirioneth Show 1990
Dafydd and Daniel Rees with Brysgaga Hebog 54th,
sold Dolgellau May 2009 for 4000gns


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An Arab rapper in La La land
'I'm the American Middle Eastern dream,' says Sameh Zakout, aka SAZ, a Ramle boy who dreams about making it big in Los Angeles after his stint on an Israeli reality show
Sameh Zakout, the Arab rapper vying for a record deal on the Israeli reality show "Chai be La La Land," likes to roam the streets of Ramle like a homeboy. He shows off the hand-carved stone relief on the walls of the family restaurant where he first performed, waves to the mechanics taking a break outside his father's garage and bumps fists with a buddy passing by in a car, all of whom good-naturedly mock Zakout about his newfound celebrity status.
For Zakout — aka SAZ, his stage name — despite dreams of living in Los Angeles or New York, there's no place like Ramle.
"Getting home is about getting my energy back," he said. "When you go back to your home, you get focused again. Everything out there is big and over here everything is small. But my personal trainer told me that when you think small, you're gonna stay small. If you really, you know, think really big like I think nowadays, I'll eventually be living in LA, in New York, 'cause I want to live there and to have this career and focus on myself as an artist."
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Often photographed with a brooding look under his heavy brows and shaved pate, in person the 28-year-old Zakout is clean-cut and chatty, with a round face and disarming grin that belies his street-talk patter — which, by the way, is all in English. He's on a publicity mission, this Ramle rapper, having spent six weeks last spring in Los Angeles filming the second season of "Chai be La La Land," hoping to achieve that near-mythical dream of celebrity success.
"Chai be La La Land" — whose name is a play on the phrase "living in a dream world," that is, Los Angeles, the city of performers' dreams — is a combination of "American Idol" and "Big Brother." The performers live together in an LA mansion and develop friendships fraught with competitive tension over the end prize, an album deal with legendary producer Ron Fair and Geffen Records. Zakout, a last-minute addition to the group after a contestant pulled out, said he constantly felt that he was the underdog of the group as a lesser-known Arab performer compared with the more famous Israeli singers. According to the show's producers, however, he proved his performing mettle, connecting with test audiences and impressing the behind-the-scenes crew.
"It was great schooling for him," said Uri Paster, an Israeli film director and producer who acted as mentor to the contestants on the show. "I loved his energy and even though he was a last-minute addition, he came prepared, he was professional."
Seven months later, Zakout has an American professional coach, an Israeli manager, an Arab booking agent, and high hopes that he will win "Chai be La La Land," which would get him access to American producers and agents who would help him cross over into the US market.
Small-town kind of guy
It's a heady vision for a guy from Ramle, an Israeli town with a large Arab population. It's also home to five prisons and is known for its high crime rate, rampant unemployment and, surprisingly, championship-winning women's basketball team. This is where Sameh grew up with his twin sister Samah and older brother Shadi, and where he still returns to work in his father's garage. Ramle is also where he first began performing the nationalistic, emotional raps that articulate his yearning for professional success, personal contentment and a better status quo between Jews and Arabs in Israel.
The Zakout family has lived for generations in Ramle, a city that he calls "religiously normal," with a Western culture but a strong Arab and Middle Eastern flavor. That said, it's a small town, and has never offered the cultural volume of a Tel Aviv or Ramallah, much less a major American city. "It's maybe one block of Detroit or LA," said Zakout. "You don't have venues, you don't have a movie theater. It's really like the end-side of the end-side, you can't even find it on a map."
Zakout talks a lot about transcending the drug dealing and crime that many of his contemporaries have fallen into in Ramle, as well as the difficulties of being an Arab in Israel. While he thinks of himself as a "hustler" — a guy who still works in his father's garage by day and raps at night — he's gaining a sheen of celebrity-like behavior. In the days before the premiere of "Chai be La La Land," with Zakout on the proverbial red carpet along with fellow contestants Maya Buskila, Sarit Avitan, Liat Banai, Eli Zolta, Shir Levy and mentor Kobi Peretz, he was fielding phone calls from old friends and reporters, perfecting his story, and acknowledging that he has yet to get used to all the attention.
"I worked my ass off for decades to get to where I am now," Zakout said emphatically. "I have my message to my people, my culture, to the 'hood that I come from. I'm the only Arab dude who's famous in Israeli society. I have to be focused, I'm gonna be on the radar, gonna be on 42 episodes, two and a half months on TV."
Zakout's message, as he sees it, is not unlike those of rappers Eminem, Jay-Z or Ice Cube who dug themselves out of poor neighborhoods and created their own opportunities. He raps about using his pen as his sword, fighting for love, equality and coexistence. And as a well-known Arab artist even before he entered the "Chai be La La Land" world, he sees this role as his ultimate responsibility.
"I'm bringing a message that a young person from a small city can conquer the whole world," he told me, gesturing to the graffitied walls around Ramle. "It's a cliche but I'm the American Middle Eastern dream."
Zakout began rapping as a teenager and his first audience was his friends, guys who egged him on although they were more familiar with the words of Michael Jackson's "Thriller" album than Eminem or Jay-Z. Zakout chuckled when he thinks about his first songs.
"What's great about rap is that it's the poetry of the streets," he said. "You don't need instruments, you don't need vocals. When you do rap, you can't lose yourself."
Can he coexist?
He was always a chevre man, the kind of kid who had lots of friends, said Khader Alkalak, the administrator of Open House, a center of Arab and Jewish coexistence in Ramle that functions as a kind of alternative community center for the locals.
"He loved to take part and be involved in all the activities," said Alkalak. "And when he became a rapper, he still hung out with us."
Open House is a particularly symbolic place for Ramle Arabs. As a center meant to promote coexistence within the city's mixed community, it is often only known more to American Jews who donate money and come to visit than to Israeli Jews, said Alkalak. In that sense, it's a metaphor for life in Ramle and for what Zakout is trying to accomplish with his music.
"We live in a difficult reality," said Alkalak. "It isn't always pleasant, it's a strong conflict. It's hard for Sameh with his line about coexistence, because not everyone accepts it. In the US they'll accept him more than here. He'll do better there."
For the last few years, Zakout, whose raps about his Ramle reality are in English — which he polished on an Open House trip to the US –and Arabic, has been attempting to find a balance between his Israeli and Palestinian fans. The foreign media often mistake Ramle for Ramallah, the de facto capital of the Palestinian Authority, he joked. But while he's not from that major Palestinian city, Palestinians are among his biggest fans.
"Palestinians love me," he said. "I can make it there without selling myself. They're proud of me because I did this all myself, saved my own money. They say, 'See this dude, he's not that smart, not that rich, doesn't have a lot but does have a lot.'"
Yet those who know his work think his ultimate audience will be in Europe and the US.
"As an Arab rapper in Israel, I don't see any chance for him," said Paster. "It's a problem because with a universal message you don't reach an Arab audience and if you're not into coexistence you don't reach the Jewish audience, but in the US they loved him. They loved his energy and his message."
Zakout is the kind of person who could leave Ramle and succeed in the great world beyond, agreed Gil Karni, the producer and director of "SAZ The Palestinian Rapper for Change," a documentary he made in 2005 about the young rapper. The two spent the better part of a year together making the film, which included interviews with Zakout's grandfather, now deceased, talking about the loss of the family farm to the Israelis back in 1948, when many of Ramle's Arabs were expelled from the city during Israel's War of Independence.
"He was very right-wing when we made the movie, but now his life has changed," mused Karni. "It's a question of how he frames himself, all his songs talk about it. The Palestinians want him to be Palestinian, but Sameh is a person who does understand life, he cooperates with others and that's a great thing."
In his never-ending attempt to appeal to all fans, Zakout rapped the Arabic part of "Ramallah-Tel Aviv," a rap with Israeli hip-hop group Balkan Beat Box for the Fifa 10 soundtrack released several years ago:
This is the home of Tel Aviv
This is the home of Ramallah
Hop Tel Aviv, yalla alla from Ramallah
All the neighbors are playing on the field
Maybe from all the talk there will be peace, inshalla
Maybe after everything there will be a new generation.
For Zakout, it's all about opportunities like that soccer song, which placed him on the same album with performers like the Red Hot Chili Peppers and rapper Wyclef Jean. This past summer, he met Madonna briefly during her stay in Tel Aviv and bonded with U2 lead singer Bono, making plans to go clubbing the next time they're in the same place.
"I said one day that I'm gonna sit with Bono and it happens like that," he said, snapping his fingers. "It's lame to just want to be a superstar, but when you want to have a show in Madison Square Garden, with Jay-Z, and have your own Turkish coffee and hummus served to you backstage, that's being focused on your goals and aims. If I met Bono, it's gonna happen."
Red carpet walks and clubbing with Bono aside, coming from a small town like Ramle is what has kept Zakout grounded this far. He was engaged to his longtime girlfriend, whose photo he waved onstage during each performance he filmed for "Chai be La La Land," Zakout insisted that while "ladies and bling-bling are fun," he's from the Middle East. When he goes to America, he's not going to have "four beautiful ladies moving their butts. I'm going to sing about having come from the Middle East, the Ramle way, the Arab way," he said.
"I know I have to focus, have aim, have good thoughts," said Zakout, gesturing with his fingers and echoing a familiar theme. "I'm like an M-16 with laser sharp aim. My eye's on the prize, that's how I talk to myself every day. You're gonna be an M-16, that's how you're gonna do it."
Chapter One of the second season of "Chai be La La Land" aired Sunday, November 11 at 8:30 p.m. on YES Comedy HD.


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It's easy to "pick IBM" - but no outsourcer, regardless of size, offers an error-free outsourcing safe haven. A client-vendor mismatch can cause issues with expectations, resources and ultimately a degradation of performance, especially if the vendor is too big. We guide our clients to vendors that "fit like a glove."
Our team has decades of experience behind our prescriptive process and we know the keys to outsourcing success.
We'll consult, guide, advise and share our knowledge base and best practices to help you maximize outsourcing performance, at no fee to you.


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I went out yesterday morning and snapped a bunch of photos of the garden. I looked at them and thought, "It's like watching your hair grow." There are no big dramatic changes to the garden this week but gradually the last structural pieces are coming together and bit by bit those little plants get bigger and fuller and more promising.
This week we have a plum tree that is beginning it's training:
Sugar snap peas that have finally, just barely, reached the frames:
Blue ribbons flickering at the top of the tomato cages:
And crops have been identified by markers:
The cucumber plant is looking strong:
And the herb garden on the wall has some new plants: marjoram, mint, petunias, and marigolds:
This week's garden goals include finishing the drip line assembly and moving some rose bushes to make room for the gingko sapling. (I think that I just gave Papi Chulo his Honey-Do list for the week. For my part I'll stay on top of the weeding and watering.)


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by Date
Latest News & Insight
Steelite International, Leading Manufacturer and Supplier of Tabletop Products for the Hospitality Industry Announces New Ownership
28 June 2016
Stoke-On-Trent, UK (June 28, 2016) Steelite International, leading manufacturer and supplier of tabletop products for the hospitality industry has announced that the Company has been acquired by Americas division President John Miles, and PNC Riverarch Capital. John Miles has also been appointed the CEO of Steelite International. PNC Riverarch is the private equity affiliate of The PNC Financial Services Group, one of the United States' largest diversified financial institutions.
"Having worked in the business for twenty years and served as president of the Americas division for the past eleven years, it fills me with immense pride to have made this personal investment alongside PNC Riverarch," said John Miles. "Steelite International is known as the leader in the hospitality tableware industry and our goal is to continue that leadership through the introduction of new, creative and innovative products. We will continue the investment in the manufacturing sector to improve efficiencies, service levels and provide value added to our customers. I look forward to working with our management team to grow and improve the business".
As a result of the acquisition, former Steelite CEO Kevin Oakes has acquired English fine bone china manufacturer, Royal Crown Derby after exiting Steelite International after a 39 year tenure, the last 10 years of which were spent as Chief Executive. Steelite International will continue to represent Royal Crown Derby in the hospitality market.
Kevin Oakes commented: "Steelite International has been my life's work and I am honoured to have been part of such a committed and passionate team. I firmly believe that Steelite International is the best in the world and the people, products and company values are testament to this collective success. I am delighted to hand the business over to John Miles and the management team whom I've worked with for a number of years and I am confident that the tradition of reinvesting profit back in to the business will continue. I now look forward to an exciting future working with Steelite International who will represent Royal Crown Derby in the hospitality market".
Michael Rost, Managing Director of PNC Riverarch, commented, "We are very pleased to have the opportunity to partner with John Miles and Steelite. The company's focus on product quality, innovation, and customer service have driven strong brand recognition and attractive financial performance. We look forward to working with the Steelite team to build on the company's impressive history of growth."
UK Shareholders were represented by Catalyst and John Miles was represented by Confluence Advisors. Senior Financing for the transaction was provided by the Bank of Montreal and The Private Bank.
Steelite International's John Miles discusses the buyout.


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If I use the term "ferocious resolve", am I referring to some type of animalistic behavior? Why yes I am! It is the innate survival instinct we all share. It is part of the winning mindset that you need to develop to win an all-out battle against another human aggressor. A physical confrontation is a battle; a foray into chaos. These conflicts are often sudden, extremely violent and can be relentless until one of the parties is incapacitated, or to put it bluntly, DEAD! You do not want to be the party that becomes the contents of a body bag; developing the sensibility of ferocious resolve is imperative to your survival.
Let us dig deeper. What more can we say about ferocious resolve? Well, creating a good definition is a bit tricky. To borrow a term from NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming), ferocious resolve is a "state." Marcus Wynne says "a state is a combination of two things: your physiology, or your body chemistry and neurological working; and your internal representation." Simply stated, your state is everything that is going on in your body and mind at any particular moment in time. A few examples of state might be happiness, fear, worry, boredom and alertness; each one is a mode, if you will, of being, encompassing the physical and mental aspects of your existence. It is critical for you to learn how to properly manage your state before, during, and after an assault. You need the ability to function in the chaos. What will you fight for? You are the only one who can decide this answer, and it is best to consider it now–not while you are embroiled in a fight for your life. Here is an awesome quote from the father of Combatives:
"When you're caught, you're down, and you're a goner if you don't ATTACK…And keep in mind, it's 'Gutterfighting': any means, fair or foul, to save your life". –W.E. Fairbairn
Some people refer to ferocious resolve as the "Eye of the Tiger" or the "Will of Steel." I like to think of it as your ability to do whatever it takes to win, not just survive, but WIN! I am all about winning. If you come face to face with an attacker, you must have the pre-determined mindset of going until your attacker is beaten down and no longer poses a threat. Metamorphose from the prey into the predator; it is this mindset or state, and the willingness to attack the attacker that will help you to prevail. As my good friend, Gary Klugiewicz says, "Be nice, until it is time to be mean, and then be nice again". These are wonderful words to live by. Once the threat is neutralized, calmly seek a protective position, perform a self medical assessment, and call for the authorities to assist you.


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Adeniyi Johnson Congratulates Toyin Abraham On Her Son's Birth
Actor, Adeniyi Johnson has joined other celebrities who are celebrating and congratulating Toyin Abraham on the birth of her baby boy.
Recall that Toyin and Adeniyi's two-year-old marriage crashed in 2015 over allegations of infidelity, irreconcilable differences amongst others.
Taking to his page, he wrote:
Congrats on the arrival of your baby.. Mr &Mrs Ajeyemi …. He shall be a source of joy to you ….. God bless the baby, the mother and the dad…
His wife, Sey Edun also commented saying 'God Bless the new born'


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Not everyone in the country is so averse however. Many accounting and finance professionals enjoy working in what can be an extremely challenging and interesting sector. Accountants working in tax help corporate and personal clients deal with the multi-layered tax system, and the majority find successfully helping clients to make sense of this extremely rewarding. While tax accountants need an eye for numbers and strong social skills like all accountants, the role also requires the ability to navigate and make sense of complex legislative frameworks.
According to Marks Sattin's Salary & Market Trend Report 2015, a busy in-house tax market and the continued economic recovery has had a dramatic impact on recruitment needs across practice, with the Big 4 and top ten firms recruiting in volume across the year. 79% of tax practitioners told us that they are anticipating their firms actively recruiting over the next 12 months as business continues to improve – making now an excellent time to explore opportunities in the sector.
Taxation roles are well remunerated due to this demand for talent. Within the London market, managers can expect to take home between £50,000 and £68,000, which rises to a generous £95,000 upper limit for senior managers. Among directors and partners, a six figure basic package is the norm. Bonuses are also an important feature of remuneration in the sector, and 50% of respondents report they are happy with their current bonus.


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These were one-per store and contain some really cool information from that era of gaming. It also has Sony contact and support info, and a lot of waxy and nicely produced one-sheets for a lot of PSOne era games, including some from higher tier publishers (image below). I can only imagine that there aren't many of these left lying around at one per store in conjunction with the fact that this was industry material and not intended for consumption.
Asking $325 shipped as this is probably the only example you'll ever see. Obviously this will more likely be appealing to the hard core apocrypha collectors more than the general game stacker.


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The Spy Who Could Not Die presented by Mayhem & Mystery
Mayhem & Mystery presents their latest interactive mystery production, The Spy Who Could Not Die. Jane Blonde has had a long career as an international spy. Her enemies are many, and her friends are few. Despite the numerous attempts by her enemies, Jane always seems to come out unscathed. What is her secret? Ms. Sanguini appears to be a friend. Is she really? Iveel Lardo must be a villain, just by his name. Ray Autumn Holey looks very familiar. Who can Jane trust? Can you solve the crime? Join us to see.
Cost is only $29.95 for dinner of salad, bread, select entrees, beverage, and show (tax and gratuity not included). Shows are 7:00 PM weekly on Monday evenings plus one Friday each month at the Spaghetti Warehouse, 36 W. 5th Street, Dayton, 45402. Reservations are required. Call 937.461.3913 to reserve your seat now. Show runs approximately 2 1/2 hours. Prizes are awarded at the end.
The Spy Who Could Not Die runs Mondays, May 4 through July 27, plus Fridays, May 8, June 5, and July 17, 2020.


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Student Activities
College is More Than Going to Class… GET INVOLVED!
- Become a stronger and more effective leader
- Gain real life, practical experience
- Network with other students, faculty and staff
- Make life-long relationships
- Have experience and build your resume
How do you GET INVOLVED?
- Stop by the Student Activities Office (1F19) or talk to a Club Advisor to join a student club/organization
- Attend Student Activities Events! These activities are typically free of charge and include SaukFest, comedians, magicians, musicians, hypnotists and "novelty acts"
- Volunteer for or apply for a Student Government position
- Contact the Athletic Department to participate in sports or support the Skyhawks at athletic events
CLUB CORNERStudent Organizations Manual
- Activity Registration Form
- Student Organization Event Summary ( pdf document)
- Conduct Contract ( pdf document)
- Organization Allocation Request ( pdf document)
- Fundraising/Donations Permission Form
- Waiver letter ( pdf document)
- Pending Organization Request ( pdf document)
- Student Organization Advisor Registration Form ( pdf document)
- Student Organization Roster
- Social Media Guidelines & Social Networking Approval Form
- The additional forms can be found on FAST: Purchase Order Request, Travel Request, Internal & Rental Vehicle Usage Instructions, Travel Emergency Roster, Travel Expense Report, and Buildings & Grounds Set-Up Request.
Volunteering/Community Service
The Student Activities Office is located in 1F19.
Office hours:
Monday - Thursday: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Fridays: 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Questions can be directed to
Ana Salgado at 815-835-6432.


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I find myself writing this piece fully 24 hrs after I started it, and again I just finished a crappy day but if you have read any of my other posts you will have figured out that isn't an unusual occurrence. *self deprecating chuckle* I just got home from an overtime day at work. Not a frequent occurance when you work for a government organisation.
I was at work today because I have four weeks worth of work, and three weeks before I leave my current role (I wish I was already gone – see my 'My Boss, The Prick' post for more info) and others just keep the pressure coming. Putting that aside, yesterday I went to the optometrist to order some new glasses, mine having failed (broken for those of you who don't speak engineer), and having arrived at 4:57 pm (yes, I know that i'm pedantic but feel free to say so in the comments) for a 5:00 pm appointment, I fill in the stoopid little form (I call it stoopid because they re-ask all the questions in the interview) and wait, and not being the most patient person on this little blue rock, I am starting to get frustrated by 5:08 pm when I'm finally ushered in. After the mandatory bullshit about eye health and i't good that you have come back for an eye exam 2 years apart and all that Bull Manure – see I don't swear at every opportunity – My script was reduced (I interpreted that as the previous optometrist having screwed up, but then i'm falling into the reasoning failure that is the false dichotomy) and I got to start picking frames (plural because I need sunnies too) out for them to make my new glasses. mmmm new glasses, two of three new pairs I need in the short term because I need a specialist pair of shooting glasses.
Yes, shooting glasses. I shoot things. Specifically, I shoot standard ISSF competition targets with rimfire, small bore, target rifles. That's .22 caliber at 50 m distance on an approved rifle range, fully in accordance with all safety rules laid down by ISSF and the club with which I shoot. I also had a really bad night. After leaving the optometrist at 6:01 pm I missed the convenient 6:06 train and got the 6:36 instead. This fun little thing had me running all of 45 minutes late to the range. my shooting was crap, and by crap I mean that I only shot 127 points from the 150 on offer and only had two really bad shots – 7's and 6 bad shots – 8's. Now other Target shooters will – depending on their disciplines – will either be impressed of laughing their arses off. I say it's crap but then I have only been shooting since February so only 3 months into the journey toward being good, but that doesn't mean I can't pay myself out for being pants.


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WRITING ABOUT THE Macau Grand Prix (link) brought back memories of a rally (albeit a friendship rally) that I was a part of – the MAX '95 Friendship Rally in the Philippines, 30th June – 2nd July 1995.
"Themed "Friendship Though Motoring", the rally brought together more than 30 Malaysian and Filipino journalists on a historic 1,183 km journey through villages and major towns across Luzon Island. For three days, the convoy of a dozen Malaysian national cars – 4 Proton Wiras, 3 Proton Perdanas, 2 Satrias and 3 Perodua Kancils – made heads turn as they conquered the Philippines roads. Although a non-competitive rally, we weren't least deprived of the thrills and excitement of a real rally adventure.
The first-of-its kind rally was the result of Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Philippines President Fidel Ramos's desire to demonstrate ASEAN friendship. It also served as a curtain raiser for the Malaysian Automotive Industry Exhibition (MAX '95) held in the Philippines that July, following the successful launch of the Proton Wira there early this year.
The organisers were Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional Berhad or Proton (the manufacturer of Malaysia's national car), Edaran Otomobil Nasional Berhad or EON (the distributor of Proton cars), Usahasama Proton-DRB Sdn Bhd or USPD (the manufacturer and distributor of Proton Satria) and Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd or Perodua (the manufacturer and distributor of the second national car).
The group of 20 Malaysian journalists from the print and electronic media arrived in Manila on 28th June 1995 and checked into Edsa Plaza Shangri-La Hotel. That night we were introduced to our Filipino counterparts and briefed on the do's and don'ts. Reminders like "do not overtake unnecessarily" and "do not drive recklessly" sounded simple enough to remember.
On 29th June, we took the domestic one-and-only flight daily from Manila down south to Legazpi City where the flag-off was to be held. After the 45-minutes flight, we checked into the Mayon International Hotel, named after the infamous coned Mayon volcano.
We were taken sight-seeing to some popular spots, including the Cagsawa Ruins, from where we could catch a breathtaking view of the 2,400m Mount Mayon. History has it that the volcano erupted in 1814 and buried the whole town of Cagsawa in lava, leaving only the church steeple visible today. In an excitement to capture the scenic views, one of the journalists dropped and broke his camera.
The tour also included a drive to a candy store (!) where both the Malaysians and Filipinos stocked themselves sweet with home-made candies and on to the market place where cheap handicrafts could be found.
Having relaxed and enjoyed the day, we were greeted with bad new during our briefing at night. The rally cars which were shipped from Malaysia much earlier apparently arrived at the wrong port in Manila. The slight setback was quickly solved by event co-ordinator Abdul Razak Dawood of EON, and his Philippines counterparts from Proton Pilipinas Corporation – the 30-odd members of the media were re-scheduled and packed into seven available Wiras instead, for the first of the three legs.
It was an early start on 30th June for a simple but meaningful ceremony. Malaysian Ambassador to the Philippines Datuk Zainuddin Abdul Rahman and Mayor of Legazpi City, Imelda C. Roces jointly flagged off the cars, one at a time. Also present was Albay province Governor, Victor S. Ziga.
Armed with a rally tulip, a road map, new partners and a load of enthusiasm, the journalists set off on their mission to conquer the Philippines roads. For the Malaysians, being unfamiliar with the roads and left-hand drive cars, some opted to be navigators and passengers instead.
Within minutes of being flagged-off, all reminders of not speeding and overtaking unnecessarily flew out of the windows. Everyone just sped out of sight!
The first leg, from Legazpi City – Daet – Lucena City – Manila, covered 560 km. No sweat, it was like travelling from Johor to Penang, or so we thought, except that we had not anticipated the road conditions.
As we drove on the two-lane "highways", Abdul Razak's warning came ringing into our ears. "The stage between Daet and Lucena is very dangerous. It's winding, slippery with broken road surfaces. PLEASE be careful." It was almost a plea. It had fallen onto deaf ears till we saw it for ourselves. Certain stretches seemed to be going nowhere, some roads were bumpy, covered with mud while others have big potholes. Several times we encountered one-lane road and were horrified to find ourselves coming face-to-face with an on-coming vehicle.
Throughout the journey, we were privileged to be escorted and led by Filipino rally drivers who are members of the Activity Asia Association (AAA), their rally club. And for safety purpose, two tow trucks travelled along with three service vans and an ambulance.
One of the rally drivers had continuously cautioned us, "Jeepneys are the kings of the roads, not you. The roads are also the children's playground, please watch out for them. Oh, and watch out for the animals too!" The warnings came again at lunch time.
What a nightmare when we found out he wasn't just paranoid. Every now and then, we came across native kids playing by the roadside and pedestrians crossing the roads without a care in the world. Pouring rain that afternoon made the roads more muddy and slippery, but thank god for the native kids, even as they played by the roadside, they helped direct the traffic especially on those one-way stretches, by waving sticks tied with a green cloth to indicate "clear" and waving a red one to indicate "stop".
The journey was memorable as certain stretches were close reminders of the coastal roads along Tanjung Bungah, Penang and the scenic views of padi fields brought to mind the rice bowls of Kedah.
By dinner time, we made it to Lucena City, dirty and tired while the cars, dusty and muddy. The feast at Sulo Sa Quezon was a great treat. Feeling fat and contented, the participants travelled in a close convoy to arrive safely back in Manila by 10pm. While some hit the sack, others found the energy to check out the night spots. And I still had deadlines to meet, being the only one in the group who sent stories and visuals home daily via feeds while the others wrote special reports only when they got home.
Everyone was up bright and early for the second leg of 473 km from Manila – Tarlac – Alaminos – Subic Bay. Lo and behold, the original fleet of Perdanas, Satrias and Kancils greeted us in front of the Edsa Plaza Shangri-La Hotel. And better news was that they were all fixed with communication radios. So throughout this second leg, the participants – who had now changed cars and partners – entertained each other with rounds of jokes.
After lunch at Maxine Restaurant in Alaminos, we were made to travel bumper-to-bumper. With the headlights flicking away, the white, red, blue, metallic green and silver cars attracted more attention and made heads turn as we travelled on better roads.
The highlight of the second leg was a visit to the Proton assembly plant in Pengasinan. It is the first Proton facility outside Malaysia which was jointly opened by Dr Mahathir and Ramos in January 1995. The rather barren land now will create 700 jobs and produce an average of 20 Proton cars a day when completed in 1997. The site provided a super special gravel stage where both the Malaysian and Filipino drivers wasted no time in testing out their racing skills and gave quite a performance.
It was dark by the time we reached Subic Bay where we had a hearty meal at the Hollywood Steakhouse. Upon checking into the Subic International Hotel, I thought I had stepped into a military barracks, for the hotel was refurbished from one.
Everyone looked forward to the following morning. Not only was it the final day of the rally, but we also had a chance for some shopping at the duty-free haven. And mind you, not only the girls jumped with joy, the guys apparently had longer shopping lists! We also had the opportunity to witness the good infrastructure and facilities that the Americans left behind when they left their largest naval base in Asia in 1992.
We re-fuelled our bellies at the Golden Dragon Restaurant (which was within minutes' walk from the hotel) and geared up for the short 150 km drive from Subic Bay back to Manila. On that warm and fine Sunday, we took a pleasant three-and-a-half hour drive on the four-lane highway. As we entered Metro Manila, police escorts cleared the way for the convoy to move towards the Quirino Grandstand, Luneta Park. Present to welcome us were VIPs from the organisers and hundreds of locals.
The participants and the cars were introduced to rounds of applause. By then each car had collected six stickers from various Governors of the towns that we stopped by. Metro Manila Mayor, Alfredo Lim put on the final sticker as a grand finale and presented all participants with flower garlands. Everyone was a winner!
Throughout the journey, we got to know our Filipino counterparts and their country better, while they got acquainted with our national cars. At the end of the rally, there were new friendships forged, several punctured tyres, a busted radiator, good reviews nevertheless, and despite one broken camera, rolls of photographs reminders of a blast of an experience.


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FCC May Give Murdoch a Very Merry Christmas
Until now, this hasn't been the best year for media mogul Rupert Murdoch. For one, none of the Republicans who'd been on the payroll of his Fox News Channel -- not Newt Gingrich or Rick Santorum or Mike Huckabee or Sarah Palin -- became this year's GOP nominee for president.
Oh sure, when Mitt Romney got the nod instead, Murdoch's TV and newspaper empire backed him big time but, on Election Night, Fox pundits like Dick Morris and Karl Rove -- the top GOP strategist and fundraiser -- had to eat crow as Barack Obama won a second term in the White House despite their predictions of a Republican landslide. (When the network called Ohio and the election for Obama, a desperate Rove tried to keep Fox statisticians from doing their job until the facts couldn't be ignored or denied. New York magazine reports that Fox News programming chief Bill Shine now "has sent out orders mandating that producers must get permission before booking Rove or Morris.")
On top of all that, just this week Murdoch's News Corp announced the shutdown of The Daily, its multi-million dollar attempt at a national iPad newspaper. And last week in London, the thousand-page report of an independent inquiry into the gross misconduct of the British press came out -- that big scandal over reporters illegally hacking into people's cell phones and committing other assorted forms of corruption, including bribery. Murdoch's gossip sheet, The News of the World, was right at the center of it, the worst offender. The fallout cost Murdoch the biggest business deal of his career -- the multi-billion buyout of satellite TV giant BSkyB -- and the report attacked his now-defunct News of the World for its "failure of management" and "general lack of respect for individual privacy and dignity."
But Murdoch's luck may be changing. Despite Fox News' moonlighting as the propaganda ministry of the Republican Party, President Obama's team may be making it possible for Sir Rupert to increase his power, perversely rewarding the man who did his best to make sure Barack Obama didn't have a second term. The Federal Communications Commission could be preparing him one big Christmas present, the kind of gift that keeps on giving -- unless we all get together and do something about it.
All indications are that Murdoch has his eye on two of the last remaining big newspapers in America -- the Chicago Tribune and the Los Angeles Times, each owned by the now bankrupt Tribune Company. He could add one or both to his impressive portfolio, but even though the media mogul is splitting News Corp into two separately traded companies -- one for its print entities, the other for TV and film -- he would still come under current rules restricting media companies from owning newspapers and TV and radio stations in the same town. However, the FCC may be planning to suspend those rules, paving the way for Murdoch's takeover of either of the two papers.


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They say two things in this world are certain: death and taxes. To that I'd add a third: the ever-increasing popularity of pornography. We can tell more people want more porn all the time from how enthusiastically they have taken to the internet to find it – and how badly the legacy porn industry is suffering now that no one is buying its magazines and DVDs.
As with so many digital products and services distributed over the internet, porn is now practically limitless in quantity, available on demand and free – a terrifying state of affairs for the Californian money and bar moustache brigade, who have been reduced to earning tiny margins on their studio content.
What does this new explosion of online porn look like? Well, it's characterised most obviously by the extremism: more violent sex, rape fantasies, unrealistic expectations of sexual performance and ever more perfect bodies. And it's the bodies that could be doing the most harm, in fact, and to men – thanks to something called the Adonis Complex, or "muscle dysmorphia".
Sufferers have a skewed perception of their own body: they see themselves as weedy, even though they might be extremely muscular – or, potentially, fat instead of lean. Their opinions of other men, and of what an idealised body could look like, are usually unrealistic, and can be neurotically expressed. The man who spends 7 days a week in the gym, understands his diet in calories and milligrams, and loves the "juice" (anabolic steroids), might well be muscle dysmorphic.
The disorder, which is a kind of body dysmorphia, like anorexia nervosa and bulimia, disproportionately affects gay men over straight. Body image problems are leading many teenagers in the US and Europe to take dangerous, illegal drugs to achieve the look they want.
Since research began on the Adonis Complex 20 years ago, it has been on the rise. The ideal male body is not a constant: it changes over time, and we can observe those changes by looking at popular culture: music videos, catwalk fashion and television. The last few decades' beefed-up models and actors suggest that, for most men, beauty these days is all about muscle.
Research in this area is scant, and little has been done to reassure men who struggle with this particular model of perfection. Until the 90s, no one would have imagined a man might be suffering from body dysmorphia. Perhaps that's because men are notoriously loathe to complain that anything's up. It might also be because getting bigger is not as obvious, nor worrying, as getting very thin. It is easy to spot someone who is grossly underweight, but would any of us have a concrete opinion about what constitutes "too big"? (We're talking triceps, not muffin-tops, of course: most people have a pretty clear idea of when someone has been hitting the ice cream too hard.)
The cumulative damage bodybuilders are doing to themselves is poorly understood, but the short-term effects are by now recognisable. Just months of steroid abuse can lead to what's known as "roid rage", aggressiveness that is out of character for the individual. It has been linked to violent sociopathic behaviour. For example, one case study discusses a woman making a joke about charging a 'roided man for using her mobile. He didn't see the funny side: he kidnapped her and then, when she tried to escape, shot her in the back.
Steroids also increase cholesterol, hardening arteries, which can cause heart problems later down the line, as well as increasing the chances of a stroke.
Why are men are willing to take such extraordinary risks? The expectation, now, that a man should have a flat stomach and smoking virility, is everywhere, from television ads and billboards to the advertising served up next to email and on social networks. A pivotal 2002 book, The Adonis Complex, co-written by Roberto Olivardia, discussed the idea of challenged masculinity in the modern era: women aren't housewives and handmaidens anymore, but fighter pilots and CEOs. Another reason it offered was the transformation of men in popular culture – from the burly Westerner, to the ripped and sultry Iberian male in nude silk speedos.
Which brings us back to porn. The business of on-screen love-making has blossomed in recent years, prompting mainstream commentators to tie themselves up in knots about its morality. Psychologists have been hard at work too, claiming, variously, that porn is fuelling a sex-addicted generation and that it is a heaven-sent panacea for childhood trauma.
Over the years, porn has either joined or spearheaded every technological innovation you can think of: from video and cinema, to DVD and pay-per-view. Now it has found its way online, flourishing in areas mainstream media businesses struggle in: adopting freemium models, cashing in on paywalls, drumming up ad revenue and so on.
Have no doubt: porn has won the internet. The industry has thrived and proliferated, even though the people behind the porn – directors, distributors and porn stars themselves – now get paid a pittance per outing. And as David Cameron and Claire Perry insist on reminding us: it's everywhere. And that might be using a very loose definition of porn, as well: if I just meant naked bodies on the internet, well, Miley Cyrus?
What is the effect of all this porn? Practically, glistening naked bodies have got more abundant and easier to access. The standard of the male physique in porn is intimidating: bronzed, without deficiency, shaped as though by a Grecian sculptor (with perhaps one obvious deviation from the Hellenistic aesthetic). Male bodies now have to look good, under harsh lighting, and from especially unflattering angles – just like women's have always had to.
The audience, largely, do not make the grade. Watching exceptional figurines tussle in bed, on a car backseat or upon a breeze block wall sets up unrealistic expectations of what sex often is: sticky and short. It says: sex occurs between handsome athletes, and for no other reason than they are so fabulously handsome. (One assumes so, as enjoyment seems to be a secondary concern in today's porn.)
One of the most common testimonials from men – straight or gay – is that being buff expresses "the law of the jungle". For these people, muscle is sexual appeal. Their confidence rests on their muscularity. In case studies, men revealed they had chased away woman after woman. They'd be questioned: "Don't you think it has to do with your strenuous routine?", and reply, "I hadn't given it much thought." The belief remains uncriticised that muscle will secure a mate.
Researchers, and lay intuition, will tell you: there's no truth in this. Very few people are waiting for their porn-inspired Adonis to descend from on high. Most women in particular don't hold men to the same physical standards they seem to demand of themselves, and whether they're willing to admit it or not, rely more on personality to pick a partner than physical appeal.
So, how come men are getting it so wrong? It isn't unusual for men to misunderstand the subtle desires of potential spouses, and instead pursue dating and sex in order to resolve egotistical anxieties. What they don't understand is that their perfectionism and obsession alienates partners and family. They may also overestimate how reasonable their workout schedule can appear from the outside.
In such extreme situations, porn is less likely to be the key factor, although it certainly will stress the situation further. A man who is so deeply obsessed with getting bigger that it disrupts his entire being is likely to have has that obsession ingrained in him at a younger age. Porn cannot be entirely to blame.
But, nonetheless, porn is one of a number of influences that has inverted our typical idea of the image-apathetic man versus the severely body-conscious female. There is no signpost in each porn clip to inform men, 'Don't worry, there's no expectation for you to look this way.' And even if there were, how effective would it be?
The new accessibility of porn, fuelled by the internet, has compounded these problems. Videos (with some of the most heinous titles known to fiction) are accessible to the 60 year-old as much as to the 16-year-old. The most casual searches will yield thousands of hours of porn. We should be cynical of the idea that this new "era" in pornography breeds misogyny and sexual obsession in young people, for reasons outside the scope of this article. But there are boys whose conception of the sexualised male body – as a product of porn and popular media – will be unrealistic in the extreme.
What needs to happen is for boys to get a grip on how they see themselves: to appreciate anxieties as they materialise and confront them. Are they expecting to look like porn stars, and if so: is that feasible? If it isn't, make priorities: your body, your job, your partner? If you're concerned that you should match the men you see, then that's your call. But if it starts to look more like an obsession and less like a hobby, know that obsessions are never satiated, women decided on brains over brawn a long time ago, and steroids are ridiculously expensive on the black market.


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Announcing the launch of the Photo Book Club
The idea for the Photo Book Club which will launch on 28 February 2011, grew out of conversations between designer Wayne Ford and photographer Matt Johnston, with the encouragement of photographer and educator Jonathan Worth.
The premise for the Photo Book Club is a simple one, each month we will discuss one book that we consider to have made a significant contribution to the world of photography, this may be a well known volume, such as Robert Frank's Les Américains/The Americans, (1958/1959), which will signal the launch of the Photo Book Club, or a lesser known, but no less important work.
At the beginning of each month we will post a brief introduction of our chosen book on the Photo Book Club website, followed by a more in-depth comment on the work, and through the comment section of the website we aim to create a platform through which we can discuss the impact of each body of work through, over the coming weeks.
Whilst Wayne and Matt, both have ideas for the books that we would like to feature, we want the Photo Book Club to be an open platform, for a community to evolve, so we actively encourage suggestions for books, and in other ways in which we can develop the conversation, we want to create a community where the photobook in its widest context can be discussed and appreciated.
Whilst we are initially launching the Photo Book Club as a blog, and as a Twitter feed, we are hoping that in the near future we can arrange the occasional physical meeting, and even some print content too.
The Photo Book Club


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I made these the other weekend during an ice storm. Some of D's friends were in town, so we decided to make something yummy to warm up our afternoon.
You will need:
- 1/2 c unsalted butter
- 1/4 c unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 eggs
- 1 c sugar
- 1 t vanilla extract
- 1/2 t salt
- 1/2 t ground cinnamon
- 1/2 t baking powder
- 3/4 c whole wheat flour
- 1 c chocolate chips
- 1/2 c sour cream
- 3 T honey
- 1/2 t ground nutmeg
Then you will…
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Line an 8×8 baking pan with tinfoil and lightly grease with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a small saucepan, melt the better.
- Whisk in the cocoa powder, salt, cinnamon and baking powder until smooth. Remove from heat.
- In a medium mixing bowl, whisk the eggs until light and fluffy.
- Whisk the vanilla into the eggs.
- Gradually whisk the chocolate mixture into the egg mixture. Be sure to do this slowly and whisk continuously to avoid scrambling the eggs.
- Mix in the flour until well combined.
- Mix in the chocolate chips.
- Spread in the prepared baking pan.
- In a small bowl, mix the sour cream together with the honey and nutmeg.
- Drop the sour cream mixture on top of the brownie batter. Use a knife to swirl the sour cream into the brownie batter.
- Bake for 35 to 45 minutes or until set in the middle.


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A tiny service to sync your WordPress plugin code from GitHub to WordPress.org
Built and maintained by Arūnas Liuiza, sponsored by Seravo.
Deployer is a tiny web service that allows WordPress plugin developers to do their development on GitHub and automatically publishes the changes to WordPress.org Plugin Directory.
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Deployer also handles updates to the
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SVN was a great thing 10 years ago, but now nobody really uses it, except to publish plugins to WP.org. If you want to get of that last part, Deployer will help you.
Publishing to WP.org is handled automatically. You just have to tag a new release on GitHub and it will apear on WP.org.
No WP.org or GitHub credentials are required or stored. The only place where you have to trust Deployer, is allowing a dedicated deployer WP.org user as a commiter to your plugin.
Deployer is, and always will be free for WordPress plugin developers. Period.
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Since Deployer was started in 2015, 641 plugins have been registered to the service.
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Does Deployer support publishing themes to WordPress.org?
No. Theme publishing on WordPress.org has a different process, that is not based on SVN - you have to upload .zip files there.
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No. You have to manually submit your plugin here for review. Deployer only works with plugins that already have their WordPress.org site.
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The MAP News
Why Sri Lanka's Historic Mangroves Move Matters
SRI LANKA - Huge news for the environment: Sri Lanka's new government just took the unprecedented, historic step to protect all of its mangroves. The move, the first of its kind anywhere in the world, will provide long-term environmental, social and, last but not least, economic benefits to the Indian Ocean island nation, and provide a model for other vulnerable tropical nations to follow. Mangroves, which thrive in the mixture of sea and freshwater along coastlines, help maintain sea levels and hold back storm surges, forming a wall against flooding. The hearty, shore-hugging plants encompass some of the world's most spectacular biodiversity and form a powerful natural barrier, keeping our water clean, our beaches strong and tempering the power of tropical cyclones. The past decades have seen a massive reductions in global mangrove forests, mostly due to the expansion of shrimp farming, coastal shipping and erosion caused by development. The problem is that we need mangroves now, more than ever. READ MORE
Environmentalist turns garbage into Tourist Attraction
THAILAND – For more than 30 years, John Gray has been working to educate tourists about the fragile nature of mangrove forests. Over the years, Gray has promoted Thailand tourism by inviting the world to kayak and canoe through the pristine waters of Thailand's mangrove forests. But recently, as more plastic and garbage has collected in the tidal forests, Gray's tour has taken a new twist. Cleanup tourism has become a welcome benefit as more and more people want to do more than just reduce their carbon footpront. Groups now come not only come to learn the environmental value of mangrove forests, but to counter the impact of the modern world. Grays "clean up kayaking" is making a difference. READ MORE
A man with a mangrove in hand
INDIA - More than 40 years ago when 'environment protection' was not a catchy slogan, a man living on the Saint Sebastian estuarine island of Ashtamudi Lake here recognised the role of mangroves in marine and brackish water ecology. Even now, at the age of 87, former fisherman Francis Xavier is still engaged in planting mangrove saplings and tending to them, not as a mere pastime but making a significant contribution to environment protection. Forty years ago, he had brought a cluster of the Rhizophora mucronata species of mangrove saplings from Mulavukad island in Ernakulam and planted them on the Saint Sebasitan island. His idea was three-pronged — they provide a safe environment for fish conservation; they protect the island from strong winds; and their wood has many applications, especially for making oars. Years later, after the tsunami devastation of Alappad in December 2004 when the importance of the plant in coastal protection began to be highlighted, it was the saplings from those planted by Mr. Xavier that were mostly used for the mangrove afforestation programmes. READ MORE
Whose mangroves are they anyway?
INDIA - It is a scene of absolute destruction. Acres and acres of tree stumps that look as if ravaged by a massive fire. Just across the road, there is a similar scene with dead, black trees with patches of an unhealthy green at the centre. Migratory birds sit atop the stumps, looking perplexed at what was once home to their parents and grandparents. Migrant workers fish amidst the dead roots. That such an appalling thing happening in Kerala, in the SEZ area of Puthuvypeen in the Vembanad wetland, should be a shame not only to the Forest or Finance Minister but also to the whole Left Government. What is even more disgusting is the mode of destruction. Residents of the area allege that the mangroves were poisoned with high concentrations of a herbicide to effect a slow death. It was done in such a way that the mangroves right in the core area were first poisoned, and then in concentric circles and finally in the periphery. READ MORE
Beach Erosion in Vizag Due to Lack of Mangroves
INDIA - Degradation and destruction of mangrove forests in Visakhapatnam and Srikakulam districts, have been a cause of concern for environmentalists and environment lovers. Though negligible when compared to other coastal districts, both these districts having the mangrove forests in small patches spread over the coastline, are witnessing a decrease in the area over the last few years. Mangroves are found in tropical and subtropical tidal areas and play a crucial role in supporting the ecological balance. They play an important role in arresting tidal waves and tsunamis. They also support shrimp seed production and crocodile breeding. Andhra Pradesh has the second largest mangrove forests in the country, after West Bengal. Visakhapatnam and Srikakulam have mangrove forests spread over in an area of less than 60 hectares. In Visakhapatnam, mangroves plantation was once found in abundance near the Naval Dockyard extending up to Meghadrigedda reservoir on the rear-side of the airport. Two more mangrove plantation patches are found at Pudimadaka and Rambilli in the district. But, about 90 per cent of the mangroves and casuarinas in Vizag are lost due to human interference and indiscriminate deforestation of the mangroves cover for industrial development and urbanisation over the last few years. READ MORE
After Oil Spill, Unique Mangrove Forest Faces More Threats
BANGLADESH - On December 9, 2014, a wrecked tanker released approximately 94,000 gallons (78,271 Imperial gallons) of heavy fuel oil into the Shela River, which runs through the Sundarbans, the sprawling and remote mangrove forest shared between India and Bangladesh in the Bay of Bengal. Now another shipping disaster is unfolding, as a capsized cargo vessel, Jabalenoor, leaks 200 tonnes of potash fertilizer into the Sundarbans' Bhola River, southeast of the earlier oil spill. A UNESCO World Heritage site, the Sundarbans is home to a variety of wildlife, including an important population of the critically threatened Royal Bengal Tiger and rare Irrawaddy and Gangetic dolphins. In the wake of the oil spill a joint United Nations and Government of Bangladesh Mission published a long-awaited report on the accident. Referring to the incident as a "serious wake up call," the report urges a number of protective strategies. In particular, the report calls for more stringent management of water routes, noting "an immediate need" to stagger the heavy traffic of commercial vessels, to ban all passage during unsafe conditions, such as at night or fog, and to "prohibit all anchoring in the channel except in an emergency." READ MORE
Development threatens Antigua's protected Guiana Island
ANTIGUA - In June 2014, Gaston Browne led his Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party to a resounding victory at the polls with a pledge to transform the country into an economic powerhouse in the Caribbean. In their first 100 days in office, Prime Minister Browne's Cabinet approved a number of private investment projects valued in excess of $3 billion. The largest is the Yida Investment Group, Guiana Island Project which will see the development of the largest free trade zone in the country, an off-shore financial centre, a five-star luxury resort, internationally branded villa communities, a casino and gaming complex, a multi-purpose conference centre, a 27-hole golf course, a marina and landing facilities, commercial, retail, sports and other auxillary facilities. Headquartered in western Beijing, Yida International Investment Group was founded in 2011. READ MORE
Thirteen corporations control up to 40 per cent of world's most valuable fisheries
USA - Just thirteen corporations control 19-40% of the largest and most valuable stocks and 11-16 % of the global marine catch, according to new research. These "keystone" corporations of the global seafood industry critically shape the future of marine ecosystems, but have yet to assume this responsibility at the global scale. The new study, published in the journal PLOS ONE, makes an analogy between the largest companies in seafood industry and keystone species in ecological communities. Keystone species in nature have a profound effect on the structure and function of the ecosystem and disproportionately determine the prevalence and activities of other species. For example just a small number of sea otters can determine urchin numbers, or a few grey wolves determine the size of bison, deer or elk populations. Likewise, the study found that the average annual revenues of the 160 largest companies in 2012 exhibit a distinct keystone pattern, where the top 10% account for 38 % of total revenues. The identified thirteen companies shape very large marine ecosystems around the world and are involved in both wild capture fisheries and aquaculture, including whitefish, tuna, salmon, shellfish, fishmeal, fish oil, and aqua feeds. Their combined annual revenues correspond to 18% of the global value of seafood production in 2012 (US$ 252 billion). READ MORE
'Citizen scientists' helping save Coast mangroves
AUSTRALIA – "CITIZEN scientists" are leading a grassroots campaign to protect Sunshine Coast mangroves. Armed with video cameras and GPS, volunteers are patrolling mangroves along the Pumicestone Passage to collect data that is vital to experts getting a better picture of the mangrove's health. The volunteers have been trained by leading mangrove experts Prof Norm Duke and Jock Mackenzie, of MangroveWatch, who have developed a simple but scientifically rigorous assessment tool using video recording. That ensures all data is collected in a consistent way. It's already paying dividends, with that baseline data at Bell's Creek showing about 25% of the mangroves in poor condition. Key issues identified by the monitoring include bank erosion, water quality and altered hydrology from urban drainage. READ MORE
Photogenic lone mangrove tree 'vandalised', photographer collecting pictures for tribute gallery
AUSTRALIA - The well-known mangrove at Waterloo Bay was recently cut down leaving residents dismayed at the change in the outlook. The area was frequently visited by amateur and professional photographers trying to capture a striking image of the lone mangrove. Landscape photographer Kane Gledhill has created an online gallery to pay tribute to and document the history of the well-known tree. The area was often used as a photography training ground and Gledhill is asking photographers and the public to contribute their favourite images of the tree to be included in the gallery. "It has become a tribute page to keep the images alive and the memories alive ... it is part of history really," he said. READ MORE
Hi Alfredo
I have been busy recently with setting up our Australian mangrove-saltmarsh network – at least to formalise it with a new website. Please pass this message around to ask if anyone would like to check it out, and maybe also to register if they want to stay in touch with things going on in Australia. Or they could just revisit the site whenever.
all the best: Norm Duke
AMSN Facilittator
E: firstname.lastname@example.com
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Friday, May 29, 2015
MAP NEWS ISSUE 365, May 30, 2015
Posted by BlogAdmin at 12:26 AM No comments:
Thursday, May 14, 2015
MAP News Issue 364, May 16th, 2015
The MAP News
364th Edition May 16, 2015
Sri Lanka first nation to protect all mangrove forests
SRI LANKA - Sri Lanka has become the first nation in the world to comprehensively protect all of its mangrove forests. A scheme backed by the government will include alternative job training, replanting projects and microloans. Mangroves are considered to be one of the world's most at-risk habitats, with more than half being lost or destroyed in the past century. Conservationists hope other mangrove-rich nations will follow suit and adopt a similar protection model. Commenting on the agreement, Sri Lanka President Maithreepala Sirisena said: "It is the responsibility and the necessity of all government institutions, private institutions, non-government organisations, researchers, intelligentsia and civil community to be united to protect the mangrove ecosystem." The Sri Lankan government is a joint partner overseeing the measures, alongside global NGO Seacology, and Sri Lanka-based Sudeesa, which was formerly known as the Small Fishers Federation of Lanka. READ MORE
Unilateral Boundary Demarcation by Herakles Farms Causes Tensions
CAMEROON – The people of Mokange village in Mundemba subdivision spotted unidentified persons conducting land demarcations of their forest. This information was conveyed to SEFE by the proposed chief of Mokange and two elites who informed SEFE of the presence of some 30 persons working for Herakles Farms who had come to the Talangaye area. After spotting the people demarcating the forest, the villagers quickly contacted the Divisional Officer (D.O) for Mundemba, who told the people that his office was not aware of the exercise. As tensions heightened, the company dispatched its Community Relations Manager, Daniel Agoons, to the concerned villages to appease the population. Danial Agoons is said to have visited the following villages: Mokange, Lipenja, Kuma, and Esoki Bima. In all four villages, Agoons made apologies to the people on behalf of Herakles Farms for demarcating their lands without consulting or informing them. Herakles Farms had previously promised to pay the villagers 50,000 frs per month, starting in 2010, following the signing of MoUs with chiefs and supporters. But they have still not started making these payments. Agoons told the villagers that these amounts will be paid as arrears without specifying when they would be made. READ MORE
Survey on mangroves to be out soon
INDIA – A comprehensive survey report on mangroves in the district will be released soon, District Collector P. Bala Kiran has said. Inaugurating a seminar on mangrove forests in Kerala, he said the procedure for takeover of the mangrove areas by the government was in the final phase. The district has nearly 2,500 acres of mangrove vegetation spread over 32 villages, and collective efforts are required for its conservation, he said. Environmental activist Khaleel Chovva, delivering the keynote address at the seminar, called for wetlands of Kattampally to be declared as Ramser a site. Participants of the seminar included environmental experts who spoke on various issues relating to the conservation of the biodiversity-rich ecosystem in the upper reaches of estuaries, lagoons and backwaters of the coastal districts of the State. READ MORE
Mangrove crusader Pokkudan to start mangrove school
INDIA - Mangrove crusader and environmentalist Kallen Pokkudan is slowly giving a concrete shape to his long-cherished green dream a school to train the young generation about the importance of mangrove conservation. Probably this is the first such institute in the country, he says without any claim. Though there are umpteen organizations, including nongovernmental organizations, working in the field of environment conservation, there was no serious effort to protect mangroves or teach the society about its importance in preventing natural calamities and environmental equilibrium. "So, I decided that I should only venture into that mission too, as I had planted hundreds of mangroves in different parts of the state, against all odds," said Pokkudan. "When I planted mangroves here nearly 25 years ago, I was termed mad and the local CPM leaders even turned against me. Time proved that I was right. So this school has a historic relevance as it is a continuation of that mission," he said. READ MORE
Gaston Browne: Don't let Chinese Developers break laws conserving our Marine Protected Areas.
ANTIQUA - Recently a Chinese development company purchased some 1600 acres of undeveloped waterfront land with the intention of creating hundreds of villas, several marinas and luxury hotels, a casino, a school, a hospital, a horse racing track and two golf courses. All of it lies within an incredibly delicate marine ecosystem which is currently protected by the Laws of Antigua and Barbuda. Among several laws which aim to conserve this national treasure is a section within the Fisheries Act dealing with Marine Protected Areas. All of the coastline within this project are within the North East Marine Management Area (NEMMA) which was designated a Marine Protected Area in 2005. Despite this, plans show vast marsh lands, mangroves, flats, reefs and nesting vegetation cleared to make way for the project. This would mean laws either being broken or changed for the developer. This can not be permitted to happen. READ MORE
Half violated environment
BRAZIL - Late 2014 and early 2015 were catastrophic for the environment in Brazil. Several media reports show how the nature has been "raped". And the eternal contradiction between theory and practice is more than this in Brazilian politics. Deforestation in the Amazon continues to grow - according to information produced by the Deforestation Alert System (SAD), the Institute of Man and Environment in the Amazon (Imazon). In the month of January 2015 were cleared 2 288 km, representing an increase of 195% over the same month in 2014. In February and March were deforested respectively 42 km 2:58 km2, representing, in relation to 2014, increases of 169% and 282%. The cumulative devastation August 2014 to March 2015 reached 1761 km 2, equivalent to an increase of 214% over the same previous monitoring period. Contrary international efforts, Brazil refused to sign the "Declaration of New York on Forests", during the Summit of Climate that took place in September 2014. This statement, considered a letter of intent was signed by more than 30 countries (United States, Canada, European Union and others), plus dozens of companies, environmental organizations and indigenous peoples. Once implemented can halve the felling of forests in the world by 2020 and zero by complete deforestation by 2030. LEA MAS EN ESPANOL
14 environmental groups raise their voices to demand a halt to the destruction of wetlands in Panama
PANAMA – The battle for wetlands in Panama City has a new episode. Fourteen groups in defense of Wetlands of Panama made an appeal to the state to stop the destruction of wetlands and "recognize the urgent need to halt the destruction of wetlands'. In a letter that was sent yesterday and in which five points, including stringent requirements on the approval of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) by the National Environmental Authority (ANAM) are included. In addition, the National Civil Protection System (Sinaproc) will require more detail to determine the cause of the destruction of mangroves and their impact on communities; the Ministry of Housing and Land Management require you to meet the standards to protect mangroves. In its request, the ANAM asked to 'act is demanding and that all projects that seek to destroy wetlands are not admitted with a lower Category Category III EIA, considering their cumulative impacts'. Another point that Community Organization Users of Wetlands he requested the authorities is to ensure public consultation with accurate and updated information, and no recurrence cases whose EIA omitted consulting the communities of several provinces. LEA MAS EN ESPANOL
Whigham Elementary's Earth Day features mangroves and butterflies
USA - More than 400 students participated in an all-day event called "Birds, Blooms, Butterflies and Bees" as part of International Global Youth Service Days. "The event was coordinated with help from Whigham students participating in Youth Service America's Semester of Service as part of a State Farm Good Neighbor Student Achievement Grant," said Adrian Delesdernier, a third grade science, social studies and WAVE (Whigham Aquatic Visionary Explorers) teacher. Delesdernier and three other Whigham teachers — Sue Cummings, Dionie DeSilva and Louis Saenz — were recipients of a $2,000 grant for the 2014-15 school year to help promote service learning among 80 students. During their semester of service, students learned how to identify environmental issues and propose solutions that benefit the community. READ MORE
Marine biologist in Haiti creates a national park
HAITI – A Haitian marine biologist who successfully fought to create a national park to protect a large swath of Haiti's north coast has won a prominent US environmental activism prize. Jean Wiener was awarded a Goldman Environmental Foundation prize for his efforts to establish the Caribbean nation's first Marine Protected Areas while working with local communities to promote sustainable fishing practices and preserve mangrove forests. In awarding the $175,000 prize, the Goldman foundation highlighted Wiener's efforts in overcoming extreme poverty and political instability in Haiti, a country with few full-time environmentalists and almost no government programs to protect natural resources. READ MORE
Hi all
I am contacting you because of your prior interest in tidal wetlands, mangroves and or saltmarsh habitats around Australia.
This message flags the launch of our first website for the Australian Mangrove & Saltmarsh Network (AMSN). The site is generously supported by Dr Damien Burrows, Director of TropWATER, and James Cook University. The url is: www.amsn.net.au. Please check it out soon.
Note that, while our network is informal, it is active and growing fast. To keep things so, we rely on individual contributions and donations from our special stakeholders. This years meeting was well attended in Wollongong. It was led by Dr Kerrylee Rogers, and hosted by UoW along with support from TNC and the NSW Dept. Environment & Heritage.
If you are interested in continuing your interest and involvement in the network, please register using the website portal. It is free! Being registered will guarantee you will get the latest news and updates from AMSN members, the best methods for habitat assessment & evaluation, the best ways to restore damaged sites, and early news about AMSN meetings. And, there is a lot more likely ... the network is as good as its memberS.
For example, as a result of the Wollongong meeting, a position paper is in preparation about national policy issues regards mangrove habitat in Australia. This professional view is much needed to emphasis further that while tidal wetlands are profoundly beneficial, they are also seriously threatened. At best, these shoreline habitats face an uncertain future.
For those who can make it to the next annual meeting, I hope to see you in Darwin next year.
Best regards: Norm Duke
AMSN Facilitator
Mangrove Biologist, TropWATER JCU
CEO Director, MangroveWatch Ltd
E: firstname.lastname@example.com
This is Toe Aung @ Myanmar.
It is very delighted to inform you that I have been selected by the Fulbright Scholarship Program. Without your contribution, I would not have achieved this scholar. I also understand one of the strong points in my application was with the invitation letter from you. Thank you very much for your support.I will try the best to complete my program under your guidance and supervision.
For your reference, please kindly find attached my proposed theme in the application that was basically prepared by following your fields of research. In this regard, please let me know if there are anything I should prepare from my country in advance.
Since now, I may receive a couple of questions from the Fulbright program regarding my accommodation at your institution. So, let me get back to you with some points they would like to know, particularly the possible time frame and condition of office space you can provide for me.
Again, thank you very much for your support. I also never forget Jim Enright and Robin Lewis who did great efforts to introduce me with you all. Then, I will write a separated letter to them for special thanks.
I look forward to working together with you soon for mangroves as well as water.
Toe Aung, PhD.
Mangrove Section
Watershed Management Division
Forest Department
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ACTION ALERTS WANTED: MAP News is looking for links to calls to actions/petitions and letter writing campaigns on mangrove issues, tropical coastal communities and other related topics. Not all submissions can be selected, but we look forward to hearing about your work and want to let our readers' voice be heard!
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Action Alerts:
STOP CHINESE DEVELOPERS – Help protect our Marine protected area
|Mangrove Action Project
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Posted by BlogAdmin at 10:41 PM No comments:
Over 800 signatures in first 24 hours
of petition against environmental law-breaking in Antigua
An international environmental organisation has given its backing to a growing protest in Antigua against a massive development on its environmentally protected North shore. The announcement came on the same day as the Antigua Conversation Society launched a petition which gained more than 800 signatures in the first 24 hours.
The Mangrove Action Project, which is a global network focusing on viable, long term solutions to halt and prevent mangrove destruction, says that it is deeply concerned by the plans published by Chinese development corporation YIDA. YIDA has purchased the 1600 acres of land, including mangrove-rich Guiana Island, with the intention of developing the US$1billion Singulari resort. The resort will feature hundreds of villas, several marinas, luxury hotels, a casino, school and two golf courses.
The area is in the 3,100 hectare North East Marine Management Area (NEMMA). In order to be carried out legally the project needs an Environmental Impact Assessment being submitted under the Physical Planning Act 2003. There is also a requirement for permission to be sought from the Fisheries Division under the Fisheries Act 2006 for any pruning or removal of mangroves, which must improve the environment.
Mangrove Action Project Chairman of the Board Roger de Freitas said: "The next generation of Antiguans will be very grateful that these laws were enforced. Mangroves are the fish nurseries for the Caribbean. It is difficult, although not impossible, to restore them. In Mexico the Chinese have just been ordered to restore a huge area of mangroves they destroyed in order to build an industrial centre near Cancun. It would be a great shame if Antigua became yet another case in a sequence of Caribbean mangrove destruction."
Species which make their homes in the NEMMA include many of the 182 species of Antiguan and Barbudan birds such as the endangered West Indian Whistling Duck, the Lesser Antillean Flycatcher and Bullfinch, egrets, and Carib doves. There are also Hawksbill turtles which nest on the beaches, snapper and many other fish, lobsters, coral, sponges, conch, and seagrass as well as the ecologically vital mangroves. In 2005, the NEMMA was declared a marine protected area under the Fisheries (Marine Reserve Area) Notice No 36.
Alarm about the development is spreading in Antigua, with the Antigua Conservation Society launching an online petition yesterday (12th May) asking Prime Minister Gaston Browne not to let Chinese developers break the laws which conserve Antigua's marine protected areas. The petition gathered a massive total of more than 800 signatures in the first 24 hours.
The group says it believes while the majority of Antiguans support economic growth, jobs and development in the country, they don't want it at the expense of the island's precious environment. Director of Adventure Antigua Eco Tours and founder of the Antigua Conservation Society, Eli Fuller, said: "The Siboney were the first humans settling here in Antigua and Barbuda.
They lived in the shadows of our coastal vegetation some 4000 years ago and were sustained by the ecosystems that were rooted there among the mangroves. Tourism has been in these islands only since the 1950s, and already we have removed much of the same vegetation that sustained life here until its arrival. Only time will tell how long tourism will continue to be an integral part of our lives here in Antigua and Barbuda. It's a very fickle industry to rely upon with so many threats from so many angles that could make tourism a distant memory of the past...... just like the Siboney.
What will happen when tourism is no longer able to provide food for our nation? It is then that we will need to rely more heavily than ever before on the natural resources and of course this will be impossible if they continue to destroy them. It's time for the words sustainable development to become more than words." Amongst those protesting the development is Antiguan-born Ziffy Tyrrell who said: "People are really alarmed at these plans and the bullying tone of some of the speeches made in regard to them, calling those of us concerned about the environment a 'minority'.
There has been no consultation with local people and fishermen in Parham, and no wider information about the nature of the plans given to Antiguans. Long term, we are worried about the impact on our fragile island, particularly the fishing culture which is already struggling due to the effects of climate change and the decline of our reefs." Antiguan environmental campaigner Martin Dudley said: "Successive Antiguan Governments have sadly failed to stop our island heading for environmental catastrophe. Our landfill site is overflowing, there is no recycling system in place in Antigua, our water and electricity supplies are unreliable and already at full stretch, and vast swathes of mangroves have already been decimated by development. "
This latest project could result in the collapse of the north sound ecosystem which is now critical to Antigua's reefs and fisheries due to the historical loss of other mangroves. We've had enough of our concerns being ignored, and want to work with the Government and YIDA to ensure any future development is within the law and protects our ecosystem. The new Zoning plan designates this area for "environmental protection", this is not new news!"
Contact details:
Antigua Conservation Society -
Eli Fuller 1 268 725 7263
Ziffy Tyrrell (+1268) 721-3051
Martin Dudley 1 268 722 3564
Eli Fuller 1 268 725 7263
Ziffy Tyrrell (+1268) 721-3051
Martin Dudley 1 268 722 3564
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The Denver Broncos will go to Cincinnati for a big showdown with the Bengals on the last Monday Night Football game for this season. There are a lot of playoff implications on the line. The Broncos already clinched the AFC West title, and the Bengals lead in the AFC North, albeit by the slimmest margin possible of half a game.
Denver sports an 11-3 record entering the game, tied for best in the league with Arizona and New England entering this weekend in the NFL. They have been among the favorites all season long, and many expected them to be easily the most dominant team in the league. The Broncos season, however, has not played out in that way. They have been surprised in upset losses on occasion, and just have not looked as dominant throughout the season as they did last year at this point. That is particularly true with their offense, which has looked far less explosive than their record-setting offense of last season. That said, Denver quarterback Peyton Manning has generally shined on Monday Night Football, boasting a 13-4 career record entering this game. Even more impressively, Manning has never lost against the Bengals, having compiled an 8-0 mark against the team, with three of those meetings coming in December. If the Bengals want to win their division, they are going to have to get past those impressive marks by Denver's star quarterback, who is definitely scheduled to play this Sunday, despite some recent injuries and illnesses.
Denver has employed a more conservative, run-oriented game plan this season. Behind the running of C. J. Anderson, Manning has seen some relief from the pressure of handling the offense, as the offensive production has been spread around more evenly this season. And while it has produced more modest numbers then the record-shattering numbers that the team enjoyed last season, this new approach has nevertheless helped the Broncos overcome some tough obstacles to ultimately clinch the division, and to be in the hunt for home field advantage in the AFC playoffs. That would be a third season in a row, although they are behind the New England Patriots, who hold the tie-breaker because of their victory over Denver earlier this season.
Entering this weekend, the Bengals still have an outside shot at home field advantage but, more realistically, they could possibly still be in contention for a playoff bye with a win over Denver if the Colts happen to lose one of their next two games. Also, Cincinnati definitely needs this win to stay atop the division, where the Ravens and Steelers are nipping at their heels. If the Bengals lose this game, it is more than likely that their division title hopes will have evaporated, and quite possibly, their playoff hopes will be seriously compromised as well.
Cincinnati will need strong running from back Jeremy Hill, who has been on a tear for the team since week nine. The Bengals are likely to employ a ball control style against the Broncos, but they will also need their defense to step up in a big way to keep the potentially explosive Denver offense in check. To that end, however, the Bengals are coming off their most impressive defensive effort in years, when they played a complete game on the road last weekend in Cleveland for a convincing shut-out victory of 30-0.
Cincinnati quarterback Andy Dalton will also need to eliminate some of the costly mistakes that he has made at critical moments in games this season. Some of his decisions compromised the Bengals and their chances at winning some games, and he was particularly bad on a nationally televised game against the Browns last month. With Dalton at the helm, the Bengals are a dismal 2-9 in nationally televised games dating back to 2011. Dalton has been remarkably inconsistent all season long, at times showing glimpses of potential stardom, while at other times, he hardly has resembled an NFL starting quarterback, let alone one with an over $100 million contract.
Commentary By Charles Bordeau
Denver Post
Bleacher Report
Photo by Jeffrey Beall –Flickr License


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Refrigerated dough is the secret to whipping up this quick and easy bread recipe that's filled with hearty sausage and gooey cheese.
How to Make It
Cook sausage in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, stirring until sausage crumbles and is no longer pink. Remove from pan; drain well, pressing between paper towels.
Unroll dough into a rectangular shape on a lightly greased baking sheet; sprinkle evenly with sausage and cheese. Beginning with 1 long side, roll up, jelly-roll fashion. Turn, seam side down, on baking sheet, and pinch ends to secure filling inside. Cut 3 (1/4-inch-deep) slits across top of dough with a sharp paring knife.
Bake at 350° for 30 minutes or until browned. Remove from oven; let stand 10 minutes before slicing.
Note: For testing purposes only, we used Pillsbury Crusty French Loaf.


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Artist Statement
Working in clay and paint make Karlene Koch Voepel a very versatile artist. To watercolors, her first love, she has added acrylics, gouache and pastels. In gouache (opaque watercolor), Karlene's work is more flat and strong in design. In acrylics, Karlene uses larger brushes, breaks out and becomes almost expressionistic.
First comes the inspiration, a particularly compelling face or figure. Then, a strong and unique composition. Although classicly trained, Karlene Voepel is very creative, not satisfied with a traditional approach. Her portrait subjects come to life with human expression and lively brush strokes.
Look for the brightly colored outlines and straight-forward approach and you will discover Karlene's style.