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Concept: Galápagos Islands

The taxonomy of giant Galapagos tortoises (Chelonoidis spp.) is currently based primarily on morphological characters and island of origin. Over the last decade, compelling genetic evidence has accumulated for multiple independent evolutionary lineages, spurring the need for taxonomic revision. On the island of Santa Cruz there is currently a single named species, C. porteri. Recent genetic and morphological studies have shown that, within this taxon, there are two evolutionarily and spatially distinct lineages on the western and eastern sectors of the island, known as the Reserva and Cerro Fatal populations, respectively. Analyses of DNA from natural populations and museum specimens, including the type specimen for C. porteri, confirm the genetic distinctiveness of these two lineages and support elevation of the Cerro Fatal tortoises to the rank of species. In this paper, we identify DNA characters that define this new species, and infer evolutionary relationships relative to other species of Galapagos tortoises.

Concepts: Tortoises, Evolution, Geochelone, Galápagos Islands, Galápagos tortoise, Charles Darwin, Tortoise, Biology

BACKGROUND: The inhabitants of deep-sea hydrothermal vents occupy ephemeral island-like habitats distributed sporadically along tectonic spreading-centers, back-arc basins, and volcanically active seamounts. The majority of vent taxa undergo a pelagic larval phase, and thus varying degrees of geographical subdivision, ranging from no impedance of dispersal to complete isolation, often exist among taxa that span common geomorphological boundaries. Two lineages of Bathymodiolus mussels segregate on either side of the Easter Microplate, a boundary that separates the East Pacific Rise from spreading centers connected to the Pacific-Antarctic Ridge. RESULTS: A recent sample from the northwest flank of the Easter Microplate contained an admixture of northern and southern mitochondrial haplotypes and corresponding alleles at five nuclear gene loci. Genotypic frequencies in this sample did not fit random mating expectation. Significant heterozygote deficiencies at nuclear loci and gametic disequilibria between loci suggested that this transitional region might be a ‘Tension Zone’ maintained by immigration of parental types and possibly hybrid unfitness. An analysis of recombination history in the nuclear genes suggests a prolonged history of parapatric contact between the two mussel lineages. We hereby elevate the southern lineage to species status as Bathymodiolus antarcticus n. sp. and restrict the use of Bathymodiolus thermophilus to the northern lineage. CONCLUSIONS: Because B. thermophilus s.s. exhibits no evidence for subdivision or isolation-by-distance across its 4000 km range along the EPR axis and Galapagos Rift, partial isolation of B. antarcticus n. sp. requires explanation. The time needed to produce the observed degree of mitochondrial differentiation is consistent with the age of the Easter Microplate (2.5 to 5.3 million years). The complex geomorphology of the Easter Microplate region forces strong cross-axis currents that might disrupt self-recruitment of mussels by removing planktotrophic larvae from the ridge axis. Furthermore, frequent local extinction events in this tectonically dynamic region might produce a demographic sink rather than a source for dispersing mussel larvae. Historical changes in tectonic rates and current patterns appear to permit intermittent contact and introgression between the two subspecies.

Concepts: Species, Mollusca, Galápagos Islands, DNA, East Pacific Rise, Gene, Pacific Ocean, Hydrothermal vent

Species are being lost at an unprecedented rate due to human-driven environmental changes. The cases in which species declared extinct can be revived are rare. However, here we report that a remote volcano in the Galápagos Islands hosts many giant tortoises with high ancestry from a species previously declared as extinct: Chelonoidis elephantopus or the Floreana tortoise. Of 150 individuals with distinctive morphology sampled from the volcano, genetic analyses revealed that 65 had C. elephantopus ancestry and thirty-two were translocated from the volcano’s slopes to a captive breeding center. A genetically informed captive breeding program now being initiated will, over the next decades, return C. elephantopus tortoises to Floreana Island to serve as engineers of the island’s ecosystems. Ironically, it was the haphazard translocations by mariners killing tortoises for food centuries ago that created the unique opportunity to revive this “lost” species today.

Concepts: Genetics, Galápagos Islands, Aldabra Giant Tortoise, Evolution, Charles Darwin, Tortoise, Galápagos tortoise, Tortoises

Concepts: Galápagos Islands, Immunology, Humoral immunity, Immunity, Galápagos Sea Lion, Antibody, California Sea Lion, Immune system

Native biodiversity on the Galapagos Archipelago is severely threatened by invasive alien species. On Santa Cruz Island, the abundance of introduced plant species is low in the arid lowlands of the Galapagos National Park, but increases with elevation into unprotected humid highlands. Two common alien plant species, guava (Psidium guajava) and passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) occur at higher elevations yet their seeds are dispersed into the lowlands by migrating Galapagos tortoises (Chelonoidis spp.). Tortoises transport large quantities of seeds over long distances into environments in which they have little or no chance of germination and survival under current climate conditions. However, climate change is projected to modify environmental conditions on Galapagos with unknown consequences for the distribution of native and introduced biodiversity. We quantified seed dispersal of guava and passion fruit in tortoise dung piles and the distribution of adult plants along two elevation gradients on Santa Cruz to assess current levels of ‘wasted’ seed dispersal. We computed species distribution models for both taxa under current and predicted future climate conditions. Assuming that tortoise migratory behaviour continues, current levels of “wasted” seed dispersal in lowlands were projected to decline dramatically in the future for guava but not for passion fruit. Tortoises will facilitate rapid range expansion for guava into lowland areas within the Galapagos National Park where this species is currently absent. Coupled with putative reduction in arid habitat for native species caused by climate change, tortoise driven guava invasion will pose a serious threat to local plant communities.

Concepts: Climate change, Guava, Invasive species, Plant, Introduced species, Seed, Galápagos Islands, Fruit

Galapagos is often cited as an example of the conflicts that are emerging between resource conservation and economic development in island ecosystems, as the pressures associated with tourism threaten nature, including the iconic and emblematic species, unique terrestrial landscapes, and special marine environments. In this paper, two projects are described that rely upon dynamic systems models and agent-based models to examine human-environment interactions. We use a theoretical context rooted in complexity theory to guide the development of our models that are linked to social-ecological dynamics. The goal of this paper is to describe key elements, relationships, and processes to inform and enhance our understanding of human-environment interactions in the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador. By formalizing our knowledge of how systems operate and the manner in which key elements are linked in coupled human-natural systems, we specify rules, relationships, and rates of exchange between social and ecological features derived through statistical functions and/or functions specified in theory or practice. The processes described in our models also have practical applications in that they emphasize how political policies generate different human responses and model outcomes, many detrimental to the social-ecological sustainability of the Galapagos Islands.

Concepts: Charles Darwin, Emergence, Mathematics, Scientific method, Galápagos Islands, Theory, Pacific Ocean, Ecuador

The application of genome-wide cytonuclear molecular data to identify management and adaptive units at various spatio-temporal levels is particularly important for overharvested large predatory organisms, often characterized by smaller, localized populations. Despite being “near threatened”, current understanding of habitat use and population structure of Carcharhinus galapagensis is limited to specific areas within its distribution. We evaluated population structure and connectivity across the Pacific Ocean using genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphisms (~7200 SNPs) and mitochondrial control region sequences (945 bp) for 229 individuals. Neutral SNPs defined at least two genetically discrete geographic groups: an East Tropical Pacific (Mexico, east and west Galapagos Islands), and another central-west Pacific (Lord Howe Island, Middleton Reef, Norfolk Island, Elizabeth Reef, Kermadec, Hawaii and Southern Africa). More fine-grade population structure was suggested using outlier SNPs: west Pacific, Hawaii, Mexico, and Galapagos. Consistently, mtDNA pairwise ΦST defined three regional stocks: east, central and west Pacific. Compared to neutral SNPs (FST = 0.023-0.035), mtDNA exhibited more divergence (ΦST = 0.258-0.539) and high overall genetic diversity (h = 0.794 ± 0.014; π = 0.004 ± 0.000), consistent with the longstanding eastern Pacific barrier between the east and central-west Pacific. Hawaiian and Southern African populations group within the west Pacific cluster. Effective population sizes were moderate/high for east/west populations (738 and 3421, respectively). Insights into the biology, connectivity, genetic diversity, and population demographics informs for improved conservation of this species, by delineating three to four conservation units across their Pacific distribution. Implementing such conservation management may be challenging, but is necessary to achieve long-term population resilience at basin and regional scales.

Concepts: Island, Hawaiian Islands, Hawaii, Equator, Galápagos Islands, Tasman Sea, Australia, Pacific Ocean

The Equator and Easter Microplate regions of the eastern Pacific Ocean exhibit geomorphological and hydrological features that create barriers to dispersal for a number of animals associated with deep-sea hydrothermal vent habitats. This study examined effects of these boundaries on geographical subdivision of the vent polychaete Alvinella pompejana. DNA sequences from one mitochondrial and eleven nuclear genes were examined in samples collected from ten vent localities that comprise the species' known range from 23°N latitude on the East Pacific Rise to 38°S latitude on the Pacific Antarctic Ridge.

Concepts: Ocean, Indian Ocean, New Zealand, Galápagos Islands, Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Earth, Equator

Population monitoring is vital for conservation and management. However, simple counts of animals can be misleading and this problem is exacerbated in seals (pinnipeds) where individuals spend much time foraging away from colonies. We analyzed a 13-year-series of census data of Galapagos sea lions (Zalophus wollebaeki) from the colony of Caamaño, an islet in the center of the Galapagos archipelago where a large proportion of animals was individually marked. Based on regular resighting efforts during the cold, reproductive (cold-R; August to January) and the warm, non-reproductive (warm-nR; February to May) season, we document changes in numbers for different sex and age classes. During the cold-R season the number of adults increased as the number of newborn pups increased. Numbers were larger in the morning and evening than around mid-day and not significantly influenced by tide levels. More adults frequented the colony during the warm-nR season than the cold-R season. Raw counts suggested a decline in numbers over the 13 years, but Lincoln-Petersen (LP-) estimates (assuming a closed population) did not support that conclusion. Raw counts and LP estimates were not significantly correlated, demonstrating the overwhelming importance of variability in attendance patterns of individuals. The probability of observing a given adult in the colony varied between 16% (mean for cold-R season) and 23% (warm-nR season) and may be much less for independent 2 to 4 year olds. Dependent juveniles (up to the age of about 2 years) are observed much more frequently ashore (35% during the cold-R and 50% during the warm-nR seasons). Simple counts underestimate real population size by a factor of 4-6 and may lead to erroneous conclusions about trends in population size.

Concepts: Colony, Zalophus, Number, Sea lion, Galápagos Islands, Pinniped, California Sea Lion, Galápagos Sea Lion

A multitude of correlations between heterozygosity and fitness proxies associated with disease have been reported from wild populations, but the genetic basis of these associations is unresolved. We used a longitudinal dataset on wild Galapagos sea lions (Zalophus wollebaeki) to develop a relatively new perspective on this problem, by testing for associations between heterozygosity and immune variation across age classes and between ecological contexts.

Concepts: Charles Darwin, Biology, Fur seals and sea lions, Zalophus, Galápagos Islands, Evolution, California Sea Lion, Galápagos Sea Lion


A Truly Historic Moment: The Stuxnet Cyber Attack on Iranian Centrifuges

By Max Sterling

As B-29 bombers flew from Tinian Island on August 6 and August 9, carrying the nuclear payloads to be dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the world witnessed decades’ worth of scientific innovation. The dropping of atomic bombs reflected the terrible and awesome capability of mass destruction, and these critical moments have shaped military strategy, public opinion, pop culture and of course foreign affairs from 1945 through the present day. The nuclear timeline continues to run its course, but in 2010 this history intersected with another: the timeline of cyber warfare.

In the 2010 Stuxnet cyber attack, the United States and Israel launched the first major offensive cyber action between state actors, a massive supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) attack on Iranian nuclear centrifuges. This cyber action yielded kinetic results, physically damaging Iranian nuclear facilities. Stuxnet comes at the intersection of the ongoing saga of nuclear proliferation and the new frontier of cyber warfare, a not-so-distant horizon silhouetted by cyber soldiers, codes, and keyboards.

The dropping of atomic bombs on Japan demonstrated the horrific potential of nuclear weapons, leading both to mass fear about nuclear war and states’ dogged pursuit of these weapons in the years to follow. In the cyber era, the Stuxnet attacks demonstrate the similarly awesome destructive potential of cyber attacks. SCADA attacks can, quite literally, turn off an electrical power grid, or disrupt the production of military supplies and weapons, or halt public transportation. State or non-state actors could use these capabilities to great effect in war or as tools of terror, and the Stuxnet attacks provide a blueprint for fighting in the cyber domain.

Furthermore, the Stuxnet attacks highlight three particularly worrisome aspects of the cyber era. First, these attacks were not easily attributed, and although they have now been attributed to Israel and the United States, future attacks may be similarly difficult to place at first. Attribution issues will continue to characterize the cyber world, and the Stuxnet episode demonstrates this concept. Second, the Stuxnet attacks could have easily impacted targets not originally intended to be harmed, and distinguishing civilian and military targets on the Internet will continue to be problematic. Third, what is an appropriate response to a cyber attack? The Iranian government has, according to an Atlantic Council report, launched counter cyber attacks as a result of Stuxnet and drastically increased the Iranian cyber budget. Would sanctions or military action, for example, have been appropriate responses to being the target of a major cyber attack? This question has yet to be resolved, and will persist in the cyber era.

In 1945, the global community was introduced to the nuclear weapon, a weapon of mass destruction that would inform the next fifty years of strategic thinking. In 2010, a Belarusian security firm unmasked the next weapon to shape strategic thinking in the form of the Stuxnet cyber attack. The next fifty years of cyber attacks will be measured against the Stuxnet. Strategists and operatives will break new boundaries of cyber warfare as states look to bolster defenses against SCADA attacks. As it did in the Cold War, pop culture will dream of the impact cyber weapons can have on civil society. We have witnessed the convergence of two critical timelines—the history of nuclear weapons and cyber weapons—and the Stuxnet attack will be remembered as a truly historic moment in the coming age of cyber warfare.

Max Sterling is a rising senior at the College of William and Mary, majoring in International Relations. Max is also a cadet in Army ROTC and will be commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Army upon graduation. His interests include counterinsurgency, nuclear and chemical weapons proliferation, military strategy and the impact of cyber capabilities on these topics.


Determine what are the delphi technique, Project Management

The Delphi technique intends to attain a consensus evaluates by the efforts of a number of estimators. How is this attained and what is the advantage of the Delphi technique over, for illustration, a round-table discussion?

The main problem along with a round-table discussion is which the personalities and egos of the estimators get caught up within what must be a rational or dispassionate procedure. People may feel forced to protect their evaluations high or low since to do otherwise would be considered to involve a loss of 'face' along with respected technical generation. The Delphi technique includes asking for estimates by a number of people and after that circulating the outcomes anonymously for all to observe.

Since the estimates are anonymous, estimators will not lose face through changing their minds and considering other people calculates approximately may well cause re-thinks. The difficulty with the Delphi technique is about people cannot ask questions regarding how others have arrived at their evaluations and they may thereby miss some significant issues which others have considered. Barry Boehm (observe previous) determined that a combination of the Delphi technique along with well-run workshops tended to create good outcomes.

Posted Date: 9/2/2013 7:47:51 AM | Location : United States

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Why wait until someone has passed on to honor his contribution to the arts community?

That's the idea behind Saturday's "Music of Our Time" concert at the Tusten Theatre.

In its 19th year, the series is presented by the Delaware Valley Arts Alliance and the Delaware Valley Chamber Orchestra. This year's featured composer is Long Eddy resident Lee Hoiby.

"The purpose of the chamber orchestra in this concert is to play music by composers who live in this area and who are living," said DVCO treasurer Carolyn Steinberg. "Composers of the area is the focus. Many musicians want to play music by living composers."

Born in 1926, Hoiby wrote a one-act opera titled "The Scarf," which premiered at the first Italian Spoleto Festival in 1957 and was produced by the New York City Opera the following year. Hoiby's next opera was "Natalia Petrovna," and the piece he is perhaps most noted for, "Summer and Smoke," is an opera based on Tennessee Williams' famous play. Hoiby is also respected for his instrumental pieces.

"We're focusing on his instrumental music because he's quite well-known as a vocal composer," Steinberg said. "We all wanted to hear more of his instrumental music."

Works that will be performed at this concert include "Sextet for Winds and Piano," performed by the Dorian Wind Quintet with pianist Betsi Hodges; his "Cello Sonata," performed by Duo Navona; and the "Whitman Songs" performed by Steve Utzig of Narrowsburg, with Hoiby at the piano.

"Lee is well known and highly respected, but not often performed in this area," Steinberg said. "His music is challenging to play, so you can't put it together, you can't prepare his music in two rehearsals. This is exciting."

Other composers who will be featured that evening include Paquito d'Rivera (his woodwind quintet) and Gabriella Morris, a high school sophomore at Livingston Manor Central School. The Dorian Wind Quintet and the DVCO will collaborate on Igor Stravinsky's "Eight Instrumental Miniatures."

"Paquito might have come, except that he has another performance that night. He has friends in Sullivan County and frequents the area sometimes. The Dorian Wind Quartet will perform a piece that he wrote for them," Steinberg said. "Gabriella wrote a piece called 'Forbidden Love,' and it's for flute, violin, oboe and bassoon."

Steinberg said these performances are always full of surprises and variety.

"If you've never done this before, it's worth a trip because the excitement and the energy of the people in the theater and the dedication of the musicians all gain momentum and become something you won't forget," Steinberg said. "It sounds like classical music that's very lively."

The evening's program will begin with a performance of "Caprice," a composition written by composer/trumpeter Kenneth W. Somerville. But while Hoiby will be present to hear his songs being honored, Somerville's piece is a tribute. The former musical director and bandleader at the Laurels Hotel died in July.


If you have a child age 16 and up, you should know about the serogroup B meningitis (MenB) vaccine because it can prevent MenB, a type of meningococcal disease. But a study in Pediatrics released Monday found not all primary care physicians have enough knowledge about the seriousness of MenB disease and the MenB vaccine to discuss with patients whether or not they should receive the vaccine. Men B, although rare, has emerged to the forefront over the past few years due to some highly publicized outbreaks among college campuses.

Generally in decline since the 1990s, meningococcal disease is highly contagious and caused by a type of bacteria called Neisseria meningitidis. It can lead to meningitis, an infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord, and infections of the blood. Meningitis has about a 10 to 15 percent fatality rate and can often leave survivors with permanent issues such as hearing loss, brain damage, or kidney damage.

The disease has multiple different serogroups or types and currently we have a few vaccines with specific recommendations to prevent against some of these serogroups. Meningococcal disease can spread from person to person through close contact such as coughing or kissing or lengthy contact, especially among people living in the same household, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The American Committee on Immunization Practices recommends that 16- to 23-year-olds may be vaccinated with the MenB vaccine based on conversations during an appointment. However, the study's authors found:

  • Half of pediatricians and approximately a third of family physicians report often or always initiate a discussion about MenB vaccine for 16-to 18-year-olds.
  • Providers who initiate the discussion were more likely to give the vaccine rather then those who rarely discuss the vaccine.
  • There was a lack of familiarity with many aspects of MenB disease and MenB vaccination among primary care physicians.

What does this mean? If the conversation about MenB disease and MenB vaccine never occurs during the appointment, no vaccine will ever be given. This lack of interaction usually is not deliberate.

In this study, one of the main factors inhibiting this conversation may be a lack of familiarity of the disease and vaccine. This is where parents and caregivers can step in. If your child falls within the 16- to 23-year old age group, you can start the discussion with your provider.  The American Academy of Pediatrics encourages pediatricians to discuss the benefits, risks, and costs with patients and families and then "work with them to determine what is in their best interest." Ultimately, this will lead to a more informed decision that will benefit your child.


Rebuild the Middle East and North Africa under the “MERCI” Plan

Dr. Patrick Ho, Deputy Chairman and Secretary General of the China Energy Fund Committee, has proposed a major initiative to identify ways to integrate into the Belt and Road Initiative the reconstruction of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The proposal, called MERCI (Middle East Reconstruction Initiative) was presented at two major international conferences in early July.

On July 6, Dr. Ho introduced it to the Agriculture for Sustainable Development conference at the United Nations. The following day, he addressed the Schiller Institute’s “Food for Peace and Thought” seminar in New York City, co-sponsored by the CEFC he heads.

The MENA region, Dr. Ho explained, is an essential link between East and West, and many countries in that region are, or used to be, major agricultural countries, such as Israel, Iraq and Egypt.

Syria, he explained, used to produce 4 million tons of wheat annually: 1.5 million for export and 2.5 million for internal consumption. Now, after years of terrorist and other military attacks, they produce only 450,000 tons, and the people have fled the country by the millions. Some nations, he said, view the military conquest of terrorism as the solution, but he points out that as the war against terrorism has expanded from the early period, 2001 to 2004, to the more recent period 2012 to 2015, the number of people killed in terrorist attacks globally has been increased sixfold. The best hope, he asserted, involves “changing the underlying socio-economic conditions.”


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Bodywise institute REstorative Level 1 teacher training

with Eleanor Bramwell and Rae Helsel

Restorative savasana.jpg

Sangha Yoga is SO EXCITED to be hosting a Restorative Yoga Teacher Training on September 7-9th 2018 with Rae Helsel and Eleanor Bramwell.

This training is a level one restorative YTT appropriate for all levels of yogic experience; those interested in offering restorative yoga classes and those interested in deepening their experience of restorative states. You will learn the neurobiology of restorative states, anatomy of the nervous system, breathing mechanics, and hormonal systems. You will feel empowered to guide restorative classes, be well versed in the creative use of props, and the art of sequencing. In a beautiful way, you will have the opportunity to understand yourself on a deeper level.

Total cost of training is $400. Early bird (until Aug. 1) is $300. We also offer a student price of $325 with an early bird discounted rate of $250.

Training manuals and certification are included in the price. This training can be used for CE hours for yoga teachers.

“Eleanor believes in the untold potential of every human.”

Eleanor, training director

Eleanor is known for creating sacred space, powerful facilitation, and weaving self growth inquiry into all that she does. Her extensive academic education in psychology and experience as a Board Certified Structural Integrator were ignited by an earnest desire to understand the body/mind continuum and self. A radical visionary and conscious entrepreneur, she is the Executive Director of BodyWise Institute. Eleanor also founded a nonprofit and sister organization, BodyWise Foundation, dedicated to serving trauma recovery, training, and education.

“rae is known for her mastery holding space for others.”

Rae, training director

Rae’s yogic journey began during chemo and surgical treatment for stage three melanoma. Yoga offered her a release from the anxiety in her body/mind. She offers this release to her students through music, movement, and body awareness. Her extensive yoga education includes 1,000 hr Yoga Therapist, and working on staff at the Nosara Yoga Institute 200 hr yoga teacher trainings.

She owns a thriving web development company in New York, is a classically trained pianist, and loves being behind her camera.

Training Objectives

In a restorative yoga practice, we open the aperture of our awareness, and we access a state of potency. Through lecture, group discussion, and practicum you will learn how to guide yourself and others into a deeper state of being.

Pathways to this deeper state include supported postures, pranayama, and meditation; the nervous system is regulated,  and we are able to rest and digest life. Measurable results of relaxation include reduction of stress, trauma symptoms, blood pressure, muscle tension, and fatigue, and improvement of immune function// digestion.

This training program provides the foundation to invoke the body’s natural state. You will learn:

●  How to confidently guide students through a full restorative class or incorporate restorative states into other yoga classes

●  The creative art of using props

●  How to intelligently sequence a series that will initiate relaxation, healing, and release

●  The biology and anatomy of pranayama (breath)

  • The neurology of a conscious breath
  • The neurology of body scanning

●  The anatomy of nervous system

●  The biology of hormonal systems

●  Introduction to assisting

  • Introduction to trauma, what is it, how does it occur, and how is it stored somatically?

●  Science of the Relaxation Response theory

  • How restorative practices support regulation of the nervous system

●  What is it to restore? How is it different than resting, meditating or sleeping?

Post course requirements for certification:

  • Lead 5 restorative classes (minimum three attendees per class)
  • Read Waking the Tiger: Healing Traum by Peter A. Levine, PhD, and provide a page summary
  • Choose an area of the Anatomy curriculum that interests you and write a one-half to one page write up

Training Schedule

Friday 4-8pm

Saturday 10:30-6:30pm

Sunday 9-5pm


Street lights in Marrakesh

First holiday in Marrakech

Marrakech is far more than a city. Marrakech isn’t an old city completely. There are lots of things to do in Marrakech which are past the imagination of the tourists. You can not predict what will surprise you when you ...

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Marrakech Cultural Tour

Marrakech has unique Souqs, the craftsmen have been performing their wonders for centuries in the Medina (old city). Most of the shops at the medina are open between 10 am and 7 pm daily except on Friday afternoon. In Ville ...

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Morocco Souvenirs

Morocco is known for its stunning cultural heritage and craft traditions, out of Berber rugs to colorful silk embroidery. Here is what souvenirs you have to bring home if you are planning to go to Morocco. Artisanal Soaps With herbs ...

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Marrakech points of interest

Marrakech, not like other cities, is a pearl in North Africa, founded in the 11th century. Its Medina has a unique history, which can only be explored in this superb town. Marrakech is one of the imperial cities of Morocco ...

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Singing Healthily

Let’s talk about vocal health and fitness

Vocal health and fitness are two incredibly important things to pay attention to when you begin your vocal journey. There are many rules you’ll need to follow if you want to stay fit for performance.

Rule #1

If it hurts don’t do it! This may seem simple and obvious but many people develop habits that can be very harmful to their voice especially when attempting high pop music. Many famous singers such as Sam Smith, Adele, Meghan Trainor, and Justin Timberlake have developed problems that were serious enough to need surgery (source). This is from improper technique and overuse. Now if you’re famous then you can afford to fix these issues though I’m sure it is still an unpleasant experience. Avoid anything straining and stop singing when your voice gets tired or hurts.

Rule #2

Drink a lot of water! The vocal folds need proper moisture to be able to work without causing injury. Drinking water as you’re singing or right before isn’t enough. You need to stay hydrated throughout the whole day. Authority Nutrition recommends using the 8×8 rule, which is 8 glasses of 8 ounce glasses per day. Others recommend halving your weight and drinking that many ounces. You also want to avoid things like soda, acidic or sugary juices, alcoholic drinks, tomatoes, spicy food, and some people say milk. Acidic food and drink cause acid re-flux and heartburn issues while singing, and dairy can cause extra phlegm to build up in the throat. If you are drinking while singing drink room temperature water so that your voice stays warm and loose. Try not to drink too much though because it can wash away important mucus that your vocal chords need to protect themselves.

Rule #3

Be mindful of your speaking voice. Believe it or not but speaking can actually be more strenuous on your voice than singing. A lot of singing habits are built while you talk. Something called vocal fry is common in many people. Vocal fry is that low crackly part of your voice that you feel in the top of your throat and happens to most people in the morning or when your sick. It is one of the most damaging things you can do to your vocal folds and will make all singing really tough on you. Try doing high sighs and yawns in the morning if you start to feel that fry creeping in. Or just try speaking in a high part of your voice and it should start to mitigate. Avoid shouting and raising your voice for extended periods of time. Parties and concerts are the worst times to talk to people. If you are in a job that requires a lot of talking make sure you’re breathing well because it will help you stay in good vocal placement and save those chords!

Rule #4

Take a break from vocal activity. Many singers will take a vocal rest period for a day or so where they avoid talking or singing all day as best they can and just let the vocal folds recover. That way they can rebuild themselves and be in perfect singing shape.

Rule #5

Practice makes permanent! When you practice make sure you are practicing every thing with good healthy technique because if you have practiced one part over and over in an unhealthy way then you will be singing that part unhealthily over and over. I’ve never liked the phrase practice makes perfect. Instead it should be perfect practice makes perfect.

Rule #6

Breathe! Practice breathing. Focus on good posture and breathing in a way that expands your rib-cage. Nothing too high so that your shoulders move or too low so that your belly looks pregnant. If you’re having trouble with a part of your music and it feels stressed or pained then try adding more breath you’ll be amazed at how many things it can help.

Rule #7

Exercise! This one might seem unnecessary but singing requires a lot of fitness. You need to develop lung capacity so that you’re not getting out of breath while on stage or wherever you are performing. Having your body in shape will help you keep your stamina while you’re performing so that you can do those long performances.

Rule #8

Practice, practice, practice. Make it a habit to sing every day at least 30 minutes each day and you’ll start feeling all those benefits quickly and maintain all your good vocal habits that you are working on. It is okay to take a day off every so often of course but if you stop for too long then you’ll break the habit.

Use these rules and I promise you that you will start to notice a big difference in your voice and even your overall health. Singing is not just about impressing your friends or becoming famous but it is a way of life! Singing leads to happiness, healthiness, and spreading joy and emotion to all those around you.


AgVA Startup Assistance Program

Many young companies lack the experience to know what is necessary to go from an idea to a commercial product.  In urban areas there are usually a number of resources to help guide them through uncharted seas but in rural areas many times these resources are lacking.  Ag Ventures Alliance's (AgVA'S) Startup Assistance Program is designed to get them the resources necessary to become a viable business "as soon as possible".

Eligible Applicants

In order for companies to be eligible for assistance under the Startup Assistance Program it must:

a.  Have revenues of less than $500,000 over the previous 12 month period and must be less than five years old, based on the date of incorporation.

b.  In addition, to be eligible companies must provide products or services that are directly connected with agriculture.

Eligible Activities

Eligible activities under the Startup Assistance Program include:

a.  Business development consulting services.  Such services may include but are not necessarily limited to the following: skill building, mentoring, market research, pro forma development, general business startup expenses and out-of-pocket expenses.

b.  AgVA staff may provide services included in paragraph "a" above.  Services may also be provided by outside consultants.  Consultants may be members of Ag Ventures Alliance but may also be others not directly affiliated with AgVA.

Selection Process

1.  The AgVA Startup Committee will make selections for the Startup Assistance Program.  The committee will use the following criteria to make its decision:

a.  Founder/Management experience
b.  Will the product work and will it have a significant impact on the market?
c.  The size of market for the product.
d.  Potential benefit to U.S. agriculture.
e.  Potential benefit to AgVA members.
f.  Other business factors such as margins, barriers to entry and competitive landscape.

2.  A company may apply for funds multiple times but the cumulative amount received by one company may generally not exceed $20,000.


WASHINGTON -- Around midnight on Jan. 30, 1968, Vietcong and North Vietnamese Army troops began a massive surprise attack on U.S., South Vietnamese and allied forces across South Vietnam.

The Tet Offensive, as it came to be known, was actually a three-phase campaign, lasting from Jan. 30 - March 28, May 5 - June 15 and Aug. 17 - Sept. 23.

"The event really defined the course of the rest of the [Vietnam] war and how it ended, which was a pretty inglorious ending," said former Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel.

Hagel, who was with the 47th Infantry Regiment in Vietnam during Tet, spoke at the "Vietnam: The Tet Offensive" panel discussion, Jan. 25, at the National Archives.

Then a 21-year-old private first class, Hagel, just two months in country, said his mechanized infantry unit sustained heavy casualties in the vicinity of Long Binh.

The attack was a complete surprise, he said. What happened in Long Binh was typical of what was happening across the country.

The U.S. had completely underestimated the strength of the North Vietnamese Army and Vietcong guerrilla forces from South Vietnam, he said. It came as a shock to the American public and turned public opinion against the war.

One of the myths of Tet, he said, is that it was a big enemy military victory, he added. It wasn't. "Our military actually did very well considering."

Erik B. Villard, a historian with the U.S. Army Center of Military History, said there were other myths about Tet, some of which he wrote about in his Center for Military History book, "Combat Operations: Staying the Course, October 1967 to September 1968."

One myth, he said, was that the North Vietnamese orchestrated a number of major battles prior to Tet in the autumn of 1967 to draw U.S. forces away from the cities so they would be in a better position to succeed in capturing the urban areas.

The real story is more interesting, he said. The 1967 battles were local and regional campaigns, planned over the spring and summer of that year.

The idea for the Tet Offensive did not even occur to the enemy at the time, as their strategic planning process tended to be short-term and at times very chaotic, he said.

Also, why would they want to launch a major battle in November 1967, just months before Tet when full strength would be needed? There wouldn't be adequate recovery time, he said, noting that the National Archives provided some key documents he used in his research.

A second myth, Villard said, was that Gen. William Westmoreland, the commander of American forces in Vietnam, "was wedded to this notion of victory through attrition; that the way to succeed was to kill enough of the enemy that you crossed this imaginary threshold and you could just kind of grind your way toward success.

"Westmoreland deserves far more credit than he's gotten in my view," he added.

He was a shrewd person who understood the value of pacification and cutting enemy supply lines, as he was doing in secret operations to cut the Ho Chi Minh Trail, Villard noted.

A third myth, he said, is that U.S. military policy changed when Westmoreland was replaced by Gen. Creighton Williams Abrams Jr. in June 1968, in the middle of the Tet Offensive.

Abrams and Westmoreland saw mostly eye-to-eye on strategy, he said. The mission continued to be defending bases and lines of communication, as well as air interdiction operations and supporting pacification.

Pacification was a term used at the time to denote counterinsurgency operations, which included advise and assist missions and winning over the loyalty of the local population.

Policy didn't actually change until after mid-1969 when Vietnamization took hold, he said. Vietnamization consisted of drawing down U.S. forces and transferring responsibility to the South Vietnamese forces.

The buildup of forces into 1968 and the draw down a year later had already been planned on Westmoreland's watch, he said.

Merle L. Pribbenow II, an author specializing in the Vietnam War, with five years of service in Vietnam during the war as a CIA operative, said that a widespread myth was that the Tet Offensive was a well planned and executed enemy attack.

That's completely false, he said, referencing documents and interviews of NVA and VC commanders after the war.

Many of those generals became bitter with the way they and their units were treated by their own military and political leaders and the high numbers of casualties that resulted, he said.

"We focus on how we felt Army commanders screwed up and were unprepared. [The North Vietnamese] were saying the exact same things again and again," he said.

After the war, the Vietnamese did tactical reviews and battle studies, just as the U.S. Army did, to learn lessons and assess strengths and weaknesses, he noted.

The takeaway from that assessment, he said, was that the communists acknowledged that a lot of the poor decision-making during Tet resulted from underestimating U.S. military response, as well as the loyalty of the South Vietnamese people.

Like the Americans, the communists also inflated their own body counts, minimized their failures and exaggerated their accomplishments, he said.

The biggest problem, he added, was that shortcomings were not reported up the chain of command and authorities refused to listen to subordinates.

As a result of the assessment, he said the military leadership of Vietnam decided on a new approach. From then on, leaders were instructed to encourage subordinates to tell the truth, even if it wasn't something they wanted to hear or went against their own thinking.

Gregory Daddis, an associate professor of history and director of Chapman University's Master of Arts program in War and Society, said another myth was that the U.S. media was to blame for the lack of political will after the Tet Offensive.

There's a tendency, he said, to find someone to blame when a bad outcome occurs.

Looking back 50 years ago to the Tet Offensive gives everyone an opportunity to gain a better perspective on everything that took place, he said.

An important takeaway from Tet, he said, is that sometimes military action might not be the best tool in all situations to achieve the desired political effect.

Hagel added that "in the end, war is determined not by military might but by the support of the people. We found ourselves on the wrong side of that."

He concluded: "The sacrifices made by over 56,000 Americans who lost their lives and hundreds of thousands of individuals who were wounded, and all who served, were never really given much recognition for an assignment they didn't choose. But they served and they served honorably, and did what their country asked them to do. And I think that's a part of this story that needs to be told more often."


-By Yakub Aliyu

“All politics is local.”

It is evident that PDP factionalization at the national level had severely refracted on the State chapter. Up to a point during the electioneering, there was uncertainty as to who exactly was the PDP candidate. Moreover, the primaries that produced the INEC recognized PDP candidate was also contentious. The PDP, therefore, went into the race as a divided house and severely weakened.

On the other hand, despite the initial post-primaries bad feelings that greeted the emergence of the APC candidate, the APC was able to strongly reunite and forge ahead, going into the election as a united family.

The Oshiomhole factor has three dimensions. (i) The Oshiomhole personality and connection to the masses; (ii) the phenomenal and unprecedented performance of his government in the provision of infrastructure; and (iii) the incumbency advantage. These combined to make Oshiomhole the only issue/factor during the campaigns. All messages by the two sides of the divide(APC and PDP) were all orchestrated around what Oshiomhole has done or not done, and nothing else. The whole campaign was framed as: “PDP versus Oshiomhole.” And in a way, that was PDP’s undoing.

Political scientists estimate the incumbency effect to be about 60%. The APC with incumbency power of a strong personality that performed creditably over the last eight years was already almost 60 points ahead of the opposition even before the whistle was blown. In the same vein, a shuttle survey on the popularity of key politicians in APC and PDP in Edo State indicated that only Oshiomhole maintained his popularity at above 75% from the last presidential election. Others including the PDP candidate showed a vast waning acceptance as a politician.

Typically, in an open election, challengers who had held elective offices (Senators, members of House, Chairmen of Local Government, etc.) are often stronger contenders. In the case of the PDP, both the candidate and his running mate have not had such advantage. However, whereas the incumbency advantage backed the APC candidate, his running mate too had come along with the advantage of being a serving member of the House of Representatives. Moreover, this is the first time the PDP candidate was contesting an election ad worst as opposition. A lower challenger quality always leads to higher incumbent vote margin according to some studies based on the US experience.

Two geopolitical zones have clear voter loyalty in Edo state (Edo North tilting to the APC, and Edo Central towards the PDP, leaving the Edo South as the ostensible battleground. Incidentally, Edo North where APC had strong voter loyalty is electorally stronger that Edo central, hence, from the onset, APC has a clear advantage. All that the APC needed was to go for the worst scenario in the battleground by aiming at a 50:50 split and hence, have a comfortable win. Still, in Edo South, voter loyalty was somewhat secured by the visible infrastructure development in the densely populated areas of the zone. Hence, it was inconceivable that with all the “local politics” involved the PDP could have electorally upset the APC in that particular zone.

Rather than blaming APC for electoral infractions I would argue that APC did not utilize its advantages effectively during the recently concluded governorship elections in Edo State. Perhaps due to the liberal electoral atmosphere provided by PMB and partly due to complacency on the part of APC the PDP had been able to make a mark.

However, beyond the electoral numbers, we should not lose sight of the fact that there were objective factors that made a PDP win far-fetched and made possible the APC victory in the just concluded Edo State governorship election. An appreciation of these factors would allow us to place the outcome in its proper perspective beyond the brickbats now going on between the two major contending camps.

Disclaimer: Please seek the analytical advice of professional political scientists before swallowing my analysis. Now, let us hear from the experts on political/electoral behaviour.


Πέμπτη, 20 Σεπτέμβριος 2018 13:40

Stunning pictures of Kefalonia from above

Amazing aerial photos from southern Kefalonia , Spartia , Pessada , Lourdas and Avithos .

As one of the largest islands in Greece, it is well-equipped to handle the influx of tourists during the summertime and it has something to offer to everyone.

Kefalonia is an island with numerous beaches for all preferences. Beaches crowded or isolated, with sand or pebbles, organized or not. Certainly, every beach on the island is a different magic picture and whatever choice you make the experience will stay engraved in your memory.


Vietnam - Population

The population of Vietnam in 2003 was estimated by the United Nations at 81,377,000, which placed it as number 13 in population among the 193 nations of the world. In that year approximately 6% of the population was over 65 years of age, with another 31% of the population under 15 years of age. There were 99 males for every 100 females in the country in 2003. According to the UN, the annual population growth rate for 2000–2005 is 1.35%, with the projected population for the year 2015 at 94,742,000. The low growth rate is due to extensive family planning programs aimed to curb overpopulation. The population density in 2002 was 240 per sq km (622 per sq mi).

It was estimated by the Population Reference Bureau that 20% of the population lived in urban areas in 2001. The capital city, Hanoi, had a population of 1,074,000 in that year. Ho Chi Minh City is the largest urban area with a population of 3,678,000. According to the United Nations, the urban population growth rate for 2000–2005 was 2.2%.

Also read article about Vietnam from Wikipedia

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Magnificent mallards provide much entertainment at Murray’s Cauld

The riverside birds have fallen strangely silent as the season moves from breeding to moulting. Usually this takes place unseen in the dense undergrowth, safe from predators, while flight is impaired and to save any unnecessary embarrassment while not looking their best!

Mallards suffer no such vanity, as on my patch of Ettrick Water, a motley crew of around a dozen mallards congregate in the shallows near a gravel bank to moult and bathe. They are hard to recognise as mallards if it wasn’t for their partially green heads and bright blue speculums. They are mainly drakes and spend days like this, lazing around and splashing at the water’s edge, while the females struggle to raise their brood. During late summer ducks moult synchronously, or lose and replace all of their feathers in a short period of time. Synchronous moulting renders ducks flightless during a portion of this time thus at a greater risk to predators, until the new feathers come in. Losing and replacing all of one’s feathers can take up to two weeks. The new feathers are drab in colour and considered a duck’s basic plumage. In the early spring, just as the breeding season gets underway, a partial loss of feathers happens, when the male ducks put on their alternate “Sunday best” plumage.

A female of another species provided lots of entertainment at Murray’s Cauld on the river one day last week. A goosander with a brood of eleven fluffy “humbugs” arrived in the pool at the foot of the weir. The plan was to go further upstream, so mum jumped the foot high step between the water and the dry apron of the weir, with the intention of walking them up to the pool above. She stopped half way and could be seen calling to them to hurry up. First one tried the herculean leap then another, but it was obviously too high. The obvious solution was to take them up nearer the far side, where rocks were piled up against the apron and they could just walk up, but the problem there was that a hungry heron was standing guard. Eventually, the heron flew off and that is the route they took and all reached the top safely.


Our Mission

Well over 100 million crayons are thrown out every year by more than 15,000 family style restaurant chains across the United States.

The Need

Millions of young children do not have access to artistic opportunities, both within the US and internationally. In addition, thousands of youth in the United States and beyond want to make a difference in their community, but do not know how.

What We Do

Through our dedicated all-youth team, the Color My World Project (CMW) collects discarded crayons from restaurants across the country and donates them to schools, childcare centers, shelters, and orphanages in need. Often, when our team-members donate a batch of crayons, they spend time coloring with the kids and teaching them about the importance of recycling and reducing waste. One crayon at a time, CMW links children, teenagers, restaurants, patrons, and organizations in need in a community-wide effort to reduce waste and inspire creativity.

Why We Do It

President Obama made the point in his 2012 State of the Union address that teachers often have to pay out-of-pocket for school supplies. We do not think that is right. By donating crayons, CMW is giving children additional artistic opportunities and lessening the burden on teachers while simultaneously reducing thousands of pounds of landfill waste.

How It Helps

Through this process CMW team members find a passion for service and learn how to run a social venture while also becoming role models and inspiring other youth to engage themselves in the community. Franchising social change, CMW creatively utilizes technology with a "tool kit" available on the CMW website so that new volunteers can train online and independently manage their outreach. CMW's goal is to create a new generation of changemakers with skills in negotiation, direct marketing, and collaboration within the realm of social entrepreneurship and beyond.

To expand our outreach, CMW has created a coloring book (thanks to a few team members and an artist) that we are donating to shelters and schools across the country. The coloring book will provide kids with the opportunity to learn about recycling while having fun and expressing themselves. Crayons can help stimulate children's imaginations and nurture their dreams.

With Color My World, we will color outside the lines and together draw a picture for a better future!

When CMW representatives came to the Center to present...the children noticed the name of the restaurant on the crayons, which sparked their interest in the crayons. The relationship between the crayons and the popular restaurant stimulated a conversation with the children about recycling. This provided a good discussion topic for the children and served as a good socialization tool for the classroom. Later on in the week, the class talked more about recycling, using plastic bags as an example of something that could be recycled for other purposes."

- Rosemount Center Teacher

When Gawan visited the Evergreen School...he spoke to our students and explained the importance of preserving our natural resources and ways we can all do our part. Gawan showed our students that even teenagers can make a big difference. And he even left us...900 crayons and a set of coloring books!"

- John DeMarchi, Head of School at the Evergreen School

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“Apodixi please”

The Greek campaign to inform the tourists that visit the country

Greece is serious in trying to win the and tax evasion and launched a campaign to “train” the tourists that visit the country on how they can ask for a receipt.

Welcome to Greece!

This message aims to inform you about your consumer rights in our country. Under Greek law, all hotels, restaurants, bars, cafés, car rentals and, in general, almost all suppliers of goods and services (with a few exceptions, such as taxi drivers and kiosks) are obliged to accept debit, credit or prepaid cards.

Therefore, you do not need to pay in cash. You can ask to pay by card.

Furthermore, all suppliers of goods and services are obliged to issue receipts to their customers. Consumer is not obliged to pay, in cash or by card, if he/she is not provided with a valid payment receipt (“apódixi”).

Restaurants, bars, cafés, stores, mini markets and in general, almost all suppliers of goods are obliged to have electronic cash registers and are not allowed to issue receipts that are handwritten or printed in regular paper.

For those exempt from the obligation to have an electronic cash register (namely certain suppliers of services, such as hotels, clinics, doctors, lawyers etc), receipts, which in most cases are printed, must contain the name, address and the 9digit tax identification number (ΑΦΜ) of the supplier.

So in all cases, before you pay you have the right to ask for a receipt and you are not obliged to pay if you don’t get one. It’s so simple to say in Greek: “Apódixi please”!

One more thing. By using your card for your payments and asking for a receipt, you help the Greek Tax Administration collect taxes that are already included in the price you pay. Practically, you contribute to Greece’s financial recovery and offer us the opportunity to provide you with even better services next time you come to our country.

Enjoy your stay!


5 Lessons Learned: Maintenance

Know More About The Different Types Of Building Materials And Their Uses

When we say building materials, we are actually referring to those products that are used for the purpose of constructing homes as well as other buildings and establishment. When it comes to the construction of homes, there are actually quite a number of things that you have to know about it such as the fact that there are different types of materials that are used for it. As a matter of fact, we want you to know that the materials that are utilized for the purpose of building a home or a building in another country depends on the climatic condition of the place as this way, they can guarantee the strength and the durability of what they are constructing.

Since we have already mentioned above building materials, what we can tell you here is that they are separated under two categories which are the synthetic materials and the natural materials. If you are wondering what makes synthetic materials different from natural materials, well, that is due to the fact that the latter are those that have been originated naturally while the first are those that are made from the hands of man.

In order for you to know the materials that are commonly used during the construction of homes and commercial buildings, in this article, we will write down all these materials for you to know and better understand.

What we will be introducing ton you first as one of the most commonly used material for constructing both commercial buildings and establishment as well as homes is the mud and clay. You may not believe it but it is actually true that both of these materials are used to build homes and commercial establishments. As a matter of fact, mud and clay are considered as the most suitable constructing materials for places that are warm since they keep the interior as cool as it can be. Yes, it may be true that clay and mud is not as strong and as sturdy as concrete buildings but what makes it advantageous is the fact that it can last for a long time.

Another building material that we have here in our list which we want you to be aware of is glass and glass is a very notable material since they are commonly used for constructing large mansions and offices too. Since we are already living in this modern and technologically advanced world, we can now see the rise in the number of buildings that are made from glass and the increase in their number is due to the availability of different types of glass in the market. Several types of glasses that you can find available today in the market consist of frosted glass, glass that are colored, stained glass and a whole lot more.

Doing Repairs The Right Way

Discovering The Truth About Maintenance


John James Audubon

A closer look at the man for which the National Audubon Society is named.

(April 26, 1785 – January 27, 1851)

Early Life

Jean-Jacques Audubon was born in the French colony of Saint-Domingue (now Haiti) on his father's sugar plantation. He was the illegitimate  son of Lieutenant Jean Audubon, a French naval officer and his mistress Jeanne Rabine, a 27-year-old French chambermaid. They named the boy Jean Rabin. His mother died when the boy was a few months old, as she had suffered from tropical disease since arriving on the island.

The senior Audubon in 1789 sold part of his plantation in Saint-Domingue and purchased a 284-acre farm called Mill Grove, 20 miles from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to diversify his investments. Rising unrest in Saint-Domingue convinced Jean Audubon to return to France. In 1791 he arranged for John to be delivered to him in France.

John was raised in Coueron, near Nantes, France, by Audubon and his wife Anne Moynet Audubon, whom he had married years before. In 1794 they formally adopted John to regularize his legal status. They renamed the boy Jean-Jacques Fougère Audubon. When Audubon, at age 18, boarded ship for immigration to the United States in 1803, he changed his name to an anglicized form: John James Audubon.

Coming to America

In 1803, his father obtained a false passport so that Audubon could go to the United States to avoid conscription in the Napoleonic Wars. John James Audubon arrived in the United States at the age of 18. Upon his arrival, he spent a majority of his time roaming the wooded hills along the Perkiomen Creek and the Schuylkill River hunting, observing, collecting and sketching. It was during this period that he experienced early stirrings of a fascination for wildlife that was to become his all-absorbing life interest. Inspired and captivated by his new surroundings, Audubon became a pioneer in portraying birds and other wildlife in natural settings. During his time at Mill Grove he built a substantial base of interest in ornithological art, and his experimentation resulted in the rapid development of his skills as an artist.

While at Mill Grove he made many drawings and performed the first recorded experiment of bird banding in America. He also developed his “wire armature,” a device that gave life to his freshly shot specimens and his drawings of the birds. This unique method of holding his specimens put him years ahead of his contemporaries. Many believe that in spite of the advantages of photography and state-of-the-art technology, no modern bird painter has equaled his achievements.

Making Nature Come Alive

Audubon's place in history was assured by the way in which he forever changed how birds were illustrated. While replicating physical features with uncanny veracity, he incorporated narrative elements and aesthetic touches that not only made birds come alive in their natural environments, but also lifted the images to the status of fine art.

His famous Birds of America stands out as Audubon's crowning achievement. These 453 life-sized paintings of north American birds were remarkable for their accuracy of color and realism. After the publication of Birds of America, Audubon issued a highly successful, smaller 7-volume octavo edition. He also compiled an important work documenting mammals; The Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America. That collection comprised 150 hand-colored lithographs in 3 volumes.

In addition to his artistic talents, Audubon was a prolific writer. His journals and Bird Biographies documented his observations of the land that he traveled during the first half of the 19th century, as well as the people of the emerging American nation.

The Home and Family

At the age of 20, Audubon gained his father's approval to marry Lucy Bakewell, daughter of William Bakewell, an Englishman who owned Fatland Ford, an estate that adjoined to Mill Grove. After their marriage in 1808, the Audubons moved to Kentucky. Lucy Bakewell was a tower of strength to her husband while he struggled to find his calling. During the time that Audubon traveled about as a portrait painter, music and fencing instructor and eventually, painter of the Birds of America, Lucy remained at home. She raised their two sons, Victor Gifford and John Woodhouse, and worked intermittently as a teacher.

Audubon's Travels

In search of his specimens Audubon would travel extensively throughout the country. He would travel as far north as Laborador, Canada. He spent time in Key West and the everglades region of the south. And he would travel as far west as what was at that time the Dakota Territory.

Audubon's Legacy

Audubon's influence on ornithology and natural history was far reaching. Nearly all later ornithological works were inspired by his artistry and high standards. Charles Darwin quoted Audubon three times in On the Origin of Species  and also in later works. Despite some errors in field observations, he made a significant contribution to the understanding of bird anatomy and behavior through his field notes. Birds of America is still considered one of the greatest examples of book art. Audubon discovered 25 new species and 12 new subspecies.

Here's a great article with even more information regarding the history of John James Audubon.


You've probably heard the food-world adage about how we shouldn’t consume oysters during months that don’t contain the letter 'R.' But does 'R' really stand for risk?

Technically, yes. Although, when it comes to eating commercially farmed oysters served in restaurants and sold in supermarkets, this old mnemonic can go out the window.

The idea of not eating oysters during months without an 'R' comes from the fact that the summer months are the prime breeding time for "red tides," or large blooms of algae that grow along the coast and have the tendency to spread toxins that can be absorbed by shellfish, including oysters. This is especially an issue for places with warm water temperatures, and eating locally raised seafood raises your risk of ingesting the toxins.

That said, commercially harvested seafood—which makes up a majority of the seafood sold in restaurants and supermarkets—is strictly regulated by U.S. law, which ensures it is safe to consume. Many restaurants often increase the size of their safety net by serving commercial oysters from cold-water climates during the months of May, June, July, and August.

So, while we wouldn’t recommend digging up your own oysters off the coast of Florida for a mid-summer backyard bake, there’s no reason to fear the product sold in stores or served in restaurants within U.S. borders any month of year, 'R' or no 'R.' But in case you prefer to play it safe, September is just around the corner.

A version of this article ran in 2013.

Mayochup Is Now an Official Condiment

Like it or not, Heinz Mayochup is on its way to a store near you. As Us Weekly reports, bottles of the blended sauce—made from mayonnaise and ketchup, naturally—will be available for purchase later this month.

Heinz's announcement of the condiment back in April was met with mixed reactions. Many were thrilled. Others repulsed. And people from Utah were pretty miffed that Heinz took credit for their beloved "fry sauce," a condiment that was reportedly invented by a local restaurant chain in 1948. (In addition to fries, the ketchup and mayo combo pairs well with burgers and can be used to make a variety of dips.)

Mayonnaise haters (we're looking at you, Millennials) may find Mayochup less than appealing, but at least it's better than Heinz's green ketchup, right? Mayochup also seems to be doing well in the United Arab Emirates—the only country where it's currently being sold. In April, Heinz took a poll on social media to see if there was any interest in bringing the condiment stateside, and 500,000 people voted in favor of the move. This week, the company launched another Twitter poll to see if there's similar interest in the UK.

If you happen to live in Culver City, California; Chicago, Illinois; or Brooklyn, New York, you may have the chance to sample it before anyone else in the country. These cities—preselected by Heinz for being the most "passionate" on social media about bringing Mayochup to the U.S.—are in the running to win a "food truck takeover." Free samples of fries and Mayochup will be dished out to passersby and diehard Heinz fans. People are now taking to Twitter to vote (using the template #MayochupYOURCITY), but act fast—voting ends September 18.

[h/t Us Weekly]

How to Make Classic Chicken Noodle Soup With One Pot

Chicken noodle soup is the perfect meal to take you out of grilling season and into the days of comforting, cold-weather food. If you've only had chicken soup from your parents' kitchen or out of a can, you might assume the recipe takes more time than it's worth. But a soul-warming dish doesn't have to be labor-intensive: Martha Stewart's take on the recipe can be achieved with just one pot and 20 minutes of active cooking time.

Stewart's recipe for one-pot classic chicken noodle soup, from her book One Pot: 120+ Easy Meals from Your Skillet, Slow Cooker, Stockpot, and More, keeps things simple. Start with a whole chicken cut into eight pieces, or about four pounds of separate chicken parts, and add it to a stock pot with four cups of chicken broth, five cups of water, and one teaspoon of salt. Bring the water to a boil then reduce the heat to medium-low, skimming any foam off the surface as you go.

After giving the liquid a chance to simmer for five minutes, add your vegetables and aromatics: two sliced onions, four sliced carrots, 12 sprigs of parsley, two sliced celery stalks, and four crushed cloves of garlic. Partially cover the pot and let it simmer for 25 minutes.

Once the chicken is cooked through, remove it, along with the parsley, from the broth. Toss out the parsley and tear the chicken from the bones until you have about three cups of meat. Bring the broth back to a boil, then add two ounces of angel hair pasta and simmer for five minutes. Add the chicken meat back in and season the soup with salt and pepper to taste.

This recipe makes about eight servings, which works perfectly as a meal for a crowd or a make-ahead lunch for the week. If you're looking for more low-stress comfort food, check out this recipe for the world's best macaroni and cheese.

[h/t Martha Stewart]


Find some interesting photo wallpapers in bedroom and make it a place that will be a place you can focus on rest

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in bedroom. Due to them we are given with an possibility to feel like we are in another place. It is proved by the fact that there are more and more designs available in this field. Hence, we may find different wallpapers that contain monuments like Eiffel Tower, Statue of Liberty etc.

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Boomfit Calorie Calaculation

Paleo Diet Pros Vs Cons Sep 1, 2013. As interest in the Paleo Diet grows exponentially, it is evolving into more of a Lifestyle than a Diet. When people ask: “What are the Pros and. Jan 2, 2017. For as long as weight loss propaganda and tips of how to lose body fat have circulated the internet the paleo diet

The number of calories you burn while walking depends on different factors, including your weight, pace, terrain, and more. Calories burned walking. Calculator. Most calculators you find.

How you calculate Calories for your food product depends largely on where you will sell your product and the laws governing the food labeling in that country or region. This blog will cover the Calorie calculation methods used in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and the European Union.

Calorie Intake Calculator. The Natural Life Energy calorie calculator to calculate a recommended amount of calories to take in daily.

Our calorie calculator shows your calorie needs per day in kCal per day (or Calories per day, as it is often called in common language), which is the amount of calories you require if you want to preserve maintain your weight.

Our nutrition calculator has the McDonald’s menu nutrition information you’re seeking. Learn more about your favorite meals.

Excel Calorie Counter With Recipe Calculator: Same features as basic Excel Calorie Counter, plus a Recipe Calculator –calculate nutrients per serving in your favourite recipes, and add those to the Food List. The zipped file is in xlsm format and contains macros. Enable macros when you open the file, so the Save Data button will work.

Alcohol Calorie Calculator. Find out the number of beer and hard alcohol calories you are consuming. Simply enter the number of each drink you have in an average week, click ‘Calculate’ and see the number of calories alcohol adds up for you in a.

Today we will present the basic formulas that are used to estimate calorie requirements for your dog and provide some specific examples as reference points. figure out how many calories to feed your dog to get them to their desired weight is to use their desired weight in the calorie calculation.

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Hilarie Burton Weight Loss Apr 26, 2016. Female. |. Hilarie Burton Height and Weight Stats. Hilarie-Burton-Esquire- Magazine-Me-in-My-Place-. Hilarie Burton was born in Sterling, Virginia. Her father is a. Chrissy Metz Amazing Weight Loss Using Diet. April 18. Feb 25, 2018. Actress, Hilarie Burton, is expecting her second child with Jeffrey. and there is no doubt that she will quickly

The widely-accepted science behind the weight loss calculator is: One pound of mostly-fat body weight is the equivalent of 3,500 calories of either food or exercise. The appropriate amount of calories to cut from your diet is between 20% and 40% of your normal calorie requirement.

CALORIE BURN CALCULATOR. THIS CALCULATOR IS FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES AND HAS NO SCIENTIFIC SUPPORT AND DOES NOT CLAIM TO BE ACCURATE. However, I have spent a considerable amount of time trying to make the results close to other charts on the internet. Weight: Lbs: Pace: min/mile:

Jul 16, 2018  · Expert Reviewed. How to Calculate Your Total Daily Calorie Needs. Two Parts: Calculating Your Total Calorie Needs Using Your Total Calorie Needs to Manage Your Health Community Q&A A calorie is a unit of energy that your body uses to function and perform daily life sustaining activities. The calories you eat from foods.

Learn how to calculate how many calories you burn doing different kinds of exercise. It’s a helpful part of meeting your weight loss goals. Calculate How Many Calories You Burn During Exercise By Paige Waehner. Updated August 17, 2018 Pin Flip Email. To use this "calories burned exercising" calculator, you’ll need to pick your.

Recipe analyzer. Paste your recipe here. Ingredients. Copy & paste (one per line) or use Sample recipe. Servings: Analyze recipe. Recipe calorie calculator – get personalized and detailed nutrition facts for any recipe. Just copy & paste a list of ingredients from any website of your choice or see sample recipe report.


What are we to do with someone like Kent Anthony Clemens?

On July 21, Clemens called 911 in Topeka to say he had robbed a bank in Williston, N.D., three days earlier. He wanted law officers to come arrest him. He told them he had made a mistake and was suffering from a guilty conscience.

How should the criminal justice system deal with him, assuming it’s true he robbed the bank? He then would be guilty of a crime, which calls for punishment — presumably a long prison sentence.

On the other hand, he is saving society a great deal of time and expense by "fessing up." We — we being society — won’t have to pay dozens of law officers to try to find the guilty party, an investigation that might go on for weeks before it goes into the cold case file.

We’ll free up a judge — maybe more than one judge if there is an appeal — and a dozen or more jurors to do more productive things. Shouldn’t he receive some degree of clemency for that?

Then there’s the fact that he got only $700 in the robbery, a relatively small amount compared with high profile bank robberies. And why did he do it? Was he starving and broke, or did he find a new cellphone he wanted to buy? In other words, was he a person likely to go on committing crimes out of greed?

The ramifications of the story help explain why law books are so thick. The details of specific incidents vary so much, it would be unfair to impose cookie-cutter punishments for each type of crime.

Few details of the incident have been made public so far. The details likely will come out as the case moves through the courts.

There are things we want to know before offering an opinion on his punishment. Does he have a long criminal history? If so, throw the book at him. Did he give himself up, hoping for clemency, because he thought the law was closing in on him? If so, our gratitude to him for giving himself up is diminished.

Because of Clemens’ act we are learning some nuances of the justice system.

We learned, for example, from Topeka Police Chief Ron Miller, that it isn’t unusual for people to commit crimes, then confess later because of a guilty conscience.

"But it is unusual to rob a bank and then call 911 in an attack of conscience," Miller said.

Michael Kaye, a Washburn University School of Law professor, added, "The chief says people do that, and that’s significant."

He said if Clemens receives any consideration for surrendering to the law, it likely would come before any trial. He said prosecuting attorneys might file lesser charges against him than they might have done otherwise.

And despite arguments made by some, punishment for crime does indeed serve as a deterrent to others thinking of committing a similar crime, at least in some cases.

He said that seems to be the case with non-violent crimes. Violent crimes tend to take place in the heat of passion when rational thinking is put in the background.

The message then is: Let the punishment fit the crime, as Gilbert and Sullivan suggested in song.

Members of The Capital-Journal editorial advisory board are Gregg Ireland, Mike Hall, Fred Johnson, Ray Beers Jr., Garry Cushinberry, Joyce Martin, John Stauffer, Frank Ybarra, Sally Zellers and Steven Clary.


If dissertation proposition assistance is needed – check out professional services plus don’t spend time

What is the dissertation proposition?

The dissertation proposal is an unique, strictly defined type of a scientific work which has a medical and qualitative character and it is ready for public security and receiving a systematic degree custom-writings.net review.

Within the Great Encyclopedic Dictionary is offered the following definition: “Thedissertation is an investigation paper ready for public defense for the systematic degree”.

Officially, the next requirements are placed on the dissertation:

  1. 1) systematic scientific studies are completed myself because of the writer;
  2. 2) the dissertation contains a couple of brand new clinical results and conditions;
  3. 3) the dissertation posseses an unity that is inner
  4. 4) the dissertation testifies towards the individual share of this applicant to the development of the medical issue;
  5. 5) this new solutions proposed by the author are demonstrably stated, reasoned and critically correlated with previously known medical developments;
  6. 6) brand new author’s choices will be suggested by information sources that testify for this, showing the data obtained from their website.
  7. 7) the outcomes associated with dissertation research are submitted by the applicant for general public protection.

The dissertation is a unique scientific work, which includes absolutely nothing in accordance using the lecture, nor because of the propaganda report, nor utilizing the report of the official or public figure, nor with an information message, nor with a popular technology book. The dissertation should be undoubtedly scientific work, developing and enriching science in a particular field of real information, your own contribution of the scientist to technology. Consequently, the dissertator must get a grip on himself in order not to ever end up in the “non-dissertational” genre. Every type of work is vital, but in a particular area.

The dissertation is one of the most typical kinds of scientific work. At exactly the same time, this is basically the medical work of the strictly defined genre, which, like most clinical or literary genre, possesses its own traits, guidelines, needs. As a systematic work the dissertation must certanly be logical, integral. The prospect must get a handle on himself in order not to ever get into another genre.

The dissertation could be the work of one individual, his personal share to science.

Assist in determining the research task?

As stated previously, into the dissertation research tasks are determined, the answer that will enable to appreciate the set systematic goal.

Into the dissertations, the study tasks, their quantity, are determined in numerous methods. Often required ten or even more tasks. According to the most frequent approach, research issues are formulated, in line with the topic of chapters and paragraphs, the substance associated with the issues under consideration.

Aid in determining the thing together with topic of research

There was an alternate comprehension of the thing additionally the topic of research. Consequently, we check out the directories.

An object is an activity or occurrence that yields an issue situation and it is taken by the researcher to examine. An interest is one thing this is certainly within the framework, inside the boundaries of this object. an item is the fact that an element of the systematic knowledge with that your researcher discounts.

The main topic of the investigation is the fact that element of the difficulty, exploring which, we will recognize the integral object, highlighting its primary, most crucial features. The main topic of the dissertation research frequently coincides aided by the concept of its topic or perhaps is extremely near it. The thing and topic of research as clinical groups are correlated as basic and particular.

It is crucial to emphasize that the thing and topic of research, in addition to its goals and tasks, rely not only in the selected topic, but additionally from the explorer’s intention.

In our viewpoint, the main item could be the item of research (a broader concept), the additional is the thing of research, by which a specific property associated with item of investigation is singled out. Some scientists try not to see a big change within these principles and recognize the thing and subject of research.

Sometimes the object and topic of research are determined nearly identically.

Additionally there are many dissertations where the item and the topic of research are not suggested at all.

Having determined the topic and object of research, the writer regarding the dissertation should give them an extensive description and usually have them in the process of scientific work.

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At every corner a new encounter awaits. We believe one of the most effective ways for our group to process and respond to these experiences is through art. We intentionally set aside time for you to create as you walk the ancient cobblestone streets, sit at a park bench, listen to local musicians at a café, repose in one of the many great cathedrals, lie down in the Tuscan countryside or linger in one of the famous galleries.