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This article is part two of a four-part series. Here we'll illustrate how Zappos, a reputable online retailer, tackles the Buy portion of the buying cycle. To learn more about the four stages of the customer acquisition journey, review our overview first.
The modern buying funnel is defined by immediate gratification: today's customer expects a fast and frictionless experience. This expectation is dramatically altering the way people shop and the way companies sell. Customers want to find, buy, ask, and advocate via their channel of choice—and they want to do it now. Companies need to adopt their slower traditional selling methods to accommodate them.
Link Your Sales Platforms with Intelligent CX.Learn more
To that end, chat is emerging as an effective communication tool for customers and companies. While traditionally used as a customer service tool, savvy companies like Zappos are building a proactive chat strategy as a means to support the Buy portion of the funnel as well. In fact, customers who live chat with a company are 82% more likely to make a purchase.
When optimized properly, chat can effectively cater to customers' immediate purchasing needs.
Chat Trends and the Future of Proactive Chat Strategy
Through chat, customers can get fast answers to questions regarding a potential or past purchase. More importantly, though, chat can be used to guide customers toward buying a product or service.
Consumers' use of live chat is on the rise: nearly 42% of customers prefer live chat over phone because they don't have to wait on hold before speaking with a representative. Throw into the mix the fact that customers who chat with a representative are three times more likely to be a return customer—and when they do return, their order size is likely to increase by 48%—and you can see why chat is worthy of attention as a conversion tool.
When optimized properly, chat can effectively cater to customers' immediate purchasing needs.
Just because a company has a chat option, however, doesn't mean it's being used effectively and addressing customers' needs. While Zappos prioritizes human connection (we'll get into that more later), some companies are utilizing chatbots. Though the technology is impressive, chatbots can present a number of problems for customers looking to make a purchase.
AI, Chat, and Why Chat Needs the Human Touch
You've likely heard it before—AI is the future and The Robots are coming to take away our jobs. To some degree that statement is true. AI will play a significant role in the future of marketing and sales. However, robots can't and won't replace the workforce because humans have what AI doesn't: logic, empathy, and an ability to ascertain what people need in the moment.
Take the AI-generated Harry Potter chapter as an example. The piece itself was entertaining and generally understandable. But in order to achieve that, writers had to comb through and piece together multiple AI-generated scripts. Without that human touch, the chapter would've been a strange and truly nonsensical document. The same concept applies to chat: companies must maintain an element of human touch in chat as it bridges the gap between a frictionless experience and conversion. In order for AI to be effective and relevant, robots need a human hand to guide them.
Humans have what AI doesn't: logic, empathy, and an ability to ascertain what people need in the moment.
Reports show that 92% of customers feel satisfied after using a live chat option. With such a high rate of success, it may be tempting to cut out the intermediary and take a bot-only approach. But doing so would sell customers short with impersonal, unaccommodating solutions. Not only does this increase friction for the customer, but it drives frustrated customers to a call center, thus increasing call center costs.
Still, many companies continue to view chat as a means for query support rather than a means for conversion and optimization. This is a grave misstep. When given the right support, as demonstrated by Zappos' human-first strategy, chat agents double as customers' personal shoppers. Chat gives customers what they want, when they want it: it provides customers with immediate access, resources to aid decision-making, and a personalized shopping experience.
In other words, when done right, chat makes a customer feel special without forcing them to use a contact channel they don't want to. The future is not homogenized customer service with robots. The future is empowered agents giving customers a truly unique and memorable experience. For Zappos, that future is now.
Zappos: A Customer Service Company That Sells Shoes
Since day one, Zappos has been in the business of making customers happy. Time and time again the company is nominated as one of the top customer service providers in its industry—and the company has a 75% customer retention rate to show for it.
But what makes Zappos' customer experience so great? A customer-centric, agent-only live chat experience that builds off of a low-pressure, omni-channel strategy.
You need a proactive chat strategy for your business: Customers who live chat with a company are 82% more likely to make a purchase.
Zappos doesn't use chatbots for good reason—because AI isn't human. AI won't pick up on social cues, human insights, or notable points of friction. A bot-only chat simply doesn't effectively address customers' needs or wants in the Buy portion of the funnel. So rather than outsource chat to artificial intelligence, Zappos uses chat as a tool to support an existing, customer-forward infrastructure.
Owning the Solution
Empowered agents are one of Zappos' greatest strengths. The company's customer service strategy is deeply rooted in its company core values, one of which is to "deliver WOW through service." Due to this approach, Zappos delivers a world-class experience for its customers—whether a customer is contacting customer service over the phone, through chat, or via social media.
While Zappos' primary channel driver is the phone department, chat is emerging as the second most popular way for customers to communicate—and Zappos makes chat easy to access. Upon visiting the home page, the Customer Service tab is readily available in the top left-hand corner, with Live Chat as the first option for contact.
And when a customer chats with a Zappos agent, the company applies the same empathetic strategy it has for its phone strategy: create an emotional, personal connection between the agent and customer to ensure an exceptional buying experience. Zappos views this as the key to keeping customers coming back time and time again.
We spoke to Rob Siefker, Senior Director of Customer Service at Zappos, about this proactive chat strategy:
"Our Customer Loyalty Team is able to help customers with nearly all types of requests, and it allows our customers a seamless way to communicate with us if they'd like to chat with us, but not over the phone. We've seen an incredible amount of customer engagement through Live Chat since we first started offering the communication channel."
Maintaining service volume, emotional appeal, and relatability over chat can be challenging. Typing personalized responses takes time, and tone is difficult to convey and infer over chat. However, Zappos tackles such obstacles in stride by putting an emphasis on providing the best customer experience possible (no matter how long the interaction takes). Zappos empowers agents to make executive decisions, own the solution without needing to jump through hoops, and provide an immediate solution to the customer.
Companies must maintain an element of human touch in chat as it bridges the gap between a frictionless experience and conversion.
Instead of solely leaning on bots, AI can best be utilized as a means to make menial tasks, such as service or plan-related questions, less time-consuming for agents. This coexistence of artificial intelligence and human ingenuity allows companies to concentrate on providing customers with the best sales experience possible.
So whether companies are using chat as a support channel, a sales strategy, or a combination of both, chat as a technological system is proving to be a key component for customers in the midst of the purchasing process.


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Dual Cleansing Brush
The Dual Cleansing Brush polished and exfoliates for a fresh, clean skin feeling.
The soft brush is gentle enough for the delicate eye area, while the silicone pad exfoliates for a deeper clean. It's the ideal cleansing tool to add to your daily ritual and the matte non-slip grip handle means you have total control over the contours of your face.
Rinse your face and neck, apply your cleanser to face or directly onto the brush. Start with the cleansing brush in circular motions, then swap to the silicone exfoliating brush for a deeper clean. Rinse brush in warm water.

subset: commoncrawl


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Tackling Student Anti-Social Behaviour
As proud members of this community, we take the issue of student anti-social behaviour very seriously. We have agreed a procedure in partnership with Coventry City Council, the Police, and the University of Warwick for tackling student anti-social behaviour.
Please find here our procedure and the steps you can take if you experience such behaviour from students in the city.
Anti Social Behaviour Procedure
Size: 66 kb


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Bring a little Disney magic to your child's bedroom with this colorful, DIY Mickey pom-pom storage basket. It's easy to make and the perfect way to store all your favorite Disney toys.
What You'll Need
- Colorful Yarn
- Small Pom-Pom Maker
- Scissors
- Hot Glue
- Woven Storage Basket
How To Make It
- Make several pom-poms out of various colors of yarn with the pom-pom maker.
- Create two smaller pom-poms for Mickey's ears in each yarn color, and secure to the larger corresponding pom-poms with hot glue.
- Attach Mickey pom-poms onto the basket with hot glue. Hold in place until set. Let dry completely before filling the basket with toys.
All cutting and hot gluing should be done by an adult.
Posted 10 months Ago


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Summer means more daylight, warm weather, days at the beach, and wedding season! As you enjoy all the festivities, it's easy to let your healthy habits slip. On the dietary front, temptation is everywhere: open bars, an endless stream of hor d'oeuvres, multi-course meals, and of course, wedding cake, not to mention the rehearsal dinners, after parties, and post-wedding brunches. From portion control to trying to follow a specific diet for your health needs, navigating all these celebrations can be intimidating.
No one wants to be "that guest" and cause an inconvenience. Resisting the pressure to drink or have one more slice of cake is equally difficult, particularly at events where you may not know anyone. Still, when it comes to your health, you can't be ashamed to do what your body needs; it's much better to be the guest toasting with seltzer, than the guest who ends the night sick.
Parsley Health's New York-based doctor Lilli Link recommends "bring[ing] something easy and small to the wedding to eat, in case there isn't much that fits your diet" like nuts or dark chocolate chips. Parsley Health Los Angeles health coach Alyson Roux is also a proponent of bringing snacks but suggests that you speak with staff, particularly the banquet captain who "might be able to ensure you receive a meal that is safe and tasty. It's better to be safe than sorry." Packing snacks, or even meals depending on schedule, will also help you stay full and satisfied during your travel to and from weddings.
Don't forget to check your hair and makeup products for allergens, this is particularly true if you are part of the wedding or having your hair and makeup done by someone else. Roux suffers from a wheat allergy and was "sidelined by wheat in 'natural' hairspray at her own wedding."
Another health saboteur that rears its head during wedding season is being "on" for extended periods of time, which can be exacerbated when your table-mates are strangers, putting out negative energy, or both. Rather than go in dreading the event, New York doctor Soyona Rafatjah tells her patients to take "a positive outlook" and to look for "the good in everyone regardless of what your preconceived notions of them are." Dr. Rafatjah suggests using meditation and mindfulness to ground you and focus on all the positive aspects of the day (the flowers, the bride and groom's happiness, a touching toast), rather than letting the negativity of others bring you down.
There's no denying that wedding season is stressful and you will likely find yourself regretting checking "will attend" on at least one of your invitations. By following these tips, each wedding weekend can be an opportunity for a fun and healthy celebration.


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The word "content marketing" has witnessed growing popularity and awareness trend in past few days. Well the recent buzz is justified. Content marketing has successfully proved itself as one of the prime segment of Digital Marketing. It is also said that "content is king" in the world of online branding promotion and advertisement.
We can segregate the content into these following types
Blogs and guest posts, this is one of the most common type of content that captures a big portion of whole content marketing strategy. While it is true that the art of writing is God gifted, but after learning this module, you would be able to know how to implement the technical aspects of content writing, that would help you write Digital Marketing Friendly content.
Infographics. It includes long, vertical graphics that involves statistics, charts, graphs, and other information. It is very essential for enhancing the overall look and feel. So through this module we would be teaching you the correct way to execute the infographics.
Webpages. It is very essential to get content marketing done for a webpage to get adequate result from the SEO activity. So this module would guide you to get a proper understanding on SEO friendly content.
Podcasts. Through this module we would also share the basic understanding of Podcasts. It's a digital audio file that can be downloaded and would be received by subscribers.
Videos. Viral Video Marketing is one of the most trendiest thing. This type of content catches attention of everyone and therefore it is one of the most essential aspect of Content Marketing. So through this module, you would be able to know the pulse of video marketing.
Webinar:- This also involves another segment of content marketing.Through this module you would be able to operate a Web-based seminar, involving presentation, lecture, workshop transmitted over the Web using video conferencing software. You would be able to use this, as an interactive element for sharing information.
Clickbait:- You would also be able to learn the concept of clickbait. This is the type of online content, which is sensational or provocative nature, and its basic aspect is to attract visitors to a particular web page.
Linkbait:- This module would also help you to enhance the website content designed to attract visitors to our webiste and encourage the visitors to create hyperlinks to the site, with the ultimate goal to leverage the site's position on various search engine.
Our Content Marketing Module, would help you to accentuate the online presence of any brand. It is utmost necessity for any startup business to get leverage from content marketing. So , no matter you are a student or working professional or a businessman, this module would open new avenue for all.
Core modules:
1) Introduction & overview
- Concept of Keywords
- SEO overview
- Content writing guidelines
- How to do content research
- Blog content writing
- Web page / service / sales page content writing
- Microblog writing
- Social posts writing (Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter)
- E-commerce product description
- Profile writing
- PR and article writing
- Social ad copy writing (paid ads)
- Google ad copy writing
- Technical content writing
- Domain expertise based writing
- e-learning content writing
- Product documentation / prototype writing
- Technical documentation writing
- Story telling (interactive type)
- Fiction / short story / movie scripting
- Print media writing
- CV writing
- Syllabus writing
- Email drafting
- Proposal writing
Course Curriculum
|Content Marketing
|Types of Digital Marketing
|Various types of digital marketing
|Assignment: Clickbait & Linkbait Content
|10, 00:00
|Top 3 Call to Action Techniques that work
|Top 3 Call to action techniques that work the best!
|Landing Page Guidelines
|Landing pages are where a user reaches after clicking on an online ad or web link. It can be a Services web page or a Contact page, depending upon the choice of the online marketer.
|Assignment: Landing Page Optimization
|30, 00:00
|Sales Messaging & Conversion rate optimization
|How to form your sales messages, create buttons, text & choose colors for a better conversion
|Lead Generation & Growth Hacking
|Lead generation & Growth hacking tips
|Secrets of Killer Blog Posts
|Learn the secrets of killer blog post writing
|How to get killer content ideas
|How to get killer content ideas
|The Content Grid
|The content marketing grid!
|The State of Content Marketing
|Learn about the latest state of content marketing
|The Anatomy of Content Marketing
|The anatomy of content marketing
|The Path to Content Marketing
|Learn the paths to content marketing
|How to grow your business using content marketing
|Learn how to grow your business using content marketing
|Where and how to do content marketing
|Where and how to do the content marketing
|Interactive content in digital marketing
|Content Writing
|Function & Purpose of a website
|Function and purpose of a website
|Decoding Reader's Psychology
|How to decode reader's psychology
|Goal of a website – Writer's contribution
|Goal of a website
|Writing a compelling web page
|How to write a compelling webpage
|War of Words: Web Writer's Choice
|War of Words: Web Writer's Choice
|Building up web page content
|Learn tips to build up a web page content
|Writing Headlines that matter
|How to write headlines that matter!
|The ABC of bullet points
|Learn the ABC of bullet points
|Tips to write magnetic content
|Tips to write magnetic content
|Improve creativity in web content writing
|Improve creativity in web content writing
|Role of keywords in web content writing
|Role of keywords in web content writing
|Use of keywords in content heading
|Use of keywords in content headings
|Relevance of keyword density in web content
|Relevance of keyword density in content writing
|Become a more productive content writer
|Become a more productive content writer
|A writer's identity – Unique Voice
|A writer's identity is unique voice.
|Web Writer's Friend – Twitter
|A web writer's friend - Twitter
|How to create compelling content- By Brian Clark – Founder of Copyblogger
|How to create compelling content- By Brian Clark - Founder of Copyblogger
|Newsletter writing
|Why newsletters?
|Why you need to write newsletters?
|What readers look for in your newsletter?
|What readers look for in your newsletter?
|Subject line to increase open rates in newsletter
|Subject lines to increase open rate in newsletter
|Get more CTR on your newsletter
|Get more CTR on your newsletter
|Make your newsletter personal
|Make your newsletter personal
|Newsletter writing mistakes
|Newsletter writing mistakes
|Tips to write engaging newsletter content
|tips to write engaging newsletter
|Anchor text secrets of newsletter
|Anchor text secrets of newsletter
|Make your newsletter readers curious
|Make your newsletter readers curious
|Touch-base with your newsletter readers
|Touch-base with your newsletter readers
|Writing inspirational newsletter
|Writing inspirational newsletters
|Email Newsletters 101 by Michael Griffin
|Email Newsletters 101 by Michael Griffin
Course Reviews
No Reviews found for this course.


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US Press Secretary Jay Carney said Tuesday that the "targeting of Egyptian and foreign journalists and academics simply for expressing their views" is of "deep concern to the [US] administration."
Carney stressed that the US government has been "making [such concerns] clear" to the interim authorities in Egypt, although he made no comment on how they have been received by Egyptian authorities.
"Egypt's transition can only move forward if all Egyptians are able to express themselves freely, without fear of intimidation or violence," Carney said.
Carney also referenced the protections afforded to journalists, activists and academics in the newly ratified Egyptian constitution, passed with a 98.1% approval rate mid-January. "Egypt's newly approved constitution upholds basic rights and freedoms, and Egypt's interim government has a responsibility to ensure that they are protected," he said.
Article 39 of the Egyptian constitution, to which Carney was referring, states: "The freedom of thought and opinion is guaranteed and every person has the right to express his/her thought and opinion verbally, in writing, photography or any other means of publication and expression."
Carney added: "We have strongly urged the government to drop these charges and release those journalists and academics that have been detained."
The three journalists for Qatari-based Al Jazeera, whom Carney mentioned in his remarks, are Canadian-Egyptian bureau chief Mohamed Fadel Fahmy, Australian correspondent Peter Greste, and producer Baher Mohamed, an Egyptian national. They were arrested from the Zamalek Marriott Hotel on 29 December.
Their charges include "broadcasting false news to support a terrorist group; harming the national interest of the country; disturbing public security; instilling fear among the people; causing damage to the public interest; and possession of communication, filming, broadcast, and video transmission equipment without a permit from the concerned authorities". They will be tried alongside 17 other Al Jazeera journalists.
If convicted, they face could face 15-25 years in prison with the possibility of a death penalty.
Dubbed the "Marriott Cell" by Egyptian media, the arrests caused outrage throughout the international community, from journalists and news organisations to the European Union.
Tuesday, a march took place outside the Egyptian embassy in Nairobi, demanding the release of the imprisoned journalists. Signs read "Being a journalist is not a crime" and "We are all Peter Greste," in reference to one of the men arrested from the Marriott Hotel.
A web campaign in support of the arrested journalists also gained momentum Tuesday. Journalists and activists used Twitter to share photographs of themselves, mouths taped shut, with signs that read "#FreeAJStaff".
The campaign came on the heels of the broadcast of a video filmed by security forces as they entered the hotel room of three Al Jazeera journalists. The twenty-minute clip, shown on independent Al-Tahrir television channel, shows the equipment used by the journalists, gas masks, cameras, and editing equipment, before showing an initial interrogation by security forces.
Al Jazeera condemned the airing of the footage of the arrest. A statement released by Al Jazeera described the "dramatisation" of the footage as an attempt to demonise its journalists, saying that "if this video was deliberately leaked, it violates basic standards of justice. If it came out by mistake, the professionalism of the prosecution process is called into question."
The United Nations also condemned the arrests and charges, demanding the "release all journalists imprisoned for carrying out legitimate news reporting activities in exercise of their fundamental human rights."
Peter Greste, one of the imprisoned Al Jazeera correspondents, has been able to release two letters from prison, detailing his conditions in Cairo's infamous Tora Prison.


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Call for Admissions to
7459011273, 8009004343
Quick Enquiry
Call for Admissions to
|Updated Qualifying Percentile
|Updated NEET Score
|Persons with locomotors disability of lower limbs
Maharana Pratap Dental College has been established in 2005.
The college is recognised by Dental Council of India (DCI), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and is affiliated to the Prestigious Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj University, Kanpur. The Intake capacity of students is 100 per year as permitted by the Dental Council of India.
Eligibility Criteria
Ask us?
Call For Admissions :
8009883222, 8953400862
Graduates can join a research institute or undergo a Masters programme in Public Health for better opportunities as a researcher. Post MDS also research can be pursued based on one's keenness.
Defense services
BDS graduates can also join the Indian Armed Forces (army, navy or air force) Dental Corps too as Short Service Commissioned Officers. Along comes the pride of donning the military uniform.
To become a specialist, after BDS, you must undergo 3 years of postgraduate studies (MDS). Specialization in any branch can be done and future career prospects are good.
Hospital Management
Masters in hospital administration is very much in demand now and these degrees can help you get into the hospital management arena.
Lecturer / Tutor
One of the other options is joining any accredited dental college as a lecturer or tutor. Continuing MDS opens up promotions to Senior Lecturer.
Opportunities Abroad
After 2-3 years of experience as a general dentist, one can apply for the post of a dentist abroad.
A special type of light that a dentist will shine in a patient's mouth to detect any abnormalities. This new form of technology is effectively used to detect early forms of cancer or disease during an oral cancer screening.
Digital X-Rays
Digital X-rays are faster and contain less radiation than traditional X-rays. When a patient has a digital X-ray done, the image appears on the computer in a matter of seconds. Your dentist can then zoom into the image to better assess and educate the patient regarding their oral health. Digital X-rays are also less harmful for patients as they contain up to 90% less radiation compared to traditional X-rays.
Invisalign are clear, practically invisible braces that can gently straighten your teeth. They provide an effective and comfortable way to straighten your smile without the inconvenience of wearing heavy, metal braces. Invisalign braces are easy to take out for cleaning and don't require a restriction on what type of foods to eat. They get the job done in less time with less hassle.
Laser Dentistry
Lasers are used to improve efficiency and eliminate discomfort in a number dental procedures, including filling cavities, reducing tooth sensitivity, getting rid of tumors, and whitening. Laser dentistry is fast, painless, and can effectively eliminate any form of bacteria during the procedure to avoid any further complications or problems.
Dental Implants
Dental implants are screw-replacements for the root portion of missing teeth. Implants are used to restore healthy smiles when patients have missing teeth. Implants are effective because they can replace missing teeth, while still giving the patient the feel and look of a natural tooth.
HealOzone is a fast, easy and painless way to eliminate tooth decay. HealOzone is effective because it contains ozone (O3), which is a common, natural gas that effectively kills bacteria and fungus. HealOzone is a great tool to detect and get rid of any early signs of tooth decay before it progresses to a more advanced stage.
DIAGNOdent is a new, state of the art device that dentists use to detect cavities that are hiding in places regular x-rays can't find. It ensures that your mouth has been thoroughly checked for early signs of cavities to avoid you having to spend more in the future if the cavities progress and expand.
Nitrous Oxide
Nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, can calm a patient down to a point that they are relaxed but can still interact with their dentist. On the other hand, IV sedation puts a patient to sleep completely so that they are unaware of what happened during their dental session. This is usually recommended for patients who are fearful of going to the dentist or for procedures that are painful such as wisdom teeth extraction.
Zoom! Whitening
Zoom! Whitening is a new, state of the art whitening treatment that gives our patients fast and easy results. In just one appointment, Zoom! Whitening can make a significant change in a person's smile and can make their teeth up to eight shades whiter.
B.Tech., MBA, MCA, BBA, BCA, Polytechnic
B.Pharm, D.Pharm
B.Ed., ITI


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Ugh! In eighteenth-century London, most people brushed their teeth with a combination of chimney soot and salt. Over time, more functional and better-tasting toothpaste was developed, with active ingredients like fluoride (to fight dental decay) and potassium nitrate (to diminish sensitivity). But these days, it seems that soot has made a major comeback.
Open Facebook or YouTube or walk into a Sephora and you'll be bombarded with face-masks, supplements, and cleanses, all touting the benefits of charcoal as an ingredient. Toothpaste has been the latest personal care product to jump on the charcoal bandwagon, and a wave of trendy new "detoxifying" black toothpastes in chic packaging has just hit the market, promising to give you a whiter smile.
But what is charcoal? Most commonly used in water purification, activated charcoal is a form of carbon that has been heated to very high temperatures to make its surface porous. The little holes on its outer layer can absorb all sorts of substances, which can then be removed along with the charcoal. (This is why activated charcoal can be used medically to treat cases of acute poisoning.) These new toothpastes typically contain charcoal, baking soda, flavoring, and preservatives. On the surface, it sounds like a good way to remove stains and bacteria from your mouth, right?
Well…maybe. Charcoal toothpaste is indeed abrasive, making it quite effective at removing surface stains — like those caused by a serious coffee habit — and giving you an instant boost to the brightness of your smile. But that abrasiveness could roughen and wear away at the enamel and lead to sensitivity if used regularly. When the enamel is weakened, the teeth will actually yellow more quickly and be more susceptible to unsightly decay. Furthermore, it can't touch the deeper, intrinsic stains within the teeth; for those, an actual bleaching treatment is needed to penetrate the outer surface. Some dentists have also reported that long-term use of charcoal toothpaste can stain the margins, or edges, of previous dental work, leaving patients with little black lines around their fillings, veneers and crowns. Not pretty! If you are truly set on incorporating a charcoal toothpaste into your routine, we would recommend erring on the side of caution and using it gently and occasionally – ideally no more than a few times a week – and sticking to a traditional, fluoride-based toothpaste for your daily oral care.


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In his book Transcending Mission: The Eclipse Of A Modern Tradition, Micahel Stroope says that the modern mission movement has eight characteristics. Following on from yesterdays post about modern-day exemplary people, today's considers historic figures.
According to Stroope:
The mission tradition… is built on a line of progenitors, represented in individuals and groups, that can be traced back through the medieval period and Constantine to the early church and Paul (p.325).
While I recognise this tendency in evangelical mission's writing, I am not convinced that it is as strong a feature as Stroope implies – at least not at a popular level. Partly, this is because at a popular level (in the UK at least) evangelicalism has very little interest in history. People are far more interested in what Anna from Milton Keynes is doing in Malawi today than they are in what Boniface from Crediton was doing in Europe thirteen hundred years ago.
With that caveat in place, I think it is still true that the evangelical mission movement coopts people from the past into its own story. Patrick, Francis, Boniface and the Nestorians in Asia are all cited as examples of missionary zeal and endeavour.
I think there are a couple of reasons (at least) why mission writers look to these figures from the past. The first is that their stories can be truly inspirational. While details may have been lost in the mists of time, the stories that surround, say, Patrick, are enough to motivate anyone to an interest in mission. Secondly, going back into history in this way gives historic precedent and depth to what is, after all, a modern tradition. Evangelicalism itself is a relatively modern phenomenon, and the evangelical mission's movement is not much over 200 years old (that's 10% of the life of the church, to put it in context). By drawing Boniface and Patrick into the story, it can be extended for well over a millennium.
However, there are a couple of problems with this concept, too.
The first is that, with the best will in the world, Patrick and co. were not evangelicals. I am not decrying their piety or their faith in the slightest. However, one of the features of evangelicalism is that it tends to distinguish itself off from other forms of Christianity (I'll return to this in a few days, in this series). If these heroes of the past were around today, I have no doubt that evangelical websites and blogs would be full of their shortcomings and doctrinal lapses. Personally, I feel uncomfortable when we coopt people from the past into our tradition, when we would be unlikely to accept them in the present. The second issue is that people like Patrick, Boniface et al. were not missionaries in the modern sense of the word. This is one of the central theses of Stroope's book. We make a mistake when we read our modern conceptions of the word mission back into the past.
I realise that this is a somewhat arcane discussion and is unlikely to interest many people. However, I do think that there is an important issue hidden in here that we need to get to grips with. Rather than trying to demonstrate that the modern mission movement has a long past, I think we would do far better to acknowledge that it is, in fact, a recent phenomenon. Not only that, but it is the latest in a long series of movements which have spread the Christian message around the world. One of the implications of this is that the modern mission movement will one day be replaced by something else in the economy of God (or has it already?). Rather than trying to hold on desperately to our current structures and movements, we need to be aware of what God is doing around the world and we must shape our efforts to fit what he is doing rather than trying to make things fit into our conception of what mission should be.We need to be aware of what God is doing around the world and we must shape our efforts to fit what he is doing rather than trying to make things fit into our conception of what mission should be. Click To Tweet
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Title: Hong Gil Dong
Total episode: 24 (unconfirmed?)
Airing date: January 2, 2008
- Kang Ji Hwan as Hong Gil Dong
- Sung Yu Ri as Heo Lee Nok
- Jang Geun Suk as Lee Chang Hwui
- Kim Ri Na as Seo Eun Hyo
What is it about:
Hong Gil Dong is the son of a high placed minister. Gil Dong practiced Taoist magic at a young age. His family feared him as he was too smart and his powers were too strong so tried to have him assassinated but with his powers, he escaped and decided to be a bandit leader, lead them and rob the bad officials who steal the money from the poor people by force so he could give this money to the poor citizens. This drama takes place in Joseon Period (Wiki D-Addicts)
Pictures: KBS website/Wiki D-Addicts
Main Poster
Yuri in serious mode
Yuri on green screen flying around hills, waterfalls etc
Yuri is cute and adorable - yay


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If you want to keep your template code in a separate html file, you can use the templateUrl property to tell Angular where to find it.
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If you want to keep your template code in a separate html file, you can use the templateUrl property to tell Angular where to find it.
John Lindquist: At a certain point, your templates just get a bit too cumbersome to be just a big long string inside of your directive here. We're going to select it all, cut it out and change this to templateUrl and say zippy.html.
I'm not going to create a zippy html file yet because the first one I'm going to show you how to do this is by creating a script tag and then change to type to ng-template and then set your id to zippy.html. If I just paste what I had inside there, let me hit reformat, and you can see that our script tag is going to have our entire template for what we had before just inside there.
Once I rerun this, it's just going to work as it did before exactly the same. Even though there's binding in here for title, to transclude and everything, it's all inside of script tag which is essentially being loaded into Angular template cache. I couldn't get into that now. That will be for later.
When you include that in your directive using the templateUrl, it's just going to bring it on in and use that in the place of what you load in.
If you want to create a separate file altogether, you can create just an html file, call it zippy. I'm not going to add this to get and then just paste the content in there, reformat it to what's going on and we'll delete this guy. You can see that this will again work the exact same.
One thing to note is that I did have to put this under a local web server. Due to cross domain restrictions and browsers and everything, it's not going to be able to load. It's not going to load this up unless you're inside of a web server so watch for that.
Also, a couple of other gotcha's I don't want to talk about. Let's undo this. I guess you can't undo creation of a file. Delete zippy, the html file. Do Refactor and we'll undo cutting that out, sort it back to here.
One thing to note is if you put the script tag outside of your app, you're going to start getting the "cannot load," "it's not found." It's looking for it but can't find it anywhere because it's not inside of the context of your app.
Again, if you put it down here, it's like, it can't find it. You just have to make sure to include it somewhere inside of your module so it gets loaded in that module template cache.
One thing I see a lot of people do and it's probably a good practice is if you're going to have this inline and preload it in like this, I would just put them at the top. This is just the way to organize them so that's kind of strewn about your module. It's to just have all the templates at the top. You know it through there. You know they're kind of included html files but that's your choice. It's just a personal preference thing.
That's templateUrls. We'll get into more advanced template stuff in a bit.
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IMF to help Ukraine in restructuring talks with creditors
12:29, 20 April 2015Economy
61 0
Ukraine's key creditor, the International Monetary Fund, has said it welcomes the implementation of reforms in Ukraine and intends to assist Ukraine in reaching a deal with the creditors on restructuring a part of its debt, according to an IMF statement.
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The statistical report for the Synod is generated by the ELCA's Office for Research and Evaluation. The document is lengthy and in full-color. Reformatting for this platform would diminish its usefulness. Consequently, it is provided as a separate downloadable PDF for viewing or printing. Note well, the statistical report is for the close of CY 2016. The CY 2017 report will not be available until later in the summer. To download the 2016 Synod Statistical Report, click here.
Thanks for your feedback.


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About Job
- Undisclosed
- Job Location
- United States of America (USA)
- Experience
- 0 - 3 yrs
DescriptionAt Hewlett Packard Enterprise, we bring together the brightest minds to create breakthrough technology solutions that advance the way people live and work. What sets us apart? Our people and our relentless dedication to helping our customers make their mark on the world.
We are a team of doers, dreamers and visionaries; inspired by our purpose and driven by our strategy. We live by our three values: partner, innovate and act.
Our legacy inspires us as we forge ahead, always pushing to discover whats next. Every day is a new opportunity to advance and grow ourselves, our company and the industry. Some people call it an obsession, we call it a way of life.
What you need to know about the job
Job ID: 1042620
Primary Location: Teleworker, Illinois
Job Category: Services
Schedule: Full time
Shift: No shift premium (United States of America)
At Cloud Technology Partners (CTP) a Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) Company, we live by three core values that drive our business: Partner. Innovate. Act. These values combine to help us create important work all over the world to advance how people live and work.
HPE makes Hybrid IT simple. HPE helps customers to design the right mix of Hybrid IT to serve their unique needs. We bring next generation infrastructure that uses intelligent software to simplify and accelerate the delivery of new apps, services and business insights. Providing with new ways to deliver and manage IT on-premises and in the cloud.
Position yourself as a trusted advisor to CTP's clients, and partner with them to understand their requirements for cloud implementations.
Provide recommendations to clients with respect to cloud migrations and prepare technical implementation roadmaps for Azure adoption.
Create functional design specifications, reference architectures, and assist with other project deliverables as needed.
Design state-of-the-art technical solutions on Azure that address customers requirements for scalability, reliability, security, and performance and leverage existing investments in Azure/MS platforms.
Collaborate with other project teams on technical solutions and help improve CTP's service IP.
Learn, learn, and learn by staying up-to-date on all technical developments related to Azure and other public cloud platforms.
Travel and work onsite at client locations (typically 50 PERCENT ).
Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, other technical field.
Well versed in building product-quality software on Azure including experience in designing for high availability, building multi-region and multi-set architectures using virtual networks, availability sets and affinity groups.
Familiar with various application stacks such as .NET, C#, Powershell etc in a Visual Studio TFS/VSO environment.
Configuration and deployment experience in two or more of the following:
Azure PaaS technologies
Azure apps technologies such as AzureSQL, Azure Tables, Cache, SQL Server DW, Azure AD etc.
Azure IaaS Technologies such as VMs, Virtual networks, Express Routes, Standard/Premium storage etc.
Deployed applications with Web UI frontends
Deployed application with RESTful/SOAP services interfaces
Experience with MS Visual Studio TFS, VSO
Firm grasp on cloud security, leveraging Windows operating systems, Active Directory, Federated AD, AD integration
Azure Powershell deployments, experience with Powershell DSC/CLI etc.
Insights and Diagnostics using MS SCOM for both on-prem and Azure cloud environments
Experience in Azure classic portal & Azure resource manager in cloud deployments.
Familiarity with Office 365 and Sharepoint service offerings.
Experience as a hands-on technical practitioner/specialist in client facing roles in large enterprises and demonstrated client facing consulting skills, including building strong client relationships.
Excellent verbal, presentation and written communications skills.
Strong team skills including the ability to lead and be a team player.
Azure certification in any of the following Solutions Architect, Infrastructure Architect or Systems Ops.
HPE is an equal opportunity employer/Female/Minority/Individual with Disabilities/Protected Veteran Status


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Returning you to where you were...
Life insurance has been in existence in India for nearly three centuries. With time, the process of buying the policies has developed immensely. A few years back, individuals who wished to buy a life insurance policy would have to contact a broker or an insurance agent. The broker would then analyse the person's financial situation and requirement and then recommend a plan for the individual and his/her family.
The broker's intervention would not end with the purchase process but would go on until payment of maturity and death benefits too. He/she would help the policyholder with the claim procedure and any other procedure as and when required. In return, the broker would receive a commission.
But with the advent of technology, the insurers entered the online market and started offering plans online. Any individual, today, can purchase a life insurance policy through the insurer's website or an insurance aggregator.
Here are a few reasons why you should choose the online mode of purchase instead of the offline mode:
The information provided by an executive of an insurance company is always more reliable than a broker so it is best to buy a plan online than offline. Also, the online system avoids mis-selling and any other malpractice.
*The customer reviews/feedback/opinions expressed on this website are solely of their authors and do not reflect, in any way, the view of BankBazaar Insurance.
Display of any trademarks, tradenames, logos and other subject matters of intellectual property belong to their respective intellectual property owners. Display of such IP along with the related product information does not imply BankBazaar's partnership with the owner of the Intellectual Property or issuer/manufacturer of such products.


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Finding the right skincare routine can be an overwhelming and intimidating experience. When your bathroom starts to look like it belongs to a beauty hoarder, it's time to take Marie Kondo's lead and spring-clean your beauty routine with the intention that everything should in some way spark joy, create happiness, and make life simpler.
You can start today by bringing it back to basics and reinventing your skincare routine with good quality botanical serums. Just a few natural, high performing skin care products is all you need to cleanse, tone and hydrate. Easy, right?
Let's get started with the LOVESKIN guide to creating a minimalist, no-fuss skincare routine that will help you put your best face forward, every day.
1. Clean your skin – without the foam
If you're a foaming face wash disciple but wonder why your skin always feels dry or irritated, you should read this. The best face cleansers you can choose are oil based because they respect your skin's biology by removing pore-clogging impurities without stripping away the natural oils your skin needs. The result? Happy skin and a revitalized complexion that's clean, nourished, and refreshed.
2. Use a gentle toner to prep your skin
Using a toning mist as part of your daily skincare ritual after you have cleansed is an important step in preparing your skin to receive the benefits of your serum. If you suffer from irritated skin, acne, dermatitis or eczema, choose a face mist made from soothing Damascena rose petals that alleviates congested skin, while locking in vital moisture.
3. Hydrate with a heavy-hitting serum
Facial serums contain highly concentrated ingredients made to penetrate deep within the skin, meaning they're designed to deliver maximum nutrition. With blends specifically designed to target different complexion issues, including dry/mature, sensitive and combination/ oily skin, the trick is to choose the right one for your skin.
4. Choose natural skincare
Thanks to the majority of commercially made skin care products that are laden with different chemicals and skin irritants (yep, even the ones that claim to include natural ingredients). Don't despair; you can undo the damage caused by exposure to chemicals and toxins by choosing products that are packed full of powerful antioxidants, richly hydrating oils and natural anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial ingredients. LOVESKIN Rituals contain bioactive botanical blends that are meticulously formulated to balance, hydrate and nourish skin to leaving it bright, clear and glowing.
5. Find a ritual you love and be consistent
You've tried a skincare routine for a few days and then given up after not seeing instant results – sound familiar? In order to get the most of out of your skincare routine, you need to be consistent with it,so be patient and let the routine take its time to start working.
Your key take-away: looking after your skin should never be a source of stress. Keep it simple and basic with a trio of oil-based cleansers, toners and hydrating serums.


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"Its important message makes it a solid addition for group debates on social and environmental change." - School Library Journal
"Ambitious in scope and mission...valuable in its illustration of alternative models of commerce." - Kirkus Reviews
"An important and accessible book for growing communities." - Booklist
"The language is simple enough for younger readers to understand without oversimplifying the topics. Parents and other adult readers will probably be able to learn something new from this book too! The book also presents readers with activities that they can do and organizations that they can learn more about, allowing kids to help solve some of the problems mentioned in this book. Overall, Pocket Change is a surprisingly radical book which encourages kids to question why we live the way that we do, and empowers them to make a difference!" - Resource Links
"Timely and engaging." - Canadian Children's Book News
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I entered 9 images from Concupiscence into the LensCulture Art Photography Awards 2018 and as a part of the fee the work is reviewed by an (anonymous) independent reviewer. Here is a copy of the review followed by the images I submitted; needless to say I was quietly very pleased with the reaction the work produced :- Dear Chris,
Thank you for your submission to LensCulture! I have spent some time with your work and hope you find my comments helpful. My process is to review the images and note my reactions and try to glean meaning from the series. I then read the artist statement and review the series again to gauge whether the statement adds/supports the work.
I was delighted when I opened your submission. I found the series highly accomplished—technically, formally and conceptually. I found my eye seduced by the skilled formal quality of your images, the abstraction/fragmentation of the body parts creates a door for me to approach the work and linger for the beauty and study of the male body. I found myself thinking of John Coplans' self-portraits—not only for the focus on the male body, but the sense of the photographer's journey within the work. The series flows with coherence and every image adds something new. Congratulations, this is a terrific series!!! I could easily envision the series within a gallery or a publication.
The title perfectly captures the sense of the series and aids the viewer to approach the work. I actually preferred the sub-title as it piqued my interest and was more open ended than the declarative "Concupiscence", but ardent longing is indeed communicated in the work. I found the statement articulate, but I suggest removing the last line with the series of hashtags. I found myself wishing that the statement revealed a little bit more about yourself and your process. I also wondered about the size of the final print.
It's truly been a pleasure to spend time with your work. I think the subject is extremely valid and worthy of continued investigation. I wish you much success and will include a few references that you might find useful in the dissemination of the work.


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Ukraine sees 9% rise in steel output in January
16:05, 08 February 2017Economy
116 0
Steel production in Ukraine grew by 9% in January 2017 from January 2016, to 2.1 million tonnes, according to the association of ferrous metallurgy enterprises Metallurgprom.
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Weight 10-25 kg, length 70-90 cm, häntä 15-25 cm
The wolverine is a member of the Mustelidae family (the weasels), a rather big bear-like animal with a bushy tail. The fur on its back and legs is almost black, but its brows, cheeks and flanks are of a lighter color. Its paws are big and broad.
In Finland, wolverines can only be found in the northern mountainous regions.
Wolverines are omnivores. In summer, they eat small prey, birds and berries. In winter, they mostly hunt reindeer and feed on carrion.
The female wolverine gives birth to 2-3 babies (lads) in a winter den dug into the snow where the babies stay until May. The babies stay with their mother for about a year.
Wolverines can live up to 15 years.
The wolverine is a highly endangered species and fully protected by law. A little more than a hundred wolverines live in Finland presently.↑ Back
Weight 240-450 kg (female) ja 240-600 kg (male), body length 2-3 m, tail 7-10 cm
The elk is Finlands biggest mammal. It is blackish brown year round, but the coloring in the legs is lighter. Its noose is long, its upper lip slightly drooping and it has a skin fold, a chin beard in the lower jaw. The male elk (bull) has a handsome set of antlers, which it sheds every winter. The female elk (cow) is hornless.
Elks are found throughout Finland. In summer they like to stay in young, leaf-tree forests, swamps and damp places. In winter they range to heaths where pines and birches grow.
In summer, elks eat, for example, birch and fireweed, and sprouts and matured crops from the fields. In autumn, its favorite treats are blueberry and other twigs. In winter, elks feed on aspen, birch and pine buds and sprouts, and can thus cause considerable damage to pine sapling stands.
The cow gives birth to 1-2 reddish brown, soft-furred fawns in the spring. The fawns can walk when they are only a few hours old. The cow nurses the fawn all summer, and by the end of the summer the fawn has already reached a weight of 100 kg. The fawns follow their mothers around for their first year.
Elks can live up to 15-20 years.↑ Back
Weight 10-30 kg, body length 80-110 cm, tail 15-25 cm
The lynx is Finlands only wild feline. Its distinctive features are yellowish fur, tuffs in the ears and a beard-like ruff. The male is bigger than the female.
Although sightings of lynxes are rare, they can be found almost everywhere in Finland. They especially like to live in uninhabited forest areas.
The lynx is primarily a nocturnal animal, a good swimmer and climber. Lynxes are predators that hunt by stalking and creeping. They feed on, for example, hares, small rodents, birds, foxes and reindeer, sometimes also on deer, elk fawns and domestic animals.
The female lynx gives birth in May-June to 2-3 blind and fluffy cubs in a rock crevasse or a thicket. The cubs are dependent on their mother for their first year, but after that they learn to hunt and survive on their own.
Lynxes can live up to 14-17 years.
In the early 20th century the lynx was almost driven to extinction in Finland. It became protected by law in the 1970s and presently, around a thousand lynxes live in Finland.↑ Back
Weight 100-300 kg, body length 170-220 cm, tail 8-10 cm
Bears are big and stocky land beasts. The males are considerably bigger than the females. The coloring of the Finnish brown bear varies from tan to dark brown. The cubs often have a white collar around their neck.
Bears live in wild forests in most parts of Finland. They are most commonly found in the big northern forests.
Bears are mostly herbivores, feeding on grasses and berries, but they also eat insects, for example, ants. Bears also feed on carrion and occasionally even hunt elk or reindeer.
In autumn, bears eat huge amounts of berries, storing food for the winter. From November to March bears go into light hibernation, but may wake up if they are disturbed or if the weather warms up.
In January-February, the female bear gives birth to cubs. The new-born cubs weigh only 200-300 grams and are hairless and blind. They spend the first months of their lives looked after by their mother in the den, until they and their mother crawl out of the den in the summer. The cubs usually follow around their mother until their second summer.
Bears can live up to 30-35 years.
The bear is Finlands national animal. About a thousand bears live in Finland today.↑ Back
Weight 4-10 kg, body length 60-90 cm, tail 35-50 cm
The fox is a reddish brown canine. Its neck, belly and tip of tail are white.
The fox is the most common wild beast of prey in Europe. In Finland, too, foxes can be found throughout the country. They mostly like to live in forests.
Foxes are nocturnal animals, which means they move around and hunt at night. Foxes are omnivores, they feed on small animals, birds, carrion and waste. In early summer, foxes also prey on the young of other predators and in winter they may even attack the weaker adult beasts.
The fox can make a den in an old badgers den or dig a den of its own. The female fox gives birth to 3-6 blind babies in May-June. While the mother is still nursing, the male fox fetches food for the mother and the cubs. The cubs spend the summer close to the den, but in autumn they are ready to survive on their own.
Foxes can live up to 12 years.↑ Back
Weight 150-300 kg, body length 18-32 cm, tail 9-14 cm
The ermine is a member of the Mustiledae family, with a longish body and a black tip of the tail. Its fur is otherwise brown in the summer and white in the winter.
Ermines can be found throughout Finland in a variety of habitats.
Ermines are skilled climbers and swimmers. They mostly eat moles, mice and rats, but sometimes also prey on birds and feed on bird eggs and carrion. Ermines collect stores for the winter.
The female ermine gives birth in April-May to 3-8 babies in a den. After the babies a weaned, the mother brings them food to the den.
Ermines can live up to 5-7 years.↑ Back
Weight 22-45 g, body length 9-13 cm, tail 10-13 cm
The wood mouse is a rodent with large ears, big and bright eyes and a nose that is longer compared to the common house mouse. Its has a reddish brown back and a white belly.
Wood mice are found in southern and central Finland. They live in forests, fields and gardens and are unafraid of humans. Wood mice are good swimmers and climbers.
The wood mouse is a twilight or nocturnal animal. Its favorite foods are seeds, berries and other plant parts and it collects food for the winter.
The female wood mouse gives birth 2-3 times a year to 3-7 babies in a nest it has made underground out of leaves and grasses. The wood mouse can also give birth above ground, even in a bird box or a tree hole.
Wood mice can survive in nature up to 2-3 years.↑ Back
Weight 2-6 kg, body length 50-65 cm, tail 4-8 cm
The mountain hares coloring is well suited for snowy climates, its fur is grayish brown in the summer and white in the winter. The tips of its ears are always black and its tail is always white. Its hind feet are broad and hairy, well adopted to moving in the snow.
The mountain hare is commonly found throughout Finland and, as opposed to its English name, it prefers to live in forests.
In summer, mountain hares eat grass and hay, in autumn especially blueberry plants and in winter, as the snow packs up, bark and branches from trees and bushes.
Mountain hares give birth to 2-5 babies 2-3 times a year. In Finnish, the babies that are born in spring are called snow babies, the ones born in summer leaf babies and the ones in autumn stubble babies. The mountain hare does not build a nest, its babies are born in the shelter of tall-growing vegetation. They can see as soon as they are born and are soon after able to follow their mother around.
Mountain hares live up to 8-10 years.↑ Back
Weight in summer 6-13 kg and in autumn 15-20 kg, body length 60-90 cm, tail 12-24 cm
The badger is a stocky animal with short legs. It is a member of the Mustiledae family. It can be recognized by its black and white-striped head and grayish fur.
Badgers are found in southern and central Finland. They like to live in broadleaf and mixed forests near cultivated land. Badgers live in families.
Badgers are twilight or nocturnal animals. They feed on insects, small animals, berries, mushrooms and plants, but are also known to sometimes eat carrion.
When the weather turns cold and snow falls, the badger retreats into its den to hibernate. There are many caves and tunnels in the den.
Towards the end of hibernation, in March-April, female badgers give birth to 1-3 helpless babies in the den. The babies stay with their mother until the following autumn.
Badgers can live up to 10-15 years.↑ Back
Weight 40-130 kg, length max 120-150 cm
The ringed seal is a small species of seals, which originally lived in the Polar Sea. Its body is long and sleek, and it swims with its fin-like limbs. Ringed seals can stay submerged under water for up to 20 minutes, where their ears and nostrils shut down. Their skin is covered with a thick coat and it has a thick layer of fat underneath it. The ringed seal can be distinguished from other species of seals by its dark coat with lighter, ringed patterns.
In Finland, ringed seals can be found in the Baltic Sea and Lake Saimaa. The Baltic ringed seal (Pusa hispida botnica) lives farther out in the sea by solid ice. The Saimaa ringed seal (Pusa hispida saimensis) always nests in the same area. In spring, it climbs out of the water to rest on the ice and when the ice has broken up, it moves up to lakeside cliffs.
Ringed seals mainly eat fish.
In mid-spring, the female ringed seal gives birth to one baby seal, usually in a snow cavern on the ice. The female Baltic ringed seal nurses its young for 4-6 weeks, the Saimaa ringed seal for 6-9 weeks. When the baby has built enough fat under its skin and its soft baby down has turned into a waterproof coat, the baby can slip into the water and start to learn to swim. When the ice has broken, the young ringed seals begin to survive on their own.
Ringed seals can live up to 35-40 years.
Ringed seals are a highly endangered species and protected by law. Presently, some 250 ringed seals live in Lake Saimaa.↑ Back
Weight 230-450 g, body length 20-25 cm, tail 15-20 cm.
The squirrel is a rodent that can easily be recognized by its long, bushy tail. Its belly is white but its fur is otherwise reddish brown in the summer and grayish brown in the winter.
Squirrels can be found in Finland throughout the country. Their original habitat is coniferous forests, but today they also commonly live in parks and gardens.
Squirrels are diurnal animals. They are very good at swimming, climbing and leaping from tree to tree. Squirrels prefer to eat spruce and pine seeds, but they also feed on buds, berries, mushrooms, insects and bird eggs and baby birds. In autumn they dig food stores into the ground or in tree holes.
Squirrels build their nests out of branches, leaves and moss or they nest in tree holes or bird boxes. Squirrels have 1-2 litters a summer. The litter usually consists of 5 babies. The babies are born blind, hairless and helpless, but soon develop into skilled climbers.
Squirrels can live up to 8-12 years.↑ Back
Weight 250-500 g, body length 22-26 cm, tail 18-22 cm
The rat is a rodent with a long tail and a long, tapering nose. It is of a dark gray color, but its feet are slightly red.
Rats are found throughout Finland, and they live wherever there are humans. They commonly inhabit outhouses, storage sites, dump areas and, in cities, sewers. In summer, rats may move to lush and damp areas in nature.
Rats are omnivores. They will eat just about anything from foodstuffs and kitchen waste to saplings and bird eggs and baby birds in the wild.
A female rat can give birth to as many as 6 litters a year. Each litter consists of 6-12 blind, hairless and helpless baby rats.
Rats can live up to 3-4 years.↑ Back
Weight 2-7 kg, body length 40-70 cm, tail 7-11 cm
The European hare, like other hares and rabbits, is a member of the lagomorph family. Its fur is yellowish brown year round. In winter, the fur grows longer and lighter but it never turns white. The tail of the European hare is always black on top and white underneath. Its hind feet are narrow, so it sinks deeper into the snow than the mountain hare. The European hare also has longer ears than the mountain hare.
European hares live in southern and central Finland. They are commonly found in low country and small woods, and are often also seen in cities and other population centers.
In summer, European hares eat grasses, hay and other plants. In winter, they dig tender crops from underneath the snow and eat bark from garden trees and bushes. If nothing better is available, the European hare will eat forest tree branches, preferably willow and birch.
The European hare gives birth to 3-4 litters a year in the shelter of tall-growing vegetation. The litter consists of 2-4 babies who can see when they are born.
The European hare can live up to 8-10 years.↑ Back
Weight 500-1900 g, body length 20-30 cm, tail 2-5 cm
The hedgehog is a grayish brown mammal with a black snout. Its back is covered with spines. At rest, the spines point backwards but when in danger, the hedgehog rolls itself up into a spiny ball.
Hedgehogs can be found in southern and central Finland. They live in fields, forest edges and gardens, most commonly in tall, thick grass, bushes and thickets.
Hedgehogs eat ants, snails and worms, but they may also feed on frogs and other bigger catch.
In autumn, hedgehogs build themselves a nest of hay and leaves underneath bushes or outhouses. They spend the winter there in deep hibernation. During hibernation, they do not drink or eat and their body temperature sinks to four degrees centigrade at the lowest.
In June-July, the female hedgehog gives birth to 3-7 blind babies with small, soft spines. The babies develop fast, some of them may even have a litter of their own in the summer of the same year.
Hedgehogs usually live up to 4 years.↑ Back
Weight 30-75 kg, body length 100-160 cm, tail 30-50 cm
The wolf is a grayish mottled canine. Its back is dark and its belly is of a lighter color. Its tail is straight and droopy.
In Finland, wolves are mostly found in the fjelds and forests. Wolves live and hunt in packs. They move around a lot, a hunting pack of wolves can travel tens of kilometers in a day.
In summer, wolves eat mostly small mammals, birds, carrion and herbaceous food. In winter, they feed on elks, deer and reindeer.
In April-May, the female wolf gives birth to 3-4 blind cubs in a den. Both parents look after the cubs.
Wolves can live up to 12-16 years.
In the 19th century, wolves were still common animals in the forests Finland. Wolves were however hated and persecuted because they also attacked domestic animals, and they were wiped out almost to the point of extinction. The wolf is now a highly endangered species and protected by law. A little more than a hundred wolves live in Finland today.↑ Back
Weight 80-180 g, body length 12-20 cm, tail 7-11 cm
The water vole is a big, dark brown rodent with a long tail.
Water voles are found throughout Finland. In summer, they like to live on lush water banks, in winter on dry land, even relatively far from water.
In summer, water voles eat horsetails, reeds and sedges. For the winter, they store, for example, potatoes, carrots and flower bulbs. When they run out of stores, they start to gnaw on tree roots.
The female water vole gives birth to 4-5 litters a summer in a nest it has built on a water bank. The litter consists of 2-9 babies. The babies leave the nest before reaching adulthood.
Water voles can live up to 2 years.↑ Back
Length 44-46 cm, wingspread 50-60 cm, weight 180-270 g
The magpie is a medium-sized member of the Corvid or crow family. It has a round body, but its tail is very long. Its belly is white but it is black otherwise. Its wings have a metallic luster. Magpies are timid and suspicious by nature.
Magpies are found throughout Finland. They are common birds around farmlands.
Magpies are omnivores. They eat invertebrates and small vertebrates, bird eggs, seeds, grains and waste.
Magpies live in families. They make round, ball-like nests out of twigs, where the female magpie lays 5-8 eggs, which it broods for 3 weeks.
Magpies are resident birds, which means they winter in Finland.↑ Back
Length 17-18 cm, wingspread 30-33 cm, weight 48-61 g
The parrot crossbill is a stocky bird with a thick neck and a strong beak. The males are red and the females grayish green. Parrot crossbills are fearless by nature and they travel in small flocks.
Parrot crossbills are found throughout Finland, except for the northern Lapland fjelds. They chiefly live in pine forests.
Parrot crossbills eat mainly pine seeds, but if none are available, also spruce seeds.
The parrot crossbill makes its nest out of twigs, moss and lichen in a pine tree. The female lays 3-5 eggs, which it broods for 2 weeks.
The parrot crossbill migrates according to the pine cone yield. On a bad pine cone year it can migrate in small flocks all the way to western Europe.↑ Back
Length 40-42 cm, wingspread 110-130 cm, weight 300-480 g
The common gull is a medium-sized coastal bird with long and narrow wings, but short legs and a short beak. The common gull is light gray on top with a white underside.
Common gulls are widely observed everywhere in the Finnish coastal regions.
Common gulls are omnivores. They eat insects, worms, fish and other small animals, but also plant parts, seeds and waste.
Common gulls breed in pairs or in colonies. They make a nest out of hay and twigs on islets or rocks. The female lays 3 eggs, which it broods for about a month.
Common gulls winter in the southern parts of the Baltic Sea and the shores of the North Sea, some of them stay in southwestern Finland.↑ Back
Length 55-60 cm, wingspread 146-173 cm, weight 1,2-1,4 kg
The osprey is a medium-sized bird of prey. It has a big head, a curved beak and sharp claws. It is dark brown on top with a white underside, its head is black and white.
Ospreys are found throughout Finland. They are common birds in lush coastal areas.
Ospreys mostly eat fish, but also frogs and other small animals.
Ospreys make their nest at the top of the tallest pine in a swamp or forest. The female lays 2-3 eggs, which it broods for 5-6 weeks.
Ospreys winter in the central and southern parts of Africa.↑ Back
Length 62-66 cm, wingspread 120-150 cm, weight 800-1500 g
The raven is a large member of the crow family. It is heavy-set and longish, and it has a big head and sturdy beak. Ravens are shiny black all over. By nature, they are timid and suspicious, but also watchful and inventive.
Ravens are found throughout Finland. They are commonly observed in forest regions and the northern fjelds.
Ravens are omnivores. They eat carrion and waste, bird eggs and young, small animals and grains and other herbaceous food.
Ravens are loyal to their mates and breeding grounds. They make a nest out of twigs on a treetop or a cliff. The female lays 3-6 eggs, which it broods for 3 weeks. The family usually stays together until the next winter.
Ravens are resident birds, which means they winter in Finland.↑ Back
Length 58-73 cm, wingspread 110-130 cm, weight 2,0-3,4 kg
The black-throated diver is a large water bird. It has a longish body and a thick neck. Its head is gray, its throat is black, its neck is striped and it has black spots on the back. It is timid but curious by nature.
Black-throated divers are found throughout Finland, especially on barren shores.
Black-throated divers feed on roaches, perches, vendace and other small fish. They can stay submerged underwater up to several minutes.
Black-throated divers make their nest by the water on sheltered shores. The female lays 2 eggs, which it broods for about a month.
The black-throated diver winters in the Mediterranean and by the Black Sea.↑ Back
Length 110-120 cm, wingspread 220-245 cm, weight 4,5-7,0 kg
The crane is a large bird with a long neck and long legs and it lives in damp areas and near farmlands. It has a black and white head, but is light gray otherwise. Its tail is short and frilly. By nature, it is timid and suspicious.
Cranes are found throughout Finland. They especially like to live in wet, open swamps and on damp shores, but can also be found feeding in peaceful forest and swampy fields.
Cranes eat, for example, frogs, lizards, plant sprouts and roots, berries, tender crops and grains.
Cranes are loyal to their mates and breeding grounds. They make a nest out of hay in watery swamps or other damp areas. The female lays 2 eggs, which it broods for about a month. The mother looks after the babies until they learn to fly at the age of 9-10 weeks. The babies migrate and spend the winter with their mother.
Cranes migrate in loudly honking wedges. The cranes of western Finland winter mostly in Spain, the cranes of eastern Finland in Tunisia and Egypt.↑ Back
Length 145-160 cm, wingspread 218-243 cm, weight 8,5-11 kg
The whooper swan is a large, white water bird with a long neck. It can be distinguished from other swans by its yellow beak base, straight neck and tail that stays above water. By nature, it is watchful and cautious.
Whooper swans are found throughout Finland, especially on lush shores.
Whooper swans eat plant sprouts and seeds, the baby chicks eat small animals. When feeding, the swan sticks its neck underwater.
The whooper swan is loyal to its mate and breeding grounds. It builds a nest out of water plants in the shelter of vegetation in water or on shore. The female lays 3-7 eggs into the nest, which it broods for 5-7 weeks. The babies stay with their mother through their first winter.
Whooper swans migrate in flocks in wedge or line formations. They winter in the southern parts of the Baltic Sea and in western Europe, some stay in the southwestern parts of Finland.↑ Back
Length 33-35 cm, wingspread 56-60 cm, weight 200-420 g
The woodcock is a large wader with long legs and a long beak. It has a plump body and its coloring is mottled brown.
Woodcocks are found throughout Finland, except for northern Lapland. They especially like to live in lush forests.
Woodcocks eat worms, mollusks, insects and other small animals, in the autumn also berries and seeds.
Woodcocks make their nest in the ground. The female lays 4 eggs, which it broods for 3 weeks.
The woodcock winters in western Europe and the Mediterranean countries, in warm winters also on the Finnish Åland Islands.↑ Back
Length 33-34 cm, wingspread 67-74 cm, weight 180-260 g
The jackdaw is a medium-sized, well-proportioned crow bird. Its coloring is grayish black, its neck is light gray.
Jackdaws are found in southern and central Finland. They are especially common in population centers and around farmland. Jackdaws live in noisy flocks.
Jackdaws are omnivores. They mostly feed on grains, seeds, insects, worms and other small animals and on waste.
Jackdaws are loyal to their mates and breeding grounds. They make a nest out of twigs tree holes, cracks in buildings or in bird boxes. The female lays 4-6 eggs, which it broods for a few weeks.
Jackdaws winter in southern Sweden, Denmark and the Baltic countries, some stay in southern in Finland.↑ Back
Length 21-22 cm, wingspread 32-35 cm, weight 55-75 g
The three-toed woodpecker is a medium-sized woodpecker with a big head. It has a white patch on its black back and its belly is white. The top of the head is yellow in males and black in females.
Three-toed woodpeckers are found throughout Finland, although they are rather rare. They especially like to live in coniferous forests.
Three-toed woodpeckers eat beetles that live under spruce bark, ants and other insects and larvae.
The three-toed woodpecker usually makes a nest hole in spruces. The female lays 3-6 eggs, which it broods for 1-2 weeks.
The three-toed woodpecker is a resident bird, which means it winters in Finland.↑ Back
Length 13-14 cm, wingspread 26-29 cm, weight 15-23 g
The house martin is a member of the swallow family. Swallows are excellent flyers, with slim and narrow bodies and sharp-edged wings. The house martin has a shuttle-like body and its tail is short. It is black on top with a white underside. It is fearless by nature and it lives in flocks.
House martins are found throughout Finland. They especially like to live around farmhouses, barns and sheds.
House martins eat mosquitoes, flies, butterflies and other flying insects.
House martins build up a round nest out of mud, usually under the roof edge of a building. The female lays 3-5 eggs, which it broods for 2 weeks. House martins can have 2 broods in a summer.
The house martin winters in southern parts of Africa.↑ Back
Length 35-37 cm, wingspread 90-100 cm, weight 220-370 g
Owls are birds of prey that hunt birds and other animals at night. The long-eared owl is a medium-sized owl with long wings. It is black-striped on top with a yellowish underside. Its ear tufts are usually tucked against the head.
Long-eared owls are found in southern and central Finland, especially on the edges of open fields.
Long-eared owls eat moles, mice, shrews, and if these are not available, also small birds.
Long-eared owls make their nest in a crows or magpies old twig nest. The female lays 3-7 eggs, which it broods for a month.
The long-eared owl winters in western and central Europe.↑ Back
Length 46-51 cm, wingspread 85-90 cm, weight 600-1000 g
The great crested grebe is a small or medium-sized water bird. It has a short body, a thin, long neck and several crests on the head. Its back is dark brown, its throat and belly are white.
The great crested grebe is a common bird in southern and central Finland, especially around lush shores.
Great crested grebes eat small fish, crustaceans and water larvae.
The great crested grebe makes a nest of water plants on a floating raft near the shore. The female lays 3-6 eggs in the nest, which it broods for a month.
The great crested grebe winters in western Europe and the Mediterranean.↑ Back
Length 51-62 cm, wingspread 81-98 cm, weight 900-1300 g
The mallard is a medium-sized water bird with webbed toes and a flat beak. The male is gray with a brown chest, a white ring around the neck and a bluish green head. The female is brown.
The mallard is a common bird throughout Finland, especially on lush shores.
Mallards eat seeds and sprouts of water plants, in summer, also insects and other small animals.
Mallards live in pairs from autumn to late spring. They make their nest on ground amidst vegetation, which they cover with hay and down. The female lays 8-12 eggs, which it broods for about a month.
Mallards winter in southern parts of Scandinavia and western Europe, some stay in southern Finland.↑ Back
Length 42-50 cm, wingspread 65-80 cm, weight 650-1200 g
The goldeneye is a medium-sized, stocky water bird. It has a dark, tapering head. The male is otherwise black and white, and it has a white spot on the cheek. The female is gray with a white stripe on the sides.
Goldeneyes are commonly found throughout Finland.
Goldeneyes eat mollusks, worms, insects and other small water animals and their larvae, sometimes also seeds of water plants.
The goldeneye makes its nest into an old three-toed woodpeckers nest or a bird box, which it lines with down. The female lays 7-11 eggs, which it broods for about a month. Some of the babies grow up to be independent of their mother sooner, others stay under her care through the summer.
Goldeneyes winter in southern parts of the Baltic Sea and in western Europe, some stay in the southeastern Finnish archipelago and by the ice-free waters inland.↑ Back
Length 12-30 cm, weight 100-500 g
The perch can be recognized by its greenish color and the dark cross-stripes on its sides. The front dorsal fin is spiny, and its ventral, anal and caudal fins are of a reddish color.
The perch is the most common fish in Finland, and it lives in all different types of waters. Perches are found in all coastal areas and inland waters, except for the mountainous northern Lapland. Perches are schooling fish.
Perches feed on a great variety of food, including insect larvae, crustaceans, worms and other fish.
Perches spawn in May-June. The fry hatch within 2-3 weeks from the spawning.
Perches live long, up to 20-25 years.
The perch is Finlands national fish.↑ Back
Length 25-40 cm, weight 150-900 g
The most distinctive feature of the grayling is its notably big dorsal fin. Its sides are of a silver color and usually covered in dark spots. The scales run in straight lines and do not overlap, as they do in many other fish species.
Graylings are found in the waterways north of the Oulu River and in coastal areas by the northern parts of the Bothnian Sea and the Bothnian Bay. Graylings have also been planted in waterways in central Finland.
Graylings eat insects, benthic animals and small fish.
Graylings spawn in April-May and the fry hatch in about a month from the spawning.
Graylings usually live under 10 years.↑ Back
Length 40-80 cm, weight 0,8-3 kg
The Pike can be recognized by its long and straight body, big head and wide, sharp-toothed mouth. Its coloring is greenish and mottled yellow.
The perch is the second most common fish in Finland after the perch. It is commonly found throughout the country in all types of waters. The pike is a local resident fish, it spends its whole life in its native waters.
The pike is a predator: it eats other fish.
Pikes spawn as soon as the ice has broken up. The fry hatch within two weeks from the spawning.
Pikes live very long, sometimes over 30 years.
The pike is the symbolic fish of the Åland Islands.↑ Back
Length 40-80 cm, weight 1-6 kg
The Finnish lake salmon is a subspecies of salmon that lives in Lake Saimaa. It nearly became extinct, but a sufficient amount of parent fish were rescued to accomplish successful planting. Lake salmon have been planted, apart from Lake Saimaa, also in, for example, the Finnish lakes Pielinen and Päijänne.
The lake salmon's body is slim and streamlined. It is of a shiny silver, spotted color. In spawning season, the male turns reddish and it develops a growth in the lower jaw that makes it rise upward like a hook.
Salmons are predatory fish, small salmons eat mostly insects and crustaceans, big salmons eat other fish.
Salmons are migratory fish. They are born in rivers, where they spend their first 2-4 years until they migrate into lakes. At the end of the summer, salmons rise to their native rivers to spawn. The spawning takes place in October-November. The fry hatch in the spring.
Many salmon die after spawning, although some may spawn 2-3 times. The oldest studied salmons have been approximately 10 year olds.
The lake salmon is the symbolic fish of the Finnish Province of Karelia.↑ Back
Length 6-10 cm, weight 3-10 g
The bullhead is a small grounding with a big head. Its skin has no scales but it is partly covered with spikes. It is of a brownish mottled color.
Bullheads are found in all coastal areas and inland waters in Finland, except for northern Lapland. Bullheads have also been transplanted into the Utsjoki River.
Bullheads eat benthic animals and the spawn of other fish.
Bullheads spawn in April-June into nest holes. The fry hatch in a month from the spawning.
Bullheads live about 3 years.↑ Back
Length 20-35 cm, weight 120-400 g
The blue bream is best recognized by its exceptionally long anal fin. Its body is flat. Its coloring is silvery gray and its fins are yellowish.
Blue breams are found in all the inland waters south of Lake Keitele, in coastal waters it is rare. It likes to live in fertile waters. Blue breams are schooling fish.
Blue breams eat chiefly animal plankton.
Blue breams spawn at the end of May.
Blue breams develop slowly and long, living up to over 20 years.↑ Back
Length 12-25 cm, weight 15-150 g
The roach's scales are big and silvery. Its fins are reddish and its eyes are also red.
The roach is the third most common fish in Finland after the perch and the pike. It is found in all coastal areas and inland waters, except for Lapland. Roaches like to live in shallow, fertile waters. Roaches are schooling fish.
The roach eats different types of benthic animals, but also animal and plant plankton. It is also an important source of food itself for predatory fish.
Roaches spawn in May and the fry hatch within a few weeks.
Roaches live long, sometimes even over 25 years.↑ Back
Length 50-80 cm
The viper is Finland's only poisonous snake, but it is rarely known to bite humans. It usually strikes in defense, when, for example, it has been stepped on.
Vipers can usually be recognized by a serrated pattern on their back. Some vipers are entirely black.
Vipers are commonly found throughout Finland, except for the northern mountainous regions. They live in varied habitats such as ruins, rocky slopes, light-filled forests and meadows.
Vipers eat small animals including moles, mice, frogs and lizards.
The female viper gives birth to 5-20 babies in late summer. The babies are born about 15-20 cm long and fully developed.
Vipers hibernate in the winter.↑ Back
Length 60-100 cm
Unlike the viper, the ringed snake is not poisonous.
Ringed snakes usually have yellow spots on their necks. Their coloring and patterning vary otherwise. Some ringed snakes are also entirely black and can thus be mistaken for vipers.
Ringed snakes are found in southern and central Finland. They especially like to live near shores and other damp environments.
Ringed snakes are good swimmers. They mostly eat frogs and toads.
The female ringed snake lays 10-40 eggs in late summer in a damp and warm place. Within 7-10 weeks, the babies are born 15-18 cm long.
Ringed snakes start to hibernate in the autumn.↑ Back
Length 7-13 cm
The toad is bigger and clumsier that the frog, and it moves by crawling instead of leaping. Its skin is drier and more knobby than the frog's and it exudes a foul-tasting poison. Its back is brown and underside white.
Toads are found throughout Finland, except for the northern mountainous areas.
Toads eat insects and other small animals, which they catch with their long, sticky tongues.
Toads hibernate in the winter. As soon as they wake up in the spring they start to breed. The female lays the eggs into water in long, slimy strings. The eggs develop into larvae, which in turn develop into small baby toads. When the babies crawl on ground they are 10-12 mm long.
Toads can live up to 30 years.↑ Back
Length 8-10 cm
The frog is Finland's most common amphibian. It has a stocky body and short legs. Its coloring varies and is often spotted.
Frogs are found throughout Finland, but most commonly in the southern and central parts of the country. Frogs live on land and in water.
Frogs eat insects, snails, worms and other small animals. They catch them with their long, sticky tongues or by snatching them directly into their mouths.
Frogs spend the winter hibernating, but wake up in the spring and gather by waters to mate. When the eggs have been laid, the frogs rise out of the water and spend the rest of the summer on dry land. The eggs develop into tadpoles that can swim with their little tails. The tails fall off eventually when the tadpoles evolve into frogs. When a baby frog crawls out of the water, it is 10-12 mm long.
Frogs can live up to 10 years.↑ Back
Length 15-18 cm
The common lizard is a small, brownish mottled reptile. When in danger, it fools its predator by dropping its tail. A new tail grows in place of the old one in a few weeks' time.
Lizards are found throughout Finland. They like to live in sunny, warm places on forest edges and in grass.
Lizards eat small animals such as insects and larvae.
The female lizard gives birth in the summer to 3-10 babies that are born a few centimeters long.
Lizards hibernate in the winter.↑ Back
Wingspread 45-55 mm
The brimstone is one of the first butterflies to be observed in the spring. Its most distinctive feature is its yellow color. The male is bright yellow, the female clearly lighter and more greenish.
Brimstones are most commonly found in southern and central Finland, especially in warm, open places and light-filled forests.
Brimstones, like other butterflies feed by drawing nectar, resin and other liquids out of flowers with their long suckers. The brimstone's larvae (caterpillars) live on buckthorn.
Butterflies go through a full metamorphosis, which means that they develop from eggs through the larva and chrysalis stages into adult butterflies. The female brimstone lays its eggs in June and an adult butterfly hatches from the aurelia in August-September. Brimstones winter as adults.↑ Back
The juniper is an arborescent shrub. Its needles are sharp and stingy, bluish green on top and dark green underneath. The bark of the juniper flakes easily. The tree's flowerage turns into bluish juniper berries. Junipers flower in May-June.
Junipers are commonly found throughout Finland, especially in light-filled habitats. Depending on their growing habitats, they can grow as creeping or upright shrubs or even as small trees.
Junipers grow slowly and they are very long-lived. Junipers that are as old as 500 years have been found in Lapland.
Juniper berries are used as seasoning and for medicinal purposes, with for example, stomach aches.↑ Back
The silver birch (Betula pendula) is the most handsome birch species to be found in Finland. The bark on the trunk is white but it turns, as the tree grows older, into blackish gray and becomes flaky. The branches are long and hanging. The silver birch is also known as the weeping birch. The young branches are smooth, shiny and full of small knobs. The leaves are shiny and double-serrated (with big and small notches) and triangular and tapering in shape.
The silver birch is found throughout Finland, but most commonly in the southern parts of the country. It
The downy birch (Betula pubescens) is a more modest looking tree compared to the silver birch. Its trunk is smoother and whiter than that of the silver birch. Its branches are stiff and, when young, covered in soft down and have no knobs. The leaves are single-serrated (only small notches) and smaller than those of the silver birch.
The downy birch is common throughout Finland and is especially found in young forests, ditched swamps and swamp edges.
Tea can be made of birch leaves, which are rich in Vitamin C, and juice and syrup is made of the sap.
The Birch is Finland's National tree.↑ Back
The spruce is an evergreen coniferous tree. The bark on its trunk is dark gray. The needles are approximately 2 cm long and grow separately. The flowers are red but they turn brown as they develop into cones. The spruce flowers in May-June.
Spruces are common throughout Finland, except for northern Lapland. They like to grow in sandy heaths and fertile grounds. In southern Finland spruces usually grow to be up to 25-30 meters tall. Not until they reach an age of 60-100 years are they ready to be felled.
Turpentine can be made of spruce resin and cough medicine out of the tree's tender new growth.↑ Back
The Scots pine is a an evergreen coniferous tree. The bark on its trunk is reddish brown higher up and dark brown closer to the base of the tree. The needles are approximately 8-15 cm long and they grow in pairs. The cones are green in their first year and then turn brown. The Scots pine flowers in May-June.
Scots pines are common throughout Finland, except for the Lapland fjelds. They especially like to grow in sandy heaths and on rocky terrain. Scots pines can grow to be over 35 meters tall. In Lapland, they can live over 800 years.
In hard times, bread was made out of pine bark. The coniferous oil from its needles is used, for example, in soaps.↑ Back
The trunk of the rowan is smooth and light brown. Its leaves are pinnate, long and short-stalked. The rowan flowers in June-July as soon as the leaves have come out. The flowers are white and strongly scented. The clustered, red berries are red and edible, though sour.
The rowan is common throughout Finland. It likes to grow on nutrient-rich rocks, yards and parks. In barren terrain it grows into a bush-like tree, but on fertile land it can reach a height of over 10 meters.
The rowan was the sacred tree of ancient Finns.↑ Back
The lingonberry is an evergreen, low-creeping bush. Its leaves are oval, smooth-edged, thick, hard, shiny and dark green. It flowers in June-July. The flowers are bell-shaped and white or pink. The berries are red and taste tangy.
The lingonberry is common throughout Finland and is especially found in dry, light-filled heath forests, rocks, mountain heaths, pine swamps and woodlands.
The lingonberry is the most widely picked wild berry in Finland.↑ Back
The blueberry is a low-creeping bush that sheds its leaves for the winter. Its leaves are oval, slightly serrated, thin and light green. The blueberry flowers in May-June. Its flowers are ball-shaped and greenish, turning reddish as they grow older. The berries are blackish blue and have a waxy skin.
The blueberry is common throughout Finland and is especially found in fresh habitats, fresh heaths and mountain heaths.
The blueberry is a traditional medicinal plant. The fresh berries are good for the digestive system and blueberry juice is used to alleviate infections and fever.↑ Back
Halonen Eeva, Järvenpää Leena, Rautavaara Arno (toim.) (2003): Terve teille lintuset! Lasten Parhaat Kirjat, Helsinki.
Heinonen Reija-Tuulia, Suominen-Vihonen Sirkka (toim.) (1995): Kasvikirja: tunnista 200 suomalaista kasvia. Weilin+Göös, Helsinki.
Helgestad Asgeir (suom. Syvänperä Tuula) (2002): Metsän eläimiä. Karisto, Hämeenlinna.
Jansson Hasse (suom. Kalliola Iiris) (2002): Nisäkkäät tutuksi. Otava, Helsinki.
Klinting Lars (suom. Sevelius Ilona) (1994): Ensimmäinen eläinoppaani. Tammi, Helsinki.
Koli Lauri (1995): Suomen kalaopas. WSOY, Porvoo.
Koskimies Pertti (2005): Suomen lintuopas. WSOY, Helsinki.
Laine Lasse J. (2000): Suomen luonto-opas. WSOY, Helsinki.
Lappalainen Annikki, Suominen-Vihonen Sirkka, Vaajakallio, Ulla (1995): Nisäkäskirja: suomalaisia nisäkkäitä. Weilin+Göös, Espoo.
Lehtonen Hannu, Kokko Ulla, Rinne Veikko (2001): Suomen kalat ja kalastus CD-Fakta. WSOY, Helsinki.
Lokki Juhani, Koskimies Pertti.. (et al.) (2001): Suomen linnut 2 CD-Fakta. WSOY, Helsinki.
Hallanaro Eeva-Liisa.. (et al.) (2000): Suomen luonto CD-Fakta: kertomus ympäristön tilasta. WSOY, Helsinki.
Further English-language information on nature in Finland can be found, for example, on the websites:
www.ymparisto.fi↑ Back


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Home > News & Events > Wayland Press Release Archives > 2010 News Releases > April 2010 > Longtime writer to be honored with Women in Business Award
Longtime writer to be honored with Women in Business Award
April 13, 2010
PLAINVIEW – Nicki Bruce Logan, longtime lifestyles editor for the Plainview Daily Herald, will be one of three local women honored with the Women in Business Award by Wayland Baptist University's Students in Free Enterprise team. The award will be presented at a banquet to be held Thursday, April 22, at 7 p.m. in the McClung Center.
Logan joined the Daily Herald staff in 1984 after being a homemaker, mother and civic volunteer for many years. As her oldest daughter left for college, she decided to enter the workforce, having had an interest in writing since high school.
She asked then-editor Danny Andrews for a trial period to make sure she could do the job. And she never left. Years later, Logan has won awards for her writing and the prestigious Hearst Eagle award as well as the Paul Ellis Award from the Texas Affiliate of the American Heart Association.
"I found the place I needed to be. I loved writing, and I loved meeting people," she said. "I think one of the best things about this job is getting to show people things they might not see and recognize people who might not be in the paper otherwise."
Besides keeping Plainview and area residents updated on all the events happening around the community, Logan said she most enjoys the hidden gems of stories about everyday people doing great things. But she said most readers forget that the newspaper is a business and must rely on advertising and paper sales to stay in business, all while reporting accurately and in an unbiased manner on the events that occur.
A native of Plainview, Logan is involved in many organizations of service and was the chairman of the City of Plainview centennial in 2008. She serves with the Plainview Symphony Orchestra board, the Symphony guild, Plainview Cultural Council, Community Partners of the Central Plains (Rainbow Room), Chamber of Commerce, Hale County Literacy Council, RSVP Advisory Board and Pitch-In Plainview. She also worked with groups that restored the Santa Fe Depot and the Fair Theatre, organized the Runningwater Draw Hike and Bike Trail, and fought for specific causes with the American Cancer Society and American Heart Association.
Logan is a former Plainview Woman of the Year and the ACS Cotton Barons' Award and was named a Woman of Distinction by the South Plains Girl Scout Council. She is a member of Chapter CZ, PEO.
Prior to her newspaper days, Logan operated a tea room and gift shop with a friend in an old home in Hale Center before her youngest daughter was born. She also had an antique store in Hale Center before her grandchildren arrived and captured her heart and her free time.
Her three children are Lee and Lisa Logan of Sudan; Alicea and Guy Artuso of Newbury Park, Calif.; and Nicole and Jory Russell of Hale Center. She has six grandchildren: Jordan Cerovski; Lacee, Danielle and Lane Logan; and Emily and Lara Russell.
Other honorees to be recognized at the banquet include Tiffany Barnes, owner of Petals, and Kim Street, co-owner of Street Real Estate.
Tickets to the banquet are $20 per person and reservations may be made by calling the School of Business at 291-1020. Deadline to reserve is Monday, April 19.