text:
Cattle market prices for 2012 should remain fundamentally strong and average 4 to 8 percent higher than in 2011.
However, next year's market will have the potential for some big price swings.
"Cattlemen will need to search for ways to lower their unit costs of production and ways to enhance market prices in order to achieve profitability during 2012," says Walt Prevatt, Auburn University Extension economist, in his annual U.S. Beef Cattle Situation and 2012 Price Outlook.
Factors to watch in 2012, says Prevatt, include the current weak U.S. economy, high levels of unemployment, lack of consumer confidence, political gridlock and chaos at all levels of government, an upcoming U.S. Presidential election, and various other issues.
"There is little wonder why future economic uncertainty is fresh in the minds of many U.S. citizens," he says. "The decisions made on these issues are believed to have an overwhelming effect on business and consumer spending and our future prosperity.
"Unfortunately, there is not convincing evidence about what the future holds. Consumers, at least for right now, are spending less and saving more. Only time will tell if this may be the start of a longer-term shift in consumer behavior."
Abrupt changes in economic factors could add much volatility to 2012 cattle market prices, he adds.
Turning to beef supply, Prevatt says U.S. cattle farmers are continuing to decrease their inventory of cattle and calves. The major factors responsible for causing cattle inventory declines include a combination of a lack of profitability by the majority of cow-calf farmers (due to weak beef demand which was caused by the severe recession), high production costs (feed, fertilizer, fuel, labor, land rents, etc.), large levels of competing meats, and alternative uses of land (pasture acreage moving into grain production and/or conservation programs and other non-farm uses such as recreation and rural non-farm development).
"Given the current lackluster level of profits and immense uncertainty in the U.S. general economy, cattle farmers will likely continue to liquidate cattle numbers until profitability can be achieved," he says.
In the mid-year July 1, 2011 Cattle Report, cattle farmers told USDA they had about 350,000 fewer beef cows that had calved (down 1.1 percent) than a year ago. Beef cow replacements were down 200,000 head (down 4.6 percent) from a year ago at 4.2 million head. A decrease in beef cow replacements and beef cows that have calved during 2011 suggests that herd liquidation will continue in 2012, says Prevatt.
A smaller inventory of cattle and calves and smaller calf crop during 2011 will limit beef production during 2012, he continues. USDA projects U.S. beef production during 2012 to be about 25.1 billion pounds (down 4.4 percent from a year ago). This level of beef production will be influenced by any adjustments in average carcass weights and the level of feeder and live cattle imports (from Canada and Mexico).
The 2011 growing season of the major grain production regions got off to a slow start, says Prevatt. Weather conditions hindered planting in most major grain growing areas, and the majority of the crop received average to slightly below average growing conditions during most of the season. Harvest weather is currently adequate in most areas for a timely harvest, he says.
If USDA's current corn and soybean production forecasts are realized, corn production will be about 0.05 billion bushels larger than a year ago and soybean production will be about 0.2 billion bushels smaller than a year ago.
Higher corn, bean prices
"Corn and soybean prices are expected to move higher in 2012 due to tight supplies worldwide," says Prevatt. "Therefore, livestock farmers should seriously consider taking steps to manage their feed purchases during the 2011 crop harvest."
Another factor that can affect feed prices and feeder calf and feeder cattle prices, he says, is the level of export demand for corn and soybeans.
"Any major changes in world export demand for these commodities could significantly move market prices. Economic growth in several Asian countries has begun to slow down, but has been above average during 2011. Additionally, the strength of the U.S. dollar is certain to influence the world export demand.
Unfortunately, says Prevatt, pasture and range conditions have not been better over many of the cow-calf states this year. The pasture and range conditions in September were rated as poor or very poor on 42 percent of the U.S. acreage in pasture and rangeland.
These poor pasture and forage conditions, coupled with higher input costs and higher cull cow prices, have resulted in a large number of cull cows moving to slaughter this year.
The current weather forecast suggests a continued La Niña condition which usually means warmer winter temperatures but lower rainfall in the Southeast.
Most states in the Southeast will show lower levels of hay production compared with 2010, notes the economist.
Additionally, higher inputs costs will contribute to continued high hay prices. Therefore, alternative winter forages and feedstuffs will be in much demand this winter as cattlemen seek to feed their cow herds and stocker cattle.
U.S. beef demand has felt some challenges the last three years due to high unemployment and tightening consumer grocery budgets due to the higher cost of living, says Prevatt. Domestic beef demand is expected to be further tested during 2012 as consumers continue to experience rising prices for most goods and services.
"If consumer disposable income does not rise proportionally, shopping habits and choices will shift as prices rise forcing consumers to substitute and/or reduce the bundle of goods and services they consume.
"The weak U.S. economy during 2011 has constrained domestic beef demand growth. Fortunately, world beef demand increased as world economies recovered from the recession and a weaker U.S. dollar contributed to increased beef exports."
Per capita consumption of beef is expected to decline during 2011 and 2012, he says. "It is very important that the U.S. continues to grow beef export markets. These export markets could be worth $5 to $10 per hundredweight on the value of fed slaughter cattle. Growth in beef export markets will also help to moderate the price impacts of any weaknesses in U.S. broiler and pork exports.
U.S. meat production in 2012 is expected to show mixed results, he says, as beef production is expected to show a decrease, while pork and broiler production are expected to show small increases next year.
"Any changes in these production levels or export levels of pork and broilers could have a significant effect on U.S. beef prices.
"Additionally, any further increases in feedstuff prices will likely alter these 2012 production projections. A watchful eye on the production and export levels of competing meats and feed prices will help identify potential changes in beef prices."


text:
Butterfly Orange
Butterfly Photography.
Miami, Florida. Novermber 2009
The Golden Light of the Sun.
Butterfly Photography
Miami, FLorida. November 2011
Wild Bird
Wild Life Photography.
Coconut Grove, Miami, Florida. 2011
The Eye
Wild Life Photography
Macaw, Coconut Grove, Florida. 2011
Won "Great Shot" June 2014
View Bug.
Butterfly landing
Butterfly Photography.
Miami, Florida. June 2010
Bird Photography
Miami, Florida. September 2009
In the sunny rain
Wild Life Photography
Wetlands Stork.
Tropical Park, Miami, Florida. 2014
Blue Macaw
Wild Life Photography
Macaw, Coconut Grove, Florida. 2011
The Flower Butterfly
Butterfly Photography.
Miami, FLorida. June 2013
Wild Life photography
Coconut Grove Marina, Miami, Florida. 2009
Featured in the Miami Photos Gallery page of AmericanTowns.com, 08/24/2009
White Cockatoo
Wild Life Photography
White Cockatoo, Key Biscayne, Florida. 2010
Selected by Fotolia, ID# 27591960
Bald Eagle
Bald Eagle Photography
Wild Life Clinic and Refuge,
Miami Science Museum and Planetarium.
Miami, Florida. 2011
A Touch of Blue
Wild bird and water.
Wild Life Photography
Cockatoo, Key Biscayne, Miami, FLorida. 2009
The Zebra Look
The Zebra Look.
Featured at View Bug, April 2011.
Won Top 10 class week 1 at View Bug, February 2014
Miami, Florida. June 2010
Wild bird
Wild Life Photography
Coconut Grove, Miami, Florida. 2011
Red Macaw
Wild Life Photography
Red macaw, Key Biscayne, Florida. 2010
Selected by Fotolia, ID# 27795878
cockatoowild life photographymacro wild life photographywhite cockatooFlorida birdsFlorida wild lifemacro wild lifeFlorida cackatoos

subset: commoncrawl


text:
- Publish date:
- Updated on
- Year
- 1918
Montana passes law against sedition
Swept along by hysterical fears of treacherous German spies and domestic labor violence, the Montana legislature passes a Sedition Law that severely restricts freedom of speech and assembly. Three months later, Congress adopted a federal Sedition Act modeled on the Montana law.
The roots of the Montana Sedition Law lay with the hyper-patriotic sentiments inspired by World War I and growing fears of labor unrest and violence in the state. A sizeable number of Montanans had resisted American entry in WWI, and the Montana congresswoman Jeanette Rankin (the first women elected to Congress) had voted against U.S. involvement in the Great War. Once the U.S. did become involved, though, many pro-war Montanans viewed any further criticism of the war effort as treasonous-especially if it came from the state's sizeable German-American population.
At the same time, the perceived need for wartime unity sharpened many Montanans' distrust of radical labor groups like the socialist International Workers of the World (IWW). The Montana mining town of Butte had been rocked by labor violence in recent years. In 1914, a group of men who may have been IWW members destroyed the offices of an opposing union with dynamite. An IWW leader named Frank Little had also recently given speeches in Butte condemning American involvement in the war, claiming it was being fought for big business interests.
Determined to silence both antiwar and radical union voices, the Montana legislature approved a Sedition Law that made it illegal to criticize the federal government or the armed forces during time of war. Even disparaging remarks about the American flag could be grounds for prosecution and imprisonment. Through the efforts of Montana's two senators, the act also became the model for the federal Sedition Law of May 1918. Like the Montana law, the federal act made it a crime to speak or write anything critical of the American war effort.
Later widely viewed as the most sweeping violation of civil liberties in modern American history, the federal Sedition Law led to the arrests of 1,500 American citizens. Crimes included denouncing the draft, criticizing the Red Cross, and complaining about wartime taxes. The Montana law led to the conviction and imprisonment of 47 people, some with prison terms of 20 years or more. Most were pardoned when the war ended and cooler heads prevailed, but the state and federal Sedition Laws proved highly effective in destroying the IWW and other radical labor groups that had long attacked the federal government as the tool of big business. Since many of these radicals were vocal opponents of much of the government wartime policy, they bore the brunt of the Sedition Law rebukes, and suffered sorely as a result.


text:
Mobile wine bottling truck integrates controls, HMI
Marathon Bottling and Automation LLC, a mobile wine bottling and custom automation OEM using programmable logic controllers (PLCs), has automated its mobile wine bottling operation with an integrated PLC and human-machine interface (HMI). In conjunction with using PLCs on custom automation projects, Marathon Bottling and Automation has networked a PLC to control local functions on the truck, and an integrated HMI and PLC for system control and data collection. This mobile operation connects to a winery's tank, pumps the wine into the equipment on the truck, and nitrogen sparges, fills, vacuum corks, and labels bottles at 50 bottles per minute. The whole bottling system consists of a rotary nitrogen bottle sparger, gravity filler, vacuum corker, six-head capsule spinner, and pressure-sensitive and cold glue labeler with six conveyor controls.
In the mobile wine bottling line, there are several variable speed motors that need to work in concert with bottle backup sensors. The overall line speed needs to maximize efficiency and maintain bottle control. Various sensors are needed to verify nitrogen flow pressure, fill levels in the filler machine, label length, and gap detection. The labeler requires several options to accommodate varying styles of labels—including applying two labels on each bottle from the same reel or from two separate reels.
Label spacing on the bottle must be balanced. The gap detection requires a rapid and consistent input trigger. The 1.5 msec interrupt guarantees the repeatability of the label positioning when the gap between labels is detected—it provides an immediate input response to control stepper motors. Without this, slight, but unacceptable, variation in label placement would occur. The automated capsule placing process over the corked bottles requires simple I/O control.
Multiple hardware options provided "so many choices to solve the project while keeping costs low," said Dan Murphy, owner of Marathon Bottling and Automation. "Very rarely do I have a project requirement that is not covered by one of the basic options [of available hardware]. When it isn't part of a snap-in module, certainly it is covered by the expansion module lineup."
To get the system running, the application required RS485 for control of variable-speed ac motor drives along with analog inputs for temperature measurements of incoming water during the sanitation process. Analog inputs were also used to monitor incoming nitrogen gas pressure. Various and multiple I/Os were needed for general sensors and pneumatic valve actuators. High-speed outputs were needed for stepper-motors along with high-speed inputs for rapid sensor detection. Accurate label placement with even spacing between front and back labels was also a necessity.
After using and programming several brands of PLCs, the software chosen was "by far the most intuitive and easily understood while providing significant functionality and quality," said Murphy. The time required to configure and implement features and functions in other PLC brands often isn't required in this platform due to the ease of use. Sample code introduced features that Murphy hadn't seen before. After copying and pasting the samples into his code, "they often work the first time."
With integration of RS485 communications, analog inputs, and general I/O, along with multiple PLC-to-PLC communication options, "programming challenges are kept to the processes at hand instead of configuration issues, handshake issues, communication issues, etcetera, that other PLCs require."
– Lindsay Pestilli works in marketing/communications for Unitronics Inc. Edited by Mark T. Hoske, CFE Media, Control Engineering content manager.
Integrated HMI/PLC adds I/O http://bit.ly/HQGn2g
Read more about the tools used: "Mobile wine bottling application technologies," below.
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BBC News
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text:
|Statement by Ambassador WANG Min, Deputy Permanent Representative of the People's Republic of China to the UN at the 68th Session of the UN General Assembly On item 63(a) NEPAD: Progress in Implementation and International Support, and item 63(b), Causes of Conflicts in Africa and Promoting Lasting Peace and Sustainable Development
Madam Chair,
China associates itself with the statement by Fiji on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.
Peace and development in Africa have entered a new critical stage. With its booming economy, Africa has become one of the regions of the world with the fastest growth rate. United and resolute, the African countries have kept taking new steps to advance integration and sustain stability and development. Much headway has been made in the implementation of NEPAD, and the international status of Africa is rising. At the same time, however, as a result of such factors as the international financial crisis and the slow pace of global economic recovery, Africa is faced with a deteriorating external development environment. Regional conflicts and hot spots keep flaring up and humanitarian crises have become more serious, posing huge challenges to Africa's efforts to seek peace, stability and development.
At the beginning of the 2nd decade of NEPAD, the international community should continue to increase attention to and engagement in Africa to achieve greater progress in the implementation of NEPAD, in order to promote Africa's stability and prosperity. Africa is an important member of the international community; its peace and security are closely linked to the interest and welfare of other members. Finding effective ways to help African countries tackle security challenges and realize durable peace and sustainable development is an important task of the international community. In this connection, China would like to make the following proposals:
First, all commitments to Africa should be honored. The international community should scale up assistance to Africa. Developed countries should follow through on their ODA commitments, deliver on their promise of assistance and debt relief, and help Africa in finance, technology and capacity building. Developing countries should help Africa through enhancing South-South cooperation, which offers a framework for them to share experience in poverty alleviation and development and supplement North-South cooperation, with a view to achieving common development. The international community should improve Africa's development environment and increase support to Africa in various aspects including finance, trade and debt relief.
Second, Africa should feature more prominently on the post-2015 development agenda. The international community should continue to help Africa in accelerating the attainment of the MDGs. At the same time, priority attention should be given to the special challenges and development needs of Africa in formulating the post-2015 development agenda to ensure that the new agenda would be in line with the priority areas of NEPAD, centered on poverty reduction and aimed at promoting overall development of Africa.
Third, the autonomy of the African countries should be respected. The international community should recognize the reality of Africa, respect the will of African countries, and support them in handling their affairs by themselves. At the same time, in carrying out economic and technical cooperation with Africa, we must fully take into account the specific situation of the African countries, accommodate their concerns and give them ample policy space in order to achieve mutually beneficial and win-win results and common development.
Fourth, African countries' effort to realize peace and stability should be supported. In recent years have witnessed more pronounced instability and uncertainty in Africa, where regional hot spots keep flaring up and non-traditional security threats such as terrorism have grown. The international community should adhere to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and on the basis of full respect for the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of African countries, make active efforts to promote peace and facilitate negotiations with a view to solving the relevant disputes by peaceful means. Moreover, it should strengthen coordination and collaboration with the AU and African sub-regional organizations, take concrete measures to help Africa reinforce it collective security mechanism and support the "settlement of African issues by the Africans in African ways".
Madam Chair,
China and Africa have always been a community of shared destinies. Similar historical experience, identical development tasks, and shared strategic interests have bound us together. China-Africa relationship is characterized by sincerity, friendliness, mutual respect, equality, mutual benefit and common development. Since the establishment of the new China-Africa strategic partnership, we have deepened our relationship with African countries and regional organizations like the AU. China actively supports African integration and has steadily stepped up its support to NEPAD. In 2012, trade between China and Africa approached 200 billion USD, and over 1.5 million people traveled between our two sides. By 2012, China's accumulated direct investment in Africa exceeded 15 billion USD. This year marks the 50th anniversary of China's dispatch of medical teams to Africa. Over the past 50 years, China dispatched to Africa 18,000 medical personnel who checked and treated 250 million patients.
During his visit to Africa last March, President Xi Jinping elaborated on the tenet of China-Africa cooperation, which is "sincerity, real results, affinity and good faith", and announced a series of new initiatives to support Africa's development, which include providing a line of credit of 20 billion USD to Africa over 3 years, translating into reality the "partnership for the transnational and trans-regional infrastructure development" and implementing the "African Talent Plan". In the next 3 years, we will train for African countries 30,000 professionals in various fields, provide 18,000 scholarships to African students and scale up technology transfer to and experience sharing with Africa.
China is actively following up on the Initiative on China-Africa Cooperative Partnership for Peace and Security and steadily increasing its constructive participation in the peace and security affairs of Africa in order to create conditions for Africa's socio-economic development. China takes an active part in UN peace-keeping operations in Africa, and currently we have 1,400 troops in 6 UN peace-keeping missions on the continent. China has increased its support to African countries, the AU and African sub-regional organizations in their peace keeping capacity-building. We have also provided the AU with gratuitous military aid of 50 million RMB in support of African efforts to resolve the problems of the continent on its own.
Madam Chair,
China's development is inseparable from that of Africa and the world. China will always regard Africa as an all-weather friend. While 1.3 billion Chinese people are working to make the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation come true, over 1 billion African people are also trying to realize their dream of unity, self-reliance, development and prosperity. China is willing to join hands with the African countries in expanding and deepening cooperation in all areas, advance the China-Africa relationship in the direction of win-win cooperation, and ultimately achieve our shared aspiration.
Thank you, Madam Chair.


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New Zealand
New Zealand, Maori Aotearoa, island country in the South Pacific Ocean, the southwesternmost part of Polynesia. New Zealand is a remote land—one of the last sizable territories suitable for habitation to be populated and settled—and lies more than 1,000 miles (1,600 km) southeast of Australia, its nearest neighbour. The country comprises two main islands—the North and South islands—and a number of small islands, some of them hundreds of miles from the main group. The capital city is Wellington and the largest urban area Auckland; both are located on the North Island. New Zealand administers the South Pacific island group of Tokelau and claims a section of the Antarctic continent. Niue and the Cook Islands are self-governing states in free association with New Zealand.
New Zealand is a land of great contrasts and diversity. Active volcanoes, spectacular caves, deep glacier lakes, verdant valleys, dazzling fjords, long sandy beaches, and the spectacular snowcapped peaks of the Southern Alps on the South Island—all contribute to New Zealand's scenic beauty. New Zealand also has a unique array of vegetation and animal life, much of which developed during the country's prolonged isolation. It is the sole home, for example, of the long-beaked, flightless kiwi, the ubiquitous nickname for New Zealanders.
New Zealand was the largest country in Polynesia when it was annexed by Great Britain in 1840. Thereafter it was successively a crown colony, a self-governing colony (1856), and a dominion (1907). By the 1920s it controlled almost all of its internal and external policies, although it did not become fully independent until 1947, when it adopted the Statute of Westminster. It is a member of the Commonwealth.
The ascent of Mount Everest by New Zealander Sir Edmund Hillary with Sherpa Tenzing Norgay in 1953 was one of the defining moments of the 20th century. "In some ways," Hillary suggested, "I believe I epitomise the average New Zealander: I have modest abilities, I combine these with a good deal of determination, and I rather like to succeed."
Despite New Zealand's isolation, the country has been fully engaged in international affairs since the early 20th century, being an active member of a number of intergovernmental institutions, including the United Nations. It has also participated in several wars, including World Wars I and II. Economically the country was dependent on the export of agricultural products, especially to Great Britain. The entry of Britain into the European Community in the early 1970s, however, forced New Zealand to expand its trade relations with other countries. It also began to develop a much more extensive and varied industrial sector. Tourism has played an increasingly important role in the economy, though this sector has been vulnerable to global financial instability.
The social and cultural gap between New Zealand's two main groups—the indigenous Maori of Polynesian heritage and the colonizers and later immigrants from the British Isles and their descendants—has decreased since the 1970s, though educational and economic differences between the two groups remain. Immigration from other areas—Asia, Africa, and eastern Europe—has also made a mark, and New Zealand culture today reflects these many influences. Minority rights and race-related issues continue to play an important role in New Zealand politics.
New Zealand is about 1,000 miles (1,600 km) long (north-south) and about 280 miles (450 km) across at its widest point. The country has slightly less surface area than the U.S. state of Colorado and a little more than the United Kingdom. About two-thirds of the land is economically useful, the remainder being mountainous. Because of its numerous harbours and fjords, the country has an extremely long coastline relative to its area.
Although New Zealand is small, its geologic history is complex. Land has existed in the vicinity of New Zealand for most of the past 500 million years. The earliest known rocks originated as sedimentary deposits some 545 million to 540 million years ago, at the close of Precambrian time (4.6 billion to 541 million years ago) and the beginning of the Cambrian Period (541 million to 485 million years ago); their source area was probably the continental forelands of Australia and Antarctica, then part of a nearby single supercontinent. Continental drift (the movement of large plates of Earth's crust) created a distinct island arc and oceanic trench structure by the Carboniferous Period (about 359 to 299 million years ago), when deposition began in the downwarps (trenches) of the sedimentary rocks that today make up some three-fourths of New Zealand. This environment lasted about 250 million years and is typified by both downwarped oceanic sedimentary rocks and terrestrial volcanic rocks. This period was terminated in the west at the beginning of the Cretaceous Period (about 145 million years ago) by the Rangitata Orogeny (mountain-building episode), although downwarp deposition continued in the east. These mountains were slowly worn down by erosion, and the sea transgressed, eventually covering almost all of the land. At the end of the Oligocene Epoch (about 23 million years ago), the Kaikoura Orogeny began, raising land above the sea again, including the Southern Alps of the South Island. Many of the great earth movements associated with this final orogeny took place (and take place today) along faults, which divide the landscape into great blocks, chief of which is the Alpine Fault of the South Island. The erosion and continued movement of these faulted blocks, together with the continuing volcanism of the North Island, define to a large extent the landscape of the country.
New Zealand is part of the Ring of Fire—the circum-Pacific seismic belt marked by frequent earthquakes and considerable volcanic activity. The North Island and the western part of the South Island are on the Indian-Australian Plate, and the remainder of the South Island is on the Pacific Plate. Their collision creates violent seismic activity in subduction zones and along faults. Numerous earthquakes occur annually, including hundreds that can be felt by New Zealanders. A number of these temblors have been disastrous, such as one that devastated the towns of Napier and Hastings in 1931 and a series of quakes that did likewise in Christchurch in 2010–11.
Both the North and the South islands are roughly bisected by mountains. Swift snow-fed rivers drain from the hills, although only in the east of the South Island have extensive alluvial plains been built up. The alluvial Canterbury Plains contrast sharply with the precipitous slopes and narrow coastal strip of the Westland region on the west coast of the South Island. The Southern Alps are a 300-mile- (480-km-) long chain of fold mountains containing New Zealand's highest mountain—Mount Cook (Maori: Aoraki) at 12,316 feet (3,754 metres)—and some 20 other peaks that rise above 10,000 feet (3,000 metres), as well as an extensive glacier system with associated lakes.
There are more than 360 glaciers in the Southern Alps. The Tasman Glacier, the largest in New Zealand, with a length of 18 miles (29 km) and a width of more than one-half mile (0.8 km), flows down the eastern slopes of Mount Cook. Other important glaciers on the eastern slopes of the Southern Alps are the Murchison, Mueller, and Godley; Fox and Franz Josef are the largest on the western slopes. The North Island has seven small glaciers on the slopes of Mount Ruapehu.
In the north of the South Island, the Alps break up into steep upswelling ridges. On their western face there are mineral deposits, and to the east they continue into two parallel ranges, terminating in a series of sounds. To the south the Alps break up into rugged, dissected country of difficult access and magnificent scenery, particularly toward the western tip of the island (called Fiordland). On its eastern boundary this wilderness borders a high central plateau called Central Otago, which has an almost continental climate.
The terrain of the North Island is much less precipitous than that of the South and has a more benign climate and greater economic potential. In the centre of the island, the Volcanic Plateau rises abruptly from the southern shores of Lake Taupo, New Zealand's largest natural lake, itself an ancient volcanic crater. To the east, ranges form a backdrop to rolling country in which pockets of highly fertile land are associated with the river systems. To the south, more ranges run to the sea. On the western and eastern slopes of these ranges, the land is generally poor, although the western downland region is fertile until it fades into a coastal plain dominated by sand dunes. To the west of the Volcanic Plateau, fairly mountainous country merges into the undulating farmlands of the Taranaki region, where the mild climate favours dairy farming even on the slopes of Mount Taranaki (Mount Egmont), a volcano that has been dormant since the 17th century. North of Mount Taranaki are the spectacular Waitomo caves, where stalactites and stalagmites are illuminated by thousands of glowworms.
The northern shores of Lake Taupo bound a large area of high economic activity, including forestry. Even farther north there are river terraces sufficiently fertile for widespread dairy and mixed farming. The hub of this area is Auckland, which is situated astride an isthmus with a deep harbour on the east and a shallow harbour on the west. The peninsular region north of Auckland, called Northland, becomes gradually subtropical in character, marked generally by numerous deep-encroaching inlets of the sea bordered by mangrove swamps.
The mountainous country of both islands is cut by many rivers, which are swift, unnavigable, and obstructive to communication. The longest is the Waikato, in the North Island, and the swiftest is the Clutha, in the South. Many of the rivers arise from or drain into one or other of the numerous lakes associated with the mountain chains. A number of these lakes have been used as reservoirs for hydroelectric projects, and artificial lakes, such as the large Lake Benmore, have been created for hydroelectric power generation.
New Zealand's soils are often deeply weathered, lacking in many nutrients, and, most of all, highly variable over short distances. Soils based on sedimentary rock formations are mostly clays and are found over about three-fourths of the country. Pockets of fertile alluvial soil in river basins or along river terraces form the orchard and market-gardening regions of the country.
In the South Island, variations in mean annual precipitation have had an important effect. The brown-gray soils of Central Otago are thin and coarse-textured and have subsoil accumulations of lime, whereas the yellow-gray earths of much of the Canterbury Plains, as well as areas of lower rainfall in the North Island, are partially podzolized (layered), with a gray upper horizon. The yellow-brown soils that characterize much of the North Island are often podzolized from acid leaching in humid forest environments. Their fertility varies with the species composition of their vegetation. Forests of false beech (genus Nothofagus), as well as of tawa and taraire, indicate soils of reasonably high fertility, while forests of kauri pine and rimu indicate podzolized soils.
New Zealand's climate is determined by its latitude, its isolation, and its physical characteristics. There are few temperature extremes.
A procession of high-pressure systems (anticyclones) separated by middle-latitude cyclones and fronts cross New Zealand from west to east year-round. Characteristic is the sequence of a few days of fine weather and clear skies separated by days with unsettled weather and often heavy rain. In summer (December–February), subtropical highs are dominant, bringing protracted spells of fine weather and intense sunshine. In winter (June–August), middle-latitude lows and active fronts increase the blustery wet conditions, although short spells of clear skies also occur. Because of the high mountain chains that lie across the path of the prevailing winds, the contrast in climate from west to east is sharper than that from north to south. Mountain ranges are also responsible for the semicontinental climate of Central Otago.
Changes in elevation make for an intricate pattern of temperature variations, especially on the South Island, but some generalizations for conditions at sea level can be made. The average seasonal and diurnal temperature range is about 18 °F (10 °C). Variation in mean monthly temperature from north to south is about 10 °F (6 °C). In most parts of the country, daytime highs in summer are above 70 °F (21 °C), occasionally exceeding 80 °F (27 °C) in the north, while winter daytime highs throughout the country are rarely below 50 °F (10 °C).
Precipitation is highest in areas dominated by mountains exposed to the prevailing westerly and northwesterly winds. Although mean annual rainfall ranges from an arid 12 inches (300 mm) in Central Otago to as much as 250 inches (6,400 mm) in the Southern Alps, for the whole country it is typical of temperate-zone countries—25–60 inches (635–1,520 mm), usually spread reliably throughout the year. Snow is common only in mountainous regions, but frost is frequent in inland valleys in winter. Humidity ranges from 70 to 80 percent on the coast and is generally 10 percent lower inland. In the lee of the Southern Alps, where the effect of the foehn (a warm, dry wind of leeward mountain slopes) is marked, humidity can become very low.
Climate change in the 21st century is expected to affect temperature and precipitation patterns in New Zealand, although those changes are expected to be more moderate compared with global changes. Under moderate and high carbon emission scenarios, climate models predict that the North Island will bear the most significant changes in average temperature, an increase of 2–4 °C (3.6–7.2 °F), whereas the South Island is expected to receive greater amounts of winter rainfall.
Plant and animal life
The indigenous vegetation of New Zealand consisted of mixed evergreen forest covering perhaps two-thirds of the total land area. The islands' prolonged isolation encouraged the evolution of species unknown to the rest of the world; almost nine-tenths of the indigenous plants are peculiar to the country. Today dense "bush" survives only in areas unsuitable for settlement and in parks and reserves. On the west coast of the South Island, this mixed forest still yields most of the native timber used by industry. Along the mountain chain running the length of the country, the false beech is the predominant forest tree.
European settlement made such inroads on the natural forest that erosion in high-country areas became a serious problem. Various government agencies were established to manage and conserve forests, beginning in the late 19th century, and a state forest service was established in 1921 to repair the damage; it uses forest-management techniques and does reforestation, using exotic trees. Experimental areas on the Volcanic Plateau were planted with radiata pine, an introduction from California. This conifer has adapted to New Zealand conditions so well that it is now the staple plantation tree, growing to maturity in 25 years and having a high rate of natural regeneration. Large areas of the Volcanic Plateau, together with other marginal or subagricultural land north of Auckland and near Nelson, in the South Island, are now planted with this species.
European broad-leaved species are widely used ornamentally, and willows and poplars are frequently planted to help prevent erosion on hillsides. Gorse has acclimated so readily that it has become a menace, spreading over good and bad land alike, its only virtue being as a nursery for regenerating bush.
Because of New Zealand's isolation, when the Maori arrived in the 13th century, they found few animals. There were three kinds of reptiles—skinks, geckos, and tuatara, the latter "beak-headed" reptiles having been extinct elsewhere for 100 million years—and also a few primitive species of frogs and two species of bats. These are all extant, although they are confined primarily to outlying islands and isolated or protected parts of the country.
In addition to their domestic animals, Europeans also brought other species with them. Red deer, introduced for sport hunting, and the Australian opossums (for skins) have multiplied dramatically and have greatly damaged the vegetation of the high-country bush. The control of goats, deer, opossums, and rabbits—even in the national parks—is a continuing problem.
In the absence of predatory animals, New Zealand is a paradise for birds, the most interesting of which are flightless. These originally included several species of moa, a large bird that was eventually exterminated by the Maori. The kiwi, another flightless species, is extant, though only in secluded bush areas. Wekas and takahes (barely rescued from extinction) probably became flightless after their ancestors' arrival on the islands millions of years ago. The pukeko, a swamp hen related to the weka, moves primarily by walking and swimming; though it can fly, it does so only with great effort. Some birds, such as saddlebacks, are peculiar to New Zealand, but many others (e.g., tuis, fantails, and bellbirds) are closely related to Australian birds. Birds that breed in or near New Zealand include the Australian (Australasian) gannets, skuas, penguins, shags, and royal albatrosses.
Because New Zealand lies at the meeting place of warm and cool ocean currents, a great variety of fish is found in its surrounding waters. Tropical species such as tuna, marlin, and some sharks are attracted by the warm currents, which are locally populated by snapper, trevally, and kahawai. The Antarctic cold currents, on the other hand, bring blue and red cod and hakes, while some fish (such as tarakihi, grouper, and bass) that can tolerate a considerable range of water temperatures are found in the waters all around the coasts. Flounder and sole abound on tidal mudflats, and crayfish are prolific in rocky areas off the coastline.Warren Moran Raewyn Dalziel
Ethnic groups
Contemporary New Zealand has a majority of people of European origin, a significant minority of Maori, and smaller numbers of people from Pacific islands and Asia. In the early 21st century, Asians were the fastest-growing demographic group.
New Zealand was one of the last sizable land areas suitable for habitation to be populated by human beings. The first settlers were Polynesians who traveled from somewhere in eastern Polynesia, possibly from what is now French Polynesia. They remained isolated in New Zealand until the arrival of European explorers, the first of whom was the Dutch navigator Abel Janszoon Tasman in 1642. Demographers estimate that, by the time British naval captain James Cook visited the country in 1769, the Maori population was not much greater than 100,000. They had no name for themselves but eventually adopted the name Maori (meaning "normal") to distinguish themselves from the Europeans, who, after Cook's voyage, began to arrive with greater frequency.
The Europeans brought with them an array of diseases to which the Maori had no resistance, and the Maori population declined rapidly. Their reduction in numbers was exacerbated by widespread intertribal warfare (once the Maori had acquired firearms) and by warfare with Europeans. By 1896 only about 42,000 Maori—a small fraction of New Zealand's total population at the time—remained. Early in the 20th century, however, their numbers began to increase as they acquired resistance to such diseases as measles and influenza and as their birth rate subsequently recovered. By the early 21st century, Maori constituted about one-sixth of New Zealand's population, and that proportion was expected to increase.
Europeans began to settle in New Zealand in the 1820s. They arrived in increasing numbers after the country was annexed by Great Britain following the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840. By the late 1850s settlers outnumbered Maori, and in 1900 there were some 772,000 Europeans, most of whom were New Zealand-born. Although the overwhelming majority of immigrants were of British extraction, other Europeans came as well, notably from Scandinavia, Germany, Greece, Italy, and the Balkans. Groups of central Europeans came between World Wars I and II, and a large body of Dutch immigrants arrived after World War II. Since the 1950s there has been a growing community of Pacific island peoples from Samoa (formerly Western Samoa), the Cook Islands, Niue, and Tokelau. Although Chinese and Indian immigrants have long settled in New Zealand, since the 1990s there has been a large growth in migration from Asia.
New Zealand is predominantly an English-speaking country, though English, Maori, and New Zealand Sign Language are official languages. Virtually all Maori speak English, and about one-fourth of them also speak Maori. The Maori language is taught at a number of schools. Other non-English languages spoken by significant numbers of people are Samoan, Hindi, and Mandarin Chinese.
New Zealand is nominally Christian, with Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Presbyterian denominations being the largest. Other Protestant sects and Maori adaptations of Christianity (the Ratana and Ringatu churches) account for nearly all of the rest, although more than one-third of the population does not claim any religious affiliation. Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism have small but growing numbers of adherents. There is no established (official) religion, but Anglican cathedrals are generally used for state occasions.
Settlement patterns
The majority of New Zealanders live in the North Island. The New Zealand countryside is thinly populated, but there are many small towns with populations of up to 10,000 and a number of provincial cities of more than 20,000. Some of the smallest towns and villages have become deserted as people moved to the bigger towns and cities.
The main urban areas are Auckland, in the north of the North Island, the main industrial complex and commercial centre; Hamilton, the centre of the Waikato farming region; Wellington, centrally located at the southern tip of the North Island and the political capital; Christchurch, in the middle of the South Island and the second largest industrial area; and finally, still farther south, Dunedin. Although New Zealand is notable for the strength of its rural sector, the great majority of people live in cities. There is also a marked difference in the degree of population growth of the two main islands—the North having about three-fourths of the total population, in sharp contrast to the earlier years of systematic settlement. As in the past, the great majority of Maori live in the North Island. After World War II, however, most Maori became urban dwellers, as did migrants from the Pacific islands.
Demographic trends
Life expectancy in New Zealand is generally high, although it is lower for Maori than for non-Maori. The death rate is below the world average. Annual population growth fluctuates but is generally low, comparable to that of other industrialized Western countries. The natural rate of increase tends to be highest among Maori and people of Pacific island heritage.
Immigration is a major contributor to overall population growth in New Zealand, and that has led to frequent debates about limiting immigration. Although in the past most immigrants came from Great Britain and the Netherlands, they have been surpassed by people from the Pacific islands and Asia. Australia is the preferred destination of emigrants. Both immigration and emigration are sensitive to the rate of growth of the New Zealand economy and its employment opportunities as well as to conditions overseas.Keith Sinclair Raewyn Dalziel


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One of the finest places to stay in the Outer Hebrides - a unique blend of luxury accommodation and fine food and wine in luxury purpose built accommodation in an outstanding coastal location with beach access.
Our 5 star "Gold" Guest House, Broad Bay House, is in its 10th season, and is maintaining its reputation for being one of the finest places to stay in the Hebrides.
The location itself is worth the 5 star rating, just a few miles north of Stornoway, and adjacent to a sweeping sandy beach with direct access from the house to the shore. On a clear day, the Scottish highlands can be seen across the Minch, whilst nearer to home there are many seals and seabirds.
Inside there are four spacious luxury en-suite bedrooms, including one for the less mobile visitor (category 1 accessible). All bedrooms are equipped with a home cinema system, Samsung flat screen TV and a dock for your iPod. Outside each bedroom is a personal decking area. The house is furnished in solid oak, with a restful contemporary decor and a great collection of local original artwork.
Other complimentary guest facilities include wireless and wired internet access, guest laundry, guest library (with PC/printer, local maps and books and a good CD/DVD collection), and complimentary collection from the airport or Stornoway ferry terminal.
The house is fully licensed, and has a wide ranging and interesting wine and malt whisky list.
We are non smoking, and cannot accommodate pets in the house, or children under 12 years old.
|Room 1 - Super king size double / twin , wet room shower, Category 1 accessible
|£179 Per room per night (breakfast inc.)
|Room 2 - Super king size double / twin, free standing bath
|£179 Per room per night (breakfast inc.)
|Room 3 - King size double, large walk in shower
|£179 Per room per night (breakfast inc.)
|Room 4 - King size double, large walk in shower, sea view
|£179 Per room per night (breakfast inc.)
Note: Prices are a guide only and may change on a daily basis.


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Katy Perry Performs in Ballot Dress at President Obama Rally
Katy Perry was a human presidential ballot Wednesday night at a rally for President Obama in Las Vegas. The singer wore a tight white dress with the names of Obama and Biden on it as she sang 'Teenage Dream' and other big hits in front of supporters of the 44th president.
Video of the event shows Perry singing the title track from 'Teenage Dream,' while Idolator reports she also performed 'Wide Awake,' 'Part of Me,' 'Firework' and a cover of Al Green's 'Let's Stay Together.' Perry urged those in attendance, especially younger voters who will be casting their ballots for the first time, to help re-elect Obama. "You know I got my poll outfit sorted," she said. "When I go to the polls in California, it's gonna be on point. It's gonna be red, white and blue, for you know who."
"I am so grateful to Katy Perry for the unbelievable performance," Obama said when he took the stage. "I'm getting to know Katy. She's just a wonderful young lady." Perry previously appeared at an Obama rally with Jennifer Hudson and Stevie Wonder in Los Angeles, according to MTV.
Later that night, Perry summed up her thoughts on the evening with this tweet:


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The Liver and Living with HIV/AIDS
The liver is a complex organ with a wide array of functions. These functions affect almost every other system in the body. The liver maintains blood sugar levels, fat and protein balances, plays a crucial role in cleaning the blood, produces clotting factors, and makes proteins that are necessary for transporting hormones and fatty acids around the body. The liver also produces cholesterol, the building block for hormones such as testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone. Finally it is the liver that produces bile, an emulsifier for the fat that we ingest.
When the liver is not functioning well, both general and specific symptoms may arise. One of the general symptoms that appears when the liver is affected is fatigue,. Other general symptoms are abdominal discomfort, and swelling of the lower extremities. In addition, easy bruising, some neuropathies (due to high ammonia levels in the blood), and weight changes can be indications of a compromised liver. More specific liver symptoms may be jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes, and very dark urine) and oily and pale stools.
Illnesses that affect the liver are hepatitis (inflammation of the liver), fatty liver, cirrhosis, cancer, and gallstones. These broad categories reflect the change to the liver, as opposed to what is actually causing the symptoms or changes. The origins of these changes can be viral hepatitis, alcohol, toxic exposures, or medications. These infections and substances can damage the liver and may lead to changes that ultimately compromise its ability to function normally.
There are several laboratory tests used to monitor how the liver is working as well as to determine the cause of the problem. These tests include the following blood tests AST, ALT, GGT, alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin, and ammonia. Additionally, the liver can be visualized using , ultrasound and CT scan. Ultimately, a biopsy may also be necessary to determine changes in the liver. Some of these tests are run on a routine basis to monitor how the liver is managing, especially for people who are on medications that may damage the liver. For further information, please see the article on liver function tests in this issue.
Since the liver is the organ that cleans the blood, it is easily affected by what the body is exposed to. Antiretroviral medications can have a major impact on the health of the liver. For example, the protease inhibitor Norvir (RTV, or ritonavir) is often incorporated into drug regimens to "boost" levels of other medications by decreasing their metabolism. Norvir does this by slowing or shutting down the pathways in the liver that break down other medications, such as some other protease inhibitors, from the bloodstream. This is done to increase blood levels of the other medications. The effect of taking St. John's wort is another example of the interaction between the liver and medications. The herb, used to treat depression, increases the rate at which Crixivan (IDV, or indinavir) is broken down in the liver, making the medication less effective in fighting HIV.
Most substances -- whether medication, food, drink, or air -- have the potential to alter liver functions. When overloaded by clearing toxins, the liver has trouble keeping up with its other functions. It is important to understand that the liver has limitations. Yet, it has impressive abilities to adapt and regenerate, both of which are to our advantage. We can also be reassured that there are many things a person can do to support the liver.
By supporting the liver, we can increase detoxification of the blood and help metabolize foods for energy and hormone production, as well as encourage production of albumin and clotting factors. Supporting the liver has the potential to alter the breakdown of drugs such as non-nucleoside analogues, nucleoside analogues, protease inhibitors, and antibiotics, which may have beneficial or adverse effects. It is important to consult with practitioners knowledgeable in HIV/AIDS and supportive treatments for the liver. Monitoring of the liver, HIV and HCV viral loads, lymphocyte counts, symptoms, and sense of well being will help determine the effect that liver support is having. Improving liver function relieves the rest of the body from stress, thus increasing tolerance of medications and improving the overall health of body systems.
There are many ways to support the liver, and it does not always require a pill or supplement. A diet made up of mostly organic, whole, unprocessed foods, with an emphasis on vegetables, fruits, lean meats, and whole grains, provides foods rich in fiber and low in refined sugars. It is also important to minimize intake of caffeine and alcohol. (A note on alcohol and antiretroviral drugs: Don't mix these substances together. Both alcohol and antiretroviral drugs tax the liver; the combination is more than the liver can manage. When liver function tests show any increase in liver enzymes, it should be a strong deterrent from drinking alcohol.) It is difficult to go wrong with this foundation of nutrition.
A primary focus in protecting the liver is preventing damage caused by free radicals. Nutrients to facilitate this are vitamins C and E, beta-carotene and selenium. Yellow, orange, and red fruits and vegetables have a high content of vitamin C and betacarotene. Foods rich in vitamin E are oils like wheat germ and soybean oil. Meat is the primary source of selenium. Other types of food to incorporate into the diet are foods from the brassica family. These include broccoli, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts. These vegetables contain precursors needed for glutathione, a major contributor to the detoxification processes of the liver. Root vegetables, such as carrots and beets, are also nutritive foods for the liver.
Exercise can also be helpful for the liver. Movement as simple as deep breathing can improve blood circulation through the liver. Improved circulation removes wastes and allows nutrients to enter the liver. Contrast hydrotherapy is another way to increase blood flow through the liver. Contrast hydrotherapy is the use of hot and cold applications over the liver. Start with a hot towel (only as hot as it can be made with bare hands under the faucet) placed over the liver area (upper, right side of the abdomen) for three minutes. Then switch to a cold, moist towel for one minute. Use a towel that has been in the freezer if it can be tolerated -- if not, use cold water from the faucet; have several of these prepared. Alternate the hot and cold three times, ending with cold.
Another therapy to reduce liver inflammation is castor oil packs. Apply a small amount of castor oil over the liver area. Place a sheet of plastic wrap over the oil, followed by a towel. Over the towel, apply heat. This can be left in place for up to 45 minutes.
There are many supplements used to support the liver in metabolizing substances. Common liver supportive supplements are N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), glutathione (GSH), choline, methionine, carnitine, and antioxidants. NAC, the precursor to glutathione, is used to promote detoxification pathways. Choline (found in lecithin, egg yolks, and beans) and methionine are supplements that help to prevent deposition of fat into the liver. Carnitine can also be an important supplement, especially if a person has lipid abnormalities or body shape changes. Carnitine allows fats to be used as energy, thus preventing and alleviating fat deposition into the liver as well as other areas of the body.
Finally, there are liver herbs. A key herb is Silybum marianum, or milk thistle, an antioxidant with an affinity for the liver. It increases glutathione levels, resulting in improvement of the clearing of unwanted toxins in the blood. Milk thistle helps in the regeneration of liver tissue and decreases inflammation. Both the anti-inflammatory and the regeneration effects are important in preventing and repairing damage to the liver.
Another herb that is of great benefit to the liver is Cynara scolymus, or artichoke leaves. Like milk thistle, it is liver protective and restorative. Artichoke also has a cholesterol- and triglyceride-lowering effect. In addition, artichoke has a choleretic, or bile-producing, and bile moving effect on the liver. When bile lingers in the liver, it irritates the tissue, creating inflammation and decreasing the ability of the liver to carry out its function. Something to consider when eating artichokes (a fine way to reap the benefits of this medicinal) is to purchase and eat only organic artichokes. Since the leaves are where herbicides and pesticides are sprayed, and the leaves are what is eaten, it may do more harm than good to eat non-organic artichokes.
Licorice, or Glycyrrhiza glabra, is another powerful and useful herb for the liver (as well as many other systems of the body). This herb protects the liver from free radical damage. Not only does this herb affect the liver, but it may also enhance the immune system (increasing interferon, one of the body's ways to prevent viral infection of nearby cells). Licorice should not be used by people with high blood pressure or kidney failure, or who use digitalis medications.
This information may sound like the only way to have a healthy liver is to take the enjoyable things out of life, but each of us knows where our balance is. Be conscientious of what you take into your body when you drink, eat, breathe, and take your medications and supplements. Consider being thoughtful of what you ingest as an investment in your health and well being. Caring for your liver may include learning new ways of choosing and preparing food. It may mean incorporating exercise into your life. And yes, it may mean adding more pills to swallow each day. Whatever the changes you decide to make, you can make them with support. There are many services (such as cooking classes) and professionals (such as naturopaths and nutritionists) available to make these transitions easier.


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Do they not travel through the earth, and see what was the end of those before them? They were superior to them in strength: they tilled the soil and populated it in greater numbers than these have done: there came to them their messengers with Clear (Signs). (Which they rejected, to their own destruction): It was not Allah Who wronged them, but they wronged their own souls.(Surat ar-Rum: 9)
All the peoples we have reviewed until now, have had some qualities in common such as: transgressing against Allah, associating partners with Him, behaving arrogantly in the land, wrongfully devouring other's property, tending to sexual perversion, and insolence. Another common feature they had was their oppression and iniquity towards the Muslims in their vicinity. They tried in every way to intimidate the Muslims.
The purpose of the warnings of the Qur'an is surely not just to impart history. The Qur'an states that the stories of the prophets are told only to set an "example". Those nations who were earlier destroyed, should lead those who come after them to the right way:
Is it not a warning to such men (to call to mind) how many generations before them We destroyed, in whose haunts they (now) move? Verily, in this are Signs for men endued with understanding.(Surah Ta-Ha: 128)
If we consider all of these to be "examples", then we can see that many parts of the world today and many present-day societies are no better, in terms of degeneration and transgression, than the peoples who have perished and which are described in these stories.
Particularly, an important group of the "leading people of the society" are not very different from the peoples who perished as described in the Qur'an. Most of the members of this group do not hesitate to perform every kind of perversion.
There are a number of practicing sodomists and homosexuals within society that remind us of the "People of Lut (as)". In additions there are currently all kinds of perversions outdoing their counterparts in the past, Sodom and Gomorrah.
All the societies we have examined have been punished through natural disasters.It is important that we realise that present-day societies that go astray and commit similar sins to those of past peoples may well be punished in a similar manner.
It should not be forgotten that Allah may punish whatever person or nation He wills whenever He wills. Or, He may let whomever He wills lead an ordinary life in this world, and punish him in the Hereafter. The Qur'an states:
Each one of them We seized for his crime: of them, against some We sent a violent tornado (with showers of stones); some were caught by a (mighty) Blast; some We caused the earth to swallow up; and some We drowned (in the waters): It was not Allah Who injured (or oppressed) them. They injured (and oppressed) their own souls. (Surat al-Ankabut: 40)
The Qur'an also tells of a believer, who was from the family of Fir'awn and lived during the period of Musa (as), but who concealed his belief. He said to his people:
"O my people! Truly I do fear for you something like the Day (of disaster) of the Confederates (in sin)! - Something like the fate of the People of Nuh, the 'Ad, and the Thamud, and those who came after them: but Allah never wishes injustice to his Servants.
And O my people! I fear for you a Day when there will be Mutual calling (and wailing) - "A Day when ye shall turn your backs and flee: No defender shall ye have from Allah: Any whom Allah leaves to stray, there is none to guide..." (Surat al-Ghafir: 30-33)
All of the prophets warned their people, pointed out to them the Day of Judgement and attempted to make them fear Allah's punishment, just as did this believer who concealed his faith. The lives of all the prophets and messengers were passed in explaining these matters to their people over and over again. Yet most often, the people to whom they were sent accused them of untruthfulness, of seeking to acquire material gains, or trying to assert their superiority over them and then they went on to practise their own systems without thinking of what the prophet said or without questioning their deeds. Some of them have gone further and attempted to kill or drive away the believers. The number of the believers that obeyed and followed was often very few. However, in the cases of the rebellious communities, Allah always saved only the prophets and their followers.
Despite the thousands of years that have gone by, and the changes in places, manners, technologies and civilisations, yet not much has changed in the aforementioned social structures and the systems of the unbelievers. As we have emphasised above, many of the world's societies have all the qualities of the people described in the Qur'an. Just like Thamud who gave short measure, there are also a great number of forgers and swindlers today. There exists a "homosexual community", which is defended whenever the occasion presents itself, and the members of which do not fall short of the people of Lut (as) in whom sexual perversion had reached its peak. A great part of society is made up of people as ungrateful and rebellious as Saba, as unthankful for the wealth endowed to them as the people of Iram, as unsubmissive and insulting towards the believers as the people of Nuh (as), and as heedless of social justice as 'Ad.
These are very significant signs…
We should always bear in mind that whatever differences come about in societies or at whatever stage of technological advancement they are or whatever their potentials are, these have no importance whatsoever. None of these can save one from Allah's punishment. The Qur'an reminds us all of this reality:
Do they not travel through the earth, and see what was the end of those before them? They were superior to them in strength: they tilled the soil and populated it in greater numbers than these have done: there came to them their messengers with Clear (Signs). (Which they rejected, to their own destruction): It was not Allah Who wronged them, but they wronged their own souls.(Surat ar-Rum: 9)
Glory to Thee, of knowledge We have none, save what Thou Hast taught us: In truth it is Thou Who art perfect in knowledge and wisdom.(Surat al-Baqara: 32)


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The Philadelphia Eagles started their free-agent period by addressing their safety problem, signing former New Orleans Saints safety Malcolm Jenkins.
On Monday, they brought back one of the guys who was part of the problem in previous seasons. The team announced it had signed safety Nate Allen to a one-year contract. A second-round draft pick in 2011 under Andy Reid, Allen improved dramatically in 2014 under the team's new coaching staff.
Allen figures to be the team's third safety behind Jenkins and Earl Wolff. Look for Philadelphia to add more depth to the position in the draft, and possibly again in free agency.
The "Around The League Podcast" breaks down all the free-agency moves and hands out a fleet of high-octane sandwiches.


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In automotive circles, the term "rat rod" refers to a style of custom car that imitates or exaggerates the "hot rod" designs of the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s while also appearing "unfinished" – that is, a vehicle that contains only the "bare essentials" to allow it to be driven.
In the world of trucking, however, a "rat rod" is a commercial vehicle that starts out literally as nothing more than a hunk of junk before ultimately getting turned into a customized piece of rolling glory – all while doing so on the cheap.
And it's that particular philosophical thread within the "chrome truck" community that Cory Bowen out of Seneca, MO, picked up to help weave together a rig he affectionately calls the "Junk Yard Dog" from a 1994 Peterbilt 379 flat top he found headed for a scrap heap in Amarillo TX. [To see more photos of Bowen's creation, click here.]
"It was a completely trashed truck headed for the salvage yard," Bowen told me back in May at the 2012 Shell SuperRigs show in Joplin, MO. "But I saw it and decided to prove a point: that you could build a good looking, show-worthy custom truck on a budget, just with odds, ends, and salvaged parts."
The only "original" things on Bowen's "Dog" are the cab and the frame, with the B-Series 3406 Caterpillar engine, Eaton 18-speed manual transmission, axles, wheels, sleeper berth, exhaust stacks, etc., all coming from scrapped trucks with different vehicle identification numbers (VINs) and various salvage yards – all pieced expertly together with the help of the Chrome Shop Mafia(CSM) in Joplin, MO.
[Bryan Martin, the famous "boss" of the CSM crew – which is part of Martin's larger truck parts and service company, 4 States Trucks – provided me an overview back in May this year of just some of the kinds of work his custom truck experts can perform.]
Bowen is also particularly proud that truly "new" items are a rarity on the "Dog."
"The only things 'new' on my truck are the seats and the deck plate. Everything else is scrap and salvage." he pointed out. "For example, the entire cab interior came out of a wrecked truck. I got the fuel tanks for an old show truck, found some old wheels and polished them out, and got the exhaust stacks right out of a salvage yard."
The engine hood emblazoned with the legend "Blessed 94" also comes with a singular "back story" as well.
"It originally said 'Blessed be Satan' and I figured, 'Well, that's why it ended up in the scrap heap.' So I took it and re-christened it to show that no truck – in the right hands, of course – could truly be cursed," he told me.
Altogether, Bowen spent just a small five figure sum getting his "Dog" customized and road-worthy, ready to haul freight under his operating authority, "3B Farms Trucking."
"I'm from a family of farmers – my father, me and my brother," he explained. "But all three of us have also been truck drivers, so that's how the name '3B' came about."
It just goes to show you don't need deep pockets to craft a one-of-a-kind piece of rolling art. Indeed, one hopes what Bowen's been able to do with his "Dog" will inspire others to create their own unique yet affordable custom trucks.


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Sunday, August 12, 2012
Leadman races #3 and #4
103 miles with 12612 ft of vertical.
185th place in 8:40:01 (big buckle). 11.5 mph.
About 2 minutes slower than last year. I'm definitely more run fit this year so I was happy to see this time. I felt very good all day with no low points at all. I also rode much better than last year in terms of skill, my fast descending was much better which is where I think I made my time. My power on the climbs was definitely lacking however and on Powerline I didn't even attempt to ride it, which half-way up I kind of regretted! 7 hours in my legs, pushing a ~24 pound bike up a 20%+ grade at 11,000ft altitude is quite difficult, harder than riding. My goal was to ride as easy as possible and also limit the damage by the other Leadmen. I went through Twin Lakes at mile 60 and my wife said that Troy had 20:00 on me, so I kicked it in and rode fairly hard to the finish. Troy finished 24:00 ahead of me. This was about 5 times harder than last year. The fatigue after 8 hours of pushing a mountain bike is quite deep. Completely depleted and dead afterward.
Maybe 4th or 5th Leadman (I think) and lost the lead to Troy by 2 minutes. Not sure on the official placements or times splits.
Sunday- Leadville 10k
6.2 miles in 37:34/ 6:03 pace.
Just ~ 20 hours after the mountain bike. As expected my legs felt pretty flat and tired so the goal was to work in to the run and give it a good effort. I didn't feel bad or good but I felt solid. The first 3.1 miles (~17:50) I was quite comfortable and was sitting back in 8th or so. At the turn I was about 30"-40" to 4th place so I pulled my hat down so I could only see 2 feet ahead and just relaxed and worked. I felt very solid but didn't really have another gear so I just held the effort and the others slowed and came to me. At 1.5 miles I made a real push to get in to 4th, gapped the two guys (Michael Arnstein was one of them) and held on for 4th.
One sort of goal was to suffer a bit on this last 3 miles because next Saturday this is the same last 3 miles of the Leadville 100 run. I tried to visualize being on this section next weekend. This was definitely a good thing for my head.
Nothing hurt, the knee felt 100% and I felt fine really, my legs just had one grinding speed. Felt (and feel) very good afterward, better than before the 10k really.
Top Leadman and am maybe back in the lead (I think?) by about 7 minutes... again, not sure on that.
In 6 days it's the 100 run finale!
7 comments:
- jameson said...
sick dude... i like what you're doing here!
- August 13, 2012
- Jeff said...
Go get em Timmy! This is it- do or die. Eat their children. :)
As Yoda once said- "do or do not, there is no try"
- August 13, 2012
- Brett said...
"so I pulled my hat down..."
I think you just created a new saying, like the gloves are coming off or dropping your bottles.
- August 13, 2012
- Steve Pero said...
Fantastic, Lucho...best of luck in the 100!
- August 13, 2012
- James said...
Great Job Tim!!
- August 13, 2012
- Lucho said...
Thanks guys! I appreciate the good word.
Jameson- I nearly posted the same thing on your blob. I'm loving what you're doing too. I love the Everest thing on the bike! I'm planning on trying something similar this fall. Something like a 60-70k vertical bike week. I'm also signed up for a free trial month of Crossfit and I'm psyched. Thanks for checking in man.
Jeff- "eat their children"... classic Jeff. I miss you man. You and me next year, were going to kill Masters track!!!
- August 13, 2012
- Stay Vertical said...
Thanks for sharing a little of your life and training last winter, so we can understand what it took to make this real. Inspiring stuff.
It will be a long winter. Psyched to see what you can cook up for next year. Now gimme 25 log flips and wait in the shed for your biscuits and mustard:)
- August 19, 2012


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Separate fact from fiction as clock ticks toward 2000
I don't know about you, but I was a bit surprised to read that two-thirds of Americans recently surveyed in a Gallup Poll said they were going to take extra cash from the bank in the days before Jan. 1, 2000.
It's a bit surprising and somewhat unfortunate that people are willing to take unnecessary chances with their hard-earned money, rather than leaving it in an Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC)-insured bank, where it's guaranteed safe and secure. Of course, because of the widespread coverage the year 2000, or Y2K, issue has received, it's sometimes difficult to separate fact from fiction.
Let's take a look at some of the myths the "doomsayers" are spreading about the Year 2000 issue and your hard-earned money:
Myth: "I should withdraw some or even all of the money in my accounts to make sure it's safe when the year 2000 arrives."
Reality: The fact is your depository accounts are completely safe in an FDIC-insured bank, where they're always insured up to $100,000. And because banks have lots of experience in the art of safeguarding money, your accounts are also secure. If you withdraw your money in the days and months leading up to the year 2000, you'll not only miss out on valuable interest, but you'll also run the risk of losing it or having it stolen.
Myth: "The year 2000 issue could lead to widespread banking failures, similar to the events that followed the stock market crash of 1929."
Reality: This is an interesting theory, but one that doesn't hold much water, mainly because of the enormous differences between the financial markets of 1929 and 1999. There are many safeguards by their well-known names or acronyms, including Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC); Federal Reserve, Office of the Comptroller of Currency (OCC); Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC); and National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD).
In addition, because of the vast amount of information and technology available to those who participate in the financial markets, investors today are far more knowledgeable than our early 20th Century predecessors.
Myth: "Say what you will, but banks aren't really ready for the year 2000."
Reality: By nearly all yardsticks, the banking and financial services industry ranks as the best-prepared industry for the year 2000. Recent statistics show that only 205 of the 10,400 banks insured by the FDIC had earned less than satisfactory marks for year 2000 compliance. That's down from 537 banks at the end of March 1999.
Myth: "Let's face it, we really don't know what to expect from the year 2000 issue. So, when it comes to our money, it's best to expect the worst."
Reality: The first part is generally true. Since we've never encountered an issue like this before, we don't know precisely what to expect from the year 2000 issue. At the same time, though, we have many reasons to be optimistic. The financial services industry has spent more than $8 billion testing and repairing its computer systems. While short-term, isolated year 2000-related disruptions to the financial markets are a possibility, the nation's financial infrastructure checks, automated tellers, credit and debit cards, direct deposits should continue to run smoothly into the next millennium.
The year 2000 issue has received widespread coverage and generated more than its share of "gloom and doom" scenarios. In fact, a healthy bit of skepticism goes a long way when listening to what some so-called "experts" have to say about it. When it comes to the safety of your hard-earned money and the year 2000, here's some simple advice: Leave your money in an FDIC-insured bank where it's safe and secure. (Tonya L. Whatley is president of Community First National Bank in Craig.)
Vehicle crash on Colorado Highway 394 sends one to hospital
Emergency personnel responded to a motorcycle crash that sent a rider to the hospital Tuesday.


text:
Holland America 3-Star Michelin Chef Restaurantby Janice Wald Henderson | 11.02.12
The new "Pop Up" Restaurant on the MS Rotterdam is inspired by Three-Star Michelin Chef Jonnie Boer.
Cruising on Holland America Line (HAL) just got more enticing from a culinary point of view. Jonnie Boer, who was awarded three Michelin stars (the ultimate coup for any chef) is debuting "Taste of De Librije" onboard the ms Rotterdam. De Librije is the name of his world-class restaurant in Zwolle, Netherlands.
Boer grew up near his dining establishment, which is housed in the library of a 15th-century Dominican abbey. (The restaurant's name in Dutch means library.)
Boer is impassioned over local product; reportedly, ingredients are sourced within a seven-mile radius. His cuisine blends French and Dutch sensibilities, with experimental twists.
De Librije is widely considered one of the world's greatest restaurants. As a winner of three Michelin stars, De Librije has to be perfect in every way, all the time. That makes Boer a stickler for perfection.
How well will Boer's celestial cooking style translate to a big cruise ship? I have to believe any Michelin three-star winning chef is not going to let anyone cook his food unless it's properly replicated. Other than his one restaurant (and a luxury hotel nearby), Boer doesn't have any other establishments.
Think of his onboard venture as a pop-up restaurant. The ms Rotterdam is going to highlight Boer's recipes once per cruise in the Pinnacle Grill. Service staff will wear the uniform livery from De Librije, and the table appointments will replicate the three-star award-winning restaurant's look. In addition, the wine list will showcase a selection of labels from the De Librije collection.
Guests will experience a five-course menu, beginning with an amuse-bouche (palate-teaser) of North Sea scallops. Passengers then choose between three appetizers, two soups, four entrees and three desserts. Featured specialties include: Oysters on the Beach, oysters with micro-greens; Chilled Tomato Gazpacho with black olive and celeriac mousse; Venison Loin and Beef Tenderloin with bulgur wheat and smoked olive oil foam; Duo of Lamb Loin and Crusted Lamb Neck with lentil sprouts, watercress, carrot coulis and lamb jus reduction; Rice Chocolate Stones with tuile (crispy French cookie) and strawberries.
And the experience continues. When guests return to their staterooms, they'll find a Jonnie Boer surprise gift.
I'm most curious to see if Holland America Line can make this work. Crystal Cruises pulls it off with The Silk Road and Sushi Bar featuring the cuisine of Nobu Matsuhisa, but that's an anomaly.
Jonnie Boer is a member of HAL's Culinary Council, which is chockfull of esteemed chefs. Foodie readers, you know names like Charlie Trotter, Jacques Torres and David Burke, who have respectively conquered Chicago and New York, and command respect worldwide. Holland America now features recipes from these chefs onboard all cruises. Along with Jonny Boer's "Taste of De Librije," these are all good signs that HAL may be serious about upgrading its cuisine.


text:
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text:
Make design to a Bootstrap template in CSS.
I am looking for a CSS expert thet can create a Bootstrap template in pure CSS from a .ai /vector file.
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