Today’s column has been taken over by Akin Olukiran, the CEO of ABG-CAPS Clean Energy Group and a dear friend, in honour of Dr Jibunoh. He writes:
By tomorrow, 1st January 2022, Dr. Newton C. Jibunoh, OON, D.Sc would be celebrating his 84th birthday. Without flattery or undue blarney, Dr Jibunoh looks and displays the energy of someone at least, a decade younger. A gentleman to the core, when I recently told him I want to be like him “when I grow up”, as Nigerians want to say, he just encouragingly said, I would do even better. That is vintage Dr Jibunoh – an encourager, an optimist and a genuine supporter. He is a man, who’s ever been close to politicians but was never one, neither has he ever held any political appointment. Ever close to power but never boastful. His act of gracious immersion in environmentalism is curious and worthy of study. The life of Newton Jibunoh could almost easily be shared between the three areas to which he’s applied himself: construction/building; the arts; and the environment.
The indefatigability of Dr Newton Jibunoh can only be appreciated from the most rarefied circle of sustained achievers. To imagine that a man who started his career in construction engineering in 1966, building most of the iconic structures in our dear country, ranging from building bridges in Maiduguri and Mubi, to bridges in Ijebu Igbo, Lagos – Ikorodu Road Bridge, Sapele – Warri Bridge, National Theatre Sub-structure and also the Foundation Works for NITEL Building Marina, Falomo Shopping Centre in Ikoyi, Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island and Ikoyi Hotel, is still actively building. A certified Octogenarian, Dr Jibunoh still dares to dream and is building one of the most modern, original, urban renewal and regeneration projects in Asaba – the Nelson Mandela Parks and Gardens. This is testament to his staying power and endurance.
In the more cerebral pursuits, Dr Jibunoh is a passionate lover of Arts, who founded the first private, nonprofit museum in Nigeria, called DIDI Museum, to promote Nigeria’s indigenous Arts and has been the launching platform for many of Nigeria’s now-acclaimed artists. Fast forward to 2021, Didi Museum under Dr Newton Jibunoh’s leadership continues to provide a platform for budding contemporary artists to showcase their work and be introduced to the world. It really gladdens my heart to see this great arts patron still collecting young artists’ work as he did in Abuja a few months ago in my presence at an exhibition to encourage and support them. The exhibition of SOLACE earlier this month by the talented artist, Princess Adekepemi Aderemi reminds one of the way the Museum continues to hold on to its mission of encouraging and supporting emerging artists.
It is in Dr Jibunoh’s third area of interest that the profundity of his influence and staying power is best appreciated – environmental activism. Popularly known as the Desert Warrior, Dr. Newton Jibunoh has crossed the Sahara Desert four times: two solo expeditions at ages 29, 62 and decided to celebrate his 70th birthday in the Sahara Desert, this time driving with a five-man expedition team from Lagos to London. A man of vision and ideas, he was the Captain of the Newton Jibunoh Desert Warriors Reality Show and Expedition sponsored by the Lagos State Government which took place in Agadez, Niger Republic. Subsequent expeditions were put on hold due to the unrest across the North African countries. His objective remains to pass on the torch for the fight with the Sahara Desert to the youths.
A philosopher and one would be forgiven for referring to him as a prophet too, who sees far into the future. Dr Jibunoh foresaw and warned against the social and economic fallouts of desertification some twenty years ago when he advocated for the planting of trees along the northern belt of Nigeria to stem the encroachment of the Sahara desert. He did warn us of the danger of not acting and allowing the southward encroachment of the Sahara desert to wreak havoc and that this could lead to herders moving southwards, looking for grazing fields for their cattle. He quite prophetically posited that this economic displacement would lead to ethnic and communal conflicts. The chicken has unfortunately, come home to roost and his predictions have come to pass.
Not content with just planting trees and taking direct action, Dr Jibunoh recognises the importance of information and the power of the print media. For about four years, he has been a columnist with the Sun newspaper, writing every Thursday to raise millions of people’s awareness on the environment and climate change. What tenacity! What commitment! With over two hundred articles, he is still unrelenting and keeps his thousands of readers looking forward to the following week’s topic. For a man his age, one would expect him to slow down, but that is not the way he is wired. He continues to strive for perfection and change the world around us.
Dr Jibunoh has a strong belief in building transnational coalitions as an important strategy for environmental organisations to exchange information and expertise and also to strengthen lobbying and direct action campaigns. This is what inspired him to author a publication titled “Bridging the Sahara Desert: A Different Perspective” which is a proposed solution to open up the Sahara desert by the construction of a Trans-Saharan Highway which will also tackle the issue of desertification. He continues to work with the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) who has taken up this proposal and he is presently the Vice-Chairman of the Governing Council of the special purpose vehicle called Nigerian Society of Engineers – Taming African Deserts.
As we prepare to join the beautiful family of Dr Jibunoh to celebrate him and mark, yet another birthday, I would like to use this opportunity to call on the government of Delta State, his home state, to put his name forward for a higher national honors award. He deserves to be celebrated and honored, for he is a worthy role model and a national hero.
As in previous years and for years to come, I want you all to join me in wishing our hero, the Desert Warrior, Happy 84th Birthday and to wish him good health and a sound mind. May the good Lord continue to renew his youth like the eagle’s.
Akin Olukiran writes from London and can be reached on email@example.com.


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08 Jun 2022 French named NAIA First-Team All-American
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The accolades continue to roll in for Central Baptist College outfielder Jay French. Today, French was named a First-Team All-American by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.
French becomes the second, first-team All-American in program history and the third All-American overall after Jalin Lawson was a first-team selection in 2016. Ben Madison earned honorable mention honors in 2018. French was also named American Midwest Conference Player of the Year and a first-team All-AMC selection after he led the conference in batting average, runs scored, hits, steals, and on base percentage and also led the nation in steals with 61, simultaneously setting a new state record in Arkansas. He also ranked 11thnationally in hitting (.441), tied for seventh in runs scored (76), and 16th in on base percentage at .528! Congratulations to Jay on his fantastic season!

domain: sports


Award-winning composer/pianist Heidi Breyer has received wide acclaim for her compositions and performances, with a classical repertoire that ranges from Bach to Ravel and a catalog of original works that includes instrumental, vocal and choral and orchestral music, as well as uniquely innovative multi-media projects.
Heidi’s latest offering is a mesmerizing treatment of the classical Requiem, entitled Amor Aeternus: A Requiem For The Common Man and is available on CD, downloads, all streaming platforms, and you will find the scores and other merchandise also available on the Music page. To celebrate the release, all domestic orders will receive free shipping for the month of March!
The most exciting news is that the World Premiere of Amor Aeternus will be in Stern Auditorium/Perleman Stage (big hall) at Carnegie Hall, NYC, on July 21st, 2022! Tickets are available Now by clicking here. We are offering special discounts to Teachers, Medical Professionals, Veterans and Musicians so that all can attend this wonderful event.


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text:
Leg ulcers: a review of their impact on daily life.
until further notice
SourceJournal of Clinical Nursing, 13, 3, (2004), pp. 341-354
Article / Letter to editor
Display more detailsDisplay less details
Centre for Quality of Care Research
Journal of Clinical Nursing
SubjectEBP 2: Effective Hospital Care; EBP 4: Quality of Care; UMCN 4.2: Chronic inflammation and autoimmunity
BACKGROUND: Current nursing care for leg ulcer patients often focuses on wound care and providing compression therapy. Nurses perceive leg ulcer patients as 'under-served' with regard to problems patients experience in daily life. An overview of patient problems is a first and essential step in the development of comprehensive nursing care. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To gather information about the impact of leg ulcers on patient's daily life as described in quantitative and qualitative studies. DESIGN: Systematic literature review. METHODS: Medline and Cinahl databases were searched for venous leg ulcer studies, up to 2002; this was followed by the 'snowball method'. Studies were selected in accordance with preset criteria. RESULTS: A total of 37 studies was included. All studies report that leg ulcers pose a threat to physical functioning. Furthermore, a negative impact on psychological functioning is reported and, to a lesser degree, on social functioning. Major limitations are pain and immobility, followed by sleep disturbance, lack of energy, limitations in work and leisure activities, worries and frustrations and a lack of self-esteem. Patients have a significantly poorer quality of life compared with healthy people. Finally, patients report problems with regard to follow-up treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Having a leg ulcer has a major impact on a patient's life. There are indications of under-treatment of pain. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Keeping in mind that leg ulceration is notorious for its chronic character, the negative impact on patient's life implies that many patients suffer over longer periods of time. This emphasizes the need to focus on quality of life aspects in patient care. There is much to gain, especially concerning pain and mobility. The development of comprehensive care programmes is essential.
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domain: medical


text:
The beginning of 2011 saw us move to the city of Calgary, Alberta, into a fun, trendy, and central neighborhood. We settled into an apartment with a studio space and enjoyed staying in one place for a while. It was nice to reconnect with family and old friends. But we also made many new friends this year.
I did illustration work for a bunch of new clients. I got a part time job to get me out of the studio and to take some of the pressure off of illustrating. And I learned a ton about spices thanks to The Silk Road Spice Merchant. My favorite dish that I learned to make this year was Louisiana Shrimp Gumbo. Yum.
The biggest joy 2011 brought was definitely being commissioned by Fitzhenry & Whiteside to illustrate the picture book Bye, Bye, Butterflies. It's been a goal of mine to do that since I graduated from the Alberta College of Art and Design in 2002. It took 9 years, but I did it!
Happy New Year everyone!

domain: artistic


text:
“I was attempting to write the story of my life.
It wasn’t so much about plot. It was much more about character.” p. 198
Title: Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares
Author: Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
Genre: Young Adult, Fiction
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Dash and Lily are both 16 and parentless this Christmas. Dash, by choice; Lily, by coercion. Dash finds Lily’s red notebook in the JD Salinger section of The Strand. This notebook takes them on a 10-day adventure throughout New York City as they pass it back and forth. They’ve never met but they pour their thoughts and worries out in this notebook. As the story progresses we learn more about Dash and Lily as they learn more about each other and themselves.
Oh how I enjoyed spending time with Dash and Lily on their Christmas adventure. I was smitten from the beginning. Lily, with her overprotective family and her odd personality that has made her a bit of a loner. Dash, with his love of words and quiet anger at his parents. I loved watching them grow and as the book went on.
Seeing the NYC sights vicariously through Dash and Lily was like visiting all over again. The wonder of the Strand, the bustle of Times Square, the characters you see along the way.
This was the kind of book that I wanted to rush through but was thankful when I was forced to savor it. I would dip in for a few spare minutes every chance I got.
The flap explains that Rachel Cohn wrote Lily’s chapters and David Levithan wrote Dash’s chapters without knowledge of what the other was writing. This just adds to the magic for me. I love that it was written this way.
It was such a joy to read. If you need a cute love story or are feeling nostalgic for some Christmas once more, you should definitely pick up Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares.

domain: entertainment


text:
Credit risk model for the Estonian banking sector
Download full text from publisher
References listed on IDEAS
- Carmen M. Reinhart & Kenneth S. Rogoff, 2009.
"The Aftermath of Financial Crises,"
American Economic Review,
American Economic Association, vol. 99(2), pages 466-472, May.
- Reinhart, Carmen & Rogoff, Kenneth, 2008.
"Las secuelas de las crisis financieras
[The aftermath of financial crisis]," MPRA Paper 13695, University Library of Munich, Germany.
- Reinhart, Carmen M. & Rogoff, Kenneth S., 2009. "The Aftermath of Financial Crises," Scholarly Articles 11129155, Harvard University Department of Economics.
- Reinhart, Carmen M. & Rogoff, Kenneth, 2009. "The Aftermath of Financial Crises," CEPR Discussion Papers 7209, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
- Carmen M. Reinhart & Kenneth S. Rogoff, 2009. "The Aftermath of Financial Crises," NBER Working Papers 14656, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
- Reinhart, Carmen & Rogoff, Kenneth, 2008. "Las secuelas de las crisis financieras
- Paul Louis Ceriel Hilbers & Alfredo Mario Leone & Mahinder Singh Gill & Owen Evens, 2000. "Macroprudential Indicators of Financial System Soundness," IMF Occasional Papers 192, International Monetary Fund.
- Gunnar Bardsen & Kjersti-Gro Lindquist & Dimitrios P.Tsomocos, 2006.
"Evaluation of macroeconomic models for financial stability analysis,"
OFRC Working Papers Series
2006fe01, Oxford Financial Research Centre.
- Gunnar Bårdsen & Kjersti-Gro Lindquist & Dimitrios P. Tsomocos, 2006. "Evaluation of macroeconomic models for financial stability analysis," Working Paper 2006/01, Norges Bank.
- Gunnar Bårdsen & Kjersti-Gro Lindquist & Dimitrios P. Tsomocos, 2006. "Evaluation of macroeconomic models for financial stability analysis," Working Paper Series 6806, Department of Economics, Norwegian University of Science and Technology.
- Martin Cihak, 2007. "Introduction to Applied Stress Testing," IMF Working Papers 07/59, International Monetary Fund.
- Prasanna Gai & Sujit Kapadia & Stephen Millard & Ander Perez, 2008.
"Financial Innovation, Macroeconomic Stability and Systemic Crises,"
Royal Economic Society, vol. 118(527), pages 401-426, March.
- Prasanna Gai & Sujit Kapadia & Stephen P. Millard & Ander Perez, 2006. "Financial innovation, macroeconomic stability and systemic crises," Proceedings, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, issue Nov.
- Prasanna Gai & Sujit Kapadia & Stephen Millard & Ander Perez, 2008. "Financial innovation, macroeconomic stability and systemic crises," Bank of England working papers 340, Bank of England.
- Mark Swinburne & Stéphanie Marie Stolz & Marina Moretti, 2008. "Stress Testing at the IMF," IMF Working Papers 08/206, International Monetary Fund.
- David Haugh & Patrice Ollivaud & David Turner, 2009. "The Macroeconomic Consequences of Banking Crises in OECD Countries," OECD Economics Department Working Papers 683, OECD Publishing.
- Edward J Frydl, 1999. "The Length and Cost of Banking Crises," IMF Working Papers 99/30, International Monetary Fund.
- repec:onb:oenbwp:y:2002:i:3:b:3 is not listed on IDEAS
- Marcucci, Juri & Quagliariello, Mario, 2008.
"Is bank portfolio riskiness procyclical: Evidence from Italy using a vector autoregression,"
Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money,
Elsevier, vol. 18(1), pages 46-63, February.
- Juri Marcucci & Mario Quagliariello, "undated". "Is Bank Portfolio Riskiness Procyclical? Evidence from Italy using a Vector Autoregression," Discussion Papers 05/09, Department of Economics, University of York.
- Harvir Kalirai & Martin Scheicher, 2002. "Macroeconomic Stress Testing: Preliminary Evidence for Austria," Financial Stability Report, Oesterreichische Nationalbank (Austrian Central Bank), issue 3, pages 58-74.
- Jan Willem van den End & Marco Hoeberichts & Mostafa Tabbae, 2006. "Modelling Scenario Analysis and Macro Stress-testing," DNB Working Papers 119, Netherlands Central Bank, Research Department.
- Bank for International Settlements, 2001. "A survey of stress tests and current practice at major financial institutions," CGFS Papers, Bank for International Settlements, number 18.
- Sorge, Marco & Virolainen, Kimmo, 2006. "A comparative analysis of macro stress-testing methodologies with application to Finland," Journal of Financial Stability, Elsevier, vol. 2(2), pages 113-151, June.
CitationsCitations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
- Castro, Vítor, 2013.
"Macroeconomic determinants of the credit risk in the banking system: The case of the GIPSI,"
Elsevier, vol. 31(C), pages 672-683.
- Vítor Castro, 2012. "Macroeconomic determinants of the credit risk in the banking system: The case of the GIPSI," NIPE Working Papers 11/2012, NIPE - Universidade do Minho.
- Vítor Castro, 2013. "Macroeconomic Determinants of the Credit Risk in the Banking System: The Case of the GIPSI," GEMF Working Papers 2013-12, GEMF, Faculty of Economics, University of Coimbra.
- Grigori Fainstein & Igor Novikov, 2011. "The Comparative Analysis of Credit Risk Determinants In the Banking Sector of the Baltic States," Review of Economics & Finance, Better Advances Press, Canada, vol. 1, pages 20-45, June.
More about this item
Keywordscredit risk; stress testing; financial soundness indicators; Estonian banking sector;
- E32 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Business Fluctuations; Cycles
- E37 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Forecasting and Simulation: Models and Applications
- G17 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Financial Forecasting and Simulation
- G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages
NEP fieldsThis paper has been announced in the following NEP Reports:
- NEP-ALL-2010-03-28 (All new papers)
- NEP-FDG-2010-03-28 (Financial Development & Growth)
- NEP-MAC-2010-03-28 (Macroeconomics)
- NEP-RMG-2010-03-28 (Risk Management)
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domain: finance


text:
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The fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) drives declines and extinctions in amphibian communities. However, not all regions and species are equally affected. Here, we show that association with amphibian aquatic habitat types (bromeliad phytotelmata versus stream) across Central America results in the odds of being threatened by Bd being five times higher in stream microhabitats. This differential threat of Bd was supported in our study by a significantly lower prevalence of Bd in bromeliad-associated amphibian species compared to riparian species in Honduran cloud forests. Evidence that the bromeliad environment is less favorable for Bd transmission is exemplified by significantly less suitable physicochemical conditions and higher abundance of Bd-ingesting micro-eukaryotes present in bromeliad water. These factors may inhibit aquatic Bd zoospore survival and the development of an environmental reservoir of the pathogen. Bromeliad phytotelmata thus may act as environmental refuges from Bd, which contribute to protecting associated amphibian communities against chytridiomycosis-driven amphibian declines that threaten the nearby riparian communities.
Chytridiomycosis, caused by the chytridiomycete fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) , drives global amphibian declines and extinctions [2–5] and is currently considered the greatest infectious disease threat to biodiversity [6,7]. Although Bd has a worldwide distribution with confirmed presence in over 500 amphibian species from 52 countries [6,8], its most devastating impact is centered on specific regions, such as mountainous regions in Central America [3,9]. In these areas, the cumulative time individuals of a species spend in riparian habitats significantly increases the likelihood of decline [5,9–12]. Therefore, even in these hotspots of chytridiomycosis-driven declines, a proportion of species are less affected [9,13,14], especially those with arboreal, bromeliad-associated habits [15–18]. The reasons for these differential infection and disease dynamics of Bd have been suggested to be multifactorial and dependent on local environmental-, host- and pathogen-associated factors [13,19–24]. Since metamorph mortality disproportionately contributes to chytridiomycosis-driven declines , the habitat of juvenile stages and all associated mechanisms affecting Bd presence, survival and transmission in these habitats is expected to play a major role in Bd-related amphibian declines. Mitchell et al. (2008)  predict that the longer the fungus persists in the aquatic environment, the greater its impact on host populations. Besides abiotic factors such as temperature and pH [22,24,27], the abundance and diversity of aquatic, Bd-ingesting microorganisms (predatory micro-eukaryotes) have recently been shown to dictate the Bd infection and disease dynamics in a European hotspot of chytridiomycosis by driving aquatic pathogen loads .
Here we test the hypothesis that the bromeliad environment provides a “safe haven” for amphibians from chytridiomycosis in comparison with the riparian habitats in Central American cloud forests by 1) comparing to what extent Neotropical bromeliad- versus stream-associated amphibians are threatened in their survival due to Bd. Additionally, we 2) assessed Bd infection levels of bromeliad- versus stream-associated amphibians in Cusuco National Park, Honduras and 3) evaluated which environmental parameters in streams and tank bromeliads help explain observed differences in Bd infection on these amphibians.
To compare the threat of chytridiomycosis in Central American bromeliad- and stream-associated anurans, a list was compiled based on amphibian species known to occur in this region [29–31] and based on known habitat usage. Only species known to inhabit or reproduce in bromeliad or stream environments were included (S1 Table). Species with reports of occasional or rare sightings in one of the two microhabitats were excluded. A distinction was made between association to a microhabitat and restricted habitat for larval development, for further comparison. Species that reproduce in streams as well as other waterbodies were included in the larval development category. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species was utilized to determine the IUCN conservation category of each species, as well as the species major threats (S1 Table). IUCN categories were grouped: data deficient (DD), least concern and near threatened (LC & NT), threatened and vulnerable (EN & VU), and critically endangered or extinct (CR & EX). Threats were grouped into five categories: no threats, habitat loss, pet trade, pollution and Bd. Any mention of one of these threats for an anuran species whether it be future, suspected or proven, resulted in inclusion of the species into each corresponding category.
This study was conducted in Cusuco National Park (CNP), Honduras. This park is approximately 234km2 in area, with elevation ranging from 500 m to 2425 m above sea level. CNP is located in north-western Honduras and is part of the Merendón mountain range. It is included in the Meso-American biodiversity hotspot and is characterized by high species richness  and ranked within the top 25 protected areas globally, of highest importance for conserving irreplaceable amphibian diversity . CNP was chosen as the study site because of its large number of endemic amphibian species , of which several are IUCN red listed and negatively affected by Bd [18,25,32]. Widespread presence of Bd has been confirmed here in multiple species, but Bd-induced declines have been observed only for riparian amphibian species [18,25]. Sample collection took place between June and August in 2014 and 2015. Permission for the collection and export of all mentioned samples was obtained by Operation Wallacea (Hope House, Old Bolingbroke, Lincolnshire, UK) and the OpWall Honduran counterpart Expediciones y Servicios Ambientales de Cusuco (ESAC) and issued by the Secretaría de Estado en el Desoacho de Agricultura y Granadería (Number: 21839).
To determine the prevalence of Bd in different aquatic environments and in amphibians, filtered water and amphibian skin or mouthpart swabs, depending on life stage, were collected from bromeliads and streams and their associated anurans around CNP’s base camp. To determine the ability of Bd to persist in different aquatic habitats, water samples from the same habitats were collected. The locations were chosen based on accessibility, presence of the desired microhabitat and comparable elevation levels.
Thirty-two bromeliads and twelve sampling locations derived from the main stream running through CNP were selected for sampling. Large bromeliads (circumference >45 cm) were sampled in order to allow sufficient water volumes (30 ml) to be withdrawn and due to the preference of bromeliad-associated amphibians for larger specimens . For each bromeliad and stream site, GPS coordinates, canopy openness (improved Moosehorn design ), water pH (pH test kit, JBL GmbH & co, Neuhofen Germany), water temperature and ambient air temperature were recorded. If animals were not present, water parameters were still taken, and if bromeliads spilled water the amphibians within were sampled, leading to a dataset with missing data for some of the respective parameters. While full data sets for all sampling sites were not available, the spatial distribution of our sampling is extensive enough to exclude random site effects. Bd prevalence in the bromeliads (n = 24) and streams (n = 5) was determined by filtering (0.45 μm syringe filters) 30 ml or 1 liter of water respectively, with subsequent storage of the filters in 70% ethanol until further processing (see below for sample processing). These filters were also used for micro-eukaryote diversity assessment using 18S amplicon-based next generation sequence analysis. Microscopic determination and abundance estimates of aquatic micro-eukaryotes were carried out on 1 ml of the collected water samples.
Prevalence of Bd in encountered amphibians was determined from non-invasively collected skin swabs in post-metamorphic individuals. For tadpoles, mouthparts were swabbed. For the swabbing technique established protocols were used [36,37]. Swabs were stored in 70% ethanol in order to preserve the samples in humid field conditions .
DNA was extracted from swabs using 100 μl of Prepman Ultra DNA extraction buffer [36,38]. Ethanol was removed from the swabs prior to DNA extraction by centrifugation, disposal of the supernatant and leaving the samples open until evaporation of all ethanol had occurred in a laminar flow hood. DNA extraction from the water filters was carried out using the MoBio Powersoil® DNA isolation kit (MoBio Laboratories, Carlsbad, USA) following the protocol of Walker et al.  with minor modifications as follows: As disposable syringe filters were used, filter housings were opened and the ethanol on the filters was allowed to evaporate prior to DNA extraction and the manufacturer’s protocol was followed for homogenization of samples (vortexing the samples instead of using a Mini-Beadbeater). All extracted DNA samples (derived from swabs and filters) were diluted 1/10 in HPLC water for reducing PCR inhibition  and stored at –20°C until further processing. Samples were processed using the Bd-specific real-time PCR described by Boyle et al. (2004) on a CFX96 real-time system (Bio-Rad Laboratories, Hercules, CA). To check whether PCR inhibition did occur, all DNA samples were assayed in a Bd PCR inhibition assay in which an internal positive control (IPC) was added to a single well for each sample . If inhibition was detected in a sample, BSA was added to the real-time PCR mixture, and if this did not alleviate inhibition, samples were further diluted ten-fold until no inhibition could be detected . Real-time PCR results (genomic equivalents (GE) of Bd zoospores as determined by comparing real-time PCR values to values obtained by assaying a standard dilution series of reference Bd DNA (JEL 423) were corrected for the applied dilution factor and converted to loads per swab or per filter.
We compared the capacity of the 15 bromeliad and 15 stream water samples to reduce the number of viable Bd zoospores using previously described techniques [28,41]. Briefly, suspensions of viable and dead Bd zoospores (strain JEL423, 104 zoospores/ml) were prepared. Death of heat-treated (85°C, 15 minutes) zoospores was confirmed by checking for growth over 10 days. Bd zoospore viability was assessed using the Bd ethidium monoazide (EMA) real-time PCR . The conditions assessed were microhabitat (bromeliad, stream), filtration to selectively remove micro-eukaryotes over 5 μm in size (unfiltered, filtered (5 μm syringe filter, GE Healthcare Europe, Belgium)) and time point (0 hours, 24 hours). Controls composed of viable and dead Bd zoospores in distilled water were included. In short, 100 μl of Bd zoospore suspension was added to 1 ml of the sample conditions (microhabitat, filtration) in 48-well plates and incubated at 20°C. After 24 hours of incubation, 7.5 μl of EMA was added to 150 μl aliquots of all samples and controls and 142.5 μl of TGhL broth (final EMA concentration 25 μg/ml), and samples were incubated in the dark and subsequently photo activated (5 minutes, 500 Watt halogen light). EMA exposed samples were transferred to 1.5 ml tubes and washed twice in HPLC water by centrifugation (5000 rpm, 5 minutes, 20°C). After washing, DNA extraction of the pellet was carried out by resuspending it in 100 μl Prepman ultra and incubating at 100°C for 10 minutes. All samples were diluted 1/10 and stored at -20°C until further processing. All conditions were tested in duplicate, and processing of the samples occurred within 72 hours after collection. DNA extracts were processed using the Bd-specific real-time PCR  as specified in the previous section (including checking for the occurrence of PCR inhibition). Resulting values were used as an indication of Bd persistence, as only DNA from viable Bd cells is amplified with the EMA real-time PCR .
To assess the abundance and community structure of micro-eukaryotes, 1 ml of water from each sampled microhabitat was visually examined drop by drop using a field microscope (Bresser microset). In the case of high numbers or fast movement of micro-eukaryotes one drop of Protoslo® Quieting Solution (Carolina Biological Supply Company, Burlington, USA) was applied to the microscopy slide in order to improve taxonomic determination and abundance estimation. Determination of species was carried out using standard determination keys [43,44] and performed as close to species level as possible.
DNA extraction from the water filters was carried out as described earlier. A portion of the V9 region of the eukaryotic 18S rRNA gene was sequenced by adapting a dual-index approach . Illumina adaptors and unique barcodes were included on both the forward (Euk_1391f) and reverse (Euk_B) primers [46,47]. PCR conditions and the amplification protocol followed the Earth Microbiome Project 18S protocol (http://www.earthmicrobiome.org/emp-standard-protocols/18S/, version 4_13). In short, PCR reactions contained 13 μl of DNA-free water, 10 μl 5 Prime MasterMix, 0.5 μl of each primer (10 μM), 4 μl of a blocking primer, and 1.0 μl of DNA. The blocking primer originally designed for mammals (see Earth Microbiome website) is effective for vertebrates in general and was used to minimize amplification of vertebrate genomic DNA. PCR conditions consisted of a denaturation step of 94°C for 3 minutes, followed by 35 cycles at 94°C for 45 seconds, 65°C for 15 seconds, 57°C for 30 seconds and 72°C for 90 seconds, and a final extension at 72°C for 10 minutes. All samples were then pooled together in approximately equal concentration (as determined by gel band strength), and purified with the Qiagen MiniElute Gel Extraction Kit. The DNA concentration was determined on a Qubit fluorometer using a broadrange dsDNA kit. Paired-end 2x250 v2 chemistry was used to sequence the samples on an Illumina MiSeq (Helmholtz Center for Infection Research, Braunschweig Germany).
All sequence processing was conducted using Quantitative Insights Into Microbial Ecology (MacQIIME v1.9.1, ). Forward and reverse reads from each sample were joined and quality filtered to remove low-quality sequences with the QIIME default quality parameters. Remaining good-quality sequences (471,056 sequences) were clustered into operational taxonomic units (OTUs) at 97% similarity using the UCLUST algorithm under an open reference OTU-picking strategy http://qiime.org/tutorials/open_reference_illumina_processing.html [49,50] The SILVA 119 release was used as the reference database for reference-based OTU clustering, aligning sequences and assigning taxonomy. The most abundant sequence from each OTU was selected as a representative sequence and these representative sequences were aligned using PyNAST . Taxonomy was assigned using BLAST within QIIME. Samples were rarefied to 1000 reads per sample, allowing the majority of samples to be included in analyses. The OTU table was subsequently filtered in two ways: (1) to include only OTUs of small metazoans, including small arthropods and rotifers, and (2) to include only OTUs of protists.
We assessed to what extent the different organisms present in the water samples were capable of consuming Bd zoospores. A Bd zoospore suspension was prepared as described previously. CellTracker™ Green CMFDA (Life Technologies, Carlsbad, USA) was added to 1 ml of zoospore suspension (final concentration of the CellTracker 6μM). This mixture was then shielded from light from this step forward and incubated for 30 minutes at 20°C. The mixture was washed in 1 ml of distilled water by centrifugation (3000 rpm, 5 minutes) and incubated for 30 minutes at 20°C. In order to remove excess fluorescent marker, two additional washing steps composed of centrifugation (3000 rpm, 5 minutes) and resuspension in distilled water were performed. Affirmation of viability and fluorescent labelling of zoospores was done using an epifluorescence microscope. Ostracods (Cypridopsis spp.), copepods (Cyclops spp.), brown planaria (Dugesia dorotocephala), nematodes (Caenorhabditis elegans) and tardigrades (Milnesium tardigradum) were obtained from Carolina Biological Supply Company (Burlington, USA) and maintained as recommended by the supplier. These organisms were chosen due to their similarity to organisms found within the bromeliad and stream microhabitats. One ml of labelled zoospores was added to 1 ml of each of the 5 species of micro-eukaryotes and incubated for 2 hours at 20°C (final concentrations of 100 zoospores per 1 micro-eukaryote). A control prepared by adding fluorescent marker to distilled water (including all incubation and washing steps) was included to check for labelling of cells other than Bd zoospores. This control was in turn added to all five species of micro-eukaryotes and incubated for 2 hours at 20°C. Another control was included by adding unlabeled zoospores to the 5 micro-eukaryote species. All combinations were assessed in triplicate. Using an epifluorescence microscope, sample slides were visually screened for ingestion of labelled Bd zoospores, without quantification. Fluorescence imaging does not allow the ingested zoospores to be quantified due to the large numbers of (aggregated) zoospores inside the micro-eukaryotes. However, when ingestion took place, it was common throughout the organisms in the sample.
Odds Ratios (ORs), and corresponding 95% confidence intervals, were calculated for the threat of Bd, as well as for the number of species in the “endangered” category, compared between bromeliad- and stream-associated species (S1 Table). To test for differences in Bd infection intensity, microeukaryote abundance and microeukaryote diversity between microhabitats, pairwise Mann Whitney Wilcoxon tests were performed. To compare prevalence of Bd between microhabitats a Fisher’s exact test was performed. For the amplicon-based 18S sequencing data, Chao1 diversity, Shannon diversity and Observed OTU richness were calculated for all samples in each of the OTU tables. Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to compare alpha diversity values between streams and bromeliads. To test for differences in environmental pH, Bd persistence, temperature and canopy openness scores between bromeliad and stream microhabitats, Mann—Whitney—Wilcoxon tests were used (all statistical analysis were performed in R, version 3.2.3) .
A comparison of all (184) Central American anurans showed higher numbers of species being threatened by Bd in streams compared to anuran species in bromeliads (60% and 27%, respectively) (Fig 1, S1 Table) based on IUCN data for major threats. A higher percentage of stream-associated anuran species is indexed in the critically endangered conservational category when compared to bromeliad-associated species (36% and 6%, respectively) (S1 Table). The odds of being threatened by Bd was nearly four times higher (OR: 3.71, 95% CI: 1.5985–8.5985) in stream-associated anurans than in bromeliad-associated anurans. The odds of being in the critically endangered (CR + EX) IUCN conservational category is nearly 9 times higher (OR: 8.88, 95% CI: 2.05–38.54) in stream-associated anurans compared to bromeliad-associated anurans.
From the total number of 24 stream sites and 41 bromeliad sites, we found and sampled a total of 116 amphibian individuals from 20 bromeliad sites, and 150 individuals from 18 stream sites. Prevalence of Bd in the sampled amphibians, ignoring site and species differences due to sparse data, was significantly lower in bromeliads (3.4%) in comparison to streams (12.4%) (Table 1, Fisher’s exact test, p = 0.008), while infection intensity did not differ significantly between the two microhabitats (Fig 2, W = 32, p = 0.23). While PCR inhibition did occur in the swab samples (11 Bromeliohyla bromeliacia, 9 Ptychohyla hypomykter, 3 Cryptotriton nasalis and 2 Plectrohyla dasypus), this could be alleviated in most samples by adding bovine serum albumin (BSA) to 1/10 diluted samples in the real-time PCR mixture. Samples that still showed inhibition after adding BSA (3 B. bromeliacia, 3 C. nasalis, 2 P. hypomykter, 1 P. dasypus) were further diluted in HPLC water to 1/100 dilutions, which removed PCR inhibition in all but one sample (P. dasypus) in which PCR inhibition was only alleviated after diluting the sample to 1/1000. No additional positive samples were obtained after alleviating PCR inhibition. None of the water samples tested positive for Bd. PCR inhibition occurred in 10 of the filtered-water samples (8 derived from bromeliads and 2 from streams), but adding BSA to the real-time PCR mixture alleviated this in all but one sample (bromeliad), which needed to be diluted to 1/1000 to remove PCR inhibition. Again, no additional positive samples were obtained after alleviating PCR inhibition.
Persistence of Bd zoospores in water samples from a subset of 15 stream and 15 bromeliad sites after 24 hours was determined by EMA real-time PCR (Fig 3). PCR inhibition did not occur in the EMA samples. Overall, in the stream microhabitat samples, 1.29 log(10) GE (SD of ±0.93 GE) of viable Bd zoospores were recovered on average, while 1.97 log(10) GE (SD of ±0.56) of viable Bd zoospores were collected on average when the water was first filtered. For the bromeliad water samples, 0.30 log(10) GE (SD of ±0.52 GE) and 1.80 log(10) GE (SD of ±0.96 GE) of Bd zoospores were recovered for the unfiltered and filtered conditions respectively. Statistical analyses revealed significant differences between unfiltered and filtered conditions for bromeliads (Mann Whitney Wilcoxon tests, W = 199, Bonferroni adjusted p < 0.05) as well as a significant difference between unfiltered conditions of the stream and bromeliad microhabitats (W = 178, Bonferroni adjusted p < 0.05). No significant difference was found between unfiltered and filtered conditions for stream (W = 163, Bonferroni adjusted p = 0.15) or between filtered conditions of the two microhabitats (W = 112, Bonferroni adjusted p = 1).
We surveyed a total of 32 bromeliad sites and 24 stream sites for physicochemical water parameters, and for all of these except one bromeliad site, also data on the micro-eukaryote community diversity were available from microscopic examination. The stream sites were identical to those surveyed for amphibians and Bd prevalence (no amphibians found at six of the sites); of the 32 bromeliad sites surveyed, 21 hosted no amphibians (but Bd data from amphibians collected in nine additional bromeliad sites were included; see above).
Temperatures were significantly higher and pH significantly more acidic in bromeliads when compared to stream microhabitats (Mann Whitney Wilcoxon, W = 687.5, p < 0.001, W = 741, p < 0.001, respectively). All values were within the growth tolerance limits of Bd, however, bromeliads had a greater variation in pH and temperature than streams. Canopy openness scores were not significantly different between bromeliad and stream microhabitats (W = 352, p = 0.59). Micro-eukaryote abundance and diversity were significantly higher in bromeliad microhabitats in comparison to stream microhabitats with average abundances of 44.2 and 10.6 organisms (SD ± 40.1 and ± 12.6) and average diversities of 4.1 and 2.0 taxa per ml (SD ± 1.4 and ± 1.3) respectively (Fig 4A and 4B; abundance: W = 647, p < 0.001, diversity: W = 650, p < 0.001).
Micro-eukaryote community diversity estimates using amplicon-based sequencing revealed that protist diversity was higher in stream water samples (1 liter) compared to the bromeliad water samples (30 ml) (all metrics, Kruskal-Wallis test, p < 0.001, S1 Fig). Arthropod-rotifer diversity, however, tended to be greater in the bromeliad water samples, even given the small volume examined (Chao1 & OTU Richness, p < 0.01; Shannon Diversity, p = 0.92, S1 Fig).
To test if the identified micro-eukaryotes are capable of consuming Bd zoospores, fluorescently-labelled zoospores were exposed to ostracods, copepods, brown planarias, nematodes and tardigrades. The micro-eukaryote species chosen for this experiment had a high similarity in size and general habits to those encountered in the water samples. Of the tested micro-eukaryotes, ostracods, copepods and tardigrades showed ingestion of fluorescently-labelled Bd zoospores (Fig 5).
Within Central America, Bd has had devastating effects on amphibian biodiversity [3,9]. However, within this region, records show that stream-associated anuran species are considerably more likely to be categorized as critically endangered compared to those associated with tank bromeliads (S1 Table; OR of 8.88), and also significantly more threatened by Bd (S1 Table; OR of 4.79). Although the IUCN dataset used for these calculations also include non-peer reviewed literature and expert opinions, it does indicate a clear difference in the conservation status and susceptibility to Bd of bromeliad- and stream-associated amphibians in Central America. This agrees with previous studies suggesting that Central American amphibian species associated with bromeliads may be less affected in Bd outbreaks than riparian species in the same region [15–18]. Within Cusuco National Park (CNP), this same trend is observed: there are three declining riparian amphibian species in which chytridiomycosis is a suspected driver, while no negative population trends are reported for the bromeliad-associated species [18,25]. Here, we also show significantly lower prevalence of Bd in bromeliad species (3.4%) in comparison to stream-associated species (12.4%). Since only two bromeliad-associated amphibian species exist in CNP at the sampled elevation, and account for prevalence of Bd in this microhabitat for this study, differential intrinsic susceptibility of CNP’s amphibian species for Bd could be proposed as the underlying cause for the observed differences in Bd prevalence. However, taking into account all bromeliad- and stream-associated amphibian species of Central America, the same trend in differential effects of Bd on these species is observed, indicating other shared disease-steering factors associated with the aquatic habitat types.
Although several hypotheses on the origins of these differential effects of Bd have been proposed, it is likely brought forth by a multitude of infection and disease influencing factors. It has to be noted that our data did not support a significant difference in infection intensity between bromeliad- and stream-associated amphibian species. This could indicate that the differences in disease dynamics of Bd between bromeliad- and stream-associated amphibian species are restricted to prevalence only. However, during this study, mostly larval and metamorphic individuals were sampled (Table 1), and divergent infection intensities of Bd might be found in adult specimens. Outside of its amphibian host, Bd relies on aquatic environments for survival and dispersal [53,5]. While the life stages of Bd present in the amphibian skin are rather robust, the motile zoospores released in the environment lack a cell wall and are relatively fragile [54,55]. Therefore, it is plausible to assume that environmental influences are able to exert a significant pressure on the dynamics of chytridiomycosis by affecting environmental Bd zoospore loads. Distinct differences in abiotic and biotic variables in stream and bromeliad aquatic microhabitats, could potentially help explain why bromeliad-associated anuran species are able to endure in areas with chytridiomycosis-driven declines, where syntopic riparian species cannot. The tanks present in bromeliads only hold small volumes of water, making these aquatic microhabitats more prone to undergo rapid and frequent fluctuations in physicochemical composition in comparison to relatively stable stream microhabitats [56–58].
In this study, the recorded physicochemical parameters were significantly different between bromeliads and streams, with bromeliads being warmer (18.0°C and 16.3°C, respectively) and more acid environments (4.9 and 6.1, respectively) on average. While no conditions outside of Bd’s tolerance limits were recorded, poor growth of Bd is described at all recorded pH values of the bromeliad microhabitats, while all pH values recorded for the stream microhabitats fell in the range considered optimal for growth of Bd (pH: 6–8) , making the bromeliad microhabitats comparatively less suitable for Bd survival. Furthermore, even more extreme pH values are known to occur in bromeliad phytotelmata in CNP . The ecological relevance of the pH range considered optimal for Bd, as determined under laboratory settings, remains uncertain however . This also applies for temperature. Although the warmer water temperature in bromeliads would suggest that they make more suitable environments for Bd proliferation in comparison to stream microhabitats based on Bd’s experimentally determined optimal growth temperature range (17–25°C), in nature an increased impact of Bd is associated with comparatively lower environmental temperatures [53, 59, 60]. Also, temperature fluctuation, which is expected to occur more frequently and to a greater extent in the small waterbodies in bromeliads, has been determined as a relevant driver of Bd’s infection and disease dynamics . Although the overall effects of temperature fluctuation on both host and pathogen are complex and hard to predict [61,62], environments that show broader temperature regimes, and more specifically those that show higher maximum temperatures, are predicted to be less conducive for Bd survival .
Another environmental parameter shown to affect the infection and disease dynamics of Bd, is the abundance of organisms that prey upon/ingest Bd zoospores [28,64,65]. In the two distinct sources of water utilized by amphibians in CNP, predatory micro-eukaryotes were more common and diverse in bromeliads (Fig 4A and 4B, S1 Fig). Despite the relatively small sample volume for bromeliads (30 ml in comparison to 1 liter for stream samples) higher diversities of micro-arthropods and rotifers were found in comparison to stream samples with 18S rRNA diversity estimates. Protist diversity estimates were significantly higher in stream samples. While certain protists are known to be able to effectively reduce environmental Bd zoospore loads (for example Paramecium Aurelia ), a large portion of the protist taxa likely have no effect on Bd zoospores due to their feeding strategy or autotrophic life style. Furthermore, relatively high diversity estimates with the 18S method in comparison to the microscopic method, might occur due to detection of DNA of organisms not visually present at the time of microscopic examination. The diversity estimates correlate with significant differences in the prevalence of Bd in amphibians encountered in the two microhabitats (Table 1) and with differential persistence of Bd, with bromeliads acting as a significantly more hostile environment (Fig 3). When predatory micro-eukaryotes were removed from the water by filtration, survival of Bd in tank bromeliad water and stream water were equal (Fig 3). Ingestion of Bd zoospores by commercially available micro-eukaryotes that resembled species found in the studied microhabitats further strengthens our hypothesis that a multitude of organisms belonging to a vast diversity of taxa are able to reduce environmental loads of Bd.
In this study, we have used univariate comparisons of response variables (Bd prevalence and infection intensity) and possible predictor variables (temperature, pH, micro-eukaryote communities) among bromeliad and stream sites. While multivariate regression-based models would a priori be a more powerful approach to test for causal relationships among these variables, such analyses are prevented by the structure of the data in our study, i.e., by the absence of amphibians in many bromeliad sites, the presence of single amphibian individuals in others, and the lack of biotic and abiotic data for additional bromeliad sites from which amphibians were sampled. Furthermore, because different species of amphibians were sampled from bromeliad and stream sites, effects due to common ancestry or host effects on Bd infection prevalence cannot be fully excluded either. Differences in risk between bromeliad and stream amphibians could be biased due to more closely related species sharing increased susceptibility to Bd . Although the relations between Bd infection, habitat type, and biotic and abiotic habitat parameters thus require further testing in this system, our experimental results suggest that the aquatic microhabitats present in bromeliads in CNP are less conducive for Bd survival. We therefore hypothesize that the combined biotic and abiotic differences among habitat types are likely steering local Bd infection and disease dynamics in CNP. By providing environments in which the build-up of a high infection pressure is inhibited, the steep increase in Bd prevalence and infection intensity as witnessed in classical chytridiomycosis outbreak scenarios [2,9,10] may be prevented, and as such, specialized microhabitats like bromeliad phytotelmata could therefore contribute in creating chytridiomycosis-safe refuges in which amphibian species (especially specific microhabitat specialists) can endure during surrounding chytridiomycosis epidemics. This theory thus adds to existing hypotheses such as, differences in species susceptibility to Bd and variable disease dynamics due to differences in host densities, to help explain Bd infection and disease dynamics [20,67, 68].
Combined with the study of Schmeller et al. , the fact that micro-eukaryotes contribute to creating an aquatic environment not conducive to Bd zoospore survival in two dramatically different scenarios of chytridiomycosis-driven declines (Pyrenees vs Central American cloud forest), suggests that this may be a common determinant of Bd infection dynamics. This knowledge may be applied in chytridiomycosis mitigation efforts by augmentation of natural aquatic habitats to reduce the effect and/or severity of chytridiomycosis where applicable. Although environmental augmentation of existing aquatic habitats is undesirable for the majority of areas most severely impacted by chytridiomycosis, and likely difficult and/or impractical for certain types of water bodies used by amphibians, creating or supplying Bd safe zones in problem areas may be worth exploring. This study illustrates the importance of increasing our understanding of the complex interactions at play in the infection and disease dynamics of Bd in natural amphibian communities and habitats, and could potentially prove to be valuable for the development of chytridiomycosis mitigation strategies by managing aquatic habitats.
Plots show total number of operational taxonomic units (OTUs), Shannon diversity, and Chao1 diversity per sample. Number of OTUs represents an uncorrected representation of the number of different microeucaryotes per sample (i.e., species richness), whereas the Chao1 index estimates richness, i.e., the total number of species present in a community, by correcting species richness based on the number of singletons (an OTU represented by a single read in a sample), assuming that such singletons indicate the species inventory is incomplete. The Shannon index is a community diversity index combining species richness and abundance into a single value of evenness.
Data includes physicochemical parameters, Bd prevalence and infection intensity and micro-eukaryote abundance and diversity.
We are grateful to all staff and volunteers of Operation Wallacea for their assistance in the field and for all logistical support they provided during this project, and to the people of Buenos Aires village for their guidance through the Honduran rainforest.
The authors received no specific funding for this work.
All relevant data are within the paper and its Supporting Information files.

domain: literature


text:
Seed Source: Seeds of Change
Heirloom Tomato Variety
Highly Recommended. Terrific large slicing tomato. (This is the bottom tomato in the stack on the right above).
A long-time favorite. Large, meaty, flavorful orange tomatoes. Absolutely perfect sliced on a veggie burger or sandwich. Very sweet, delicious flavor.
Amana Orange tomatoes vary in shape (some are more round, while others are irregular-shaped). Just about all fruits are palm-sized or larger. Try to pick these when they still have a bit of green left on the tops; if they become too overripe on the vine, they will rot quickly in the heat.
We first started growing this fruit in 2006, and saved seeds for 4 years. In 2010, our tomatoes were covered with blight, and so we started with a new packet of seeds from Seeds of Change in 2011.
Disease and Pests
Plants are highly susceptible to blight. However, the fruits do not appear to be too affected by the blight, and the plants continue to produce even when the leaves are removed or have become withered from the fungus. They are prone to cracking, as many heirloom varieties are. Because of this, the bottoms often need to be discarded, and a few will turn bad and rot on the vine.

domain: agronomy


text:
The awards and prizes that have been given out since our last issue.
Premiering at the Wexner Center for the Arts in Columbus, Ohio, Young Jean Lee’s “Straight White Men” is a response to privilege and a call for change.
“Jarman (all this maddening beauty)” honors life and work of independent filmmaker and artist.
A brief look at theatre news across the country for the month of April.
Nationwide theatre news for March 2014, from Los Angeles to North Carolina.
Sarah Bellamy, Michael Price and Michael Counts, among others, step in and out of positions.
A testament to the lengthy career of actor, Amiri Baraka.
A piece celebrating the life and career of Carmen Zapata
Racially educational theatre, gay shorts and a theatre re-opening in Frogtown lead national theatre news.
Mark Cuddy, Jessica Doheny and J.J. Lind step in and out of positions this month.


text:
Elaine Raco Chase
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About Elaine Raco Chase
Join me as I celebrate my 40th Year as a published author!!!
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Now's the time to step from DANGEROUS PLACES into DARK CORNERS!
Roman Cantrell-Nikki Holden return in their explicit, exciting, second adventure!
200 UFO sightings over south Florida, then there's an alien baby! That's just the start of Nikki's newest reporting assignment!
Roman comes to the aide of an Army pal who's been accused of hijacking a $5 million dollar cargo and killing his partner!
When their assignments converge - the thrills and shocks keep coming!
Exciting news about DARK CORNERS - I sent Nikki Holden to the University of Tennessee Space Institute (a real place!) and they've welcomed her with open arms and a special report!
Frankly - it was so much fun to write a book where the Truth became stranger than Fiction!
Head for www.elaineracochase.com for snippets and fun postings for the series!
This just in! Dark Corners was named Romantic Times' Magazine TOP PICK for October, 2016 for Romantic suspense!
Did you know Dangerous Places was named Romantic Times' Magazine TOP PICK for March, 2016! http://www.rtbookreviews.com/book-review/dangerous-places
COMING IN NOVEMBER: Award-winning narrator Janina Edwards will voice my thriller series: Dangerous Places and Dark Corners...super excited!
My non-fiction "How to write the Amateur Detective Novel" which was nominated for the Agatha Christie Award is in the FBI Forensic Library at Quantico.
If you like sassy, laugh out loud, contemporary romances - some more explicit than others - you have found the right author!
Reviewers have called them: "cat & mouse" - "slow burn" - "hot and steamy" - "highly addicting" - "solid characters & lots of humor" - "amazing reads!"
I call them fun! My heroines are NOT: thin, petite, clueless or submissive. They are strong women who aren't looking for a man - until the right one comes along!
And those men! Tough-guy, alpha males who don't know what hit them! But do know they want MORE!
Whether you read my erotic romantic comedies (updated eBooks), my updated 'steamy' romantic eBooks, or my classic eBooks - remember there's never an expiration date on Romance!
EXCITING NEWS -Caught in a Trap (Romantic Comedy), has been accepted into Library Journal's curated SELF-e collections! As your book is a featured selection we look forward to sharing it with subscribing libraries all over the country on BiblioBoard Library and helping to build a base of new readers.
And Turning Pages announced that Rules of The Game (updated eBook edition only) was voted best erotic romance novel of 2012 from their website (http://ow.ly/hcbhL) Psstt...did you know Rules hit #1 on Kindle Romance list!
For audiobook lovers: One Way or Another (classic romance audiobook) was audible.com's "Best Reviewed Romance for October 2012" narrator: Janina Edwards
And Special Delivery, which has been on audibles erotic romance bestseller list since its debut in August, 2012, was #4 out of 10 Top reviewed romance novels for 2012! (PS it was the only audiobook not from a major publishing house!) narrators: award-winning team of Destiny Landon & Lee James from Bella Czar Productions.
My audiobooks: Best Laid Plans featuring narrator Jill Arehart has been on audible.com chicklit bestsellers list since it posted April 25th. Double Occupancy featuring dual narrators Destiny Landon & Lee James, with original music, hit iTunes New & Noteworthy list.
Narrator Janice Moss completed the audiobook for Caught in a Trap - and it hit audible and landed at #10 in the romance bestseller list in 2 days!! Janice does a fabulous job with all the characters and is garnering great reviews...give it a listen!
All the links to my author page, twitter, FaceBook pages, and other information are inside my ebooks!
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Titles By Elaine Raco Chase
At least she thought she had!
Kit Forrester lived a life of lies – so what was one more? When her first vacation ever sank like the Titanic – she couldn't tell her friends THAT! So she did what she always did – she lied.
Kit told everyone about her fabulous five day cruise. Her days of fun in the sun and moonlit nights with the man of her dreams – Rafe Morgan - tall, handsome, incredibly sexy and successful. And well – now they were engaged!
There was just one 6'2", 230 lb. problem –
Rafe Morgan did exist and he wanted answers.
Retired Navy SEAL and Texas business tycoon, Rafe Morgan was sure he was being set up by his suddenly acquired fiancee.
He had spent 20 years in the Navy and was trained to handle anything – until he came up against one volatile New York redhead with wicked curves and the world's hardest ass!
Then he saw her sex lair and was more than willing to be Caught in a Trap. And to set one of his own!
Content Warning – this book is intended for mature adult readers (18+) who are not offended by profanity and explicit sex scenes. While this is a romantic comedy, some readers may find some subject matter difficult – unfortunately such events are true.
Spoiler alert: please be advised that no comic books, superheroes, duct tape, handcuffs, ropes or organic chocolate milk were harmed during the writing of this novel.
And now YOU can enjoy Vixen Mallory purring naughty in your ear - yes, Video Vixen the audio book is available on audible.com. Narrator Sheila Book becomes Vixen - explicit content - and be careful, your ear buds could melt in your ears! But you won't care...this is a book that you will want to play over and over and over..... Note: only the kindle edition has been updated and matches the audiobook
“I enjoyed Fifty Shades of Grey, but WHO should I read NEXT?”
I’m glad you asked.
Come learn about some of your favorite New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today Bestselling Authors, including:
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Are you ready for Fifty After Fifty?
Welcome to the first volume of WHO To Read After Fifty Shades of Grey.
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Thanks for reading and we hope you enjoy learning more about this stunning collection of authors!
Dark Corners (Roman Cantrell-Nikki Holden Mystery II)
All over south Florida people are seeing things – things that can't be real –
or can they?
Nikki Holden's boss gives her the most bizarre assignment of her career. More than 200 solid citizens have reported sightings and contacts with UFO's! Soon she's on the trail with help from the University of Tennessee Space Institute & the Air Force!
Roman Cantrell comes to the aide of an old Army buddy and finds himself with the most baffling case of his career. Did the US Army actually hijack an armored car? Or is his buddy feeding Roman a pack of lies?
When their cases converge – Roman and Nikki become trapped in a plot that's stranger than science fiction but as real as death in Dark Corners
Thus in one of Nashville's poshest restaurants began a stream of threats against Stephanie Brandt along with a heavy hand 'mangling' her shoulder, followed by a bill shoved into the middle of her quiche by a big man wearing work boots, denim and a T-shirt with an obscene foreign word printed on it.
Until Quintin Ward stormed into her life with his threats and accusations, Stevie had not known his son Rob even existed., let alone was her mail room clerk.
When she's finally able to convince Quintin that she has no designs on his son, they embark on a campaign to squelch Rob's amorous ideas and fantasy love-life with his boss. But their very calculated risk backfires!
Stevie struggled out of the rust-spangled red VW amid a chorus of gleeful goodnights and used the last of her energy to wave. The twenty-six steps to her front door were the most painful she had ever taken. The last ten were finished walking on the heels of her boots.
Quintin had the door opened before she even rang the bell. “I was peeking out the front window; it looks like you were well chaperoned.”
“Eight.” She waddled past him into the foyer. “Eight people in that little car.” Stevie motioned for him to help her out of the raccoon vest. “I got to sit between the two front seats, wedged behind the stick shift and on the lap of a kid who kept belching.” She piled a seemingly endless number of black-ringed fur tails on the foyer’s glass and chrome console. “I’ve got to sit down and take off these boots. In the middle of the second half my toes went numb.” She bent over and pressed her fingers into the leather. “They’re dead, Quint, or at the very least gangrenous.”
“Stevie, you can’t sit down.” His words sounded strangled.
“You’ve got…uh…a big wad of pink bubble gum on the seat of your pants.”
“Quintin, please …” she begged, and looked between her legs at his upside-down image. “Please tell me you are joking.”
He stared at the gooey mound that was a conspicuous pink ornament on the green suede. “I’m sorry.”
She rested her head against the stucco wall. “These pants are brand new. They cost a fortune.”
He brushed back an auburn wave that curtained her face. “Let me have an ice cube and a butter knife and I’ll make them good as new,” he promised, “but first let’s get rid of those boots.”
Straddling each leg in turn, he forcefully but carefully eased off the pointed vamp of the garishly designed footwear. “These damn things are obscene.”
“I thought so.” She moaned in relief. “Rob thought they were ‘like totally total,’” she mimicked, “and one of his friends, Jack, the kid wearing the camouflage coordinates, told me I was ‘like tubular.’ Tubular!” A hiss was issued between clenched teeth.
Copyright 2011 Elaine Raco Chase Updated, expanded, over fifty pages of new scenes and explicit sensuality for previous print-published bestseller
Enjoy Excerpts from these eBooks - Special Delivery, Lady Be Bad, Video Vixen, Double Occupancy, Designing Woman, Dare The Devil, Rules of the Game, and Caught in a Trap.
Yet there she was, a respectable businesswoman dressed like a harem girl, barricaded against a howling blizzard with the devastating Bram Tyler, trying to extinguish the fire he'd ignited within.
Soon he'd crack her icy facade and melted her cautious reserve. But what would happen at blizzard's end when passion faced reality!
The entire book is the story of Roxanne and Bram - the dialogue and verbal sparring between these two is a standout with sexual tension to spare.
An explicit love story guaranteed to heat up any night!
And now - enjoy SPECIAL DELIVERY the audio book! The erotic voiced duo of award-winning voice over talent Destiny Landon and Lee James plus their original music and stunning effects - turn this book into one of the hottest earfuls ever! Warning - it is explicit! And so much fun! At audible and iTunes - Special Delivery was 4 months on iBooks erotica bestseller's list!
Audible just posted: Top of the Class: Stellar Romance Reviews from 2012 – Each month we send out our Top of the Class email featuring our favorite five-star reviews.
Special Delivery has been on the audio erotic bestsellers list since its debut!
This month - as an end of the year wrap up - we decided to highlight your picks for top reviews from 2012. #4 was Special Delivery! Out of their top 10!
Authorgraph - where you can get your kindle copies autographed! All my ebooks are there...hope you'll check it out!
Meet Brandy Abbott - as potent as the liquor that echoes her name. And when this woman gets branded a tramp...why what else can she do, but go above and beyond to make the man who did the branding pay!
Meet Griffen St.Clair - he thought he could handle her and not get burned. But he quickly found out that Brandy was a force to be reckoned with and he wasn't giving up on the idea that he could reform her.
The romance for every woman who's never had the nerve!
A rousing passionate battle of the sexes takes place as each tries to outdo the other in a witty, contest of wills!
Griffen St. Clair hadn't meant to eavesdrop on the couple, but who could help but listen as the gorgeous woman was telling her companion that their affair was over. Griffen found he applauded her new-found values until she turned her considerable attributes on him!
Brandy Abbott had decided to teach St. Clair a lesson when he assumed to know so much about her and pronounced her the queen of seducers.
What she didn't count on was the fact he was soon to be her boss and her lover AND a man who needed to be taught a lesson about women!
What had come over her? Exactly who was she - Brandy the smoldering, uninhibited lady of the night? Or B.J. Abbott, brilliant young architect, whose dreams were filled not with erotic languor but with visions of concrete and steel. For the first time in her life, she didn't know!
And Griffen - who was he? A mixture of keen-eyed eagle and ferocious lion? He had conjured up a male fantasy and assumed she was a tramp!
Outraged, cast in an unfamiliar role, Brandy had chosen to play it to the hilt and loved the part ... unaware that it would throw her into emotional chaos and force her to choose between two of the sweetest things life offered - surrender and revenge.
Also included -
Author's Note - DESIGNING WOMAN and a letter from the Army Corps of Engineers
DESIGNING WOMAN is listed in the Library of Congress under Women Architects - Fiction oh...and under Revenge - fiction!
Enjoy excerpts from these Kindle books by Elaine Raco Chase: LADY BE BAD, DOUBLE OCCUPANCY, CALCULATED RISK, SPECIAL DELIVERY, VIDEO VIXEN, DARE THE DEVIL, and RULES OF THE GAME.
Bonus features: Excerpts from these bestselling authors: Joan Reeves, Cynthia Wicklund, Linda Hall, Valerie Douglas, Linda Swain and NYTimes Bestselling author, Janelle Taylor.
Do you know about Authorgraph? Check it out! All my kindle books are there!
Now on audible and iTunes - DESIGNING WOMAN in audio! Wow - wait until you hear the fabulous Sheila Book narrate this sexy, sassy story! Buy extra ear buds!
"The audio book was narrated beautifully, with words clear and pacing easy to follow. Whether you are looking for a break from television, or don't mind the other commuters staring at you as you laugh, often, the audiobook is well worth the investment."
"Great dialogue - And it ALL sounds like a conversation you could overhear at any time, in many situations. That technique alone makes the book a worthwhile read - that it is combined and integrated into a tightly written, fast paced and sexy story makes this worth every one of the 5 stars."
"This is the funniest book we've ever read and the love story is terrific.
Or so much fun!
Meet Nikki Holden - she may know 140 characters but social media is not her venue. She's an investigative reporter with more enemies than friends - and her friends are very shady.
She's on the trail of a stunning story at Pleasure Island. And she doesn't mind using her pick pocket talents or a well-aimed champagne cork or even a pair of 38's (boobs not guns) to get her story.
She's tenacious, sarcastic and an ex-con.
Meet Roman Cantrell - ex-army ranger who couldn't stop fighting, he went off the grid doing Black Ops but came back to the US to start an international security firm.
He keeps popping into Nikki's life at the most inconvenient times.
And he knows too much about her past.
He also knows she's not capable of good behavior.
Is Roman looking for the person Nikki's ...kidnapped? Or is he looking for a more intimate connection.
One thing for sure -
They're both heading into
murderously Dangerous Places
Meet Amanda Wyatt – she had an eight year plan and accomplished so much more. Attractive, talented, she was a success whether she was designing high fashion or running her own elegant shop in New Orleans. And she had a friend with benefits relationship with –
Lucas Crosse, her lawyer and the brother she never had for twelve years. He knew her intimately - well almost. Now, he's decided he wants that, too. And he's ready to fight for Amanda with –
Wade Lloyd. He entered Amanda's life by accident. Now he wants to be a permanent fixture. But can he handle her success? Can he handle Amanda? Can he handle her friendship with Lucas Crosse?
As for Amanda – she has choices to make. A new, exciting love? Or a best friend whose benefits she's begun to dream about.
This book is for mature audiences only...so is the excerpt!
Her ancient cut-offs emphasized rounded buttocks and long, slender legs; the sleeveless cotton shirt was tied under full breasts to reveal a flat midriff and the delicate muscles that rippled along graceful, bare arms.
"Lucas-" Amanda's voice jarred his musings, his fork skidded against the syrup-slick plate, sending two squares of golden toast bread slopping onto the counter. "Sorry," she said and grimaced, turning her attention back to loading the dishwasher.
Her busy figure drew him like a magnet. His dark gaze flowed along her erogenous terrain, devouring each curve and soft swell. Hazel eyes traced the sinuous sweep of spine, the arched derriere and the firm thighs.
The pulse in his throat began to pound and grow, his breathing came rapid and shallow. The erotic atmosphere created by his mind began building tension again. His cock pushed hard against the zipper on his jeans. He desired her as a man desires a woman. While Lucas knew Amanda's mind, he had little knowledge of her body. Suddenly that was what he craved most. He wanted more. More than holiday kisses. More than casual hand-holding and brother-sister tussles.
He was anxious to taste and explore every inch of her. His tongue wanted to start its sensual tasting by outlining her full lips then dipping inside her mouth. From there he would blaze a slow nibbling trail down her neck, across her gorgeous breasts to suck the hardened peaks that were highlighted by the light cotton covering of her T-shirt. Oh, yeah, he knew he could spend hours lightly biting, licking, sucking those nipples. Before moving lower to taste and torment her clit with both tongue and fingers.
He'd take his time. It would be all about her. He'd make her forget any other man. And he knew there had been damn few. But he was determined to be the last. He'd make sure of that.
Best Laid Plans audio book - narrator Jill Arehart brings the story to life! It's already on audible's chick-lit bestsellers list & iTunes bestsellers list! Great audio reviews. If you own an eBook copy - you can get the audiobook for $1.99 and you don't have to join audible!
Also - this ebook can be autographed! Authorgraph dot com
A ROMANTIC CLASSIC! First time available as an ebook! FULL LENGTH NOVEL!
Meet Abby, computer killer and prickly proprietress of the Cove Bookshop in Camden Cove, Virginia. She's a woman with many secrets, a mother and sister she fiercely protects, and a secluded, quiet life that has become a bit boring.
Enter Nick Maxwell, a man determined to bring Abby to her knees and into his arms – but he had more than a few secrets of his own.
Copyright 1981 by Elaine Raco Chase, first printing August 1981; second printing - September 1981
Copyright 2012 by Elaine Raco Chase
First published under the title: Tender Yearnings
Now on iTunes and audible.com - One Way or Another narrated by Janina Edwards will delight your ears! The sheer quality of her voice and the fact that she is able to 'be' all the characters is stunning!
In fact, the reviews on Janina's narration made it Audible's Best Reviewed Romance Novel of October 2012!
Have you checked out: Authorgraph dot com? Find your favorite author's and request your ebook to be autographed. Have no clue how it's done but it does work. I'm in there too!
Noah Drake walked out of her life without a word - just divorce papers.
Marlayna O'Brian wanted answers and he was the only man who could provide them.
But there he was engaged to another woman - and she was invited to the party!
She gave him fair warning: "Seduction is the plan for today. Keep on your toes, Mr. Drake. You never know when or where I'm going to strike!
Marlayna found it so very easy to be deliciously bad! Especially when an American castle provided so many erotic nooks and crannies.
Inside is one very hot, explicit romantic comedy!
Updated with additional scenes, enhanced sensuality and dialogue
© copyright by Elaine Raco Chase 2011 eBook edition only
"Chase blends some wonderfully comic scenes with several more serious issues. Chase's writing is so distinctive and her characters and dialogue so sharp, that she carries it off."
"Ms. Chase remains well-nigh irresistible in any form!"
Romantic Times Magazine
Narrator Jill Arehart creates a sensual ear bud melting story that will delight please check it out on audible/iTunes/Amazon link to eBook!


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National Trust criticises sale of public housing in Millers Point
More than 400 public housing residents will be moved from their Sydney Harbour foreshore addresses following a NSW government decision to sell off the valuable properties. The residents will be rehoused over the next two years. Just under 300 properties in the Rocks will be sold off, with the NSW government saying the money will be reinvested back into the public housing system across the state. According to the National Trust these include 200 historic houses.
These issues are controversial and the solutions are rarely black and white.
Minister for Family and Community Services Pru Goward has said the cost of maintaining heritage properties and rent subsidies in the area has become too high; and that money could be better spent on building more social housing, or investing in the maintenance of public housing properties across the state.
She has explained that “Maintenance on properties in Millers Point costs more than four times the average for public housing dwellings in NSW,” and that “In the last two years alone, nearly $7 million has been spent maintaining this small number of properties.
The minister has not provided details on the value of the properties but said government properties last sold in the area for an average of $1.3 million each.
The National Trust has criticised the government for what it described as a lack of consultation and that the social significance of the homes and their occupants has been overlooked.
Click here to read the National Trust Media Statement dated 27 March 2014.

domain: news


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Daylight has not come to the forest yet. You cannot see them, but you can hear them!
Your group approaches the viewing point on foot and you look into the depleting moonlight where you can see silhouettes of swirling bats with massive wingspans, flooding in vortexes above the trees, their shrieking chirrups piercing the dawn. Your guide then leads you up to a ladder where you ascend high into the tree canopy to view the aerobatics show from above.
Safely stepping onto the platform with a 360 degree view over the mystical Fibwe Forrest, a red tinge of sunrise touching the eastern horizon starts to make the spectacle clearer. Thousands and thousands upon thousands of Straw Coloured Fruit Bats (Eidolon helvum) swarm around you in the surrounding sky. At first it seems as if the trees around you have a textured layer of scales, but you soon realise with the dawning light, that it is actually bats that have already found their roosting spots and covered most trees like scaled armour.
This is Kasanka National Park, located roughly in the centre of Zambia where you can experience this wonder once a year when the Musuku fruits, Uapaca sansibarica with various other fruiting trees, ripen and attract the bats from all over Central Tropical Africa for a fruity feast. Kasanka is not the only place where the Straw Coloured Fruit Bats gather, but it is the best place to view them.
As Kasanka is a National Park, expect to see unusual sightings such as the tip toeing Sitatunga antelope or ghost like elephants crossing a flooded plain on a misty morning. Fluffy Blue Monkeys jumping around in the upper canopy or the little seen Tree Hyrax screaming out its eerie territorial call.
Much research has been done on the mysterious flight paths of the Eidolon bats, and Jakob Fahr from the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology (Radolfzell, Germany) is in the process of analysing their findings from the 30 bats that were tagged during 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 bat migration. Bats made nightly sorties of between 4 and 55 km from the roost site to feed from the same tree every night. The information gathered from this research will be useful for determining the movement ecology, what drives the bats’ daily and seasonal movements and the importance of the bats as seed dispersal for wild fruit.
Visitors can partake in game drives, bush walks, boat trips and canoe trips or just enjoy the view from the beautiful Fibwe hide or Wasa viewing deck.
Kasanka provides various forms of accommodation from rustic camping for the whole family to staying in the Wasa or Luwombwa Lodge with meals and activities provided.
Coined as one of the greatest wildlife spectacles in Africa, if not the world, it is something that every Africa traveller should experience at least once.
In the afternoon your group is again perched on a spectacular site on one of the platforms, situated strategically around the forest perimeter. Watching with sundowners in hand, there is a marked purpose to the bats’ flight and as if a silent command has been given, the flight of the Valkyrie proceeds out of the forest to form millions of specs in the blood red sky.
This is a guest blog written by Ernst Jacobs. For more information about Zambia, contact our travel experts today on 020 7843 3500.
Get the lowdown on golfing holidays in South Africa.Read more
Discover why Africa truly is a bird lover's paradise.Read more
Get the lowdown on South Africa's flora and fauna.Read more
Discover our run down of the top malaria-free safari destinations in South Africa.Read more
Discover the flavours of Cape Town with our gourmet guide to the Mother City.Read more
Discover how easy it is to enjoy a Kosher safari in Africa.Read more
Thought that nothing could beat the thrill of being in a safari vehicle as it bounds along in search of the resident wildlife? Think again – think hot air balloon.Read more
Discover the best places to see the Big Five from our Africa experts.Read more
Read our blog and discover why South Africa's Cape Region is a foodie's paradise.Read more
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domain: geography


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*Unfortunately, due to a lighter apple crop this year, our trees have been picked clean. We are still offering many varieties of apples in bins for picking to those interested.
JOIN US IN CELEBRATING OUR
Every Weekend Throughout October!
Fresh Made Apple Cider Doughnuts
Apple Cannons*New This Year!
Farm Animals (Please no feeding or petting!)
Food Vendors including brick oven pizza,
BBQ food and of course smoked turkey legs!
Don't forget to pre-order your Thanksgiving Day turkey and pies!
10am - 5pm
Apples Available Inside the Store:
Our Address is:
130 Hardscrabble Rd.
North Salem NY, 10560
Leashed DOGS are welcome on festival grounds and in the orchard, just not inside the country store!
Please E-mail us with any questions/concerns!
Last Updated: October 18, 2014
©2011 - Harvest Moon Farm and Orchard
130 Hardscrabble Rd. North Salem, NY 10560 | (914) 485-1210

domain: food


text:
Sand & Glass
The sands slip gently through the hourglass,
and bury ever deeper every one
of us, scarred as we are by wind and sun.
If we could but be buried 'til they pass,
then rise at dusk as that great ball of gas
is setting, red-eyed, tired, long work done,
and mischievously through the membrane pass
and over blackskied dunes, unfettered run.
But nature's glass is strong, her patient sands
relentless and resilient to our slights
until we learn surrender to her truth:
The glass and sand are one in nature's hands;
the long rest 'neath the grains, our final rites;
until the glass is turned again for youth.
Dan Halberstein lives in Alexandria, Virginia and works as a writer, designer, and contracting officer's technical representative for the United States government. His political satire has been published by The New Republic, American Politics, and Roll Call, among other less known outlets, and his poetry has been accepted by Susquehanna Quarterly, The Confused Muse, and Folly Magazine. Halberstein lives with two cats and fellow poet Laura Heidy, whom he has successfully urged to outshine him in all things literary.
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Read manga online for free in high quality and most full
Summary: He awoke, and the world was changed. The familiar high school now teaches magic, encouraging students to become the greatest magicians they can be. Beyond the city limits, wandering magical beasts prey on humans. An advanced scientific world changed into one with advanced magic. Yet, what has not changed was the same teacher More.
One day, Song Shuhang was suddenly added to a chat group with many seniors that suffered from chuuni disease. The people inside the group would call each other ‘Fellow Daoist’ and had all different kinds of titles: Palace Master, Cave Lord, True Monarch, Immortal Master, etc. And even the pet of the founder of the group that had run away from home was called ‘monster dog’. More.
During the anti-cataclysm period, the monk Chen Fanyu fell into the catastrophe of the day, but he dreamed of returning to the earth's young age in five hundred years. In the last life, I was on the top of the universe, overlooking the world, but no one was accompanied. This world is only willing to live with the right person. After 500 years, the immortal reborn and returned to the city, to m More.
Apotheosis - elevation to the status of a god. Luo Zheng, now a humble slave was born as the eldest son of a wealthy family. Due to his family's decline, the kidnapping of his sister by a powerful force, he can now only be stepped upon by others. However, heaven never seals off all exits. An ancient book left by his father reveals a secret divine technique, giving the reader immense power! But wh More.
For the wine to be drunk on her wedding night to actually have been a cup of poison and for the one to poison her to be her husband, who would believe it? But such a thing had happened! And that was just the beginning of her bad luck. On her wedding night, she goes from a new bride to an abandoned wife, and in the blink of an eye, she become a princess married off into the wilderness of the frigid More.
This is an era full of Qi, it’s also a world that is populated with cultivators. The young Wu Fu rebirthed from reincarnation, just that when someone look into his eyes, they were eerily peaceful. This is a new path to the peak! All I need to do is to raise the sword and eliminate all the enemies of the last generation! More.
In the Xuan Hai Tian cultivation world, where powerful sects stand tall, modern day Yang Rui accidentally becomes the Dean of the divine Lang Huan Library. Yang Rui sets out to recruit new disciples and do something remarkable. Can Yang Rui glorify the name of the Lang Huan library? More.
Millions of years have passed since the times of legends, when the worlds of man and gods were still the same. In these times it was the desires of man that moved the world. It is the era of the 500 year war - The Warring States period (403-222 BC in Chinese history). Kingdom is the story of a young boy named Shin who More.
High-Schooler Tsukishima Satoru gets confessed to by local female High-School boxing-talent Saotome Yae. He rejects her initially because he does not want to impede her boxing career (and prevent getting beaten up by her fans). Her female coach, Shioya hears about this and decides to install him as Saotome's trainer so that they can secretly date each other. This situation is also aided by his More.
Time traveling from 21st to the Nanzhou era, as an ancient immortal, Ye Chen resorted to the ancient force to defeat the troop of State of Di who was trying to kidnap the Fairy Lady of Snow Shadow. He confessed his identify to the Fairy Lady, while there was still a big secret hidden behind his flippant smile and bold behaviour. What would this be? And was it a fate that the two people should meet More.
A world in which Korea is the global capital of combat sports. At Nam-Il High School where the best and most talented students of martial arts reside, Jiu Ji-Tae suddenly finds himself thrust into their midst despite being a total weakling. By neutralising his physical shortcomings through jiu-jitsu, can he rise to the top of the fight classes? More.
A blind boy, Shinobu, lives a peaceful life with the support of his kind teacher and girlfriend, Mikoto, training daily to learn the ancient martial art of self-defense known as “Mibuchi Toshujutsu”. Until one day, when all is stolen from him by a strange visitor who appears at the dojo. This man, defeating both Shinobu and his teacher, steals away Mikoto with him. Three years pas More.
Three hundred years ago, he was known as the great Martial Emperor, but the night before his wedding he was betrayed and killed by his fiancee; three hundred years later he is reborn, and this time nothing will be able to stop him from his goal to dominate the three realms!!! More.
From Viz: In the year 300X, a cruel dictator has mandated the hunting of all hair in the Maruhage Empire. But a single man rises to the occasion and takes a stand against this violation of human hair rights. Bo-bobo, master of Fist of the Nose Hair, uses the prehensile hairs of his schnoz to most lethal ends. Follow the nonsensical adventures of Bo-bobo and his sentient sidekick snacks as they lea More.
Men are servants of knowledge.

The Sorcerers' Guild was no more... The guild possessed many dangerous grimoires, worshipped pure magic.
The guild was condemned as a terrorist organization. A chivalric order of scientists was formed, hunting it down.
One after another, the sorcerers were captured, executed. Gradually, the guild lost its power. Eventually, th More.
"One day, my girlfriend suddenly transformed into a man?!" A fantasy-romantic comedy about a guy whose girlfriend turned into a boy and the messy antics that follow suit. More.
Following the advancement of spirit technology, the humans of Douluo Continent conquered the ocean and discovered two new continents. After being hunted by spirit masters excessively, the spirit beasts are nearly extinct. After countless years of lying dormant, the King of the Spirit Beasts has awakened in the Great Star Dou Forest. It will lead its remaining clansmen in taking vengeance against h More.
A volume collection of sweet, short and fun 4 pages manga for everyone to enjoy and adore. More.
The past life died because of the imperial concubine, and he was born again in the high school era. It coincides with the recovery of the aura and the great changes in the world. When rejuvenating a teenager, he will follow the path of his journey, and he will protect his own friends. Loved ones. When he does not choose to stay, he will push him all the way. More.
The series is about a girl named Momo who attends high school at the city of Sorasaki. However, she is secretly a member of Tsukikage, an intelligence agency that protects people. As a new member of the agency, she works alongside her colleagues including her senior Yuki and friends. Together, they work to establish peace in the city. More.
Adapted from a famous online-novel, this manga talks about Xiantian, who just celebrated his nineteen-year-old birthday and somehow woke up, finding himself in the middle of nowhere. He barely escaped from a car crush and above all his confusion, a name called Qiao Xiaoqiao was lingering in his mind, and he went into a quest to find this name's owner... More.
Zhang Gong decides to learn light magic, a magic few show interest in and eventually becomes the legendary Grand Mage. While trying to end the continent's east and west separation in order to unite all the different races, he becomes every race's Child of Light. More.
The world shared by humans and ajins (those who are half beast and half human) is not paradise. On the contrary, humans rule over ajins with strictness and contempt, using them at their own convenience: men as soldiers for their special powers and women as prostitutes, downgraded to the lowest rank.
To change that destiny, Kogetsu serves the king under the guise of a man.
<br& More.
- Gender bender
- Martial arts
- One shot
- School life
- Sci fi
- Shoujo ai
- Shounen ai
- Slice of life


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Here are some from a recent trip to the Molycorp Mine. The mine produces rare earth elements that are used in many of today's latest technologies. The mine is one of the few places in the world that produce the rare earths. China is the main producer or rare earths and has been drastically cutting the amount of rare earths it exports.
As someone who has traveled around the county, living in a van, I have always really liked the look of these teardrop shaped trailers with their stainless steel finish. I would have never though of turning it into a business, which is exactly what Victoria Hogan from Flora Pop did. Flora Pop is a full service, all inclusive pop-up wedding service. Hogan travels to various places around Las Vegas, uses the trailer as a sort of altar, and is licensed to officiate the wedding. We met near Nelson's Landing for the photos.


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Shoot for the moon!
Part of the goal for the EVE Online CREST API challenge was to visualize the chosen trade route. To do this I’ve made use of both the CREST API and Static Data Export (SDE) to populate a series of uGUI buttons for each region.
There’s not a whole lot of reasons to use the CREST API to poll static data such as regions, but it shows that I know how to use it. The next task is to show the constellations - which are collections of solar systems.
This was a little harder to pin down on a usability level, as you cannot reasonably show all 8035 solar systems without hitting performance issues but what I came up with appears to work well. When a region is clicked, it will make a request to the CREST API for that region (giving us a list of constellation IDs), which is then used to poll all solar systems in each constellation. A random color is added at each constellation iteration.