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Encyclopedia > Funerary
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A funeral is a ceremony to mark a person's death.
Funerary customs comprise the complex of beliefs and practices used by a culture to remember the dead, from the funeral itself, to various monuments, prayers, and rituals undertaken in their honour. These customs vary widely between cultures, and between religious affiliations within cultures. In some cultures the dead are worshipped; this is commonly called ancestor worship. The word comes from the Latin funus, which had a variety of meanings, including the corpse and the funerary rites themselves.
Funeral rites are as old as the human race itself. In the Shanidar[?] cave in Iraq, Neandertal skeletons have been discovered with a characteristic layer of pollen, which suggests that Neandertal man buried the dead with gifts of flowers; it has been interpreted as suggesting that Neandertals believed in an afterlife, and in any case were aware of their own mortality and were capable of mourning.
1 Funerals in the contemporary United States
2 Funerals in ancient Rome
3 Final disposition of the dead
4 Control by the decedent of the details of the funeral
5 Anatomical gifts
6 External links:
Funerals in the contemporary United States
Within the United States of America, in most cultural groups and regions, the funeral rituals have been divided into three principal parts:
a "viewing" or "wake" in which the embalmed body of the deceased person is placed on display in the coffin. At the viewing, the friends and relations greet the more distant relatives and friends of the dead person(s) in a social gathering with little in the way of ritual. The viewing often takes place on one or two evenings before the funeral. The only prescribed part of this gathering is that the attendants frequently sign a book kept by the decedent's survivors, to remind them that they have attended; and they are expected to view the decedent in the coffin. The decedent's closest friends and relatives who are unable to attend frequently send flowers to the viewing. The viewing typically takes place at a funeral home, which is equipped with gathering rooms where the viewing can be conducted. The viewing may end with a prayer service; in the Catholic funeral, this may include a rosary. The viewing is either "open casket," in which the embalmed body of the deceased has been clothed and treated with cosmetics for display; or "closed casket," in which the coffin is closed.
a memorial service[?], which is sometimes referred to on its own as a funeral and is often officiated by a member of the clergy of the decedent's religion. In this service, the officiating clergy, and on occasion the decedent's close friends and relatives, may read eulogies concerning the decedent's life and activities. Religious rituals, prayers, readings from the Bible or other sacred texts, hymns, and similar rites are often conducted at this service. (In some religious denominations, for example, Roman Catholic and Anglican, eulogies are prohibited or discouraged during this service.)
a burial service, conducted at the side of the grave, tomb, or mausoleum or at the crematorium, at which the body of the decedent is buried or cremated at the conclusion.
a light dinner (sometimes called a wake) follows the burial service in some traditions. This is sometimes prepared by women's committees of the decedant's church.
Generally speaking, the number of people who are considered obliged to attend each of these three rituals by etiquette decreases at each step. Distant relatives and acquaintances may be called upon to attend the viewing; the decedent's closer relatives and local friends attend the memorial service; if the burial is on a day other than the funeral, only the decedent's closest relatives attend the burial service, if one is conducted.
Funerals in ancient Rome
In ancient Rome, the eldest surviving male of the household, the pater familias, was summoned to the death-bed, where he attempted to catch and inhale the last breath of the decedent.
Funerals of the socially prominent were usually undertaken by professional undertakers called libitinarii. No direct description has been passed down of Roman funeral rites. These rites usually included a public procession to the tomb or pyre where the body was to be cremated. The most noteworthy thing about this procession was that the survivors bore masks bearing the images of the family's deceased ancestors. The right to carry the masks in public was eventually restricted to families prominent enough to have held curule[?] magistracies. Mimes[?], dancers, and musicians hired by the undertakers, as well as professional mourners, took part in these processions. Less well to do Romans could join benevolent funerary societies (collegia funeraticia) who undertook these rites on their behalf.
Nine days after the disposal of the body, by burial or cremation, a feast was given (cena novendialis) and a libation poured over the grave or the ashes. Since most Romans were cremated, the ashes were typically collected in an urn[?] and placed in a niche in a collective tomb called a columbarium (literally, "dovecote"). During this nine days period, the house was considered to be tainted, funesta, and was hung with yew or cypress[?] branches to warn bypassers. At the end of the period, the house was swept in an attempt to purge it of the dead person's ghost.
Several Roman holidays commemmorated a family's dead ancestors, including the Parentalia[?], held February 13 through 21, to honour the family's ancestors; and the Lemuria, held on May 9, 11, and 13, in which ghosts (larvæ) were feared to be active, and the pater familias sought to appease them with offerings of beans.
Final disposition of the dead
Various cultures have devised different ways of finally disposing of the bodies of the dead. Some place the dead in tombs of various sorts, either individually, or in specially designated tracts of land that house tombs. Burial in a graveyard is one common form of tomb. In some places, such as New Orleans, Louisiana, burials are impractical because the ground water is too high; there tombs are placed above ground. Elsewhere, a separate building for a tomb is usually reserved for the socially prominent and wealthy. Especially grand aboveground tombs are called mausoleums. Other buildings used as tombs include the crypts in churches; burial in these places is again usually a privilege given to the socially prominent dead.
Burial was not always permanent. In some areas, burial grounds needed to be re-used because of limited space. In these areas, once the dead have decomposed to skeletons, the bones are removed; after their removal they can be placed in an ossuary.
"Burial at sea[?]" is a somewhat misleading phrase that identifies the deliberate disposal of a corpse into the ocean, wrapped and tied with weights to make sure it sinks. It is a common practice in navies and sea-faring nations; in the Church of England, special forms of funeral service were added to the Book of Common Prayer to cover it.
Cremation, also, is an old custom; it was the usual mode of disposing of a corpse in ancient Rome. Vikings were occasionally cremated in their ships, and afterwards the location of the site was marked with standing stones. In recent years, despite the objections of some religious groups, cremation has become more and more widely used. Orthodox Judaism and the Eastern Orthodox Church forbid cremation, as do most Muslims; Roman Catholicism allows it, but does not encourage it. Most varieties of Protestantism are indifferent to it.
Rarer forms of disposal of the dead include exposure, where the corpse is exposed to the elements. This was done by some groups of Native Americans; it is still practiced by Zoroastrians in Bombay, where the Towers of Silence[?] allow vultures and other carrion eating birds to dispose of the corpses.
Control by the decedent of the details of the funeral
In law in the United States, the deceased have surprisingly little say in the manner in which their funerals can be conducted. The law generally holds that the funeral rituals are for the benefit of the survivors, rather than to express the personal whims and tastes of the decedent.
The decedent may, in most U.S. jurisdictions, provide instructions as to his funeral by means of a Last Will and Testament. These instructions can be given some legal effect if bequests[?] are made contingent on the heirs[?] carrying them out, with alternative gifts if they are not followed. This assumes, of course, that the decedent has enough of an estate to make the heirs pause before doing something that will invoke the alternate bequest. To be effective, also, the Will must be easily available, and some notion of what it provides must be known to the decedent's survivors.
Some people dislike the clutter and display of flowers at funerals, and feel that there is an unseemly competition in the number and size of the floral arrangements sent. Many newspapers refuse to print an obituary[?] that requests that flowers not be sent; to do so would be to offend the florists[?]' industry. Many obituaries, however, contain notices regarding "memorial gifts" to a charity. It is usually understood in these situations that a gift to the charity made in memory of the decedent relieves the donor of the social duty of sending flowers.
Anatomical gifts
Another way of avoiding some of the rituals and costs of a traditional funeral is for the decedent to donate some or all of his body to a medical school[?] or similar institution for the purpose of instruction in anatomy, or for similar purposes. Students of medicine and osteopathy frequently study anatomy from donated cadavers; they are also useful in forensic research.
Making an anatomical gift is a separate transaction from being an organ donor, in which any useful organs are removed from the unembalmed cadaver for medical transplant. Under a Uniform Act in force in most jurisdictions of the United States, being an organ donor is a simple process that can often be accomplished when you have your driver's license renewed.
Making an anatomical gift requires a procedure that varies from one jurisdiction to the next in the United States. For advice in doing so, it is best that you contact the institution you wish to make the gift to; they usually have staff that processes these requests, and who can send you any needed paperwork and a donor card to carry. It is also prudent that you tell your physician and your close relatives of your intention to make such a gift; your cadaver will require special treatment after your death to be useful. There are some medical conditions, such as amputations, or various surgeries, that can make your cadaver unsuitable for these purposes. All US medical schools rely on the generosity of "anatomical donors" for the teaching of anatomy. Typically the remains are cremated once the students have completed their anatomy classes, and many medical schools now hold a memorial service at that time as well.
See also: mourning; shiv'ah; requiem
List of anatomical gift contacts (http://www.amc.edu/Academic/anatomical_gift_program/anatomical_gift_program-medica.htm) from Albany Medical School[?]
Information (http://www.georgetown.edu/departments/cellbiology/cell_biology/body_donor/index.htm) about making an anatomical gift at Georgetown University School of Medicine
U.S. presidential election, 1804
... Contents U.S. presidential election, 1804 Presidential CandidateElectoral Vote Party Running Mate(Electoral ...


I know a number of people who are pecan pie freaks. There must be more ways to make this than you can shake a stick at, but most recipes (like this one) hinge on pecans and a "custard" made of eggs, sugar, corn syrup, butter, and not too much else. This pie has more pecans than most, and it has cocoa and instant espresso powder in it, both of which cut the sweetness of the "custard" a bit. During baking, this pie forms two not-very-distinct layers (they are there; you just have to look closely). There's a cocoa-pecan layer on top, and a smooth espresso layer on the bottom. Delicious! Please use Dutch process cocoa powder for this, as it will give you the dark, rich look that the top layer of this pie should have. Serve this warm, at room temperature, or chilled, but make sure you serve it with lightly sweetened whipped cream or a first-class vanilla ice cream, either of which is a perfect accompaniment. As this pie is quite rich, you'll probably want to serve small slices of it.


After travelling for over a full year now (how time has flown by - I feel like I just started this trip!), I was starting to feel like I just wanted to stay in one place for a while, maybe find a volunteering project or work in exchange for food and accommodation, and not move around too much for a while. The three month Visa you obtain when entering Malaysia is a plus point, making it an easy country to stay in for a while. And since I loved it so much the first time - why not?!
I came to Langkawi a few weeks back now and am starting to settle in. I found a great place to stay at for a cheap price (all of you on a budget but looking for something clean, close to the beach in Pantai Cenang, and off the main road, Rainbow Lodge is a Guesthouse you MUST check out!), a volunteering project to take part in, a lot of time to work on my website and blogging (which is why I have expanded to this new webpage), and OF COURSE to explore the island.
Anyone of you fabulous readers around Langkawi within the next month or two - I will be here and would love to meet up with you! I always enjoy meeting new people, sharing the knowledge and information I have about the best things to see and do while here on Langkawi, and I can even help you out to find the right tours to book (there are so many companies and different tour guides here, all lining up to get those notes, it is hard to know which one is the best value for money).
Meeting up for a drink in one of my favourite bars, a chat over the best Teh Panas, or just hanging out on one of the nicer beaches and have a friendly face to talk to, just get in touch with me through Facebook, email, or call me on my local number once you get here!
What a view and sunset from the port in Kuah!
Arriving at the port in Kuah with one of the most amazing sunsets to welcome me back!
It is so much fun to read your posts! Great work, thank you!
Looks like a really pretty place. I've not travelled through Asia at all yet. Need to fix that!
You should! Asia has so much to offer and so much diversity! Love it here! And especially Malaysia, think it is one of my favourites so far!
Isn't it wonderful when you're traveling full time to find a spot you want to call home for a bit? All the moving around and exploring is obviously fun, but can be tiring. And spending more time in one place is just so rewarding. Good luck with this next bit of time and enjoy!
Thank you Sarah! It so is and I completely agree with you! As much as I love travelling full time, spending three months in Langkawi and making that a home for the time being was so rewarding as well. I absolutely loved it!
This post is quite reinsuring, thank you. Hopefully, if you return to Malaysia in 2019, i'd love to meet up for a drink then! Let's keep in touch!
Definitely Sylvia! Keep in touch and I would love to meet up with you then! I love Malaysia, so am planning on being back there as much as I can. You have my contact details, so just shoot me an email and stay in touch!
It is easy to understand why you fell in love with Malaysia, that place looks like paradise! Pantai Cenang looks so chill, the perfect place to rest and enjoy the sunset!
It is paradise! And such an amazing place to stay and enjoy for a while! I absolutely love Malaysia and Langkawi is definitely a beautiful part of it!
Totally understand you wanting to be in one place for a while and also about feeling like you fit in there. That's why I love Mexico, it's easy to feel like you belong.
Thanks Tanya! I am glad you found your place too. Mexico sounds like a nice spot as well!
Wow that is awesome!! I know right!? Langkawi is amazing! I absolutely love it there and truly enjoyed staying there for a while! Eloping there would be the perfect stop, well chosen :) let me know if/when you go back, would love to meet up with you guys!
Oooh lovely! Langkawi looks like a fantastic place to stay for a while! I hope you fine something exciting to keep you busy.
Thanks Josy!! Yes, please come and visit! Malaysia is truly amazing isn't it!? I completely fell in love with the country and would have to say it is one of my favourite countries so far! The people, the culture, the food, everything makes me feel so welcome and at home somehow. Let me know if you come to visit, would love to meet you!!
Thank you! Let me know if you do, would love to meet up and show you around! There are some pretty great places on Langkawi!!


Someone told me the other day that they "don't like salads." My response to that is: that's because you're doing it wrong.
So, how to do it right?
Start with an interesting green as a base (arugula, kale, swiss chard) and not one of those mixed-bag grocery store mixes. Add something sweet (strawberries, peaches), something crunchy (nuts, sunflower seeds), something in the onion family (like shallots!), a cheese of some sort (I like goat or feta), some random veggies you have (red peppers, asparagus) and as a bonus, a grain (quinoa or faro). Adjust to your personal tastes.
Then the most important part: the dressing. Skip the store-bought bottles—I've yet to discover a good one—and make it yourself. My favorite dressing on earth is the one my French host mother used to make, which was just good mustard mixed with good olive oil with a little salt, pepper, and water to thin it out.
Oh, and add some French (or Italian) bread. Voilà, an amazing meal.
Reading: Still on The Rest of Us Just Live Here and still really liking it. My shorter commute has made me a slow reader this year. Someone else I know please read this so we can discuss.
Writing: Sloooowly working on the Play Story. Life is getting in the way.
Listening to: The Band. Really great pre-summer music.
Cooking: The aforementioned amazing salads.
Totally agree. Hodor the hero!
Godoness HODOR!… I don't watch, my BFF does (so I watch thru her eyes) — she was telling me the story and she literally was about to cry! i felt bad for Hodor too!! I don't know if I would be so self sacrificing.
I've never thought of adding fresh bread to the mix – perhaps that's it.
Happy work week! and more importantly happy readin!
I am working on making some new salads this summer so thank you for the ideas! With the desert heat fruit is always good. Tonight we are trying a fruity coleslaw: cabbage, cantaloupe, strawberries dressed with vanilla greek yogurt. Have to see how it goes. We are having it with cold shrimp, keeping things simple.


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The U.S. Can Defuse Iraq's Crisis
Help prevent a civil war among the Shiites by providing water, energy and medical assistance.
Outside a burnt-down government building in Basra, Iraq, Sept. 7.
Photo: HAIDAR MOHAMMED ALI/AFP/Getty Images
By Kimberly Kagan and Frederick W. Kagan
Sept. 12, 2018 6:56 pm ET
Iraq may be on the brink of its biggest crisis since 2006, when a civil war threatened to topple its nascent democratic system. Government formation talks have dragged out as pro- and anti-Iranian factions jockey for influence. Corruption and basic governance failures have triggered mass protests—particularly in Basra, Iraq's second-largest city and primary oil-export hub. Armed militia factions are mobilizing. Iranian proxies have fired the first shots at the U.S. Embassy since 2014, showing their intent to use force to accomplish political goals. All this raises the prospect of an intra-Shiite civil war.
Such a conflict could lead to the collapse of the Iraqi state and allow Islamic State to re-emerge. It also could allow Tehran to consolidate control over the government in Baghdad while targeting American personnel throughout the country. A weak American statement telling Iran to control its proxies in response to two instances of mortars fired at U.S. facilities shows a lack of seriousness. Washington must act now to manage this crisis and deter further Iranian attacks.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
A Note for Prospective Students
The Diering Lab is a recently established lab and is actively recruiting graduate students for rotation. Our lab focuses on big questions in neuroscience, including: how are memories formed and maintained? How does sleep bolster neurological processes? What are the cognitive consequences of low-quality sleep? Does sleep disruption contribute to the onset and progression of Alzheimer's Disease? And, is there a connection between sleep quality in early stages of development and the progression of autism spectrum disorders? We anticipate that prospective graduate students will have overlapping interests in some of these areas.
About UNC-Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is the oldest public university in the United States, and is consistently ranked as one of the best public institutions in the country. The Diering Lab is in the UNC Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, which is housed within the UNC School of Medicine. UNC is a large research university and graduate students have broad access to diverse resources.
Chapel Hill is a classic college town nested within a larger urban zone. The city is a short drive from both Duke University in Durham, and NC State University in Raleigh. The combined cities of Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill make up the "Research Triangle," a fast-growing region known for its research-focused industry.
Things To Do in Chapel Hill
Memorial Hall
Carrboro Music Festival
Carolina Brewery
Community/Cultural
Carolina Performing Arts
NC Botanical Garden
Ackland Art Museum
Morehead Planetarium
Center for the Study of the American South
Carrboro Farmer's Market
Paddling on University Lake
Mountain biking in Carolina North Forest
Mason Farm Biological Reserve
Coker Arboretum
Battle Park
Johnston Mill Nature Preserve
Nearby State Parks
Eno River (12 miles)
Occoneechee Mountain (13 miles)
Jordan Lake (15 miles)
Umstead (22 miles)
Falls Lake (33 miles)
Upscale Restaurants
CholaNad
Venable
Elaine's on Franklin
Return to Graham Diering's UNC School of Medicine Homepage


A number of Gippsland residents have been recognised in today's Australia Day honours list.
Max Stuart of Denison works for the Department of Sustainability and Environment near Heyfield, and is one of 30 recipients of an Australian Fire Service Medal.
Mr Stuart has been working in land and fire management for 32 years and says he is humbled by the honour.
"It's an honour to be recognised, I certainly thank all of those that I've worked with over the years in assisting me achieving it, hopefully I can pass off some of my learnings to the others and continue the successes of supporting firefighters that are out on the fire line," he said.
Meanwhile, three Gippsland residents are among the 274 people awarded Order of Australia medals.
Traralgon resident Doug Caulfield has been honoured for service to the community through ex-service, sporting, and local government organisations.
Dr Dorothy Angell, of Glengarry, is receiving the award for services to nursing and the community.
And Foster resident Roslyn Bryan has been awarded the medal for service to veterans and their families, through the Fish Creek sub-branch of the RSL.
Citizenship and awards ceremonies are to be held across Gippsland today.


Last week was paying careful attention to the head and shoulders setting up on H4 – having failed to have broken below support (this week's WM2) I am seeing some bullish moves on this pair. Keep an eye on Pound data coming out this week. Also seems very unlikely that the FOMC will increase rates next week. Pay attention to any comments out of FOMC members as this could lead to USD strength or weakness.
Have trapped price in a range on H1 and will trade pull back as per below charts. Bull target for the week is WM4.


text:
Stamps of a Revolution: Ali Mobasser's Iranian stamp collection and incredible family story
When artist Ali Mobasser was a child he began collecting stamps. The act of building a collection of ephemera, carefully placing postal gems into a book, is a common hobby for children across the world. But for Ali, his Iranian stamp collection "acted as a security blanket during a turbulent period in my childhood when I was sent away by mother in Southern California to live with my father in London," the artist begins to tell It's Nice That.
Ali's heritage is Iranian. His family left the country during the Islamic Revolution in 1979 due to his grandfather's role in the Shah's government. "He was a famous general who had been chief of national police and in 1979 he was deputy prime minister," Ali explains. "He went into hiding after saying his final goodbye to his wife who was dying of cancer." The artist's family settled London where Ali moved too, raised by his grandfather, aunt, father and an ever-growing collection of stamps prised off of letters from his family's former home. "I collected for a few more years until hitting my adolescence, by which time they ceased to be cool and found a place on my father's bookshelf, collecting dust until their rediscovery 20 years on."
Fast forward to now and Ali's childhood stamp collection has become a formative visualisation of his artistic practice. "As an adult, displacement, identity and life in exile was becoming a big factor in my life and art, and through a number of different life alignments (the death of my aunt who raised me and the birth of my son), I felt the need to tell my family's story, mainly for therapeutic reasons after my loss."
The act of using art as a way to portray such a personal story is not a practice that came naturally to Ali. Initially, it was actually something he "shied away from in my art, choosing socially orientated concepts that were more illustrative than truly personal," he explains. "I had grown up in London wanting to have a 'normal' narrative like everyone else and didn't want to stick out with my weird refugee story. I spent my youth cultivating my Englishness, slowly building a creative and emotional dam that was getting ready to burst!"
Understandably, Ali did burst. In 2015 he opened up the book of stamps – and his family's history too – photographing each of them into a project, Stamps of a Revolution, with an accompanying text about his particular attachment to them. "I find the re-appropriation of personal objects and stories into concepts quite effective as my personal form of communication to the viewer," explains the artist. "The personal part of this stamp collection is that I collected these stamps as a child, from the post that arrived for me in the west, a process that helped bring me closer to a place I longed to know for myself one day."
The idea of Ali visiting Iran was something that had always been something hushed away by his family. "Going back to Iran was not on the cards for us. Both my father and mother were quick to dissuade me when I would bring up the subject of visiting one day," he says. "It was never a good time it seemed, but it was becoming an ever-growing itch that was going to have to be scratched sooner or later. Imagine having celebrated your culture all your life and being able to speak your mother tongue fluently yet not remembering your country. It was becoming an issue for me, especially after becoming a father."
Luckily, Ali's wish to visit Iran started to become a reality after visiting Photo London in 2016. By chance, the artist came across AG Galerie, based in Iran's capital Tehran. "It's not often you see a gallery from Iran exhibiting at such events so I began a conversation with the owner, Simindokht Dehghani," Ali explains. Looking at Ali's work on her laptop she saw Stamps of a Revolution and jumped at the chance to collaborate with him on a book and an exhibition in Tehran the following year. "I was totally thrown, and thrilled!"
Considering his family's broken relationship with Iran, Ali's father first sent "out a feeler to make sure the gallery were legitimate and became very proud of my achievement," the artist explains. Tragically, however, Ali's father passed away during this time and in turn, "the Mobasser elders who I had grown up with in London, the reason I came to London, were now all gone". At this point the artist decided to head to Iran, "I had nothing to lose," he says. "In January 2017, shortly after turning 40, I visited Iran for the first time in 38 years and in the summer I returned, this time with my wife and son for my first solo show, anywhere."
The exhibition saw each of Ali's collected stamps delicately housed in tiny frames. Built up together on a wall through time, "walking into that space for the first time, surrounded by all 107 framed stamps in chronological order was very moving," says the artist. " The story of my stamps had found its ending and I had returned them to their place of issue, just as they, in turn, had reunited me with my country."
Ali Mobasser: Stamps of a Revolution, 1981
www.alimobasser.com
Lucy (she/her) joined It's Nice That as a staff writer in July 2016 after graduating from Chelsea College of Art. In January 2019, was made deputy editor and in November 2021, she became a senior editor predominantly working on It's Nice That's partnerships. Feel free to get in contact with Lucy about creative projects for the site or potential partnerships.
lb@itsnicethat.com


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In this episode of EXPRESS YOURSELF on DearJames Live...On The Radio, DearJames® will take your calls live, covering the topics YOU want to talk about.
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Whether it's something you just need to get off your chest or it's something you aren't quite certain how to deal with, DearJames™ will provide you with the Intuitive Insight, Answers & Advice you've been looking for. From serious to silly, monumental to mundane, there isn't a topic the Universe can't or won't cover.
Have the COURAGE TO CALL IN LIVE at 877.230.3062. The call is free, the Intuitive Insight, Answers and Advice...Priceless.


The Axolotl, Ambystoma mexicanum, is the best known of the Mexican mole salamanders: it belongs to the Tiger Salamander complex. The Axolotl shows neoteny: the larvae do not undergo metamorphosis, so the adults stay aquatic, with external gills.
The species evolved in the lake underlying Mexico City. Axolotls are used a lot in scientific research because they can regenerate most body parts, are easy to breed, and have large embryos.
Axolotls are closely related to waterdogs, the larval stage of the closely related Tiger salamanders Ambystoma tigrinum and Ambystoma mavortium. These are common in much of North America and also sometimes become neotenic. The mudpuppies, Necturus, are fully-aquatic salamanders which are not closely related to the axolotl but bear a superficial resemblance.
Wild axolotls are now near extinction  due to population growth in Mexico City, and the polluted waters of the lake. Non-native fish, such as African tilapia and Asian carp, have also recently been introduced to the waters. These new fish have been eating the axolotls' young, as well as its primary source of food. The axolotl is currently on the IUCN Red List of threatened species.
Compared with land-dwelling salamanders, the sexually mature adult Axolotl is a chimera (~ mixture) of larval and adult tissues. A mutation in hormone production slows the development of the non-sexual tissues compared to the gonads. So, it ends up as an adult which looks like a larva, except that it is sexually mature. This is an example of neoteny, a type of heterochrony. Axolotls in the lab have reduced pigmentation and end up being a lighter pink color, while axolotls that live in nature are a darker, brown to black color.
↑ Weird creatures, with Nick Baker (Television series). Dartmoor, England, U.K.: The Science Channel. 2009-11-11. Event occurs at 00:25.
This page was last changed on 17 October 2017, at 14:09.


U.S. Politics Today just ran a U.S.A. Today story on the state of national nursing homes, and it's not pretty.
The story maintains that over 600 of the nation's nursing homes have low ratings due to dirty equipment, unsuitable living areas, unlicensed employees and a myriad of other issues.
The biggest problem is that homes continue to score poorly, even after receiving one-star ratings in years past. Exactly 564 homes have scored a one-star rating in every reporting period since 2008.


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Whether it's a commercial foreclosure or Chapter 7, 11, or 13 bankruptcy, Century Capital's lending specialists are here for you throughout the Tri-State area. We appreciate the urgency of your situation and can get your loan approved in as little as two weeks. Banks trust us. Judges trust us. You can trust us. If you want to experience the private commercial lending industry with utmost integrity, professionalism, and speed, contact Century Capital today.


… and that's when the real fun (and wild generosity) begins.
In July, 2011, when Connie Hozvicka's painting graced the cover of Wild Sister Magazine's first issue, I fell in love instantly and went searching for the artist. I was delighted to find her blogging away about art and life and love at Dirty Footprints Studio. What makes her blog and her art so good is her willingness to put her whole self – mind, body, heart and soul – into each piece.
Through her FEARLESS Painting workshops, retreats, teacher training program, and blog, Connie inspires women all over the world to ruthlessly trust their innate wisdom. She lives a couple of inches under the sun in Arizona with her beloved husband Hansel and son Phoenix.
j: Life is demanding. What are your tricks for getting into a creative space?
j: What's the weirdest thing that inspires you?
Connie: The ground. I have a thing for taking photos of little snippets of the ground that look like "paintings" to me. So you'll catch me both walking with my eyes down a lot, and stopping to take photos of leaves or stones or even garbage. I've only uploaded a few of these photos HERE, but it's probably the strangest thing, I guess, that inspires me!
j: How do you deal with critics?
Connie: I send them love and light and then let them go. Sure, it's not always that easy. But I've found that there is more healing for myself (and maybe them too) in sending love and light to the critics than there is in obsessing over their comments or getting angry about their negative energy.
j: What energizes you, solitude or engagement?
Connie: A harmony of both. If I have too much solitude I begin to crave being with others and vice versa.
j: A wheelbarrow, 600 Tiger Lilies, a bag of antique jewelry and a string of brightly colored lights: What will you make?
Connie: I would make an elementary school a little prettier to look at and give the students an opportunity to know the joy of gardening and making art! How? Well, first I would sell that bag of antique jewelry to get some money for art supplies. Second, we would use the wheelbarrow to move dirt around as the kiddos plant those 600 Tiger Lilies outside their school. Then, with the art supplies we purchased from selling the jewelry, I would guide the kids into creating paintings of Tiger Lilies that we would hang on the halls inside. And those lights? Well, we would hang them around the school for decoration when we have our art opening for their Tiger Lily paintings! Yep! That's what I would make…a great experience for a group of kiddos!
What is the weirdest (or, if you don't like "weird," most unusual or surprising or funniest) thing that inspires YOU?
Answer in the comments section by August 1, and we'll pick one of your answers at random to win a free registration to Connie's latest offering 21 SECRETS, an online, self guided, Art Journaling workshop – 21 classes taught by a family of diverse, professional Artists. It's for "art journaling virgins and veterans" alike! You can read more about it here.
I can't wait to hear what wonderful weirdness inspires you!
I put all your names into The Boy's top hat and he chose Star as the winner, which made me go back and read her comment and think, "Yay!" (True, I might have done that no matter who won, but that's only because you were all so generous and vibrant in your answers. Thank you you so much all of you for making this post one of my favorites, and congratulations to Star!
I LOVE ferns. I feel so drawn to them, love the hiking trails surrounded by them. I never thought of them as inspirational, but they totally are.
Excellent weirdness; I'll join you!
I don't guess I'd call any of the things that inspire me "weird" . . . (not to say that's the same response as other people, speaking of critics) . . . but I do have to remind myself that really good creative-well-filling frequently happens when I'm "off topic": I never get film ideas by watching films, I get a zillion fiction ideas reading nonfiction, and further afield.
Okay, some of the best prompts are in the bibliographies of the stuff I edit for work: titles of scholarly articles that try to be evocative and clever and summarizing all at once, glimpses of story and unusual juxtapositions.
But j's Love Project fit better on the badge.
I love coming over to this blog. It's like an "Artist's Date" (ala The Artist's Way). First, Connie, love your photos! (Photography was my primary medium in art school … yay!) I'll certainly be dropping by your blog. Okay, weirdest things that inspire me? Hmmm. Imagery from Jean Cocteau's La Belle et la Bête is pretty weird. (I think I'm too weird to think most of the things that inspire me are weird).
The imagery in that film sticks with me. I love it.
WEIRD?????Hmmmm is there anything that is truly weird if it inspires art.
The thing that inspires me? Color! Color! Color! The brighter the better! Whether found in paintings, or the gazillions of bright, shiny beads in my drawer, the fabrics that are stacked in my cupboard ( mostly stacked, they can spill out from time to time) or the flowers in my garden.
Color lifts me, makes me happy, and urges me to create something magical!
Your reply inspires me. Seriously. I'm getting my crayons out tonight. Thank you!
I love taking photos of clouds; I always think I will paint them later or collage them but I never do. I always make something totally unrelated.
I always like that, though. When the inspiration and the end result are only linked inside of you.
Me too! Seriously, yesterday, I was having so much trouble with a piece – that blank-screen, first sentence, why-am-I-even-here kind of trouble. Eventually, I just stepped outside and watched the tops of trees swaying. I didn't even think about the piece. Then I came and drafted it.
I'm good with the ancient bard theory.
I really loved this interview j. Connie's answers were so in line with how I think creatively. Your questions made for very interesting answers that only a creative person would understand. It is so reassuring to read another creative person's take on things and how to best express their creative side while trying to live a busy life. This is an excellent piece! I would love to pose the same questions to you!
I'm inspired and always have been by the "other side". The things just on the fringe of what everyone else sees. I am fascinated by things that are distressed from age or weather. The rustier the better. I am also quite inspired when I see something that has been forgotten or left at the curb. I instantly start to feel energized thinking of how I can make it beautiful or usable again. How I can integrate it with what I already have. It is one of my bigger passions and I've been doing it long long before shabby sheik became popular.
Thanks to you and Connie for a whole lot of inspiration and encouragement to keep creating. I think I shall.
I love that inspiration! I wish I had that talent. I took The Boy to Urban Ore, which is this enormous recycling center in Oakland, with a second hand store the size of a warehouse. I saw tons of artists buying the weirdest things and I wondered what they were going to make. I'm so damned grounded in my verbal brain, I find myself making up stories about people who might have owned all the old stuff. Which is fun, but it won't make me a craft room out of second hand treasures. If only you lived closer!
I have to agree with Star. Color is the driving force in whatever creativity I may posess.Whether it be in choosing my wordrobe, working on a cross stitch or describing a character. Color creates mood. Color is a huge factor for any Art form or Artist.
You just made me curious about blind artists, who often describe what the rest of us see… I wonder what they see.
The weirdest thing that inspires me is my daughter's belly laugh. Magic is to be found in that joyful sound.
Thank you for having her over!
Something weird that inspires me? Hmm… Stationery. Probably because I don't have much variety ready for purchase here in my city, I absolutely love it when people send me paper with pretty designs, and even more so, creating my own cards to send.
I love love love writing on these… and photographing them as well!
I feel that way about stationery stores. LOVE them. Not as much as used bookstores (which are also hugely inspiring), but almost.
One of the things that inspires me is my daily commute–it's about 40 minutes one way, and it's through a rural area. Most of the year, I leave home in the dark and come home in late afternoon/early evening light. I watch for animals–deer, coyotes, and other critters. Every day I see the same horses and donkeys and we watch each other as I pass. I look at houses and see how the outside changes and sometimes, I can tell that the inside has changed because of the lights.
Seeing all these things every day makes me think about what is going on and the driving gives my brain a chance to run away with stories and ideas. I keep a notebook so I can scribble notes to myself. I've even taken some pictures of trees against the sky and the colors in the sky.
Thank you for this chance to share my thoughts.
I love this answer. Every Friday, I drive to my mom's house, which is only about 35 miles away, but on Fridays, in commute traffic, the drive home often takes an hour to an hour and a half. (I live in the SF Bay Area.) It's not a pretty commute and I always feel stressed.
Today, I'll think about your commute. And also, maybe I'll people watch. Make up stories about everyone else – where they're going, who they're going to see (or leaving)… You've got me almost looking forward to it. Thank YOU!
Barns! (Which isn't exactly what you said, but they are made of barn wood.) Absolutely inspire me too. I have so many pictures of old barns. Love your list of inspiration, and I like the overlap I'm seeing between writers and painters.
Nature is my biggest inspiration, and while in I'm out in it I find it in all sorts of strange places. In the movement of the grass, in the composition I find in different weeds growing next to each other (some of those weeds can be really pretty!). I find it in the structure of birds nests and in mushrooms growing in the shade of mighty old trees. It comes with the onset of a thunderstorm, in those minutes before the heavens open up and the leaves on the trees all seem backwards and the scent in the air is metallic.
OK, I've thought about this for a week, and nothing I thought of struck me as weird, but here goes. I get inspired by the thought of laying on a warm patch of grass and looking up at the sky or falling asleep to the sound of insects. I do that maybe once a year, but I think of it often, and the thought conjures what I would think of or wish to do while I was lying (laying?) on that patch of grass.
I need to write a post about "weird," and how I think the word needs to be reclaimed, the condition celebrated. But in the meantime, this counts because if I asked 100 people what inspires them, I bet only you would give me this answer this way. Falling asleep to the sound of insects. I love that. And frogs.
When I'm camping, there's this point when dusk meets night that all the crickets and frogs start singing… an earth concert.
Oh J. Of course, the issue was NOT the word weird. I was uninspired for a week or so because I was out of touch with the me that wasn't anxious and worried about serious stuff! Just today I've been inspired by that patch of grass and the sound of insects and birds (no frogs); by a young tom cat that seems intent on adopting me (and he's got a heart shaped mark, askew, but still (!) on his back); by the amazingly gentle yet strong touch of my hand surgeon as he examined my scar; by the waitress who served me the best pancakes in Long Beach this morning; by the sights, sounds and scents at my local Tuesday Farmer's market, and the passion of the woman from whom I by flowers every week as well as the warm smile that always comes with my hot-from-the-wood-fire-in-a-brick-oven amazing pizza which is now my standard Tuesday supper; by the old people, babies, in between people, and gentle big dogs. I'm inspired by the very sound of my breath and the beating of my heart (I drank real coffee this morning). The only weird thing is my ability to separate myself from the never ceasing to inspire me world if I show up and am present here. Thank you for helping me see that.
Oh, please don't. There are quite enough soundly grown up grown ups around. There aren't nearly enough of us letting the kids inside us loose. Wish I had a tiara to give you!
Isn't it great that the left-brained activity of organization tickles your right brain into action? Love that. Weirdly, grape vineyards do that to me. The way these gnarly plants are all in neat little rows… especially when viewed from a distance.
I agree – rain or shine, the ocean does something to my insides. I like to think that it's there – at the meeting place of land and sea, the surf's rhythm lulling our own inner rhythms into a sort of duet – that humans feel their connection to the earth strongest.
The weirdest thing that inspires me is stress. I get my most expressive work and colors from the release of that stress into the painting.
Ha! I've thought of that too. Some of the writing I'm most proud was produced during some of my most unsettled, wrenching times. I think we imbue our art with raw humanity in those times.
I'm generally always surprised by what inspires me. It's usually not 'something' – it's mostly someone. There are obvious things in life that keep me in spirit; like that first, surprising moment the moon catches your eye and you're rendered breathless, or watching a child do their own thing when they think no one is watching, or, for that matter; a child holding a single balloon tugs at my heart every time. Reflections on water, mist, fog, heavy rain, a handstand, a headstand, a long drive, punk rock music, classical music, the stationary section at target, berry season at the supermarkets, laughter from the people i love…..so much.
What actually inspires me to produce? People who go first.
I'm totally in love with your list of inspirations. I want to print them on a t-shirt and walk around, inspiring people to do more headstands!
I'm over the moon for this quest for creativity – and the openness to finding it anywhere it may lay.
Maybe not so weird..maybe very weird – but what most inspires me is my yoga mat. Not so much as a visual inspiration..but more as a metaphor for my creative self…for taking up space…for showing up…for practicing whatever it is that I'm practicing that day. It's so often there – on that magical mat – that my greatest ideas happen!
What fun to read everyone's comments here…:-)!
Me too, Marcie. So much wordless work gets done on my mat.
I'm not sure how weird this is but what inspires me are birds and paths. I have collected a lot of older Asian art from thrift stores, and at one point, without having realized when I was buying them, I realized that almost every single piece had a bird. And I get up at 4:30 am every morning, first to feed the dogs and make a half cup of coffee, but then to go in my office and write. I open the window and listen to the birds, the only other sound the scratch of my pen on paper. When we were in the thick of wildfire season here and the air was so bad, I couldn't open the window, and I felt so forlorn, not being able to hear that dawn song. And paths, other than walking them, I am obsessed with taking pictures of them. Other than those two: walking with dogs, watching them play or sleep, riding in the car somewhere gorgeous, sitting in my backyard, and being at the beach in Oregon, looking out at the Pacific and listening to the waves, noticing how they rhyme with my heartbeat, my breath.
Thank-you to Connie and Judy for this post and this opportunity <3 The Art Journaling course was actually on my vision board, so I am utterly amazed and thank-ful I was chosen.
See, wishes do come true!!


Wordpress and bbPress user Role Maps not syncing!?
I've tried asking on the respected community support forums, but I thought I might try here.
Role maps aren't syncing up.
I use: bbPress 1.0.3, WordPress 3.1.1, and Buddypress.
bbPress and WordPress were fully integrated and working together in every other aspect.
So I did a fresh install with WP, BP, and BBP. No plugins except the absolutely necessary ones. No go.
Someone said BP wasn't compatible with BBP. So Another fresh install with just WP and BBP. Same issue.


text:
25th September 2019 | Sunshine Ladies Tour
Rookie in the Hot Seat at Humewood
Humewood, 24 September 2019 – Western Province rookie Tara Griebenow leads the women's event in the Vodacom Origins of Golf at Humewood Golf Club in just her second start on the Sunshine Ladies Tour circuit.
The 23-year-old from the Durbanville Golf Club carded a four-over-par 76 in challenging, wet and blustery, conditions on Tuesday.
Brittney-Fay Berger from KwaZulu-Natal trails Griebenow by two shots, while former SA Womens's Stroke Play Casandra Hall is a further two shots adrift.
"I'm a little surprised, but given the conditions I knew anything could happen this morning," Griebenow reflected. "The rain made things really difficult initially, but I managed to fire three birdies to recover from a double bogey start on the first. That got the momentum going and it got easier once the sun came out."
Griebenow only received her PGA South Africa professional licence at the beginning of September, so leading from the front in professional tournament is brand new territory and with the infamous Port Elizabeth wind expected to show up in the afternoon, her two-shot lead is anything but secure.
"Holding the overnight lead is one thing, but I'll have to hang on tomorrow," she said.
The women's event is being played in conjunction with the pro-am tournament and the Vodacom Origins of Golf players will tee off at 8am.
2nd August 2019 | Sunshine Ladies Tour
Buhai bursts clear at AIG British Women's Open
2 August 2019 – South Africa's Ashleigh Buhai moved into a three-shot lead at the halfway point of the AIG Women's British Open on Friday.
The Sunshine Ladies Tour champion backed up a leading seven-under-65 on day one with a flawless five-under-par round of 67, leaving her an impressive 12-under for the tournament at the Marquess' Course at Woburn Golf and Country Club.
Buhai will go out in the final pairing with Hinako Shibuno from Japan on Saturday, who carded a 69 to finish in second. American Lizette Salas a further shot behind.
With Buhai playing in the afternoon field, Shibuno made an early move to set the club-house target at eight under.
An early birdie drew Buhai level with Shibuno, but after eight pars on the back nine, the Japanese holed a big putt at the 16th to get back in front:
Buhai was not daunted and saved her best for the final nine holes.
A birdie at the 11th put her back on terms with Shibuno and from there, she kicked on and made the most of the ideal conditions late in the day. On 13, Buhai made an excellent putt from off the fringe of the green, starting a run of three birdies in four holes.
"My goal going out today was to get to double figures," said the three-time Ladies European Tour winner. "Once I got it to eight…nine…10-under, I felt more comfortable and was able to put my foot down.
"I managed to hit it really close on the 15th hole to like a tap-in birdie, and had a good shot into 16, tucked pin and then holed the putt. I was really steady on the front nine. I didn't hit many shots close. I birdied my second hole with a good wedge, and hit a few good putts. I
"I'm trying not to keep thinking it's a Major; it's just another tournament. I'm really enjoying the way the golf course is playing. I think it helps that the conditions have just been so good and we haven't had to deal with too many elements."
The South African has put daylight between herself and her rivals and if she performs to the same standards over the weekend, it's tough to see how anyone will stop Buhai from clinching her maiden major title.
However, there are a number of quality players within striking distance. .
Local favourite Charley Hull, targeting victory at her home course, tied for fourth, five shots back alongside world number two Sung-hyun Park from South Korea, Frenchwoman Celine Boutier, Bronte Law from England, Germany's Caroline Masson.
Ko Jin-young from South Korea – winner of the last week's Evian Championship and ANA Inspiration champion – is targeting her third major title this year. The world number one is on six-under and just five off the pace alongside defending champion Georgia Hall, among others.
1st August 2019 | Sunshine Ladies Tour
Buhai takes early command at Woburn
1 August 2019 – Ashleigh Buhai took the first-round lead at the AIG Women's British Open on Thursday, seeking to become the second South African female Major winner, while South Korea's Ko Jin-young started well in a quest to win back-to-back Majors.
Buhai's best previous British Open finish was a tie for 30th in 2017 and she found herself in uncharted territory after notching eight birdies in a seven-under-par 65 at Woburn in Milton Keynes.
She may not have won on the LPGA Tour yet, but Buhai owns three Ladies European Tour titles and 11 victories on the Sunshine Ladies Tour and the experience showed as she recovered from her only bogey on the par-5 11th with consecutive birdies on holes 14, 15 and 16.
She headed American Danielle Kang and Japan's Shibuno Hinako by one stroke, while local favourite Charley Hull was among a group two behind.
Four days after winning the Evian Championship in France, Ko continued her sizzling form with an eventful 68, while English defending champion Georgia Hall shot 69.
Buhai enjoyed a day when everything clicked and perhaps allowed her to dream of compatriot Sally Little as a major champion. Little won the 1980 Women's PGA Championship and the 1988 du Maurier Classic.
"I'm feeling really confident with the putter and it's been good the last few weeks," said the 30-year-old Buhai. "Today I managed to hit a few more greens and rolled in the putts.
"In my last few tournaments, I've had three good rounds and one not so good round, so I'm hoping this is the week I can do four good rounds," said Buhai, whose best finish this year was a tie for 11th. "The last few weeks, I have been just trying to stay mellow and keep everything in check, and it seems to be helping."
Ko is seeking her third major title of the year after the Evian and ANA Inspiration in California in April.
It was not always such smooth sailing on the greens for the South Korean, who had a four-putt double-bogey at the 14th hole, where she missed a couple of three-footers.
That setback might have demoralised some players, but the world number one is made of sterner stuff.
She bounced back by hitting the cup with her approach shots at the par-five 15th and par-four 18th for what would have been a couple of most unlikely eagles.
Though neither fell in, she converted the birdie putts.
"The back nine was a lot of putts missed," said Ko. "I tried to finish strong and I got a birdie on 18. It was a huge birdie."
30th January 2019 | Sunshine Ladies Tour
Buhai fires warning shot Canon Sunshine Tour Ladies Open
30 January 2019 – Ashleigh Buhai sounded a warning shot to the field of the Canon Sunshine Ladies Tour Open field with a flawless five-under 67 in the first round at Irene Country Club on Wednesday.
The bogey-free round for Buhai meant she opened up a three-shot lead in the 54-hole event over countrywoman Symone Henriques and Namibia's Bonita Bredenhann, who both carded tidy opening rounds of two-under 70.
A further stroke adrift in solo fourth was France's Emie Peronnin, while six South Africans shared fifth spot on level par, including former Sunshine Ladies Tour winners Lee-Anne Pace and Bertine Faber, rookie Casandra Hall, amateur Kajal Mistry, 2018 Investec Property Fund Order of Merit winner Stacy Bregman and Ivana Samu, making a welcome return to competitive golf after undergoing back surgery last year.
Buhai ended the 2018 season on a high note, winning the Investec South African Women's Open for a third time, and the Royal Johannesburg and Kensington golfer was understandably chuffed with her first competitive round of 2019.
"I'm very happy with the way I played with it being my first tournament back after I took five weeks off starting in December," said Buhai.
"I started practicing three weeks ago, and I was very happy to put what I was working on into play. I had five birdies and no bogeys, so a very good result at the start of the season."
When Buhai missed shots, they were in the right places and her short-game came through with flying colours.
"I made a lot of good saves and my short game was very sharp, considering I haven't played that much. My coach Doug Wood and I have a plan and we've worked on that. Consistency-wise I was never really in trouble, even my bad shots were just right or just off the green. They weren't difficult up-and-downs so that also made it a little bit easier for me to make those pars."
Following a second place finish on the final Order of Merit last year, Buhai produced some strong performances abroad which saw her end the year as the top-ranked SA player on the global stage.
At 116th in the Rolex Women's World Golf Rankings, Buhai is some way ahead of Pace, with SA number three Bregman even further back at 308th.
"I was happy with the way I finished off last season," Buhai said. "There was definitely some inconsistency and we've built something into my swing which I hope will help me with that.
"I played a lot of golf last year, I think it was 31 tournaments. I'm looking to space things out a lot better this year and hopefully play well in the bigger events and then to not have to play as much golf either."
Husband Davis is back on the bag this week, a partnership which clearly works on local shores.
"Dave is back on the bag when I'm in South Africa, but when I compete abroad, I use Gary du Plooy from Zimbabwe," Buhai explained. "He's been caddying for me for just over six months now. I enjoy it when Dave caddies for me, since he knows my game the best, but I think it's good to have that time apart when we hit the long run in the States."
The 29-year-old has a busy schedule ahead, and will not have much time to dwell or savour from this week's event.
"I leave for Australia on Saturday, where I will be play three weeks and then I'll come back for the Investec SA Open. Straight after Westlake, we leave for the United States for a six-week stretch."
Glenvista amateur Symone Henriques tied for second with a two-under 70 in the Canon Sunshine Ladies Tour Open at Irene Country Club; credit Sunshine Ladies Tour.
Henriques will also be heading for the United States, although not as quickly as Buhai.
The Glenvista amateur will be taking up a golf scholarship at East Carolina University in North Carolina in August.
"I'm excited to play the Sunshine Ladies Tour without the pressure of school and to take in as much as I can from the pros," said the 18-year-old. "I also hope to get into seriously competitive shape for the national amateur circuit. It would be great to win one more time before I leave."
SOCIAL MEDIA CANON SUNSHINE LADIES TOUR OPEN
TWITTER – @CanonRSA
FACEBOOK – @CanonSouthAfrica
INSTAGRAM – @canonrsa
HASHTAG – #CanonSLTOpen
Written and released by Lali Stander on behalf of the Sunshine Ladies Tour and WPGA.
SA's Best primed for Glory Battle at Westlake
28 January 2019 – Ashleigh Buhai's seven-year wait for a third Ladies European Tour (LET) title ended in Cape Town when she won the Investec South African Women's Open on the Sunshine Ladies Tour last March.
South Africa's leading international golfer became the third player to achieve a hat-trick of triumphs and she will take up her title defence when the R2-million LET co-sanctioned showpiece returns to Westlake Golf Club from 14-16 March.
The world number 116 hopes to join Lee-Anne Pace with four victories, but believes it will be a tougher task to reach the winner's circle this year.
"When Investec took up the title sponsorship last year and put the Investec South African Women's Open back on the LET schedule, the interest in the event really sparked and the tournament drew a strong field of international golfers," said Buhai.
"I really had to work for the win and now that this year's Sunshine Ladies Tour has two new events – the Jabra Ladies Classic at Glendower and the Team Championship at Serengeti – the depth of the field will be even stronger.
"With spots into two LET events, courtesy of the Investec South African Women's Open and the Jabra Ladies Classic, we can expect an even bigger presence of LET players. Several Sunshine Ladies Tour players like Lejan Lewthwaite and Nobuhle Dlamini have also made huge strides over the last 12 months. Lee-Anne Pace and Stacy Bregman are always dangerous and, if you factor in the international entries, the level of competition will be even higher.
"I am coming back with the goal of defending the title, but it won't be a walk in the park. I will have to bring my A-game to Westlake to finish in front."
Pace will also be back, chasing title number five, and Bregman, now the third highest ranked South African in the Rolex Women's World Golf Rankings at number 306, is targeting a maiden win.
"The Investec South African Women's Open trophy is definitely on my bucket list," said the five-time Sunshine Ladies Tour champion and last year's Investec Property Fund Order of Merit winner.
"I didn't practice much ahead of the first event on the LET in Abu Dhabi and I got the bad end of the draw for the first two days, so I was really pleased to finish in the top 16. I plan to defend at the Canon Sunshine Ladies Tour Open at the end of January and then I am heading to Australia.
"I will be playing four events, including the Australian Women's Open and I hope to build up some good form for Westlake. The Investec South African Women's Open is the one title we all aspire to win and I came close last year. I went low on the final day to finish fourth and this year, I'm aiming for the winner's circle."
The Investec South African Women's Open has enjoyed the support of the City of Cape Town since regaining co-sanctioned status last year and moving to the Mother City.
Dan Plato, Executive Mayor of Cape Town, said, "In December last year, Cape Town was named as the 'World's Leading Festival and Events Destination' at the World Tourism Awards. Being able to host fantastic sporting events such as the Investec SA Women's Open further confirms why we are able to celebrate this title.
"Big events being held in Cape Town mean fantastic entertainment for our residents and visitors, and at the same time bring with them skills development and job creation opportunities for our communities. I want to wish the event organisers and all participants a successful event and I'm looking forward to seeing Cape Town come out to support our South African sporting stars."
The tournament promoter, Lesley Copeman from World Sports Promotions, applauded Investec and the City of Cape Town for their continued investment in the women's professional game and commitment to women's golf development.
"The South Africa Women's Open is the showpiece of the Sunshine Ladies Tour and deserves strong, committed sponsors like Investec and the City of Cape Town," Copeman said. "However, Investec and the City of Cape Town have also invested in the growth of women's golf through their continued support of the women's professional circuit.
"Since the Sunshine Ladies Tour launched in 2014, Investec has sponsored several events and initiatives, while the City of Cape Town joined the circuit in 2015 with the Cape Town Ladies Open at Royal Cape Golf Club. The City of Cape Town also extended its support and hosted the South African Women's Masters at Rondebosch Golf Club in 2017 and last year, the City of Cape Town fully supported our decision to take the SA Women's Masters to San Lameer and to bring the crown jewel of the Sunshine Ladies Tour circuit to Westlake.
"In addition, Investec added a R100 000 incentive last year for the Investec Property Fund Order of Merit winner. This kind of commitment is a strong endorsement of the exciting growth and development of the women's professional game in South Africa."
Sunshine Ladies Tour reaches momentous milestone
24 January 2019 – The continuing strength of the Sunshine Ladies Tour is splendidly illustrated today with the announcement of a new event that takes the sixth season to a record nine events for the 2019 season.
The Sunshine Ladies Tour has taken a bold step with the introduction of a Team Championship as part of its drive to broaden the support of the women's professional circuit.
"We introduced the team championship on the Sunshine Tour last year," said Sunshine Tour Commissioner Selwyn Nathan.
"It proved highly successful and we are confident that it will enjoy the same success on the Sunshine Ladies Tour at Serengeti Estates. We had more than 50 international players competing on the Sunshine Ladies Tour in 2018 and initial entries suggests we will exceed that number this year.
"With the team event early in the season, we can foster friendships and camaraderie between the international and local competitors in a fun, but competitive environment. The Betterball format is also a lot less stressful than the 54-hole stroke play events and is the perfect platform to gently induct our young amateurs onto the Sunshine Ladies Tour. The golf industry is continuously looking for new ways to make the sport attractive to new fans and draw bigger audiences, and this is our contribution."
The Serengeti Team Championship marks the second new event to join this year's schedule.
The 36-hole tournament will be played after the season-opening Canon Sunshine Ladies Tour Open, which tees off at Irene Golf Club on 30 January. The Joburg Ladies Open moves to the end of the season, following the inaugural Jabra Ladies Classic in March.
City of Johannesburg Director – Event Management Bongi Mokaba welcomed the initiative.
"We applaud the Sunshine Ladies Tour for their innovation and we embrace the opportunity to move the Joburg Ladies Open to the end of the season," said Mokaba. "We are very excited to take the Sunshine Ladies Tour to the Soweto Country Club for the very first time. This is history in the making and having the season-finale at such an iconic South African venue is a fitting way to end the season and the Investec Property Fund Order of Merit race."
Cheryl Leicher, Head of Marketing for Investec Property, also commended the Sunshine Ladies Tour on the addition of two new events this season.
"Investec Property has been committed to grow the women's game in South Africa since the inception of the Sunshine Ladies Tour and we are pleased to see two additional events on this year's schedule," said Leicher.
"Both events provide our local golfers with vital playing opportunities and, although the Serengeti Team Championship will not count towards the Investec Property Fund Order of Merit, it will add to the excitement of the season and the anticipation of a thrilling finale at the Joburg Ladies Open."
The sixth edition of the Sunshine Ladies Tour will include eight counting events towards the Investec Property Fund Order of Merit, plus the Serengeti Team Championship.
The season launches with the R200 000 Canon Sunshine Ladies Tour Open at Irene Country Club from 30 January to 1 February. Serengeti Estates will host the R100 000 Serengeti Team Championship on 5 and 6 February.
The sixth edition of the Dimension Data Ladies Pro-Am from 15-17 February will see the competitors play the first two rounds of the R500 000 event at George Golf Club and the final round at the Outeniqua Course at Fancourt. The in-tournament pro-am over the three rounds carries additional prize money of R100 000.
The circuit then moves to KwaZulu-Natal. San Lameer Country Club will host the R250 000 South African Women's Masters from 20-23 February, while the R400 000 SuperSport Ladies Challenge presented by Sun International returns to the Wild Coast Sun Country Club from 26-28 February.
The players will warm up for Investec South African Women's Open at Westlake Golf Club from 14-16 March in the R200 000 Cape Town Ladies Open at Royal Cape Golf Club from 6-8 March. Both events are supported by the City of Cape Town and the R2-million flagship event will once again co-sanctioned with the Ladies European Tour.
The inaugural Jabra Ladies Open, offering prize money of R200 000, follows at Glendower Golf Club from 20-22 March, where after Soweto Country Club will play host to the season-finale Joburg Ladies Ladies Open from 26-28 March.
The R500 000 event will also draw the curtain on the season-long Investec Property Fund Order of Merit points race, which will net the winner a R100 000 bonus prize.
This year's Sunshine Ladies Tour also offers a number of fantastic incentives for the class of 2019.
The Investec South African Women's Open champion will earn exemption on the Ladies European Tour for the remainder of the 2019 season and the 2020 season and qualify for two Majors – the 2019 AIG Women's British Open and the Evian Championships.
The Jabra Ladies Classic winner or the next best finisher not otherwise exempt up to 20th place will earn a spot in the field of the Ladies European Tour's Jabra Ladies Open – the only European Qualifying event for the Evian Championship.
The winner of the Investec Property Fund Order of Merit will also earn a spot in one of the Ladies European Tour main events (to be determined) and automatically qualify for the Final Stage of the Qualifying School for the 2020 season.
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23rd January 2019 | Sunshine Ladies Tour
Bregman heads to Irene with lofty goals
PRETORIA, 23 January 2019 – Five-time Sunshine Ladies Tour champion Stacy Bregman is embracing the pressure that comes as defending champion as she prepares to tee it up in the Canon Sunshine Ladies Tour Open at the end of the month.
The sixth season launches with the R200,000 event at Irene Country Club on 30 January.
Bregman, who captured her first Sunshine Ladies Tour title in the Zambia Ladies Open five years ago, racked up victories in the Sun International Ladies Challenge, Dimension Data Ladies Pro-Am and Cape Town Ladies Open in 2015.
Last year she ended a three-year winning drought when a closing 71 at Pretoria Country Club helped her towards a four under par total and four-shot victory for her fifth triumph.
Bregman travelled to the United Arab Emirates earlier this year for the Fatima Bint Mubarak Open on the Ladies European Tour. "I took time off over the festive season, so I wasn't very sharp. And I got the bad side of the draw with really windy conditions in the first two rounds, so I was really pleased to kick off the season with a top 16 finish."
Since she returned from Abu Dhabi, Bregman has been hitting the gym hard and working with her coach, Grant Veenstra. She feels positive heading to Irene to defend the title and her 2018 Investec Property Order of Merit crown in the season-opener.
"It's always nice to play at home, especially when the weather turns warm," said the Country Club Johannesburg golfer. "I have always enjoyed playing Irene, because it's a thinker's course and if you are swinging it well, you can go low.
"Being the defending champion is an added bonus. It doesn't happen as often as you would like, so it does put a bit more pressure on you, but I always enjoy a bit more stress. I'll have a good week regardless."
Bregman said it's always nice to draw on positive memories at the start of the season.
"It was a very exciting finish. I hit some smart shots to stay in front and played more conservatively at the end, relying on my short game. I'm really strong off the tee, but I live by my short game. It's a huge part of my game. "I'm very happy with a lot of aspects of my game. I need to put it all together on the golf course to have a win, but there are a lot of positive signs. My expectation is the same every time I play. You're trying to play as well as you can to get yourself into contention for the final round. I know that if I can get myself into that position I can win coming down the stretch."
Bregman expects tough opposition from the leading South African players, who will also be keen to get a foot on the Investec Property Fund Order of Merit ladder in the first event.
She headlines the 66-strong playing field that will feature former LPGA Tour champion Lee-Anne Pace, Sunshine Ladies Tour winners Ashleigh Buhai, Bertine (Strauss) Faber, Kim Williams, Monique Smit, Tandi Mc Callum and Nobuhle Dlamini from Swaziland, former LET winner Laurette Maritz, as well as 21 international campaigners from 14 countries.
A number of rookies will also be making their Sunshine Ladies Tour debut including 2018 Sanlam SA Women's Stroke Play champion Casandra Hall.
"It's a strong field and it should be a really good event," Bregman said. "If I'm in the mix, I will push really hard. It would be great to win the first one; it really sets you up for the rest of the tour.
"The course has lots of trees, but it's quite open and there is not a huge amount of rough. If the weather stays nice, we'll see very good scoring."
Canon South Africa's Corporate and Marketing Communications Executive, Dana Eitzen, said Canon is proud to be part of the Sunshine Ladies Tour for a third successive year.
"The Sunshine Ladies Tour has enjoyed tremendous growth and support since its inception in 2014 and is certainly the most illustrious ladies' professional circuit in Africa," Eitzen said.
"Canon is once again proud to sponsor the Canon Sunshine Ladies Tour Open, which is traditionally the kick-off event when some of the best female golfers in the country and the world, convene for the start of the season. We are certain that the 2019 edition of this prestigious event will once again showcase tremendous skill and unrivalled sportsmanship and we look forward to watching the tour unfold over the next few months."
Jabra connects with Sunshine Ladies Tour
15 January 2019 – The Sunshine Ladies Tour announced on Tuesday a new event set to debut on the 2019 schedule. The inaugural Jabra Ladies Classic will not only bring down the curtain on the sixth season at Glendower Golf Club from 20-22 March, but there is a lot to look forward to for the first champion.
"We are delighted to partner with Jabra in what promises to be a sensational season-finale," said Sunshine Tour Chief Executive Selwyn Nathan. "Jabra is associated with the Ladies European Tour (LET) and Ladies European Tour Access Series (LETAS) through the Jabra Ladies Open and is now proudly associated with the Sunshine Ladies Tour as a partner for 2019.
"The Jabra Ladies Classic will carry a purse of R200 000 and comes with a very exciting incentive for the winner. The 2019 champion will be granted a spot in the Jabra Ladies Open, which last year became the first dual-ranking event between the LET and LETAS.
"The Jabra Ladies Open, hosted at the famous Evian Resort Golf Club in France since 2016, is the only European qualifying tournament for the Evian Championship, the second biggest Major of the season. The Jabra Ladies Open winner and the runner-up will be both be granted spots in this Major. The champion will also earn her place in the AIG Women's British Open, as well as a full category on the LET for the next season."
Should the 2019 Jabra Ladies Classic champion already be exempt for the Jabra Ladies Open, the spot will go to the first available player not exempt on the final leaderboard at the time of the Jabra Ladies Classic.
"Jabra has agreed to go down to the 20th spot," said Nathan. "This incredibly generous gesture will ensure that one of our rising stars will get the opportunity to gain valuable international experience. We are delighted to welcome Jabra to our stable of partners and we look forward to a very exciting end to what promises to be another memorable Sunshine Ladies Tour."
Jean-Baptiste Pain, Managing Director Jabra South EMEA, said that the company is very excited to extend its support of women's professional golf to the Sunshine Ladies Tour. "Jabra has made a noteworthy contribution to women's professional golf in Europe for a few years now and we are delighted to extend our support to the Sunshine Ladies Tour, now in its sixth season, and to assist in securing the future of the professional women's circuit in South Africa.
"The Jabra Ladies Classic is aligned with one of our main objectives, which is to support Women's Golf by proposing high-quality tournaments that allow the golfers to express their talent and develop their golf experience. This is made possible thanks to the Sunshine Ladies Tour, the strongest professional circuit in Africa, and the great support it brings to this new project."
The 2019 Sunshine Ladies Tour launches on 30 January with eight events.
"The Jabra Ladies Classic follows the Investec South African Women's Open, which will be co-sanctioned with the LET at Westlake Golf Club from 14-16 March," Nathan said.
"By positioning the Jabra Ladies Classic at the end of the season, we hope to encourage the LET players to stay on in South Africa to ensure a competitive, international field for the season-finale.
"As one of the top ranked golf courses in South Africa, Glendower will provide the perfect setting for the Jabra Ladies Open and, of course, the final chase for the Investec Property Order of Merit crown. The season-long points race reached a dramatic climax with Stacy Bregman sealing victory in the Investec South African Women's Open last year and we anticipate another tightly run race this year."
Jabra is a leader in engineering communications and sound solutions – innovating to empower both consumers and businesses. Proudly part of the GN Group, we are committed to letting people hear more, do more and be more than they ever thought possible. Through sound, we help transform lives. Jabra engineering excellence leads the way, building on 150 years of pioneering work. This allows us to create integrated headsets and communication tools that help professionals work more productively; and wireless headphones and earbuds that let consumers better enjoy calls, music and media. Jabra employs close to 1,100 people worldwide and reported annual revenue of DKK 4bn in 2017. The GN Group, founded in 1869, operates in 100 countries and delivers innovation, reliability, and ease of use. Today, GN employs more than 5,500 people and is Nasdaq Copenhagen listed. GN makes life sound better. www.jabra.com
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TWITTER – @We_are_Jabra
FACEBOOK – @Jabra
INSTAGRAM – @Jabra
HASHTAG – #JabraLadiesClassic
HASHTAGS – #sunshineladiestour #buildingwomenschampions #itstartshere


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Blog AdministrationEducation and Public PolicyTesting and Accountability
At its core, a political and practical ideal
Jon East October 14, 2011
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush opened his national education conference in San Francisco today with an impassioned plea for national Common Core Standards, reminding us of both their relevance and broad political acceptance.
Bush's conference, the National Summit on Education Reform, has become one of the country's top venues for education reform and a place where ideas are increasingly attracting bipartisan attention. His support of national standards is hardly new, of course, and reflects the foundation on which he built his A+ Education Plan in Florida. There, he employed "Sunshine State Standards" to drive a plan that then used tests not only to assure the progress of students but also to grade the performance of public schools. "What gets measured," he often says, "gets done."
Among the examples Bush used was that of writing. Most states now teach and test writing in strikingly superficial ways. They ask students to write about personal experiences, their family, their travel, their likes and dislikes. But the Common Core Standards, now adopted by 46 states, aspire to do much more. Even fifth-graders are required to "support a point of view with reasons and information, to introduce a topic or text clearly …. to provide logically ordered reasons that are supported by facts and details." By high school, a student is expected to "introduce a topic and organize complex ideas, concepts and information so that each new element builds on that which precedes it to create a unified whole" and to use "relevant facts, extended definitions, concrete details, quotations or other information and examples appropriate to the audience's knowledge of the topic."
These are skills that will help a student succeed not only in college but also in a work world that increasingly depends on people who can synthesize and communicate complex information. Bush certainly knows that.
These standards give some federalists heartburn, of course, which is why it is so important to see a prominent Republican conservative make the case so forcefully. Bush also makes the distinction in how standards are implemented that should provide common ground for common standards. "It is good for our nation to embrace these kinds of standards," he said. "But for the solutions we need to let states determine their own path."
Politicos may call that threading the needle, but educators should embrace it for its practicality.
Common Core StandardsJeb BushNational Summit on Education Reform
Jon East
Jon East is special projects director for Step Up For Students. Previously, he was a member of the editorial board and the Sunday commentary editor at the St. Petersburg Times, Florida's largest daily newspaper, where he wrote about education issues for most of his 28 years at the paper. He was also a reporter and editor at the Evening Independent and Ocala Star-Banner. He earned a journalism degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
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Political Campaign Expert » Blog Archive » At its core, a political and practical ideal | redefinED October 14, 2011 - 10:39 am
[…] Original post: At its core, a political and practical ideal | redefinED […]


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Fay & Gonzalo: A Tale of Two Storms
Bermuda was hammered by two tropical cyclones in less than a week, Fay and Gonzalo. But hitting Bermuda was one of the few things the storms had in common.
Despite having, perhaps, the highest concentration of hurricane modellers in the world, Bermuda was caught totally off guard by Tropical Storm Fay. Less than a week after Fay caused considerable damage, Hurricane Gonzalo was well forecast but caused much less destruction than feared. NASA's Dr Tim Hall explains what happened.
Fay was a "messy" storm: gusty, broad, asymmetric, and not well forecast. Although official NHC sustained winds were 75mph in Bermuda (just below hurricane status)—it later briefly reached Category 1 (the least severe hurricane), and gusts were measured of at least 120mph. Fay was also a rapid intensifier. A weak subtropical depression on October 10, which was initially forecast to fizzle, Fay was nearly a hurricane by the time it hit Bermuda late October 11.
Contrast that with Gonzalo. Gonzalo formed the same day Fay struck Bermuda, and in a similar region – northeast of the Leeward Islands. But it was a tight, symmetric, and well-forecast storm. The NHC predicted a near-Bermuda pass for much of Gonzalo's seven-day track to Bermuda. The NHC's intensity forecast was good, too, predicting its major hurricane status and subsequent gradual weakening. Gonzalo peaked at Category 4, with 145mph sustained winds, gradually weakening to 110mph by the time it reached Bermuda. (As a consequence of the weakening, Gonzalo did not surpass Hurricane Fabian in the Bermuda record books.)
Two differences between Fay and Gonzalo stand out. Firstly, for Fay, the duration from formation to Bermuda impact was less than two days, while Gonzalo's duration was about 7 days. Secondly, Fay was a broad, gusty, asymmetric storm, whose rapid intensification was poorly forecast, while Gonzalo was a tight, symmetric tropical storm whose intensification to major hurricane was well forecast. That the officially "weaker" Fay did comparable damage to Bermuda may well be a testament to the power of the unexpected.
Dr Hall is a climate scientist at the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York City. He specialises in hurricanes and their relationship to climate. He develops statistical hurricane and weather hazard models, and has worked as a consultant to RMS and reinsurance companies.
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