text:
5 Reported Alive in Italy Hotel Rubble
FARINDOLA, Italy (AP) -- Five people were found alive in the rubble of an Italian hotel Friday, two days after an avalanche tore through the mountain resort and trapped an estimated 30 people inside, rescue crews reported.
"We found five people alive. We're pulling them out. Send us a helicopter," a rescuer said over firefighters' radio, overheard by AP photographer Gregorio Borgia who was making his way on foot toward the disaster site.
The radio report, which first came in at around 11 a.m. (1000 GMT), was repeated three more times, with firefighters saying the survivors were still under the rubble and warning the helicopter might have to wait until they were extracted.
Three helicopters landed at the scene, including an air ambulance, said Borgia and AP Producer Paolo Santalucia, who were turned away by the rescue crews about a kilometer (half a mile) from the remains of the Hotel Rigopiano, located about 30 miles (45 kilometers) from the coastal city of Pescara, at an altitude of about 4,000 feet (1,200 meters).
The ANSA news agency said the number of possible new survivors was six.
About 30 people were trapped inside the luxury Hotel Rigopiano when the avalanche hit on Wednesday afternoon, with two people initially surviving the devastation and reporting the emergency.
Search and rescue teams had maintained the hope of finding survivors even though the avalanche dumped up to five meters (17 feet) of snow on the hotel.
"We are hoping that the ceiling collapsed partially in some places and that someone remained underneath," rescuer Lorenzo Gagliardi told SKY Tg24.
Two bodies were recovered on the first day of searching and RAI state TV reported two more had been located but not yet removed.
The operations have been hampered by difficulty in accessing the remote hotel. Workers have been clearing a seven-kilometer (5.5-mile) road to bring in heavier equipment but it can handle only one-way traffic.
Alpine corps rescuer Milan Walter told SKY that they were considering whether to ferry more personnel in by helicopter as was done Thursday.
A convoy of rescue vehicles made slow progress to the hotel, blocked by snow piled three meters (10 feet) high in some places, fallen trees and rocks. By late Thursday, only 25 vehicles had arrived, along with 135 rescue workers, and civil protection authorities said part of the night was spent trying to widen the road.
The first rescue teams had arrived on skis early Thursday, and firefighters were dropped in by helicopter. Snowmobiles were also being mobilized.
Days of heavy snowfall had knocked out electricity and phone lines in many central Italian towns and hamlets, and the hotel phones went down early Wednesday, just as the first of four powerful earthquakes struck the region.
It wasn't clear if the quakes triggered the avalanche. But emergency responders said the force of the massive snow slide collapsed a wing of the hotel that faced the mountain and rotated another off its foundation, pushing it downhill.
"The situation is catastrophic," said Gagliardi of the Alpine rescue service, who was among the first at the scene. "The mountain-facing side is completely destroyed and buried by snow: the kitchen, hotel rooms, hall."
One of the survivors reported that the guests had all checked out and were waiting for the road to be cleared to be able to leave. The snow plow scheduled for midafternoon never arrived, and the avalanche hit sometime around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Prosecutors have opened a manslaughter investigation in the tragedy, and among the hypotheses being pursued is whether the avalanche threat wasn't taken seriously enough, according to Italian media.
Farindola Mayor Ilario Lacchetta said the hotel had 24 guests, four of them children, and 12 employees were onsite at the time of the avalanche.
An Alpine rescue team was the first to arrive on cross-country skis after a seven-kilometer, two-hour journey, finding Giampaolo Parete, a guest who escaped the avalanche when he went to his car to get something, and Fabio Salzetta, a hotel maintenance worker, in a car in the resort's parking lot.
Parete, whose wife and two children remain among the missing, was taken to a hospital while Salzetta stayed behind with rescuers to help identify where guests might be buried and how crews could enter the buildings, rescuers said.
The mountainous region of central Italy has been struck by a series of quakes since August that destroyed homes and historic centers in dozens of towns and hamlets. A deadly quake in August killed nearly 300. No one died in strong aftershocks in October, largely because population centers had already been evacuated.


Student Life staff Joshua Taylor (second from left) and Michael Jeffs (third from right) with students at an outreach event on campus at the National University of Samoa.
By God's kindness He has saved us by His grace. Now we have the amazing privilege to show kindness to others, and in particular, share with others this great news of grace! That's exactly what Joshua did in Samoa with seven others from Tandem Ministries.
The group flew to Samoa last August to encourage the campus team who were ministering to students there. Joshua had a conversation with one of the students and had the opportunity to share the gospel and explain the concept of grace.
"Alofa atu nei. Alofa mai taeao – Kindness given. Kindness gained." This Samoan Language Week, why not reflect on the kindness God has given us, and share that same kindness with others? And in light of celebrating the Samoan language, let's pray that the gospel would become available in all languages for all people.
If you have a friend who prefers Samoan, you might want to use the Samoan KGP. The KGP stands for "Knowing God Personally", and is a tool to help you share the gospel. You can freely access it through the GodTools app, which works offline in 60+ languages!


Thank you Alicen, Mikayla, Kristin, and Natalie! We spent a chilly Sunday afternoon playing in the studio and getting to know our featured makeup artist Alicen Richardson. Alicen gave each girl a different look to showcase a few options for makeup. Mikayla's look was very natural with a neutral eye color and a soft pastel lip. A perfect look for a senior photo shoot. Alicen gave Natalie an evening glam with bold tones, lashes, and a dramatic liner. We finished off the day with an editorial look on Kristen. Bright bold colors and drama took her images to the next level.
To book an appointment with Alicen please contact her via email at alicenrichardson@gmail.com.


text:
How to Spell Security B-O-M
Vulnerability remediation is now available! The ActiveState Platform now lets you FIND & FIX vulnerabilities and automatically REBUILD a secure version of your Python, Perl and Tcl environments in minutes. Watch how.
Before you can talk about application security you first need to know:
Which applications are deployed where? i.e., an application inventory
What components comprise the applications? i.e. a Bill Of Materials (BOM)
Unfortunately, as BSIMM9 points out, these two fundamentals are not widespread in today's enterprises.
The "Building Security in Maturity Model" (BSIMM) is a measuring stick for software security. The latest version (BSIMM9), examines how 12 security models have been adopted by some 120 firms (from Adobe to Zephyr Health) spanning financial services, ISVs, tech, healthcare, cloud, IoT, insurance, and retail.
When it comes to application inventories and BOMs, BSIMM9 has this to say:
Recommendation: develop an operations inventory of applications
Implementation: only 47.5% of participating companies have an application inventory.
Recommendation: enhance application inventory with operations bill of materials
Implementation: 0% of participating companies have application BOMs
How can this be? More than half of enterprises don't know which applications they have deployed, and none of them know what's in those applications? Let's take a closer look.
Improvising a Software Component Inventory
BSIMM9 defines an application inventory as "a map of software deployments." But it also adds, "Common components shared between multiple projects are noted so that, when an error occurs in one application, other applications that share the same components can be fixed as well."
Sounds like a laudable goal. And in fact, at one large corporation I used to work at, it's something we tried to accomplish. The InfoSec group required all Dev Managers to perform the onerous task of updating a database with all the components in their SaaS application each time that application was changed. Teasing out all the components and their current version across multiple languages (our front end was JavaScript; backend Java) per major/minor release was tough enough. But keeping track across multiple production pushes per week was backbreaking.
While we would have fallen into the 47.5% of enterprises that could put a checkmark against this requirement, given the workload it's understandable why >50% of enterprises can't. A BOM of what's currently deployed would have simplified this task enormously.
Production vs Development Bill of Materials
BSIMM9 recommends creating a BOM for all production-deployed applications, which includes "components, dependencies, configurations, external services, and so on… [in order to allow] for timely response when unfortunate events occur."
Sounds reasonable. However, the reality within most enterprises is that once an application is deployed, it's forgotten about by everyone except Ops. But Ops typically doesn't have the bandwidth to be proactively looking for things that might go wrong – they're too busy wrestling with existing issues.
The closest thing enterprises have to a BOM for their production-deployed applications would be in their binary repository and build system. After all, in any mature software organization applications are never modified directly in production, so what's being pulled from your repo and successfully built by your CI system should mirror what's in production, right?
Unfortunately, according to Gartner:
"At the production stage, vulnerabilities may have been reintroduced due to application and configuration changes, and because the production environment may differ from the test environment. In addition, new issues that could not previously be identified may now be … or this could be the first time the application is being tested, as is often the case with legacy applications."
The ActiveState Platform Bill of Materials
The ActiveState Platform provides a BOM view for all your Python, Perl and Tcl open source components, identifying vulnerabilities at multiple levels, including:
Python, Perl and Tcl programming language
Python, Perl and Tcl ecosystem packages and dependencies (as well as dependencies of dependencies)
Windows and Linux OS-level dependencies
Configuration/versions
However, the interrelated nature of open source components means that patching a vulnerability at one level (ie., upgrading a package to the latest version to resolve a CVE) can have a cascading effect on other components. The ActiveState Platform highlights all changes before you commit to them, ensuring you understand the ramifications.For more information, read our Improve Open Source Security With A Bill Of Materials datasheet
Want to see how it works? Schedule a demo of the Security & Compliance functionality.
Dana Crane
Experienced Product Marketer and Product Manager with a demonstrated history of success in the computer software industry. Strong skills in Product Lifecycle Management, Pragmatic Marketing methods, Enterprise Software, Software as a Service (SaaS), Agile Methodologies, Customer Relationship Management (CRM), and Go-to-market Strategy.
Home » ActiveState Blog on Application security » Security & Compliance » How to Spell Security B-O-M
application security, bill of materials, devops tools

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


I was recently asked: "How can I hide the side nav bar on the main homepage layout ?? I want to be able to use the side NAV with in the team site etc etc, but I don't want it on the front page.. "
There are a couple of ways to do this in SharePoint 2010. If you are using a non-publishing site you can add a Content Editor Web Part to the page and add the following to the HTML Source.
Basically the CSS above hides the left navigation Div, and then sets the content area to not have a left margin.
Once you are done, simply modify the web part and hide it on the page.
If you are using a publishing site for your homepage simply add the same styles specified above to a custom page layout. That way if you have a need for other pages that do not need the left side navigation you can re-use the page layout.
Hi mate! I was struggeling with this for some month ago, and get to the same result as you, I wrote about that in my blog.
Do u know how to fix the height of the content div?
that the top and left navigation bars have a fixed position when the user scrolls the page down or up?
I am trying to reverse a bit by showing top global nav and left nav for a site/site collection created with Publishing Team Site Template. I need to show both, but if i create a web part page i am getting top nav ONLY, and if i create a Publishing page i am getting ONLY Left nav, I think it's because of master pages one uses v4.master other one uses nightandday master, anyway i can add something in nightandday master page to show top nav.
You are my saver for today!!
This is about the tenth or so post i've found on the subject, but none specifies where the "master file" is; not even a file name! Could you please be more specific?
This is so great! Thanks for posting - I tried to do this for 3 days before!
Could i this trick use in Security Trim controls, actualy want to close this panel for users who hase the view permissions, could I?
It is hidden for Users, who have "Full Control" permission, but not for others. I have "Full Control" Permissions.
Please provide any solution for this issue.
Erik, I've been trying to find a way to turn the left navigation into a dropdown menu in my responsive design (after the global navigation dropdown). Do you have any articles on this, as I can easily accomplish on the global nav, but no the quick launch.
Hi thanks a lot for the contribution i tried and works very find in Sharepoint 2010.
I was concerned with the wandering of the users in the left hand menu, but with this i applied not to a Home page else a List page and works like a charmy.Thanks again!
Works very well, thanks. Question, from a layman: how about the right panel???
I read the same on another site and have tried it numerous times. It works great until I save the page and then the left nav reappears. Any suggestions?
@ Kim, you might want to try using a script editor webpart instead of the Content Editor... Also make sure you Publish your page, and approve it if needed.
The landscape of UX research is always changing. Thanks for sharing this new method!
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Thanks for sharing a very interesting article about How To: Hide Left Side Navigation on Home Page. This is very useful information for online blog review readers. Keep it up such a nice posting like this.
Great effort! I appreciate your hard work. Thanks for sharing.
Amazing blog. Thanks for providing great info. Keep sharing.


Let me say for the record: I have no desire to eat bacon. I prefer for pigs to keep their own bellies and backsides. However, I'm not at all opposed to having good ways of adding crispy, salty, savory, smoky goodness to my meals.


>> Given this, I propose to close this issue, unless you suggest otherwise.
> Thanks. I agree this should now be closed.
>> names are left to the prov-n document.
> That seems the right approach to me.
>>> basis for comparing accounts.
>>> confusion (or worse) of one allows a URI to denote different things.
>>> URIs is a syntactic matter, and as such it could be introduced for ASN.
>>> referenced by the DM.
Previous message: Paul Groth: "Re: W3C F2F in SB: hotel rate alert"
In reply to: Graham Klyne: "Re: PROV-ISSUE-230 (Name-scoping): Name scoping in DM is wrong concept [prov-dm]"


text:
NEWS powered by
Thimm installs unique technology across Europe
Thimm is once again assuming the role of pioneer and has invested in a machine for the digital laser cutting of corrugated cardboard. The new Highcon Beam 2C machine is, according to Thimm, unique in Europe as regards its design and opens up unusually creative opportunities for packaging designers. Lasers can cut delicate designs out of corrugated cardboard which previously could only be produced with difficulty, or not at all.
Lecta's new Adestor Inkjet Matt LR FSC
Lecta increases its extensive offer of Adestor self-adhesive materials for digital printing with the launch of Adestor Inkjet Matt LR FSC (C011032) SP123 White Glassine 62. This new product, specially indicated for logistics and retail labels, provides good absorption and uptake of inks, resulting in excellent drying times both for UV and waterbased inks.
Mimaki to premiere latest innovations at C!Print
Mimaki Europe, manufacturer of inkjet printers and cutting systems, announced that it will exhibit its broad portfolio of cutting-edge digital print technologies at Salon C!Print (4 – 6 February, Lyon, France). This will include the first showing in France of the company's brand-new SWJ-320EA large format solvent printer, JFX200-2513 EX large flatbed UV inkjet printer and two models of the recently launched Plus series.
BillerudKorsnäs Number One in Global Sustainability Rating
For the sixth consecutive year, BillerudKorsnäs receives the highest rating level in EcoVadis, thus continuing to be in the top of the companies being evaluated. This is one of several sustainability assessments, such as Dow Jones Sustainability Indices, that confirms that BillerudKorsnäs is one of the leading companies in sustainability within the industry.
Change in Stora Enso's Group Leadership Team
Malin Bendz, Executive Vice President, Human Resources, will leave her position at Stora Enso as of 15 January 2020. After 20 years in the company, she will now pursue new career opportunities outside Stora Enso.
New company built around the RotaJet 225
The newly founded Spanish company Mimmetic was set up to implement a business plan built around use of a new RotaJet 225 press for decor printing. Mimmetic is a subsidiary of the Losán Group, one of the largest manufacturers of wood-based products in Spain. "With our new RotaJet from Koenig & Bauer, we are preparing to enter the market for decor printing. We believe in Digital Printing and we think that in the decor market, a new reality is possible. Given the specific market demands which apply in this segment, for example fast time-to-market production, individualized decors and short runs, we are certain that this press will secure the success of our business," says Jonathan Caballero, Senior Manager at Mimmetic.
New representative for customers in the Benelux
With manroland Goss web systems Benelux, the new subsidiary of the Netherlands based group company GWS Printing Systems, manroland Goss web systems is strengthening its presence in the Benelux region. "We rely on the close partnership and cooperation with our customers. As shown before in other key markets, we constantly expand our local service offerings. The new subsidiary works closely with experts from the production site in Augsburg. Main target is to offer a competitive local service to our customers", explains Mr. Franz Kriechbaum, Managing Director at manroland Goss web systems.
Kelheim Fibres a Frontrunner in CanopyStyle "Hot-Button" Ranking
In the 2019 "Hot-Button" report issued by the forest conservation organisation Canopy, Kelheim Fibres attained a "green shirt" ranking. This result underlines the company's excellent performance as regards to raw material sourcing. Many fashion brands already value the "Hot-Button" report as a reliable indicator for sustainability for viscose fibre producers.
Consistent Concept – High Quality
Digital large-format printing, brilliant colours, iridescent foil effects for interior design, innovations in textile finishing and even a global premiere graced Europe's Trade Show for Visual Communication in Düsseldorf. The concept focusing on interactive experiences plus the innovative layout went down well with both exhibitors and trade visitors alike. The high quality of conversations and number of business deals closed, however, could not hide the fact that attendance levels were down on last year. With 7,160 visitors roughly the same number attended as in 2017.
Vogtland Kartonagen boosts efficiency
It could be said that Vogtland Kartonagen from Reichenbach in Eastern Germany already foresaw Koenig & Bauer's recent activities and company acquisitions relating to the packaging market many years ago. The company has been using die-cutting equipment from Iberica since 1998. The original purchase was replaced with a newer model in 2005. One year later, the first folder-gluer from Duran was installed. In the meantime, both suppliers have been integrated into the Koenig & Bauer Group. Alongside these developments, large-format sheetfed offset presses from Koenig & Bauer have been the printing machines of choice since 2002.
Pit stop at FESPA 2020
At this year's FESPA, Neschen Coating GmbH is presenting a creative bike café. In addition to its top sellers, the company is presenting product innovations such as a new hybrid mounting film for difficult substrates, currently the "only solution of this kind on the market".
DG press opts for environmentally friendly cars
DG press, specialist in the field of rotary offset printing with its HQ in Hall, starts 2020 with a conscious choice for environmentally friendly transport for its field service engineers. In the coming years, the six DG press technicians will travel with an eco-friendly Toyota Corolla.


Is Disney's Winnie The Pooh KIDS currently available?
are there any restrictions on gaining the license to perform Disney's Winnie the Pooh KIDS for this summer? We are an outreach program with the University of Alabama and serve elementary aged children.
Disney's Winnie the Pooh KIDS - Now Available for Licensing!


About Alex Russell, writer of surreal poetry and prose.
Alex Russell, poetry and prose writer - who he?
Hello. I seem to have spent my life passing from one room to another, closing the door behind me.
I worked hard to get a scholarship and then go on to university.
After I graduated (in Sociology and Politics) I spent a memorable period in Franco's Spain.
Following which I worked as an archeologist.
After that, drilling rigs. Then taught woodwork in a centre for deaf-blind people.
Did another degree (in design technology) and taught in schools and colleges.
Became a designer and maker of furniture.


MUFF WIGGLER :: View topic - how far can you push the blacet psu?
how far can you push the blacet psu?
i just sold a bunch of my frac rig and would like to sell one of my power supplies. i'm hoping to sell one and power my whole rig off of one psu. i did the math, and it would be close to a 600 ma load on my power supply. i know blacet states it's conservatively related, but would that be pushing it too far? i think i read somewhere on the forum that 550 ma wouldn't be a stretch.
i have no hard evidence to go on other than recommendations, but if it were me i wouldn't want to push it that far. it could be a fire hazard and safety first!!!
does anyone know how to ACTUALLY MEASURE the current draw from a PSU? i.e. where do i stick my probes, and how to i set/read my DMM?
I ran 3 rows, prob close to, or just over, 600ma off 1 PS-500... it worked, I didn't feel good about it tho & wouldn't want to do it for long.
Get an 800ma/Rail PSU, it'll be much happier, your modules will be much happier & you can sell both your Blacets.
I ran 2.5 racks of Frac from one Blacet PSU when I was first getting started.
I added an STG YU Gate Delay and it wouldn't function in its full range when starved of power.
Try it out, and if you notice starvation malfunctions you know you are over the limit.
I picked up one of these bad boys on Sunday at Menards and my two racks of frac that are supposed to be pushing 500ma based on Blacet's max current draw, don't go over the 300ma mark even at high patching on all available modules.
This thing, in Amp mode, only gives you a reading the first number of your ma (3=3xx) - but that being said, I am waaaaaay lower than I thought I was.
repeat: where do you stick your probes?
You want to stick your multimeter in series with the PSU output powerline.
Def. attach it with the power OFF!
- disconnect the +ve cable from PSU to rack/distro.
- attach one probe to PSU +v and then the other probe to the rack.
- switch ON and observe current draw.
Do the same again for the -ve side.
If you put this between the PSU and the wall - this tells you how much power the PSU is drawing from the wall. if the PSU is only drawing 300 ma from the wall, which is what the modules are "requesting", how could the PSU be delivering more than that to the modules?
also, i believe the draw will increase or decrease based on what you've got patched up.
Ideally, the Power for primary (power inlet) and secondary (to local regulators) will be identical but in practice a transformer will lose some due to not running at 100% efficiency.
Lets take 75% efficiency as an example.
75% of 12watt gives 9watts the other side.
The difference of Input current vs Output current is due to the different voltages at primary and secondary.
i think i might do that. the hex zone is the main problem. without it, i'd be well under 500 ma.
Well - this thread has gotten me thoroughly concerned enough to email JB himself and ask about my specific power drawing.
John has told me that the Blacet PS500 will work just fine supplying up to 550ma.
This is exactly why I love this place!


Our CE classes are currently approved by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB provider #308), and CE Broker Approved for Florida and Georgia. The following information provides specifics about current class options.
Class durations range from partial to full days (2-8 hours), to multiple days (12-42 hours).
This class introduces important concepts that help massage therapists understand the science of pain and how it applies in practice. This class provides a framework of understanding that may enhance all forms of massage and bodywork.
Participants learn to apply pain science and dermoneuromodulation (DNM) concepts to client education and hands-on work. These reflect an interactive approach that considers the nervous system of the patient from skin cell to sense of self.
Hands-on applications include gentle positioning of limbs and torso to affect deeper nerve trunks, and is combined with skin stretch to affect cutaneous fields of nerves that branch outward into skin. Included are simple ways of explaining the nervous system and pain mechanisms as part of treatment, plus some simple, effective ways to get clients in pain to start moving with greater ease and confidence.
Event preparation and recovery are critical for athletes due to both psychological and physiological stressors. Skillful sports massage informed by pain science and sports psychology can contribute to their (and your) success. All skills taught are immediately applicable in your regular massage practice so you can master them quickly. Beginning sports massage therapists learn to work safely with athletes and performers at all levels in the 48 hours immediately before and after a strenuous event. Participants also learn to adapt to constraints often found in sports massage environments.
Based on current research and years of helping athletes prepare for and recover from events, this class approaches the practice of sports massage from a perspective influenced by current pain science. Pain science and sports psychology inform the use of assessment, treatment, and communication skills as you work with athletes and performers. Experienced sports massage therapists enjoy these classes for a refreshing approach and new skills that enhance what they already know and do.
This workshop introduces massage therapists to practical applications of modern pain science concepts based upon the Neuromatrix theory of pain and the biopsychosocial model of therapy. Dermoneuromodulation (DNM) provides an updated conceptual framework for massage therapists to better understand pain and how to alleviate it.
Hands-on techniques focus on gentle skin stretching to stimulate non-nociceptive sensory pathways and trigger a downregulation of pain and neural sensitization. Participants learn simple methods for addressing common problem areas around the neck, shoulders, back, hips, and extremities. All hands-on techniques can be adapted for use with any form of manual therapy.
This irreverent research class looks at real life examples of statistics and scientific research and how they have been (mis)used to make (in)credible connections and (non)sense of the world around us. Bring your sense of humor and critical thinking skills! We will look at research design, levels of evidence, the scientific method, basic statistics, charts and graphs, and how they can be (and often are) misrepresented or misinterpreted to mislead us. Group discussion and activities test your thinking skills and research literacy.
This course is intended to help participants enjoy recognizing the difference between correlation and causation, poor and good quality scientific sources, and to stimulate critical thinking to help inoculate participants against unsupported claims and misrepresentations of published science. The secondary intention is to help participants understand the practical uses of research literacy in massage therapy practices, professional discussions, and everyday life.
Professional development attitudes and practices are heavily influenced by social media, both before and after graduation from massage school. Strategic use of social media can develop online "communities" that promote positive professional development attitudes and practices. Real life examples are presented and discussed. Important thinking skills and effective communication skills suitable for professional discussions are also covered, along with guidance on how to acquire and develop those skills. This course is based on nearly 20 years of moderating social media discussions with over 12 years focused on professional development facilitation.
"Give Them Hope: Education, Massage, and Movement for People in Pain" introduces important concepts from pain science to help massage therapists understand the neurology of pain and how to use that knowledge in practice, starting with client education and continuing with massage and movement methods. This class includes discussion of the nervous system and how it interrelates with the rest of the body, providing a framework of understanding that may enhance all forms of massage and bodywork.
Participants will learn to apply the concept of dermoneuromodulation (DNM) to hands-on massage methods. These applications reflect a structured, interactive approach to manual therapy that considers the nervous system of the patient from skin cell to sense of self. Techniques are slow, light, kind, intelligent, responsive and effective. Positioning of limbs and trunk affects deeper nerve trunks, and is combined with skin stretch to affect cutaneous fields of nerves that branch outward into skin.
Manual handling is only a part of developing a complete therapeutic context for change - also empowering clients to help themselves is optimal. Included are simple ways of explaining the nervous system and pain mechanisms to patients prior to treatment, plus some simple, effective ways to get clients in pain to start moving with greater ease and confidence.
Participants learn to apply concepts from pain science in client education and hands-on work, with emphasis on dermoneuromodulation (DNM). These applications reflect a structured, interactive approach to manual therapy that considers the nervous system of the patient from skin cell to sense of self. The goal is pain reduction. Hands-on applications include positioning of limbs and torso to affect deeper nerve trunks, and is combined with skin stretch/movement to affect cutaneous fields of nerves that branch outward into skin. Included are simple ways of explaining the nervous system and pain mechanisms to patients prior to treatment, plus some simple, effective ways to get clients in pain to start moving with greater ease and confidence. Client and therapist self-care are also discussed.
Pillossage™ & Thermal Massage is a groundbreaking modality that combines hands-on techniques with specifically designed thermal flax pillows. This modality is ideal for therapists who are looking for techniques to provide skillful therapy that can stand alone or be integrated with other modalities to offer to clients who live with conditions that include chronic pain, high levels of stress or who are in need of rehabilitation.
You will learn to teach your clients novel Self-Care techniques so therapy can be continued by the client after the session. The benefits and results last far beyond the massage session. You will learn methods to help clients decrease chronic pain and improve quality of life. As you learn the 'dance of Pillossage™', you will find easier ways to offer deep therapy without strain.
The foundations of this work are informed by pain science and dermoneuromodulation (DNM) concepts. These enable practitioners to work more effectively and customize sessions appropriately for each client, especially when working with chronic pain clients and complex health conditions.
Altered (increased or decreased) range of motion at any joint may impact tissues both immediately adjacent and distant from the joint. Physical and physiological functions adapt, leading to compensations that may have positive or negative consequences for quality of life. Informed by important concepts from pain science, restoration of optimal range of motion considers the neurology of pain and psychosocial factors related to the client's perceptions and lived experiences. Biological factors involving age, tissue injury, pathology, morphology, etc. are also considered and assessed.
Manual and movement methods are presented in a concept-oriented, principle-based manner that can be immediately applied in practice without rote memorization of techniques and protocols. Participants will learn to consider the safe applications of post-isometric relaxation, reciprocal inhibition, dermoneuromodulation, mobilizations, novel movement, strengthening, and other concepts …and may practice them in techniques from Orthopedic Massage, Strain Counterstrain, Myofascial Release, Active Isolated Stretching, PNF stretching, Muscle Energy Technique, CRAC stretching, static stretching, dynamic stretching, Circular Strength Training, corrective exercise, yoga, tai chi, etc. Participants see how diverse approaches can be complementary and may be integrated into a session.


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IllumiNations Replacing Fireworks With Sparklers
By Johnny Chainsaw August 30, 2018 August 26, 2018 Breaking News, Epcot, Technology, Walt Disney World
Sparklers Being Used In New Sensory-Friendly Show Parents of sensory-sensitive children are rejoicing this morning as Disney has announced to replace IllumiNations with a tamed down version of the show. IllumiNations is a nighttime fireworks spectacular featuring music, fire, lasers, explosions, and fireworks. It's really awesome but for a child with sensory issues, however, it can be a fucking nightmare. "I don't want to say 'we listened' to our guests," said Thomas Jefferson Geronimo III. "It's more like 'we caved' to our guests [with sensory issues]." Geronimo is Vice President of Policy Changes Based On Guest Input for Walt Disney… Continue reading this fake story…
Tagged ADHD, Aspergers, Autism, Epcot, fire, fireworks, Illuminations, pyro, sparklers, World Showcase, World Showcase Lagoon
The Michael Eisner Story Will Replace One Man's Dream
By Johnny Chainsaw August 27, 2018 August 26, 2018 Disney's Hollywood Studios, The Walt Disney Company, Theme Parks, Walt Disney World
Iconic Attraction Will Feature Michael Eisner's Origins Officials for Disney's Hollywood Studios announced today that the beloved One Man's Dream attraction will soon get a thrilling upgrade. The walk-through attraction will feature memorabilia and a short 90-minute film about Michael Eisner's life. Eisner was the CEO of The Walt Disney Company from 1984 – 2005. He is credited for bringing Disney to a larger mainstream audience and turning it into a highly profitable company. "We think it's time the world hears the Michael Eisner story," said Thomas Jefferson Geronimo III. Geronimo is Vice President of the Attraction Refurbishment Division for… Continue reading this fake story…
Tagged CEO, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Hollywood Studios, Michael Eisner, One Man's Dream, Walt Disney
Ride Closure Makes Magic Kingdom A Half-Day Park
By Johnny Chainsaw August 17, 2018 August 16, 2018 Magic Kingdom Park
Tron Construction Will Temporarily Close Two Rides: With the construction set to begin on the Tron roller coaster, Disney announced some scheduled closures of nearby rides. One of the casualties will be the Walt Disney World Railroad as well as the Tomorrowland Speedway. Both rides will need to close to accommodate the new ride's construction. The footprint of the roller coaster will cover parts of both the railroad and the speedway. Not all park guests are happy about this news, however. Some have taken to the Internet to vent about Disney temporarily closing these two iconic attractions to make room… Continue reading this fake story…
Tagged Disney's Hollywood Studios, Galaxy's Edge, Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom, magic kingdom park, Star Wars, Toy Story Land, Tron
Grand Floridian Reverting to Dial-Up Internet
By Johnny Chainsaw August 13, 2018 August 12, 2018 Breaking News, Resorts
"High Speed Internet Does Not Match Theme" Officials at the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa announced today that they will soon be phasing out high speed internet in their guest rooms. They will instead revert back to dial-up speeds to keep with the turn-of-the-century theme of the resort. "Yeah, we looked into it and I guess they didn't have Wi-Fi in the 1900's," said Thomas Jefferson Geronimo III, referring to people who lived in the 1900's. Geronimo is Vice President of Information Technology at Grand Floridian Resort and Spa. "After much discussion and research, we concluded that the internet speeds… Continue reading this fake story…
Tagged dial up, Grand Floridian, Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, high speed internet, internet, SnapChat
Heavily Censored Version of Christopher Robin Coming Soon
By Johnny Chainsaw August 9, 2018 August 8, 2018 Films, The Walt Disney Company
Censored Version Will Have Character Named Winnie The P*** Backlash from the new Christopher Robin movie has forced Disney to re-release a censored version of the film. Parents had been giving the film poor reviews online. The most common complaint was for the excessive use of expletives such as the word poo. A character in the film is even named after the bodily excrement. "It seems like parents are going to find absolutely anything to complain about these days," says Thomas Jefferson Geronimo III. Geronimo is Vice President of Disney's Film Censorship Council. Their group is responsible for screening films… Continue reading this fake story…
Tagged censor, censored, censorship, Christopher Robin, Pooh, Winnie the Pooh


text:
Q: Animate div Using Jquery I have the following Jquery code for hiding and showing a div on click
$(document).ready(function () {

    $('#parapic1').click(function () {
        $(this).closest("#maincontainer").find('.para1').show();
        $(this).closest("#maincontainer").find('.para2').attr('style', 'display:none;');
        $(this).closest("#maincontainer").find('.para3').attr('style', 'display:none;');
    });

    $('#parapic2').click(function () {
        $(this).closest("#maincontainer").find('.para1').attr('style', 'display:none;');
        $(this).closest("#maincontainer").find('.para2').show();
        $(this).closest("#maincontainer").find('.para3').attr('style', 'display:none;');
    });

    $('#parapic3').click(function () {
        $(this).closest("#maincontainer").find('.para3').show();
        $(this).closest("#maincontainer").find('.para2').attr('style', 'display:none;');
        $(this).closest("#maincontainer").find('.para1').attr('style', 'display:none;');
    });
});

Now I am wondering how I can hide and show it by adding some animation to it like left-right or any other good animation.
Thank You :)

A: The best thing you can do when working with a library (doesn't matter which language), is to make yourself familiar with the documentation. If you check out http://api.jquery.com/hide/ you can see that you can pass different parameters that alter the function's behaviour. For example, if you want the animation to last 2 seconds, you can do:
$('#myId').hide(2000);

If you want to work with cooler effects, maybe you should go and check out jQuery UI, it adds stuff such as
$('#myId').hide('blind');

See http://jqueryui.com/effect/
PS: As I stated in my comment above, you should also have a look at different methods for selecting stuff. As there can only be one id, $(this).closest('#id') doesn't make sense at all :)
I hope that that's somewhat helpful :)
Cheers

A: You can use the different jquery animations to animate this:
$('#parapic1').click(function () {
        $('.para').fadeIn();

    });

To control the speed of the animation:
$('#parapic1').click(function () {
            $('.para').fadeIn('fast');

        });

This article explains slides very well
Demo of jquery animations

A: The most flexible and powerful jQuery method for motion is .animate() (http://api.jquery.com/animate/). With it, you can animate many CSS properties including opacity, position (left, right, top), size, etc.
While there are other shortcut methods, such as fadeOut/fadeIn (http://api.jquery.com/fadein/), and slideDown (http://api.jquery.com/slideDown/), which are useful for quick time-saving animations, .animate() will be the most flexible.
jQuery Animate Syntax Example
$(parent).click(function() {
    $(child).animate({left: 50, opacity: 0}, 1000);
});

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Organic Standards: Certified Labels
In the United States, "certified organic" means agricultural products are grown and processed according to the USDA's national organic standards. It is then certified by USDA-accredited state and private certification organizations.
The process of being certified organic implies that a fixed set of standards must be met. Certifying agents then review applications for certification eligibility. Qualified inspectors conduct annual onsite inspections of organic operations, observing their production and processing practices to determine if they are in compliance with organic standards.
A "100% Organic" label may contain only organically produced ingredients. To be labeled "organic", 95% of the ingredients must be organically grown, and the remaining 5% must come from approved non-organic ingredients. A product labeled "Made With Organic Ingredients" must contain at least 70% organic ingredients, three of which must be listed on the package. The remaining 30% must be composed of approved non-organic ingredients.
However, without certification, the 'organic' label does not necessarily mean anything.
Labels: Canadian Standards Association, Labels, Made With Organic Ingredients, Organic, Organic Certification, Organic Standards, US, USDA
Energy Policies of the Presidential Candidates
At the 19th Annual Energy Efficiency Forum a series of speakers indicated that both the democratic and republican nominees would support energy efficiency initiatives. New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman said, "I would be less than truthful, though, if I said that America as it operates today is ready for this mission. We are not." U.S. Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman, "spoke about the areas in which government is trying to drive efficiency, such as military bases, new appliances and in the utility, industrial and construction sectors."
"When we look across our global energy landscape and consider the formidable challenges we face today, it is clear we must make pervasive and long-term changes," Bodman said. "We must bring more renewable energy online and aggressively deploy alternative fuels. We must develop traditional hydrocarbon resources in ways that are cleaner and more efficient."
Senator McCain is proposing a national energy strategy emphasizing diversification and conservation of our energy resources. McCain's plan is to augment oil and gas exploration and increase coal usage. McCain opposes mandatory building standards and advocates expanding nuclear power.
Senator Obama sees the need for buildings to be 25 percent more efficient in the next decade, and 50 percent more efficient by 2030, according to Jason Grumet, the executive director of the National Commission on Energy Policy. "I think Senator Obama fundamentally understands that these are problems that are different in character and shape than almost anything we have ever had to deal with, certainly in the energy sector," Grumet said.
Labels: conservation, diversified energy, efficient buildings, Energy Diversification, energy efficiency, McCain, National Energy Strategy, Obama, oil drilling
Green Policy Debated in Canadian Parliament
As Canada's parliament is winding down for the summer break, a very lively debate is taking place in Ottawa. Representatives from Canada's four major parties are holding a historic debate on Green policy issues. Yesterday, the Liberals unveiled an ambitious plan of energy taxation and income tax reduction. The 15 billion dollar Liberal plan, called "The Green Shift Plan" will tax industry and consumers. According to Liberal leader Stephan Dion the plan is "powerful and simple, we will cut taxes and shift those taxes to polluters." Dion believes that the tax will encourage less energy use and stimulate innovation. The ruling Conservatives have proposed a polluter pay program. The NDP and the Liberals charge the Conservatives with accommodating Canada's oil industry.
Dion wants to tax energy (except gasoline), cut income taxes, and provide family support payments. Given that consumers and industry each account for half of greenhouse gases, the tax will be levied against industry and consumers. The average home would pay $250 more per year. The Green Shift plan will regulate 75% of the carbon emissions produced in Canada. The Liberals claim thier program is revenue neutral. Others disagree saying that Dion's plan is a tax grab.
Liberal's claim to be bringing together the common interests of Green and tax reduction. With the statement "Giving more of what we need and taking from that which we do not." Dion wants to position Canada as an example to nations like China and India. Despite the fact that several environmental groups have come out in support of the Green Shift plan, the Conservatives have prepared an advertising campaign to the proposed plan.
Putting a price on carbon is an essential step and carbon taxes are the fastest way to do that. In an interview with the CBC's Don Newman, Dion explained why he opted for the Green Shift plan over a cap-and-trade plan. Dion pointed out that cap-and-trade is complicated and it will take years to work out the details. Dion also explained that cap-and-trade, like the carbon tax will ultimately fall upon consumers. Indeed critics argue that any form of carbon tax will increase costs all along the value chain, a cost which will ultimately fall on consumers. And this is why the Liberal plan compensates families. While providing an economic incentive to reduce their energy consumption.
The Conservatives claim their plan will cut carbon emissions by 20%. But the year that is used as a starting point for reductions is another important difference between the Liberals and the Conservatives. The liberal are using 1990 levels of carbon and the conservatives are using much higher 2006 levels.
On the issue of Green, the left and the right appear to be stealing from each others playbook. The NDP's leader Jack Layton supports a cap and tax system but the Conservatives disagree, claiming they do not want to let the big polluters get away with paying their way out.
In Canada, carbon tax proposals are putting the spotlight on the environment. Like Europe and California, Canadians must put a price on carbon or risk being excluded from these trading relationships. As the Canadian parliament draws to a close, it is becoming evident that politicians are seeing the merit of a Green platform. The announcement of the Green Shift plan may be the starting gun for the next Canadian election campaign. Dion is betting his party's future on Green, setting the stage for a Canadian federal election where Green is the salient issue.
Labels: Canadian Parliament, cap-and-trade, carbon tax, Conservatives, Energy Tax, Green Platform, Historic Debate, Layton, Liberals, NDP, Ottawa, The Green Shift Plan
The Greening of Cyberspace
A June 17 article in emarketer reviews the results of "The Green Marketing Study." The study reveals that 60% of online buyers said that it was "extremely" or "very" important that companies exercise sensitivity toward the environment. "Today's environmental concerns are more complex, far-reaching and interconnected than those of the past," says Paul Verna, senior analyst at eMarketer and author of the new report, Green Online: Growing Awareness. "And the Internet provides a powerful forum for corporations, marketers, policymakers and average citizens to engage in active conversations about how to approach the issues."
"Last year was the tipping point for green marketing as a whole," Jessica Hogue, research director of Nielsen Online, told eMarketer. "Every type of company is now getting into the mix. The We Campaign, an environmental awareness project launched by former Vice President Al Gore, has allocated a substantial portion of its projected $300 million budget toward online advertising," says Mr. Verna. The We campaign uses a wide assortment of mediums in its marketing mix. They include display ads, video ads, e-mail, social networking, mobile outreach, and viral marketing.
Increasingly retail establishments are using the web to cover their Green claims and according to Mr Verna, consumers are using blogs and forums to discuss these claims. "Green can do very well online. It's a topic that people get very passionate about and there are few barriers to entry," says Jarvis Coffin, CEO of Burst Media. Burst Media studied the frequency with which US adult Internet users viewed green ads and found that 46% of them reported frequent exposure. A comparable 40% of respondents said they viewed green ads "occasionally," while only 14% said they saw these types of ads "infrequently."
Labels: Al Gore, Barriers to Entry, Blogs, Environmental Awareness Project, Forums, Green Claims, Green Marketing, Green Online, Online Advertising, The Green Marketing Study
The Politics of Intransigence
Green has been slowed by a barrage of misinformation and deceit most notably created by the current American administration, whose pitiful record on environmental protection, public health and clean energy development is eclipsed only by its rush to exploit resources in Alaska and conceal the truth about global warming.
Four years ago the Bush administration began its campaign to keep the public from seeing a comprehensive 271 page report on global warming that scientifically rebuked the US government's Green record. To use the title of Al Gore's now famous documentary, the report was "an inconvenient truth" that was finally released thanks to a court order.
The report predicts thousands of deaths from natural disasters, extreme weather, heat, smog, food and water borne microbes and diseases. The report also foretells water shortages, insect infestations, and deforestation, all of which are related to global warming.
In an Associated Press article, Thomas Lovejoy, a biologist who chaired the group of scientists who reviewed the report for the federal government, states, "It basically says the America we've known we can no longer count on. It's a pretty dramatic picture of all kinds of change rippling through natural systems across the country. And all of that has implications for people."
It is incumbent upon governments and lawmakers to support Green legislation. However, there will be no progress on this front as long as administrations are impervious to the truth. In a recent teleconference with reporters, the White House associate science director Sharon Hays refused to characterize the report's findings as "bad." This administration's Green legacy, it would appear, will be defined by intransigence until the bitter end.
Labels: Al Gore, An Inconvenient Truth, Bush Administration, deceit, deforestation, extreme weather, Global Warming Report, Green Legislation, infestations, Misinformation, water shortages
Green Dissent (Part 2)
The scientists most qualified to speak to the subject of climate change and global warming are united in their expression of concern. Some dissenters strive to make the counterpoint to global warming seem almost credible. In a Huffington Post article, Joseph Romm descrilbes "the painful obviousness of climate change, the incontrovertible science linking it to human activity, and the graver and graver warnings of potential catastrophe"
The evidence for climate change is dramatic. From rapidly shrinking glaciers and polar ice caps to extreme weather including tornadoes, draughts and floods. Yet some manage to find reasons to resist the facts. As explained by Romm there are two camps of resistance to climate change. The deniers and the delayers.
"Deniers, like Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK), just continue putting out the same old disinformation in new packages or obsessing over meaningless NASA data revisions. A lot of people seem simply impervious to the facts and to science -- and desperate to cling to any media stories or studies, however inaccurate, that seem to undermine the overwhelming body of evidence."
Delayers believe that global warming exists but seem to prefer an entirely voluntary approach to environmental management. However, meaningful change on the scale required clearly demands comprehensive environmental legislation.
"Desperate Scientists: The world's top climate scientists beg for action. First, we saw the IPCC's bleak Fourth Assessment Report (summarized here), which warns that human emissions, left unchecked, could lead to rapid, multi-meter sea level rise; loss of most species; and widespread drought and desertification. Second, we heard IPCC head, Rajendra Pachauri, warn, "If there's no action before 2012, that's too late. What we do in the next two to three years will determine our future. This is the defining moment." Finally, more than 200 scientists signed a statement asserting that, to avoid catastrophic impacts, global greenhouse gas emissions "must peak and decline in the next 10 to 15 years, so there is no time to lose." (And this isn't even counting the repeated dire warnings of our nation's top climate scientist, James Hansen, such as here and here and here, for instance.) Any sane person would be listening to our climate scientists."
Labels: climate change, delayers, deniers, extreme weather, GHG, glaciers, Global Warming, Green Legislation, incotrovertible Science, legislation, melting ice
Green Not Red
The title of an October 31, 2007 article "Going Green Puts Business in the Red" gives the impression that environmentally sensitive business practices are inconsistent with profit. As the article's author points out "When companies go green, the media tend to follow with positive coverage. But journalists often ignore the higher cost of 'eco-friendly' choices."
There are costs associated with going Green and these will only grow as consumers and law makers impose standards and guidelines. The one-time costs of going Green can include, new manufacturing molds and increased marketing support. There are also increased expenditures associated with repackaging, advertising and counting carbon. Sometimes sustainable business practices come with increased costs as part of a new manufacturing process or call for the use of more expensive materials.
Careful stewardship is required to ensure that companies can finance the additional costs associated with going Green. When phasing in environmental initiatives, careful planning is key. Strategic planning helps to avoid foreseeable obstacles. Calculating and managing risk is part of running a successful enterprise. Well crafted Green strategies tend to make the process of transition (or start-up) easier.
There are savings associated with such things as energy reduction, and these should not be discounted. However, depending on the nature of the business, Green savings from environmental initiatives are often eclipsed by the costs of going Green. However, there is no alternative to going Green. Business can begin a carefully planned process of transition now, or wait for Green legislation and try to play catch-up later. Astute players see whats coming and are preparing. The law of free markets dictates that businesses be competitive to survive.
There are untold opportunities associated with the Green revolution. But like all periods of economic change those who prosper will be those who can read and capitalize on the trends. It should be expected that the costs of going Green will place an additional strain, and some businesses will not be able to make the transition.
But anyone who doubts that going Green is conducive to profits need only look at the long list of companies currently investing in Greening thier operations. Companies from small mom and pop operations to some of the worlds most successful corporations are increasingly embracing Green while consistently showing a profit. Toyota, HSBC and Wal-mart are investing considerable sums to be more Green. Corporations are paying the costs associated with social responsibility because of the value derived from being identified as Green. Businesses which invest in sustainable business practices are rewarded by customer interest, loyalty and patronage.
Working towards profitability is part of a companies fiduciary responsibility to its shareholders. As part of that responsibility, a Green message can be a powerful and lucrative brand association. Leadership is required from the business community. But this leadership is driven by a form of altruism that concurrently serves a corporations best interests. The cost of going Green paves the way for longer term competitiveness.
Who says profits can't motivate social responsibility? Corporations are becoming increasingly interested in Green because it benefits their bottom line. Green businesses are harnessing the global power of market forces to serve a socially responsible agenda. And this is a marriage that has the capacity to change the world.
Labels: competitive advantage, Costs of Going Green, customer interest, Environmental Guidelines, free markets, Green leadership, Green Opportunities, Green Profit, Strategic Planning, Value of Green
Mobile Marketing: A Green Opportunity
Mobile devices represent an important new marketing channel. Increasing mobile penetration worldwide has led many in the marketing industry to believe that 2008 is the year of the mobile. According to a Cisco study mobile devices are quickly joining physical stores, websites and catalogs as an important fourth channel for retail growth.
According to Don Knox, global vice president at ad:tech Expositions, "Mobile continues to pique the interest of marketers and advertisers as it matures and the devices mature in the U.S...marketers are seeing the benefits of relying on mobile to reach consumers...Everyone seems to sense that we're on the verge of a big breakthrough in mobile, as consumers are stepping away from their PCs and relying on these mobile devices more and more, and in that sense, it's a logical extension of today's marketing plans...Marketing is no longer just traditional or interactive, but rather marketing is encompassing both worlds...And as we're seeing more of the marketing spend become digital, we're attracting more traditional marketers and traditional media...We're seeing mobile rapidly advancing around the world...A lot of what can be done will be determined by the carriers, but many marketers see mobile as an opportunity to extend their messaging, branding and more and more advertising opportunities."
The vast number of mobile devices in the world today makes this an extraordinary marketing opportunity. Currently, there are three times as many mobile-phone subscribers (3.3 billion) as Internet users (1.3 billion) worldwide. India is a prime example of this large and growing audience. With 267 million mobile phones, India is growing at the rate of 8.3 million phones per month, Chaitanya Nallan, CEO, Gingersoft Media adds, "As a medium, compared to the Internet, mobile is much more powerful. I can reach you wherever you are because mobile is with you all the time." And a mobile marketing dollar appears to get better results when compared to the Internet. According to Rajiv Hiranandani, CEO of Mobile2Win, "Clicks in this medium are around 5-8% and outperform the clicks in the Internet medium."
Social networking has significantly impacted the use of mobile devices. Sites like Facebook, MySpace and LinkedIn have changed consumer expectations and buying behavior. Social networking is increasingly mainstream and no longer the exlusive domain of the young. Facebook reported 286 percent growth in members aged 35 and over from May 2006 to November 2007. Social networking has grown on a global level, with the number of European log-ons (127 million) surpassing that of the United States (124 million).
The ongoing proliferation of e-commerce will also help drive usage of mobile devices. Forrester Research estimates that online sales will reach $204 billion this year and $335 billion by 2012. With e-commerce accounting for only 6 percent of all retail sales in the United States, there is considerable room for growth.
According to the Cisco IBSG survey, at present, mobile marketing is done primarily using SMS (Short Message Service). SMS is being used to communicate promotions, provide a two-way service for customers' questions, and offer item availability and delivery updates. Peer-based reviews and interaction are becoming a baseline expectation. Some mobile marketing includes advanced visualization, video capabilities, and mobile commerce technologies. Companies are also using mobile devices to generate leads, provide loyalty rewards and offer free downloadable content.
The Cisco IBSG survey found that:
42 percent of retailers provide the ability to view product information on a mobile device through reformatted web pages or specific mobile pages
15 percent offer the ability to conduct transactions (make purchases, complete inventory queries, etc.)
10 percent are using SMS to provide information or answers to customers' questions
6 percent have webpages and a URL specifically designed for mobile use
The Cisco IBSG survey of e-commerce sites found:
17 percent provide the capability to connect to communities of interest
52 percent provide customer reviews for products
50 percent have advanced visualization tools
50 percent provide multimedia such as video
50 percent offer customer support through multiple channels, such as click-to-chat
There are several factors that contribute to successful mobile marketing. Steen Anderson, VP of marketing for 5th Finger suggests a simple formula for his clients. R=V+E (Response = Value + Exposure). "By maximizing the value and relevance of the offer to the target audience and maximizing the exposure of the call to action across as much media as possible, the response rate will be maximized." According to Anderson, "More than any other medium, in the mobile realm, marketers must strike a good balance between a creative idea and the technical execution of that idea in order to ensure ROI."
Perhaps most importantly, successful mobile marketing involves a targeting strategy that is focused on the mobile devices used by the demographic you are seeking to reach. The call to action must be easy, clear and discernable at a glance. And as Anderson cautions "In the cases when you are offering prizes as part of the call to action, a large volume of lower value prizes can be much more effective in encouraging participation in promotions than having just one high value prize on offer."
As reported in AdAge a recent New York Media Information Exchange Group breakfast panel was discussing mobile marketing strategy. They questioned whether the mobile category will continue to exist on its own or "simply merged into overall consumer environment of digital connectivity." According to Dick Cantwell, vice president of IBSG's Retail / CPG Practice mobile devices are part of the "new era of multichannel retail" The main threat according to Nallan is from spammers, "Spam messages have a low price band and take away our business."
Although unlikely to replace traditional mass media, mobile marketing offers a unique marketing proposition and a strong value proposition. Mobile marketing has a wide audience base and has the capability to effectively target specific demographics. Mobile marketing is less expensive than traditional marketing mediums and it is also more cost effective because the message reaches the audience directly. There is also added flexibility when marketing through mobile devices. As explained by Brand Analyst Harish Bijoor, "the advertiser can decide how much to market, to whom to market and with what intensity to market. The control lever is with the marketer. More he uses, more he pays."
Mobile marketing is easy to track. Shishir Sharma, Director of Business and operations at Active Media Technology says, "Since all downloads and SMS replies are trackable, evaluating effectiveness is much better in mobile marketing compared to other conventional marketing methods."Hiranandani calls mobile marketing "the most effective marketing channel for the years to come." And Sharma adds, "With the mobile phone being in virtually every hand, mobile marketing is the future of advertising.
Mobile marketing is still a relatively new concept and accounts for a relatively small portion of most companies marketing mix. (Only 15% of leading retailers provide mobile commerce). Marketers and business owners should understand that when is comes to mobile marketing, every sector is in the trial stage. Those that appear to be putting mobile marketing to the greatest use are the financial, auto, travel and retail sectors. By monitoring innovative companies SMEs can adapt successful mobile marketing practices to their own circumstances and strategies.
Mobiles value as a marketing medium comes from the widespread penetration of mobile devices and the fact that mobile device users are a captive audience even when they are roaming. As a relatively inexpensive marketing option, mobile marketing is an effective and accessible way for SMEs to communicate a targeted message.
Mobile marketing communicates with many thousands of users instantly. Companies and organizations leveraging the extraordinary reach of mobile marketing are also connecting with potential customers without paper, ink, transporation or the energy expenditure associated with traditional advertising mediums. Because of its smaller footprint, targeted message, wider reach, and cost effectiveness, mobile marketing is an ideal marketing medium for emerging Green themed businesses.
Success often follows those who anticipate the trends. And an effective mobile marketing strategy considers the desired capabilities long before they are worked into future platforms. In mobile marketing, as with sustainable business practices, those who are proactive in developing and implementing strategies will be in a more competitive position than those who do not.
Labels: Cost Effective, Digital Marketing, e-commerce, India, interactive marketing, Marketing Channel, Mobile Devices, SMS, Social Networking, Targeted Marketing, Tracking, Unique Marketing Proposition
Returns on Green Investing
Investing in companies with positive environmental policies makes sense on many levels. A growing number of consumers and portfolio managers are coming to appreciate the value of Green investments. There are more than 170 US mutual funds which focus on companies demonstrating environmental responsibility. A June 09, 2008 Ad Age Article by Kate Fitzgerald profiles Portfolio 21, a leading firm in environmental investing. With $290 million in assets, the Portfolio 21 mutual fund is invested in approximately 115 companies all of which meet stringent criteria. These criteria cover everything from manufacturing to packaging and recycling.
Portfolio 21 functions under the premise that "companies applying higher environmental standards ultimately gain a competitive advantage," says Portfolio 21's founder and CEO, he continues "Companies that began lowering their dependence on fossil fuels 10 years ago are in better shape today, and this is true for many environmental issues." The logic of this premise is hard to refute and it is further supported by the fact that Portfolio 21's mutual fund regularly outperforms the S&P 500 and other major stock indexes. Without much advertising Portfolio 21 has received considerable media attention.
Portfolio 21's founder and CEO says "We don't see a difference between risk as defined by the economy and environmental risk." Environmental risks are synonymous with economic risks. Managing environmental risks provides above average returns and uses the investment process to influence corporate behavior.
Labels: corporate behavior, economic risks, Environmental Investing, Environmental Responsibility, environmental risk, Green Investing, investment process, Portfolio 21, returns
Shoot the Messenger: The Costs of Greenwashing
A recent LOHAN article reviews some of the factors undermining the environmental movement. As pointed out in the article, the marketing industry has capitalized on the prodigious growth of Green. However, marketers have exploited the popular interest in Green with offerings that often eschew ecological concerns. Adam Werbach the founder and chief executive officer of Act Now, a Green consulting firm said "People with no technical expertise in the complex harmonies that sustainability demands, no capacity to help a company reinvent its products or processes, and no sense of urgency are promising quick fixes and cheap tricks." The result is a spate of irresponsible marketing claims and inevitably, consumer mistrust. Lohas defines greenwashing "the act of applying an eco-friendly gloss over an otherwise non-green business or product" and there is clear evidence that this is now impacting consumers buying behaviors.
Consumers feel burdened under the weight of Green demands and they are justifiably skeptical about Green claims. Evidence of this skepticism is appearing in consumer spending reports. Defiance Crescent News reports that enthusiasm for Green home products has fallen. A Columbus market research analyst said he expects a backlash. And Boulevard Strategies' Chris Boring said "Consumers push back against any big trend," According to Werbach "We are witnessing [G]reen fatigue on a grand scale. People don't like to be told what to do. Even more so, consumers are dissatisfied when a promised eco-friendly product or service is in actuality no better for the environment. Moreover, there is still a large sentiment that going green is a sacrifice and takes a lot of work and money to accomplish," he continued. "...It is also threatening the credibility - and sustainability - of the marketing industry itself." Consumers do not like to be told what to do and as Boring notes, neither do consumers like to be swayed by guilt.
Green is being exploited for its marketing appeal independent of its eco-friendliness. "The campaign is coming across as very gimmicky," Boring said. A recent Cone/Boston College survey cited by Werbach indicated that more than half of American consumers are "overwhelmed" by the flood of environment-related messaging. According to this study less than 50% of consumers trust companies to tell them the truth about sustainable practices and products, and fewer consumers believe companies are accurately communicating their environmental impact.
Despite the unfortunate efforts of some marketers, Green still garners considerable interest. Boring believes there are at least three factors that counter a buying public's cynicism - altruism, thrift and energy self-reliance. Boring adds "What brought mainstream people into the fold is the message that not only are you saving the planet, but it'll save you money." Colette Chandler, president of The Marketing Insider, believes that consumers are not tired of hearing the green message. "According to my Ohio Health and Wellness Research Report and national research and data, (consumers) are more motivated than ever to commit to a green and healthy lifestyle," Chandler continues "consumers are not bored with the green message, but they are tired of greenwashing"
Marketers are messengers, they are also responsible for crafting and communicating the message. An old adage suggests that we 'Don't shoot the messanger', in the case of greenwashing we are tempted to think otherwise. Green has been very good to marketers, if it is to keep growing, marketers will have to learn that authenticity and integrity are essential when leveraging Green's marketing appeal
Labels: Altruism, Buying Behaviors, Consumer Mistrust, Consumer Sketicism, Energy Self Reliance, Exploitation of Green, Green Fatigue, Greenwashing, Irresponsible Marketing, Save Money, Save Planet, Thrift
The End of Oil and the Next Energy Economy
Modern industrial society is dependent on oil. A partial list of products derived from oil includes gasoline, heating fuel, fertilizer, pesticides, lubricants, plastic, paint, synthetic fabrics, asphalt, and pharmaceuticals. Oil is also crucial to manufacturing, transportation, agriculture, mining and electricity.
Oil used to power combustion engines generate the most emissions. The tar sands generate even more emissions than traditional fossil fuels and natural gas is responsible for signficant methane emissions. One of the dirtiest and most inefficient fuels is coal which is the primary power source of the world's two largest economies.
Alternatives to oil are the future but as with all things in the real world, each alternative comes with its own set of problems. Renewable sources of energy must address the problem of net energy. Energy output from alternative sources must be measured against the amount of energy input.
Fuel cells are a problem as long as they require hydrogen derived from hydrocarbons. Biofuels require enormous amounts of land and offer questionable quantities of net energy. Even energy from solar and wind power is imperfect when partnered with disposable batteries.
The world uses 15 terawatts of power every year. The peak of world oil production is about 30 billion barrels a year. Remaining world oil resources are approximately one trillion barrels. By 2030, annual oil production will be less than half of what it was at its peak. The trend is inescapable and this is leading many to conclude that the fossil fuel driven industrial age is drawing to a close.
The ever increasing cost of oil is an incentive for research and innovation. But the widening gap between domestic consumption and global production shows that price alone is insufficient to induce required changes within reasonable timeframes. Government needs to radically increase Green research funding, promote Green legislation, and implement standards.
Solutions may come from entirely new innovations, from refinements of current technology or from novel technological combinations. However, according to Paul Roberts, author of The End of Oil: On the Edge of a Perilous New World, "The next energy economy will be built by the market, at a profit, or it won't happen at all."
Labels: alternative energy, biofuels, Coal, fuel cells, Green Legislation, Green Profit, Green Research, Green Standards, hydrogen, Innovation, net energy, Oil, peak oil, solar, unconventional oil, wind
The Life Cycle of Green
All products progress through a sequence of stages from introduction to growth to maturity and decline. This is important to Green marketers and business owners because understanding where we are in the life cycle of Green has a direct impact on the marketing strategy and the marketing mix.
Green energy appears to be very young, however, it is rapidly maturing. Four years ago we were already approaching 10% of our energy requirements from renewable sources. There was a 25% increase in wind generated power between 2005 and 2006 and a 55% increase in consumption of solar electricity in 2005.
Innovations like electricity, cars, television, and the Internet, took between 10 and 30 years. More recent global trends like the Internet have grown much more rapidly than older innovations like electric lighting. Diffusion is the term anthropologists use to describe the process by which something becomes an integral part of the culture. If this model and historical precedent are any indication, Green should mature in approximately 20 years. If we take 1999 as the starting point, 2019 can be taken as a general guesstimation of the timeframe for Green's diffusion.
Technological innovation and consumer acceptance are keys to Green's diffusion. Although demand for Green continues to grow, there are serious threats. Perhaps the most serious threat comes from the absence of senior government leadership in strategic planning, legislation and enforcement.
Keeping track of Green's life cycle position helps business owners and marketers make timely adjustments. Profits and revenues plotted over time indicate that Green is in its growth stage and appears destined to keep growing for the foreseeable futre.
Ultimately what we now refer to as "green" will be sewn into the DNA of all the products we buy. Until then, marketers must be mindful of how long the term will resonate with consumers.
Labels: alternative energy, Coal, Diffusion, Green leadership, Green's Growth, Innovation, Life Cycle of Green, Marketing Strategy, Oil, renewable energy, solar, Strategic Planning, wind
Green Leadership
Some appear to be waiting for environmental stewardship from national governments. Although it is desirable to have Green legislation from above, much of the interest in Green originates from below. Green has worked its way up political and economic hierarchies. Green began as a grassroots movement and has blossomed into a powerful social and economic phenomenon.
The cap-and-trade deal signed by two Canadian provinces illustrates this point. Scheduled to go into effect on January 1, 2010, the historic deal between Quebec and Ontario goes well beyond any current or proposed federal initiatives. Quebec's premiere Jean Charest said "The federal government will find itself increasingly isolated if it fails to sign on to the worldwide trend toward market-based trading systems to cut greenhouse gas emissions."
Labels: cap-and-trade, Charest, Environmental Stewardship, Federal Government, GHG, grassroots, Green leadership, Green Legislation, Ontario, Provincial Governments, Quebec, social and economic pheneomenon
Green Capitalism
Carbon trading is Green capitalism. Carbon trading, (also known as cap-and-trade and emissions trading) is an administrative approach used to control pollution by providing economic incentives for achieving reductions in the emissions of pollutants. Applying the basic principles of a free market, carbon trading employs a system of incentives and disincentives to reduce emissions. This system allows companies to sell their unused carbon quotas to companies that exceed their caps. Carbon trading helps to cut emissions, and assists corporations with the costs of pollution reduction. Carbon offsets also fund carbon-reduction projects.
However, the details of carbon trading, like the logistics of monitoring and enforcement, have not been adequately addressed. One of the most difficult issues is the initial allocation methods and cap. Despite these concerns, the cap-and-trade system is gaining in popularity in Europe and has been endorsed by both the Republican and Democratic Presidential candidates in the United States.
Competition motivates corporations and drives our economies and it is also helping average people to be more Green. In 2007, Carbonrally began a competition to reduce carbon emissions. Since then its 2,000 users have averted more than 150 tons of CO2 emissions. "We put the challenges in bite-size chunks, but that adds up," says founder Jason Karas.
Carbon trading helps to provide a concrete approach to measuring and managing CO2. "Global warming is an abstract idea that is hard for people to connect to," says Bob Schildgen, the Sierra Club's environmental-advice columnist. "It's good to start at the basic level, with real numbers." The carbon market is just the beginning of administrative systems designed to manage other pollutants. Markets for other pollutants already exist, although they tend to be smaller and more localized then the carbon market.
Global CO2 emissions total more than 28 billion tons a year, and carbon emissions are growing in the developing world. Clearly carbon trading is insufficient on its own to manage green house gases. The scale of the CO2 emissions problem demands global cooperation. Cap-and-trade systems employ free markets to set prices. And capitalism is the only global mechanism we have in place capable of penetrating the broader marketplace and achieving the kind of critical mass required to make a meaningful difference.
As individuals, corporations, and governments, we have an opportunity to set an example for the world. What we glean along the way will help us to make the most of these markets which in turn will enhance their value, effectiveness and appeal. Carbon trading may not be able to alter climate change by itself, but it is an important step on the road to a more sustainable future, and a powerful example of the ways in which Green is being woven into the fabric of our economies.
Labels: cap-and-trade, Carbon Trading, Competition, emissions trading, emissions-reduction, free markets, GHG, Green Capitalism, incentives, sustainable future


text:
Canada's 500,000 Leaky Energy Wells: 'Threat to Public'
Badly sealed oil and gas wellbores leak emissions barely monitored, experts find.
Andrew Nikiforuk 5 Jun 2014TheTyee.ca
This coverage of Canadian national issues is made possible because of generous financial support from our Tyee Builders.
A typical energy wellbore: integrity of cement casing key to preventing leaking emissions.
A new University of Waterloo report warns that natural gas seeping from 500,000 wellbores represent "a threat to environment and public safety" due to groundwater contamination, greenhouse gas emissions and explosion risks wherever methane collects in unvented buildings and spaces.
Shale Gas: How Often Do Fracked Wells Leak?
The 69-page report on wellbore leakage cowritten by three expert UofW professors outlines a longstanding and largely invisible engineering problem for Canada's oil and gas industry.
It also calls for dramatic reforms in monitoring and regulation including greater engineering oversight of the cementing of wellbores and "doing it right in the first place."
The scale of the problem? Ten per cent of all active and suspended gas wells in British Columbia now leak methane.
In addition, some hydraulically fractured shale gas wells in that province have become super methane emitters that spew as much as 2,000 kilograms of methane a year.
That amount of methane would make an audible hiss at the wellbore or form a big bubble in a swamp, says report lead author Maurice Dusseault, one of nation's top petroleum engineers.
An average wellbore may leak about 100 kilograms of methane a year, or the same as cow, but little data has been collected or accurately verified.
In Saskatchewan, about 20 per cent of all energy wells leak. In Alberta, regulators report chronic seepage from 27,000 wells.
Twenty years ago, the heavy oil fields of Lloydminster reported a leakage rate as high as 46 per cent. A 2010 industry study noted that the failure rate for steam injection wells for bitumen production approached 30 per cent.
Leaks and climate change
Methane leakage from wellbores, pipelines, pumps and urban gas distribution systems have become a hot button issue because they can undermine or reverse the greenhouse gas advantage that natural gas has over coal or oil.
A natural gas field that seeps three to four per cent of its product can be a more aggressive forcer of climate destabilization than coal and therefore dirtier, say a growing number of scientists.
That's because methane is a much more powerful greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide over a 20-year time frame.
Due to its potent climate effect, methane leakage from thousands of wellbores will ultimately become "a federal issue," warns Dusseault, who recently made presentations to the Alberta Energy Regulator on the scale of the problem.
"The Americans are going to get us moving on this issue," adds Dusseault, citing U.S. President Barack Obama's recent decision to reduce climate change emissions from power plants by 30 per cent.
Ignoring the problem or shooting the messenger will just erode the industry's social license to operate, warns Dusseault. "I think the industry has to be more pro-active and should get in front of this issue."
Awareness 'exploded'
The problem has existed for decades, but industry and regulators have largely ignored the liability until climate science changed its profile along with an unconventional drilling boom that added tens of thousands of wells to the North American landscape.
Fourteen years ago, when Dusseault first wrote about the subject in a scientific paper titled "Why Oilwells Leak," he got no mail. "But now the public awareness has exploded."
Together with engineer Richard E. Jackson, a co-writer of the recent report, Dusseault has been making non-stop presentations.
Each and every wellbore that punctures the earth potentially becomes a man-made superhighway for methane and other gases such as radon that would normally take millions of years to migrate to the surface.
If not cemented and sealed properly, stray gas will travel from deep or intermediate zones and migrate along the casing to the atmosphere, surface waters or into aquifers.
The shattering or hydraulic fracturing of rock formations, which often result in fractures jumping out of targeted oil and gas zones, can also provide additional pathways for methane seepage.
Across North America, leaking methane from wellbores has killed vegetation, contaminated groundwater and infiltrated buildings resulting in dangerous and fatal explosions in both urban and rural environments.
Meandering methane
The fact that gas may not be bubbling or hissing around a wellbore doesn't mean the wellbore is not leaking, say scientists.
Methane can wander kilometres away from the source (due to natural or manmade fractures in the earth) and later dissolve into aquifers that provide drinking water. The methane can then exit rural kitchen taps in a milky, flammable and bubbling brew. Or it can collect in basements or water pump houses and explode.
Five ways gas wellbores can leak. Source: "Towards a Road Map for Mitigating the Rates and Occurrences of Long-Term Wellbore Leakage."
PLUGGING A LEAKY INDUSTRY
In order to reduce methane leakage from wellbores and the hazards it poses to groundwater, atmosphere and rural households, the recently released University of Waterloo report described in the accompanying story calls upon regulators to plug some very big holes, including:
Best practices for cementing and sealing wellbores are not being followed or appropriately monitored by qualified engineers.
Quality control for cement formulations is "often less than perfect."
Additives for cement jobs have received little third party scrutiny for effectiveness.
There is no direct supervision of cementing operations by engineers.
Slow development of leaks is not well recognized or acknowledged by cementing companies and oil companies.
Fixing leaky wells has been a case of "persistent under-reporting of negative results."
Measuring gas leaks from a wellbore require review, testing and advancement.
Abandoned wells aren't being properly plugged and sealed.
The scale of existing groundwater contamination caused by leaky wellbores is unknown, unmonitored and unstudied.
There has been no serious discussion about what is an acceptable rate of gas leakage from both active and abandoned wellbores.
— A.N.
Wellbore leakage into groundwater poses significant contamination risks, adds the Waterloo report.
Documented cases of groundwater contamination have occurred from wellbores in fractured coal seams of New Mexico and heavy oil fields of Lloydminster. But toxicologists have hardly studied the issue.
"We can expect that natural gas contamination of freshwater aquifers will result in the oxidized methane being replaced by H2S and the net effect of the oxidation-reduction reactions will be a groundwater elevated in terms of Total Dissolved Solids, thus causing a pronounced deterioration in the quality of the groundwater," explains the report.
Many families in the well-fracked oil and gas fields of central Alberta have found high levels of methane and H2S in their groundwater. But regulators routinely dismiss these cases.
Hazard poorly monitored
John Cherry, a recognized University of Waterloo groundwater expert, says no oil and gas jurisdiction in North America has set up a proper groundwater-monitoring program to study the scale of the hazard.
Alberta, for example, has failed to collect baseline data on the state of its groundwater resources prior to and after intense oil and gas activity for decades despite repeated warnings by scientists to do so. In recent years the increasing use of hydraulic fracturing has had the effect of drawing a red circle around the hidden liability of wellbore leakage.
Fracking has not only added more wellbores (and methane pathways) to the landscape in the rush to develop difficult hydrocarbons trapped in shale rock and coal but added more pressure and stress to wellbores causing more leaks.
The Waterloo report, quietly released last month, notes that the fluid injection of steam, water, sand or chemicals to force out more hydrocarbons "elevates the mechanical and thermal loading on wellbores, and significantly increases the probability of leakage problem development during the operational lifetime of the wellbore, before final abandonment."
Cornell fracking expert Anthony Ingraffea has documented chronic leakage rates in newly fracked shale gas wells in Pennsylvania as high as seven per cent.
One Alberta study by Stefan Bachu and Theresa Watson found that more than 60 per cent of all deviated or horizontal wells in one test area leaked.
No one collecting key data
So many leaks have been found in wellbores in the Montney and Horn River basin play in northeastern B.C., says the Waterloo report, that "more stringent standards" may have to be applied.
Fracking more shale formations could make the problem worse. Industry will have to puncture northeastern United States with another 500,000 wellbores in order to drain the Marcellus formation. To fill proposed LNG plants BC would have to plant and frack another 50,000 wellbores over a landscape the size of Ireland by 2035. The Montney shale gas formation in B.C. is so thick that each well pad might eventually accommodate an underground forest of 50 wellbores.
To date, industry and regulators have done a poor job quantifying the scale and significance of methane leaks from wellbores, says Dusseault.
"The severity of the problem is not known because neither industry or oil and gas regulators are collecting the data," says the widely published engineer who advises both industry and government on topics as varied as hydraulic fracturing and cap rock integrity.
"We don't even know the total number of wells that are actually leaking. The numbers are not being collected and estimates range from a few percent to as high as 15 per cent."
The situation is even more complicated. About 151,000 abandoned wellbores in Alberta, 35 per cent of the well population, aren't being monitored for seepage: "there is no monitoring regulation in Canada that requires operators to test wellbores for leakage following final abandonment," says the report.
Yet, as Dusseault notes in a separate paper, "abandoned or active wells" that intersect wells being hydraulically fracked "constitute the seepage pathway of greatest risk for hydraulic fracking fluids" to penetrate shallow aquifers.
Nor does government know what volume of methane is exactly leaking from wellbores or how it contributes to the overall burden of methane seepage from the natural gas industry.
"We don't know what percentage is going into the atmosphere or into the ground," says Dusseault. "There is no incentive to collect the numbers because industry views it as a bad news problem."
Expensive to fix
Fixing leaking wellbores can be a financial nightmare for the industry. Plugging a faulty wellbore can cost $150,000, but in some problematic fields remediation costs can go as high as $600,000. One remote well in northern British Columbia cost $8 million to fix. And there is no guarantee of success.
The problem has become so extreme that report calls for better regulations, more accountable engineering and a national roadmap to "improve long-term wellbore integrity." (See sidebar.)
Oil and gas wells leak for a variety of reasons, but it's mostly a tale of about corrupted cement.
Over time, a cement seal in a wellbore can shrink, crack, degrade or be dissolved by acids. In addition steel casing often corrode as they age. Additives added to the cement by drillers can weaken the seal. Plugs used to cap abandoned wells typically experience significant degradation. In some cases local geological conditions such as shallow gravel beds or swelling clays also make cement seals difficult.
Oil prices dramatically impact the quality of cement seals on wellbores, too. During periods of high oil prices companies try to drill as many wells as fast they can with the result that "wellbore construction practices were negatively impacted."
Read more: Energy, Environment


The Weiser Weight & Tusk Trophy Wild Boar Record Book is a universal scoring system developed by Cody Weiser and maintained by Wild Boar USA / Ugly Dog Ranch.
Weiser Weight & Tusk (WWT) became official on January 1, 2005 and has since become the standard for scoring trophy class wild boars.
A minimum score of 400 points is required for a boar or barr hog to be entered into the record books. Once the trophy has been entered, it will remain logged forever. This assures the hunter a place in wild boar hunting history and is the ultimate respect for the animal.