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Home > Journals > The Wilson Journal of Ornithology > Volume 112 > Issue 3
The Wilson Journal of Ornithology
VOL. 112 · NO. 3 | October 2000
CONTENTS (13)
SHORT COMMUNICATIONS (11)
ORNITHOLOGICAL LITERATURE (7)
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A NEW SPECIES OF FLYCATCHER (TYRANNIDAE: MYIOPAGIS) FROM EASTERN ECUADOR AND EASTERN PERU
Paul Coopmans, Niels Krabbe
112(3), 305-312, (1 September 2000)https://doi.org/10.1676/0043-5643(2000)112[0305:ANSOFT]2.0.CO;2
A new species of New World flycatcher in the genus Myiopagis (Aves, Tyrannidae, Elaeniinae) is described from Andean submontane forest of eastern Ecuador and eastern Peru. It appears to be most closely related to M. caniceps of lower elevations and more distantly to M. gaimardii, with which it is syntopic.
NESTING RECORDS OF FIVE ANTBIRD SPECIES FROM THE COLOMBIAN AMAZON
Carlos daniel Cadena, Gustavo A. Londoño, Juan Luis Parra
112(3), 313-317, (1 September 2000)https://doi.org/10.1676/0043-5643(2000)112[0313:NROFAS]2.0.CO;2
Few nests of Amazonian antbirds (Thamnophilidae and Formicariidae) have been described. Here we present nesting records for five species of antbirds found in Tinigua National Park, Colombia. A pouch-shaped pensile nest of the Warbling Antbird (Hypocnemis cantator) in a treefall gap within seasonally flooded forest contained two eggs colored like those found in French Guiana but different from those in Amazonian Brazil and Peru. The Black-spotted Bare-eye (Phlegopsis nigromaculata) also nested in seasonally flooded forest; it constructed a cup-shaped nest inside a hollow rotten stump and laid two eggs. Two naked nestlings with bright yellow bills disappeared soon after hatching. Two cup-shaped nests of the Scale-backed Antbird (Hylophylax poecilinota) were in mature terra firme forest. Both contained two eggs similar in color to those of other subspecies; nestlings were naked and had conspicuous yellow bills. Those found in one nest disappeared 11 days after hatching. A nest of the Amazonian Streaked-Antwren (Myrmotherula multostriata) containing one egg was in seasonally flooded forest close to the river bank. This egg differed in coloration from others found in Brazil and from those of other members of the M. surinamensis complex, with which it was formerly considered conspecific. A Striated Antthrush (Chamaeza nobilis) nested in an unlined natural cavity some 3 m above the ground. The nestling closely resembled the adult but was smaller, had yellow bill commissures, and a shorter tail.
FEEDING BEHAVIOR AND FOOD HABITS OF WINTERING HARLEQUIN DUCKS AT SHEMYA ISLAND, ALASKA
Julian B. Fischer, Curtice R. Griffin
112(3), 318-325, (1 September 2000)https://doi.org/10.1676/0043-5643(2000)112[0318:FBAFHO]2.0.CO;2
The foraging ecology of wintering Harlequin Ducks (Histrionicus histrionicus) is poorly understood and information on basic food habits is lacking for this species in the Aleutian Islands of Alaska where the largest winter concentrations occur. We investigated feeding behavior and food habits of wintering Harlequin Ducks in the western Aleutian Islands of Alaska with respect to sex and temporal and environmental variables to document behavioral responses to winter conditions, resource use, and nutritional requirements. We found that on average, Harlequin Ducks spent most of the diurnal period feeding (70% males, 76% females). However, more time was spent feeding during evenings, midwinter, cold weather, and high tides. Gastropods, crustaceans, and diptera larvae made up 83% of the diet, but diet composition changed throughout winter. Despite change in food habits, diet energy density was stable throughout winter.
HABITAT SAMPLING AND SELECTION BY FEMALE WILD TURKEYS DURING PREINCUBATION
Michael J. Chamberlain, Bruce D. Leopold
112(3), 326-331, (1 September 2000)https://doi.org/10.1676/0043-5643(2000)112[0326:HSASBF]2.0.CO;2
Habitat use and home range sizes of female Eastern Wild Turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) during preincubation may influence reproductive success. Little information on habitat selection during preincubation at multiple spatial scales is available and the influence of preincubation movement rates on reproductive success is poorly understood. We monitored 35 adult female Eastern Wild Turkeys during preincubation in central Mississippi during 1996–1997. We estimated home range and core area size, macrohabitat selection at multiple spatial scales and movement rates from 1 February until the beginning of incubation. Preincubation home ranges averaged 306.6 (±46.8 SE) ha and core areas 47.3 (±7.4) ha. Females selected 9–15 and 16–29 year-old pine (Pinus spp.) stands over other habitats available when establishing home ranges, but within these home ranges they selected pine stands that were older than 30 years for their core areas and nest sites. However, females used habitats within their established home range in proportion to availability. Movement rates averaged 286.5 (±22.3) m/hr during preincubation and were greater than during other seasons. We detected no correlations between home range or core area size and number of days nests were successfully incubated. However, we detected a positive correlation between movement rates and increased incubation, suggesting females that moved farther during preincubation successfully incubated nests longer. Our findings suggest females selected habitats differentially when establishing pre-incubation home ranges and core areas. Further, our findings suggest movement rates within home ranges may better reflect a female's habitat sampling effort during nest site selection rather than home range or core area size.
DIURNAL ROOST SITE CHARACTERISTICS OF NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS WINTERING AT ASSATEAGUE ISLAND, MARYLAND
John B. Churchill, Petra B. Wood, David F. Brinker
112(3), 332-336, (1 September 2000)https://doi.org/10.1676/0043-5643(2000)112[0332:DRSCON]2.0.CO;2
We characterized 30 diurnal roost sites of five radio-tagged Northern Saw-whet Owls (Aegolius acadicus) in the winters of 1996–1997 on Assateague Island, Maryland and found they preferred thick cover at roost sites. Roosts occurred most often in loblolly pine forest (Pinus taeda) and shrub swamps dominated by wax myrtle (Myrica cerifera). Vegetation was measured at paired roosts and random sites in similar habitats. Distance to nearest tree and average canopy height were significantly lower at roost sites than random sites. Numbers of stems larger than 2.5 cm diameter at breast height (dbh), stems smaller than 2.5 cm dbh, and roost tree dbh were larger at roost sites. Roost height, canopy cover, canopy height, shrub height, and ground cover differed significantly between pine and shrub swamp roosts, although cover above and below the roost site were similar. Higher densities of stems and shorter distances to the nearest tree at roost sites compared to random sites indicated that owls chose sites with dense cover, probably as protection from predators or weather.
GEOGRAPHIC VARIATION AND TAXONOMY OF THE NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH
Pierre Molina, Henri Ouellet, Raymond McNeil
112(3), 337-346, (1 September 2000)https://doi.org/10.1676/0043-5643(2000)112[0337:GVATOT]2.0.CO;2
In this study we analyzed geographic variation in the Northern Waterthrush (Seiurus noveboracensis) and reassessed the status of the four subspecies described between 1880 and 1948, three of which were recognized by the AOU Check-list (1957) and Godfrey (1986). We examined 490 specimens that came from throughout the breeding range of the Northern Waterthrush and used four morphometric data sets and three color variables to investigate geographic variation. Males differed from females based on morphometric characters. Males, unlike females, showed a morphometric trend with latitude and longitude. Their wing chord, tail and tarsus lengths showed a gradual decrease in length from north to south, while their tail and tarsus lengths gradually decreased eastward. The body shape showed a longitudinal trend where western specimens tended to have proportionally longer tails than wings compared to specimens from the eastern part of the range. Color was more strongly related to geography than morphometric characters and showed both longitudinal and latitudinal trends. Specimens from the southeastern part of the range were more olive dorsally and yellow ventrally and had fewer underpart markings than most specimens from the northwestern part of the range. Only the wing length permitted us to discriminate between the most distant populations. These trends are clinal and cannot support the recognition of subspecies.
MOVEMENT AND TERRITORIALITY OF WINTERING HERMIT THRUSHES IN SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA
David R. Brown, Philip C. Stouffer, Cheryl M. Strong
112(3), 347-353, (1 September 2000)https://doi.org/10.1676/0043-5643(2000)112[0347:MATOWH]2.0.CO;2
We describe the spatial organization and social behavior of Hermit Thrushes (Catharus guttatus) wintering in pine plantations and an adjacent hardwood forest in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana over three winters. We used point counts (n = 403) to collect data on agonistic behaviors and relative abundance within the study area. We used mist-netting to study site fidelity on four 9-ha plots within and among years. We used radio-telemetry to measure Hermit Thrushes' movements and territoriality (n = 50). We found that Hermit Thrushes saturated suitable patches within the study area. Most Hermit Thrushes actively defended small [mean = 0.55 ± 0.03 (SE) ha], minimally overlapping (15.90 ± 3.63%) territories throughout the winter. Hermit Thrushes established and maintained territories using the same agonistic behaviors described for breeding birds. A few non-territorial birds (14%) moved among occupied territories, but most were faithful to a larger neighborhood, apparently awaiting a territory vacancy. Territorial behavior and frequency of non-territorial birds did not differ among age and sex classes, suggesting the absence of a sex- or age-based dominance hierarchy. The behavior of Hermit Thrushes conformed to the emerging view that competition for spatially mediated resources on the wintering grounds, such as food or cover, contribute to limiting populations of many species of migrant passerines.
EFFECT OF PREDATION AND COWBIRD PARASITISM ON THE NESTING SUCCESS OF TWO SYMPATRIC NEOTROPICAL MARSHBIRDS
Gustavo J. Fernández, Myriam E. Mermoz
112(3), 354-364, (1 September 2000)https://doi.org/10.1676/0043-5643(2000)112[0354:EOPACP]2.0.CO;2
We compared the effect of nest predation and cowbird parasitism on the breeding success of two simultaneously nesting ecologically similar blackbird species that differ in their breeding strategies. The Scarlet-headed Blackbird (Amblyramphus holosericeus) is a monogamous species that performs territorial defense. In contrast, the Brown-and-yellow Marshbird (Pseudoleistes virescens) is a non-territorial monogamous breeder that performs mate guarding and has helpers at the nest. Both species suffered similar nest predation rates throughout their nesting cycle. However, the Brown-and-yellow Marshbird suffered higher parasitism from Shiny (Molothrus bonariensis) and Screaming cowbirds (M. rufoaxillaris) than the Scarlet-headed Blackbird (62.6% vs 15.4%). Brood parasitism accounted for most of the egg losses and hatching failures in Brown-and-yellow Marshbird. Parasitized nests had lower egg survival and hatching success than non-parasitized ones. Mean clutch size was 1.5 eggs larger in Brown-and-yellow Marshbird than in Scarlet-headed Blackbird. However, Scarlet-headed Blackbird had higher hatching success than Brown-and-yellow Marshbird and similar fledging success. Consequently, both species produced similar numbers of fledglings. We did not detect any relationship between the reproductive success of these species and their breeding strategies. The presence of helpers at Brown-and-yellow Marshbird nests did not affect nest defense or chick survival, but helpers might account for reduced parental effort by supplementing food delivery to chicks/fledglings.
EFFECTS OF WINTER MARSH BURNING ON ABUNDANCE AND NESTING ACTIVITY OF LOUISIANA SEASIDE SPARROWS IN THE GULF COAST CHENIER PLAIN
Steven W. Gabrey, Alan D. Afton
112(3), 365-372, (1 September 2000)https://doi.org/10.1676/0043-5643(2000)112[0365:EOWMBO]2.0.CO;2
Louisiana Seaside Sparrows (Ammodramus maritimus fisheri) breed and winter exclusively in brackish and saline marshes along the northern Gulf of Mexico. Many Gulf Coast marshes, particularly in the Chenier Plain of southwestern Louisiana and southeastern Texas, are burned intentionally in fall or winter as part of waterfowl management programs. Fire reportedly has negatively affected two Seaside Sparrow subspecies (A. m. nigrescens and A. m. mirabilis) in Florida, but there is no published information regarding effects of fire on A. m. fisheri. We compared abundance of territorial male Louisiana Seaside Sparrows, number of nesting activity indicators, and vegetation structure in paired burned and unburned plots in Chenier Plain marshes in southwestern Louisiana during the 1996 breeding season (April–July) before experimental winter burns (January 1997) and again during two breeding seasons post-burn (1997–1998). We found that abundance of male sparrows decreased in burned plots during the first breeding season post-burn, but was higher than that of unburned plots during the second breeding season post-burn. Indicators of nesting activity showed a similar but non-significant pattern in response to burning. Sparrow abundance and nesting activity seemingly are linked to dead vegetation cover, which was lower in burned plots during the first breeding season post-burn, but did not differ from that in unburned plots during the second breeding season post-burn. We recommend that marsh management plans in the Gulf Coast Chenier Plain integrate waterfowl and Seaside Sparrow management by maintaining a mosaic of burned and unburned marshes and allowing vegetation to recover for at least two growing seasons before re-burning a marsh.
EFFECTS OF FOREST FRAGMENTATION BY AGRICULTURE ON AVIAN COMMUNITIES IN THE SOUTHERN BOREAL MIXEDWOODS OF WESTERN CANADA
Keith A. Hobson, Erin Bayne
112(3), 373-387, (1 September 2000)https://doi.org/10.1676/0043-5643(2000)112[0373:EOFFBA]2.0.CO;2
Little is known about the effects of forest fragmentation on bird communities in the boreal forests of western North America. Assessing the impact of forest fragmentation on bird communities has been complicated by the fact that few studies have applied statistical analyses that account for the possibility that individuals are randomly dispersed within landscapes. From 1993–1997, we contrasted bird communities in contiguous forest (54 sites) and nearby forest fragments surrounded by agricultural land (106 sites, 0.2–123 ha). Species were divided into groups based on migratory strategy (resident, short-distance migrant, long-distance migrant, and irruptive) and edge-sensitivity (edge, edge-interior, and interior). For each group, we tested whether richness and abundance were different from what would be expected if birds were distributed randomly across landscapes. Species richness was higher than expected in contiguous forest for interior species, whereas edge and short-distance migratory species were more common in the fragmented landscape. Similarly, the total abundance of interior and long-distance migratory birds was higher in contiguous forest, whereas edge birds were more abundant in the fragmented landscape. Brown Creeper (Certhia americana), Swainson's Thrush (Catharus ustulatus), Tennessee Warbler (Vermivora peregrina), Magnolia Warbler (Dendroica magnolia), Blackburnian Warbler (Dendroica fusca), Black-throated Green Warbler (Dendroica virens), and Bay-breasted Warbler (Dendroica castanea) were virtually absent from the fragmented landscape, yet were common in contiguous forest. Within the fragmented landscape, forest fragment size had little effect on species richness but was significantly correlated with abundance of all migratory and edge-sensitivity groups except edge and short-distance migrants. Probability of occurrence, controlling for random placement, was positively correlated with forest fragment size, percent forest cover within 5 km, or the interaction between size and cover for 19 species, most of which were associated with forest interiors. Predation and brood parasitism were higher on nests of ground and shrub nesting birds in the fragmented landscape than in contiguous forest. Fragmentation of contiguous forest in the southern boreal mixedwood zone of western Canada has a negative impact on the abundance of several resident and long-distance migratory species.
HABITAT AND LANDSCAPE CORRELATES OF PRESENCE, DENSITY, AND SPECIES RICHNESS OF BIRDS WINTERING IN FOREST FRAGMENTS IN OHIO
Paul F. Doherty, Thomas C. Grubb
112(3), 388-394, (1 September 2000)https://doi.org/10.1676/0043-5643(2000)112[0388:HALCOP]2.0.CO;2
We investigated the distribution of wintering woodland bird species in 47 very small, isolated, woodland fragments (0.54–6.01 ha) within an agricultural landscape in north-central Ohio. Our objectives were to determine correlations between temporal, habitat, and landscape variables and avian presence, density, and species richness within the smallest woodlots occupied by such species. Our results suggest that even common species are sensitive to variation in habitat, landscape, and season. Woodlot area explained the most variation in presence, density, and species richness. Shrub cover was also an important predictor variable for presence of the smallest resident birds. Shrub cover might function as both a refuge from predators and as a windbreak, reducing thermal costs in a flat, open landscape. Landscape factors related to isolation and connectedness were also correlated with species presence and density. The species composition of the community changed through the winter, as did the density of individual species, suggesting that the winter season may play an important role in determining the distributions of bird populations across woodlots. The models presented here for Ohio birds in this specific landscape may have biological inference for other species in similar landscapes.
BIRD ASSEMBLAGES OF PROTECTED AND EXPLOITED COASTAL WOODLANDS IN EAST-CENTRAL ARGENTINA
Victor R. Cueto, Javier Lopez De Casenave
112(3), 395-402, (1 September 2000)https://doi.org/10.1676/0043-5643(2000)112[0395:BAOPAE]2.0.CO;2
We surveyed vegetation and bird assemblages in protected and exploited woodlands in the warm temperate, coastal woodlands of Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. Exploited woodland experienced selective logging of Celtis tala until at least 1960; presently it is used for sheltering domestic livestock. Vertical structure and floristic composition were simpler in exploited than in protected woodland. Likewise, avian density and species richness were lower in exploited woodland. Viewing the avifaunas from a guild perspective, we found the insectivore guild and frugivore-insectivore guild differed substantially between protected and exploited woodlands. The bird densities of these guilds were higher in protected woodland, and the species richness of the insectivore guild was lower in the exploited woodland. Apparently the insectivore guild responded primarily to structural differences, whereas the frugivore-insectivore guild may have responded more to differences in floristic composition. The granivore guild also differed between the two woodlands, but primarily because of changes in the density of the Rufous-collared Sparrow (Zonotrichia capensis). This bird species was more abundant in the protected woodland.
A COMPARISON OF 1983 AND 1994 BIRD SURVEYS OF POHNPEI, FEDERATED STATES OF MICRONESIA
Donald W. Buden
112(3), 403-410, (1 September 2000)https://doi.org/10.1676/0043-5643(2000)112[0403:ACOABS]2.0.CO;2
Relative abundance and habitat use of 29 forest bird species, including 22 land birds (18 indigenous breeding residents, 3 exotics, 1 migrant) along with a rail, heron, and five seabirds (shearwater, tropicbird, 3 terns) were assessed on Pohnpei [Island] during summer 1994 and compared with the results of the first survey in 1983. The most frequently encountered species in both surveys were the Purple-capped Fruit-Dove (Ptilinopus porphyraceus), Pohnpei Lory (Trichoglossus rubiginosus), Micronesian Starling (Aplonis opaca), and Micronesian Honeyeater (Myzomela rubratra). Among the five species endemic to Pohnpei, the Pohnpei Mountain Starling (Aplonis pelzelni) verges on extinction, with only one confirmed sighting in nearly 50 years; the Long-billed White-eye (Rukia longirostra) is vulnerable to encroaching agriculture in its preferred and limited montane habitat, where nearly 90% of the sightings were on approximately 10% of the land area, and the Pohnpei Lory (Trichoglossus rubiginosus), Pohnpei Flycatcher (Myiagra pluto), and Pohnpei Fantail (Rhipidura kubaryi) are widespread and common, but were less frequently encountered in 1994 than in 1983. The total number of birds encountered per observation station during 8-minute point counts in each of six elevation zones was 67–80% fewer in 1994 than in 1983. Encounter rates (birds/hour) were reduced by at least 50% in both uplands and lowlands in at least 14 of 29 species; none of the 29 showed an overall increase. Artifacts of sampling and sampling bias may have contributed to reduced observation rates, but anecdotal evidence suggests a decline in numbers is real and may be attributed to combined effects of habitat degradation, hunting practices, and possibly predation by introduced species. Protection of the upland forests from further degradation and more frequent monitoring to better assess population trends are recommended.
SHORT COMMUNICATIONS
Forehead Feathers of the Pied-Billed and Atitlán Grebes
Robert W. Storer, Martin J. Muller
112(3), 411-412, (1 September 2000)https://doi.org/10.1676/0043-5643(2000)112[0411:FFOTPB]2.0.CO;2
In grebes of the genus Podilymbus, the upper barbs of the forehead feathers are fused with the shaft into a somewhat flattened, pointed structure. We believe that when raised, these feathers may indicate a low probability of attack.
Evidence of an Increasing Hooded Merganser Population in Massachusetts
H W. Heusmann, T. J. Early, B. J. Nikula
112(3), 413-415, (1 September 2000)https://doi.org/10.1676/0043-5643(2000)112[0413:EOAIHM]2.0.CO;2
The number of Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) broods hatching in nest houses on 53 study areas in Massachusetts increased by 289% from 1979–1983 to 1994–1998 and the number of areas used increased from 9 of 53 in 1979 to 26 of 53 by 1998. The number of Hooded Mergansers counted on 21 Massachusetts Christmas Bird Count circles from 1979–1983 to 1994–1998 increased by 225%. The increasing trend lines did not match, suggesting different populations. This appears to support reports of increasing Hooded Merganser populations by other northeastern state waterfowl biologists.
Northern Harrier Predation of White-faced Ibis
James W. Rivers
112(3), 416-417, (1 September 2000)https://doi.org/10.1676/0043-5643(2000)112[0416:NHPOWF]2.0.CO;2
The Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus) is a widespread raptor that preys mainly upon small mammals and, to a lesser extent, birds. Most published accounts of harrier food habits report the majority of avian prey items are passerines with few large (> 500 g) birds taken. In fall 1999, I observed a Northern Harrier that appeared to have attacked and killed a White-faced Ibis (Plegadis chihi) foraging in a playa wetland in Meade County, Kansas. Field observations of the harrier, in addition to physical evidence, suggest the attack was on an apparently healthy individual that did not have any obvious physical deformities. Northern Harriers appear to attack and kill White-faced Ibis and may prey on large birds more often than reported previously.
Comparable Reproductive Success at Conifer Plantation and Non-plantation Nest Sites for Cooper's Hawks in Wisconsin
Robert N. Rosenfield, John Bielefeldt, Sarah A. Sonsthagen, Travis L. Booms
112(3), 417-421, (1 September 2000)https://doi.org/10.1676/0043-5643(2000)112[0417:CRSACP]2.0.CO;2
Some birds that attempt to nest in habitats such as conifer plantations may experience lower reproductive success and diminished fitness in comparison to conspecifics in other habitats, rendering such habitats sinks or ecological traps. We did not detect significant differences between conifer plantation and non-plantation nests in terms of clutch size, number of bandable young per nest, or nest success for Cooper's Hawks (Accipiter cooperii) in Wisconsin during 1980–1998. Pine plantations contributed recruits to subsequent breeding generations in proportion to their productivity of bandable nestlings. Conifer plantations in Wisconsin also contained nesting densities and productivity indices for Cooper's Hawks that are among the highest reported for the species. Thus, conifer plantations in Wisconsin are neither ecological traps nor population sinks for nesting Cooper's Hawks.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird Death by Common Burdock (Arctium minus)
Herman J. Nealen, Paul M. Nealen
112(3), 421-422, (1 September 2000)https://doi.org/10.1676/0043-5643(2000)112[0421:RTHDBC]2.0.CO;2
A Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) that had become entangled and died in the flowers of a common burdock (Arctium minus) was found 12 August 1999 in Cambria County, Pennsylvania.
Attack on Chestnut-bellied Euphonia Nestlings by Army Ants
Marco A. Pizo
112(3), 422-424, (1 September 2000)https://doi.org/10.1676/0043-5643(2000)112[0422:AOCBEN]2.0.CO;2
I report some observations of a Chestnut-bellied Euphonia (Euphonia pectoralis) nest in a lowland Atlantic Forest of southeastern Brazil during the early nestling period. During 7.5 hours of observations, the nest was attended 46.3% of the time, 45.6% by the female and 0.7% by the male. Unattended periods lasted 16–38 min. Parents visited the nest most of the time together at 36–59 min intervals. There were 1.06 feeding visits per nestling per hour. The two nestlings in the nest ended up preyed upon by army ants (Labidus praedator, Ecitoninae). The low height of the nest (0.8 m) may have facilitated its detection by the ants.
Neophobia by the Lesser-Antillean Bullfinch, a Foraging Generalist, and the Bananaquit, a Nectar Specialist
Sandra J. Webster, Louis Lefebvre
112(3), 424-427, (1 September 2000)https://doi.org/10.1676/0043-5643(2000)112[0424:NBTLAB]2.0.CO;2
Generalist birds are thought to be less neophobic than specialists, but the dietary difference is often confounded by differences in experience and food availability. We conducted field tests with an artificial nectar source on a foraging generalist [Lesser-Antillean Bullfinch (Loxigilla noctis)] and a nectarivorous specialist [Bananaquit (Coereba flaveola)] in Barbados. Both species are equally opportunistic and tame on this island. Bullfinches arrived first at the feeding stations and showed a shorter latency to feed in the tests than did Bananaquits, suggesting that differences in specialization lead to the differences in neophobia predicted by ecological plasticity.
Belding's Savannah Sparrows Eat Eggs From Live Fiddler Crabs
Catherine E. deRivera
112(3), 427-428, (1 September 2000)https://doi.org/10.1676/0043-5643(2000)112[0427:BSSSEE]2.0.CO;2
On 17 occasions in Chula Vista, California, at least one Belding's Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis beldingi) was observed chasing egg-carrying female fiddler crabs (Uca crenulata) and pecking eggs from ones it caught. Sparrows did not eat any part of the adult crab while eating the eggs. A fledgling learned this novel hunting technique after accompanying its parent for a month.
Whimbrel Attacked by a Peregrine Falcon and Killed by a Common Raven in Northern California
Anthony J. Maguire
112(3), 429-430, (1 September 2000)https://doi.org/10.1676/0043-5643(2000)112[0429:WABAPF]2.0.CO;2
A Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) was observed stooping on a Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) that was eventually attacked by a nearby Common Raven (Corvus corax). This incident reinforces the idea that ravens are opportunistic and intelligent predators capable of kleptoparasitizing large prey items.
Bird Behavior During a Total Solar Eclipse
Elliot J. Tramer
112(3), 431-432, (1 September 2000)https://doi.org/10.1676/0043-5643(2000)112[0431:BBDATS]2.0.CO;2
I report avian behavioral responses to a total solar eclipse on the north coast of Venezuela during the afternoon of 26 February 1998. Magnificent Frigate-birds (Fregata magnificens), Brown Pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis), and Royal Terns (Sterna maxima), which had been foraging over the water before the eclipse, left the bay 39 (terns) or 13 (frigate-birds and pelicans) min before the eclipse became total. The frigate-birds flew inland and the pelicans went to roosts on cliffs bordering the bay. Residents of the local village, who knew the birds' behavior well, remarked that the frigate-birds and pelicans were behaving as they normally did at sunset. Laughing Gulls (Larus atricilla) ceased foraging and flew rapidly back and forth over the water in a tight flock during the 3 min 40 s of totality. Twelve minutes after the solar disc emerged, the frigate-birds and pelicans began to return to the bay, and they and the gulls resumed foraging. The terns still had not reappeared more than 1 hr after totality. Solar eclipses, although of brief duration, apparently reduce light levels sufficiently to temporarily interrupt normal avian diurnal behavior.
Distribution of Bacteria on Feathers of Some Eastern North American Birds
Michelle M. Muza, Edward H. Burtt, Jann M. Ichida
112(3), 432-435, (1 September 2000)https://doi.org/10.1676/0043-5643(2000)112[0432:DOBOFO]2.0.CO;2
The plumage of birds harbors diverse bacteria but their distribution on feathers is unknown. We plucked a single contour feather from the venter of each of 75 passerines captured in mist nets in September, October, and November 1995. Bacteria were significantly more abundant on the distal part of the feather than the proximal part. We suggest that feathers may be a barrier to bacterial infections of the skin and that distal barbs are more likely to be damaged by feather-degrading bacteria than proximal barbs.
ORNITHOLOGICAL LITERATURE
BIRDS OF INDIA, PAKISTAN, BANGLADESH, BHUTAN, SRI LANKA, AND THE MALDIVES
Bruce M. Beehler
112(3), 436, (1 September 2000)https://doi.org/10.1676/0043-5643(2000)112[0436:BR]2.0.CO;2
STOPOVER ECOLOGY OF NEARCTIC-NEOTROPICAL LANDBIRD MIGRANTS: HABITAT RELATIONS AND CONSERVATION IMPLICATIONS
Sara R. Morris
COLORADO BREEDING BIRD ATLAS
William E. Davis Jr.
ORIOLES, BLACKBIRDS & THEIR KIN
Kenneth C. Parkes
CHASING WARBLERS
A BIRDER'S GUIDE TO THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY
Mary Gustafson
NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY BIRDER'S HANDBOOK


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Most people don't think of winter as a time for allergies. However, winter allergies are just as common as reactions people have during the spring and summer. What is different is that people who suffer from allergies in the winter often don't realize what is going on. They think that allergic reactions are actually just colds.
The problem is that allergic reactions produce many of the same symptoms as a common cold. When you are having an allergen attack, you may experience a cough and have congestion in your sinuses and chest. A stuffy or runny nose is common to both.
The biggest difference between a common cold and an allergy is that a cold lasts for a week to ten days, while allergies are recurrent through the entire season. If you seem to always catch cold right at the start of the winter months, and have recurring symptoms or symptoms that never seem to abate, you may be suffering from a seasonal allergy.
Other symptoms that could indicate an allergic reaction are itchy eyes or noses, and the lack of a low-grade fever and body aches. Often, a cold will begin with a sore throat and build to aches and fever. Allergies rarely have these symptoms.
Many people might be surprised to discover that even if you have never had allergies, you could end up with a reaction at any time. These kinds of ailments are created through repeated exposure to allergens, so that the more exposure a person has, the more likely they are to react.
Conversely, exposure can help to build resistance to allergies. This means that attacks can increase and wane over the years.
The signs above are indicators of the difference, but there is only one way to be certain if the ailments you suffer are a cold or a reaction to external stimuli. See a qualified doctor. Your primary care physician can often tell whether your ailment is a mundane cold or something else.
Over-the-counter medications can often control mild to moderate symptoms. If these do not work, an allergist can run a full range of tests to determine exactly what the triggers are. Then a course of treatment can be designed towards the specific triggers.
The next time you suffer from a long-term minor illness in the winter months, think twice. If that cold seems to keep coming back, or goes on and on, it may be an allergy. If you think that you may be suffering from seasonal allergies, give us a call. We are here to help!


Congratulations on your achievements both in running the marathon and raising such a lot of money.
Well done Julian. Very impressive!
Well done you hero!!! Now you get my cash!!!
Smashed it Jules! Amazing effort in the heat!
Congratulations - and brilliant time!
Terrific effort - will you stop after this one?
Good luck for tomorrow, Team Tilda rocks!


BARCELONA – CCBill, a global payment services platform, is honored to announce its sponsorship and support of The European Summit 2016, Europe's leading B2B conference for the online entertainment industry. Between February 29 and March 3, 2016 in Sitges, Spain, the event will gather industry professionals from around the globe to discuss the latest trends in online dating, payments, mobile technologies, live cam and much more.
In addition to the expert panel discussions and numerous networking events, the conference will also host the Live Cam Awards. The awards show, which takes place on Tuesday, March 1 between 6:30pm and 10:30pm. The event aims to recognize distinguished industry professionals and brands with awards in categories touching the Live Cam segment of the market. With official nominees previously announced on the Live Cam Awards website, CCBill is honored to be nominated for the Best Alternative Payment award, and proud that many CCBill merchants are also nominated in several other key categories.
Among the top live cam sites, ImLive.com, Flirt4Free, LiveJasmin, Xlovecam, Myfreecams, Streamate, and Cam4, all of which process payments with CCBill, have received nominations in multiple categories. We wish everyone good luck and look forward to this incredible event.
Devoted to supporting the development of the live cam industry, CCBill is proud to support the top live cam sites and honored to participate in the conference. With such a great number of industry leaders, The European Summit represents a key event for making contacts in online entertainment industries and supporting their development.


56 //! - Between two generic points.
57 //! - Between two vertices.
58 //! - Between two faces.
59 //! - Between two parallel edges.
60 //! - Between face and edge.
63 //! that includes this geometry is necessary to be set.
67 //! edge or on the face.
72 //! presentation can not be computed.
77 //! Construct length dimension between face and edge.
78 //! Here dimension can be built without user-defined plane.
79 //! @param theFace [in] the face (first shape).
80 //! @param theEdge [in] the edge (second shape).
84 //! Construct length dimension between two faces.
85 //! @param theFirstFace [in] the first face (first shape).
86 //! @param theSecondFace [in] the second face (second shape).
91 //! the specified plane.
92 //! @param theFirstPoint [in] the first point.
93 //! @param theSecondPoint [in] the second point.
94 //! @param thePlane [in] the plane to orient dimension.
100 //! the specified plane.
101 //! @param theFirstShape [in] the first shape.
102 //! @param theSecondShape [in] the second shape.
103 //! @param thePlane [in] the plane to orient dimension.
108 //! Construct length dimension of linear edge.
109 //! @param theEdge [in] the edge to measure.
110 //! @param thePlane [in] the plane to orient dimension.
116 //! @return first attachement point.
122 //! @return second attachement point.
128 //! @return first attachement shape.
134 //! @return second attachement shape.
142 //! Measure distance between two points.
144 //! attachement points is less than Precision::Confusion().
145 //! @param theFirstPoint [in] the first point.
146 //! @param theSecondPoint [in] the second point.
152 //! Measure length of edge.
154 //! is less than Precision::Confusion().
155 //! @param theEdge [in] the edge to measure.
160 //! Measure distance between two faces.
162 //! be measured or it is less than Precision::Confusion().
163 //! @param theFirstFace [in] the first face (first shape).
164 //! @param theSecondFace [in] the second face (second shape).
168 //! Measure distance between face and edge.
170 //! be measured or it is less than Precision::Confusion().
171 //! @param theFace [in] the face (first shape).
172 //! @param theEdge [in] the edge (second shape).
177 //! where measuring is applicable.
178 //! @param theFirstShape [in] the first shape.
179 //! @param theSecondShape [in] the second shape.
183 //! @return the display units string.
186 //! @return the model units string.
203 //! Checks if the plane includes first and second points to build dimension.
219 //! Checks that distance between two points is valid.
220 //! @param theFirstPoint [in] the first point.
221 //! @param theSecondPoint [in] the second point.
230 //! in case of the distance between edge and vertex.
231 //! Finds the point on the edge that is the closest one to <theVertex>.
240 //! in case of the distance between face and edge.
241 //! The first attachment point is first parameter point from <theEdge>.
244 //! to finded point on edge.
251 //! Initialization of two attach points in case of two owner shapes.
257 //! Initialization of two attach points in case of one owner shape.


Rezydencja Cleopatra in Lublin is a guest house with 10 Rooms.
Rezydencja Cleopatra is situated 150 metres from the Lublin Castle and offers classically appointed rooms with free Wi-Fi and private bathroom facilities. All rooms are air-conditioned. Each room at Cleopatra has a flat-screen TV and a fridge. Mineral water is provided free of charge. Some rooms offer a view of the Old Town or the city. The property includes a restaurant, serving oriental, Arabic and international cuisine. There is also a club in the basement, with free admission. Guests have a ...20% discount in both facilities. Cleopatra has a 24-hour front desk service and is situated 150 metres from the PKS Bus Station. The train station is 3 km away.
Rezydencja Cleopatra is situated 150 metres from the Lublin Castle and offers classically appointed rooms with free Wi-Fi and private bathroom facilit...ies. All rooms are air-conditioned. Each room at Cleopatra has a flat-screen TV and a fridge. Mineral water is provided free of charge. Some rooms offer a view of the Old Town or the city. The property includes a restaurant, serving oriental, Arabic and international cuisine. There is also a club in the basement, with free admission. Guests have a 20% discount in both facilities. Cleopatra has a 24-hour front desk service and is situated 150 metres from the PKS Bus Station. The train station is 3 km away.
When would you like to stay at Rezydencja Cleopatra?
Children and extra beds One child under 6 years stays free of charge when using existing beds. All children under 6 years stay free of charge for extra beds. All further older children or adults are charged PLN 69 per night for extra beds. The maximum number of extra beds in a room is 1. Supplements are not calculated automatically in the total costs and will have to be paid for separately when checking out. Any type of extra bed or child's cot/crib is upon request and needs to be confirmed by the innkeeper.


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Heritage Show + Tell — Bradford edition
School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies event Tuesday 13 November 2018
Date: Tuesday 13 November 2018, 17:00 – 19:00
Location: Off-campus
The next Heritage Show + Tell will be hosted by the National Science and Media Museum for a one-off Bradford edition.
Heritage Show + Tell is a chance for people passionate about heritage in Yorkshire to come together and share their work, get feedback on ideas and meet new collaborators.
Everyone welcome: community heritage groups, freelancers, museum professionals, students and academics.
Join us at the National Science and Media Museum for this special edition in Bradford. We will have an optional tour of Wonderlab at 4pm, followed by Heritage Show + Tell from 5pm to 7pm — with a programme of short presentations and a chance to network over refreshments.
It is free to attend but booking is essential as places are limited. If you would like to come to the Heritage Show + Tell — Bradford edition, please register by emailing Fiona at ccsmghinfo@leeds.ac.uk. Please indicate if you would also like to book a place on the tour.
4.00-5.00pm Optional tour of Wonderlab
Wonderlab is an experiential science gallery designed to let children experiment like kids, and make adults feel like kids. Come and hear music through your teeth, dance in the musical tunnel, and see the solar system in 360 degree satellite image projection. Also including a rare opportunity to see some show-stopping experiments from our live science shows!
5.00-7.00pm Heritage Show + Tell – Bradford Edition
We have 10 three-minute presentations in Makespace, followed by lots of opportunity to meet and mingle over hot drinks and homemade baked goodies. Speakers include:
Bradford's National Museum: Spring 2019 exhibition ideas
Julia Ankenbrand, Bradford's National Museum Project, University of Leeds/National Science and Media Museum
Tracing History Together: The Belgian Refugees of the First World War
Philippa Read, Project Officer, Tracing the Belgian Refugees, University of Leeds
War and Peace: Researching how sensitive issues are approached in museum learning
Shannen Lang, Learning and Engagement Officer, The Peace Museum and Emily Elsworth, Learning Assistant, Royal Armouries
After the Armistice: Yorkshire's Civilian Internees and POWs in 1918 and 1919
Claudia Sternberg, School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies, University of Leeds
Explaining myself: internship into adulthood
Faryal Ali, Intern (Explainer), National Science and Media Museum, Bradford
Beyond Tracks in Time: West Yorkshire Tithe maps
Fiona Marshall, Archivist, West Yorkshire Archive Service
Connecting Partnerships: International Art Collection and Engagement
Nilesh Mistry, Curator, International and Decorative Art, Cartwright Hall
Bedtime Stories; inspiring families to fall in love with books
Fiona Phimister, School Development Co-ordinator, Bowling Park Primary School
Fascinating stories from the collections of Bradford Museums & Galleries
Claire Ackroyd, Learning Manager, Bradford Museums and Galleries
Home Grown Talent: Naught to One Hundred
Sonja Kielty, Curator (Exhibitions), Cartwright Hall, Bradford Museums and Galleries
Heritage Show + Tell — Bradford edition is a partnership between the Centre for Critical Studies in Museums, Galleries and Heritage and National Science and Media Museum, with support from the School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies and Student Enhancement in the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures.
Image: Science and Media Museum Bradford 24 April 2017, Wikimedia Commons
See all School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies events
Visiting Artist's Talk — Ruth Lingford
School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies - Monday 27 January 2020
School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies - Friday 7 February 2020
School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies - Wednesday 26 February 2020

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


You have skill and talent and are ready to start your own business. Congratulations! Depending on your needs, sources of financing and type of business, there are several options for structure that you can choose. The most common of these are briefly discussed below.
Note: this section is based on the current law in Alberta; laws in other provinces and countries may be different. It is given as general information only and does not constitute legal advice. You should always consult your own professional advisors.
Owning a proprietorship or being a sole proprietor is just a way of saying you alone are the business. This is the simplest way to start a business. If you want to use a name other than your own, you can register it as a trade name, but this is not a legal requirement. However, if you use a name that is too similar to an existing name, and the owner has a registered trade name and objects to your use, you may have to change your name. This can be costly in terms of redoing business cards, stationery, signs, website, etc, so it is best to do your own research before committing to a business name.
Some of the advantages of a sole proprietorship are the simplicity; low cost, and—as a general rule—your personal income and expenses from all sources are combined and offset against each other for tax purposes. This means that if you continue to work at another job while your business gets going, the expenses of your business are deductions against all of your income and not just income from your new business.
The disadvantage of a sole proprietorship is mainly that you will be personally liable for all debts and claims against your business, and failure can mean a loss of your other assets.
Corporations must be created through Alberta Corporate Registry, and are an entity separate from you personally. Corporations have shareholders, who are the owners of the business, directors, who are legally responsible for the business, and officers who run the business on a day-to-day basis. You can be the sole shareholder, director, and officer of your corporation. In that case, it is similar to being a sole proprietor with a couple of important differences. Your corporation (or company) has a few ongoing filing requirements with Alberta Corporate Registry and must also file a separate corporate income tax return. As a shareholder of a corporation you are not personally liable for its debts. You have some personal liability as a director; mainly to the Canada Revenue Agency for corporate income tax, GST, employee withholdings, and employer contributions etc. If your business is successful enough that you can leave funds in the business, there can be some tax advantages. Also note that if your business is to be a consultant to other businesses, most potential clients (if they are knowledgeable) will insist that you be a corporation for their own protection.
Forming a corporation may be the structure of choice for you, but please beware: there are pitfalls when two people start a 50/50 business as a company, because if you have a disagreement the corporation can be deadlocked and not able to do anything, often resulting in the necessity to go to court. This can be avoided with good planning and a document called a unanimous shareholders agreement, but the time to do this is at the beginning! Once you have a disagreement, it is too late. This other person may be your best friend or life partner, but being in business together is different—please don't think that this can't happen to you and you will always avoid disagreements.
So far there has been no discussion of how you will finance your business until it becomes profitable. If you have your own resources this is wonderful. If you do not, or if your own resources are not enough, the usual sources of financing are loans and lines of credit or private investors. With respect to credit from financial institutions like banks or credit unions, you should know that it is usual for them to require you (and your partner, if any) to personally guarantee the loan. This removes a primary reason for incorporating. Another source of financing is to sell shares in your company, but there are pitfalls for the unwary and unadvised.
Even a so-called private company is governed by the Alberta Securities Act, which has strict rules on to whom companies can sell shares, and what you can tell potential investors about the business—even if they are your family and close friends. Also, you are admitting new owners into your business. Note that in addition to owning shares of the company, you, your partner and investors can loan money to the company in addition to or instead of purchasing shares. But the same restrictions on selling shares can also apply to private lenders.
A general partnership is similar to a sole proprietorship, but involves two or more people. No government filing is required to create a general partnership, and the same rules apply if you want to reserve a trade name for it. For the debts of the partnership, each partner has joint and several liability. This means that even if you and your partner agree to be 50/50, this does not bind creditors who, in case of non-payment, can go after either of you and your personal assets for 100% of the debt. A partnership agreement to govern the relationship between general partners is highly recommended.
A limited partnership is more similar to a corporation than a proprietorship. A limited partnership must be registered with Alberta Corporate Registry and have a limited partnership agreement, and can have one or more general partners and one or more limited partners. The general partners are similar to the directors of a corporation and run the partnership business, but unlike directors they are each still personally liable for all of the partnerships debts. The limited partners are similar to the shareholders of a company, although unlike shareholders they may agree in the limited partnership agreement to continue to invest money in the partnership on an ongoing basis. But like shareholders, they have no personal liability to the partnership's creditors, except to the extent that they owe contributions to the partnership. And the Securities Act rules also apply to limited partners.
Whatever structure you select, your business will need to form relationships with a banker, accountant, and lawyer. Shop around and ask other business owners about their relationships. Which bank you choose just to have your business accounts can affect your ability to later get a commercial loan. There is a wide variance among the chartered bank and even branches of the same bank, as to their willingness to work with small business. And don't forget credit unions and similar associations. Interview accountants and lawyers to find someone you feel comfortable with. Have a frank discussion of fees and other charges by the firm such as per-page charges for faxing, photocopying, typing, etc. If possible try to negotiate flat fees rather than hourly rates for normal day-to-day assistance. Look for advisors who have business sense as well as expertise in their field and who will understand your problems. Also look for a level of experience that is extensive enough to service your needs, but not someone with so much high-level experience that the fees will be too high. As well as talking to small business owners where you are located, look for mentors in the same type of business. There are a number of associations of different types of small business, networking groups, and professional associations that can be a source of good advice.
Even if your structure does not have an income tax reporting requirement, you will need to set your business up with a GST number, even if you think your initial income will be below the minimum threshold. Check with your municipality about whether you will require a business license. Depending on your type of business, you may also need health inspections, building inspections, liquor licenses, etc. If you are planning an office in your home, check the municipal bylaws and any restrictive covenants in your neighbourhood to make sure it will be permitted. Your legal and accounting advisors can advise you as to what you will need, and most municipal clerks are very helpful too.
If you lease premises for your business, most leases will require you to carry certain minimum limits of fire and general liability insurance. Even if not required, speak with an independent agent and seriously consider getting coverage. Advertising Depending on your budget and type of business, there are many ways to advertise: on-line, newspapers, local neighbourhood papers, flyers, signs, etc. What works best for your area and type of business are good questions for your advisors and mentors. Whatever forms you use, remember that pleasant, efficient, and ethical service are the keys to one of the most effective means of advertising: word of mouth from satisfied customers.


Giant anteaters are bizarre creatures that inhabit the grassland and dense rainforest regions of South America. They have two-foot long tongues which they can flick in and out up to 150 times a minute!
The main difficulty in photographing anteaters is getting close enough without alerting them to your presence. Anteaters have poor eyesight but a very keen sense of smell and hearing. To approach them, we had to stay downwind and remain as quiet as possible.


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The Risks and Rewards in Australia & New Zealand Debt
Bradley Krom
Director, Research
Follow Bradley Krom @BradleyKrom
The loudest argument we've heard for a prolonged pullback in bond yields in the United States (and around the world) has been the emergence of so-called "crossover buyers." In this scenario, investors from Europe and Japan, disillusioned by the low yields in their respective domestic markets, seek out the comparatively higher yields of U.S. bonds. While we take some issue with the simplicity of this argument, we fully admit that global competition for capital drives markets. However, with the U.S. poised to hike rates this year, we believe that other markets may provide more intriguing opportunities. In our view, two underappreciated alternatives for foreign capital may be found in Australia and New Zealand. In this blog post, we review our top three considerations for investors looking to understand risks and rewards in Aussie and Kiwi debt. #1 – All-In Yields In the table below, we compare five-year government bond yields from major developed markets around the world. Topping the list are New Zealand and Australia, followed by the U.S. and U.K. However, the U.S. and U.K. are both forecast to hike interest rates this year. From a relative value perspective, Australia offers yields that are over three times larger than Spain's yields. In New Zealand, bond yields are more than five and a half times larger than those in Italy. 1 While the U.S. tends to be mentioned most frequently as an alternative to negative yielders in Europe, current valuations in Australia and New Zealand appear compelling—based solely on income potential. Five-Year Government Bond Yields: G-10 and Investment-Grade Europe For definitions of terms and Indexes in the chart, visit our glossary. #2 – Interest Rate Risk As we mentioned above, the Federal Reserve (Fed) and the Bank of England are both expected to hike interest rates at some point in 2015.2 While the timing of these hikes remains uncertain, the assumption is that both of these central banks will hike rates before the central bank of either Australia or New Zealand does so. In fact, the Australian central bank has shown some willingness to actually cut rates in the coming months.3 In New Zealand, after four consecutive 25–basis-point (bp) hikes in 2014, policy makers are shifting to a wait-and-see approach. With short-term interest rates higher than in many emerging market countries, New Zealand may provide some of the highest levels of income potential in the world. #3 – Currency Risk via Commodity Prices For many investors, currency risk has become a significant consideration in recent months. Over the last year, currency volatility has increased markedly. In fact, since June 2014, foreign exchange (fx) volatility has actually doubled, according to the J.P Morgan Global FX Volatility Index .4 We expect this trend in increasing market volatility to continue across all asset classes. A primary driver of this trend is anticipated changes in central bank policy, but another significant contributor has been the precipitous fall in commodity prices. Historically, the value of the Australian and New Zealand dollars has tended to correlate to commodity prices and Chinese economic growth. The logic of this relationship holds that, given the large commodity wealth of both countries, China's sustained demand for commodities would naturally give support to their currencies. Over the last year, commodity prices have fallen dramatically. But while few are willing to call the bottom, it appears that Chinese economic momentum may be turning up. On February 25, preliminary Purchasing Manager Index (PMI) data, a measure of industrial output, showed an encouraging rebound. In response, after touching a six-year low on March 11, the Aussie dollar may be poised to rebound. Additionally, after trading at a four-year low in January, the New Zealand dollar has started to rebound.5 At the end of the day, while both currencies remain near multiyear lows, investors don't necessarily need the currency to appreciate to capture attractive returns. As long as currencies don't depreciate by 2%‒3% per year against the U.S. dollar, investors come out ahead. For European investors, in addition to much higher yields, both currencies remain in the lower third of their trading range against the euro. In our view, Australian and New Zealand debt appears attractively priced versus U.S. and European fixed income, due to higher yields and attractively priced currencies. 1Source: Bloomberg, as of 2/28/15. 2Source: Bloomberg, 3/6/15. 3Source: Reserve Bank of Australia, 3/3/15. 4Source: J.P. Morgan, as of 3/6/15. 5Source: Bloomberg, as of 3/6/15.
Investments focused in Australia and New Zealand are increasing the impact of events and developments associated with the regions, which can adversely affect performance.
Australia Fixed Income, Currency & Alternative
Bradley Krom joined WisdomTree as a member of the research team in December 2010. He is involved in creating and communicating WisdomTree's thoughts on global markets, as well as analyzing existing and new fund strategies. Prior to joining WisdomTree, Bradley served as a senior trader on a proprietary trading desk at TransMarket Group. Bradley is a graduate of the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.


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UNAIDS must prioritise prevention in HIV response
By Shaun Mellors
Shaun Mellors is the director of knowledge and influence at the International HIV/AIDS Alliance
A new report by UNAIDS highlights significant progress in the response to HIV globally, yet fails to emphasise the need to increase prevention work.
Peer educator distributes condoms to youth in Naguru, Uganda © Peter Caton for International HIV/AIDS Alliance
The UNAIDS report (released 20 July) states that more than half of all people living with HIV worldwide are now receiving HIV treatment, and AIDS-related deaths have dropped by 36 percent since 2010. Collaborative efforts by all of us – communities, governments and multilateral agencies – have led to this changing reality for many people living with HIV.
Yet the number of new HIV infections remain unacceptably high. Despite the many achievements noted in the report, prevention is not on track. There were more than 1.8 million new infections in 2016 (down from 2.1 million in 2015), while the estimated numbers of new infections among key populations – such as sex workers, gay and other men who have sex with men, transgender people and people who inject drugs – continue to rise.
Lack of global leadership
More than 300,000 adolescent girls and young women, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa, were newly infected with HIV (UNAIDS). Globally agreed prevention targets are way off track because, often, HIV prevention services are still not targeting the right people in the right places.
There is a lack of political will to invest in systems that reach the populations who are most vulnerable and most stigmatised. Investment in HIV prevention programmes remains woefully inadequate and there is a visible lack of global leadership around HIV prevention.
If we are serious about achieving epidemic control and ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, we cannot afford to loosen our hold on any part of the global response, let alone one as important and underserved as preventing new infections.
People-centred health services
The World Health Organisation's framework for integrated and people-centred health services offers the opportunity to shape combination HIV prevention services in a way that is centred around the person and their needs. As the primary custodians of their own health people need to be empowered to take effective decisions about their health, and communities to actively engage in the delivery of primary healthcare services.
A person-centred approach acknowledges that people's prevention needs change over the course of their lives, and that those changes are due to a range of factors related to the individual (age, gender, lifestyle, economic situation) and to the surrounding environment (cultural norms, location, discriminatory laws, physical security).
A person-centred approach to delivering combination HIV prevention at scale means that planners and implementers must recognise:
people are best placed to decide which HIV prevention method is right for them when they are offered differentiated and integrated choices;
communities are effective partners in the delivery of prevention and care services, and can help alleviate overburdened health facilities;
strategic efforts to address the structural drivers of HIV transmission should be part of combination prevention packages.
Community-led response
By directly providing combination HIV prevention packages at community level and using effective referral systems, communities can stimulate demand and increase people's opportunities to access a broad range of services and remain healthy.
For prevention efforts to be effective it is critical to include people living with HIV. This will help strengthen community systems, enabling communities to partner more closely with formal health services and contribute to building resilient, equitable and sustainable systems for health. Those systems would be better equipped to tackle not only HIV, but sexual and reproductive health and rights, malaria, tuberculosis and non-communicable diseases.
In October, UNAIDS will launch the Global Prevention Coalition in Nairobi, Kenya. The Alliance is an active member and contributor to this coalition, and we call upon UNAIDS and civil society organisations to put prevention right at the core of our movement to end AIDS.
The coalition must be bold and visionary in its agenda. We believe that:
HIV prevention should apply a person-centered approach.
The roles of civil society and community organisations as valuable partners to HIV prevention services delivery need to be fully recognised and adequately resourced.
Resources should be available for the full set of combination HIV prevention interventions and measurable targets should be set for all programme components, including behavioural and structural interventions.
Join us in getting HIV prevention back on track.
The importance of catalytic investment for harm reduction
This briefing shows evidence of the importance of catalytic investment in harm reduction.
Standing firm against the global gag rule two years on
The Alliance remains firmly opposed to the Mexico City Policy two years after its reinstatement by U.S. President Donald Trump.
Edging closer to equality
2018 has seen momentous progress in many countries on rights for LGBT people, but there are challenges ahead.
GALLERY: Raising the status of women who use drugs in India
WINGS - Women Initiating New Goals for Safety - aims to reduce violence and HIV among women who use drugs in India.
Dolutegravir: aka women's 'forbidden drug'
Dolutegravir, the WHO-recommended treatment option for people living with HIV, has become a forbidden drug for many women living with HIV.
The systematic abuse of India's female opiate users
Women who use drugs are at increased risk from HIV and violence, but don't explicitly feature in official national data.
India's LGBTQ future - the new generation
What does the abolition of India's homophobic law mean for people living with HIV?
Quality of life for people living with HIV is as important as ever
21.7 million people living with HIV now receive antiretroviral therapy. But quality of life goes far beyond treatment. So, what do we mean?
Serina's journey as a transgender youth in Uganda
Faced with stigma and violence, Serina now gets health services from providers who treat her and her peers with love and dignity.
Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis for adolescents: a perspective from India
Dr Mehra discusses key issues from a joint position paper on the effectiveness of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) for adolescents in India.
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text: Q: Plugin/ native way to remotely edit files (ssh, sftp, ...) in Atom? Is there a plugin or a native way to remotely edit files (ssh, sftp, ...) in Atom, that's similar to the native one in Coda 2? I need something simple just like in Coda, without the need to setup anything except a project and connection details maybe. And also be able to browser the remote files in the same file tree you browse the local ones?

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
VIDEO: Dreco Inc. uses new strategies to remain…
VIDEO: Dreco Inc. uses new strategies to remain 'prosperous,' 'successful'
Above, Chris Draudt, president of Dreco Inc., is shown with a portrait of his parents. Dreco, based in North Ridgeville, has passed through the family from Chris Draudt's grandfather, Herb Draudt, to his son Donald Draudt, seen in the portrait, to Chris' brother Dale and to Chris. MORNING JOURNAL/SCOT ALLYN
By Scot Allyn |
PUBLISHED: June 13, 2010 at 10:02 a.m. | UPDATED: July 15, 2021 at 10:36 a.m.
NORTH RIDGEVILLE — Dreco Inc., a family owned injection-molding company in North Ridgeville, has responded to tough times with strategies including leasing unused space and expanding into new markets. "About 75 percent of our business went overseas," said Chris Draudt, president and chief executive officer for Dreco, about changes in his industry during the past several years. http://media.vmixcore.com/core-flash/UnifiedVideoPlayer/UnifiedVideoPlayer.swf "But we're successful and prosperous," Draudt, 48, said. "It's not your sales that determine your success. It's how you manage your facility." Chris and his brother, Dale, started managing the company in 2000, stepping into the roles occupied earlier by their grandfather, Herb Draught, and their father, Donald Draught. Chris Draudt now serves as co-president with his brother, Russell Draudt, and Chris's three children and his wife, Sheila, all work for the company. Dreco Inc. was started in 1932 by Herb Draudt. "My grandfather worked at a company that made vacuum cleaner parts," Draudt said. "The company was having trouble getting a certain part, and my grandfather knew he could sand-cast them." Herb Draudt started Dreco, which stands for Draudt Engineering Co. in his garage behind his house on Clague Road. Herb Draudt was typical of his generation of self-made Americans who started companies during the Great Depression, according to Chris Draudt. "He built up the company without any financing," Draudt said. "As the business grew, he expanded, always with cash transactions." Herb Draudt also became a pioneer in plastics, acquiring several patents for equipment used in injection-molding, according to Chris Draudt. In 1960, the company bought 40 acres on Root Road in North Ridgeville, and started building there in 1962. Expansions continued through the 1960s and '70s, and now Dreco has 135,000 square feet under roof. Chris's father, Donald Draudt, took the reins in 1975. "We built the company by molding the hard-to-mold resins," said Chris Draudt. "We did the tough work that other manufacturers shy away from." An example is flexible PVC plumbing bearings for U.S. military applications, he said. Dreco has two proprietary lines of products, according to Draudt. "We are the largest maker of vacuum cleaner hose cuffs in the United States," he said. The other line includes vacuum cleaner attachments, for upholstery, dusting and floor tools, which are sold to every vacuum cleaner manufacturer in the United States, according to Draudt. Dreco also makes cushioned 12-by-12-inch floor tiles out of flexible PVC reclaimed from manufacturing processes in medical and automotive industries. Dreco uses about 300,000 to 500,000 pounds of reclaimed material to make the floor tiles, keeping it from going into landfills. In the past few years, Dreco has expanded into metal injection molding, or MIM, Draudt said. "We can mold molten steel just like plastic," he said. Parts created by the process are used in the medical industry, compact disc players and in gun manufacturing, he said. The company's workforce peaked in 1998 at about 200 employees, according to Draudt. Today, they employ about 45 workers. "As we lost sales, we moved our machines into a smaller space," he said. The moves allowed Dreco to lease space in its facility to companies including GreenField Solar Corp., a maker of solar power systems, and Seeger Cycle, a distributor of motorcycle parts. Draudt said 2008 was a good year, but the recession took a big bite out of revenues. "By 2009, sales were off by 40 percent," he said. "It was a challenge, and we had to lay off about 20 people. But suppliers and customers worked with us." He also credits North Ridgeville Mayor Dave Gillock, the Lorain County commissioners and U.S. Representatives Dennis Kucinich, D-Cleveland, and Betty Sutton, D-Copley, with help getting through the lean time. Although many American manufacturers have seen only a modest recovery in 2010, Dreco has rebounded well, Draudt said. "This year has been crazy good," he said. "In the first quarter, we doubled our sales. Now we're working overtime, and we're on track for better sales than we had in 2008." Draudt said his grandfather's work ethic still influences the company. "He worked the shop floor and was respected by employees and customers," Draudt said. For more information on Dreco Inc., call 327-6021.
Scot Allyn


Jillian Sherman, owner and master stylist, has a passion for hair color and loves the challenges of corrective color. She continues her training in all aspects of hair and beauty services including the newest trends and the preservation and restoration of the hair's integrity. Since her first experience with Aveda she has been captivated by their vision — from taking care of our bodies to taking care of the world. She hopes to create an awareness and passion of this idea through her employees and for that to travel to the quests. She is located in Briarcliff Manor and has been beautifying the residents of Chappaqua, Tarrytown, Pleasantville. and Croton-on-Hudson.


Last time we saw Joe a few months ago, he was killing a DJ set at 1 OAK. Tables start at $1,500, and are available here.
If Joe isn't your style, catch Nick .5 miles down the street at 1 OAK. Private tables start at $1,500, take a look here.
EDM legend Erick Morillo will be bringing the noise to Marquee NYC tonight, and we've got a bunch of options for bottle service here.
If you miss DJ JUS SKE with Joe Jonas, you can catch him tomorrow with Virgil Abloh. We're hyped about this one, Virgil Abloh is a beast. Check out packages here.
Sunset Saturdays meets Fashion Week, which means there is going to be a really solid crowd for this one. Snag a table here.
Party with Tyga while DJ Spade and Austin Millz crush the ones and twos. This is going to be a party you won't want to miss, so snag a table here.
Don't forget to check out the event page, because there is a lot more going on than we can put in a single blog post. Keep your eye open for additional events, too, because there's some really great stuff coming up!


Chamberlain, Hrdlicka, White, Williams, & Aughtry announces the election of its Atlanta-based shareholder Annette A. Idalski as a fellow to The College of Labor and Employment Lawyers. This prestigious designation is awarded to attorneys with more than 20 years of practice and sustained outstanding performance in the profession, exemplifying integrity, dedication and excellence. To be invited into the fellowship, lawyers, including opposing counsel, and judges made recommendations to mark Idalski's achievements in "setting the standards for professionalism and civility."


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Japan Unveils First 'Big Whale' Attack Submarine As Tensions With China Rise
By David Brennan On 10/15/20 at 4:47 AM EDT
World Japan China
Japan unveiled the first in its new class of attack submarines Wednesday, as Tokyo forges ahead with its naval expansion amid maritime tensions with China.
The Taigei—or "Big Whale"—submarine was unveiled at a shipyard in Kobe, western Japan, on Wednesday with around 150 people in attendance, including Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi and naval Chief of Staff Hiroshi Yamamura, the Kyodo News Agency reported.
The 3,000-ton attack submarine is built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and is the first of seven planned Taigei-class warships. The Taigei is scheduled to enter service in March 2022 and will be the 22nd submarine of Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force.
The Taigei cost some $720 million to build and measures 275 feet in length. It will be crewed by 70 sailors and has a "stealth-like design," Kyodo said. Its lithium-ion batteries will also allow it to remain underwater for longer than Japan's nine Oyashio- and 11 Soryu-class submarines.
Japan is expanding its navy in line with its 2010 National Defense Program Guidelines. The document set out plans to expand Tokyo's submarine fleet from 16 to 22, with an eye on intensified Chinese naval activity around a collection of Japan-administered islands in the East China Sea, to the northeast of Taiwan.
Tokyo refers to the uninhabited archipelago as the Senkaku Islands, while Beijing calls it the Diaoyu Islands. The islands sit on potential oil and natural gas reserves and are located close to important shipping routes and lucrative fishing areas.
Prepare for War, Xi Jinping Tells Elite Chinese Troops
China Threatens U.S. With 'Necessary Reaction' for Selling Arms to Taiwan
Chinese Ships Break Record of Staying Near Contested Japanese Islands
Formally claimed by Japan in 1895, the islands have been mostly privately owned by Japanese citizens since, though the U.S. controlled the islands for a short time after World War Two. China began claiming the islands citing historical control in the 1970s. Tensions have been increasing since 2012 when Tokyo bought three of the islands from their private owner.
The unveiling of the Tagei comes days after Chinese ships set a new record for the amount of time spent in Japanese waters near the islands. Two Chinese Coast Guard ships entered waters near the island on Sunday and approached a Japanese fishing boat, the Japan Coast Guard said Tuesday.
The Chinese ships eventually left Japanese territorial waters after 57 hours on Tuesday evening, the Japan Times reported, having previously ignored repeated orders from their Japanese counterparts to do so.
Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato said Tuesday the incident was "very regrettable" and said he had "strongly protested" the action to Beijing via diplomatic channels. Kato also said Japan was determined to protect its territory.
But Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian told reporters: "It is China's inherent right to carry out patrolling and law enforcement in the waters of the Diaoyu Islands, and Japan should respect this." He did not elaborate on why the Chinese ships entered Japanese waters, nor why they stayed for a record length of time.
This file photo shows the flag of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force during a military review at the Ground Self-Defence Force Asaka training ground in Asaka, Japan on October 14, 2018. KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP via Getty Images/Getty


More committees are not the answer to stop the abuse of children and vulnerable adults by clergy, said an Aug. 28 statement by the National Review Board, which is charged with addressing clerical sexual misconduct in the Catholic Church.
"'What needs to happen is a genuine change in the church's culture, specifically among the bishops themselves,' the board said. 'This evil has resulted from a loss of moral leadership and an abuse of power that led to a culture of silence that enabled these incidents to occur.


When a specialized medical team at OHSU in Portland, Oregon, considered GE Healthcare's NASA-style mission control center that relies on artificial intelligence (AI) to help manage care coordination, patient transfers, and throughput, not everyone at the academic health center was supportive initially. After thorough testing, however, the AI delivered results that earned the team's confidence to move forward and launch the center.
In July 2017, OHSU opened its mission control center. It was GE Healthcare's first attempt at creating a command center to coordinate care between an academic health center and two affiliated community hospitals, all of which have three different electronic medical systems (EMR), a complexity that did not interfere with GE Healthcare's ability to pull in multiple streams of patient data in real time to deliver outcomes.
In its first year, OHSU's mission control accepted more transfer patients than ever before. The results don't stop there. The center has seen a 6.4 percent increase in the number of patient transfers, an 18 percent reduction in the number of declined transfer patients, an increase in case mix index, and approximately 520 patients who were successfully transferred to community hospitals – all of which amount to seven times OHSU's return on investment.
The early success of its mission control center has prompted GE Healthcare and OHSU to increase the center's capabilities by creating an app to tackle one of the most prevalent and challenging risks to patients, sepsis.
Every year, more than 1.5 million Americans contract sepsis and about 250,000 people in the U.S. die from the illness, which occurs when the body exhibits an extreme reaction to an infection. Diagnosing the condition can be particularly difficult and often times misinterpreted.
Each patient within OHSU's EMR gets a sepsis risk score. If the score is higher than a given level, it will display on the sepsis tile, indicating that the patient may have sepsis or is at risk, at which time the "mission controller" actively monitors if the appropriate actions are being taken by the bedside nurse and provider teams to asses for sepsis and treat sepsis if present.
Unlike other solutions that only track sepsis in patients located in a single department such as the ICU, GE Healthcare's tile will track the sepsis load across the entire hospital and all of the patient data that could indicate the sepsis risk is presented outside of the EMR where it can be buried in layers of information.
OHSU will be the first of GE Healthcare's NASA-style command centers to deploy the sepsis app. It is currently being built and is expected to launch in December.
Is this command center the way all hospitals will soon run?


STEWART, Ohio — In one fell swoop on Saturday, the Rebels got a league win — and their shot at the winless Federal Hocking Lancers.
That's because visiting South Gallia, by amassing at least 19 points in each of the opening three quarters, gained its first conference victory of the entire season — as it defeated Federal Hocking 69-39 in a Tri-Valley Conference Hocking Division boys basketball bout.
The contest — held inside McInturf Gymnasium in Stewart — was a makeup matchup from Friday, Jan. 6, when it was postponed due to inclement weather.
The Rebels raced out to a 19-11 lead after the first period, then poured on 21 more points in the second stanza for a 40-21 advantage at halftime.
South Gallia then erupted in the third frame for a 22-4 output, posting an insurmountable 62-25 command at that point.
The Lancers did double up the Rebels 14-7 in the fourth quarter, but South Gallia was playing its reserves by then.
The win was the Rebels' first in the TVC-Hocking in eight attempts, part of a now 2-11 mark overall.
Federal Hocking has yet to win a game in 15 tries, including now nine in the league.
South Gallia garnered double-figure scoring from three players — and almost made it four or five.
The Rebels doubled up the Lancers in total field goals 28-14, and drained seven threes compared to Federal Hocking's two.
Caleb Henry hit six field goals and 5-of-8 free throws for 17 points, while Austin Stapleton sank seven total field goals — including a pair of three-pointers — for 16.
Curtis Haner hit three treys and two twos for 13 points, while Nick Klaiber — on three total field goals and a free throw — collected nine.
Klaiber canned the Rebels' other two triples, as Eli Ellis added four third-quarter field goals for eight points.
Colton Bowers, Josh Henry and Harley Lay lauded one basket apiece, as Henry and Lay landed theirs in the fourth — along with Stapleton's second trifecta.
Jared Hawk, on eight total field goals and 5-of-6 foul shots, dropped in a game-high 22 points to pace the Lancers.
He along with Walker Church, who had three buckets for six points, chalked up a hoop apiece in the Lancers' four-point third.
The Rebels return home, and return to TVC-Hocking Division action, tonight (Tuesday, Jan. 24) against Trimble.


Sonny Hollywood Chase hosts 2 hours, delivered weekly to Radio across the U.S. The Greatest Music from the 70's with humor and satire based on events, movies, lifestyle of the era.
The Voice on the Radio, now in paperback, is the highly anticipated companion to The Face on the Milk Carton and Whatever Happened to Janie?, by best selling author Caroline B. Cooney: Janies life finally seems to be settling down.


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Community microfinance
Trauma support
1 in 3 boys and 1 in 6 girls have been abducted in northern Uganda as child soldiers - 66,000 in total. Traumatized and isolated, they return home with little hope. Help GRG reintegrate them back into their communities and give them opportunities.
'Like' GRG on facebook
HomeNewsWalter Would Like a Chance to Find Peace In Himself
Walter Would Like a Chance to Find Peace In Himself
Walter, now an orphan, was abducted by the rebel group LRA and ordered to kill his neighbors while looting villages during his 4 years of forced servitude with the LRA. He secretly escaped one night and emerged to find the general population of Uganda to be terrified and therefore unwelcoming to former child soldiers. He traveled afraid and alone for an immeasurable amount of time and distance looking for his family. He was eventually lucky enough to stumble upon a couple plowing their garden that would at least speak to him, they agreed to welcome him into their home and family.
Today, Walter struggles with the memories of his captivity and subsequent symptoms of PTSD, his step-mother often refers to his outbursts as his 'insanity.' Walter hopes to learn a trade and find emotional peace within himself while participating in one of the new GRG projects to be located in Atiak, northern Uganda.
Donate to give Walter the opportunity to work positively with other members of the community and begin repairing the relationships he has lost because of his 'insanity.'


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Teresa Mei Chuc
Study Guide - Red Thread
Keeper of the Winds
How One Loses Notes and Sounds
Poetry Alive!
If you'd like to borrow Keeper of the Winds: Poems from your local public library, you can request it at the library. Or, if you've read Keeper of the Winds: Poems and really like the book, please request it at your local library so that more people can read it. Thank you!
Keeper of the Winds (FootHills Publishing, 2014)
Cover painting by Ann Phong
Keeper of the Winds (FootHills Publishing)
released on June 23, 2014
To purchase a copy of Keeper of the Winds, please go to FootHills Publishing
http://foothillspublishing.com/2014/id83.htm
"At times the poetry of Teresa Mei Chuc can be as haunting as the memories of war. In Keeper of the Winds images explode as if they were landmines. In this book sadness walks hand in hand with violence. What makes Teresa Mei Chuc's work important is that her poems are personal while speaking for other lives. Her work embraces the earthworm as well as the water buffalo. After tragic events like Fukushima, Teresa Mei Chuc is still capable of dancing with the brown bear; a dance of life's celebration. When she writes about nature it is always with love. Her poetry is a "spiritual lake" we should cherish and sit close to."
—E. Ethelbert Miller, author of Fathering Words
"Teresa Mei Chuc's voice on the page--calm and contemplative--lulls the reader who "thinks it's a toy they've found" until the horror of our common histories is manifest and unavoidable. Here is a poet who simultaneously enchants and terrifies. Here is a poet who demands to be read--you won't be disappointed."
—Lynne Thompson, Winner, Perugia Press, Book Award for Beg No Pardon
"These are essential poems, brutally honest, courageous, and clear in their vision, delivered without apology, but with great heart and true soulfulness. Teresa Mei Chuc challenges us to come face-to-face with our history, our real and ever-present world."
—Sam Hamill, author of Border Songs
The Vietnam War, like all wars, is not over. Farmers in Vietnam are still getting their hands blown off by bombs, their children are playing in fields that are still sewn with death, and the ghostly presence of chemical warfare still kills and deforms people. The clear and devastatingly graceful poems of Vietnamese American poet Teresa Mei Chuc tell these stories and others, most of them haunted by the endless ripples of the violence of war.
Yes, there is violence here, devastation, but these stories are told by a tremendously gifted writer who is acutely aware of the beauty of the world and still strong enough to not look away from the vicious insanity of war. It takes great strength to be calm and completely aware, awake, to try to prevent the pathological somnambulists from destroying everything and yet not become bitter and morose. Teresa Mei Chuc has that strength and combined with a graceful lyrical sense she has created poems of real beauty and terror, a significant achievement.
In poems like "Depleted Uranium" and "the decade the rainforest died," Chuc's clear voice explains the horrendous effects of depleted uranium, napalm and Agent Orange on the entire living world, the world of water, plants and people. Other writers have approached these themes of course but part of what sets Chuc's poetry apart is that precise, poetic vision that while it helps us comprehend the full effects of the devastation through the details of a child's funeral, it is still infused with grace.
the father carries
the little body
wrapped in a
There are coffins
that are only
six inches long. (from "Depleted Uranium")
It is in the poem "Pencil," set possibly in Afghanistan, where the poet highlights the vile brutality of the supposedly more humane drone weapons, contrasting the pleasant scene of a little girl walking down the street or a family drinking tea with the image of body parts flying everywhere as a result of a drone strike.
A girl walking down the street
a few steps ahead of her sister and friend…
There is a charred hole in the ground
Where the girl once stood.
However, along with her incisive descriptions of war's consequences there are celebrations and humor in this collection, too. Chuc's intimate understanding of the natural world, of insects, birds, butterflies, rainforests comes through in poems such as the sardonic "Evolution: Danaus plexippus plexippus" or the meditative "walking stick". Her sense of humor comes through nicely in "Names," evoking her Vietnamese and Chinese ancestry in the descriptions of the sounds in her name.
Teresa Mei Chuc has crafted a wonderful book of poems in Keeper of the Winds, on one hand a passionate indictment of war and on the other a lyrical celebration of the whole world. She is a writer to watch.
Rick Kearns


A few days ago, I came across a backstage picture from the Moschino Fall 2012 show in my Instagram feed. The fun yet glam feel of the show inspired me to create this quick illustration. Moschino's Fall 2012 collection had a decidedly mod feel, so I created a background with elements that are quintessentially mod: bright color and bold pattern.