11:24: The Chief thanks the Court-appointed amicus, and we are done.
11:23: Long argues again that there has been a long line of cases since Davis saying the AIA is jurisdictional, which Congress has ratified.
11:22: Breyer, seeming to sum up much of what the justices were thinking all morning, says it sure seems that Congress did not intend this provision to be subject to the AIA.
11:21: Long finishing by arguing again that "assessment" and "collection" are not aimed only at the operation of Secretary. These provisions also speak to the adjudicatory process.
11:19: Katsas says principal argument for state standing is that they are harmed by mandate forcing more to enroll in Medicaid, even though the states are not direct object of the tax penalty.
11:17: Katsas wrapping up by stating that, even if the Court disagrees with everything he has said to this point, the states fit within the AIA exception recognized in South Carolina v. Regan. And states have standing because of the injury due to the mandate causing more individuals to enroll in Medicaid beginning in 2014.
11:12: Katsas says yes, but here that is beside the point -- there are lots of injuries here.
11:12: Kagan asks whether someone not subject to the 5000A(b) penalty would have standing.
11:08: Says the Chief: "The whole point of the suit is to prevent the collection of penalties. . . . The idea that the mandate is something separate . . . just doesn't seem to make much sense. . . . It seems very artificial to separate the penalty from the crime. . . . Why would you have a requirement that is entirely toothless? "
11:05: Sotomayor asks whether the AIA is jurisdictional except when the SG waives it, then acknowledges that the idea is "nonsensical."
11:04: Katsas, picking up on the Chief's apparent leanings, argues Helvering v. Davis is the refutation that the AIA is not jurisdictional, that the Government can waive it in certain circumstances.
11:01: Again, the argument here seems beside the real point, which is whether the AIA applies to this case. Instead, the justices are focusing on the question whether the AIA is jurisdictional. In other words, the fight at this point seems to be about the rationale, not the (jurisdictional) result.
10:55: Here comes Mr. Katsas.
10:53: SG says essence of argument is that there is no textual indication in the ACA that Congress intended the tax penalty in 5000A to be treated as a "tax" for purposes of the AIA.
10:51: Alito certainly seems to believe that 5000A(a) is a stand-alone legal requirement.
10:50: Kagan asks whether someone who has paid the penalty has violated the law? The SG, taking the softball, says no. Only if she fails to pay the tax -- I mean "tax penalty."
10:46: SG points to another provision of the ACA which refers to exemption from "the requirement" as including those who are exempt from the penalty.
10:44: SG points out that it would make no sense to think of individuals obtaining their health care through the Indian Health Services as "violating the law." It is not a sound reading of 5000A as a whole.
10:42: SG says that exceptions to the mandate and exceptions to the penalty both constitute "exceptions to the requirement."
10:41: Sotomayor opens the question of whether the penalty is the sole consequence of not complying with the minimum coverage provision. SG responds that there is no consequence other than the tax penalty.
10:39: It is telling that the SG is getting hit not on his position that the AIA is not a bar here, but on the Government's position that the AIA is jurisdictional.
10:32: SG says that Davis is "fundamentally inconsistent" with what has come since.
10:31: The Chief returns to Davis. He seems quite focused on that as the most salient precedent, where the Government waived the AIA.
10:30: The SG reiterates the Government's concern in holding the AIA not to be jurisdictional. First, it opens the door to courts creating equitable exceptions. Second, low-level government attorneys might mistakenly waive it.
10:24: SG makes clear that the Court need not reach the question whether the AIA is jurisdictional.
10:23: Alito gets the SG into the taxing power question. Has the Court ever held that the same exaction was a tax for the taxing power but not for purposes of the AIA? No, says the SG, but the inquiries are fundamentally different, pointing to the Licensing Cases.
10:20: The SG steps to the dais.
10:13: Kennedy offers yet another theory: having the statute's application turn on the "purpose" of the suit is highly unusual for a jurisdictional bar.
10:10: Six ways to Sunday--there appear to be about six different theories as to why the AIA does not prevent the Court from getting to the merits. Everything seems to be pointing toward the same result.
10:07: Scalia brings up the canon of interpretation that "ousters of jurisdiction are to be construed narrowly," and that it if anything is clear here, whether the AIA applies to the penalty imposed by the minimum coverage provision "is not clear."
10:00: Sotomayor asks, "Isn't the fairer statement that, in extraordinary circumstances, we will hear the case?" She and Kagan seem to be agreeing with the Chief and Alito, that the AIA is not jurisdictional--that it can be at least be waived by the government in "extraordinary circumstances"
9:56: The Court "has kind of gone back and forth" on whether the AIA is jurisdictional, says the Chief, which means that any congressional authorization of the Court's interpretation ambiguous (or unenlightening).
9:55: Alito seems to be joining the Chief on this point. "Would any case have come out differently?" In other words, though the Court has said that the AIA was jurisdictional, it has never mattered.
9:53: The Chief seems to see the AIA as non-jurisdictional, that Helvering v. Davis controls (where the government waived an AIA defense). "Has Helvering v. Davis been overruled?," he asks. That would be a relatively clean manner to get to the merits, though it seems to have some trouble in explaining a number of intervening decisions from the Court.


THE CAIRN HOTEL was built during Harrogate's period as a Spa Town, when people came from far and wide to take the waters. The hotel is 3 Star RAC rated and is located 5 minutes walk from the centre of town and 7 miles off the North/South A1 and 17 miles from the M1/M62. Set in 4 acres of private gardens with ample car parking, the hotel is just minutes from The International Conference Centre. Leeds airport is 12 miles away and there is a railway station in Harrogate. In total we have 135 bedrooms all with en-suite facilities, colour television, direct dial telephone, hospitality tray, trouser press, baby listening service, 24 hour room service and central heating. Our Windsor Restaurant offers a choice from our carving table, featuring prime cuts and is complimented by our extensive wine list. Our informal restaurant is the ideal place to relax after a strenuous day.
Travel by Road to Harrogate: From London take the M1 toJ32 onto M18. At J2 go onto A1(m) then A661 and A59 to Harrogate. From Glasgow M74/A74 then M6 towards Penrith then A66 to Scotch Corner. Go South on A1 to A6055 to Ripon and follow A59 to Harrogate. From Edinburgh A68/A69 towards Newcatle upon Tyne then A1 to A6055 then as above. Travel by Air: The nearest Airport is Leeds/Bradford Airport which is served by regular flights from all over the country. Travel by Rail: The station in Harrogate is serviced by connections from London, York, Leeds, Glasgow and Edinburgh. Travel by Coach: A wide variety of national companies offer a service to the Harrogate from all over the country.
Free car park to all guests.
Children aged 4 and under stay free in a room with paying adults.


Franken had asked Ford CEO Alan Mullaly for the information after Ford marketing chief Jim Farley told reporters at the Consumer Electronics Show last month that the company has a pretty good idea of a person's driving habits based on data compiled from the navigation system data in their Ford vehicle.
In a letter, Franken asked Mulalley to spell out precisely what data Ford collects via in-vehicle GPS systems and how the company obtains driver consent to collect and share that data. Franken also asked who the information is shared with, how long it's stored and what security measures are used to protect it.
In a letter released by Franken this week, Ford's vice president of government relations Curt Magleby maintained the automaker only collects and uses location information from vehicles to support specific customer requests for service and to troubleshoot problems.
He contended that Ford has strong accountability for the handling of any personally identifiable information of car owners, and that it employs strong physical, technological and administrative controls to protect the data.
Additionally, the company allows customers to delete any stored location data by calling the company, he said.
Magleby said that the embedded navigation systems in all Ford 2013 and 2014 model year vehicles store latitude, longitude, and timestamp data in a temporary buffer onboard the vehicle. The location data is typically stored for two to three weeks but is never transmitted off vehicle to Ford or any third-party Magleby said.
Ford's voice-activated SYNC system, which controls audio, climate, navigation and other features, can be paired via Bluetooth to a driver's mobile device, he said. Thus Ford can deliver a variety of other SYNC services, such as turn-by-turn navigation, traffic updates and business searches. A customer can also upload vehicle diagnostic information to Ford via SYNC, when it is paired with a customer's mobile device.
Some of the wirelessly connected applications involve off-vehicle transmission of location data, travel direction, saved charge locations (in the case of electric vehicles) and other information, to Ford and third-party service providers.
In all cases, the applications require specific consent from the vehicle operator via in-vehicle prompts, website user agreements or mobile app agreements, before they collect and transmit data from a vehicle. Ford and third-party service providers do not hold on to any personally identifiable location data collected via these services for more than 90 days, Magleby said.
The only time Ford shares location data with government or with law enforcement is in the event of an accident or in response to a court order.
In a statement, Franken said he was glad that Ford had responded to his question but said that companies need to provide more to information about location data collection practices to consumers.
"This is sensitive information -- and notices to consumers about this sensitive data shouldn't get lost in fine print," Franken said.
The Senator said he will soon reintroduce a location privacy bill he filed last year.
This story, "Ford exec says it doesn't collect or share car location data" was originally published by Computerworld.


The Czech technological company Prozeta has become one of the first companies in the world to be awarded the "IoT Authorization Partner" certificate from Cisco Systems.
Prozeta is the first company in Central and Eastern Europe to qualify for this certification. As well as having a certain number of staff with experience in delivering IoT solutions, it was also necessary to have completed training and appropriate examinations.
SAN JOSE, Calif.–March 14, 2019– OCP Global Summit–Arista Networks (NYSE:ANET) today announced the Arista 7360X Series, a radically new and disruptive platform that doubles system density while reducing power consumption and cost. By doubling the network diameter, customers can address the demand for higher bandwidth with reduced leaf-spine tiers while lowering both capex and opex.
The Internet of Things is no longer the domain of the future. It is becoming an integral part of our lives and new and unexpected uses are being added all the time. This week, the place with the greatest concentration of IoT news was the Smart IoT 2019 conference at London's ExCel. The expo was not short on Czech representatives: Prozeta introduced XensorHub – a unique sensory solution that enables, among other things, monitoring the quality of beer, checking the service of catering devices and predicting its malfunctions.
So, what this BlackStor really is?
Running an OpenStack platform is a never ending story of debugging and searching for the best possible components, including the storage subsystem. It is very naive to think that OpenStack is just about a one-time installation and running of GUI or API interfaces.
Orchestration of infrastructure at Prozeta relies on the "role and profile" principle, using an orchestration stack based on Puppet, Foreman and Hiera.
Our orchestrated infrastructure is based primarily on Foreman and its surrounding ecosystem – Puppet, PuppetDB, Hiera and r10k.
At the beginning of 2016, our Operations team started investigating other storage options. We had a lot of requirements – a solution that is stable, reliable, fast, predictable, can scale horizontally and vertically, doesn't kill all the resources, is manageable, integratable with our metrics and monitoring systems, extendable and transparent (so no black box dependency on a single vendor). That is the point where DRBD came into play as a possible underlying technology.
We've been overfed with projections about the long-term growth of IaaS, PaaS and SaaS markets, how enterprises are moving their infrastructures to the cloud and building cloud-ready applications. IDC, 451 Research, TBR and other providers of market intelligence and analysis constantly forecast double-digit growth of public and private clouds at the expense of traditional IT spending – and they're right. From what we've seen in the last couple of years, companies of all sizes – from SMEs to global enterprises – are moving their technologies to various forms of cloud infrastructure and this trend is not going to stop any time soon. In fact, it is just a matter of time before the majority of applications will be sitting in the cloud.


text:
The Finger Lakes Trail is a beautiful "trail system", or network of footpaths, which runs continuously from east to west across New York State, spanning 14 counties for the main trail, and an additional 7 for the branch trails. Wallace D. Wood of Rochester, NY, first conceived of the footpath in 1961. He thought NY should have its own trail, after hiking in VT.
In 1962, the Trail system was built, and the Finger Lakes Trail Conference (FLTC, a not-for-profit corporation) was organized to promote and maintain the FLT System. The main 562-mile Finger Lakes Trail connects the Catskill Mountains in the east with the Allegheny Mountains (at the PA-NY border) in the west, by passing through remote areas of the Southern Tier of New York State. Sixty trail sponsors, coordinated by the FLTC, volunteer to regularly manage and maintain trail segments. Hikers are encouraged by the FLTC (over time), to traverse the entire 562-mile trail from "End-to-End". This hiking 'adventure' appeals to backpackers, hiking clubs, scouts, families, or anyone who loves nature and the outdoors. You need not be a "professional" and anyone who can walk can participate. Trails are free, no toll booths or permits required. For starters, why not begin with the Oxford, NY, section of the trail?
A Footpath Across Oxford: The distance of the Town of Oxford section of the FLT is 13.0 miles. At an average of approx. 2-3 mph., a hiker might plan this trip to be about 5 hours. (Note: This pathway does cross through private lands. Permission has been granted to cross their property, solely for hiking, on the trail. No wandering, hunting, ATV's, horses, bicycles, etc.)
Map courtesy of Finger Lakes Trail Conference. (partial map shown here)
Please click here for a printable PDF version of the full map.
Oxford is shown on Map M25 (of the 33 maps) on the main Finger Lakes Trail. The FLT goes through the Town of Oxford, but not the village. It enters the Town of Oxford on the west near the junction of Buckley Hollow and Williams Roads. It goes east through woods and field before crossing NY 12 near the S. Oxford Bridge. It then follows CR 32 south before turning east on Basswood Road. Soon it leaves Basswood Road to meander along a beautiful section of Bear Brook with waterfalls (Bring a camera!) before returning to Basswood Road. It continues west on Basswood, crosses CR 27, continues on what is now called Brook Banks Road, before it takes a southeastern route through the woods, eventually finishing Map 25 at Town Line Road. These 13 miles, in the southern section of Oxford Township are maintained by volunteers from the Triple Cities Hiking Club, of Binghamton, NY.
The complete map M25 map offers hikers info. about how to locate the parking areas, trailheads, and campsites, as well as having a copy of the directions and mileages printed on the reverse side of the map.
In Oxford, and interested in hiking with a group? This area is covered by the FLT Bullthistle Hikers Club, which meets at the YMCA in Norwich, NY, the first Tuesday of every month, at 7:00 PM.
The Bullthistle Club has about 50 members and has been officially recognized by the FLTC. (The FLTC is offering reduced membership dues to Bullthistle Club members.) Ed is also the FLTC End-to-End coordinator. Contact them via bullthistler@gmail.com or via postal mail: P.O. Box 225, Norwich, NY 13815
We wish to thank the late Ed Sidote, known as Mr. Finger Lakes Trail, who had inspired many hikers to follow in his footsteps. He is End-to-Ender #3 (done at age 73, an accomplishment that has only been achieved by about 500 hikers). We'd also lie to thank Thomas J. Reimers author of "A Brief History of the Finger Lakes Trail", 2nd edition for their generous contributions in providing this information about the Oxford section of the Finger Lakes Trail.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Reconstitute the dried onions in water, then squeeze dry and place in a small bowl. Stir the melted margarine into the reconstituted onion flakes. Season with salt, then stir in the poppy seeds.
Thaw the frozen egg roll dough. On lightly floured surface, roll out each roll into a 5½-inch circle. Spoon a portion of the onion filling on three-fourths of each circle, reserving some of the filling for the top of the rolls. Fold a third of the dough over the onion filling; fold a third over from the other side. Place the rolls seem side down on a lightly greased cookie sheet. Brush the rolls with the egg wash and top with the remaining onion mixture. Let rise in a warm draft-free place until doubled in bulk. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until nicely browned.


text:
Monday, December 31, 2018 — Football
Tuttosport. Aaron Ramsey is set to join Seria A giants
by Hrach Khachatryan
Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey is set to join Juventus in June after an agreement was reached between player and club, according to Tuttosport.
He's been offered €8 million per season for 4 years.
Ramsey is set to end his 10-year race with Arsenal at the end of the season, with the Wales midfielder failing to agree to a new contract at the Emirates Stadium.
Nicolas Pepe has opened up on the possibility of leaving Lille amid links with Arsenal and Manchester City
Aaron Ramsey


text:
Die Spätblühende Traubenkirsche (Prunus serotina), auch Späte Traubenkirsche oder Amerikanische Traubenkirsche genannt, ist eine Pflanzenart aus der Gattung Prunus. Sie stammt aus dem kühlgemäßigt-feuchten Klima Nordamerikas.

In Europa zählt sie zu den invasiven Neophyten, wird mancherorts problematisch, und gilt daher nicht mehr als forstwirtschaftlich anbauwürdig. Sie wächst auf nicht staunassen und nicht zu trockenen Böden und ist vor allem in Offenlandbiotopen sowie lichten Eichen-, Kiefern- und Lärchenbeständen verbreitet. In Deutschland bevorzugt sie bodensaure Sandböden.

Die in Europa heimische Gewöhnliche Traubenkirsche erreicht etwas geringere Wuchshöhen, wächst bevorzugt auf feucht-nassen Böden und ist vor allem in Auwäldern in Niedersachsen und Sachsen-Anhalt verbreitet.

Beschreibung

Habitus
Die raschwüchsige sommergrüne Spätblühende Traubenkirsche ist in Europa ein Strauch bis kleiner Baum, der in der Regel Wuchshöhen von weniger als 20 Metern erreicht. In einigen Fällen, z. B. im Freiburger Mooswald, treten Exemplare mit bis zu 30 m Höhe auf und in ihrer Heimat Nordamerika kommen Exemplare mit Wuchshöhen von bis zu 35 Metern vor. Im Süden und Westen der USA gedeiht eine kleinere Variante mit Höhen zwischen 9 bis 15 Metern.

Die Spätblühende Traubenkirsche bildet eine längliche Baumkrone und eine dichte Belaubung aus. Ihre relativ kurzen Äste sind waagrecht ausgerichtet und dunkelbraun berindet. Die Rinde junger Zweige ist kahl. Die Langtriebe besitzen eine Endknospe.

Blatt
Die wechselständig angeordneten Laubblätter sind in Blattstiel und Blattspreite gegliedert. Der 6 bis 25 Millimeter lange Blattstiel besitzt zwei bis vier Drüsen. Die einfache Blattspreite ist 4 bis 12 Zentimeter lang. Ihre Form variiert von länglich-eiförmig bis länglich-lanzettlich. Sie besitzt eine keilförmige Basis und verläuft zur Blattspitze hin zugespitzt. Der Blattrand ist gezähnt. Die kleinen, knorpeligen Zähne sind nach innen gekrümmt. Die Blattunterseite ist hellgrün gefärbt. Entlang der Mittelrippe stehen gelbliche Härchen. Die Blattoberseite ist dunkelgrün und – im Unterschied zur heimischen Gewöhnlichen Traubenkirsche – glänzend. Im Herbst nehmen die Blätter lebhaft gelbe bis orange Farben an. Sie wachsen nicht nur an Zweigen und Ästen, sondern sind als kleine Blättchen auch an den Fruchttrauben zu finden.

Blütenstand und Blüte
Die Blütezeit reicht von Mai bis Juni. Bis zu 30 Blüten stehen in einem 6 bis 15 Zentimeter langen, walzenförmigen, traubigen Blütenstand zusammen. Der Blütenstand steht zunächst aufrecht, orientiert sich dann im weiteren Verlauf nach unten, bis er schließlich zu Ende der Blühperiode überhängt. Am Grund des Blütenstandes befinden sich Laubblätter mit einem Durchmesser von etwa 8 bis 10 Millimetern und kleinen Tragblätter. Die Blütenstiele sind 3 bis 8 Millimeter lang. Die zwittrigen, duftenden Blüten sind radiärsymmetrisch und fünfzählig mit doppelter Blütenhülle. Die fünf Kronblätter sind weiß.

Frucht
Die Früchte sind zuerst hellrote, dann violett-rote, bei der Reife schwarze Steinfrüchte bis 1 Zentimeter Größe. Die Kirschen haben an der dem Stiel gegenüberliegenden Seite eine kleine, kreisförmig eingezogene Delle und am Stielansatz kleine Kelchblätter. Die Kirschkerne sind kleiner als durchschnittlich große Sauerkirschkerne und etwas länglicher.

Chromosomenzahl
Die Chromosomenzahl beträgt 2n = 32.

Synökologie
Die Spätblühende Traubenkirsche gilt als Wirtspflanze für die Blattlaus Myzus persicae, die eine Viruserkrankung der Zuckerrübe überträgt. Außerdem wurde die Kirschessigfliege als Parasit vor allem der unreifen Beeren erkannt. Die Populationen in europäischen Wäldern könnten als Reservoir für diesen Schädling des Obstbaus dienen.

Verwendung und Giftigkeit
Die essbaren Kirschen reifen Ende Juli bis Ende August, sind aromatisch-süß, haben aber oft einen unangenehm bitteren Nachgeschmack. Sie können als Obst gegessen und zu Säften oder Mus verarbeitet werden (ähnlich wie Schlehen). In skandinavischen Ländern werden Destillate aus den schwarzen Beeren hergestellt. In den USA finden die Früchte bei der Aromatisierung von Rum und Brandy Verwendung.

Dagegen enthalten besonders die Samen in den Steinkernen, viel weniger auch Blüten und Rinde, cyanogene Glykoside und sind für Mensch und Tier giftig. Beim Menschen treten vergleichbare Vergiftungserscheinungen wie bei Prunus laurocerasus auf. Nach dem Fressen von Blättern oder Rinde sind bei tragenden Schweinen teratogene Wirkungen aufgetreten; bei einer Angoraziege war die Vergiftung tödlich, nachdem sie die Blätter gefressen hatte. Die Hauptwirkstoffe in der Rinde sind Prunasin und Scopoletin und in frischen Blättern wurde ein Blausäuregehalt von 210 mg/100 g festgestellt.

Verbreitung und Standort

Die Spätblühende Traubenkirsche ist ursprünglich in Nordamerika beheimatet, insbesondere im Osten der USA. Sie kommt aber auch im gemäßigten Gebirgsklima Mexikos natürlich und in den südamerikanischen Anden in Ecuador und Peru als angebautes Gehölz ("Capulin") vor. In Nordperu bei Cajamarca wird sie bei traditionellen Festen nach Karneval, den sogenannten "Unshas", verwendet.

Die Spätblühende Traubenkirsche gedeiht am besten auf feuchten Sand- und Lehmböden mit sauren bis schwach basischen Boden-pH. Sie kommt hauptsächlich im Tiefland vor und kann auch mit gelegentlichen Überschwemmungen leben. Sie verträgt Sonne bis lichten Schatten, wächst gut im Stadtklima und ist windfest, da sie ein Herzwurzelsystem ausbildet. Gegenüber Winter- und Spätfrosten zeigt sie sich relativ unempfindlich. Die Spätblühende Traubenkirsche eignet sich deswegen auch als Pionierbesiedler von Brachflächen, ist aber auf Grund ihrer Ausbildung von Wurzelbrut nur schlecht wieder einzudämmen, wenn sie auf einen gut geeigneten Lebensraum trifft. Sie zählt zu den Bienennährgehölzen, der Nektarwert ist mäßig, der Pollenwert schlecht.

Ausbreitung in Europa
Als Neophyt hat sich die Spätblühende Traubenkirsche in Europa stark selbständig ausgebreitet, da sie sich sehr stark vermehrt und vom Wild kaum verbissen wird. Sie kommt dort insbesondere in lichten Wäldern, in Ufergebüschen sowie als Zierstrauch oder -baum in Gärten vor. In der Jungbestockung der deutschen Wälder ist sie nach den Ergebnissen der Dritten Bundeswaldinventur (2012) mit einer Gesamtfläche von 104.000 Hektar bzw. einem Flächenanteil von knapp vier Prozent inzwischen die häufigste fremdländische Baumart.
In der Schweiz
sowie in vielen Ländern der EU wurde sie aufgrund ihres Ausbreitungspotenzials und der Schäden in den Bereichen Biodiversität, Gesundheit bzw. Ökonomie sowie der begrenzten Steuerungsmöglichkeiten in die "Schwarze Liste invasiver Arten" aufgenommen.

Ökologische Integration

Die heutigen Naturschutzziele sehen unter anderem die Erhaltung bestehender Zustände ehemaliger Kulturlandschaften vor. Prunus serotina gilt daher im Naturschutzrecht als zu bekämpfende Art, da sie vor allem in Heidelandschaften und anderen Offenlandbiotopen die nicht erwünschte Sukzession durch Verbuschung erheblich beschleunigt. Sie wird von den notwendigen Weidetieren weitgehend verschmäht. In FFH-Gebieten verändert sie die Baumartenzusammensetzung negativ und führt zu einer Artenverarmung durch Verdrängung heimischer Pflanzenarten. Demgegenüber werden ihre Auswirkungen auf die heimische Waldfauna eher positiv beurteilt: Sie dient zahlreichen Gliederfüßern, Vögeln, Säugetieren und Pilzen als Wirtspflanze und die Kirschen werden von Wildschweinen, Rehen, Füchsen, Baummardern, Steinmardern, Iltissen und Igeln sowie von 60 verschiedenen Vogelarten gefressen.

Geschichte als invasive Pflanze in Europa
Bereits 1623 wurde die Spätblühende Traubenkirsche nach Europa (Paris) gebracht. Erste Erwähnungen für Deutschland stammen aus dem Jahr 1685. Der Anbau erfolgte als Ziergehölz in Gärten und Parks. Da die Spätblühende Traubenkirsche in ihrer Heimat auf armen Böden gute Wuchsleistungen erbringt und wertvolles Holz liefert, erhoffte man ähnliche Eigenschaften beim Anbau in Deutschland. Im späten 19. Jahrhundert wurde im Rahmen sogenannter Fremdländerversuchsanbauten die Eignung für die Forstwirtschaft getestet. Allerdings stellte sich heraus, dass die Spätblühende Traubenkirsche unter hiesigen Verhältnissen in der Regel nur mehr oder weniger strauchförmig wächst. In den 1920er Jahren begann man in den Niederlanden mit großflächigen Anpflanzungen. Man erhoffte sich eine Erhöhung der Bodenfruchtbarkeit in Nadelbaumkulturen, auf Heideflächen und auf windexponierten Standorten.

Noch bis in die 1950er Jahre pflanzten manche bei Aufforstungen die Spätblühende Traubenkirsche. Wenige Jahre später aber wurde sie als schädliche invasive Pflanze eingeschätzt und bekämpft – so in den Niederlanden seit 1963 als bospest ("Waldpest"). Denn sie kann eine dichte Strauchschicht bilden, die viele forstwirtschaftliche Arbeiten erschwert und bei der Naturverjüngung andere Gehölze behindert. Auch wenn bei den Bekämpfungsmaßnahmen eine beträchtliche Menge an Gestrüpp entfernt wurde, war der Erfolg nicht durchschlagend. Die Spätblühende Traubenkirsche entwickelt aus versehentlich vergessenen Wurzelstücken nämlich sehr vitale Wurzelbrut, die schneller wächst und dichtere Bestände bildet als Kernwüchse. Herbizide erwiesen sich als wenig brauchbar, da sie andere Gewächse ebenso schädigten und sich nachteilig auf den Boden auswirkten. Nachhaltig erfolgreich war allein eine kombinierte Methode aus sorgfältigem Absägen der Stämme, gezieltem und nicht zu großflächigem Ausbringen von Herbiziden sowie der Abdeckung von Stubben mit Folien, um den Stockausschlägen das Licht zu nehmen. Diese Art der Bekämpfung ist aufwändig und teuer. Einige Fachleute sind der Meinung, dass sich die Bestände der Spätblühenden Traubenkirsche bei Schlusswaldgesellschaften von Rotbuche oder Hainbuche aufgrund der starken Verschattung von allein wieder lichten werden, wenn man die betroffenen Flächen einer ungestörten Sukzession überlässt.

In Erprobung befindet sich gegenwärtig eine Form der biologischen Bekämpfung mit dem Violetten Knorpelschichtpilz (Chondrostereum purpureum). Hierbei wird eine Myzelsuspension des Pilzes an frischen Schnittflächen der Spätblühenden Traubenkirsche aufgetragen. Aus bisher vorliegenden Untersuchungen wird deutlich, dass Chondrostereum purpureum bei sachgerechter Applikation erhebliche Schädigungen bei Prunus serotina hervorrufen kann. Da Chondrostereum purpureum in der Natur sehr häufig vorkommt und zudem relativ kurzlebig ist, werden von der Anwendung als Mykoherbizid keine ökologischen Auswirkungen auf die lokale Pilzflora oder andere Organismen befürchtet. Die bisherigen Freilandversuche in den Wäldern der Berliner Forsten lassen jedoch noch keine abschließende Beurteilung über die Praxistauglichkeit des Verfahrens zu.

In Deutschland wird sie heute von vielen Forstwirten notgedrungen vorübergehend als Waldbaum akzeptiert.

Literatur
 Uwe Starfinger: Die Einbürgerung der Spätblühenden Traubenkirsche (Prunus serotina Ehrh.) in Mitteleuropa. In: Landschaftsentwicklung und Umweltforschung. Nr. 69, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin 1990, ISBN 3-7983-1357-1 (Zugleich Dissertation an der Technischen Universität Berlin [1990]).
 C. Haag, U. Wilhelm: Die Spätblühende Traubenkirsche. Arbeiten mit "unerwünschter" Baumart oder Verschleppung einer Katastrophe? In: AFZ, der Wald. Allgemeine Forstzeitschrift für Waldwirtschaft und Umweltvorsorge, 53. Jahrgang, Heft 6, 1998, S. 276–279, Deutscher Landwirtschaftsverlag, München 1998

Einzelnachweise

Weblinks

 Thomas Meyer: Datenblatt mit Bestimmungsschlüssel und Fotos bei Flora-de: Flora von Deutschland (alter Name der Webseite: Blumen in Schwaben)
 Die Spätblühende Traubenkirsche in Berlin (von Malte Münte u. Marko Christoph)
 Die Giftpflanze Späte Traubenkirsche.
 Martin Wolfangel: Invasive gebietsfremde Pflanzen – eine Gefahr für die biologische Vielfalt.
 neobiota.bfn.de Steckbrief des Bundesamtes für Naturschutz

Prunus (Rosengewächse)
Wildfrucht
Invasiver Neophyt auf der schwarzen Liste (Schweiz)
Holzart

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries
We've come to Dunblane for the weekend, a picturesque Scottish village in Perthshire, about 110 miles southwest of Aberdeen. The village is beautiful with lots of quirky shops and an attractive river running through the middle called Allan Water. There's also a cathedral that dates from the 12th century. There's a fake Banksy outside one of the shops. The owner told us he doesn't know who painted it.
There's a plaque on the floor of the cathedral (in the gallery above) which says Margaret Drummond is buried here with her two sisters after being poisoned. Margaret was a mistress of King James IV and there was a suspicion that he was planning to marry her or had secretly married her but Scottish nobles instead wanted him to marry the English princess Margaret which necessitated the removal of Margaret Drummond. This is just a theory. You can read more on the Wikipedia page.
Dunblane's recent history is tragic as it was home to the worst massacre in Britain by a lone gunman who shot and killed 16 pupils and a teacher at a Dunblane primary school in 1996. Immediately following the massacre gun laws were changed in the UK which outlawed most private gun ownership. There hasn't been a massacre since.
About 4 miles from Dunblane is the village of Doune which is known for Doune Castle, a film location for Monty Python and the Holy Grail. This is the castle where the French taunter scene is filmed and the trojan rabbit. The castle is currently closed because a routine inspection revealed some dangerously loose masonry so we couldn't go inside but we were able to walk around the outside.
This is the scene if you're unfamiliar with the film and don't understand the title of my blog post.
It was fun to go and see it and imagine the French taunter with the "outrageous accent" shouting insults from the parapet. There are some nice walks along the river by the castle and as you can see the autumn colours are glorious.
Victoria has come with us and joined us for the walk at Doune Castle. These next two photos were taken in Dunblane overlooking Allan Water. You can see Victoria peering out of the backpack in the second photo. It's hard to know whether she likes it but there was no complaining or trying to escape and she jumped in the backpack by choice.
Dunblane is also home to one of the first public subscription libraries in Scotland. Leighton Library was founded from the personal collection of books belonging to Robert Leighton who died in 1684 and bequeathed his entire collection of around 1400 books to the cathedral. This is the library.
And of course, we can't forget the famous Scottish tennis player, Andy Murray, who is from Dunblane and indeed was a pupil at the school when the massacre happened. There's a royal mail post box in the village that has been painted gold to celebrate Andy Murray's 2012 Olympic gold medal.
Scotland, Travel
Allan Water, autumn, castle, Cathedral, Doune, Doune Castle, Dunblane, Monty Python, Perthshire, photos, Scotland
2 responses to "Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries"
Haha – Monty Python is timeless 😄 The town looks like a great place to visit – does it get many visitors?
I'm not sure how many visitors they get. I think they must get a fair few. It looked to be thriving unlike Aberdeen which is full of boarded up shops since the pandemic.


Update: It seems that Gunslinger has returned to Xbox's digital storefront. It is not currently available anywhere else, but this is a good sign that the game should be widely available again soon.
As first spotted by Pixelbuster over on ResetEra, it seems that two of the four Call of Juarez games (Gunslinger and The Cartel) have been delisted from Steam. Call of Juarez: The Cartel is the latest main entry in the series, receiving mixed reactions for its more modern setting. It was a full retail release and will live on in disc form.
Call of Juarez Gunslinger is a well-received digital-only spinoff that focused on arcade action in the old west. It has a trick shooting system similar to Bulletstorm, allowing you to rack up points for creative kills. It also features intense duels against famous outlaws like Billy the Kid and Jesse James. Gunslinger only ever saw a physical form on PC in Europe. In North America, it saw a disc in a few out of print franchise packs. For most players, the game will be increasingly inaccessible in short order. Gunslinger is backward compatible on Xbox One, although there is no current way to purchase that version.
The games have been delisted from Steam, Xbox Live, and PSN. As of this writing, you can still purchase the PC version of Gunslinger via Uplay for just a few dollars. Copies of the PS3 version can be acquired on Amazon, and there are various third-party marketplaces that still have Steam codes for sale.
In other digital game removal news, today is the last day that you can purchase LittleOrbit's Adventure Time games before they get delisted, as we recently covered.
TechRaptor has reached out to representatives at Ubisoft and Techland. We will update this story with any provided reasoning as to the game's removal from digital storefronts.
This might be up there with Scott Pilgrim as far as "digital future" tragedies go. Call of Juarez Gunslinger was an unassuming game built in the mold of Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon. A spinoff with a lot of great ideas, it achieves the cowboy FPS dream better than any of its predecessors. Like any other game, this one deserves remembrance and easy accessibility. With the other two entries in the series still available on Steam, one only hopes that this removal is temporary. Both these games are historically significant and deserve a future.
Have you played any of the Call of Juarez games? Why do you think Ubisoft shelved sales of these two titles? Let us know in the comments below!


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What American Women Really Think of Gun Control
Allied Gun Academy2015-10-03T17:42:02-04:00
by Zing Tsjeng
Published on Oct 2, 2015 12:45 PM
For the complete article, https://broadly.vice.com/en_us/article/what-american-women-really-think-of-gun-control
A widely-reported Pew Research Center poll in December 2015 showed that more Americans supported gun rights than gun control for the first time in over two decades of polling. Fifty-two percent said that it was more important to protect the right of Americans to own guns, compared to 46 percent who said it was more important to restrict gun ownership. The poll also showed an increase in the amount of women who wanted to protect gun ownership, with support growing from 38 to 43 percent.
However, according to a poll conducted by YouGov and the Economist over July and August, 54 percent of women believed that laws covering the sale of handguns should be stricter, compared to 49 percent of men. Twenty-five percent of women, however, thought that there should be no change at all in gun laws, while a further 16 percent stated that laws should be less strict.
Professor Peter Squires, a professor of criminology and public policy at the University of Brighton in England, has studied American gun culture and is currently working on a book about women's attitudes to guns. He told me that women in the US are probably the most armed in the world, "with the exception of Israel."
"I think the split on gun ownership in America is probably 85 percent men to 55 percent women," Squires said. "Globally, it's 96 percent men to 4 percent women." He believes that this is the result of the industry targeting female consumers. "I think the gun industry since the 1980s has been trying to market guns much more prominently to women, largely as a result of the male market being saturated."
However, Squires is not convinced that gun ownership is increasing among women in the US. "I think the evidence is a bit ambiguous. To me, it looks like it's flatlining [in terms of the national picture]. I get this from national polling data, the general households survey and the few polling organizations."
When you talk to gun owners or people who teach courses, they say more women are doing it than did it in the past.
Kate Woolstenhulme, a Dallas-based businesswoman who designs handbags for concealed-carry handguns, believes that more women are actually buying guns and signing up to training courses than before. "When you talk to gun owners or people who teach courses, they say more women are doing it than did it in the past," she said. "A lot of women are taking it more seriously, because there's a lot of courses geared specifically to women, and the gun manufacturers have been catering to women by making smaller guns, guns that aren't so heavy, and guns that are easier to carry. It's [in a way] about supply and demand."
Woolstenhulme estimates that she "probably sells about a thousand" bags a year and sees "more younger women coming into it." Business for Designer Concealed Carry, her label, has remained "consistent." "It's been the same ever since it started—it's consistent. It's not really exploding. It's been a slow and steady progression," she said.
The National Sporting Goods Association is much more bullish about the number of women buying guns. According to the organization, there was a 60 percent increase in the number of women who participated in target shooting from 2001 to 2013. Fortune reports that the firearms industry has seen compound annual growth rate of eight percent over the last 30 years.
"The biggest driver is women getting into the shooting sports, and practicing concealed carry," Brian Ruttenbur, an analyst with CRT Capital, told Fortune. "When you look at the demographics, what has happened is there's been a rise in women being head of the household. So it started with concealed carry, as a protection thing, but now women are going and taking the family to the range for fun. You don't see it in the major cities, but go ten miles outside the city, and gun ownership goes through the roof."
Applying for a Concealed Carry Permit in Florida
Did you know that more than 900,000 people hold licenses to carry concealed firearms in Florida? If you are considering joining their ranks, there are two primary considerations : 1) how to obtain a Concealed Weapons License (CWL or CLP), and 2) what to do once you have one.
Obtaining Your Florida CWL
Step 1: Training
While there are exceptions (for former military, etc.), most people must take a course from a qualified professional, such as an NRA-certified trainer. You will need to provide a copy of your training certificate to the State of Florida when applying for your CWL.
Choosing the right course can be confusing. Many opt for the shortest or cheapest class possible, but is that really the best option? Consider this. If you are not properly trained to use a firearm, what good is carrying one?
Honestly evaluate your skill level when choosing a training course. Before applying for a CWL, be certain you understand the inner workings of your firearm, how to safely operate your pistol, how to choose the appropriate ammunition, and how to store both your firearm and ammunition to keep it out of the wrong hands. We recommend the NRA Basic Pistol Course to meet all of these requirements.
Once you have a training certificate, you can send your application to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The process involves fingerprinting and a background check. While you can obtain and send your fingerprints, a photo, and the documentation in separately, we suggest you use Florida's Fast Track Process.
With this process, you simply contact the Florida Department of Agriculture office closest to you and set up an appointment. During your appointment, you will provide a copy of your training certificate. (Don't submit the original, as it won't be returned to you!) You will complete a background questionnaire at a kiosk in the office, and the office staff will take your fingerprints and photo. After checking your identification, the office staff submits all of your paperwork for you, ensuring all documentation is complete before you leave the office.
Step 3: Wait
This is perhaps the most difficult piece to obtaining your CWL. The licensing process can take up to 90 days, during which time you get virtually no feedback. The Florida Department of Agriculture does have an Online Tracking Tool to check the status of CWL applications. Unfortunately, this tool only tells you whether your application is still being processed or has been completed. There is no estimated time for completion given to applicants.
Using Your CWL
Once you receive your CWL in the mail, be sure to carry it on you at all times that you are also carrying your firearm. Just as your driver's license is proof that you are authorized to drive a vehicle, the CWL is proof that you have passed the training and background requirements to legally possess and conceal a handgun on your person.
Aside from allowing you to carry a firearm, your new CWL gives you another great benefit. You will no longer need to wait three business days to take home a new handgun.
Simply bring your CWL with you to any Florida gun dealer, along with your driver's license, when you make a new gun purchase. This will allow the dealer to waive the three day wait, so you can take your new pistol home immediately!
Remember, though, carrying a pistol does not authorize you to acts of vigilantism. Nor should it embolden you to take unnecessary risks, such as walking alone in dangerous neighborhoods. Carrying a firearm brings with it a great level of responsibility, including the ability to determine when to act and when to step away from danger. The only fight you are sure to survive is the one you avoid. Be prepared and stay safe!
Justifiable Use of Lethal Force
Self-defense laws generally make it clear that victims of a potentially lethal attacks have the right to neutralize the attacker(s). How they may do so is not as clear cut as one might think.
While we can't provide legal advice or try to explain the laws of the many U.S. states, we wrote this article to let our readers know what types of legal issues might arise from defending oneself in a violent attack. We urge anyone reading this article to become intimately familiar with their own state's self-defense laws and seek out an attorney to provide specific clarification or advice.
Many of us have heard stories of criminals who, even after being found guilty of robbery or battery, are able to sue the victim for damages for injuries sustained in a self-defense situation. Civil awards may be rare, since courts and juries often sway towards the crime victim. Still, there are cases when good guys get sued for using "excessive" force to stop a crook.
People have also been successfully sued for beating up a criminal attempting to flee from robbing a bank or committing a range of other criminal offenses. In fact, legislation from certain so-called "Nanny States" actually allows burglars to sue their victims if the criminal gets injured for any reason while breaking into a home!
Worse yet, there are scenarios when innocent citizens are arrested and criminally charged for defending themselves.
Using Excessive Lethal Force in Personal Defense
The apex of this craziness relates to a relatively new legal concept of "excessive lethal force." Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have to be on alert for just how you are allowed to defend yourself when your safety is jeopardized.
Rather than have the freedom to protect yourself with a firearm without regard to the well-being of an attacker, these laws require private citizens to justify each and every time they invoke lethal force while defending against being raped or potentially murdered. This law protects murderers and rapists from being "wrongfully killed" while they commit felonious assaults.
While all people should be justified in shooting an assailant who is directly threatening to kill them, the number of times you choose to pull the trigger matters. The number of shots that impact your target can be used to prosecute you if it can be asserted that you could have stopped the threat with anything other than lethal force. In such instances, you can risk going to jail for homicide if, in a self-defense situation, you "double tap" or shoot a potential killer twice.
Unfortunately, this legal principle of "only shoot-once and re-assess the threat" goes against every aspect of human nature. In real, life-threatening situations, adrenaline kicks in, and our self preservation instinct typically results in emptying a magazine into the bad guy. It is human for such a flurry of firing in response to a deadly threat. It is what I would do. Regardless of the consequences.
However, be aware that your natural instinct for self-preservation can lead to murder charges in some jurisdictions. Even where so-called "Stand-Your-Ground" laws allow more leeway in response to threats, such as Florida, overzealous prosecutors can make your life hell.
Since we are not attorneys, we will not attempt to tell you when it is OK to use a gun to kill somebody in self-defense, regardless of where you are located. What we can tell you is that the "double tap" technique is still routinely taught in self-defense classes in order to increase the odds that a threat is neutralized. In fact, some would say that until a threat is on the ground and no longer moving, it continues to remain a threat.
Security guards are taught to use the double tap when an attacker menaces somebody while threatening lethal force, when the attacker is closer than 21 feet to the victim. They are taught to draw their weapon and shoot the assailant twice in the chest. They then are told to cease-fire and re-assess the situation. Only if the attacker continues to shoot or threaten to shoot is there authority to re-engage.
What is also interesting to note is that police officers go beyond the double tap method when faced with a threat. They routinely empty their service weapons to be sure they have stopped the offender. Of course, the police have a special level of protection from criminal charges by District Attorneys that civilians do not possess, so don't make the mistake of thinking you can follow the same procedures with impunity.
Protecting the Rights of Violent Felons
The following is an example where excessive lethal force laws have been applied to re-victimize a woman who was raped. It is derived from several real cases from "Nanny States" that would rather protect the rights of violent felons than support the rights of citizens to live free of violent threats.
A 55-year old retired executive awoke to find a burglar in her bedroom. He dragged Kay from the bed, pointing a gun at her head while threatening to rape her and ordering her to strip. She was able to distract the rapist long enough to grab her handgun and she "double-tapped" him, sending him to the floor in a pool of blood.
She carefully kept her gun trained on him and called 911. When the police arrived, they found her attacker laying dead in a pool of blood at her bedside. Barely saving her own life, she did not expect that her troubles were just beginning.
The Medical Examiner determined that her first shot was non-fatal and severed his spinal cord, rendering him paralyzed. This first shot effectively neutralized him as a continued threat. The second shot, fired instantly after the first, killed him as he fell to the floor.
Because the second shot was unnecessary to neutralize the lethal threat against her, the District Attorney charged her with homicide!
It was no surprise that her attacker was a violent felon and a registered sex offender. Even though he was a repeat offender, his prior bad acts were "prejudicial" and the D.A was able to withhold facts about his bad character from the jury. The jury had no choice but to agree with the medical examiner's unrefuted testimony that the second, fatal shot was unnecessary. The potential rape victim was ultimately convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to several years in the State Penitentiary.
To add insult to injury, the dead rapist's son (who was also a convicted sex offender) also successfully sued her in civil court for excessive force.
"You have to determine whether your safety is more important than the risk of prosecution."
Choosing the Right Firearm to Stop a Threat
If the law may only allow you to one chance to neutralize a lethal threat, make it count. The threat of being charged with excessive force makes it clear that all citizens should use the most powerful gun that they can safely and competently handle. Some experts say that home defense calibers should certainly begin with a "4" (e.g. the .45 ACP or .44 Magnum). Others advocate using a 12 gauge shotgun for the best personal defense in the home. Since a shotgun is actually a number of projectiles, this makes a lot of sense. One shot has the same effect as several individual shots from a conventional handgun.
Regardless, consider a firearm with the most knock down power in a single shot. The human body is incredibly resilient, and there are cases where the police have failed to stop a crazed attacker even after clearing out an entire magazine of high-caliber ammunition!
Small .22- or .380-caliber "mouse guns" are considered by many to be a bad idea in a defense situation, since they are unlikely to stop an attacker and may actually serve to further anger him. Unless you are at point-blank range, with a direct hit to the head or chest, and using high-powered and hollow-point ammo, they may not have enough "wallop" to neutralize a determined adversary.
Warning: A .380 "mouse gun" may not stop a lethal threat
Many people are intimidated by larger caliber guns because they have a large recoil, or kick. But not all of them are particularly unwieldy. Some of them, including the Kimber .45-caliber, are designed specifically for reduced recoil. While not cheap, even the meekest shooter should find them easy to operate with practice.
The Kimber Ultra Crimson Carry II, with a 3-inch, weighing 25 oz.
Many women are especially concerned about their ability to accurately shoot guns with the heavier 44 and 45 ammunition, opting instead for the greater impact velocity and greater cavation of a .357 magnum with hollow-point loads. We advocate practicing with the various forms of firearms at a shooting range, until you find one that has the right feel and fit to it.
Comparison of Different Caliber Ammunition
You can increase your odds when you are forced to fire by getting closer to your attacker. At closer distances, with sufficient practice, you have the best chance of hitting your target with one shot. Still, no matter how well-trained you might be, it is instinctive to fire more than once in the heat of battle.
If you are well-trained, you know that in a gunfight you can't be sure you will hit your target, especially if it is moving. Even if you do manage to get a shot off, there's no guarantee that the first shot will stop the threat. Even a well-trained marksman can miss a shot in the heat of the moment.
Self-defense experts routinely train people to be sure the adversary is stopped. This typically means firing more than one shot to stop a threat. Anybody who attacks another person with a gun or a knife should be assumed to automatically relinquish all legal rights and right to life itself. Unfortunately, in many jurisdictions that is not the case.
While defending yourself by firing multiple times into an attacker may save your life, it may also result in terrible legal troubles. It is extremely important that you understand your rights in a self-defense situation and choose the appropriate gun for the situation. Don't get victimized twice!
If you are interested in learning more:
Essential Guide to Handguns: Firearm Instruction for Personal Defense and Protection teaches that in certain "Nanny States," any potential victim who defends themselves against a lethal attack must justify each and every bullet shot into somebody who is trying to kill them!
Another useful book for those of you in Florida is Florida Firearms Law, Use & Ownership 7th Ed. (Authoritative Guide That Explains Florida & Federal Laws on Firearms, Weapons and Self-Defense Issues)
The concept and portions of this article are rewritten from an original posting by Donald K. Burleson, January 2011
Handgun Accuracy
Many journal, on-line articles and other sources offer opinions regarding what are the "best" and most accurate semi-automatic handguns. As you might expect, a custom-built handgun is typically designed to be most accurate. However, unless you are seriously competitive, many off-the-shelf guns are worth looking into.
A competitive shooter should be skilled enough to shoot a 6″ to 8″ grouping at 50 yards, and for self defense, it is a good idea to practice to this level of accuracy. As we discuss below, the type and design of gun as well as the ammunition are the salient factors, along with practice at the range. We will first discuss guns that are available with a reputation for accuracy. We will then discuss factors relating to ammunition.
When we are talking about accuracy, you don't have to be a competitive shooter to appreciate the value of a good gun. Before we get started, let's share the name of a man who is a legend among shooters. He holds many records over his 35 years of competitive shooting. He is not only deadly accurate, he is incredibly fast. Jerry Miculek is so good, Smith & Wesson has modeled a gun for him, The Jerry Miculek Signature Model." His Slavic name is pronounced "Mitch'-ooh-lek".
Jerry Miculek Signature Model 929 (courtesy of Smith & Wesson) (Retail Price $1,200)
The latest Miculek hype can be seen in the following video where he uses his signature 8-shot 9mm revolver with 6.5″ barrel revolver and Hornady ammo (147 grain). Using a Vortex red dot sight to hit a steel plate at 1,000 yards, he manages to break the target balloon with the resulting bullet splatter. This is truly impressive shooting.
First Steps to Understand Accuracy
Quality of Manufacture
Optimal handgun accuracy can be obtained by following a few guidelines. First of all, make sure that you are seeking what is termed as a "match grade" handgun. These are milled to 1,000 of an inch, which is 15 times closer than the cheaper handguns available on the market. Many people prefer semi-automatic guns, which are somewhat less expensive.
While barrel length matters to improve the accuracy of your aim, do not rely on length alone. It is true that a sub-nose has less accuracy than a six-inch barrel, but other features of the gun matter as well. Once a gun extends beyond about eight inches, the length can actually hinder aiming, and without good and steady sighting, accuracy is impossible.
Longer barrels can impede accuracy if the weight affects its handling
The Most Accurate .22-caliber Semi-automatic Handguns
Many models of .22 caliber pistols provide a good way to practice. They have low recoil, or kickback, and the ammunition is inexpensive. Due to their low relative weight, they also will not cause a lot of fatigue after multiple reloadings at the range. They are by far the best way to learn pistol shooting. The guns themselves can also be low-priced, although there is a wide range of available .22 target pistols, ranging from as low as $400 to as high as $2,000 for those who are into serious competition.
Most experts agree that the .22 caliber is not highly recommended for personal defense. However, when up close, they can have sufficient stopping power if you use high-power ammo, especially hollow point. Increasing their appeal is the low recoil that allows a number of quality shots on-target and in fast order. If you can quickly get a series of shots that hit accurately in the forehead or chest, there are many .22 caliber handguns that will shoot a two inch group at 50 yards.
The most accurate .22 caliber handguns, excluding the purely competitive "match handguns" that are not made for ordinary self defense, are presented here in alphabetical order:
Colt Woodsman
High Standard Supermatic Tournament – Great, but costly
Ruger Mark III [Spoiler Alert – We think this is the best you will find at its price point.]
Browning Buck Mark: Looks great with a good, balanced feel with good size and weight. It is easy to clean and maintain, but has limited add-ons. A great target pistol for about $500. The rear sight permits minute adjustments.
Browning Buck Mark
Colt Woodsman: Designed as a hunting gun, it is accurate and attractive. They are no longer made, but are readily available in the secondary market. Price varies.
Colt Woodsman Sport .22
High Standard Supermatic Tournament, Citation or Trophy: Probably the best .22 target pistol. Hi-Standard's retail price of $925 is a lot more than average for a pistol. The barrel is longer and it weighs almost a pound more than its competitors.
The High Standard Supermatic Tournament
Ruger Mark III: Overall, the best target pistol, with lots of safety features and loads of 3rd-party add-ons for the rail. The only downside is that some models look like a Nazi Luger, since that is what the original designs was modeled after. The most current model is not markedly different in accuracy than the Mark II. This is an autoloading ('blowback') operated pistol that has a 10-round magazine. The Ruger Mark III pistols come in several models including the standard, a target and government-target variety (with a heavier barrel and built-in laser sights), and a competition, hunter and the 22/45 models. $500 to $600.
The Ruger Mark III model 512 in stainless steel
The Ruger Mark III is among the best gun for target practice for many reasons, including its safety features, its great looks and feel, its high accuracy, and the availability of many 3rd-party add-ons. It also includes a standard rail for red dot sights or telescopic sights. It is available in several models, including a target model that has a heavier barrel to limit overheating, reduce recoil, and increase accuracy. The Threaded Barrel models are very similar in configuration and include a threaded barrel for the addition of a compensator or suppressor. Additionally, some Mark III pistols have adjustable sights, and all are drilled and tapped for a Weaver-style scope base which ships with the pistol.
It is beyond the scope of this article, but of course red dots, like those from Vortex can help with your aim over certain distance. There are many Red Dot scopes for the Ruger Mark II and Mark III, including:
Ultradot matchdot
Gander Mountain Tru Glow
Aimpoint Micro R-1
Millet red dot SP
Burris Fastfire II
Vortex Strikefire
The Ruger Mark III, blued alloy-steel, with rail supports red dot sights
This gun has a few downsides including some over-the-top safety features. There is a magazine disconnect that prevents the pistol from being fired with the magazine removed from the pistol, and there is an internal safety lock that allows you to use a key to lock the safety in the "safe" position. It also features a loaded chamber indicator, letting you see from the left side whether the magazine is loaded. It has an associated magazine disconnect that does not allow it to be fired when a magazine is not present.
Although these features make it very secure, they also make it more complex than necessary. It is also a difficult gun to learn how to properly clean. It is recommended that you have a gunsmith teach you how to field strip it, which is not particularly easy, and should not be attempted without proper instruction.
As we discuss below, it also has a propensity for jamming if you use ammunition that is not at least 40 grain. Guns that require specific types of ammunition are known as fussy eaters, and this one simply demands 40 grain bullets for enough force to eject spent shells and properly reload.
If you are interested in other range-specific .22 caliber handguns to consider, the best are listed here:
Beretta Ne:
Very High-tech look, but watch for the recoil, and it's not made in America.
Olympic I.S.U.:
High Standard Model 107 Olympic ISU
Walther GSP: This target pistol is among the most expensive .22 target pistols at over $2,000. You would, however, get what you pay for.
The Walther GSP is. They have futuristic design elements
The Most Accurate 9 mm Semi-automatic Handguns
As a stronger gun than a .22-caliber, but easier to handle than the .45 ACP, the following 9mm semi-automatic handguns are known for their accuracy.
Sig Sauer P210, Legend, Legend Target and Legend Super Target: Claimed to be the world's most accurate handgun. New ones are at least $3,500 and used ones start around $2,000.
Sig Sauer P210, Legend, Legend Target and Legend Super Target
CZ 75: The CZ is a Czech product (Ceska Zbrojovka) that makes a highly accurate weapon for under $800.
The CZ 75
The Sig P250: The Sig Sauer 2SUM is available in 9 mm and 40 caliber. While not match grade semi-automatic, it is a very accurate handgun. An interchangeable parts kits makes this two guns! $725.
The Most Accurate .45 caliber Semi-automatic Handguns
Many experts recommend the following .45 caliber semi-automatic handguns for their accuracy. In the .45 caliber, many people prefer custom-designed 1911 models, using specialized parts like the Caspian frame and jeweled triggers. The following semi-automatic .45 pistols are commercially-available. There are multiple sources on the Internet for custom builds.
Kimber Gold Match II Stainless: This is a remarkable match grade .45 caliber, with adjustable trigger, on par with the custom built semi-automatic handguns. It costs about $1,600.
The Kimber Gold Match II in Stainless Steel
Colt Gold Cup .45 national match –The Colt Gold Cup is known as the finest shooting semi-automatic 1911 model .45-caliber in the world, and is considered the standard for competitive guns. Pricing is around $1,200.
The Colt 1911, Series 80, Mark IV, Gold Cup, National Match
Smith & Wesson 945 match – .45 caliber
CZ-97B: A true "match grade" semi-automatic, the CZ makes great handguns and the cost is only $707
The CZ 97 B is the big-bore brother to the 75 B.
Heckler and Koch (German) HK Mark 23: A match-grade pistol, this gun is similar to the model made for the U.S. government Special Operations Forces. It is capable of making a 2-inch group at 25 yards. Around $2,250, but high-quality and highly-respected.
Other Calibers of High-Accuracy Semi-automatic Handguns
Remington XP-100. This .221 caliber model is claimed to be able shoot 3/8″ groups at 100 yards with telescopic sight.
This experimental model is both unique and fun to shoot.
Smith & Wesson Model 52: This .38 caliber model has a used sale price around $1,500.
Though discontinued, this model can still be found on the used market.
Wilson Combat Supergrade: Wilson Combat makes these available in multiple calibers including .45 ACP, 10 mm, .40 S&W, .38 Super, and 9 mm at a super high price, starting at $5,200.
Wilson Combat makes a beautiful Super Grade gun
Magnum Research Desert Eagle, .50 AE: This 50 caliber monster sells for $1,600.
Magnum Research Desert Eagle
Smith & Wesson Model 500: The .50 caliber S&W Magnum is the most powerful production revolver on the market today! At a whopping 72.5 oz., and 2600 ft./lb. Muzzle Energy, it is not for the weak-of-heart. In 2003, S&W ushered in the era of the "big gun." For ultimate power and velocity, nothing comes close to this X-Frame model handgun. A relative bargain at $1,369.
Dirty Harry's 44 Magnum is no longer the most powerful handgun in the world.
Note: If you have other recommendations for high accuracy handguns, please e-mail the address at the upper left and let us know.
As we said above, a quality handgun is only part of the battle. The second consideration is the ammunition you are using. Ammo can make the difference, and you will need to test a few different manufacturers for your specific handgun model. Using a bench rest helps to fix the pistol's aim so that the only factor would be the ammo.
Ammunition affects the accuracy and range of handguns
If you are shooting at a range for the fun of it, and cost matters, use whatever is cheap. But if you want to hit the bulls-eye consistently, and want to to develop muscle-memory that you can rely on in high-pressure situations, higher-quality ammo makes a difference. Additionally, the more expensive ammo will have fewer duds or "flyers," which is not only bad during target competitions, it can be deadly in an emergency defensive situation. Remember the old adage, "You get what you pay for!" Make sure the quality of your defensive-carry ammo is as high as possible. Most people prefer high-power rounds for their stopping power, as well.
However, just because ammo is expensive doesn't mean it is automatically what you really need. When testing ammo, be aware that each brand and type has different characteristics at varying distances. You will note a difference between 25 and 50 yards with regard to accuracy. Some low velocity ammo may not do well at 50 yards, regardless of the price. The video of Mr. Miculek above shows him using a very expensive and powerful Hornady ammo that contains a whopping 147 grains. He could never have hit his target at 1000 yards with a weaker alternative.
Example Ammunition Test
For reference, the following reflects actual testing of what we indicated above is one of the best off-the-shelf target pistols on the market, the Ruger® Mark III Target Rimfire Pistol. The Ruger Mark III is a .22 long rifle semi-automatic pistol manufactured by Sturm, Ruger & Company. The Mark III is available in different configurations and weigh only from 31 to 45 ounces, and the barrels range from 4.75 to 6.88 inches. They are cost-effective, retailing for between $350 and $500.
The Ruger Mark III Target Pistol has a 5.5-inch barrel and weighs about 42 ounces. It has a list price of around $459 to $569, ranging from steel to blued finishing. It is an amazing .22-caliber handgun and is the most current incarnation of the Ruger, which has been a mainstay for 65 years. With a little practice and with a steady hand, you can peg the bulls-eye at 50 yards.
The Ruger Mark III, Checkered Wood Grip, Blued, Alloy-Steel $509
During testing, we recommend using a bench rest and firing at 50 feet and at 25 and 50 yards. There is a limit to the distance you can fire these weapons. With .22 caliber long rifle (LR) ammo, an expert can aim a pistol with iron sights and be deadly accurate at 100 yards. However, the maximum effective accuracy for the caliber is limited by limited powder grain in the cartridge. It has been said that shooting a pistol at 100 yards is like lobbing a cannonball, "you must account for Kentucky windage and a two foot bullet caliber drop."
Even telescopic sights won't compensate for low-power and low-caliber bullets
.22 Caliber Ammunition Tested
Remington 22 target (8 cents per round) provided excellent results at all distances, and was exceptional at at 50 yards, able to get 90 percent hits with tight grouping on a six inch target and one-inch grouping is easy at 25 yards.
Winchester 22 Super X (7 cents per round) was promising up to 25 yards, with multiple bulls-eyes and over 50 percent of the hits were in a 3 inch group. The ammunition lost its consistency at 50 yards.
CCI Mini Mag (7.5 cents per round) was great at all distances, with bullet-over-bullet bulls-eyes up to 25 yards.
Remember that all handguns tend to have their own unique appetite for ammo. Test your own weapon with different ammunition to determine which gives you the tightest groupings.
Ammunition Jamming
If you are going to spend time at a range practicing with a target pistol, it behooves you t0 take the time to gain basic knowledge of the internal mechanisms. Semi-automatic handguns, and especially .22 calibers, have a propensity to jam. If you have an issue with jamming, you should first presume that the issue may be due to the ammunition. 95-percent of the time, the issue is not with the handgun and will be readily remedied by moving to higher-grain ammo (along with proper lubrication). We like the Remington 40 grain for that reason alone.
P.S. If you know of a good Ruger Mark III ammo that is not listed above, please e-mail us so that we can test it too!
Woman Uses Her Gun To Ward Off Abduction
An Ohio woman who is licensed to carry a gun but had only recently started carrying one for protection put it to good use earlier this week.
Dinah Burns was out walking her dog, Gracie, on a path near an elementary school in Lancaster on Monday when two men approached her with a baseball bat and threatened to abduct her.
"Two gentlemen came out of the woods, one holding a baseball bat, and said 'You're coming with us,'" Burns told WBNS, adding that Gracie was little help in deterring the men.
Thankfully, Burns had something else for protection.
"I said, 'Well, what do you want?,' and as I was saying that I reached in to my pocket and slipped my gun out, slipped the safety off as I pulled it out," Burns said.
"As I was doing that the other gentleman came toward me and raised the baseball bat. And, I pointed the gun at them and said, 'I have this and I'm not afraid to use it.'"
The men backed off and left, Burns told the news station.
"I think if they'd gotten any closer, I probably would have fired," she said, citing her concealed carry training which taught her "to get out of a situation, back out, get out of it as much as you can without having to discharge your firearm."
"[I'm] very thankful that it turned out the way it did, and hope it doesn't happen again, but I will be prepared," Burns said. "Learn how to use a firearm for self defense! When you need immediate help, police are only minutes away!"
Ohio, which began issuing concealed carry permits in 2004, has experienced a massive surge of new concealed carry permit requests. According to an article from the Columbus Dispatch earlier this year, 96,972 new permits were issued in 2013 — a 50 percent increase from 2012. Permit renewals quadrupled over the same time span to 48,370.
Source: http://dailycaller.com/2014/08/30/woman-uses-her-gun-to-ward-off-abduction/
Handguns for Beginners
Shooting your first gun can be a confusing and nerve-wracking experience if you don't know what to expect. Most gun ranges offer a variety of weapons for rent, ranging from handguns to assault rifles, but how do you choose among them?
At Allied, we recommend you start off with a handgun that is easy to aim and has little recoil, then work your way up. A .22 caliber semi-automatic pistol is a great starter gun. Loading ammunition into the magazine is relatively easy, guns of that size are lightweight, and they're just plain fun to shoot.
Once you're ready to try something new, go for a tried and true 9mm semi-automatic pistol, such as a Glock. Be sure to brace yourself. The recoil on a 9mm can be a surprise for someone not expecting it. However, these guns are still easy shooters, and with a little practice, you'll get the hang of things.
Now, what could be more fun than a semi-automatic pistol? It's time to get your cowboy hat on and try out a revolver! Start with a double action .38 Special. You can't go wrong with Smith & Wesson, although their triggers can be stiff. Remember, the double action means you can shoot the gun with or without cocking it first. Try it both ways. You'll likely find it's easier to hit your target at first if the revolver is cocked.
Once you've mastered the smaller calibers, get ready for some real fun. Do you remember Clint Eastwood and his famous "Go Ahead, Make My Day" speech? That was a .44 Magnum he was using in the movie. Most gun ranges have them available for rent, but hold on to your hats. This revolver is not for wimps!
Main Safety Rules for Firearms
These are some basic rules for firearm use, regardless of the type. Follow these to avoid potentially deadly accidents:
Always treat a firearm as if it is loaded, with a bullet in the chamber and ready to fire.
Always keep your finger off the trigger until ready to fire.
Always keep the gun pointed in a safe direction. Never point the muzzle at anything you do not wish to destroy.
Keep the weapon's safety mechanism engaged until you are in a combat or firing situation.
Make sure the slide or bolt is locked open, or the cylinder is held open, and the chamber is empty when handing a gun to someone else.
Remove the magazine or bullets and check to be sure the chamber is empty before storing or transferring a firearm.
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Investing »
Investing for Beginners »
What Is an Abnormal Rate of Return in the Stock Market?
By: Giulio Rocca | Reviewed by: Alicia Bodine, Certified Ramsey Solutions Master Financial Coach | Updated July 31, 2019
Abnormal returns are realized only by few investors.
Jupiterimages, Creatas Images/Creatas/Getty Images
1. What Is a Fair Return on Equity Investments?
2. Stock Market Volatility and Learning
3. Stock Vs. Bond Returns
Abnormal returns are what stock market investors crave -- as long as they're abnormally high. After all, abnormal returns can refer to outperformance or underperformance. Every investor wants to outperform the market, but only a few do so successfully. Through a combination of skill and luck, some investors, like Warren Buffett, can construct investment portfolios that beat average stock market returns.
An abnormal rate of return for a stock represents a market-uncharacteristic outperformance or underperformance of a specific security.
Identify Actual Returns
To understand abnormal rates of return, you first need to understand actual returns. Say you invested $50,000 at the beginning of the year in a portfolio of 20 stocks that are components of the Standard & Poor's 500 index. At the end of the year, you see that your investment has grown to $55,000 -- a 10 percent return. Over the same period, the S&P 500 has only increased by 8 percent.
Analyze Expected Returns
The question now becomes whether the 10 percent return on your investment portfolio matches expected performance. Based on the capital asset pricing model, or CAPM, developed in the 1960s, expected returns are calculated as follows: risk-free rate + (beta) x (market return – risk-free rate). U.S. Treasury returns are typically selected for the risk-free rate. Let's assume that the one-year Treasury rate is 2 percent.
The beta reflects the extent to which a stock or portfolio moves in line with the overall market. Let's say that the beta for our portfolio of 20 stocks is 1.2, meaning that, on average, the portfolio increases by 1.2 percent every time the index rises by 1 percent. Finally, the market return represents investors' expectation about the overall stock market. Let's assume that investors believe the S&P 500, on average, increases by 10 percent each year.
Identify Abnormal Returns
In our example, the investment portfolio returned 10 percent, whereas the S&P 500 returned 8 percent. Plugging our assumptions into the CAPM formula, we find that the portfolio's expected return is 11.6 percent. Since the portfolio's actual return was 10 percent, it actually underperformed relative to expectations despite outperforming the S&P 500. Therefore, the portfolio generated a negative abnormal return of 1.6 percent.
Why Abnormal Returns Matter
Abnormal returns are a critical concept in finance because they shed light on risk-adjusted performance. Just because an investment outperforms the overall stock market doesn't mean that an investment manager did a great job; in fact, the opposite is often true. The earlier example illustrates how risk-adjusted performance offers a more accurate picture of performance. A portfolio's beta is therefore critical to determine an investment's riskiness and expected and abnormal returns.
Investing Answers: Abnormal Rate of Return
Investopedia: Abnormal Return
Giulio Rocca's background is in investment banking and management consulting, including advising Fortune 500 companies on mergers and acquisitions and corporate strategy. He also founded GradSchoolHeaven.com, an online resource for graduate school applicants. He holds a Bachelor of Science in economics from the University of Pennsylvania, a Master of Arts in English from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and a Master of Business Administration from Harvard University.
How to Convert Simple Returns on Equity to Annualized Returns
What Is a Good Rate of Return for an Investment?
How Does the Volatility in Equity Markets Affect a Portfolio?
Definition of Information Ratio
Differences in an Annualized Return & an Absolute Return
Screening for Stocks With a High Alpha
How to Calculate Returns on Investments With Inflation
The Difference Between Required Rate of Return & Annual Return
How to Calculate a Down-Market Capture


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Livestream: Allen Media Group presents 'Black America Must Vote' live election night coverage
TheGrio's April D. Ryan, Natasha S. Alford and Marc Lamont Hill will host the two hours of live coverage — available on theGrio.com and theGrio Politics YouTube channel — from Washington, D.C., New York and Philadelphia.
TheGrio Staff |
Byron Allen's Allen Media Group, which owns theGrio, will provide extensive, one-of-a-kind coverage of the midterm elections beginning at 7 p.m. ET on Nov. 8.
"Black America Must Vote" is a two-hour live, cross-platform, election-night coverage event from and for Black voters. The segment aims to be a revolutionary alternative to conventional election coverage.
TheGrio's April D. Ryan, Natasha S. Alford and Marc Lamont Hill will host the live coverage — available on theGrio.com and theGrio Politics YouTube channel — from Washington, D.C., New York and Philadelphia.
Politicians, activists and organizers will also be featured, including U.S. Reps. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas and Michele Rayner, D-Fla. Award-winning journalist Sophia A. Nelson, a contributing editor to theGrio; Alencia Johnson, a former executive at Planned Parenthood, and Andre Perry, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, will also be among those featured.
"The importance of informed Black voters cannot be minimized nor underestimated," Allen, AMG's founder, CEO and chairman said in a statement. "Too many issues — including women's reproductive health, prison reform, climate change, education and access to capital — all disproportionately impact Black people."
TheGrio's guide to state ballot initiatives
Alford, a senior correspondent, will provide real-time election updates and results, while Ryan — theGrio's White House correspondent — will interview guest politicians. Hill will speak with voters, activists and students at historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs).
The livestream will focus on first-time voters and their viewpoints, originating from election watch parties at Texas Southern University and Alabama A&M University. Additionally, there will be special programming on the crucial U.S. Senate contests in Georgia between Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock and Republican candidate Herschel Walker, as well as in Florida, where Democratic Rep. Val Demmings is running against Republican Sen. Marco Rubio.
"We need to inform and empower Black voters to help close the economic and social disparities and news coverage and perspectives from trusted sources like theGrio are crucial in creating an informed Black electorate," Allen said.
Byron Allen in conversation with Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams: 'Donate and vote'
Here's what to expect tonight on our live election night show:
Key results from theGrio Vice President of Digital Content Natasha S. Alford
An inside look at the Senate races in Georgia and Florida, featuring Democratic Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock against Republican candidate Herschel Walker, and Democratic Rep. Val Demings challenging Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, respectively
TheGrio White House correspondent April Ryan interviews Rep. Michele Rayner, D-Fla.
Marc Lamont Hill interviews theGrio columnist Michael Harriot
Marc Lamont Hill interviews the Brookings Institution Senior Fellow Andre Perry
April Ryan interviews co-founder and president of Higher Heights Glynda C. Carr
Live looking at the HBCU watch parties on the campuses of Alabama A&M University and Texas Southern University
More key results with Natasha Alford
April Ryan interviews U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas
Marc Lamont Hill interviews with theGrio's Christina Greer and former Planned Parenthood executive Alencia Johnson
April Ryan interviews author and journalist Sophia Nelson
Another live look at the watch parties on the campuses of Texas Southern University and Alabama A&M University
Visit theGrio's election page for more information.
TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku and Android TV. Also, please download theGrio mobile apps today!


Hi there, welcome to the "Panda" Google algorithm updates timeline by digital marketing agency Barracuda Digital.
Panda began rolling-out on the 23rd February 2011 and continued over the course of at least a couple of months. It then launched in Europe on April of the same year.
Panda was a game-changer. Up to this point, the level of seriously poor content featuring highly in the SERPs was rife, as was the practice of stealing content from reputable websites and republishing it on aggregator websites to steal their organic traffic – a practice known as scraping.
Panda and its many subsequent updates (28 that we know about – the last being on the 17th July 2015) sought to put a stop to that, and used machine learning to stay ahead of the spammers.
The name "Panda" comes from Navneet Panda, the Google engineer who pioneered the method of scalable machine learning that made this breakthrough possible. But originally, the SEO industry called it the "Farmer Update" after its nature of devaluing scraped – or farmed – content.
When Panda first landed it hit a lot of sites hard, with Google reporting that it affected up to 12% of search results (a huge percentage when compared to other large algorithm updates).
The major types of dodgy content that Panda targeted were: thin content, content farms, and sites with high ad-to-content ratios, but there were a number of other quality issues that were targeted as well.
The other kicker was, Panda was a site-wide filter, as in, if you were caught, it wasn't just your bad pages that suffered in the SERPs, it was your whole website. Once caught, you had to repair the damage and wait for the next update to see if you had done enough to re-emerge in the SERPs.
According to Google, Panda has now been 'baked-in' to the main core quality algorithm, so we no longer hear about updates and changes.


How was you Thanksgiving yesterday? I ate way too much and my mom did too. Not even wearing my Spanx helped me disguise that fact 😉 Yuck!
I should have called today's post Black Friday Etsy Favorites but these favorites today aren't just for the biggest shopping day of the year.
I'm not someone who runs out on Black Friday. As a matter of fact I have never gone out on this crazy day. I love shopping from my computer. And I have some more really really amazing and talented shops for you today. They are things I totally want for myself and they'd make perfect gifts for anyone.
I don't think there is anyone out there who wouldn't want a custom pencil sketch of a loved one or possibly even themselves. You can get just that by a talented artist on Etsy in this shop HERE. She does black and white pencil sketches (HERE) which are personally my favorite and also custom colored oil paintings (HERE).
And there is even a Black Friday special running in this shop HERE which sells pretty pottery. You guys know how much I adore black and white. So THESE simple black and white cork-lid canisters are something I would love to use in my kitchen or bathroom and they are on sale today on Black Friday (usually $32 on sale for $25.60). And they also have so many other beautiful pieces too.
And like I said before, one of my favorite gifts my husband gave me last year is an Etsy gift card which you can buy HERE.
Let me explain why I picked them.
The horse is my favorite bowl on my coffee table which you can buy HERE and see in my home HERE. I'm sure you recognized it right away, right?
I love using my turquoise foo dogs in my decor and they were on my Christmas mantle last year which you can see HERE.
My mom brought my daughter an adult coloring book. I love the intricate black and white designs and they certainly are for everyone to enjoy. You can buy it HERE.
THIS is the only perfume I use right now and have been for a while. You can get it at Sephora and Amazon. I try to buy most of my items on Amazon though since I have a prime membership.
I'm considering buying the custom laptop skin for myself HERE on Etsy.
You guys know how much I love plates and I found some more! They are really cool animal plates in a black and white design HERE.
You can see ocean and beach prints everywhere lately and I love THIS one.
THIS custom monogram necklace is also available in a similar style HERE on Etsy.
And I simply just loved the purse, watch and tassel necklace.
If you didn't like anything in this post, then you might want to check out my other Etsy features HERE, HERE and HERE. Or this gift guide page HERE.
So happy shopping y'all whether it's out and about or at home from your sofa.
Julia, I just love that you now have a series promoting Etsy shops! So many forget that not every small business is a brick and mortar store! Etsy is a fantastic way to shop local and buy meaningful, lovingly created gifts that are not available in a big box store!
Thanks Karin, I so agree. Maybe this way more people will support small businesses.
i agree that i prefer to shop from home! and i have to admit those pet pillows kind of freak me out.
I thought they were all great selections. Maybe Santa will bring you some of them.


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You are at:Home»News»Environment & Emissions»Global sustainability platform CDP recognizes Kapsch TrafficCom
Global sustainability platform CDP recognizes Kapsch TrafficCom
By Tom Stone on January 3, 2023 Environment & Emissions
Kapsch TrafficCom has announced that it is participating in the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) for the second time and has improved upon last year's rating.
CDP is a non-profit organization that runs the world's leading environmental disclosure platform. This initiative is highly renowned as more than 18,700 companies have already disclosed their environmental impact through their platform.
"Creating a sustainable future of mobility is what drives us. Therefore, we are always working on improving our own environmental performance while trying to reduce emissions in the traffic sector," says Kapsch TrafficCom sustainability manager Juliane Höbarth.
Among the measures that the company is focusing on to achieve its sustainability goals is for example the Green Gantry, a gantry that is made out of wood (as opposed to steel), refurbishable on-board-units, or cloud-based IT solutions that no longer require resource-intensive on-premise server capacity. On top of that, measures to reduce our own carbon footprint, like extended use of electronic devices or emphasis on remote work, are continually introduced.
Tom Stone
Tom has edited Traffic Technology International (TTi) magazine and its Traffic Technology Today website since May 2014. During his time at the title, he has interviewed some of the top transportation chiefs at public agencies around the world as well as CEOs of leading multinationals and ground-breaking start-ups. Tom's earlier career saw him working on some the UK's leading consumer magazine titles. He has a law degree from the London School of Economics (LSE).
Nottingham, UK, installs VivaCity AI sensors to improve air quality and reduce congestion
Zero emission buses could make public transport more popular
Leonardo DiCaprio backs Mayor of London's ULEZ expansion plan
North Texas upgrades work zone data provision


The Whitsunday Islands are practically synonymous with pleasure and relaxation. Extending along the coast from Mackay to Bowen, more than 100 islands make up this group, which derives its name from James Cook. The passage was first sailed by Cook on Pentecost, or Whit Sunday (the seventh Sunday after Easter), in 1770.
It is believed Aborigines occupied the mainland area adjacent to the islands for 8000 years or so. Early European settlers were timber-getters, pastoralists and sugarcane farmers, who brought with them indentured Pacific Islanders to work on their plantations. While cattle farming and sugarcane remain important, the area's main growth industry is tourism.
Beautiful turquoise waters, sheltered bays, sandy beaches, coral reefs and year-round warm weather bring people from all over Australia and overseas, and the holiday emphasis is on water, particularly boating, diving, snorkelling and fishing. Several professional operators take tourists out from the mainland and the islands in search of game fish such as marlin. Tourists can also hire crewed or bareboat yachts and cruisers. Island hopping aboard cruise boats is another popular option.
More than 11,000 square kilometres of the Whitsundays form part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, and Hardy Reef, somewhat to the east of the Whitsundays, is considered one of the best locations for snorkelling and reef walking. Made up of coral that has grown over part of a submerged ancient river system, its lagoon empties with the outgoing tide, exposing living coral in shallow water. It can be reached by seaplane from Whitsunday Airport, or catamaran from Shute Harbour on the mainland. Other recommended coral reef diving spots are on Hayman and Hook islands.
Both the islands and mainland resorts offer a range of accommodation, from five-star to camping, with ecotourism a growth area. The island resorts can be reached by ship from Shute Harbour or flown to directly from main cities as well as nearby Proserpine and Mackay. Travelmate has lots of accommodation in the Whitsundays, at prices to suit every budget.
Airlie Beach, about 30 kilometres off the Bruce Highway at Proserpine is the main resort town on this stretch of the Queensland coast. Visitors have access to beaches, national parks, surrounding canefields and historic villages and sites. Walks through Conway National Park, covering 23,000 hectares along the coastal hinterland, might reward with sights of rock wallabies or the colourful Ulysses butterfly. Within easy access of Shute Harbour (8 kilometres away), Airlie is a good base for those who wish to make daytrips to the islands, 70 of which are national parks.
Hamilton Island sits pretty much in the middle of the Whitsundays and offers the most diverse range of accommodation prices and styles. Along with the typical activities and facilities offered by most of the island resorts (beach volleyball, tennis, swimming, archery, mini-golf, diving, parasailing etc.), it also features an Australian fauna park.
Brampton Island is located at the southern entrance to the Whitsundays. Mainly national park, two attractions are the bushwalking trails and the adventure snorkelling trail.
Daydream Island, less than 3 kilometres from Shute Harbour, has two main visitor areas: the resort accommodation, which takes up most of the northern half of the island and the day visitors' centre in the south. Owned by Village Roadshow, the resort includes an outdoor cinema facility.
Hayman Island is where Whitsunday tourism began when schoolteacher Monty Embury used the island as a base for school-holiday scientific exhibitions. It is now the most luxurious — and exclusive — of the island resorts.
Hook Island's emphasis is on nature rather than luxury, with camping and cabin accommodation. Visitors can explore an underwater reef fish observatory, an underwater coral viewer and a collection of Aboriginal cave drawings.
Lindeman Island is both a national park and the site of a Club Med resort. Rising more than 1,000 kilometres, the island's Mount Oldfield has spectacular views of the surrounding islands.
Long Island lies close to the mainland near Shute Harbour. Part of the island is National park and there are walks along wooded slopes to deserted beaches. There are several resorts catering mainly for families and those on a budget.
South Molle Island has facilities oriented to family holidaying and outdoor activities with walking tracks and a nine-hole golf course.Like many of the resort islands it offers a range of activities for children through its 'kids' clubs'.


Boston saxophonist George Garzone set out to become a professional jazz musician in the early 1970s. As his sound matured through experimentation with standard repertoire and free jazz, Garzone discovered an original process for creative improvisation. This book traces Garzone's career development and uncovers his original Triadic Chromatic Approach to improvisation. Author Dr. Jonathan Lorentz shares transcriptions of three of Garzone's improvised solos on jazz standard repertoire, reveals their melodic and harmonic content, and further demonstrates how Garzone applies these concepts in an improvisational context. Dr. Lorentz also explores how Garzone's performance and teaching methods inter-relate, and includes transcripts from….
(Jazz Book). A valuable resource for learning the basics of jazz from Mike Steinel of the University of North Texas. It covers the basics of jazz, how to build effective solos, a comprehensive practice routine, and a jazz vocabulary of the masters.
Developing a Jazz Language, is the sixth volume of Jerry Bergonzi's series, Inside Improvisation. Learning a language requires listening on many levels to the meanings, the sounds, the intentions, and the inflections or nuances of the language. The first chapters of this volume on learning the language of jazz focus on the prerequisites of chord scales, approach notes to chord tones and target notes, scale motives and sequences, and lines.
Part two qualifies improvisational techniques into three areas; melodic, harmonic and sonic (rhythmic devices are the focus of….
Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Jerry Bergonzi is a jazz tenor saxophonist, composer, and educator. Bergonzi received a B.A. Degree in Music Education from the University of Massachusetts Lowell and is the founder of Not Fat Records. He first gained recognition as he became a frequent guest-artist in the Dave Brubeck quartet during the late 1970s. Bergonzi recorded nine albums with Brubeck's group, from 1973 to 1981. Bergonzi teaches at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. He is the author of the Inside….
(Berklee Labs). Even if you're a complete beginner, this easy-to-understand instructional guide will get you improvising in no time! Learn to improvise in jazz, Latin, fusion, blues and rock styles in all keys with step-by-step instruction, practice tips and play-along tracks. You'll also develop essential reading, technique, rhythmic syncopation, performance and composing skills. The tracks can be accessed online using the unique code inside each book and can be streamed or downloaded. The audio files include PLAYBACK+, a multi-functional audio player that allows you to slow down audio without changing pitch, set loop points, change keys, and pan left or….
BookWith over 100 color photos and insightful essays written by world-class jazz authorities, this book illustrates the saxophone's role in jazz from its earliest 1920s roots through today. It describes how the sound of jazz has been shaped in the hands of Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young, Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Branford Marsalis, Sonny Rollins, and many other legendary saxophonists in varying styles. It also includes a comprehensive guide to the finest recordings featuring jazz saxophone.