For many years I have tried to discover how to control panic attack and have discovered that its not particularly difficult.
I have searched and explored lots of ways to cure anxiety and panic attack symptoms.

Some will tell you that, by definition, anxiety disorder and panic attacks are very intimately with each other, and that the only divergence between anxiety attacks and panic attacks is that a panic attack is an anxiety attack out of control, and I mean literally out of control.

Signs of panic attacks include difficulty breathing, quickened heartbeat, a dizzy feeling, sudden cold, feelings of dread, crawling sensation on your skin, and even numbness in one fingers and toes. It's interesting to note that, symptoms of anxiety disorder included many of those just mentioned but always with a much lower level of intensity.
How To Control Panic Attack -
Some people say that one feels control is lost during a panic attack, and while you are having an anxiety attack, one is one the verge of being out of control.

Millions of people nowadays believe that a combination of medication and alternativ treatment is appropriate, yet others feel that prolonged consumption of antidepressant drugs such as Paxil and Zoloft can lead to dependency and or addiction.  A growing number of doctors feel that medications only treat the symptoms and not the real problem itself.

And even though its not yet proven that eating certain foods can induce panic attacks, it has been agreed that there are some foods that aggravate and step-up the risk of panic attacks. Caffeine is one of these culprits. People who usually drink more than a few cups of coffee or soda can increase their chances of having them. Alcohol as well as illegal drugs can also disturb your body making you open to panic attacks. One suggestion is to try herbal teas of sage and chamomile, in lieu of coffee whenever you need to soothe your nervous system.

When learning how to cure anxiety, whatever elevates your heart rate for thirty minutes or more can help your body deal with stress thereby reducing the risk of panic attacks. Your body needs physical exercise that benefits every organ in the body and promotes circulation. Exercises can be as simple as a vigorous walk, gardening or even walking the dog in the neighborhood.

Panic attacks can also be dealt with most effectively with deep beathing and other specific meditation techniques. Yoga advocates breathing from the diaphragm making our oxygen intake much deeper. The value of deep breathing cannot be stressed enough. It can relieve the body of more impurities adding health and vitality. Discover for yourself how to cure anxiety today and with a stress-free mind, enjoy your future.

Hope you find these tips on how to control panic attack useful

Please note that all current Tenga, apart from flip hole, are for one time use only and should not be used for other properties.

If it’s deep throat cup, you can change the strength of vacuum by pressing (and releasing) the air-hole. How do i use Tenga? 1.

Insert your lubricated hole 4 penis into the. Down move the cup up and. Purposes reused for other be washed and can Tenga?

And take off the shrink film tear off the cap 2. Your penis by if it’s you can stimulate Rolling head cup, rolling the top of. If it’s pressing) its air-hole pressure and vacuum air cushion cup, by releasing (or you can enjoy the difference in.

You can enjoy different types of hole in a cup if it’s double hole cup,. As soon as possible. Take off 3 the air-hole seal.

If it’s any of the soft edition cup, you can rub, knead and grip the tube and feel the pressure of your own hand. There is a possibility that the air inside the cup may cause the lubrication inside to dry up.

The Dong Nai River, which provides water for countless households in the southern region, has become extremely polluted in recent years. Unregulated dumping of household and industrial wastewater into the river is the main cause for the contamination.

Tan Van, a branch of the Dong Nai River, is extremely polluted (Photo: SGGP)

Sai Gon Giai Phong recently carried out an inspection at areas where wastewater is poured into the river such as Suoi Cai Stream, a confluence of the Nhum Stream in Binh Duong Province and Xuan Truong Stream in Ho Chi Minh City’s Thu Duc District. The water here was found to be seriously polluted.

Tran Cong Tuan, a resident in Thu Duc District who lives near the Suoi Cai Stream, said that recently the water had given off a foul smell.

Ten years ago, the river sometimes changed to a muddy color, but now it turns a variety of shades including red, violet and green, he said.

Traveling along the river’s upper reaches, reporters said they had difficulty breathing because of the foul stench of feces and garbage, which surrounded the water and floated in it.

Several industrial zones (IZs) and export processing zones (EPZs) as well as pig-breeding farms that lack treatment systems, are responsible for the river’s pollution.

The water is black at a branch of the river where Tham Luong, Ben Cat, Vam Thuat and Nuoc Len canals travel through several inner districts of HCMC and empty into the Sai Gon River.

Around Thi Tinh, a branch of the Sai Gon River, the water is yellow and gives off a terrible smell.

Responsibility shirked

Since 2005, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has held many meetings with12 provincial leaders to find solutions to save the river, but decisive action remains to be seen.

Deputy Minister Tran Hong Ha said that development projects combined with a lack of environmental protection has led to the pollution of the river.

The Dong Nai River system receives wastewater from the cities and provinces of HCM City, Dong Nai, Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Lam Dong, Dac Lac, Dac Nong, Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan, Tay Ninh and Long An.

Since the river runs through so many areas, no one has stepped up to take responsibility, said Mr Ha.

According to the ministry’s statistics, the river also receives wastewater from around 70 IZs and EPZs.

Of these, 15 are located in HCMC, 16 each are in the neighboring provinces of Dong Nai and Binh Duong, three each are in Long An and Binh Phuoc provinces, and one is in Tay Ninh.

The river receives 1.73 million cubic meters daily of household wastewater and 1.54 million cubic meters of industrial wastewater.

The above statistics do not include wastewater from tens of thousands of industrial production units outside the IZs.

According to research carried out by the ministry, the river’s lower area is the most polluted.

At some places like Phu Cuong, Binh Phuoc, and Phu An in HCM City, microorganism levels are 168 times higher than the permitted level.

In particular, a 10-kilometer section of brown-black water in the Thi Vai River valley is completely “dead.” The dissolved oxygen concentration (DO) is below 0.5mg/liter, making it unable to support any aquatic life.

Environmental experts say authorities must act quickly to save the river and the water it provides for the region’s citizens.

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Next week we head down to Florida for the Miami Basel Art Fair. The fair and satellite shows open as early as December 1 and run as late as December 7, 2009.
Art Basel Miami Beach is the main feature and, of course, is amazing … held at the Miami Beach Convention Center. Art Basel is the most important art show in the United States, combining a selection of more than 250 top galleries and art dealers from around the world with special exhibitions and crossover events featuring music, film, architecture and design.

We personally thrive on getting all over town with all the other collectors, buyers, on-lookers, artists, students … soaking in the fresh, established, emerging and out-there art shown at the satellite fairs! We will see what we can see, and report back to you on our finds, likes and dislikes, overview of each fair and reviews of selected artists!

THE 2009 SATELLITE SHOWS INCLUDE:

Aqua Wynwood 12.3 – 12.6
42 NE 25th St.- Wynwood Art District
Aqua features nearly 40 galleries from throughout North America and Europe, with an emphasis on West Coast galleries and emerging artists.

Art Miami 12.3 – 12.6
The Art Miami Pavilion Midtown Blvd. (Northeast 1st Avenue) between Northeast 32nd & 31st Streets
featuring approximately 90 galleries from Europe, Asia and the Americas – with an emphasis on galleries showing mid-career and established artists.

Art Asia 12.2 – 12.6
Soho Studios Miami – 2136 NW 1st Ave.- Wynwood Art District
60 galleries together to showcase paintings, photography, sculpture, mixed media, video and installations from established and emerging Asian artists.

ARTery Miami 12.2 – 12.6
Soho Studios – 71 NW 36th Street
ARTery is a cultural and visual arts partnership comprised of Soho Studios Miami, a consortium of Florida collectors, international art dealers, publishers, galleries and artists.

Design Miami 12.1 – 12.5
NE 39th Street and 1st Court – Miami Design District
Design Miami presents the best international design galleries exhibiting extraordinary historic and contemporary design.

Femme Art Miami 12.1 – 12.6
Coppertone Building – 7283 Biscayne Blvd.
Femme Art Miami creates a platform for emerging female artists to showcase, promote and sell their art during this important season.

Fountain 12.3 – 12.6
2505 North Miami Ave.
An exhibition of avant garde artwork.

Grafitti Gone Global 12.3 – 12.6
Midtown Miami – 3252 NE 1st Ave., Suite 101
Showing the dexterity of street art around the world. From traditional to experimental graffiti art.

INK Miami 12.2 – 12.6
Suites of Dorchester – 1850 Collins Ave.
Showcasing notable publishers and dealers who exhibit new publications, projects and acquisitions by leading contemporary artists.

NADA Art Fair Miami 12.3 – 12.6
The Deauville Beach Resort – 6701 Collins Ave.
The New Art Dealers Alliance (NADA) features 88 emerging art galleries from 19 countries as well as performances, lectures, and events.

Pool Art Fair 12.4 – 12.6
Cavalier Hotel – 1320 Ocean Dr.
A meeting ground for outstanding artists, primarily those who do not have yet gallery representation.

PULSE Miami 12.3 – 12.6
Ice Palace – 1400 N Miami Ave.
Presenting leading international galleries and artists showcasing the latest movements in contemporary art designed to serve both seasoned and emerging collectors.

Red Dot Fair 12.2 – 12.6
3011 NE 1st Ave. at NW 31st Street – Wynwood Arts District
More than 50 international, modern contemporary art dealers from around the world showing Paintings, photography, sculpture …

SCOPE International Contemporary Art Fair 12.2 – 12.6
Soho Studios – 2136 NW 1st Ave. (entrance at 21st Street) – Wynwood Arts District
Miami’s original emerging contemporary art fair, hosting 88 exhibitors from 22 countries.

Sculpt Miami 12.2 – 12.6
46 NW 36 St. – Wynwood Arts District
Combining an international selection of over 30 top sculptors with other exciting cultural events.

Tribal Miami Art Show 12.3 – 12.6
The Catalina Hotel – 1732 Collins Ave. at 18th
An international show of fine antique tribal art.

Verge 12.2 – 12.6
The Catalina Hotel – 1732 Collins Ave.
Thirty exhibitors featuring international, exciting and interesting in new and emerging art.

Zones Art Fair Miami 12.3 – 12.7
Zones Art Space – 47 NE 25th St. – Wynwood Art District
A niche fair/event, including a food-tasting session, talks, cocktails, exhibition, video screenings, music, performance and publications.

What on earth is a "

One of the cups can be used from both ends. This fellow looks like some sort of face cream tube. I supposed i could have gave it a test drive to find out ^^;

The hole warming device was interesting. Rolling head cup" Then you stick the warming device in yer cup.

Sweet side" If i remove the plastic sheet, it could possibly pass as a thermal detonator for my stormtrooper gear. Before i continue however, i have to disappoint you by letting you know that this review does not come with a test drive ^^;

You press the metal piece inside and the tube heats up within seconds. When its ready you can then start your eroge or get out the latest issue of megami and go do your thing. Read on to learn more about the product which has contributed to the declining birth rate in japan ^^;

Products. This is a " Bitter side"

^^; ? Unfortunately i had no intention of giving these cups a test drive so the.

And this is the "

Donc le principal intéressé est parti vers un lieu propice à l’expérimentation sa canette à la main.

Autant vous dire que son test fût très concluant. Sous la forme modérée d’un cylindre se camoufle un véritable écrin pour votre verge messieurs. Comment donc ce sextoy fait il pour être aussi efficace?

Le tenga serait à la foi fantastique et chimérique. Là ça devient technique, mais ce masturbateur fonctionne grâce à un système fait de gaines en silicone et de réservoirs de lubrifiants. Alors imaginez votre sexe!

Il est sorti totalement scotché par la sensation à la foi délicate et chaude du masturbateur tenga. Cet intérieur peu à loisir simuler la fellation ou un vagin. Quand on introduit son doigt, on ressent une sensation très agréable faites de douceur et de lubrifiants.

Que votre chérie vous offrira sans nul gêne. L’intérieur de ce sextoy est entièrement recouvert d’élastomère. Pour lui cela calque sans pouvoir.

Thousands of borrowers on the verge of foreclosure will soon have the option of renting their homes from Fannie Mae, under a policy announced Thursday.

The government-controlled company, through its new “Deed for Lease” program, will allow borrowers to transfer ownership to Fannie Mae and sign a one-year lease.

Source:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/05/fannie-mae-deed-for-lease_n_346988.html

LONDON, Nov 4, 2009 (AFP) – Arsenal are on the verge of booking their place in the Champions League knockout stages after Cesc Fabregas scored twice to inspire a 4-1 win against AZ Alkmaar on Wednesday.

Arsene Wenger’s side sit top of Group H with 10 points from four matches and can guarantee a spot in the last 16 if they avoid defeat at home to Standard Liege on November 24.

Arsenal’s Russian midfielder Andrey Arshavin chases after the ball against AZ Alkmaar during the Champions League Group H football match at The Emirates Stadium in London on November 4, 2009. Arsenal won the game 4-1. AFP PHOTO

Gunners captain Fabregas opened the scoring at the Emirates Stadium when his shot trickled past Alkmaar goalkeeper Sergio Romero.

Samir Nasri, just back in action after a broken leg, added to the feelgood factor when the France midfielder notched his first goal since March.

Another Fabregas strike soon after half-time was followed by an eye-catching Arsenal move finished by Abou Diaby before Jeremain Lens got one back for the Dutch champions.

After being written off as also-rans in pre-season, the north Londoners, now unbeaten in 12 matches, look in the mood to end their four-year trophy drought.

Wenger was full of praise for his side and singled out Russia playmaker Andrey Arshavin.

“It was a brilliant performance. We dominated technically, tactically and were never under threat. We played with confidence and overall I’m very happy,” he said.

“Arshavin was outstanding. He gave the ball every time at the fraction of the second you wanted to give it. That is top, top quality.

“I believe this season we are getting stronger from game to game. It is important to keep that attitude to progress and improve.”

Alkmaar boss Ronald Koeman added: “They have Eduardo and (Tomas) Rosicky on the bench. That says enough.

“The players up front are fast, technical and very strong. It is normal that they play better and have more chances than us.”

The Gunners were on top from the opening minutes. Robin van Persie almost added to his tally of seven goals in his last seven games when he took Arshavin’s pass on the right edge of the Alkmaar penalty area and shot just past the far post.

Romero needlessly gave away an indirect free-kick moments later by picking up the ball when a stray pass from Maarten Martens looped back into his area.

But from the set-piece, just six yards from goal, van Persie could only strike his low shot into the wall of Alkmaar defenders on the line.

Romero made a far more costly mistake in the 25th minute to hand Arsenal the opening goal.

Fabregas hit a low shot from the edge of the Alkmaar area but the Spain midfielder’s effort was weakly struck and should have been easy for Romero.

Instead, the Argentine could only push it into the net despite getting a full hand to the ball. Even Fabregas seemed stunned by the ease of the goal and could barely bring himself to celebrate.

Koeman’s side were struggling to make Arsenal’s defence break sweat and Nasri delivered the knockout blow in the 43rd minute.

He took Arshavin’s pass in his stride, completely fooled Hector Moreno with a neat check back inside and stroked his shot past Romero.

Alkmaar had stolen a 1-1 draw against the Gunners two weeks ago and Wenger’s men were clearly in the mood for revenge.

They started the second half at a blistering pace and Fabregas capped a sweeping move to claim his second goal in the 52nd minute.

Arshavin was the provider with an astute pass and Fabregas supplied a sublime first-time finish to put the result beyond doubt.

Wenger knew the game was over and he took off Fabregas and van Persie, to standing ovations from the Emirates faithful, to save them for Saturday’s trip to Wolverhampton.

But Arsenal kept the best until last. An imperious 72nd minute move saw Eduardo back-heel to Arshavin, who played a perfectly weighted ball to Diaby and the French midfielder easily side-footed past Romero.

Lens reduced the deficit when he beat Manuel Almunia at his near post in the 82nd minute but the damage had already been done.

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Well, my current word count is 1835, which puts me behind the Day 2 total of 3332. I’ve been working on beginning the new Verge story, Verge: Candle Realm. With luck, the progress will come right along with that. I’m akso going to focus on ToS at least one night a week so that that story comes along too. Both Sabraeal and I are going to be working mainly on our own projects with some work on ToS interspersed. Keep an eye on DaintyWithKnees or either of our blogs for updates on that! I’ll have my current work on Verge up and posted once I get a chance to proofread and edit it; most likely tomorrow.

To Do List:

• NaNoWriMo–Write 50,000 words in the month of November.
• Art Every Day Month–Create art every day this month.
• Great Race @ YMCA–Log 300 minutes of exercise each week for 8 weeks.
• Holistic Health Fair–Prepare presentation and display for Saturday November 7.
• Turkey Trot 10k–Train for race on Thanksgiving morning.

Today my art for Art Every Day Month came easy. I took photos before my run this morning. It was a beautiful cold morning with clouds clearing to sun. I came across a tree that has been very creative. It had formed a tight bundle of growth, like a nest. Does anyone know why trees do this?

Like this tree I am trying to create something and make it grow very green and thrive. I am inviting change into my life. I am forming the habits that a creative entrepeneur needs. I am committing to huge acts of creation over the month of November. Let’s take a closer look at that tight bundle in the tree, eh?

If you are taking part with NaNoWriMo I am “CreatewithKim” and I am part of the United States–Michigan–Marquette and the UP, Region.

You can check-out my other photos today at Flickr or at Running Marquette.

(CFD.net.au – Contract for Difference, Share, Forex, ETFs, Commodities Traders) – An initial negative reaction from the market to GUD’s $289 million bid for rival small appliance marketer, Breville group.

GUD’s offer is valued at $2.20 a share for the 80.6% in Breville it doesn’t own.

It has established a solid beachhead in Breville and looks on the verge of grabbing control.

Perhaps that was why GUD shares closed down 14 cents at $8.48 on Friday.

Breville is dominated by Solomon Lew’s 30.5% combined stake through himself and his listed group, Premier Investments.

But GUD, which holds 19.4% picked up in May from New York hedge fund Harbinger (which has a stake in Fortescue Metals and Murchison Metals), also has commitments from other holders of 28% of Breville.

They are institutions and have indicated they will accept GUD’s offer of one of its shares for every four Breville.

Breville shares, which have been in the doldrums, naturally jumped on Friday, finishing up 39% at $2.09, indicating the punters see the deal as almost done.

With the 19.4% it holds and the 28% committed, GUD has just over 47%: its minimum acceptance condition is 50.1%, so Mr Lew’s big stake is irrelevant unless he pulls out a much bigger cash offer.

He won’t want to make a paper offer as that would dilute his 45% stake in Premier, not unless he can come up with a form of paper that would convince the institutions to accept it rather than the GUD shares. 

Including Breville’s net debt of $33 million, GUD says it’s offering one share for every four Breville shares and values Breville at $322 million on an enterprise basis.

GUD said in a statement that it is  an “attractive premium” of 206% to the Breville closing price of 72 cents on May 28, this year, the day before GUD announced it had acquired 19.4% of Breville.

More realistically it is a 47% premium on Breville’s closing price of $1.50 on October 8.

GUD said in a statement that the board believed the offer represented “an extremely attractive opportunity” for Breville shareholders to gain a premium on their shares, while retaining an Investment in a larger company with a stronger shareholder return and dividend track record”.

GUD said it believed the businesses were complementary and would create a company with combined sales of an estimated $900 million.

The company said there was the “potential to create a leading consumer products business in Australasia with a portfolio of highly regarded brands”.

“If we were successful in combining the highly complementary businesses of Sunbeam and Breville, the merged group will be a leading small domestic appliance business in Australasia and will provide a strong platform for expansion in international markets, particularly North America,” GUD managing director Ian Campbell said in Friday’s statement.

The combined company would have much more clout with retailers like Woolworths, Coles Group, David Jones and Myer.

They have been sourcing more of their domestic appliance products direct from Chinese groups.

They will have no option now but to deal with a combined GUD/Breville Group if the takeover is successful.

In many respects it is also a play on the Aussie dollar.

Both companies are big importers of their appliance products, mostly from China.

With the dollar rising against the US dollar (which is the favoured international pricing mechanism), the cost of importing these products will get cheaper in coming months.

China is also cutting prices to try and drive exports which remain depressed because of the global slowdown.

The company said there was the “potential to co-ordinate product development functions with a view to enhancing the product offering of the Merged Group.

“Depending on the extent to which GUD controls Breville, there may be opportunities to combine certain back-office functions which may provide cost reduction opportunities to the Merged Group.”

Source: GUD Wants Breville To Say Yes

Over the past several months, an important question has been running through my mind about the missional movement. It was first asked by my dissertation committee.

What is the ecclesiology of the missional movement? Where are the boundaries? What are the organizing beliefs? What is held in common?

My response reflected the reading that I had done, focusing on the “organic” nature of the movement. Structure was not as important as movement. Ecclesiology is the least of the concerns of the missional movement. My dissertation committee was not satisfied. Their dissatisfaction with my answer was brought to a point several minutes later when one of the committee members asked if women held any leadership role in the movement. It was something I had considered before. In all of my reading, very few women were connected to the movement. The few exceptions were scholars, not practitioners.

Finally, I realized that these two issues may actually inform one another. Is there an underlying ecclesiology that resists women in leadership? Does the strong reformed flavor of missional theology simply skew the movement away from women in leadership roles? Or, is more overt? Does this underlying ecclesiology drive the missional movement’s exclusion of women in leadership?

This set of questions has arisen again for me. Verge is a huge missional conference scheduled for February 2010. There are many big (and not so big) names on the speaking schedule. Makeesha Fisher brought to my attention that none of the speakers are women. It is yet another example of the missional movement being dominated by men.

Over the next few months, I will pose the questions above to some of the identifiable leaders in the missional movement. I think that it will be an important bridge for the movement to cross. There is no doubt that the biblical witness and the witness of history is that the mission of God has been accomplished over and over by women in leadership roles. If the “missional” movement does not recognize this, it makes me wonder which is more important: the mission or doctrine?

Thoughts on Wednesday Night

As I run thru the forest I comment that I am not my injury anymore, and I explain to Olivia who is running with me what meaning I put behind those words.

I used to be all about my wounds. But after loosing 45+ pounds and becoming a runner I am not about my injury. That victim-sense has lifted. Small successes have built upon each other and my foundation feels strong.

Yet, in the same thought I can admit that my arm/neck/shoulder have a disability that challenges my activities. I can accept those limitations and realize that for nearly 7 years I’ve coped, changed, and adapted. I can learn modalities and address the pain and discomfort. And you know what, I can still get upset at a migraine or spasm without it crushing me.

And I did, let that injury crush me. I was afraid. The physical pain coming so soon after a divorce, the worst emotional pain of my life was too much and it brought me to ruin.

But I am finding myself in the midst of challenge(s) and being in a safe relationship allows me to rediscover.

This photo can be viewed Large.

Sometimes, facing the morning is difficult. Can I do my job today in a skirt? Usually not. In my day job a skirt can be very inconvenient. But today I chose to dress in a fold-over yoga skirt. I wore two Beth Millner pendants. I took care of myself by pampering. A dab of Clarity, an essential oil from Young Living Oils, behind each ear. I dressed like I would if I was going up to my studio, or off to the library to write. I dressed the part I wanted to play. It set a tone for the day.

The photo, taken Wednesday, struck me as inspirational. It reminded me that I can open, soon. I can make my dreams a reality. My lights can shine. I can make it happen. each day I can take an action that will move the dreams forward.

Timed Writing Excerpt

I could reach off this deck past the mischief sign to the spruce and white pine. I could dive into the blue skies past prayer flags. White birch leaves laugh with wind and I think of E. and A. I wonder what the future holds. Today my life feels less like changing diapers. Today my life feels like wind.

A mosquito eater pops up out of the purple mums, distracts me. I hear a siren. A chain saw. The white rockers legs on the deck where two others writers sit moving their pens across the page.

The future I put on hold opens to me today. Just writing these words sounds cliche and I feel I ought to better ground myself with the sound of chipmunks and birds. A distant motorcycle growls on the highway. I think, “Mischief next to the germanium on the deck at Joy Center.”

How’s that for a line?

Get your horses in a row and breathe deep the pine. Cup in your palm a fallen red leaf, or crumple it underfoot. But remember to breathe in autumn once back in the busy world.

Seven or eight stones all heart shaped rest on the railing. Do I want to rest on a railing, lean where safe? Or leap into the forest. Mischief is yellow and green surrounded by red-orange passion. And I decide to leap!

Helen Haskell-Remien is a graduate of the MFA in Creative Writing program at NMU, and is director of the Joy Center, a creativity center in Ishpeming. I attended "Finding Your Way Home: A Writing Retreat this weekend (9/19).

That’s right I’m pulling out the trusty standby, the Briggs and Stratton. I’m gonna get my motor running today by attending a writer’s retreat from 9am-6pm at the Joy Center. I hope to have many things to share with you on my return. “Finding Your Way Home” is the name of the retreat…and in a way I have felt a bit lost. My writing has suffered a bit as I pursued weight loss and photography, as I transitioned from a part-time and on-call employee to a full-time employee. Where there has been fantastic accomplishments this year I have fallen off track with some. I look forward to this day with Helen at the Joy Center. I wonder who else will join us?

I was so excited about this show! I loved/love Zao and always wanted to see them. The first time they were meant to come to the UK, they didn’t get through customs which was annoying but a band called Luti-Kriss played instead and they were good. They later changed their name to Norma Jean. Say no more. This Zao show was epic. It was rammed, Eden Maine played and were well good and then Zao played a set full of classics. It was awesome, even though they had the dude from Society’s Finest on vocals at the time. Good times.

Danger zone: Pressure is mounting to save the sao la, found in the mountains of Viet Nam and Laos. — File Photo

HA NOI — An international working group dedicated to saving the sao la, a rare species of wild cattle in the mountains of Viet Nam and Laos, has warned of its possible extinction.

The sao la (Pseudoryx nghetinhensis) resembles an antelope. Its prominent white facial markings and long tapering horns lend it a singular beauty, and its reclusive habits in the wet forests of the Truong Son Range an air of mystery.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species lists the sao la as critically endangered. Only discovered as a species in 1992, sao la have rarely been seen or photographed and have proven difficult to keep alive in captivity. None is held in any zoo in the world, and the wild population may number only in the dozens. The animal is threatened primarily by hunting.

Its extinction in the wild would mean its extinction everywhere, with no possibility of recovery or reintroduction.

The working group of the Asian Wild Cattle Specialist Group of the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Species Survival Commission, including forestry officials from both Laos and Viet Nam, Viet Nam’s Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources, Vinh University, and biologists and conservationists from non-governmental organisations, met recently in Vientiane to draw attention to the imminent loss of this species.

Experts from the Smithsonian Institute and Gilman Conservation International also joined in the meeting, during which participating agencies and organisations committed to take specific action over the next 12 months to significantly improve conservation of the species.

“We are at a point in history at which we still have a small but rapidly closing window of opportunity to conserve this extraordinary animal,” said William Robichaud, co-ordinator of the sao la working group and chair of the meeting. “That window has probably already closed for the kouprey, and the partners at this meeting are determined that the sao la not be next.”

The kouprey, a wild cattle species endemic to Indochina, may have slid quietly into extinction sometime in the last twenty years.

The group emphasised that sao la cannot be saved without intensified removal of poachers’ snares and the reduction of hunting with dogs in key areas of the animal’s range in the Truong Son mountains.

The experts attending the meeting agreed that sao la numbers appeared to have declined sharply and the species was dangerously approaching the point of disappearance. Its increasing proximity to extinction was in parallel to the threat faced by two or three other large mammals in Southeast Asia, such as the Java rhinoceros.

The working group highlighted the importance of improving methods to detect sao la in the wild, including radio tracking to understand the animal’s conservation needs, as well as heightened awareness in Laos, Viet Nam and within the world conservation community of the perilous status of the species.

Funding for the working group’s meeting in Laos came from the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund, with additional support from the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s country office in Laos, BirdLife International in Indochina and Global Wildlife Conservation. —

Source: vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn

Photography is Gods second bible to communicate visually what the bible sometimes struggles to do. I would gladly give a kidney to one day have the opportunity of being a full-time photographer.

As a student I find myself staring endlessly as Stephan Duponts amazing work. He manages to capture the essence of a moment and abandoning the need for words. He work is truly amazing. Check it out >> http://www.stephendupont.com/main.php

Meanwhile…

On the verge of a total mind melt over my casual job at the time an idea hit me like decaying tree branch in a windstorm. The idea being a photo documentation into the interconnected job web we all seem to tangled in.