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Dinner With Strangers

Posted on April 25, 2017 by - The Main Thing

This post was written by Main Thing contributor Chuck Frost.

My wife and I had a late work day last week, so I decided to swing by a drive-thru and grab a sandwich for dinner. In front of me was a car with roughly 20 bumper stickers on the back. Some of the stickers didn’t make sense to me, but most of them were related to video games that I am familiar with.

The young man in the car was a little unkempt and I imagined he probably spent a good amount of time behind the computer with headphones on. Admittedly my mind went to gamer stereotypes, which are mostly untrue, but still embedded in pop culture. (more…)

Believing the Unbelievable

Posted on April 21, 2017 by - The Main Thing

An Everyday Stewardship Reflection for 2nd Sunday of Easter / Divine Mercy Sunday

St. Thomas and JesusDue to the constant unchecked flow of data and information through the internet, it can be hard to know when a story is real news or rubbish. It never ceases to amaze me when someone I know has bought into some crazy fake news story.

Sometimes the story is just so unbelievable: celebrities who gained 200 pounds in a month, women having babies who were never pregnant, or people actually being seen who are dead! Like Elvis!

The apostle Thomas found the news that Jesus was alive just too far-fetched to believe. But he didn’t first hear the news on the Internet or read it standing in the grocery store checkout line. His friends told him. His fellow apostles told him they had actually seen the Lord with their own eyes.

But their testimony was not enough. Thomas needed proof.

You Can’t Give What You Don’t Have

Posted on April 20, 2017 by - The Main Thing

Post By Steve Botsford

Personal CommunionIt’s true with just about everything. Money. Love. Education. Personal Communion.

Wait…personal communion?

During this Easter Season, we have an opportunity to dig deeper into the meaning of faith. We begin with the reflection on The Road to Emmaus. In a recent post, I mentioned the term “companion” and it’s Latin meaning, “with bread.” Jesus is our companion. He is always with us as the Bread of Life.

One of the highlights of my adult life was my confirmation into the Catholic Church during the Easter Vigil in 1992. As I reflect on all those who came into the Church Saturday night, I recall my life during that time. It was my adult decision to enter into the fullness of faith as a Catholic. My entry to God’s family happened several years earlier when I was baptized and that decision was confirmed that night.

We Are an Easter People

Posted on April 16, 2017 by - The Main Thing

Easter PeopleAt Easter, we celebrate that Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, conquered death, rose from the dead, and remains very much alive. To the world of non-believers: WHAT!?! It is quite a big reality to swallow. But for the believer, it is a reality that inspires us to the point where we find ourselves constantly sharing the Gospel with everyone we meet! Right?

So what does Easter mean to you? The question is not what do you believe. The question is what impact does Easter have on you? How do your actions demonstrate the power of Easter? What does it mean we you hear that we, the Church, are an Easter People?

The Truth Will Set You Free

Posted on April 5, 2017 by - The Main Thing

Post by Steve Botsford

“If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples,
and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free,” John 8:31-32

The Truth Will Set You FreeIn today’s Gospel reading Jesus tells the Jews who believe in him a simple formula for success. It is so simple, however, that it can almost seem impossible to completely understand. How is a good steward to interpret this statement?

The word “if” could almost be taken as a threat, for “if” one does not remain in his word one will not be set free.

The word “remain” could mean that one could be set free unless they do not “remain” in his word.

The word “word” could mean the scriptures as we sometimes refer to scripture or the bible, yet, the “word” might refer to Jesus himself, as we understand Jesus as the “word” of God.

“Truly” could mean that one might possibly could be a disciple but not “truly.”

And so on. Imaginably, we could be overthinking it!

In Context

Ironically, the Jews listened but didn’t hear. They listened to Jesus literally and missed the point entirely! Jesus wasn’t talking about literal slavery or earthen fathers. He was talking about doing the RIGHT THING! He was saying to follow him as the way, the truth and the life, and they would be free from the slavery of sin.

The Good News

We can also interpret today’s gospel within the context of the Good News. When we read The Appearance on the Road to Emmaus in Luke 24:13-35, we see Jesus as a companion on our faith Journey. The Latin meaning for companion is derived from two words: com meaning “with” and panis meaning “bread.”

With bread. As we recall in the Bread of Life Discourse, “Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.” John 6:35.

As we continue our faith journey this Lent, perhaps we should consider our companion for the journey. We are never alone as long as we are receiving, and walking with, the Bread of Life.

Lord, in my effort to become a better disciple, a mature steward, and your hands and feet, let me remain in you today trusting that to be with you is to become truly free from the slavery of sin.

Steve Botsford is a husband, father, catechist, educational consultant, blogger,  and game designer.

Do You Need a Sign?

Posted on March 31, 2017 by - The Main Thing

An Everyday Stewardship Reflection for the 5th Sunday of Lent

God billboardWhen I am driving throughout the United States, I enjoy seeing the billboards that dot the highways speaking for God. A couple of my favorites: “Life is short. Eternity is not. – God;” and “Let’s meet at my house this Sunday, before the game. – God.”

God must have a pretty big advertising budget because He has billboards in pretty much every state!

One billboard I saw read, “You asked God for a sign, and here it is!” After a chuckle, I realized that we are always looking for a sign. We say we believe, but sometimes, we act like we just want to be sure.

LazarusIn the Gospels, Jesus performs miracles and healings so that people would believe. The healing of Lazarus was surely a profound moment for all who were there. Jesus was able to show that He has power over even death itself, a foreshadowing to his Resurrection that will occur in the not too distant future.

For all who doubt, be assured that Jesus is the giver of life. He has given living water to the woman at the well, sight to the blind, and now has raised a man from the grave.

As Easter draws ever closer, how many more signs do you need? What else can Jesus do to convince you that His call on your life comes from the source of all life?

As the US Bishops’ pastoral letter on stewardship lays this out, we have been challenged, we are asked to choose, and then our lives will be transformed. May all the signs of God around us, even billboards on the side of the road, move us to choose a path of giving of ourselves like Jesus.

New Eyes

Posted on March 24, 2017 by - The Main Thing

Jesus Heals the Blind ManTalking about discipleship and truly being a disciple are two very different things. It is easier to know what we should do than to carry out.

Many saints from our tradition have had much to say about this struggle to do what they know they must do, and not do that which they know they shouldn’t. It is part of being human.

Without God, we have no chance to overcome this predicament. Without God, our actions can ring hollow, or often we are immobilized to act at all. Without God, we suffer with blindness to the truth of what is important and eternal.

The story in John 9 of Jesus healing the blind man is about more than a physical healing and just one man. It is about how each of us can find healing of our blindness by turning to Jesus Christ.

Are you someone that has been saying, “I don’t understand all this talk of discipleship and stewardship. What’s the big deal?” We all have a blindness that needs to be healed, and the Body of Christ needs you so that God’s presence in our world can be seen in a more profound manner.

The reality is that God heals the blindness of those you seek him, so that in turn, they may be vehicles by which others may see as well.

This Lent, you are invited to bring your blindness to Jesus. All the written reflections in the world will not give you new eyes. Those eyes can only be found in Jesus

Put Down That Water Jar!

Posted on March 17, 2017 by - The Main Thing

An Everyday Stewardship Reflection for the 3rd Sunday of Lent

Woman at the WellWhen I think about the story of the Samaritan woman at the well, I think of my father. This Gospel reading that we use every year for the First Scrutiny of the RCIA was always my favorite to discuss with those who be baptized in just a few weeks at the Easter Vigil.

Not that many years ago, my father was one of those Elect. That year, the story was more powerful than ever.

Sin and Compromise

Posted on March 17, 2017 by - The Main Thing

Post by Chuck Frost

“Indeed the safest road to Hell is the gradual one—the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.” – C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters

Sin and CompromiseWe’ve heard of the drug dealer cliché, “The first hit is free.” You have to take the first hit to begin the slow decline toward full blown addiction, and if vulnerability is detected the dealer may gladly get us started free of charge. Not too many people think that one little indulgence will end up that way.

We go through life making small moral compromises here and there. Maybe it’s something that seems too insignificant to get all worked up about. Things that we think don’t rise to the level of serious sin.  Things we may joke about or shrug off.

And though I think it’s possible to become scrupulous to an unhealthy degree, it is important that we take account of those small compromises for they can be the devil’s delight.

The DevilThere is a great episode from the nineties television show Northern Exposure called “The Robe”. Shelly, the wife of a local bar owner, despises her husband’s old bathrobe. It looks hideous on him, but he adores it.

So the devil comes to her as an engaging traveling salesman and tempts her to burn the robe while her husband is away. She almost does it, but then turns back at the last minute.  When the devil angrily scolds her for not following through, Shelly replies: “Why did you go after me? I’m nobody.” So he says:

“You’re my bread and butter, Shelly. Look, say I get some corporate raider to suck up some company, turn 3,000 employees out on the street. Where’s the victory there? But if I can get somebody like you, pure of heart, to let her bumper stray over that white line just a little bit…You know that expression, ‘God is in the details’? Well, it’s a little bit like that for me.”

Is it really a big deal if I eat from that tree?  I mean, it’s just a piece of fruit

Chuck Frost is Pastoral Associate at St. Andrew’s Catholic Church in Roanoke, Virginia

Secret Ambition

Posted on March 15, 2017 by - The Main Thing

Post by Steve Botsford

Godly AmbitionIn the summer of 1980 I went to stay with my grandparents for six weeks. They had a ten-unit apartment building on the Intracoastal in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, a very prominent area of town.

My plan was to work for my grandfather doing painting, yard work, and basic upkeep. I had calculated the amount of money I would make by working forty hours a week for the entire time and it would give me just enough to purchase a new synthesizer. I was a budding musician and it was an ambitious endeavor to say the least.

My grandparent’s plan was to have an extended visit and help me with some spending cash by paying me to do some chores a few hours a day for the duration. Needless to say, I couldn’t afford the purchase when I returned but left with memories that remain with me today – a much greater reward in hindsight.

I went on after high school to work for my father hanging wallpaper and eventually started my own wallpaper business. When he lost a battle to lung cancer a few years later I was left with a profitable trade-and an appreciation for the gift of music and the time we shared doing both. I was ambitious and successfully remained in that business for nearly ten years until I had an epiphany.

Through a series of events I had a spiritual awakening in my late twenties. Interestingly, I lost my ambition to seek fame and fortune but found a new ambition, sharing the Gospel. You see, my value system was altered and my new ambition was driven by the Holy Spirit.

I remained in youth ministry for ten years, went on to Catholic publishing for eleven years and have just embarked on a journey as a parish DRE. The fruits of my youth ministry can be seen today in many of the youth who became productive citizens driven by Gospel values. A few have become youth ministers or teachers and many are parents raising their children as faithful Catholics while maintaining productive value-driven jobs.

In the Gospel today, we hear of the mother of two of the disciples who also had an ambition. She asked Jesus to seat them at his right and left and he said she didn’t know what she was asking. Is it possible we have ambition without really knowing what we’re after?

The thing is, there are two kinds of ambition, the worldly and the otherworldly. One seeks prominence and the other servitude.

Jesus had a secret ambition. He was to be the King the Jewish people had been waiting for, only they couldn’t easily grasp what that meant. He was to usher in a new Kingdom of love, service and sacrifice.

In spite of two thousand years of faith and tradition, we still struggle today with ambition. As we continue our journey through the season of Lent, let us pause to ponder what is truly meant and implied by our Lord’s secret ambition.

Steve Botsford is the Director of Religious Education at St. Ann Catholic Church in Marietta, GA. He holds an MBA from the University of Phoenix and a Master of Religious Education from Loyola University, New Orleans. Steve is married with three children and is the creator of FeastDay, the Liturgical Year Board Game.


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 5 Vinez Monkeys: My Picture Princess

Friday, March 20, 2009

My Picture Princess

Shabby Baby is looking for the next Shabby Baby Girl. After browsing their website, I just knew I had to enter Lulu!

Lucy (aka Lulu) would make the perfect Picture Princess. Why? Just look at her! She is brimming with personality, and she *loves* to be in front of the camera. (This is a very good thing when your Mommy is a photographer!) Lucy is such a ham, full of adventure, life, and tons and tons of energy. Her smile and laughter are contagious. She loves all things girly, but isn't afraid to get her hands dirty or roughhouse with the boys. She loves jumping in mud puddles and painting her toenails. She is "picture perfect" in lots of ways.

I found this dress and fell in love while browsing the little girls and girls dresses from shabby baby: The Vineyard Dress. Wouldn't it be perfect on Lucy? So cute!! I love the bold patterns - totally matches Lulu's personality.

Thanks for the chance to enter my little princess!

5 Super Cool Replies:

The Stevens Family said...

She would be the perfect covergirl for Shabby Baby. Her personality just leaps through the pictures. (And your amazing talent at capturing it doesn't hurt anything either! :) That is so exciting! Let me know how everything goes! Big hugs.

Danielle said...

little Angie

Candice said...

How cute! I want one of those...a girl that is!

RazzberryMomma said...

She is such a doll baby! I love the pig-tails! Good luck with the contest! And glad you're back! :o) We should chat soon, it's been a while!

SkylarKD said...

Beautiful photos - your daughter is adorable!
I'm visiting from the UBP. Nice to 'meet' you!

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Palestine - News Just In Live news feed

Israel authorises 3000 settler homes in West Bank: ministry

Israel has today announced the construction of 3000 settlement homes in the occupied West Bank, the fourth such announcement in the less than two weeks since the inauguration of US President Donald Trump. Full story »

UN demands end to Israeli settlements after US abstains from vote

A picture taken on November 17, 2016 shows families in a street of the settlement outpost of Amona, which was established in 1997, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. (AFP)

The UN Security Council demanded that Israel halt its settlement activities in Palestinian territory, in a resolution adopted after the United States refrained from vetoing the measure condemning its closest Middle East ally. Full story »

Bid to quieten Muslim call to prayer amplifies Israel tensions

An Israeli flag flying with a minaret of a mosque and the Dome of the Rock in the background in Jerusalem's Old City.
A bill to ban mosques around Israel and annexed east Jerusalem from using loudspeakers to amplify late night and early morning calls to prayers has been approved by a ministerial committee Full story »

Palestinian 'executed' after Israeli checkpoint knife attack, family claims

An Israeli soldier has been wounded after a lone Palestinian attempted to knife him at a West Bank checkpoint during a wave of attacks late last week. Full story »

Palestinian driver charged after police shoot passenger

A Palestinian at the wheel of a car when police fired on it, killing a passenger, was charged with manslaughter Thursday after prosecutors said his erratic driving made officers shoot. Full story »

Palestine ready to take part in 'fair' peace initiative with Israel

The office of Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas said Palestinians are ready for a peace initiative offering a "comprehensive and fair solution". (AFP)

President Mahmud Abbas's office said Monday the Palestinians are ready to participate in any peace initiative aimed at a "comprehensive and fair solution", following speculation of a meeting organised by Russia. Full story »

Gaza a modern paradise in Hamas propaganda video

Palestinian political party Hamas has released a striking election campaign video depicting Gaza as a clean, organised paradise. Full story »

Palestinian girl cries as Israeli soldier steals her bicycle

A Palestinian child was left screaming after a heavily armed Israeli border officer stole her bicycle before throwing it into a bush. Full story »

US-Israeli girl fatally stabbed in her West Bank home

Family members mourn Hallel Yaffa Ariel. (AFP)
A Palestinian attacker fatally stabbed a 13-year-old US-Israeli girl in her home at a Jewish settlement in the West Bank yesterday, before he was shot dead by security guards. Full story »

Video shows Palestinian woman lunging at Israeli security guard with large knife

CCTV footage has captured the moment a Palestinian woman attacked an Israeli security guard with a knife outside a Jewish settlement in the West Bank. Full story »

Israeli soldiers gas reporter during live cross

A TV news reporter has been tear-gassed by the Israeli Defence Force while reporting on violent clashes in the West Bank. Full story »

Palestinian cameraman rushes to aid of elderly woman during violent clash

A Palestinian cameraman says it was his "duty as a human" to abandon his equipment in order to rescue an elderly woman suffocating on CS gas during a violent street scuffle with Israeli forces near Bethlehem. Full story »

Israel prime minister says he supports a two-state solution

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he is committed to the establishment of a Palestinian state, calling on the Palestinian leadership to return to negotiations unconditionally. Full story »

Banksy makes satirical promotional video after secret Gaza trip

Celebrated British street artist Banksy has released a satirical promotional video for Gaza after going undercover in the Palestinian territory to spray paint his iconic murals.

Full story »

Joan Rivers 'praying for peace' despite saying Palestinians deserved to die

Comedienne Joan Rivers is standing behind her comments to a paparazzo that Palestinians "deserved to be dead" but added she was taken out of context.

Full story »

Family recognises dying son in YouTube video, seen shot dead by an alleged Israeli sniper

GRAPHIC WARNING: Shocking video showing an unarmed Palestinian civilian shot dead by an Israeli sniper has now been seen by his family - the very people he was wandering the streets looking for. Full story »

Palestine pushes Hamas for truce

Palestine President Mahmud Abbas (right) has met with Hamas leaders and United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to push for a truce in Gaza. (Getty)

A senior Palestinian official has said talks to encourage militant group Hamas to accept a truce in Gaza are ongoing. Full story »

Schools used as shelter for thousands of homeless Palestinians

As the conflict in the Middle East escalates and reaches its second week, it has now become a humanitarian crisis only getting worse by the day. Full story »


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"After his excellent "Holy Kid" on Kill Rock Stars label, a new mess of crazy spoken word collage, DIY aesthetics, punk, poetry and unrock by Nuyorican poet and performer Edwin Torres, from the New York State Foundation for the Arts. the man creates text and performance works that mingle poetry with vocal/physical improvisation, visual theater, music and sound, using soft percussion, reverse violin, piano and other acoustic and tape cassette manipulation recorded on 4-track and played on random selection mode." (label info)
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Home > Ketubah FAQ's > What is a Ketubah?

What’s a ketubah?

Originally a ketubah (כתובה in Hebrew) was a prenuptial agreement in the Jewish faith.  Now a days, a ketubah is  a marriage certificate that  articulates the couple’s love, commitment, and plans for the future.  It’s kind of like marriage vows expressed through both words and visual art.   A ketubah is not only a lovely custom and a beautiful tradition, but it can also be a source of inspiration for  a long and successful marriage.  My husband likes to say that our marital contract is something we renew every morning.

Although a ketubah is still a very important part of Jewish wedding tradition, it is a beautiful custom and has become popular in all different faiths and cultures.  Even Prince William and Princess Kate got a ketubah!

“Ketubah” can also be spelled katuba, ketuba, katubah, katubbah, ketubba and many other ways! Because it is a translation of Hebrew (כתובה) so there is really no right or wrong, but “ketubah” is the most common spelling in English.  The proper way to say “ketubah” in plural is “ketubot”, but since most people don’t know that, on our site we go with the English version: “ketubahs.”

What should a ketubah look like?

Your ketubah  art is a visual expression of your love, and therefore should look beautiful to both of you. Your ketubah will stay with you for the rest of your life together, so make sure to pick art that you really love and will be proud to display in your home.   There is really no set standard for how your ketubah should look or what the artwork should portray.  I come from a background of fine art and contemporary figurative painting, so many of my ketubahs retain modern figurative qualities, but fuse them (sometimes literally!) with symbols for life, love, strength and home (such as trees and nature!) as well as elements of traditional Judaica.

What should the ketubah text say?

There are many different approaches to ketubah text. Sometimes your rabbi will have a specific text that he wants you to use. Sometimes a couple prefers to write their own text, one which they feel best expresses their unique love story and relationship.  We offer a variety of texts including Reform, Egalitarian, Interfaith,  Same Sex, Conservative, Traditional and Orthodox.  All of our texts can come in either English or Hebrew/Aramaic or both and all of my ketubah designs can also be created with any text of your choice.

photo by Wes Craft Photography

How did you get started creating art for weddings?

I have been drawing and painting my entire life. I studied fine art at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where my focus was in figurative and portrait art.  After college I moved to New York and later to Jerusalem, Israel. It was in Israel that I fell in love with the colors, imagery and symbolism of the Middle East. My art started to reflect this new aesthetic.  When my husband and I were planning our wedding, I painted our ketubah. It was such a wonderful process because I felt that both creating the artwork and choosing  the text for our ketubah was an opportunity to channel all our feelings of love and excitement into this one piece of art.  After our wedding, other people started asking me to create their ketubahs… and the rest is history!  I feel that in specializing in ketubah art, I have really found an amazing outlet that allows me not only to be creative and paint all day, but also to meet so many wonderful people at such an exciting time in their lives. It’s an honor to be a part of their journeys.


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Mongolia - From Genghis to Jesus

Mongols were once known as the world's fiercest warriors. But the descendants of Genghis Khan, whose men raped and pillaged their way across Asia and Europe, are today fighting a very different kind of battle.

Eric Campbell meets the nomads and the teenage city kids who are turning to a western God for the answer to all their troubles. Traditional Buddhist monks, who were ruthlessly suppressed by the Soviet invaders from the 1920s on, have only just begun rebuilding their ancient monasteries.

Now the Dalai Llama tells Eric it would be more appropriate for Mongolians to stay with their traditions rather than be tempted towards Christianity by American missionaries using slick western techniques to convince them that the Bible can make them wealthy.

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Eastern wheatbelt calls for drought recognition

The record Western Australia grain harvest has stolen much of the limelight of season 2013/2014, but it doesn't tell the complete story.

Many farmers in the Yilgarn in WA's eastern wheatbelt experienced yet another disappointing harvest.

One eastern wheatbelt farmer says the Government needs to acknowledge some producers are in drought, not a continued dry.

Clint Della Bosca is a third generation Yilgarn farmer and says 2013 was the toughest emotional year his family has ever put into farming.

He says it was a roller coaster season he would rather forget and the recently announced Federal Farm Finance Package eligibility criteria is a slap in the face for those doing it tough.

He says farmers in his area will think long and hard about planting a crop this season.

"I think you have to on that red stuff out where we are you know. We're going to have to tick some boxes to get the confidence to go whole heartedly. I think most guys will try and do something it's in our nature.

"We're out here with farmers we want to grow wheat and succeed so we've got to have a go, but it's whether you're comfortable with the risk that you're going to have I suppose."

"I think personally we'll definitely do some whether we do our whole program on that particularly risky hard country, unfortunately that hard country if it does rain it pays off big time and that's the problem we know what it can do if it's wet, but unfortunately the last six years we just haven't had it wet."

Marvel Loch farmer Romolo Patroni says the season has been very much a mixed one for farmers in the region.

"Across the Yilgarn there were parts of the western and southern part of the shire that had average or better than average years and then there were parts to the east and west of the shire that had a very dismal year in fact here we had our second worst year on record."

"We had to move off a lot of stock, as a lot of farmers in and around Southern Cross had to do, and the wheat yields on this northern and eastern side were extremely poor so much so even CBH didn't open the bins."

Ron Burrows farms north of Southern Cross.

He says "This last year gone 2013 has probably been one of our worst years on record."

'We're used to droughts up here, we farmer with them all the time, but we've never had five consecutive droughts in a row."

"We usually plant about 2, 000 hectares of wheat, this year we planted 650 acres, just over 250 hectares and off that 250 hectares we harvested 37 tonne of wheat in total."

"None of us should have got a header out because it actually cost us money the exercise has been another negative, but unfortunately when you require the seed wheat and that's the only grain that you've got you must do it and you've got no option."

"I think everyone to some extent went in and harvested some grain."

"I don't think anyone broke even, it was a disastrous year, particularly for livestock, I would say our area is carrying half the livestock it normally does."

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Insight in the People's Liberation Army

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posted on Aug, 28 2011 @ 03:26 PM

This weekend articles were posted online about the Pentagon warning of the PLA's expanding it's military power. Now, many users are aware of China's military power. But many are in the dark about how capable China is in rivaling the U.S in the near future. I would like to go over the origins of the PLA, discuss the military history of the PLA and close with the warning from the Pentagon. First I would like to say I welcome China's rise in power. The reason because the U.S. needs it. The United States is a very competitive country. Having the People's Republic of China as a rival on the world stage will shake everything up.

The predecessor of the People's Liberation Army (PLA, 解放军, Jiefangjun), the Red Army, came into being with the Nanchang Uprising on 1 August 1927. On the basis of Mao Zedong's theory of 'people's war', this revolutionary army was to have both a political and social role. These roles consisted of doing propaganda among the masses, organizing the masses, arming the masses, helping them to establish revolutionary political power and setting up Party organizations. While doing this, the Party at all times was to maintain control over the army.

As you can see from the painting and real picture. Both present a different image to people, Looking at the drawing first. We we see a colorful picture of happy Red soldiers with Mao Zedong standing tall and strong.
However looking at an actual picture. Mao Zedong is not seen with the Red soldiers; as well the troops look tired out from the many battles. But they do look dedicated to their goals.

The fact that most Chinese political leaders (Mao Zedong, Deng Xiaoping, Zhu De, Ye Jianying, Lin Biao, and many others) had military carreers while at the same time serving in the civilian power structure reflects this dual role of the PLA. The participation of the political elite in military affairs also meant that there was little emphasis on formal training of officers. In the PLA, being 'red' was always considered better than being 'expert'. The political character of the PLA also contributed to the formation of a mystique of the army as a disciplined, politically conscious force that was closely engaged with the task of rebuilding the nation.

Another picture showing Mao Zedong and a very enthusiastic Red army and other civilians.

As the real picture and paintings seem to tell two different stories. You'll see how even though the Communist forces were battered from all the wars - in fact all the soldiers and civilians were effected by all the battles during the Chinese civil war.

Traditionally, the military had a very low social status in China, aside from a folklore built around romantic soldiers and military heroes of virtue. "Good iron is not made into nails, a good man does not become a soldier", as the popular saying goes. This image changed dramatically during the revolutionary war period; joining the PLA became an aspiration for many young people who felt repressed, in particular for those of worker or peasant background, and women.

Aside from patriotic motives, joining the PLA almost automatically led to acceptance by the Party, and this in turn opened various career prospects. The army enabled young people to acquire skills that were useful in civilian life; demobilized soldiers were honored in their villages and, very importantly, had built up good relations that gave them easier access to the local bureaucracy. Many became cadres themselves, thereby providing status for their families. Others played a major role in national politics, in particular after 1969, when the PLA was called in to restore order after the Cultural Revolution had resulted in total chaos.

Seeing how many can benefit from becoming a solider in the military. Many will sign up and fight for the battle of mainland China. Yes, many will die as a result. Millions of people all over China died before any of the terrible events of Mao Zedong's time in power of the People's Republic of China.

As a fighting force, the PLA has often been able to accomplish astonishing military feats in the face of adversity. Despite often inadquate armaments, the Army succeeded in defeating superior Nationalist forces during the civil war of 1946-1949, paving the way for the founding of the PRC. Although undereducated and underbudgeted, the PLA applied guerrilla tactics, emphasizing flexibility and a close integration with the people. Constant ideological training prepared the soldiers for hardship and sacrifice for the revolutionary cause.

After the founding of the PRC, the PLA started to play a role in China's foreign policy by actively engaging in a number of conflicts. The Army fought the American troops in Korea in 1950-1953 and against India in 1963 (unresolved until the present day), it clashed with former ally the Soviet Union along the shared Northeastern border in 1969, battled with South-Vietnamese troops in the South China Sea in 1974, marched against Vietnam in 1979, and came into conflict with a number of countries over the Spratly Islands since the mid-1980s. The PLA supported North-Vietnam during the Vietnam War, and deployed advisers and troops against American forces in Southeast Asia.

Over the past six decades, the PLA has worked towards bringing Taiwan back into the fold. During the Taiwan Strait crisis of 1954-1955, and again in 1958, the Army bombarded the offshore islands of Quemoy (Jinmen) and Matzu (Mazu). In the 1980s, live ammunition was traded in for shells filled with propaganda materials, which the Taiwanese reciprocated in kind. In 1995-1996, the PLA was involved in naval and missile exercises off the coast of Taiwan in an attempt to influence the presidential elections then taking place in Taiwan. The peaceful resolution of the Taiwan issue has been high on the agenda of the successive generations of military and civilian PRC-leaders, including Hua Guofeng.

Think the Chinese Civil War is over? Think again! The war for Taiwan is far from over and we would need to keep Taiwan as an ally.

Despite these activities, the PLA has always devoted its best energies to internal affairs. In the military sense, it pacified the country in the early 1950s, defeating Nationalist remnant troops and local militias. The Army occupied Hainan Island, participated in political campaigns to wipe out the landlord class and suppress counter-revolutionaries, and occupied Tibet. During the Great Leap Forward, the Army was used to prevent peasants from fleeing rural areas stricken by famine, and in the early 1960s, the military took over many government and State-functions.

Aside from its military and political functions, the PLA has been used as an economic resource as well. During the revolutionary war, wherever soldiers went, they participated in food production to supplement reserves in the area and lighten the burden on the local population. After the founding of the PRC, the PLA's domestic economic role was enlarged. The huge number of demobilized soldiers, while retaining their military organization, was employed in civilian production, both in agriculture and in industry. The military moreover was involved in setting up state farms and massive land reclamation projects, in particular in the Northeast.

In the era of modernization, the role and position of the PLA in Chinese society has changed enormously. An Army career is no longer considered as one of the few available opportunities for social mobility: people rather try their luck as independent entrepreneurs. This has created problems for PLA-recruitment policies. On the other hand, the professionalization of the PLA-organization over the past three decades, now stressing arms over men, has made the Army rather reluctant to take in unskilled recruits from the countryside, preferring (urban) university graduates instead. Due to a reduction of the ranks (some 1.5-2 million in the last 15 years), a number of traditional PLA-functions has shifted to other organizations, in particular the People's Armed Police. This latter organization has become the first line of defense against civil unrest. In that role, it has faced a lot of action in the ever more frequent conflicts with disgruntled peasants --protesting expulsion from their farmland to make way for industrial and/or urban development--, workers --opposing their dismissal-- and pensioners --clamoring against the paucity of their pensions. The PAP, backed when necessary by the PLA, has taken on much of the grass-roots work; over the years, it has become involved in combatting the regular floods that wreak increasing havoc in the countryside. PAP units were also deployed to ensure security for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and other cities.

China will have a modern military capable of force-projection and sustained high-intensity combat as early as the end of this decade, an annual Pentagon report into the state of China's armed forces has claimed. New aircraft carriers, a stealth fighter program, carrier-killing ballistic missiles, improved cyberwarfare techniques and a doctrine of "space dominance" would all contribute to China's ambitious plans to modernise its 2.3million-strong People's Liberation Army.

However. The Pentagon is worried about the growing arm of China. I feel when studying the history of the People's Liberation Army. We would learn more about China today. I would like to see what you think of China's history and it's future.

My last comment of China today is that they are a proud people. Dealing with China will be very different from the Soviets. Which I can say the U.S. government will have to study a lot to understand China's might!

Picture (1)
Pictures (2)
EX Text
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News source (2)
More information of the PLA
Chinese ground forces
edit on 28-8-2011 by ManOfGod267 because: (no reason given)

posted on Aug, 28 2011 @ 06:40 PM
reply to post by ManOfGod267

Nice post! Americans are so blase about the Chinese, with the exception of those who are concerned about them buying up our debt.

We have been in a economic war with them for some time now. I think that we will see them dumping the bonds they bought around or shortly after the next Presidential election. Causing further havoc on the world market.

I'm glad to see that we do have people who take the PRC seriously as a potential military threat. I think they are just biding their time. But who knows, they might have a collapse, similiar to the Soviet Union, though I doubt it.

The Chinese overall are a very pragmatic and patient people.

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FDA Issues Alert For Recall of IV Solutions

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on July 20 issued an alert stating that Baxter International Inc. has voluntarily recalled both of its 0.9 percent Sodium Chloride Injections (50 mL and 100 mL). According to the company, a particulate matter – identified as an insect – has been found in some of the intravenous solutions (IV). While no adverse events have occurred, injecting an IV that contains a particulate matter could cause a blockage in the blood vessels, resulting in stroke, heart attack or damage to other organs.

Read the FDA announcement

Keywords: Myocardial Infarction, Particulate Matter, Pharmaceutical Solutions, Sodium Chloride, Stroke, United States Food and Drug Administration

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Dogeared Gold Dipped Hummingbird Reminder Necklace - Sister

This gold dipped hummingbird necklace is the perfect reminder that your sister knows you better than anyone else. Celebrate your special bond and with matching hummingbird necklaces and you'll never be too far away from each other.
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It comes on a card that reads: make a wish put on your necklace. thank you for always being there! you know me better than anyone else, and i love that! wear your necklace as a reminder that i'm so happy to have as my sister and my friend. *41cm (16 inch) gold filled chain * 1cm gold dipped hummingbird charm * spring ring closure * sister message card * handcrafted in california

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Molly Sims Married Film Producer at Vineyard

Molly Sims

The model-turned-actress exchanged vows with Scott Stuber in front of friends, family and fellow celebrities at a vineyard.

Molly Sims has tied the knot to "Love and Other Drugs" producer Scott Stuber. In front of family and friends, they wed at the Frank Cafaretta Vineyard in Napa Valley, California on Saturday, September 24.

Sims and Stuber invited a number of stars such as Stacy Ferguson aka Fergie and her husband Josh Duhamel as well as Vince Vaughn. "It's an entire wedding filled with celebrities. It's the wedding of the century. They are all celebrities, and they are all singing!" Sims joked back in August.

The bride wore a dress by Marchesa and jewels by Lorraine Schwartz while the groom wore Tom Ford. The party was planned by celebrity wedding planners Yifat Oren and Stephanie Cove, and the guests were treated to red velvet cakes.

This is the first marriage for Sims but the second for Stuber who was married to actress Rachel Nichols for seven months but they divorced in 2008.

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Kenneth Turner Bee Candle Lid
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This stylish nickel plated candle lid by Kenneth Turner features a delicate bumble bee motif. This gorgeous lid will make the perfect stylish home accessory, or gift for someone special. Pair with a Kenneth Turner Candle for a sophisticated look.

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Avatar Korra Cosplay. Advice?

Need help with sewing techniques, or making a 10 ft sword? Seek help from other cosplayers here!
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Avatar Korra Cosplay. Advice?

Post by OriSODEhime » Sat Mar 24, 2012 11:18 am

Heeeeey everyone! I'm fairly new here and I was hoping to receive some advice from a few fellow cosplayers.

Okay, so i'm getting ready for Seishun-Con in June, and I want to cosplay Avatar Korra from The Legend of Korra. I found some ideas as to how to get started on DeviantArt, but I wanted some professional help. What I feel most confident about right now is that I don't need a wig for my cosplay, seeing how my hair is the right length and shade. The same goes for the boots. I mean, I can find a good pair of Gold Paladin boots and sew on some fur, right?

Right now, I need advice on how to plan out/make:
~The hair accessories,
~The arm band,
~The arm braces,
~The shirt,
~The fur pelt/coat around the waist,
~The blue triangular apron-thing,
~And the pants.

Anyone have any helpful tips? Much appreciated, thank you. ^^

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Re: Avatar Korra Cosplay. Advice?

Post by PiratingYourDreams » Thu Apr 19, 2012 8:35 pm

Hello there! I don't know how much of this costume you've already figured out how to make, but I'll give my opinions on what you've got listed.

The hair accessories: you could use hair curlers like these http://i.istockimg.com/file_thumbview_a ... urlers.jpg and wrap them in material. You could even go cheaper and use toilet paper rolls. You can make them tighter, too. You might also find a way to attach a hair clip to it so it stays better.

The arm band/braces: for the band, get some white material and blue fabric paint and make it. Use elastic to keep it up. Same thing for the braces, just use blue material and no need for paint.

The shirt: you might be able to find an Asian style shirt, or make one using a chef coat and take off the sleeves, then add white material for the white parts. You might even be able to go to a store that sells dance wear and find a leotard in the color you want then add to or dye it.

The fur/pelt around the waist: get a brown skirt, cut it up to look like the one she wears, then go to a fabric store and get some fur trim then sew it on

The apron thing: get a dark blue waist apron. Cut up and re-sew to make it look right

Pants: baggy sweat pants might work. Or doctor pants from a medical surplus store.

Any questions, feel free to message me!
Check me out on the webs at Costume Me

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Quiz: How Fit Are You?

Test your strength, endurance and flexibility to determine how fit you really are. Once you've evaluated your fitness level, take time to reassess your goals. Gauge your strengths and weaknesses to help improve your fitness.

Editor's note: This is not meant to be scientific, but entertaining. Seek a professional for accuracy.

Quiz: How Fit Are You?

1. How long can you hold a plank?

A.  0 to 30 seconds
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C.  61 and up

More2 Plank Variations to Build a Strong Core

2. How many days per week do you work out (this doesn't mean a leisurely walk to the fridge and back)?

A. 0 to 1
B. 2 to 3
C. 4 to 7

3. How many push-ups can you do in a minute? Legs straight, hands shoulder-width apart, drop your chest to within 3 inches off the ground.

A. 0 to 5
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C. 16 and up

More: 3 Steps to the Perfect Push-Up

4. How long does it take you to run a mile?

A. 12 minutes and up
B. 9:01 to 11:59
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More: Avoid Injury With the Proper Leg Stretches

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A. 0 to 30 seconds
B. 31 to 59 seconds
C. 1 minute and up

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A. Over 25
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More: What is BMI and How to Calculate It

8. How long can you maintain 100 rpm on a stationary bike?

A. Never been on a bike
B. 0 to 2 minutes
C. 2 to 5 minutes

More6 Reasons to Join an Indoor Cycling Class

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How we made E espace electric vehicle

At first there was only an idea to make an electric car being better then what big companies show us. The first work started in september 2007 by taking the ICE engine out and refurnishing the engine compartment of the car. After half a year of collecting the necessary parts we started by assembling it together. 25th of July 2007 was the day when the electric motor turned for the first time. Beginning of August we made first test drives and at the end of August we drove it first time in heavy traffic of Ljubljana. Beginning of November 2007 we did the first log drive (60 km) and since then we have used it daily. After installing new LiPo batteries in May 2008 its pure electric range raised to 200 km and it became really usefull. Last modifications (double heating) have been done in January 2009. During the last year of use (10000 km) it had only one brakdown.

In April 2009 E Espace has been dismantled and its components used in other cars: LiPo batteries in Bolt, motor and controller are for sale now, DC DC converters in Sandero...

Short movie about E Espace

Technical features

Three phase asynchron 192V electric motor installed in E - espace.

900 ccm two cylinder direct injection diesel engine and 216V 3 phase generator before the installation

and after the installation...

The motor, diesel generator and regulator are fixed, now the wiring will be done

And the 40 kW three phase asynchron motor (also a Stoja d.o.o. product)

Small parts before the installation - winter 2006

24.5.2007 - the car is going to be assembled and is expected to drive soon

Batteries in the trunk of the car - first version with lead acid

16.6.2007 Final assembly of the car, wiring and installation of all parts

Specialist Miro Zoric booting the car. This was the day when the EM turned for the first time and all the systems went on...

 11.7.2007 Countdown begins - switching on individual devices

On 9th of August it made first movement on electric power. A day earlier diesel generator has started for the first time. On 10th of August the batteries have been fully recharged by internal charger.

First test drive on streets of Ljubljana of around 3 km on pure battery power finished sucessfully on 21st of August 2007!
All components are working well, Mr.Zoric has programed the software during the test drive. Till end of next week the car is expected to be fully functional as hybrid as well.

30.10.2007 E Espace driving around Ljubljana
Development of  power splitting electronics took us one additional month and now it finally drives in both modes - pure EV and HEV mode. It needs another week to finish auxilliary systems like heating etc.

December 2007 -a new car has been put into modification - this time a pure electric one

April 2008 - we have got homologation to use E Espace on roads - actually we did use it on roads as well before and violated a law, but we have a good excuse - it is impossible to test a prototype without driving it in real conditions unless you have a huge testing ground like big car companies have.

7.5.2008 - KOKAM Li-Po batteries have arrived - 200 Ah 3,7 V cell with weight of only 4 kg!

23.7.2008 - Final view of the battery compartment

20.4.2009 E Espace will be dissasembled and a new car will be done from EV components of E Espace


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Comments on: The singular and the strange Wed, 26 Apr 2017 02:29:09 +0000 hourly 1 By: Meri M. Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:10:14 +0000 1) Only my mother and I know how many times I took the test to get my driver’s license. (And I was only 20 years old.)
2) I was bilingual for a while but then Slovenian took over. When I was six my grandfather playfully grabbed me by my back which was sun burnt, and I started screaming in English.
3)My girls have the same names as the dolls I played with when I was little. I only realized that after a while.
4)I’m good at starting the communication with complete strangers but have problems making friends.

By: Jackie Mon, 30 Jan 2012 01:31:31 +0000 Love your list. You have so many little fascinating synchronicities about your life. Very cool!

By: Garrett Sat, 28 Jan 2012 22:58:57 +0000 I love this, Lindsey. And thanks for sharing Amy’s post. And for the invitation to share.

1) when I was 2 or 3, we were staying in my Great Uncle’s house in Watertown, New York, and I asked my dad, where are they? He said on their island. Are they ducks, I responded, thinking of Make Way for Ducklings. Always making connections with what I read and what’s read to me

2) Love zinnias . And irises . And sunflowers.

3) can find a book misplaced in the library shelves but can’t find the butter in the refrigerator

By: Drawerfuls Of Divine Details | brandyglows Fri, 27 Jan 2012 03:40:20 +0000 […] Lindsey Meade inspires me to no end. The other day she wrote a post about how the magic of the universe can be glimpsed in the details. And then she shared some of her own gorgeous details. […]

By: Alisa@Keep Calm and Have a Cupcake Wed, 25 Jan 2012 02:05:04 +0000 Some details we share:

1. I am also a Year of the Dragon (but an Aries). I loved cats growing up but not so much now. I’ve become a dog person.
2. I cannot drive a stick shift either. It doesn’t bother me until I worry about the end of the world or some random emergency and for some reason there is only a stick shift car to save us. I hope I could figure it out?
3. I was born 3 weeks late. And am always late.
4. I also need pitch black and a fan on, no matter the weather.
5. I don’t understand how people DON’T need an Oxford Comma. It just makes so much sense.

A few others:
1. I give colors and numbers gender and personalities.
2. I cannot stand to not have my legs shaved when I sleep.
3. I can remember every actor on every TV show or movie I’ve ever seen and have random useless trivial recall regarding tv and movies.
4. My baby to be is scheduled to be a Gemini and it scares me. The only Gemini I know was my craziest friend in high school. It makes me feel better that you know some good Gemini’s.
5. I didn’t eat cold cheese or tomatoes or chicken until I lived in Paris for a semester in college. Then I ate all of those things (and more) and gained like 15 lbs.
6. I don’t like apples. People find this strange. Though I am eating them this pregnancy.
7. I am missing two of my top teeth- the eye teeth. I never had them even as baby teeth. My father and grandmother don’t have them either. My mother was properly horrified when she found out.
8. I am named after a song that Clint Eastwood sings in a movie called “Paint Your Wagon”. Except it was spelled “Elisa”.
9. I was once on TV during the Billboard Music Awards. I was in the audience dancing to “End of the Road” by Boyz II Men. I remember I was wearing my Betsy Johnson pin striped bustier and vintage Levi’s and Easy E was sitting right in front of me.
10. Every day I am surprised that I have a child.

Thanks Lindsey, this was fun!

By: Celina Wyss Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:27:08 +0000 Thanks so much for sharing. I love your list!

By: Stacy @bklynstacy Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:55:01 +0000 Ooo! Ooo! How delightful, the invitation to think about oneself in the smallest, most curious way (instead of doing it in a judgmental way). Thank you for interrupting my work this morning, so I can tell you a few minute, but oh-so-central, things about me:
1) I have a romantic attachment to 18-wheelers, ocean liners and long double-engine diesel trains that snake their way across the American landscape. I instantly get wistful when I see one at a distance, something about the lonely giant and its claim on solitude and independence. When I was in Turkey standing high up on a cliffside castle I wept at seeing the oceanliners head from the Bosphorus Strait out to the yawning Black Sea beyond. The world has never felt so impossibly large.
2) I once guest-appeared on Celebrity Apprentice (as a judge), but I forgot to save a copy of it.
3) I am a natural blonde, and I dyed my hair henna-red for more than 10 years. Which people find really strange, for some reason.
4) I like to go to Great Adventure every few years with friends and ride every single roller coaster in the park, which takes all day.
5) Even though I am an open book, and will share almost any detail of my life quickly and easily, I am an excellent secret-keeper.
6) I wrecked my parents’ station wagon when I was 15 and didn’t have a license.
7) I can (and do) make birthday cakes that look like they were made by a pro: a beetle, a tractor, a robot, a construction site, baby blocks, and Thomas the tank engine have all made an appearance for my son’s birthdays.
8) I have a sixth sense for reading people’s emotional wounds, instantly upon meeting them. For reasons I will never understand, this is how I greet the world.

By: Louise Tue, 24 Jan 2012 13:22:46 +0000 Fascinating! One of my dreams is to someday, while my children are young, live in Great Britain long enough for them to really absorb the culture, right down to picking up the accent.

A couple little things about me? I love to bake bread, not only because it is an excellent workout for my arm muscles, but because it connects me to my mother and grandmother – some of my favorite childhood memories are watching one or the other of them kneading bread in the kitchen.

Also, I take myself outside because I know it is healthy and needed, but I would really be perfectly happy to spend 95% of my time indoors. Preferably curled up in a comfy chair with a good book.

By: Life is in the details « The Frangipani Journals Tue, 24 Jan 2012 09:38:27 +0000 […] ones I read every day. I love the way she writes, her honesty and candour. So, when she shared a little list of some of the things that make her her, I thought I’d share mine […]


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My name is Joseph!

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Photo 1 - Poodle (Miniature) Mix Dog for adoption in San Diego, California - Joseph
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You are here: Home Blog Ret Talbot interview about Banggai Rescue

Ret Talbot interview about Banggai Rescue

By Leonard Ho - Posted Mar 19, 2012 10:30 AM
Ret Talbot is a team member of Banggai Rescue. He is currently on assignment in Hawai'i and takes time to talk with Advanced Aquarist about their goals and plans as well as explain why this project is important for aquarists and for conservation.

Read more about the Banggai Resuce Project, make a pledge, and follow its progress.

Advanced Aquarist: There has been a lot of discussions about Banggai Rescue since it was announced last week.  We appreciate you talking with us about this project, providing more details and dispelling some misinformation about Banggai Rescue.

I suppose the best place to start is: Why should aquarists care about Banggai Cardinalfish?

Ret Talbot: The simple answer is because so many questions exist about the species, and many of those questions are directly related to the aquarium trade. Should the species be listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List as it currently is? Should it have received the CITES listing which it failed to receive? Why is there so much anecdotal evidence of a mysterious virus causing high mortality of apparently healthy aquarium specimens? Does the virus exist in native populations? Introduced populations? What is the real impact of the trade on the population levels of the species, the health of the ecosystems to which the species is endemic, and the socio-economics of local fishers and their families? I could go on and on.

To answer your question another way, aquarists should care because there are so many conflicting opinions from industry leaders who run the gamut from saying “What’s the big deal—there’s nothing wrong” to, “This is a crisis to which we can only respond by ending the trade in wild-caught Banggais.” We hope to be able to give the average aquarist a resource that will allow him or her to be able to begin answering these questions themselves, and, perhaps more importantly, contribute meaningfully to a truly sustainable future for the trade.

Advanced Aquarist: To my knowledge, Banggais are now found outside the Banggai Archipelago, with populations established throughout Sulawesi, Indonesia and beyond. Are they still in danger of extinction?

Ret Talbot: It seems clear to me from the interviews I have conducted and the research I have done that you are correct in saying there are now thriving introduced populations of the fish outside the species’ endemic range. Of course this, in and of itself, is something worth studying, as it seems fairly clear those populations were introduced secondary to the aquarium trade and, in at least one case, possibly a dive operator. I am not a scientist, and so I will respectfully reserve judgment regarding whether or not the species is in danger of extinction until I know more. I do think there are a lot of questions that need to be answered, however—hence this project.

Advanced Aquarist: There is some confusion about what the Kickstarter pledges will underwrite. Can you clarify the mission and goals of the Banggai Rescue Project?

Ret Talbot: Absolutely. The Kickstarter funding will, as the name implies, “kickstart” the project. As I’m sure you can imagine, the project—producing the book and all the research, writing, illustration, production, and printing that will go into producing the book—will cost far more than the $25,000 we are seeking through Kickstarter. The Kickstarter funding will, however, allow us to get the project off the ground by helping to cover the costs associated with embedding me as a journalist with the scientific expedition, by helping to fund the work that will go into establishing the breeding protocols, and by helping fund the editing, production and printing of the first edition of the book in time for MACNA 2012 in Dallas.

Moving beyond just the Kickstarter funding, the Project itself will also involve collaboration with a team of scientists, collaboration with partners in Indonesia, and collaboration with academic institutions and others hoping to scale mariculture and aquaculture initiatives up to a commercial level both here in the States and in the source country. While we look forward to that collaboration and even helping to hopefully fund some of those initiatives that will benefit the species, the ecosystems from which the species originates, the local fishers and their communities, and the trade at large, it’s important, I think, to remember that Banggai Rescue is ultimately about a book we hope can initiate some important dialog and, dare I say, reform in the industry.

Advanced Aquarist: To piggyback on an earlier question, why should aquarists contribute to the publication of a for-profit book?

Ret Talbot: As I alluded to a moment ago, even with all of us working on a shoestring budget, the book is going to cost a lot more than the $25,000 we are seeking to raise through Kickstarter, which, by the way, only allows fundraising for for-profit projects. We are willing to pour ourselves into this project with little hope of actual financial remuneration because we believe this is an important topic, and we hope aquarists will as well. So it’s not so much that aquarists should contribute, but rather it’s that we hope aquarists will want to join us in this endeavor by contributing and making it possible for us to get this thing off the ground.

Personally, I see the story of the Banggai cardinalfish as a microcosm of the trade at large, and that is primarily why I want to see this book published. If you have read any of my writing, you know I am an advocate for a robust and sustainable marine aquarium trade based on a combination of cultured animals and well-managed marine aquarium fisheries. Telling the story of the Banggai cardinalfish will help aquarists better understand the trade and its real impacts. Every time I speak, aquarists ask me how they can use their purchasing power to support the future of a sustainable marine aquarium trade—this, in my opinion, is one good way.

Oh yeah—and the rewards we are offering at each pledge level are really cool too!

Advanced Aquarist: From proposal to funding to expedition to book, the timeline appears very compressed. Do you believe the timeline is achievable for publishing the book in time for MACNA Dallas, which is only 6 months away?

Ret Talbot: You are absolutely correct! It is super compressed, but I think we can do it, and MACNA will be a great place to showcase the work. Having said that, much of the work has already begun for all of us on the team, so it’s not like we just started. I’m guessing the first edition will most likely be a somewhat limited run for MACNA, and I bet you’ll see a revised edition coming out later as we learn more about the breeding protocols.

James Lawrence, who has committed to publishing the book through Reef to Rainforest Media, would be in a better position to comment on the production schedule, but I can say for my part that I’m confident I can get my copy to editorial by the deadline.

Advanced Aquarist: On a related note: How does Matt Pedersen plan to conduct research on breeding Banggai with such short time? There are already several documents published about breeding Banggai. What does the Bangaii Rescue Project hope to contribute with the funds marked for captive breeding research?

Matt Pedersen
Matt Pedersen
Ret Talbot: I can’t speak for Matt, and personally I am, at best, an accidental fish breeder. What I can tell you is that, like me and like members of the scientific team, Matt has already begun working on this project by interfacing with other breeders, reading the extant literature and working in his own fish room.

While there are published accounts of breeding Banggais in captivity, and while many have the impression that this is an easy species to breed, the reality is that there is nobody of whom I’m aware who is consistently producing tank-bred Banggai cardinalfishes at a commercial scale. So again, we have another key question—why is a fish that is supposedly so easy to breed and whose status in the wild is so questionable not being bred consistently on a commercial level? I have some of my own opinions on that question based on stories I have researched in the past, but it’s Matt who is going to do the legwork to attempt to answer that question definitively in the book and provide the protocols that will hopefully jumpstart both small and large scale commercial breeding of the species.

Advanced Aquarist: The press release makes mention of a science team.  However, the project page has not provided any details about the science team.  Why has this information not been made available?

Ret Talbot: This is one of the most frustrating aspects of the project to date for those of us on the team. We are so excited about collaborating with these specific scientists given their expertise, and we want to share that excitement with everyone. The fact of the matter is, however, that mounting a scientific expedition to a foreign country is no simple feat. It is absolutely critical to the success of the scientific expedition and the book project that the scientists dot all their proverbial i’s and cross all their t’s before they go public.

What I can tell you is that the team is in touch daily with collaborators in Indonesia to insure the work undertaken in the Banggai Islands is legal and will benefit local scientists, conservationists, aqua- and mariculturists, fishers, fisheries managers, and all the other people already on the ground in Indonesia working hard on issues related to the Banggai cardinalfish. This is a huge collaborative effort, and we don’t want to jeopardize anything in the name or PR. As soon as everything is in order, we’ll get the word out.

Advanced Aquarist: Can you provide any information about the scientists at this time? What are the objectives for their scientific expedition?

Ret Talbot: As I just explained, I really can’t go into too many details. I can tell you I have read their proposal, and I have spoken with members of the scientific team, and I am very humbled to have the opportunity to work with such talented and credentialed individuals. I can also give you a little scoop here, and that is that we just announced Dr. Gerry Allen as our senior advisory board member. I don’t think there is anybody affiliated with the trade who is in a better position to comment on a project concerning this species. The fact Dr. Allen has vetted the project and the scientists should give everyone confidence in what we are attempting to do.

bangaii2.jpgAdvanced Aquarist: What relationship will the Bangaii Rescue team have with the science team?

Ret Talbot: The most direct relationship is that I will be embedded with the scientific expedition in Indonesia in May. My primary role will be to shadow them and, as a journalist, document what they are doing and what they are learning about the species. This will result in some of the early chapters of the book. Once the scientific team is back in the States, they will be interfacing with Matt on the breeding protocols with their efforts much more focused on large-scale commercial breeding.

To clarify, we are not taking the entire project team to Indonesia, as some have inferred. Of the announced team members to date, I am the only one going to the Banggai Islands with the scientific team.

Advanced Aquarist: Will the project publicly document the allocation of funds?

Ret Talbot: I don’t have an answer for you on that—it’s above my pay grade I’m afraid. We do have an internal budget, but likely that will remain fairly fluid depending on how the fundraising effort progresses. While it is not common for a publisher to produce a book’s budget for public consumption, I realize this is a somewhat different beast given that we are using Kickstarter and asking people to essentially invest in the project.

If I were looking from without and trying to decide whether or not I wanted to invest in backing this project, I guess I would look at the end product—the book—and then decide how much I felt the book was worth to me considering the impact it could have on the species, the ecosystems where the species originates, the local fishers and their communities, the trade, and, ultimately, the individual aquarist. I’d also take a serious look at those rewards. For example, I know I’m married to the artist, but receiving an original Karen Talbot painting at the $2,500 level would certainly tempt me.

Advanced Aquarist: Our hobby has attempted crowd-sourced projects in the past which resulted in delay or failure. The Elegance Coral Project and Salt Study comes to mind. What assurances can you provide that the Bangaii Rescue Project will not repeat past mistakes?

Ret Talbot: I am not very familiar with those projects, but I am pretty familiar with Kickstarter, and it is a platform which has established a fair degree of credibility in a short amount of time. The fact that we are doing this through Kickstarter is one degree of assurance. Beyond that, I think you can look to James Lawrence’s credibility as the editor and publisher of Coral Magazine and Amazonas Magazine. As many people will know, James is no newcomer to books, having published more than 150 book titles for national distribution. Six of those titles have sold 100,000 copies or more, and his creation, Microcosm, Ltd, is responsible for a string of highly acclaimed bestsellers, including the award-winning Conscientious Marine Aquarist and The Marine Aquarium Handbook: Beginner to Breeder.

In short, I think we’ve put together a team with a proven track record when it comes to telling a story, promoting a robust and sustainable marine aquarium trade and actually getting things done in a timely fashion.

Advanced Aquarist: You have become the de facto public champion for a sustainable aquarium trade, and I really can not think of a better person to speak on our behalf.  How did this passion come about?

Ret Talbot: You are kind, but I should point out there are many sustainably-minded people who have been involved in the hobby and the trade a lot longer than I. Many of these folks have gone beyond championing sustainability by actually doing something about it. I'm fortunate I get to cover some of these stories for publications like Coral Magazine, and it's a real pleasure to be able to share what I learn with readers and audiences around North America.

In terms of how I got to where I am as "the guy who covers sustainability issues in the trade," it really all began with our own aquarium. As a freelance writer, I covered other fisheries, conservation, science, and sustainability issues for years before I ever penned anything for the marine aquarium media. These are topics I have been passionate about since my grandfather first taught me to fly fish. Interestingly enough, that same grandfather also instilled in me a love of aquarium-keeping. As I moved into my professional life, my passion for fly fishing also became central to my career as both a guide and a writer, but the same did not happen with my passion for aquaria. I almost always kept tanks, but it was truly just a hobby.

When the call to boycott all wild-caught Banggai cardinalfish was issued a few years back, I was intrigued that the discussion that emerged was remarkably similar to the dialogs in which I was engaged regarding other fisheries. After a conversation along those lines with James Lawrence at Coral, he suggested I interview some people in Indonesia about the Banggai story, and suddenly, I found myself engaged in discussions about the impacts of marine aquarium fisheries such as the one in the Banggai Islands. Readers responded well, and James green-lighted a multi-year series of articles in Coral that has allowed me to research many of these fisheries firsthand and report back to aquarists.

In the absence of third-part certification and the degree of transparency a fishery such as this one requires in order to be categorically deemed sustainable, the aquarium media can--and I would even go so far as to say should--play a vital role in educating aquarists about the fundamental issues surrounding sustainability. Once aquarists have the information, then they can make an informed decision about how they choose to use their purchasing power. Being in a position to help aquarists make those choices has been one of the more rewarding aspects of my writing career, and, yes, it has become a passion.

Advanced Aquarist: Thank you so much for your time.  Keep up the good work you're doing on behalf of aquarists everywhere.

Author: Leonard Ho
Location: Southern California

I'm a passionate aquarist of over 30 years, a coral reef lover, and the blog editor for Advanced Aquarist. While aquarium gadgets interest me, it's really livestock (especially fish), artistry of aquariums, and "method behind the madness" processes that captivate my attention.

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Monday, October 19, 2009

Advancedbiker joins Twitter

Just thought I would let you all know, just joined Twitter. It is good for me as a media to post news, views and bits of stuff, i.e. Tour information.

Want to have a peep at the page, here is the link: TWITTER
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