MacHeist: Why You Should Choose The Nature Conservancy

If you’re an Apple fan, you already know: The MacHeist 3 Bundle is here.* If you’re truly a Mac addict, then you’ve probably already ordered yours. But if you haven’t, let me make a quick pitch:

MacHeist is donating 25 percent of every sale to some amazing charities — and I humbly submit that you should choose The Nature Conservancy for your charity.

Here are five reasons why:

1. Accountability: The Nature Conservancy has a four star rating from Charity Navigator and an A- rating from the American Institute of Philanthropy. This means, when you contribute funds, nearly 80 percent of the money goes to programs.
2. Innovation: Whether it’s in our conservation work — check out our next Big Ideas in Conservation — or in how we communicate with members — see our blog (hey, you’re reading it now!), our Twitter feed, our Facebook Cause, our Flickr group, our Plant a Billion Trees campaign and our carbon offset program — we’re always looking to try something new. People who are down with MacHeist are down with trying new stuff.
3. Working at scale: The Conservancy has protected more than 119 million acres of land and 5,000 miles of rivers worldwide — and we operate more than 100 marine conservation projects globally. We partner with everyone from indigenous people to governments and businesses and take a pragmatic approach that’s not based on political ideology — if you want to do what’s right for the environment, we want to work with you.
4. Science-based: The Conservancy doesn’t take on a conservation strategy because it’s popular or we think we can get contributions from it. We take on strategies because our 700-plus scientists tell us it’s the right thing to do. Once we make a decision based on science, we act quickly.
5. We need the money: Let’s not sugarcoat it: Times are tough, the economy is hurting and charitable contributions are down — way down. Programs like MacHeist are important to our mission and to ensuring great conservation work like the Santa Cruz Island bald eagle program continues.

So there’s my pitch. Now, head on over to MacHeist, load up on some great software and choose The Nature Conservancy as your charity.

*Right, I realize we’re not all Mac fans, so here’s the deal on MacHeist: The website offers a bundle of software, up to 12 programs at a deeply discounted rate and donates 25 percent of all proceeds to charity. The Nature Conservancy is one of eight charities that stand to benefit.

From:blog.nature

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Tropical Forests

Tropical forests evoke in our minds lush, verdant expanses alive with the sounds of birds and animals. Indeed, these forests are stunningly rich in biodiversity with unique and endangered species like the scarlet macaw, howler monkeys, capybaras and anteaters.

The region’s tropical forests also play crucial roles for humans. They were once home to rich ancient cultures like the Maya civilization. Today these forests provide water, food, medicines, shelter and sources of livelihood for the communities that live in and around them.

The forests also provide important environmental services for the planet. For instance, they function as temperature regulators by absorbing and storing carbon dioxide, helping to mitigate the impacts of global warming.

How the Conservancy is Protecting These Forests

Unfortunately, these fragile ecosystems are under threat from deforestation, improper agricultural practices, tourism, development and forest fires.

With your help, The Nature Conservancy is working to protect the tropical forests of the Mesoamerica and Caribbean region — including the Maya Forest in Guatemala, Mexico and Belize; the Mosquitia in Honduras and Nicaragua; the Darien in Panama; the Amistad in Panama and Costa Rica; the Blue and John Crow mountains in Jamaica; and the Madre de las Aguas forest in the Dominican Republic.

Why These Forests are Important

• They are home to almost one-half of the world’s species;
• They help to mitigate the impacts of global warming;
• They help recycle water and oxygen;
• Scientists have identified thousands of plants found here to have anti-cancer properties;
• They preserve ruins of ancient civilizations;
• They provide precious wood for furniture, lumber and firewood; and
• They are a source of jobs and income for the people who live around them.

What the Conservancy is Doing

• Debt-for-nature swaps such as the recent debt-for-nature swap in Guatemala; and
• Setting up national parks and protected areas.

From: nature.org

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Floaters, Flashes & Retinal Tears

Floaters

Retinal Detachment

Older people often notice occasional spots or opaque flecks drifting across their line of vision, particularly when they are looking at a page of a book, a computer screen, or a solid, light background. These floaters are tiny clusters of cells or gel in the vitreous cavity, where the clear jelly-like substance called vitreous humor fills your eyeball. What you actually see is the shadow these little clumps cast on the retina. In some cases, the vitreous gel may detach from the retina, causing more floaters, an event called posterior vitreous detachment.

About 25% of people have these vitreous detachments and floaters by their 60s, and 65% by their 80s. Floaters also appear more often in people who are nearsighted or have had cataract surgery. These phenomena are usually nothing more than an annoyance and often dissipate on their own. If they occur suddenly, however, consult an ophthalmologist. Certain eye diseases or injuries can cause them. Floaters can also be small drops of blood from a torn retinal vessel. Less commonly, new floaters are the sign of a retinal tear, which should be evaluated.

Once floaters have been checked and declared harmless, one of three things may happen. The floater may disappear as it breaks apart or settles; the floater may become less noticeable with time; or it may stay and become bothersome. Floaters can be removed, but the surgical risk is greater than the floater itself. If floaters become a nuisance to central vision, moving the eye up and down or left and right may shift the floaters and provide temporary relief.

Flashes

Seeing shooting stars — a phenomenon called photopsia — is not unusual as people age. Solitary flashes appear as sparks or minuscule strands of light, almost like streaks of lightning across the sky. They occur when the vitreous gel bumps, rubs, or tugs against the retina. Generally harmless, they require no treatment. In rare cases, they may be a sign of more severe retinal complications. If their appearance is sudden or accompanied by a shower of floaters or a loss of peripheral vision, see your ophthalmologist. These flashes of light are different from the flashing or zigzag lights that may precede migraine headache, which some people experience simultaneously in both eyes, typically for as long as 20 minutes, but sometimes for an hour or even longer.

Retinal tear or detachment

Occasionally, floaters and flashes can be a sign of something more serious: a retinal tear or retinal detachment. In a retinal tear, the vitreous gel pulls on the retina with enough force to tear the retina. Fluid from inside the eye may enter through this tear and separate the retina from underlying tissues that nourish it. Separation of the retina from the back of the eye is called a retinal detachment (see picture). People who are middle-aged and older are the most likely to experience this problem. Nearsightedness increases the chances for detachment, as do cataract removal and eye injuries.

Retinal detachment is a serious condition and can lead to a permanent loss of vision. If you suspect one, contact your ophthalmologist immediately; if you cannot reach your own doctor, go to an emergency room for evaluation. If a tear is caught early, treatment may prevent a retinal detachment. When not treated, the condition may worsen until the retina separates completely from the inner wall of the eye, remaining connected only at the optic nerve in the back of the eye and the ciliary body in the front of the eye. The worst cases cause blindness.

From:everydayhealth

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How the Eye Works

organ of sight is far more complex and efficient. Not only does the eye focus and snap pictures, but it also works continuously with the brain and nervous system to process ever-changing images and provide you with the visual information you need for doing everything from hitting a golf ball to preparing your taxes.

Eyeball Engineering

The conjunctiva is a thin, colorless membrane that lines the inner surfaces of the eyelids and the front portion of the sclera, the eye's white outer layer. The conjunctiva is so sensitive that when it becomes aware of a foreign body, it automatically triggers a protective reaction, such as tearing or blinking.

Six extraocular muscles regulate each eye's up-and-down, side-to-side, diagonal, and rotational motions. The muscles come in pairs and run from the back of the orbit to the sides of the eyeball, beneath the conjunctival membrane (see image "The Inside Story").

The middle layer, called the uveal tract, comprises the iris, ciliary body, and choroid. The iris — the pigmented segment, which might be blue, green, brown, or another color — forms a ring around the pupil, a black hole in the iris's center. Basically a circular curtain of muscle fibers, the iris controls how much light enters the eye. As with an automatic camera, which adjusts the size of its aperture (opening) to the available light, the involuntary muscles of the iris open to allow more light to enter the pupil in dim light, and close to make the pupil smaller in bright light. A good example of the eye's adaptation is the mildly painful change that occurs when you walk into sunlight after sitting in a dark movie theater. Even subtle alterations in light prompt a response from the eye, and the iris muscles are continually adjusting to the environment.

From:everydayhealth

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Living With Low Vision

Many people must live with vision that limits their daily activities, a condition known as low vision. Low vision may involve blurry vision, poor central vision, loss of peripheral vision, or even double vision. Whatever the symptom, the immediate consequences are often the same — difficulty performing day-to-day activities such as reading a newspaper, using a computer, watching television, cooking a meal, or crossing the street. Still, low vision is like many complicated medical conditions: While there may not be a cure, there often are ways to cope.

Optical aids. The magnifying lens remains one of the most common tools to help compensate for low vision. Most magnifying lenses are made to be held, but some can be incorporated into the lens of a pair of prescription glasses and used for reading or detail work. Special lenses that work like miniature telescopes can be mounted on a pair of glasses and used for driving or watching a movie. Glasses with special filters or stand-mounted magnifiers containing a light source may help with excessive glare or reduced contrast (less distinction between light and dark). An expensive option is a device similar to something once featured in Star Trek: goggles that consist of two tiny high-definition television sets that display images recorded and enhanced by a digital camcorder.

Computer aids. Many software programs can make the text on a computer monitor larger or more legible to people with vision problems. Options range from programs that enable you to change font size and background displays to specialized text-to-speech conversion programs that read online text aloud. Special keyboards, magnifiers for monitors, and other devices are also available. Most major computer supply stores carry these products.

Other aids. Electronic "talking" watches, alarm clocks, and calculators let people rely on their hearing rather than their vision. Listening to books on audiotape is another popular option.

A simple desk lamp with a metal shade is one of the easiest ways to improve vision if you use it properly. Position the lamp so that the light shines directly onto the materials in front of you, rather than over your shoulder or high above you.

Other inexpensive, low-tech vision aids include large-print versions of playing cards, bingo cards, and push-button telephone pads. And, of course, many books and newspapers come in large-print versions.

Rehabilitation. In addition to using various gadgets, people with low vision can learn a few simple tactics to compensate for their diminished sight. Ophthalmologists, optometrists, and occupational therapists can offer such advice. For example, dark coffee is easier to see when poured into a white mug, and a fried egg is more visible when served on a dark plate. You can rearrange furniture for easier navigation, and label your foods and medications with large print to make them easier to identify.

From: everydayhealth

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Little Big Pine

In my heart of hearts I hear a voice that whispers:
there really are no countries,
there’s but a single Earth endowed with many lands,
and every land is beautiful; there is no land I would not live.

But somewhere long ago they took away
my native eye, and when they gave it back –
then I saw a world of many rival nations;
then it seemed to me my country was the best.

In my heart of hearts I hear a voice that whispers:
there really are no languages,
there’s but a single Tongue endowed with many sounds,
and every sound is beautiful; there is no sound I would not speak.

But somewhere long ago they took away
my native ear, and when they gave it back –
then I heard a world of many strident dialects;
then it seemed to me my language was the best.

In my heart of hearts I hear a voice that whispers:
there really are no races,
there’s but a single Body endowed with many faces,
and every face is beautiful; there is no face I’d not embrace.

But somewhere long ago they took away
my native face, and when they gave it back –
then I faced a world of many hostile tribes;
then it seemed to me my people were the best.

In my heart of hearts I hear a voice that whispers:
there really are no religions,
there’s but a single Spirit endowed with many paths,
and every path is beautiful; there is no path I would not walk.

But somewhere long ago they took away
my native feeling, and when they gave it back –
then I felt a world of many adverse deities;
then it seemed to me my god was the best.

Somewhere long ago they meddled
with my eyes and ears, my face and feelings;
and still they do not cease.

Yet all I really know
is what I hear that ever whispers
in my heart of hearts.

little big pine
los angeles county
hearing orpheus’ fine harp with naked eyes.

From: stateofnature.org

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In my heart of hearts

The Bard was a logical man, and he went about coining sensible phrases in a rational fashion. Thus, Hamlet does not say "in my heart of hearts," but "in my heart of heart"—that is, at the "heart" (center) of my heart. The phrase is in fact a synonym for "In my heart's core." And like the heart of an artichoke, the heart of Hamlet's heart is its most tender part. He reserves this region of his affection for men who aren't slaves to their passion, who are governed by reason, like his friend Horatio (whom he addresses here) and, indeed, like the phrase-coining Shakespeare.

We've perverted the phrase into "in my heart of hearts" by way of expressions like Ecclesiastes' "vanity of vanities." But where Ecclesiastes had a number of vanities from which to elect a chief or encompassing vanity—presumption—one doesn't have a number of hearts. Even granting that we use "heart" mostly as a metaphor and not with reference to the organ, we never mean to speak of having more than one.

From: enotes.com

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When satire goes too far?

A late-night Fox News TV broadcast recently caused controversy when its panelists mocked Canada:

Defense Minister Peter MacKay is demanding an apology from Fox News after a panel on of one of its late-night programs made “disgusting” comments about the Canadian military.

In the four-minute segment, Gutfeld asked the other three members of his panel: “The Canadian military wants to take a breather to do some yoga, paint landscapes, run on the beach in gorgeous white Capri pants. … Isn’t this the perfect time to invade this ridiculous country? They have no army!” (CTV News)

On Friday, four more Canadian peacekeepers were killed in Afghanistan, bringing the total Canadians killed during the country’s service in that country to 116. Popular Canadian political satirist Rick Mercer commented that “If you’re going to do satire, three of the most important rules are you have to tell the truth, you can’t be a bully and don’t be [a jerk]. Being a bully is not satire.” (Globe & Mail)

• The full video of the four minute segment from Fox News’ 3am “Red Eye” program has been posted on YouTube.

What do you think of this segment? Is an apology necessary? Can some leniency be given due to the fact this late night talk show features comedians and other philistines?

From:thelife.com

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Text Size Obama’s NCAA Picks

Got “March Madness”? Then you may be interested in what the commander-in-chief of the United States thinks about your favorite team’s chances in the 2009 NCAA basketball tournament:

President Barack Obama, who can still go strong to the rim in pickup games, announced his NCAA picks just before leaving for California on Wednesday. In a first for an American president, he did it with an appearance on ESPN, the popular cable sports channel. It’s risky business, sure to please and anger sports fans around the country. Lucky for Obama, the election is long over.

The first fan will be trying to catch parts of tournament games as he travels, but here Obama has a big advantage. “Air Force One has DirecTV,” he told ESPN. [Mercury News

Beginning Again: I turned my life around
We’re here to listen: Talk with us anytime

Although it’s nice to see the president is in touch with popular cultural phenomenons and actually makes time in his busy schedule for a little recreation, a lot of people probably will react like Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski who commented that “as much as I respect what he’s doing, really, the economy is something that he should focus on, probably more than the brackets.” [ABC News]

Do you agree with his picks? (You can see Obama’s NCAA 2009 picks here on the ESPN site.) How do you feel about Obama’s recent ESPN appearance? Is it lighthearted and fun encouragement, or not taking the severity of the economic situation seriously enough?

From: thelife.com

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Duc Ba Cathedral

Duc Ba Cathedral Location: Duc Ba Cathedral is located on Han Thuyen Street, facing down Dong Khoi Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. Characteristic: The resplendent Governor�s Palace, completed in 1875, symbolized the regime�s political power in Asia. And five years later, the Duc Ba (Our Lady�s) Cathedral was inaugurated, and became the spiritual and cultural crucible of the French presence in the Orient.

After the first French colonizing force arrived in Vietnam in the mid - 19thcentury, it took only 21 years before the country had a cathedral to match the hulking Gothic edifices of France itself. The cathedral is supposed to represent the glory of the French Empire. Yet, as is always the case with colonization, this attempt to import French traditions into Vietnam transformed the colonizers� culture in the process. Even though the cathedral is built in a Western architectural style, it has a uniquely Eastern aspect. Several architects put forward design proposals for the cathedral, but in 1877 the authorities selected Mr Bourard, who was famed for his religious architecture. He envisaged, and executed, a basilica-like structure with a square plan. The cathedral is composed of two main central bays with two sidereal corridors, with tall pillars and light coming in through sets of high windows, and a semi-circular shrine. The style follows a Roman pattern, although the outside contains some modifications: the cathedral�s vaults are Gothic, and a modern steel skeleton supports the whole building. In 1894 a pointed minaret was added to the bell tower, at the behest of an architect named Gardes, who was also responsible for the Xa Tay Palace, the building that now houses the Municipal People�s Committee. The cathedral is a much smaller than those in France, but it was the largest in the French empire. The interior is very large: the principal shrine and two additional bays are 93m long, and reach 35m in width at one point. The semi-circular shrine at the rear seats a choir during services, and there are five chapels. The walls are made of Bien Hoa granite, combined with red tiles from Marseilles, all without coating. Red tiles from France were also used on the roofs, but they were later replaced with tiles of equal quality from Phu Huu. Natural light streams in through stained-glass windows which were made by the Lorin Company from the French town of Sartre. The whole building is well-ventilated thanks to a system of air-holes placed above and under the windows. The belfry is 57m high. For a long time it was the highest structure in the city centre, and was the first thing an arriving traveller would see when approaching the city by boat. Six bells weigh a combined 25,850kg. In 1885, the floor was taken apart and new pillars were added, because the original foundation could not bear the cathedral�s weight. Stepping inside the cathedral, tourists see a line of Chinese characters eulogizing the Jesus� mother, "the innocent and unblemished Virgin Mother", and stained-glass portraits of Vietnamese believers amid Asiatic plants. On the square in front of the cathedral, there is a statue of the Virgin Mother made of white marble, symbolizing peace. All told, it�s an unusual building: a Western architectural and religious style that has been transplanted into, and adapted to, the East. The colonizers were trying to impose French beliefs and customs onto Vietnam but once that culture arrived on Asia�s shores, it took on a life of its own. The cathedral is seen as a unique synthesis, adding an unmistakable Oriental flavour to an ancient Occidental recipe. From : vietnamtourism.com

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