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Category: Rewilding
Rewilding Scotland – can we live with the big, bad wolf?
Rewilding can be a pretty divisive issue, particularly when it involves top predators such as wolves and lynx. As you might expect environmentalists are generally enthusiastic, whereas many rural landowners oppose this alternative approach to land use. The general public appear to be fairly ambivalent, and understandably it's not at the top of many people's priority list.
However, it's a fascinating subject and it's importance is arguably under appreciated.
Rewilding is already occurring in many parts of the world. In mainland Europe, in recent years, there's been the spontaneous and supported return of many previously threatened species such as bears, wolves, beavers, lynx, ibex and eagles. In North America, wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park in 1995, after a 70-year absence.
However, these changes have not been met with universal approval, and in certain areas have resulted in conflict and controversy.
So, can the age-old antipathy between wolves and humans be overcome in the UK? Could we see wolves roaming the Scottish Highlands in the not too distant future?
The idea behind rewilding is that reintroducing large predators back into ecosystems that they once inhabited, allows those ecosystems to regenerate.
This finding is based on the concept of trophic cascades. A classic example of which is the changes that were observed in the landscape when wolves were returned to Yellowstone:
As predicted, the wolves started to prey on the elk, which reduced their numbers and hence their grazing pressure. Understandably, elk also started to avoid areas where they were likely to be eaten, such as next to streams. This led to increased growth of riverside species such as aspen and willow, which in turn led to reduced riverbank erosion and allowed bird and beaver populations to increase, which led to a rise in fish and otter numbers, and so on through the ecosystem.
Given these impressive regenerative effects and the fact that our neighbours are all at it, why not do the same in the UK? Indeed, why doesn't rewilding already form a part of mainstream conservation policy?
Rewilding the UK
The UK is in many ways an ideal candidate for rewilding. Its upland areas have undergone centuries of degradation, thanks to clearing of native forest and overgrazing by sheep (in England and Wales) and deer (in Scotland). This has resulted in a fairly barren landscape of heather moorland, lacking in biodiversity and depleted of ecosystem services.
Rewilding would have different aims and strategies in various parts of the UK, but in Scotland it means the return of native Caledonian Forest, ideally replete with wild boar, lynx, beaver and of course, wolves.
In terms of feasibility, Scotland is the only area of the UK that could support a wolf population. One study calculated that, given the minimum viable population number to maintain genetic variability for wolves needs to be around 200, and based on a typical wolf population density of 2 per 100km2, then an area of at least 10,000km2 of suitable habitat would be required.
This exists in the Scottish Highlands, but unlike Yellowstone, much of this land is in the hands of private estate owners who run deer and grouse shooting businesses, and thus may not take too kindly to this new addition to their property.
Having said that, deer numbers are so great in the Highlands that culling is required in order to meet Deer Commission targets; so by preying on deer, wolves may even be of economic benefit to these estates.
In terms of human population and road densities in the Highlands, both are comparable or lower than those in European and North American areas where wolves exist.
Other reasons to reintroduce wolves…
In addition to the ecosystem benefits, there are several other justifications that could be used to help win over a sceptical Scottish public:
Wolf-spotting ecotourism: research shows that the economic benefits to local communities of eco-tourism exceed traditional land management practices, such as agriculture and deer stalking.
Moral obligation: do we have a moral duty to restore extirpated species to their natural habitats? This is a philosophical argument, and many would counter that wolves don't actually care that they've been removed from the UK.
Human Health: there is now a great deal of evidence that links environmental degradation with adverse effects on human health. Restoration of ecosystem services through rewilding would provide clean air, clean water, healthy soil, reduce the risk of flooding and help mitigate climate change, all of which are vital for our health and wellbeing.
Despite these benefits, opinions about wolves are mixed. In North America, the majority of the general public do support wolf reintroduction, with approximately 60% in favour. In Europe however, this is not the case, with a paltry 36% of the UK being supportive. In rural communities, support is even lower.
Resistance is most likely to be due to three things:
1. Conflict with vested interests (threats to livestock):
Farmers and other landowners have been the most vocal group in their criticism of rewilding in Europe and North America.
In the Pyrenees, thanks to depopulation of rural areas, coupled with government conservation projects, previously threatened species now thrive, such as bears, wolves, beaver, marmots, feral goats and deer.
Unfortunately, but somewhat inevitably, these wild animals have entered farms, grazed, preyed on livestock and spread disease. These effects, coupled with the fact that many of these animals are now protected species, have resulted in the perception that conservation and ecotourism are valued above the welfare of local communities.
In Sweden and Norway, the wolf population died out in the 1960's through hunting, but the area was then naturally recolonised from Finland in the 1980's, and now a Scandinavian population of around 380 exists.
Despite being a protected species according to the Bern Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Habitats, it is estimated that 50% of wolf mortality here is due to poaching. The source of conflict is moose hunting, a popular activity in Sweden. Wolves prey on moose and reduce their numbers, but also kill the hunting dogs, which makes them deeply unpopular amongst many Swedes.
Farmers would probably be the biggest losers if wolves were re-established in Scotland, as there would undoubtedly be attacks on livestock, as has occurred in Europe. However, in countries where wolves have been reintroduced, it has been estimated that they are only responsible for around 1% of livestock deaths, and compensation schemes have been set up which remunerate farmers whose livestock are killed in this way.
2. Cultural attitudes (threats to humans):
The negative folklore and mythology that surrounds wolves should not be underestimated as a barrier to their reintroduction. We do not have to look far for evidence of the wolf's image problem. Consider the sayings "a wolf in sheep's clothing," or "keeping the wolf from the door," and fairytales such as Little Red Riding Hood and The Three Little Pigs. We are conditioned from childhood to believing that wolves are our mortal enemy.
However, this reputation is not backed up by evidence. Wolves have been known to kill humans, but these events are so rare that the risks are difficult to quantify. Attempts at quantification usually invoke comparisons with the chances of being struck by lightning or killed by a vending machine.
3. Old fashioned, entrenched policy:
One of the many interesting things about rewilding is that it makes you look at familiar landscapes through a new lens. The Scottish Highlands are portrayed by conservation groups, guidebooks and the media as one of the last remaining areas of wilderness in Europe. However, the reality is they are anything but wild, having been intensively managed by humans for centuries. How have we allowed this misconception to be perpetuated?
According to George Monbiot, it's because of 'Shifting Baseline Syndrome.' Each generation perceives the state of ecosystems they experienced in their youth as normal, and thus the benchmark to be maintained, when in fact, they were already in a state of severe degradation.
In the UK, this has resulted in conservation groups going to great lengths to maintain a landscape that, in terms of biodiversity, is fairly barren and monotonous, when compared with its former glory that rewilding seeks to restore.
So what is the solution in the UK?
Many of our neighbours in Europe and North America are living with wolves, bears and lynx, and are actively pursuing further rewilding goals.
Australians are certainly no stranger to co-existing with potentially dangerous species such as snakes and spiders, crocodiles, sharks and jellyfish. Why are we reluctant to follow suit in the UK, given the potential benefits described above?
I think we have become used to living in our safe, green and pleasant land, with rolling hills, intensive agriculture, sheep, deer and not much else. But it was not always this way and does not have to remain so. We could re-introduce wolves fairly quickly if the will was there, but this would require a number of things to happen first:
There needs to be government support for wolf reintroduction, and for rewilding to become official environmental policy.
There must also be genuine support from the general public. To achieve this, wolves will need an image makeover, through effective campaigns that present an exciting new vision of a rewilded Britain.
Crucially, there needs to be cooperation from farmers and estate owners in the Scottish Highlands. There is some evidence that estate owners are less opposed to rewilding than farmers, as they may even benefit financially through eco-tourism and negation of the need for costly deer culls.
Convincing farmers and the National Farmers Union may prove to be the most challenging aspect, and this would certainly include providing financial compensation for any livestock that were killed by wolves.
However, providing incentives is equally important, and it's been suggested that instead of receiving subsidies for grazing sheep, farmers could be paid for rewilding services such as planting native trees.
Personally, I would be happy to see wolves reintroduced to my native country, not only for the reasons given above, but also simply because it would be thrilling to have them here. I regularly explore the Highlands to walk and climb, and the idea of wolves being out there only makes the landscape seem more appealing.
From a purely rational viewpoint, if done properly, rewilding with wolves could have widespread benefits: ecosystems regenerate, biodiversity thrives, local communities prosper from eco-tourism, farmers are rewarded, our guilt is assuaged, flood risk is decreased and carbon dioxide is sequestered!
However, I totally appreciate that not everyone shares these sentiments!
What do you think? Could you live with the big, bad wolf?


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Sylvie Lewis is a folk musician from London, England.

Early life
Lewis was born in London to BBC journalist and broadcaster Martyn Lewis and ex-model and presenter Liz Carse. Her grandfather was the polar explorer and actor Duncan Carse. She moved to the United States in 1995 and studied at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts.

Career
After graduation, Lewis relocated to Los Angeles in 1998, where she quit music to become a teacher. Two years later, upon reading an article in a Los Angeles newspaper which stated that in a survey of the worst paid jobs in the US, teacher was number 2 and musician was number 1 - she decided to return to being a singer/songwriter. Her self-released EP Beautiful Mess was heard by Cheap Lullaby Records (a label whose musicians include Joan As Policewoman and Teitur), who signed her to a deal. She released her debut album Tangos and Tantrums under the label, with producer Richard Swift, in 2004 and has toured in the United States, Canada and Europe since then. In 2005, she relocated to Barcelona and her second studio album and third overall, Translations (produced by Lewis, Swift and Elijah Thomson) was released. Lewis was interviewed on NPR's All Things Considered on September 16, 2007. In 2008, she toured extensively with Sondre Lerche and the pair wrote a song together for his album Heartbeat Radio, for which Lewis also sings backing vocals.
She played at SXSW in Austin, Texas in March 2009, and moved to Rome, her current residence, where she was invited to join L'Orchestra di Piazza Vittorio to interpret Pamina in their adaptation of The Magic Flute which toured Europe in 2009 and 2010.

Lewis wrote songs for, and performed in, OPV's recent show "Il giro del mondo in 80 giorni" at Teatro Olimpico, Rome.
In 2012, Lewis began working on her fourth studio album in Los Angeles. Later that year, It's All True was independently released by Lewis and produced by Swift. It was subsequently voted one of the best albums of the year by Performing Songwriter magazine.
2013 tours included dates with Eleni Mandell, Dawn Landes, Josephine Foster and Scott Matthew. She began 2014 by collaborating once again with Sondre Lerche on the soundtrack for the film The Sleepwalker, which premiered at Sundance Film Festival. She shared the stage with Ed Harcourt, Eleni Mandell, Jesse Winchester, Jimmy Webb, Anaïs Mitchell, The Weepies and Jennifer Kimball among others.

It's All True was subsequently independently released by Lewis later that year.

Discography
 Beautiful Mess (EP) - self-released (2001)
 Tangos and Tantrums (CD) - Cheap Lullaby Records (2005)
 Translations (CD) - Cheap Lullaby Records (2007)
 It's All True (CD) - self-released (2012)
 Night Flowers (CD) (2015)

References

External links
 Performing Songwriter's 10 Favorite CDs of 2012

 Album Review for Translations @ BreakThruRadio.com
 The Deli Magazine: Sylvie Lewis.
 BreakThru Radio- Artist of The Week

Musicians from London
American folk musicians
Living people
Year of birth missing (living people)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
- Slavery / Exploitation
- Human rights
- Law
- Genders
- Childhood
The United Nations has launched a global action plan to combat human trafficking, with senior UN officials urging that governments worldwide take coordinated and consistent measures to try to defeat the scourge. The plan, launched at a high-level meeting of the General Assembly at UN Headquarters in New York, calls for integrating the fight against human trafficking into the UN's broader programmes to boost development and strengthen security around the world.
It also calls for the setting up of a UN voluntary trust fund for victims of trafficking, especially women and children.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told today's meeting that the action plan should serve as "a clarion call" to UN Member States, international organizations and civil society groups of the need to take immediate steps "to stop this terrible crime against human dignity, which shames us all."
The UN has estimated that more than 2.4 million people are currently being exploited as victims of human trafficking.
"It is slavery in the modern age," Mr. Ban said. "Every year thousands of people, mainly women and children, are exploited by criminals who use them for forced labour or the sex trade. No country is immune. Almost all play a part, either as a source of trafficked people, transit point or destination."
The Secretary-General urged countries, philanthropists and others to contribute generously to the new trust fund for trafficking victims.
"The fund aims to help governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) provide these vulnerable people with protection and support for their physical, psychological and social recovery. After they have been exploited and abused, they should not be punished, too."
The action plan – which focuses on preventing trafficking, prosecuting offenders and protecting victims – also stresses the importance of obtaining more research, data and analysis about the problem.
"We must improve our knowledge and understanding of this crime if we are to make good policy decisions and targeted interventions," Mr. Ban said.
He added that the only way to succeed is to strengthen partnerships between States, organizations and programmes, such as the UN Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking, known as UN.GIFT since its creation in early 2007.
In his address to today's meeting, General Assembly President Ali Treki emphasized the human rights aspects of the fight against trafficking.
"Abduction, coercion, trafficking across national and international borders, forcing women and children into sexual exploitation and servitude – this must not be accepted in today's world," he said.
"As this heinous crime flourishes, thousands of men, women and children are robbed of their safety, their freedom and their dignity. Human trafficking devastates families and tears communities apart. When the history of this horror calls, we cannot let this period be remembered as one in which the global community knew but did not act."
Thematic features / Human rights
Thematic features / Sex and gender
Thematic features / Law Watch

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Spain is the most sought-after destination for British overseas property seekers, new figures show.
The latest Top of the Props chart from overseas property portal The Move Channel reveals that Spanish property accounted for 6.49 per cent of all enquiries during October – the highest amount of any country. It had only been the third most enquired about location in September.
It is the fourth time this year that Spain has ranked in first place for buyers in the chart. Andalucia and the Valencian Community drove the majority of activity during this period.
With regards to the two countries that had previously ranked above Spain, the United States slipped to second place, garnering 5.05 per cent of all enquires, while France fell from second to fifth, with just 2.61 per cent of enquiries.
France was overtaken by Portugal, which enjoyed a significant surge in international interest, with enquiries more than doubling month-on-month in October to account for 4.37 per cent of the total, and the UAE (2.84 per cent).
Despite the fact the New Zealand government recently revealed plans to ban overseas property investors from purchasing property in the country, NZ entered the top 10 for the first time, accounting for 1.53 per cent of all enquiries.


Briefly, an MSP430 launchpad from TI with Anaren air kit to control a robot or a robotic car with smartphones via bluetooth. Raspberry Pi with Enocean modules (self-powered sensors kit) for home automation. And my idea is switch-off computers or laptops when you leave your room.
After spending all these days lazily, it's time to start working on these things and provide them with review helps me to spend remaining time lazily….!


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Oliva pindarina is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Olividae, the olives.

Description
The length of the shell varies between 25 mm and 58 mm.

Distribution
This marine species occurs in the Sea of Cortez, Mexico.

References

 Vervaet F.L.J. (2018). The living Olividae species as described by Pierre-Louis Duclos. Vita Malacologica. 17: 1-111

External links
 Duclos, P. L. (1835-1840). Histoire naturelle générale et particulière de tous les genres de coquilles univalves marines a l'état vivant et fossile publiée par monographie. Genre Olive. Paris: Institut de France. 33 plates: pls 1-12

pindarina


text:
Jul 7, 2019, 1 PM
The Hearts Blossom Love forever stamp was issued Jan. 10 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The cost of a forever stamp increased by 5¢, to 55¢, effective Jan. 27.
Issue dates, subjects and formats are tentative and subject to change.
Jan. 10, Love Hearts Blossom. One (50¢) forever special stamp, pane of 20; BCA; San Juan, PR 00909; Linn's, Jan. 7, page 1; USPS item No. 565004 (pane), 565016 (FDC at 94¢), 565021 (color postmark FDC at $1.65), 565006 (press sheet at $88); Scott 5339.
Jan. 17, Year of the Boar. One (50¢) forever commemorative stamp, pane of 12; BCA; Lunar New Year series; Houston, TX 77074; Linn's, Jan. 14, page 1; USPS item No. 564904 (pane); 564916 (FDC at 94¢), 564921 (color postmark FDC at $1.65), 564906 (press sheet at $39.60); Scott 5340.
Jan. 27, Uncle Sam's Hat. One (15¢) additional ounce definitive stamp; coil of 100; BCA; Kansas City, MO 64108; Linn's, Feb. 4, page 21; USPS item No. 746904 (coil of 100), 746916 (FDC at $1.14); Scott 5341.
Jan. 27, U.S. Flag. Four (55¢) forever definitive stamps (single design); in two double-sided panes of 20 and two coils of 100; Kansas City, MO 64108; Linn's, Jan. 21, page 65; USPS item No. 682302 (BCA pane), 682304 (AP pane), 740102 (BCA coil), 740104 (AP coil), 682316 (pane stamp FDC at 99¢), 740116 (coil stamp FDC at 99¢); Scott 5342 (AP coil), 5343 (BCA coil), 5344 (AP pane), 5345 (BCA pane).
Jan. 27, California Dogface Butterfly. One (70¢) nonmachineable-surcharge rate definitive stamp; pane of 20; BCA; Kansas City, MO 64108; Linn's, Oct. 10, 2016, page 1; Jan. 28, page 12; USPS item No. 120104 (pane), 120116 (FDC at $1.14); Scott 5346.
Jan. 27, Joshua Tree. One $7.35 Priority Mail flat-rate stamped envelope; American Landmarks series; Bell Inc. (printer); Kansas City, MO 64108; Linn's, Jan. 28, page 8; USPS item No. 232905 (pack of five at $36.75), 232916 (FDC at $7.79); Scott U698.
Jan. 27, Joshua Tree. One $7.35 Priority Mail definitive stamp, pane of four; American Landmarks series; AP; Kansas City, MO 64108; Linn's, Jan. 28, page 8; USPS item USPS item No. 120001 (single stamp), 120004 (pane), 120016 (FDC at $7.79), 120021 (color postmark FDC at $8.50); Scott 5347.
Jan. 27, Bethesda Fountain. One $25.50 Priority Mail Express definitive stamp, pane of four; American Landmarks series; AP; Kansas City, MO 64108; Linn's, Jan. 28, page 8; USPS item No. 129901 (single stamp), 129904 (pane), 129916 (FDC at $25.94), 129921 (color postmark FDC at $26.65); Scott 5348.
Jan. 28, Gregory Hines. One (55¢) forever commemorative stamp, pane of 20; Black Heritage series; AP; New York, NY 10199; Linn's, Jan. 28, page 1; USPS item No. 477004 (pane), 477016 (FDC at 99¢), 477021 (color postmark FDC at $1.70), 477006 (press sheet at $66); Scott 5349.
Feb. 15, Cactus Flowers. Ten (55¢) forever definitive stamps showing cactus flowers; large pale orange flower with lighter center (Scott 5350), six reddish flowers with yellow centers (5351), three yellow flowers with greenish centers (5352), pale violet bloom on narrow diagonal stalk (5353), smaller orange bloom on spiky plant (5354), two purple blooms with yellow centers (5355), two pale yellow blooms with white centers (5356), single purple bloom with pale center on round cactus with spikes (5357), pale flower with darker pink stripe on each petal (5358), two yellow flowers with red in center (5359); double-sided pane of 20; BCA; Mesa, AZ 85201; Linn's, Feb. 11, page 8; USPS item No. 680004 (pane), 680016 (FDC set of 10 at $9.90), 680021 (color postmark FDC set of 10 at $17), 680006 (press sheet at $88).
Feb. 23, Alabama Statehood. One (55¢) forever commemorative stamp, pane of 20; BCA; Huntsville, AL 35801; Linn's, Feb. 25, page 8; USPS item No. 478404 (pane), 478416 (FDC at 99¢), 478421 (color postmark FDC at $1.70), 478406 (press sheet at $66); Scott 5360.
March 22, Star Ribbon. Two (55¢) definitive forever stamps, coils of 3,000 and 10,000, pane of 20; BCA; Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181; Linn's, March 11, page 1; USPS item No. 120604 (pane), 759904 (coil of 3,000), 759903 (strip of 25 with plate no. from coil of 3,000), 760504 (coil of 10,000), 760503 (strip of 25 with plate no. from coil of 10,000), 760516 (coil FDC at 99¢); 120616 (pane FDC at 99¢); Scott 5361 (pane), 5362 (coil).
March 29, Coral Reefs. Eight (35¢) postcard-rate definitive stamps in four designs showing elkhorn coral with two French angelfish (Scott 5363 pane, 5369 coil), brain coral with spotted moray eel (5364 pane, 5370 coil), pillar coral with a coney grouper and neon gobies (5365 pane, 5367 coil), staghorn coral with bluestriped grunts (5366 pane, 5368 coil); pane of 20 and coil of 100; AP; St. Louis, MO 63121; Linn's, March 25, page 8; USPS item No. 120204 (pane), 745104 (coil of 100), 120216 (FDC set of four from pane at $4.56), 745116 (FDC set of four from coil at $4.56).
April 2, Marvin Gaye. One (55¢) commemorative forever stamp, pane of 16; Music Icons series; BCA; Los Angeles, CA 90052; Linn's, April 1, page 1; USPS item No. 586104 (pane), 586116 (FDC at 99¢), 586121 (color postmark FDC at $1.70), 586106 (press sheet at $79.20); Scott 5371.
April 10, Post Office Murals. Five (55¢) forever commemorative stamps, pane of 10; Air Mail, from Piggott, Ark. (Scott 5372); Antelope, from Florence, Colo. (5373); Sugarloaf Mountain, from Rockville, Md. (5374); Kiowas Moving Camp, from Anadarko, Okla. (5375); Mountains and Yucca, from Deming, N.M. (5376); AP; Piggott, AR 72454; Linn's, April 8, page 10; USPS item No. 571104 (pane), 571116 (FDC set of five at $4.95), 571121 (color postmark FDC set of five at $8.50), 571106 (press sheet at $27.50).
April 23, Maureen "Little Mo" Connolly Brinker. One (55¢) commemorative forever stamp, pane of 20; BCA; Dallas, TX 75260; Linn's, April 22, page 10; USPS item No. 478804 (pane); 478816 (FDC at 99¢), 478821 (color postmark FDC at $1.70), 478806 (press sheet at $66); Scott 5377.
May 10, Transcontinental Railroad. Three (55¢) commemorative forever stamps, pane of 18; Jupiter locomotive (Scott 5378), golden spike (5379), No. 119 locomotive (5380); BCA; Promontory Summit, UT 84307; Linn's, May 6, page 1; USPS item No. 570404 (pane), 570416 (FDC set of three at $2.97), 570421 (color postmark FDC set of three at $5.10), 570406 (press sheet at $39.60).
May 21, Wild and Scenic Rivers. Twelve (55¢) forever commemorative stamps, pane of 12 (Scott 5381); Merced River (5381a), Owyhee River (b), Koyukuk River (c), Niobrara River (d), Snake River (e), Flathead River (f), Missouri River (g), Skagit River (h), Deschutes River (i), Tlikakila River (j), Ontonagon River (k), Clarion River (l); BCA; Bend, OR 97701; Linn's, May 13, page 12; USPS item No. 571504 (pane); 571516 (FDC set of 12 at $11.88), 571521 (color postmark FDC set of 12 at $20.40), 571506 (press sheet at $59.40).
*May 31, Ellsworth Kelly. Ten (55¢) commemorative forever stamps, pane of 20; Yellow White (Scott 5382), Colors for a Large Wall (5383), Blue Red Rocker (5384), Spectrum I (5385), South Ferry (5386), Blue Green (5387), Orange Red Relief (for Delphine Seyrig) (5388), Meschers (5389), Red Blue (5390), Gaza (5391); BCA; Spencertown, NY 12165; Linn's, May 27, page 1; USPS item No. 478604 (pane), 478616 (FDC set of 10 at $9.90), 478621 (color postmark FDC set of 10 at $17), 478606 (press sheet at $66).
June 11, USS Missouri. One (55¢) forever commemorative stamp, pane of 20; BCA; Honolulu, HI 96818; Linn's, June 10, page 8; USPS item No. 478704 (pane), 478716 (FDC at 99¢), 478721 (color postmark FDC at $1.70), 478706 (press sheet at $99).
June 12, George H.W. Bush. One (55¢) forever commemorative stamp, pane of 20, BCA; College Station, TX 77840; Linn's, Dec. 24, 2018, page 1; June 10, page 1; USPS item No. 478204 (pane), 478216 (FDC at 99¢), 478221 (color postmark FDC at $1.70), 478206 (press sheet at $66).
June 22, Sesame Street. Sixteen (55¢) forever commemorative stamps showing Big Bird, Ernie, Bert, Cookie Monster, Rosita, The Count, Oscar the Grouch, Abby Cadabby, Herry Monster, Julia, Guy Smiley, Snuffleupagus, Elmo, Telly, Grover, Zoe; pane of 16; AP; Detroit, MI 48233; Linn's, June 17, page 34; USPS item No. 479504 (pane), 479516 (FDC set of 16 at $15.84), 479521 (color postmark FDC set of 16 at $27.20), 479506 (press sheet at $88).
June 28, Wood Duck and Decoy. $25 federal migratory waterfowl hunting and conservation stamp issued by the U.S. Department of the Interior; self-adhesive pane of 20, self-adhesive pane of one; AP; Springfield, MO 65807; Linn's, June 24, page 12; USPS item No. 336104 (pane of one), 336204 (pane of 20), 336106 (pane of one press sheet at $1,170), 336206 (pane of 20 press sheet at $5,850).
*July 9, Frogs. Four (55¢) forever definitive stamps, double-sided pane of 20; Pacific tree frog, northern leopard frog, American green tree frog, squirrel tree frog; BCA; Boise, ID 83708; Linn's, July 1, page 1; USPS item No. 680104 (pane), 680116 (FDC set of four at $3.96), 680121 (color postmark FDC set of four at $6.80).
*July 19, Moon Landing Anniversary. Two (55¢) commemorative stamps, pane of 24; Astronaut Buzz Aldrin, moon with white location dot; BCA; Cape Canaveral, FL 32920; Linn's, July 15, page 10; USPS item No. 479104 (pane), 479116 (FDC set of two at $1.98), 479121 (color postmark FDC set of two at $3.40).
*July 25, State and County Fairs. Four (55¢) forever stamps, pane of 20; unloading produce, girl holding chicken, mother and child with balloons, food vendor with children; AP; Minot, ND 58701; Linn's, July 22, page 1; USPS item No. 479304 (pane), 479316 (FDC set of four at $3.96), 479321 (color postmark FDC set of four at $6.80).
*Aug. 1, Military Working Dogs. Four (55¢) definitive forever stamps; German shepherd, Labrador retriever, Belgian Malinois, Dutch shepherd; double-sided pane of 20; BCA; Omaha, NE 68108; USPS item No. 680304 (pane), 680316 (FDC set of four at $3.96), 680321 (color postmark FDC set of four at $6.80).
*Aug. 8, Woodstock. One (55¢) forever commemorative stamp; pane of 20; BCA; New York, NY 10199; USPS item No. 479404 (pane), 479416 (FDC at 99¢), 479421 (color postmark FDC at $1.70).
Aug. 29, Tyrannosaurus Rex. Four (55¢) forever commemorative stamps showing tyrannosaur hatchling, T. rex in clearing, T. rex skeleton, T. rex pursuing mammal; pane of 16; Washington DC.
Fall?, Spooky Silhouettes. Four (55¢) forever commemorative stamps showing scenes through windows: cat and raven, two ghosts, spider and web, three bats.
Fall?, Winter Berries. Four (55¢) forever definitive stamps in double-sided pane of 20; winterberry, juniper berry, beautyberry, soapberry.
?, Walt Whitman. One (85¢) 3-ounce rate forever commemorative stamp; Literary Arts series.
?, U.S. Flag. One (55¢) definitive stamped envelope, multiple formats possible.
?, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. One semipostal stamp.
*Asterisks precede entries with new or changed information.
New/changed information is presented in bold italics.
Stamp printing contractors are identified in the listings using the following abbreviations: AP (Ashton Potter USA Ltd.), and BCA (Banknote Corporation of America).
Mail orders for mint stamps, uncut press sheets, postal stationery, and the Postal Service's uncacheted first-day covers (FDCs) should be sent to Stamp Fulfillment Services, Box 7247, Philadelphia, PA 19101-7097.
Postal Service supplied first-day covers are available only in certain formats. They usually cost the face value of the stamps affixed plus 44¢ per cover. The prices of some items, including first-day-canceled stationery, may vary. Orders should use USPS item numbers.
Stamp Fulfillment Services accepts credit card orders by telephone (800-782-6724) or fax (816-545-1212). Orders may be placed from countries other than the United States by calling 816-545-1000. An additional $5 shipping fee is added to standard shipping and handling charges for orders to be mailed to a foreign address.
Mail, phone or fax orders have a flat service charge of $1.30 for orders up to $50 if they include only prepackaged items, such as the minimum purchase of a block of four sheet stamps or a pane of definitive stamps. The fee is $1.80 for standard orders totaling more than $50. A $2 fee is added for custom orders.
A detailed sales catalog called USA Philatelic lists the prepackaged formats. It is free on request from U.S. Postal Service, USA Philatelic Request, Box 219014, Kansas City, MO 64121-9014. USA Philatelic listings include formats and USPS item numbers other than those listed here.
The grace period for collectors to send covers for first-day cancels ends 120 days after a stamp's issue date, unless stated otherwise in the listing.
Within the grace period, buy the stamp (or stationery item) at your local post office or philatelic center, affix it to an addressed envelope (postage must make up at least the first-class rate) and send under cover to FDOI — (name of stamp issue), USPS Stamp Fulfillment Services, 8300 NE Underground Drive, Suite 300, Kansas City, MO 64144-9900. No remittance is required.
Plate numbers. Multistamp issues require as a minimum a plate block with every stamp design represented at least once. Plate block formats are listed by the Scott editors in the Scott Specialized Catalogue of United States Stamps and Covers. Stamp Fulfillment Services requires the purchase of a minimum number of stamps to obtain plate number markings. For stamps with face values of 1¢ to 49¢ the minimum purchase is a full pane. For stamps with face values of 50¢ to $1.15 the minimum purchase is either a full pane or block per the catalog listing. For stamps with face values of $1.16 and up the minimum purchase is a block of four stamps. Plate numbers on most coil stamps may be obtained with a minimum purchase of 25 stamps. Stamp Fulfillment Services does not guarantee specific plate numbers.
Nov 5, 2018, 3 AM
Jan 5, 2018, 9 AM
Oct 18, 2016, 11 AM


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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


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Long-haul flights are brutal to your body, and jet-lag can cripple your productivity while you acclimate to your surroundings. I was practically giddy this week when I found a flight to South Africa a mere 36 hours long — 12 hours shorter than I had anticipated. After spending two or three days in transit, it typically takes me a day to feel functional again, and a week to feel normal.
There's much more to becoming a travel photographer than exploring exotic destinations and clicking your shutter. Getting up at stupid-o-clock to catch the perfect sunrise, carrying a camera that's heavier than four backpacks, skipping meals in the quest for perfect light, and missing out on the travel experience because you're too busy taking photos, are just a few of the downsides.
To be honest, I do not think I will ever make it as a travel photographer. I love travelling and I love capturing my adventures in pictures. And I know that I have some decent ones, but selling them seems like a daunting task. I think I might be better off as a travel journalist, to be honest, if only because that's an area where I am more confident (and in a way, this article applies to becoming a travel journalist as well). I have, however, tried selling pictures through microstock sites. Getty Images, Shutterstock and Adobe Stock are the ones I have uploaded the highest number of images to. From my experience, these websites require you to spend a long time creating hashtags and correctly labeling your photos for very little reward. It is great because once the work is done, you can earn money forever. But chances are high that you will only get a few cents, if any at all. I think if you are serious about being a photographer, this one is not an option to consider.
The World Travel Guide (WTG) is the flagship digital consumer brand within the Columbus Travel Media portfolio. A comprehensive guide to the world's best travel destinations, its print heritage stretches back 30 years, with the online portal reaching its 15-year anniversary in 2014. Available in English, German, French and Spanish versions, the WTG provides detailed and accurate travel content designed to inspire global travellers. It covers all aspects, from cities to airports, cruise ports to ski and beach resorts, attractions to events, and it also includes weekly travel news, features and quizzes. Updated every day by a dedicated global editorial team, the portal logs 1 million+ unique users monthly.
For micro-stock, I have portfolios on a dozen different sites. However, I really only publish images on a regular basis to ShutterStock and iStock. Between my micro-stock sales, I have averaged about $250 a month on average. The best part of micro-stock for me is that it's fairly residual and passive. I spend very little time on it, and it keeps coming month after month even if I stop working at it.
On the two recent occasions I was in Shanghai, I was thrilled by the abundance of candid street photography opportunities that presented themselves in its old neighborhoods. The narrow lanes crisscrossing these neighborhoods are called lòngtáng (弄堂) or alternatively, lilong (里弄), where whole communities live and sometimes work. The Shanghai lòngtáng can either refer to the lanes that its houses face onto, or to a group of houses connected by them.
Travel photography is a genre of photography that may involve the documentation of an area's landscape, people, cultures, customs and history. The Photographic Society of America defines a travel photo as an image that expresses the feeling of a time and place, portrays a land, its people, or a culture in its natural state, and has no geographical limitations.[1]
If you're interested in creating a travel blog to showcase your travel photography The Blogger Course is the best thing you can invest in! It's a 12 week course sharing all the secrets to making money and finding an audience created by Monica of The Travel Hack. I've also contributed a weeks lesson on Advanced Photography. Sign up and you'll also get access to a secret Facebook Group that's invaluable for sharing advice and getting feedback.
Despite that previous statement, I do believe that the travel photography community is stronger than it has ever been. Yes, traditional forms of income-generation are dying, but the evolving world has opened up a thousand different doors for those willing to take the risks to make it in the industry. And, yes, there is a lot of competition out there in the travel photography world, but the community is strong and the amount of camaraderie rather than jealousy in the business absolutely floors me nearly every day.
Devansh Jhaveri is a freelance photographer based in Ahmedabad, India. He has been published in newspapers across India, and his photographs were used as book covers for books by Penguin Books. He has been widely exhibited by Pix Delhi, at the Delhi Photo Festival, the Chennai Salon, and the Asahi Shimbun in Japan. He has also been part of two personal solo shows named Trespass and Distortions. His latest series "The Red Dress Project" was exhibited at the British Council Delhi and will be traveling to other cities this year.
These two portraits are of elderly actors; the type that the cinematic world calls' "character actors" (these are generally defined as supporting actors who play unusual, interesting, or eccentric characters). I found these actors to be much more visually interesting than the glamorous divas; not because of their rugged and wrinkled physiognomies but because they had presence...and must've been part of these troupes for as long as they could remember.
However, now only about 10 professional street opera troupes are left in Singapore, drawing an ever-smaller audience of elderly people. The decline of street opera in Singapore was caused by its government's policy to replace dialects (such as Hakka, Hokkien et al) with Mandarin, and the slow erosion of its audience. The spread of television, movies and social media platforms exacerbated the disinterest of the younger generation in this ancient art form.
"Back when we started Wanderlust, we would invite photographers in with their portfolios. Nowadays, although we do commission some work, we increasingly use online stock libraries to find images for this website and for our magazines. On the one hand, they libraries have a wide range and make it very easy to search. On the other hand, we can find ourselves wading through pages of very average shots that don't offer anything different or fresh. And, so often we struggle to find what we need due to poor tagging by the photographers."
Zackham got fascinated with manatees while he was writing a screenplay about dolphins. He learned it's quite easy to swim with the so-called sea cows, and took his family to this spot north of Tampa, where manatees congregate during winter. "To be able to jump in the water with something that big with your 5-year-old? It's amazing," he says. discovercrystalriverfl.com
The winners of the competition get a photo commission to an exotic destination – great experience and priceless exposure, as the images are printed in Wanderlust. Many of the past winners of this competition have gone on to become professional or semi-professional photographers. "We are often been approached for the contact details of certain photographers," says Lyn. "Organisations, such as travel companies or tourist boards, sometimes want to buy an image for their own use, or to see what else the photographer has in a similar vein. It can be a fantastic showcase."
The other challenge is to scout for and find the locations for the photo shoots; locations that provide a "badge" of authenticity to the resulting photo films. In the the case of The Girl of Nanjing, it was the water town of Qi Bao near Shanghai....and in the case of The Legend of Hua, it was the water town of Xinchang' at some distance from Shanghai as well...while the backdrop to The Songstress of Temple Street was Hong Kong's famous Tin Hau Temple and the Canton Singing House.
The image of Sapphire Kiu; a Hong Kong-based model (above), was made in early December 2018 on the famous (or infamous, depending on your point of view) Temple street, and will be part of a forthcoming audio slideshow (aka photo film) titled "The Songstress of Temple Street". It will tell the story of Qin Yi, a famous Shanghai singer in the 1930s, who "returns" to Hong Kong where she started her career. Some of the images were made in Temple's Street Canton Singing House and the Tin Hau Temple.


View of the Shiseido Forest Valley and HSBC Rain Vortex from Terminal 1 *Pictures courtesy of Jewel Changi Airport Devt.
Today (April 11), Jewel Changi Airport (Jewel) gave selected members of the public and press where Asia Duty Free was on location, a sneak peek into the one-of-a-kind lifestyle destination.
The 135,700 square meter complex, built on the site of the former Terminal 1 open air carpark, is designed by world-renowned architect Moshe Safdie and features a distinctive dome-shaped façade. It will offer both local residents and international visitors a multi-faceted experience that includes attractions, unique shopping and dining concepts, as well as airport and accommodation facilities.
Ms. Hung Jean, Chief Executive Officer, Jewel Changi Airport Devt, said, "The vision for Jewel Changi Airport is to be a destination where 'The World meets Singapore, and Singapore meets the World'. The unique proposition of world-class shopping and dining, seamlessly integrated with lush greenery, fulfils the needs of increasingly discerning travelers for a meaningful and experiential journey, even for brief layovers.
Visitors to Jewel can look forward to a slew of long-awaited new-to-Singapore brands including Emack & Bolio's, JW360˚, Lavender, OYSHO and Pokémon Center Singapore that will open their first stores alongside familiar homegrown favorites such as In Good Company, Supermama and Tiger Street Lab.
These local retailers, designers and craftsmen are given the opportunity to craft a retail theater to share the nation's story with the world. Jewel also has a dedicated retail cluster of homegrown brands on Level 1 meant to be a one-stop shop for travelers looking to bring home a piece of Singapore.
Multiple retailing formats are present at Jewel, including duplexes, outdoor terraces and spaces within the Canopy Park (pictured below) on the topmost level. Several established brands such as Bengawan Solo, Nike and Tiger Street Lab will also offer new concepts and even exclusive-to-Jewel merchandise.
The majestic 40-meter HSBC Rain Vortex, the world's tallest indoor waterfall, will greet visitors upon entering Jewel. Surrounding it are the manicured grounds of the Shiseido Forest Valley. Play attractions such as the Manulife Sky Nets, Hedge Maze (pictured above), Mirror Maze and Discovery Slides were designed to blend into the unique indoor garden environment and will open on June 10, 2019.
In May 2019, the Changi Experience Studio on Level 4 will bring visitors on a journey of fun and discovery through the virtual world of Changi Airport with interactive games, projection experiences, immersive shows and gallery exhibits.
In conjunction with the development of Jewel, Changi Airport's Terminal 1 has also been expanded to increase capacity by another three million passenger movements per year. This brings the airport's total capacity to 85 million, ensuring that it remains well placed to support the growth of air travel in the region.
As part of Changi Airport's continued focus on providing passenger convenience, airport facilities have also been added in Jewel. These include early check-in counters and kiosks, a baggage storage service and the Changi Lounge, a 150-seat lounge with shower facilities, offering seamless transfers for passengers connecting to and from cruise and ferry services.
Jewel will also house the first YOTELAIR property in Asia. With 130 smartly-designed cabins that optimize space in its Premium, Accessible and Family cabins, these rooms can be booked for a minimum of four hours, ideal for short daytime layovers or overnight stays. YOTELAIR also features time-saving airline style self-check-in kiosks that will facilitate a hassle-free check-in process.
Mr. Lee Seow Hiang, Chairman of Jewel Changi Airport Devt. Pte. Ltd., and Chief Executive Officer of Changi Airport Group, said, "We are delighted to see the completion of Changi Airport's new jewel, which we hope will contribute to many more memorable Changi experiences for our passengers. Jewel Changi Airport is a valuable addition to Singapore's world-class tourism attractions and aviation facilities. We look forward to welcoming the world to Jewel, whether they are travelling to or through Singapore."


Visa is one of the necessary documents you need to go abroad. Of course, almost foreign tourists including infants and children will need a visa to Cambodia. However, it is quite easy and possible to apply for Cambodia visa upon arrival. Most of the passport holder can apply for a visa on arrival (VoA) at most border gate. You will need a valid passport at least 6 months from the expiry date and US$30 (cash only) visa fee.
Where can I get the Cambodia visa on arrival?
If you fly to Cambodia, you can obtain a visa at the Visa Counter at Cambodia international airports like Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Sihanoukville. You do not need to do anything in advance — you'll be given the paperwork on the plane and you just need to get in line on arrival. The fee is US$30 (cash only) for a 30-day visa.
Obtaining a Cambodian visa is also possible at the Poipet border gate with Thailand (when you drive in from Thailand). From Vietnam, you can pass to a Cambodia via few border gates: Vinh Suong at Chau Doc (mostly people come by boat), Xa Xia at Ha Tien, or Moc Bai at Tay Ninh when you drive from Saigon. The visa fee is US$33/single entry.
Make sure that you have a passport valid for at least 6 months from the expiry date and one recent passport-sized photo on hand. And then, it just takes you few minutes to get the visa done.
Who can apply for the Cambodia visa on arrival?
Please note that not all foreign passport holders can apply for the Cambodia visa on arrival. However, if you come from Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, or Sudan, you are not eligible to get a Cambodia visa upon arrival. So, you need to get a visa in advance at Royal Embassy of the Kingdom of Cambodia in your home country.
On the other hand, visas are exempted for the citizens of the countries listed below: Brunei, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Seychelles or Vietnam (30-day visa).
More information please read about Cambodia Visa or contact our travel consultant.
I plan to visit Phnomphen in the month of March with my colleagues for a course. Do we need to apply for a pre visa or is their a facility of visa on arrival for indians.
My name is Meera Ramanathan. I am a Sri Lanka citizen. But I live Norway last 30 years. I have permanent recidency in Norway. Can I apply visa om arrival?
If not what is the procedure?
I sent detail information to your email. Kindly check it.
I am travelling to Cambodia from Vietnam by land in few days, and I would like to know if I can pay the visa on arrival in dongs instead of dollars, and make sure that it is 30$.
Hi , I trying to get a visa online,when I filled up the the application and try to pay it . But paying no successful. I want to get a arrival visa now , it is ok or will have any troubles ?
Cambodia visa is very easy to obtain it on arrival airport. Just fill in the form and you will get it in within 10 minutes. It costs you 30USD/person (in cash) and you pay directly to officers. Travelers are also required to show your photo (3x4cm) and their valid passport.
Should you need any assistance for travel services in Cambodia, please let us know. I am more than happy to assist you any time.