text:
\section{Introduction}

\begin{figure*}[t]
\includegraphics[width=14cm]{18346fig1.ps}
\begin{centering}
\caption{Left: Astrometric positions of \object{$\beta\:$\,Pic b}\ relative from A used in
  the present work to characterize the orbital parameters of the
  \object{$\beta\:$\,Pic b}\ planet. The predictions for the \object{$\beta\:$\,Pic b}\ in case of a background
  source are reported in gray from November, 10, 2003 to March, 26
  2011. Two linear fits, passing through the origin $(\Delta\alpha,
  \Delta\delta)=(0,0)$, for the 2003 NE data points (at 34.25~deg) and
  the 2009, 2010 and 2011 SW measurements (at 211.15~deg) are
  indicated by the two blue dashed lines. A zoomed view of the most recent
  astrometric observations over 2010 and 2011 is presented on the
  right.}
\label{fig:astro}
\end{centering}
\end{figure*}

In the context of exoplanetary science, the direct imaging technique
offers a unique observing window to explore the frequency and the
properties of the extrasolar giant planet (EGP) population in large
orbits ($\geq 5$~AU). The recent discoveries of massive planetary mass
companions around stars and brown dwarfs
\citep{cha04,cha05,laf08,kal08,mar08,lag09,mar10} have shown that
core-accretion alone cannot explain the formation of all
imaged giant planets, because the core-accretion timescales become
too long and the disk surface density too low. Disk or core
fragmentation are alternative mechanisms that could even operate
in wide orbits, leading to different physical and orbital
distributions \citep{bol09,dod09,vor10}. Additional mechanisms such as
inward/outward migrations or planet-planet interactions might also
modify the EGP orbital properties \citep{cri09}. Consequently, there
is a real need to characterize the orbital properties of recently
imaged EGPs, to determine the planetary system architectures and
dynamical stabilities, and to obtain additional constraints on their
formation and evolution mechanisms. Follow-up astrometric studies have
been conducted on the HR\,8799 multiple exoplanetary system
\citep{laf09,mar10,ber11,sou11}. Inclined orbital solutions for the b
and d planets, and a 1:2:4 resonance for the planets c, d, and e, confirm
stable configurations supported by dynamical simulations
\citep{rei09,fab10}. Owing to its even smaller semi-major axis, the
  planet \object{$\beta\:$Pictoris}~b (hereafter \object{$\beta\:$\,Pic b}) offers a rare opportunity to
  constrain both the planetary orbital and physical properties (Lagrange et al. 2010,
  Currie et al. 2011). This massive giant planet orbits at 8--15~AU
  around the young star $\beta$ Pictoris (A5V, $19.44\pm0.05$~pc,
  $12_{-4}^{+8}$~Myr), which has been studied for almost three decades because of its
  emblematic debris disk (see Vidal-Madjar et al. 1998 for
  a review). So-called hot start theoretical models predict a mass of
  $9\pm3$~M$_{\rm{Jup}}$ and $T_{\rm{eff}}=1700\pm300$~K (Quanz et
  al. 2010, Bonnefoy et al. 2011). Characterizing the planetary
  properties offers a rare opportunity to directly investigate the
  planet-disk interactions, particularly the role played by the planet
  in the formation of the the inner warped component of the
  \object{$\beta\:$\,Pic}\ circumstellar disk \citep{mou97,aug01,daw11}.

Since the recovery of \object{$\beta\:$\,Pic b}\ (i.e its re-discovery after its passage
behind the star), we have performed an astrometric monitoring
campaign, using NACO at the VLT. In Sect.~2, we describe
observations aquired in the years 2010 and 2011. In Sect.~3, we
present the data analysis of these new data together with previous
measurements including available astrometric calibrations (Lagrange et
al. 2009, 2010; Bonnefoy et al. 2011). Our main objective is to
homogeneously analyze the astrometric position of \object{$\beta\:$\,Pic b}\ relative to the
central star to accurately constrain its orbital properties. In
Sect.~4, we report the most probable solutions for the planet's orbit
that best fits our astrometric measurements, using two orbital fitting
methods, a least-square Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm and a
Markov-chain Monte Carlo approach. Finally, in Sect~5, we discuss the
consequences of our results in the context of previous astrometric
studies, and their implications for a possible connection with
the past transiting event observed in 1981, the disk structures, and
the cometary activity of the \object{$\beta\:$\,Pic}\ system.

\section{Observations}

To monitor the \object{$\beta\:$\,Pic b}\ astrometry, we used the NACO high contrast
adaptive optics (AO) imager of the VLT, equipped withthe NAOS AO
system \citep{rou02}, and the near-infrared imaging camera CONICA
\citep{len02}. The follow-up observations were obtained at five
different epochs between September 2010 and March 2011, using the
angular differential imaging (ADI) mode of NACO. For accurate
astrometry, two observing set-ups were used, the $L~\!'$ filter with
the L27 camera and the $K_s$ filter with the S27 camera. The NACO
detector cube mode was in addition used for frame selection.  A
classical dithering sequence was used with the repetition of five
offset positions to properly remove the sky contribution. In the end,
the typical observing sequence represented a total of 200--250 cubes,
i.e a total integration time of 35--50~min for an observing sequence
of 1--1.5~hrs on target. The parallactic angles at the start and the
end of our observations are reported in Table~\ref{tab:obs}, together
with the exposure time (DIT), the number of frame per cube (NDIT), and
the number of cubes (Nexp) for each epoch. Typical exposure times of
0.15~s and 0.2~s were used in the $K_s$ and $L~\!'$-filters,
respectively, to saturate the point spread function (PSF) core by a
factor of 100 (a few pixels in radius) to improve the dynamics of our
images. The observing sequences were executed to optimize both the field
rotation and the position of the secondary mirror diffraction spikes
relative to the companion, except in March 26, 2011 when the data were
obtained in service observing mode. Two sequences of non-saturated
PSFs were acquired using a neutral density filter at the beginning and the
end of each observing sequence to monitor the image quality. These data also
served for the calibration of the relative photometric and astrometric
measurements of $\beta$ Pic~b.  During the different observing sequences
obtained in visitor and service queue modes at ESO, the atmospheric
conditions were stable, with seeing and coherence times of 0.6--1.0\,\arcsec\ and 3--6~ms , respectively. The same
  astrometric field was observed within a week of each follow-up
  observation of $\beta$ Pic (see below).

\begin{table}[t]
\caption{Obs log of new 2010--2011 VLT/NACO observations}
\label{tab:obs}
\centering
\begin{tabular*}{\columnwidth}{@{\extracolsep{\fill}}llllll}
\hline\hline\noalign{\smallskip}
UT Date    &    Filter/Camera   &    DIT   &   NDIT   & $\rm{N}_{\rm{exp}}$   & $\theta_s;\theta_e$ \\
           &                    &    (s)   &      &    & (deg);(deg) \\
\noalign{\smallskip}\hline\noalign{\smallskip}
28/09/10   &    $L~\!'$/L27           &    0.2   &   150    & 199                  & $-60;-9$  \\
           &    $L~\!'$-ND$_l$/L27    &    0.2   &   100    & 20                   & $-62;-61$ \\
16/11/10   &    $K_s$/S27           &    0.15  &   100    & 199                  & $-21;+14$ \\
           &    $K_s$-ND$_s$/S27    &    0.11  &   100    & 10                   & $-23;-21$ \\
17/11/10   &    $L~\!'$/L27           &    0.2   &   100    & 268                  & $-35;+32$ \\
           &    $L~\!'$-ND$_l$/L27    &    0.2   &   100    & 10                   & $-37;-35$ \\
01/02/11   &    $K_s$/S27           &    0.15  &   100    & 223                  & $-6;+36$  \\
           &    $K_s$-ND$_s$/S27    &    0.15  &   100    & 10                   & $-9;-6$ \\
26/03/11   &    $K_s$/S27           &    0.15  &   100    & 249                  & $+38;+62$  \\
           &    $K_s$-ND$_s$/S27    &    0.15  &   100    & 10                   & $-9;-6$ \\
\hline\noalign{\smallskip}
\end{tabular*}
\end{table}

\begin{table*}[t]
\caption{NACO astrometric measurements of \object{$\beta\:$\,Pic b}\ relative to \object{$\beta\:$\,Pic}}
\label{tab:astro}
\centering
\renewcommand{\footnoterule}{}
\begin{tabular*}{\textwidth}{@{\extracolsep{\fill}}llllllllllll}
\hline\hline\noalign{\smallskip}
UT Date     & Mode          &  Platescale     & True North$^a$ & Rotator Offset$^b$          & $\Delta\alpha$&$\Delta \delta$ & Separation      &     PA         \\
            & Obs/Filter/Obj& (mas)           & (deg)  & (deg)               & (mas)         & (mas)          & (mas)           & (deg)          \\
\noalign{\smallskip}\hline\noalign{\smallskip}
   10/11/03  & Field/$L~\!'$/L27 & $27.11\pm0.04$  &    $0.29\pm0.07$ &   0. & $233\pm22$    &   $341\pm22$   &   $413\pm22$    &  $34.42\pm3.52$   \\
  25/10/09   & Field/$L~\!'$/L27 & $27.11\pm0.05$  &    $-0.08\pm0.10$ &  0. & $-153\pm14$   &   $-257\pm14$  &   $299\pm14$    &  $210.74\pm2.89$ \\

  29/12/09   & ADI/$L~\!'$/L27   & $27.10\pm0.04$  &    $-0.06\pm0.08$ &  $90.46\pm0.10$ & $-163\pm9$    &   $-260\pm8$   &   $306\pm9$     &  $212.07\pm1.71$ \\
  10/04/10   & ADI/$K_s$/S27   & $27.01\pm0.04$  &    $-0.26\pm0.09$ &  $90.46\pm0.10$ & $-173\pm7$    &   $-300\pm7$   &   $346\pm7$     &  $209.93\pm1.15$ \\
  28/09/10   & ADI/$L~\!'$/L27   & $27.11\pm0.04$  &    $-0.36\pm0.11$ &  $90.47\pm0.10$ & $-193\pm11$   &   $-331\pm11$  &   $383\pm11$    &  $210.28\pm1.73$ \\
  16/11/10   & ADI/$K_s$/S27   & $27.01\pm0.05$  &    $-0.25\pm0.07$ &  $90.47\pm0.10$ & $-207\pm8$    &   $-326\pm10$  &   $387\pm8$     &  $212.41\pm1.35$ \\
  17/11/10   & ADI/$L~\!'$/S27   & $27.10\pm0.04$  &    $-0.25\pm0.07$ &  $90.46\pm0.10$ & $-209\pm13$   &   $-330\pm14$  &   $390\pm13$    &  $212.34\pm2.13$ \\
  01/02/11   & ADI/$K_s$/S27   & $27.01\pm0.04$  &    $-0.32\pm0.10$ &   $90.46\pm0.10$ & $-211\pm9$   &   $-350\pm10$  &   $408\pm9$     &  $211.13\pm1.48$ \\
  26/03/11   & ADI/$K_s$/S27   & $27.01\pm0.04$  &    $-0.35\pm0.10$ &  $90.46\pm0.10$ & $-214\pm12$   &   $-367\pm14$  &   $426\pm13$    &  $210.13\pm1.81$ \\
\hline\noalign{\smallskip}
\end{tabular*}
\begin{list}{}{}
\item[$^{\mathrm{a}}$] The orientation of true north is relative to
  the vertical of the detector, and is positive when lying to the east
  of the vertical.
\item[$^{\mathrm{b}}$] The NACO rotator offset position was
  calibrated and linked to the ESO keyword ADA.PUPILPOS according
  to the formulae $\rm{ROTOFF} = 179.44 -
  \rm{ADA.PUPILPOS}$, using various astrometric binaries observed at
  various epochs between November and December 2010. A conservative
  error of 0.10~deg was considered for this calibration.
\end{list}
\end{table*}

\section{Data analysis}

For the present study, we processed the data of the new observations
of \object{$\beta\:$\,Pic b}\, obtained in September 28 2010, November 16 2010, November 17
2010, February 1st 2011, and March 26 2011. Previously archived data
including available astrometric calibrations, obtained between
November 2003 and April 2010, were also re-processed (see
Table~\ref{tab:astro} and Fig.~1 ). The most robust astrometric measurements
(in terms of observing conditions and stability) were selected at each
epoch. Data obtained on November 16, 2010 and November 17, 2010 were
both reduced to check the consistency of astrometric results obtained
in the setups $L~\!'$/L27 and $K_s$/S27 at a given epoch, as both setups were
used for the astrometric analysis. The VLT/NACO $M~\!'$ data of Currie
et al. (2011) could not be considered owing to a lack of information
about the NACO rotator offset position during the observation that could not be
recovered from the ESO keywords, and that may affect the final
absolute angular position. All data were homogeneously flat-fielded,
cleaned from bad and hot pixels, and sky-subtracted. Sub-frames of
200$\times$200 pixels were extracted to reduce the computing time of
the data processing. The frames were recentered based on a
  registration of the central star position measured by a Moffat
  fitting of the non-saturated part of the stellar PSF wing, that was
  a threshold equal to at 1\%  of the detector linearity (i.e about 60\% of the
  saturation limit).  We also automatically decided to reject
open-loop and poor-AO correction images, using a PSF encircled energy
criterion.

For PSF-subtraction of the field-tracking data of November 11, 2003
and October 25, 2009, a reference star matching the \object{$\beta\:$\,Pic}\ observations
in terms of parallactic angles was used to minimize the residuals in
the final images (see Lagrange et al. 2009). For ADI data, three
different ADI-algorithms were applied to the PSF-subtraction, to
verify the consistency of the solutions obtained using the classical
ADI, smart ADI, and LOCI algorithms \citep[see][for more details on
  the algorithms]{lag10,laf07}. For smart ADI, we considered a
separation criteria of 1.0 and $1.5\times FWHM$, at the companion
separation (ranging from 11 to 16 pixels), and ten images
to compute each individual PSF. For LOCI, we considered optimization
regions of $N_A = 300\times FWHM$, the radial-to-azimuthal width ratio
$g=1$, the radial width $\Delta r=2\times FWHM$, and a separation
criteria of 1.0 and $1.5\times FWHM$. Only smart ADI results were
finally considered owing the the ability of that method to reduce the
companion self-subtraction, optimize the temporal PSF selection,
and minimize the algorithm complexity when testing the photometric
and astrometric systematics induced by the algorithm itself. We always
found consistent results within the measurement uncertainty, which are
detailed below, when using the classical ADI and LOCI algorithms.

The main difficulty in deriving the planet's position relative to the
primary star was to accurately estimate the position of a central star
with a saturated core, and the position of the low signal-to-noise
planet affected by the stellar residuals. To determine the central star
position, as for the frames recentering, a Moffat fitting of
  the non-saturated part of the stellar PSF wing (with a similar
  threshold) was used. For the planet position and flux, we used a
grid of 5000 negative fake planets scanning a three-dimensional parameter
space in (X,Y) positions (sampling of 0.02 pixels) and flux (sampling
of 10~ADU), injected one-by-one in the datacubes before
  PSF-subtraction. The datacubes were then reprocessed to derive the
  best-fit solution minimizing the residuals in the final
  subtracted-image, considering a region covering the companion ADI
  signature. The positions of the companion relative to the primary
star were finally transformed into sky coordinates using the
$\theta_1$ Ori C field observed with HST by McCaughrean \& Stauffer
(1994) (with the same set of stars TCC058, 057, 054, 034, and 026). For
ADI data, the NACO rotator offset at the start of each ADI sequence
was also calibrated and taken into account, using an astrometric
binary observed in both field-tracking and pupil-tracking mode to
estimate this offset.

The results are given in Table~\ref{tab:astro} and reported in
Fig.~1. The main contributors to the uncertainty in our astrometric
measurements are listed below. Errors 2/ and 3/ were added
quadratically, then linearly added to the systematic error in our
measurement error 1/. The errors 4/ were neglected. We know consider
the four types of error:
\begin{enumerate}
\item The first contributor is the systematic error related to the
  determination of the (saturated) star center position, which is estimated
  from the fit to the PSF wings. We used non-saturated images to
  explore this effect given the saturation factor and the Moffat
  fitting threshold. If the PSF were centro-symmetric, the center
  estimate based on either the PSF wings or the PSF core would perfectly match. Tests
  on non-saturated data show that it does not. It induces a bias of
  0.2-0.4~pixels (i.e 6-12~mas). This asymmetry is variable such that
  this offset cannot be securely calibrated and subtracted. We
  note that, for consistency purposes, we re-analyzed the 2003 data
  with exactly the same method.  Owing to the minor modification of
  the fitting pattern, this leads to slightly different values (of
  0.5~pixels) from Lagrange et al (2009).
\item A second source of error is the uncertainty in the companion
  position. Twelve negative fake planets of similar flux and
    separation at various position angles were then inserted to test
  the effect of both the stellar residuals in our measurements, and the
  measurement procedure itself. The two non-saturated PSFs were used
  to take into account their influence on the final result.  The
  typical error found was about 0.1-0.2~pixels (3-6~mas).
\item We then considered the errors related to the platescale and true
  north orientation (see Table~\ref{tab:astro}), as well as the uncertainty
  in the NACO rotator offset for ADI measurements (the error of
  0.10~deg in the rotator angular accuracy). We note that
  an accurate absolute angular calibration of the NACO detector is
  difficult to achieve at mas precision. The two main limitations are
  the significant variation of the NACO detector true north with time,
  and the uncertainty associated with the calibrators
  themselves. Comparing data from different authors using different
  calibrators may then be risky in the end. A first solution is then
  to observe the same astrometric references at each epoch to ensure
  an accurate relative astrometry (as done here). A residual angular systematic
  cannot be totally excluded but does similarly affect all
  measurements and the orbital solution (see discussion below).
\item Finally, we neglected the errors related to the distortion
  correction, detector non-linearity, differential tilt jitter, Strehl
  ratio variation, or differential refraction which were  estimated smaller than 1--2 mas; (see Fritz et al. 2010).
\end{enumerate}

\section{Orbital fit}
\begin{table}
\caption[]{Orbital solutions for \object{$\beta\:$\,Pic b}: the best-fit reduced $\chi^2_r$ model
  obtained with the LSLM algorithm (top), and a typical
  ``highly probable'' orbit according to the MCMC fit (bottom).  Note
  that we do not provide error bars here, as these are assumed to be
  described by the MCMC distribution.}
\label{mle}
\begin{tabular*}{\columnwidth}{@{\extracolsep{\fill}}llllllll}
\hline\noalign{\smallskip}
$a\,$(AU) & $P\,$(yr) & $e$ & $i$ ($\degr$) & $\Omega$ ($\degr$) &
$\omega$ ($\degr$) & $t_p\,$(yr JD) & $\chi^2_r$\\
\noalign{\smallskip}\hline\noalign{\smallskip}
11.2 & 28.3 & 0.16  & 88.8 & $-147.73$ & $4.0$    & 2013.3 & 0.45 \\
8.8  & 19.6 & 0.021 & 88.5 & $-148.24$ & $-115.0$ & 2006.3 & 0.56 \\
\noalign{\smallskip}\hline
\end{tabular*}
\end{table}

Our astrometric measurements reported in Table~\ref{tab:astro} show
that the position angles are almost consistent with an edge-on orbital
configuration, and are roughly consistent with the position angle of
the \object{$\beta\:$\,Pic}\ circumstellar disk, which is reported to be 30.1~deg and 211.4~deg by
  Kalas \& Jewitt (1995) for the NE and SW sides respectively, but
  with no error bars for these values). To derive the best-fit solution for our
measurements, we considered the planet's inclination as a free
parameter. We assumed a Keplerian orbit described in a referential
frame $OXYZ$, where, as usual, the $XOY$ plane corresponds to the plane
of the sky and the $Z$-axis points towards the Earth. In this
formalism, the astrometric position of the planet relative to the star
is given by:

\begin{eqnarray}
x & = & \Delta\delta\;=\;r\left(\cos(\omega+v)\cos\Omega-\sin(\omega+v)
\cos i\sin\Omega\right)\qquad,\label{xmodel}\\
y & = & \Delta\alpha\;=\;r\left(\cos(\omega+v)\sin\Omega+\sin(\omega+v)
\cos i\cos\Omega\right)\qquad,\label{ymodel}
\end{eqnarray}

\noindent{where $\Omega$ is the longitude of the ascending node (measured from
North), $\omega$ is the argument of periastron, $i$ is the
inclination, $v$ is the true anomaly, and $r=a(1-e^2)/(1+e\cos v)$,
where $a$ represents for the semi-major axis and $e$ the eccentricity.}

A Keplerian model was then fitted to our $(\Delta\delta,\Delta\alpha)$
results of Table~\ref{tab:astro}, to derive the orbital period $P$ (or
equivalently the semi-major axis $a$, using the stellar mass
$M_*=1.75\,M_\odot$; Crifo et al. 1997), the $e$, $i$,
$\Omega$, $\omega$, and the time for periastron passage $t_p$.  To
constrain the \object{$\beta\:$\,Pic b}'s orbit, we used two complementary fitting methods:
a least squares Levenberg-Marquardt (LSLM) algorithm \citep{numrec} to
search for the model with the minimal reduced $\chi^2$, and a more
robust statistical approach using the Markov-chain Monte Carlo (MCMC)
Bayesian analysis technique \citep{ford05,ford06}. The details of the
MCMC analysis, which was adapted to this astrometric
characterization, are reported in Appendix A. The best-fit LSLM solution
found, and a typical example of a ``highly probable orbit'' according to
the result of the MCMC study, are given in Table~\ref{mle}. These
orbits are plotted in Fig.~\ref{orbplots}, in a plane containing the
line of sight, as well as the positions of the planet at various
observing dates. The results of both orbital fitting methods are also
shown for the five orbital elements $(a,e,i,\Omega,\omega)$ in
Fig.~\ref{fig:mcmc}. In that figure, we also display the $\chi^2_r$
distribution obtained for both analyses (considering a degree of
freedom $N-P=12$, where N is our number of measurements, here 18, and
P the number of parameters in our orbital model, here
6). Additional figures illustrating the goodness of both
  orbital fits are given in Appendix B.

When comparing the results of the best-fit LSLM solution with our MCMC
distributions, our first striking result is that they do not
match. The best-fit LSLM solution has a relatively good $\chi^2_r$
compared to the $\chi^2_r$ distribution of the MCMC. However, this
discrepancy seems to illustrate that our astrometric measurements are
still too sparse to derive a deep LSLM $\chi^2_r$ mininum, as the
region of probable orbits is probably fairly flat. Consequently, our
confidence in the LSLM approach is low, and a robust determination of
the orbital parameters of \object{$\beta\:$\,Pic b}\ is currently impossible with this
fitting method. In contrast, we appear to have more success with the
statistical MCMC approach, which produces the probable ranges of
orbital elements of \object{$\beta\:$\,Pic b}, enabling us to explore the significance of
each orbital solution.

\begin{figure}[t]
\centerline{\includegraphics[angle=-90,width=\columnwidth]{18346fig2.ps}}
\caption{Plots ot the orbit of Table~\ref{mle} with their orientation
  with respect to the line of sight. The larger orbit is the best LSLM
  $\chi^2$ model and the smaller one is an example of the highly probable
  orbit obtained with the MCMC approach. In each case, the dashed line
  shows the location of the periastron.  The position of the planet at
  different observation epochs is shown as black dots along the orbit
  (projected error bars in the astrometric measurements are smaller
  than the symbol size), and predictions for the upcoming years are
  shown in gray.}
\label{orbplots}
\end{figure}

\begin{figure*}
\makebox[\textwidth]{
\includegraphics[angle=0,width=0.33\textwidth]{18346fig3.ps}\hfil
\includegraphics[angle=0,width=0.33\textwidth]{18346fig4.ps}\hfil
\includegraphics[angle=0,width=0.33\textwidth]{18346fig5.ps}}
\makebox[\textwidth]{
\includegraphics[angle=0,width=0.33\textwidth]{18346fig6.ps}\hfil
\includegraphics[angle=0,width=0.33\textwidth]{18346fig7.ps}\hfil
\includegraphics[angle=0,width=0.33\textwidth]{18346fig8.ps}}

\caption{Results of the MCMC fit of the astrometric data of \object{$\beta\:$\,Pic b}:
  statistical distribution of the orbital elements $a$ (top left), $e$
  (top middle), $i$ (top right), $\Omega$ (bottom left) and $\omega$
  (bottom middle). We also show the distribution of $\chi_r^2$ for the
  solutions obtained (bottom right).  In each plot, the \textit{blue}
  line show the results of our MCMC study. The \textit{dot-dashed}
  line indicates the position of the best-fit LSLM $\chi_r^2$ model
  obtained, and the \textit{--dashed} line shows the position of an
  example of highly probable orbits according to our MCMC study see
  Table~\ref{mle}). The results of our MCMC study using the
  dataset of \citet{cur11} are indicated by a \textit{red} line.}

\label{fig:mcmc}
\end{figure*}

The results of our MCMC analysis, reported in
  Fig.~\ref{fig:mcmc}, are distributions of the orbital parameters
  that are far from gaussian, except for the inclination, and the longitude of
  ascending node. The semi-major axis distribution peaks at
8.0--9.0~AU, and most eccentricities are given by $e \le 0.17$. The
inclination appears to be extremely concentrated close to $90\degr$, but
with a peak at $i = 88.5\pm1.7\degr$ (considering a
  confidence level at 1~$\sigma$). This is indicative of a $\sim
1.5\degr$ tilt with respect to a strict edge-on configuration. The
longitude of ascending node is also fairly well-constrained at $\Omega
= -147.5\pm1.5\degr$ ($\Omega + 180 = 32.6\pm1.5\degr$,
with a 1~$\sigma$ error). Finally, the
statistical distribution of the argument of periastron $\omega$ is
more erratic, and does not appear to have clear solutions, which is not
unsurprising owing to the low values of the eccentricity
distribution. \citet{cur11} performed a similar analysis, but on a
smaller dataset that had not been homogeneously processed, thus with presumably
larger systematics (different data processing, and possible lack of
NACO rotator offset calibration). With the same dataset, we
  found similar results to \citet{cur11}, using our own MCMC
  code. The results of both studies, with four epochs (Table~1 from
  Currie et al. 2011) and eight epochs (Table~2, this work), are compared
  in Fig.~\ref{fig:mcmc}.  To a first order, they give similar
results, although we note some differences. The peak of our semi-major
axis distribution is shifted by about 1~AU to larger values. Our
eccentricity distribution has a sharper cutoff that excludes a larger
fraction of high eccentricity solutions, thanks to our most recent
observations in 2010 and 2011.  Our distributions of inclination,
and longitude of ascending node are also shifted by respectively -1.0
and $1.5\degr$. Finally, the distribution of $\chi^2_r$ is better
constrained in our case ($\chi^2_r=0.75\pm0.30$, respectively to
$\chi^2_r=1.75\pm1.25$), corroborating a more concentrated and robust
set of orbital solutions. A peak value lower than unity however
indicates that our uncertainty estimates are probably
conservative. Further astrometric monitoring of \object{$\beta\:$\,Pic b}, during the next
quadrature, will be mandatory to improve the planetary orbital
characterization.

\section{Discussion}

From our orbital fit analysis, four important outcomes arise: the
semi-major axis of \object{$\beta\:$\,Pic b}\ falls in the probable range of 8--9.0~AU, the
eccentricity distribution is concentrated at $e\la 0.17$,
and the longitude of ascending node is fairly well-constrained at
$-147.5\pm1.5\degr$, as is the inclination distribution which peaks
at $88.5\pm1.7\degr$. The existence of a giant planet orbiting
\object{$\beta\:$\,Pic}\ has been proposed by various studies during the past few decades
(e.g. Freistetter et al. 2007). The main indirect indicators are ({\it i}) the inner warped component of the \object{$\beta\:$\,Pic}\ circumstellar disk,
together with additional asymmetries observed in the outer part
\citep{mou97,kal95}; ({\it ii}) the photometric transit-like event observed
in 1981 \citep{lec97}; and ({\it iii}) the cometary activity observed in the
absorption spectrum of \object{$\beta\:$\,Pic}\ \citep{fer87,xxi,vid98,pet99}. We discuss below
how each of these observational findings may be related to both the existence and
the orbital and physical properties of \object{$\beta\:$\,Pic b}.

\subsection{Disk - Planet configuration}

Dedicated scattered-light studies have accurately mapped the
morphology of the \object{$\beta\:$\,Pic}\ disk \citep{kal95,hea00,gol06}. They revealed mainly
a nearly edge-on disk composed of a main disk observed beyond
80~AU, and an inner warped component (at less than 80~AU), inclined by
$2-5^o$ with respect to the main disk position angle. The simulations of
\citet{mou97}, \citet{aug01}, and more recently \citet{daw11}
demonstrated that the presence of a planet orbiting the star at $10\,$AU,
misaligned with the main disk, could actually form and sustain the
\object{$\beta\:$\,Pic}\ inner warped disk. The observing challenge is then to test wether
\object{$\beta\:$\,Pic b}\ might be this perturbating planet, that hence has with a
significantly inclined orbit with respect to the main disk
midplane. \citet{cur11} presented evidence of a misalignment
between the planet and the inner warped disk of \object{$\beta\:$\,Pic}\, concluding that
the planet was orbiting inside the main disk's orbital plane. We,
however, do not confirm these results based on simultaneous
measurements of the planet, and the main disk positions. This work,
detailed in Lagrange et al. (2012), and using our $K_s$/S27
measurements of November 16, 2010 with a dedicated analysis for the
disk orientation, shows that the current location of \object{$\beta\:$\,Pic b}\ is above
the midplane of the main disk (which has a position angle of
$\rm{PA}_{\rm{main-disk}}=209.0\pm0.3$~deg in the south west
direction). This position is more compatible with the warp component
orientation tilted by 3.5--4.0~deg (i.e with
$\rm{PA}_{\rm{warped-disk}}=212.5-213.0$~deg). Moreover, the current
distribution of longitude of ascending node $\Omega$, which peaks at
$-147.5\pm1.5\degr$ (and would correspond to a position angle of 32.5
or $212.5\degr$), can also be directly compared with the main disk and
the warp orientations. This distribution currently supports an orbital
plane for \object{$\beta\:$\,Pic b}\ that does not coincide with the main disk midplane, but
more probably with the warp component. The hypothesis that the
\object{$\beta\:$\,Pic b}\ planet is the one responsible for the inner warped
morphology of the \object{$\beta\:$\,Pic}\ disk, without evoking any planetary
inclination damping (an alternative scenario proposed by
\citet{daw11}), remains valid. We may therefore still conclude
  that the \object{$\beta\:$\,Pic b}\ planet continues to excite the disk of planetisimals, forcing
  them to precess about its misaligned orbit.

\subsection{1981 Transiting event}

\citet{lec95} reported significant photometric variations in November 1981 with a
peculiar transit-like event on November 10, 1981. \citet{lec97} showed
that a planet with 2--4 times the radius of Jupiter, orbiting at $\sim
9\,$AU at most could well be responsible for the photometric
variations they reported. \citet{lec09} investigated this issue on
the sole basis of the 2003 detection \citep{lag09} of \object{$\beta\:$\,Pic b}. They found
that a transit of \object{$\beta\:$\,Pic b}\ in November 1981 could be compatible with a
quadrature position in November 2003, assuming a semi-major axis in
the range [7.6--8.7]\,AU. They also predicted that if the planet
detected in 2003 on the NE side of the disk matched the one they
predicted, it should reappear on the SW side in 2009 roughly where it
was reobserved.  We reinvestigate this prediction based on
our MCMC orbital fit, considering both that we find a peak
for the inclination distribution at $88.5\pm1.7\degr$, and the transit
dates predicted in our set of orbital solutions. A tilt larger than
0.1~deg with respect to strictly edge-on configuration would simply
exclude the possibility that \object{$\beta\:$\,Pic b}\ is transiting along the line of
sight. However, the sphere of influence of \object{$\beta\:$\,Pic b}\ with a Hill radius of
about 1~AU (angular extension of about 7~deg at 8--9~AU) would still
cross the line of sight (even considering all MCMC
  solutions), and therefore influence the \object{$\beta\:$\,Pic}\ photometry (if filled
with absorbing or scattering material).  Assuming this hypothesis,
we can still compare the date of the transit-like event of November
1981 with the predicted transit dates of the sphere of influence of
\object{$\beta\:$\,Pic b}\ between 1960 and 2030 obtained by our MCMC analysis (see
Figure~\ref{fig:transits}). The MCMC distribution of transit dates
show that the parameters of the most recent ($\sim1999$) and next ($\sim2018$) transits
are somewhat well-constrained. The peak is broader in $\sim1980$. The
suggested transit date of November 1981 falls to the right edge of
that peak (although not at the center) and remains compatible with
the current set of orbital properties obtained from our MCMC analysis.

\subsection{The \object{$\beta\:$\,Pic}\ cometary activity}
Transient redshifted spectral events have been regularly monitored in
the absorption spectrum of \object{$\beta\:$\,Pic}\ \citep{fer87,xxi,vid98,pet99}, and
attributed to the sublimation of numerous star-grazing planetesimals
crossing the line of sight, which are referred to the falling evaporating
bodies (FEBs) phenomenon. Their origin has been tentatively related to
mean-motion resonances with a Jovian planet orbiting the star
\citep{bm96,bm00,pth01,bp3d}. Several constraints have been
deduced from dynamical studies of the FEBs scenario, suggesting that:
\begin{enumerate}
\item The planet responsible for the phenomenon is massive enough
  ($\sim$ jovian) to allow numerous bodies to be trapped in
  mean-motion resonances.
\item Its orbit is slightly eccentric ($e\ga 0.05$--0.1) to allow
  bodies trapped in the resonances to see their eccentricity pumped up
  \citep{bm96,bm00}.
\item The longitude of periastron $\varpi$ of the planet with respect to the
  line of sight is $\sim -70\degr\pm20\degr$ \citep{pth01}, to
  enable the statistics of the Doppler velocities of the FEB spectral
  signatures to match the observed ones which are largely strongly biased towards
  redshifts.
\item Finally, the planet location is no further away than $\sim 20\,$AU,
  otherwise the FEBs would hardly be able to get into the dust sublimation zone.
\end{enumerate}

The \object{$\beta\:$\,Pic b}\ planet obviously has orbital and physical properties
compatible with constraints 1/ and 4/. The situation is less
straighforward for the constraints 2/ and 3/. Eccentricities higher
than $\sim 0.05$--0.1 are indeed fully compatible with our fit, but
circular orbits cannot not excluded. Finally, the longitude of perisatron
$\varpi$ measured from the line of sight is related to the argument of
periastron $\omega$ in our fit. The parameter $\omega$ is measured from the $XOY$
plane of our reference frame, i.e., the plane of the sky. Assuming
an edge-on orientation of the disk, we then have
$\omega=\varpi+\pi/2$.  Thus, $\varpi\simeq-70\degr\pm20\degr$ means that
$\omega\simeq 20\degr\pm20\degr$. Unfortunately, our constraint on
$\omega$ remains too low to state whether condition 3/ is fulfilled
or not, partly due to our upper limit on the eccentricity distribution at
$e\la 0.17$). Further measurements are needed to yield conclusive results.

\begin{figure}
\centerline{\includegraphics[angle=0,width=0.33\textwidth]{18346fig9.ps}}
\caption{MCMC fit to the transit dates of \object{$\beta\:$\,Pic b}\ in front of the line
  of sight. The plotting conventions are the same as in
  Fig.~\ref{fig:mcmc}. In addition, the date of the transiting
    event observed by \citet{lec97} is indicated by a thick vertical
  line.}
\label{fig:transits}
\end{figure}

\section{Conclusion}

We have reported the results of our analysis of follow-up observations of the astrometric
positions of \object{$\beta\:$\,Pic b}\ relative to $\beta$ Pic. Together with previously
archived data including available astrometric calibrations, we
have homogeneously reprocessed all relevant astrometric measurements of
\object{$\beta\:$\,Pic b}\, at nine different observing epochs. We have taken into account the
various contributors to the uncertainty in our astrometric analysis,
including the determination of the star position in the low-flux part
of the saturated PSF, the influence of the PSF residuals on the
companion position, and the errors related to the detector
calibration, and the NACO Nasmyth-rotator position. We then used
orbital-fitting techniques to derive the most probable orbital
solutions for the \object{$\beta\:$\,Pic b}\ planet: a least squares Levenberg-Marquardt
algorithm and a Markov-chain Monte Carlo Bayesian analysis. As our
measurements do not cover the complete planetary orbit, and are biased
towards the most recent epochs since the planet recovery, the
Markov-Chain Monte Carlo approach provides more robust and reliable
orbital solutions for $\beta$ Pic\,b.  The most probable ones favor a
low-eccentricity orbit $e\la0.17$, with a semi-major axis of
8--9\,AU corresponding to orbital periods of 17--21\,yrs, an
inclination that peaks at $88.5\pm1.7\degr$, and a longitude of
ascending node fairly well-constrained at $-147.5\pm1.5\degr$. Our
results support the previous astrometric studies of \citet{lag10} and
\citet{cur11}, although our present study have indeed provided a more robust
set of orbital solutions. Our conclusions support the idea that the
planet is not in the midplane of the main disk. The planet's position
is more compatible with the warped component orientation, thus
corroborating the idea that \object{$\beta\:$\,Pic b}\ is responsible for the inner warped disk
morphology. The current orbital solution of \object{$\beta\:$\,Pic b}\ is still consistent
with the sphere of influence of the planet being responsible for the
1981 transiting event, although a deviation of more than 0.1~deg from
an edge-on configuration would exclude a planetary transit. Finally,
the planet's predicted mass, eccentricity, semi-major axis, and
longitude of periastron also imply that \object{$\beta\:$\,Pic b}\ is likely to be the origin of the
cometary activity observed in the \object{$\beta\:$\,Pic}\ system.  Further deep imaging
characterization should help us to more tightly constrain the orbital parameter space,
once the planet has passed the quadrature (most probably in
2013). Further spectroscopic or multi-photometric observations should
also help us to determine the underlying physics of this giant planet in the
framework of current planetary atmosphere studies (Bonnefoy et
al. 2010; Janson et al. 2010; Skemer et al. 2011, Madhusudhan et
al. 2011; Barman et al. 2011a, 2011b). Therefore, much is to be
expected from future extreme-AO instruments SCExAO/Subaru (Guyon
2010), GPI/Gemini (Macintosh et al. 2008), SPHERE/VLT (Beuzit et
al. 2008) in the coming years.

\bibliographystyle{aa}

\begin{acknowledgements}

We would like to thank the staff of ESO-VLT for their support at the
telescope. This publication has made use of the SIMBAD and VizieR
database operated at CDS, Strasbourg, France. Finally, we
acknowledge support from the French National Research Agency (ANR)
through project grant ANR10-BLANC0504-01 and the {\sl Programmes
  Nationaux de Plan\'etologie et de Physique Stellaire} (PNP
\&\ PNPS), in France.

\end{acknowledgements}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaArXiv


text:
Whitsunday Conservation Council
Facebook Twitter Instagram Search User-circle People-arrows
Thanks for use of media
1.5 Keeps Reefs Alive
Report Tree Clearing
Stop Reversal of GBR Protection Measures
Matters of Local Environmental Significance
Go Slow for Those Below
Reef in Danger
Shingley Beach High Rise
Port of Airlie High Rise
Heart of the Reef Discovery Centre
GBRMPA Draft Tourism Management Action Strategy
Whitsunday Regional Council Draft Corporate Plan 2021-2026
ToR Trade Investments
Treetops Articles – some great reading here
Newsletter 2021 November & December
Newsletter 2021 September & October
Newsletter 2021 July & August
Newsletter 2021 June
Get Involved Now! ……………………………………….. New Memberships ………………………………… Volunteering
Member Renewals
Subscriber Update
Emails & Phone
News from the Treetops
Nov & Dec 2021 Whitsunday Conservation Council Inc
Wishing You All a Wonderful Festive Season and a Great Year ahead
In this Edition
Christmas Get Together for Financial Members
Keep an eye on your inbox for the invitation. Don't forget to whitelist our admin@whitsundayconservation.org.au email address or it may get spammed.
Not a member? Visit our CONTACT tab where you can join or renew an expired membership.
Bring your bathers. See you there.
Hell Bent on High Rise - Port of Airlie Decision Mocks Submissions & Paves Way for Demise of Airlie Ambiance
The 24-11-21 council meeting, to decide on Port of Airlie's 47 metre monstrosity, was marred by a technical "conflict of interest" preventing Cannonvale Cr Grundy from even being in the room which left a block vote, lead by Bowen based Cr Brunker to overwhelm Airlie Beach Cr Clifford's lone voice of opposition to the recommendation to approve this development. It could be called a farce.
The agenda for the meeting came to notice with little warning so that concerned people were not aware that this item was even going to be decided at this meeting. Also it was held in Bowen so there wasn't enough time for protestors from southern divisions, i.e. Airlie Beach and surrounds, the most affected and concerned by this proposal, to organise attendance at the meeting. Questions from the Public Gallery are taken on notice by the CEO in writing and may or may not be responded to at the Meeting.
Cr Brunker was seen to be determined to dominate any discussion, speaking up several times with spurious arguments and dismissive of over 2200 submissions that he claimed were from people against change. He added that he was going to vote yes only because the building would have a convention centre, even though, as Clr Clifford pointed out, there was no guarantee that a conference centre would be included in any future development application received for this land. She also pointed out that now Port of Airlie receivers have this preliminary approval they can sell this property to whoever they like and that the purchaser can build whatever they like, if it conforms to the conditions of these approvals.
With this decision our council has effectively allowed the Receiver of Port of Airlie to rewrite the Airlie Beach planning scheme to suit his own agenda and allow any future developer purchasing this land, with approvals attached, to rebrand and reinvent our beautiful Airlie Beach by introducing a high-rise tower at Port of Airlie and by precedence, it would seem likely that more high-rise applications will be received for other sections of our hard won, low rise foreshore.
Councillors were unable to sort out the insufficient number of on-site parking spots. This has been left to discussion by councils planning director and Port of Airlie. Nothing was said about the many other problems attributed to the project. Even the applicant admits this 12 storey box (visual equivalent of 47m) included with their application was ugly and needs disguising.
So without any proper public debate on the biggest challenge to Airlie's future, our publicly recorded, hell-bent on high rise Bowen Cr Bunker and neighbouring councillors trashed corporate diligence and voted "yes" to a development application which thousands of our community, visitors and, we understand, both local councillors consider an overwhelmingly awful and damaging development on our Airlie Beach foreshore.
What has happened to the transparency and honesty that our councillors promise us in order to get elected?
1.5 Keeps Reefs Alive - a New Campaign that Needs Your Input
The Whitsunday Conservation Council is launching a new Reef campaign and we want you to join us. Here's the background to our campaign.
The health of the Reef is at a crossroad. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority tells us that the greatest threat to the Reef is Climate Change. Over the past 5 years, the Reef has suffered through 3 mass bleaching events. These bleaching events are driven by climate change which is fueled by the burning of fossil fuels, especially coal.
The science is sobering. The recent IPCC report makes it crystal clear that if global temperatures exceed 1.5°C, it's game over for the Great Barrier Reef. Right now, Australia and the rest of the world are on a course that will probably exceed 2.0°C
If we can reduce our carbon emissions by at least 75% by 2030 and reach net zero carbon emissions by 2035, then we might be able to hold global warming to 1.5°C, giving the Reef a fighting chance.
But our Federal Government has no serious climate policy. Their performance at the recent COP26 was an embarrassment. They refused to transition away from coal, refused to reduce methane emissions and refused to set an effective carbon emissions reduction target for 2030.
We need to push the government to step up with an effective climate policy that will limit warming to 1.5°. Hence our campaign …
To kick off, we have a simple ask. Email us a picture of your favourite reef (above or below water) to Photos@whitsundayconservation.org.au Caption the picture with: "1.5 Keeps My Favourite Reef Alive" and include your name.
We will collect all the pictures we receive and create a 1.5 Keeps My Favourite Reef Alive digital scrapbook. The scrapbook can then be used to show politicians at all levels how people feel about the Reef and the policies we expect to see in order to protect the Reef.
To make this campaign really rock, we would ask you also do the following:
Like our Facebook page: WhitsundayConservation
Follow us on Instagram: WhitsundayConservation
Share your Favourite Reef photos with your friends
Use the hashtag #1point5KeepsReefsAlive
Here's the first one in. Hope to see your reef pictures rolling in ASAP!
This is just the start. Standby for updates on the campaign and other actions you can take to protect the health of the Reef.
1.5 Keeps My Favourite Reef Alive, Elizabeth Reef
Government's Attempt to Weaken Environmental Organisations Defeated but then Political Treachery
A huge win for democracy as the Senate has voted in support of Rex Patrick's motion to disallow the charity changes — Government regulations which could silence Australian charities such as us and other Australian conservation groups.
Peter McCallum from the Mackay Conservation Group circulated this important message.
Charity isn't just about helping those in need – it's about working for systemic change. This win ensures the long tradition of charitable advocacy continues.
Thanks to you — and thousands of other people like you — those regulations were defeated. Emails like yours were crucial to this win.
We can't rest yet given the Political Campaigner Bill is still before the Senate, but we can all breathe a sigh of relief knowing that this senseless regulation has been binned. Also, there is simply not enough time for the Minister to push similar regulations through before the next election.
We wouldn't be here if it wasn't for the collective efforts of over a hundred charities and their allies – including a lot of people who've worked on this behind the scenes. A huge thanks to all of you. Special mention goes to Alice Drury (Human Rights Law Centre) and Jolene Elberth (Aust Conservation Foundation) who've put in countless hours on this campaign alongside all their other responsibilities.
BUT Disgracefully, on Dec 1st in the Senate, Labor did a deal with the Liberals and passed the Political Campaigner Bill.
As if this wasn't enough of an attack on our democracy, the Bill was rammed through without debate and without going to inquiry.
Instead of supporting the good work of our charities in this time of great need, Labor has sided with the Liberals to silence and stymie them.
The new laws will mean that more nonprofits will now be classified as "significant third parties", increasing their disclosure requirements and administrative burdens. More charities will spend more time on paperwork and less time advocating for public interest policy reforms. Many will be discouraged from advocacy work altogether.
This is a kick in the teeth to a sector that needs more support, not more roadblocks.
Over 80 charities joined together to call on the government to scrap this bill, noting that they are already subject to strict reporting and transparency obligations under the ACNC. There is no justification for the additional reporting that a lower threshold would impose on the many organisations already struggling to make ends meet.
Roundabout Rucus - Main Roads Stuck at Traffic Lights
Since 20 August 21 the Transport and Main Roads Department (TMR) from Ministerial to District office have refused several requests to consult with our community about their decision to install traffic lights at both William Murray and Macarthur Drive intersections with Shute Harbour Road (SHR), or to allow an independent professional peer review of their traffic modelling and demographic forecasts for these intersections.
This is totally unacceptable. TMR had a moral contract with our community to consult, see BACKGROUND, and plans for roundabouts at these intersections were in place until 2019. Two years to consult and TMR did nothing.
As a result local community group Residents Traffic Action (RTA) has commissioned an independent professional assessment. The cost of this report is being met from donations from concerned residents and community organisations.
If you'd like to help off set this cost, please contact Founding member of Residents Traffic Action, Faye Chapman at:
residentstrafficaction@gmail.com.
Beside the efficiency and safety of roundabouts vs traffic lights, there are also environmental reasons why traffic lights are not the answer in an environmental sense. RTA does not dispute the need for regulation at these intersections but alternative, innovative planning could provide control without the visual, light and air pollution caused by traffic lights.
Queues of vehicles at traffic lights cause excessive emissions which impact on our air quality; platooning of these queues once the lights change prevent side traffic entering quickly, again causing unnecessary emissions. Also, whether they are required or not, traffic lights use power to operate 24/7 . Think 4am entering from Macarthur Drive onto SHR waiting for the lights to change. With any power failure,caused by accidents, brown outs, cyclones, storms or just a supply breakdown, traffic lights are useless causing dangerous conditions at unregulated intersections.
Unlike roundabouts which once installed, are functional at all times, and can be landscaped to be green, attractive and cooling.
In 2005 when the shopping centre was being built close to the Paluma and Shute Harbour Roads intersection, traffic lights were demanded by Transport and Main Roads and despite intense community opposition, headed by Residents Traffic Action, traffic lights were installed in 2007.
But this community opposition did cause the TMR and our local council to contribute $50K & $20K respectively to establish a Project Advisory Committee (PAC) to oversee and allow consultation between themselves and interested parties on all future intersection treatments along Shute Harbour Rd. Residents Traffic Action was an active member of PAC.
After functioning successfully 2007 – 2010 with only roundabouts being built along Shute Harbour Road in the ensuing years, it was felt that our community and councils preference for roundabouts was well established and accepted by TMR. In fact, to this day, we don't believe Whitsunday council's policy (05/07/2000 at right) opposing traffic lights has ever been rescinded or deleted.
20 August 2021: Residents adjacent to Shute Harbour Rd were letterboxed by TMR to tell them that the road was being widened to 4 lanes and that traffic lights would be installed at William Murray and Macarthur Drive intersections with Shute Harbour Road. This is not consultation. And to date, TMR still refuse to consult with our community.
Council Management & Master Plans have been extended for Your Say till 5pm Jan 14 2022
UPDATE 14-12-21 following application by SOF to Council: Council will provide Save Our Foreshore and the community a one month extension from Tuesday 14 December 2021 to Friday 14 January 2022 to make a submission on either the Draft GABA Masterplan 2021, the Draft Airlie Beach Foreshore Land Management Plan 2021 or both.
Please note that the Whitsunday Planning Scheme Major Amendment went before Council at the Ordinary Meeting held on 8 December 2021 and was tabled to the next Ordinary Meeting to be held on 25 January 2022. The Amendment, although publicly available, will not enter the statutory Public Consultation Period until it has been endorsed by Council and approved by the Minister for public consultation, which is not likely to occur until late February 2022 at the earliest.
Would you like to have your say on planning for the future of Airlie Beach and surrounds?
Whitsunday Council has prepared a draft Airlie Beach Land Management Plan and draft Greater Airlie Beach Area Masterplan, which are both important strategic tools for Council.
Download the draft plans and find out more below.
Council are asking for your feedback on both of these documents and seeking your ideas for Airlie Beach.
What are your main priorities for your town? Do you have an idea for Airlie Beach and surrounds?
Nesting Boxes - Start your Nursery and Help our Vulnerable Wildlife Survive
FAUNA RESCUE WHITSUNDAY has a range of nesting boxes for birds, possums, microbats and gliders. Our wildlife's homes and habitats are being lost to tree clearing on a bigger scale than ever. It takes a tree nearly 100 years to develop the hollows that parrots and other animals need to live and raise babies in.
PLEASE CONTACT the FAUNA RESCUE WHITSUNDAY HOTLINE: 07 49473389 if you'd like to purchase one and install it on your property.
Alternatively why not try building one? These photos are from Junior Landcare and the Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland have some instructions here.
Don't forget to set up bird baths and use appropriate bird seed in feeders.
It's fascinating and fun. Great for the whole family to see these families grow and survive.
"Go Slow for Those Below" Zone to protect Dugongs and Turtles in Pioneer Bay - Update & Amazing Photos
Twice a day, an armada of noisy jetskis crashes through the sensitive sea grass feeding area west of Pigeon Island and scares off the dugongs and turtles that come to feed.
Whitsunday Conservation Council continues to push for better protection for our endangered turtles and dugongs through the implementation of a go-slow zone over the sea grass meadows Pioneer Bay.
There is not much to report on the official side as at the end of November. The issue was discussed at the last GBRMPA meeting and staff told us it was being looked into. The Whitsunday LMAC is yet to have its first meeting in March 2022 and this is the forum where we are hoping to progress this proposal.
In the meantime, Johnny Gaskell has provided some fantastic images that show why we need to create a 'go-slow' zone over the seagrass meadow at Pigeon Island. These drone images, taken over the shallow intertidal area near Pigeon Island, show just how much marine wildlife activity there is over just one weekend. Unfortunately there was also quite a lot of 'too close, too fast' motorised traffic in the same area. Many thanks to Johnny for these images.
Clockwise from top: turtles feeding, spring – when a dugong's mind turns to … , dugong mother & calf, 2 dugongs & calf, dolphin mother & calf, 24 turtles circled .
Whitsundays Heart of the Reef Discovery Centre Update
The Whitsunday Regional Council has strongly supported our proposal for a Whitsundays Heart of the Reef Discovery Centre (WHRDC) by including the project in their Economic Development Draft Strategy paper. This draft document was put out for public comment last month on the Councils Your Say website and is now closed for comment.
This Draft Strategy paper was available in some local shopping centres from a pop up store as well, so we hope you were able to have "Your Say".
Presentations of a Strategic Outline for our WHRDC proposal – a state of the art facility interpretation centre for the Great Barrier Reef to be based right here in the Whitsundays – have met with resounding success following a dozen or more presentations to the community over the past few months including schools, Whitsunday Charter Boat Industry Association, Coral Sea Marina, Whitsunday Coast Chamber of Commerce and the Tourism Whitsunday Board.
WCC has also presented the proposal at their monthly market stalls in Airlie Beach and to date have collected 254 signatures from locals and tourists registering their strong support for the concept. You can view details of this presentation HERE.
The centre will provide a strong edu-tourism focus for the Whitsundays attracting school age through to tertiary students. It will also be a citizen science hub for the region where volunteers can become involved in multiple projects aimed at conserving the Great Barrier Reef.
WCC Vice President Dr Lindsay Simpson, with WCC Secretary Faye Chapman and WCC member Jonathan Peter, form the WCC sub-committee promoting this project.
"There are so many great contributions from volunteers – citizen scientists – already in our community contributing to important research on all sorts of topics such as seagrass; marine debris; turtle health and coral restoration. The idea is to showcase their projects – as well as helping to enlist more support for the contribution they make to the conservation of the Great Barrier Reef," Dr Simpson said. "The Centre does not aim to replicate Reef HQ Townsville, which is the world's largest living coral aquarium but instead focus on the reef from its inception to now and the important role of Traditional Owners, the sea-going Ngaro people. The centre will highlight all the challenges the Great Barrier Reef faces including climate change and encourage everyone to jump on board to help confront these challenges.''
Keep Us Working - RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP - You're Worth a MILLION $
If you are like most people, you probably put renewal notices in the "do later" folder and hope that it takes care of itself.
The subscription is either too much so you decide not to renew, or too little so you feel you can't be bothered and that it won't make any difference anyway.
Have a look our Treetops webpage and go to the bottom of the list to find Charlie Pickering takes on Alan (cash for comments) Jones over his famous "grain of rice" Australia is too small to make a difference on climate change.
Each subscription to WCC is like that grain of rice, not just in monetary terms but in terms of building an effective force that will get your voice heard by governments at all levels. We ask only for a $1 but having you as a member makes us a million dollar force for environmental awareness.
But there is more to it. The federal government makes it hard for charitable environmental organisations to exist in Australia. We are bogged down in red tape and membership numbers is one of them.
So please, make your membership worth a million dollars and renew as soon as you get the renewal notice.
Help us Grow and stay in the loop by joining us as a Supporter or Volunteer
Yes I can Volunteer
PO Box 260, Cannonvale Qld 4802
info@whitsundayconservation.org.au
We host a stall at the Airlie Beach markets on the last Saturday of every month, where you can come and chat in person about the work we do, or we can be contacted by email, phone, or via social media.
Please get in touch, we'd love to hear from you.
Our Thanks to Contributors
Copyright © 2022 Whitsunday Conservation Council Inc ABN 12179856680 ACNC Registered Charity
Powered by Volunteers

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Club Schedule Changes & WA Policy Center
Posted by Charles Rehberg on Jun 18, 2018
See you Monday: The club's annual Initiation Dinner is June 25 at 6 p.m. at the Kalispel Golf Club on Waikiki. Spouses and guests are very welcome, but need to notify ahead of the event. Four tasty selections are on the menu. Please contact President-elect Lenore Romney if you add guests or make other changes.
Holiday time: The club will not meet on July 2 in observance of the Independence Day.
Next meeting: As the club makes major changes to its schedule for the new Rotary year, the next gathering is a "Rotary Connect" meet-up at 4:30 p.m. on July 9 at Nectar Wine and Beer, 1331 W. Summit Parkway in Kendall Yards.
Times and topics change with Rotary year
With the admonition "let's give it a try," President-elect Lenore Romney shared the proposed club meeting schedule for the Rotary year, 2018-19.
Rather than the weekly Monday luncheons, the new plan is this:
Luncheons will continue as usual on the 1st and 3rd Mondays (except on federal holidays).
A "Rotary Connect" networking meet-up is scheduled the second Monday of each month.
A "Rotary Serves" time is scheduled each 4th of the week, with time and dates adjusted as needed to suit the tasks.
When a 5th Monday occurs in a month, that is an off day for the club.
Lenore said the "Rotary Connect" fellowship and networking meet-ups are open to Rotarians, spouses, friends, prospective members and others interested in Rotary. Locations will change each month and members are encouraged to suggest venues.
The "Rotary Serves" programs will provide monthly opportunities to serve causes in the community. This is an organized effort for what club members used to call "dirty hands" projects. Lenore said members are encouraged to propose potential service projects for non-profit organizations.
Thus the current schedule for July is a Connect meet-up at 4:30 at Nectar on July 9, a lunch meeting at Nectar July 16, a service time to be determined on July 23 and no gathering on July 30, the 5th Monday of the month.
The August schedule will include a lunch meeting at Nectar on Aug. 6th, a Connect meet-up at 4:30 p.m., Aug.13 at the Maryhill Winery Tasting Room, 1203 W. Summit Parkway (just east of Nectar), a lunch meeting Aug. 20 at Nectar and a service time at noon, Aug. 27, at Holmes Elementary, 2600 W. Sharp, to store school supplies for the year.
Lenore said during discussions at Rotary PETs (President-elect training), and again with talks from Spokane area clubs, many officers said many members are looking at adding different options for club meetings.
She said a number of prospective members "just don't want to go to lunch meetings," at least week after week. The "Connect" meet-ups offer some alternatives. So does the organized community service sessions. "Rotary is Service above Self," she said.
Initiatives might provide summer surprises
Though summer weeks are not top-of-mind for most people to study lengthy legislative initiatives, a list of possible items which might hit the ballot – and our wallets – bear close watching.
Sharing the daunting details for the June 18 club meeting was Chris Cargill, Eastern Washington director for the Washington Policy Center, a not-for-profit think tank which studies the law clause by clause.
He listed nine major initiatives with major impacts, including carbon taxes, gas taxes, a sugar tax, a Seattle-based income tax, continuing school funding issues and a single-payer health care plan.
Deadlines for the validating signatures for the initiatives come up in a few weeks, so sign-up efforts are getting in high gear.
Of the judicial school decisions allowing smaller class sizes in some grades and other improvements, Cargill the teachers' union response was "we won big." Now, he said, teachers are seeking from 15 to 37 percent tax increases in some districts. "And the Mukilteo teacher union has already authorized a strike," he said.
The income tax is at issue, Cargill said, because while a flat tax is constitutional in Washington, a progressive tax is not. Some want to make sure there is a full ban on state income taxes. The Seattle tax would affect those earning $250,000 a year and would be taxed at 2.25 percent.
Continuing success of health exchanges is at question, Cargill said. Some premiums have been increased 15-18 percent this year.
With higher gas mileage in many vehicles in recent years, and subsequent tax-per-gallon losses, transportation officials are testing a road-per-mile issue to compare with fuel test by the gallon, Cargill said.
Of the carbon tax, he noted that one "pollution fee" initiative covered 38 pages alone.
Cargill said the Policy Center also is pushing to allow remote testimony, so people who want to testify – often done very quickly by legislators – can connect via Skype or some other electronic measures rather than driving to Olympia.
"The State Senate has permitted this in rare cases, but has not been allowed in the House," he said, adding that "other states do it."
The bulletin producers:
Photos: Sandy Fink and Eric Johnson
Program coordinator: Brad Stark


text:
Marilyn French est une écrivaine et militante féministe américaine, née le  à Brooklyn (New York). Elle a succombé à une crise cardiaque le , dans un hôpital de Manhattan.

Œuvre
Fiction :
 The Women's Room, 1977 (Toilettes pour femmes, Laffont, 1978)
 The Bleeding Heart, 1980 (Les Bons Sentiments, Acropole)
 Her Mother's Daughter, 1987
 Our Father, 1994
 My Summer With George, 1996
 In The Name of Friendship, 2006
 The Love Children, 2009

Non-fiction :
 The Book As World: James Joyce's Ulysses, 1976
 Shakespeare's Division of Experience, 1981
 Beyond Power : On Women, Men and Morals, 1985 (La fascination du pouvoir, Acropole, 1987)
 The War Agains Women, 1992
 From Eve to Dawn : A History of Women, 4 vol., 2002-2008

Mémoires :
 A Season in Hell, 1998

Liens externes

Romancière américaine du XXe siècle
Naissance en novembre 1929
Naissance à Brooklyn
Décès en mai 2009
Décès à Manhattan
Étudiant de l'université Harvard
Étudiant de l'université Hofstra
Féministe radicale
Mort d'une crise cardiaque
Décès à 79 ans

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Welcome to Dogs are Heaven!
I am available for pet sitting in the Boulder, Denver and Castle Rock Colorado!
happy dogs, cats, other pets and horses!
dogs getting adequate exercise for peace of mind. Cats having plenty of play.
I am highlighted on the Carolina Business Outreach Network!
Click here for dog excursions and pet sitting, here for training, healing, and communication, here from testimonials from Boston dog walking customers, and here to learn more about us.
Serving the Asheville North Carlolina and surroundings communities.


text:
« Why did Norazita die?
Election Commission chairman doesn't see facts! »
Racial extremism bad for economy, warns ex-diplomat
Lawrence Yong
Malaysia will lose its competitive economic edge if its politics continue to cater to racial and religious extremes, a former senior diplomat warned today.
Razali Ismail, who was a diplomat for 35 years before retiring in 1998, warned that although polemics – the practise of one-sided political arguments – was inescapable in multi-racial, multi-religious Malaysia, it must not translate into a welfare state.
"If you just want to be a backwater country somewhere, that's a different story.
"But we are in a strategic position (for economic growth) …all the differences between us have to be worked out," Razali said at the Prime Lecture on Culture 2013, where he was invited to speak on "polemical politics" by the Tourism and Culture Ministry.
To emphasise his point, Razali cited that Malaysia's rivals, such as Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia, already woke up to global realities and are well on their way to fortifying their own economies to attract foreign investments.
During his years as a diplomat, including as ambasadors to several European counctries, he saw almost all countries he served in as seeing Malaysia as a stable country.
However, Razali added, his international friends have of late started to question the divisive goings-on in the country.
"They are confused, their confidence has been shaken… As public servants, there is no way out but to do the right thing."
In his speech to a room full of about a 100 high-level ministry officers, the former president of the UN General Assembly said that he sensed a high degree of sensitivity and resistance to change, especially among young bumiputeras.
"Any suggested changes by the prime minister in line with the New Economic Model (NEM) apparently has been met by some bumiputera with a inertia…
"We should not let populist polemics lead us to squander possibilities by attaching our fates to a debilitating culture of welfare dependency," he said.
Gov't must also tackle corruption
Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak introduced the race-free NEM in 2010 and ended the pro-bumiputera New Economic Policy (NEP), which was initiated by his father Tun Abdul Razak after the racial riots of May 13, 1969.
Recently, Najib appeared to be skewing the economy back towards bumiputeras-enriching policies with his Bumiputera Economic Enhancement (BEE) measures.
Meanwhile, Razali further urged the government to tackle corruption in all forms.
Razali, who is also chairperson of the Global Movement of Moderates, said he recently met with young activists and came out feeling concerned.
"The younger generation are beginning to lose faith and confidence in public institutions," he said.
He cited that while political masters had sound ideas and good policies, the implementation part of the process was often poor.
"There are all these questions. The question of accountability comes out regularly… you say you want to stop corruption, but how are you going to do it?"
Razali, 74, has served as Malaysian ambassador to Poland, Germany, Czechoslavakia, Hungary, and he was High Commissioner to India before becoming Malaysia's permanent representative to the UN.
He was the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Myanmar from 2000 to 2005, and was also a former president of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Malaysia.
This entry was posted on Thursday, 7 November 2013, 11:08 pm and is filed under Corruption, Najib Razak, nation building, NEM. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0.
#1 by Noble House on Friday, 8 November 2013 - 5:23 am
PM Najib is known for his 'Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde' personality. He is known to waive according to where the pendulum swings that follows him into a dark place in his life – a place at which he arrives through a combination of bad decisions and forces beyond his control. When he finally hits the bottom, the people would have chosen to judge him or write him off.
What impression is Malaysia giving the world when, in a CNN interview with Christiane Amanpour, Najib said that one 'must not marginalize the majority'?
#2 by undertaker888 on Friday, 8 November 2013 - 8:10 am
///…..in a CNN interview with Christiane Amanpour, Najib said that one 'must not marginalize the majority'?////
In other words, in order not to shame himself, he is saying, "We need crutches forever."
#3 by Winston on Friday, 8 November 2013 - 8:49 am
Everybody knows what's wrong with the government of this country.
It doesn't take rocket science to know that!
The fact remains that the scumbags want to continue their grip on the country in order to enrich themselves and at the same time afford the space for them to do whatever they want and put them beyond the reach of the law!
And the only way they know how is to pander to the racial and religious beliefs of the majority race.
That's what they think.
But even the majority race is forsaking them; witness the last GE where the opposition won more than the government of the popular vote.
The only way anything can change is to kick them out of Putrajaya!
Nothing less will do!!
#4 by worldpress on Friday, 8 November 2013 - 9:32 am
They are there to work find way to corrupt and steal even no money
Their admin must end sooner the better in order to save the country
#5 by Di Shi Jiu on Friday, 8 November 2013 - 9:34 am
The simple fact is that UMNO/BN must continue to exploit race and religion. There is really no other way for them to rob Malaysia and Malaysians.
It is only when our attention is distracted by race and religion that the plundering of the nation's wealth can occur.
#6 by tak tahan on Friday, 8 November 2013 - 11:46 am
Pas and PKR muslim MPs should be more actively on the ground to counter this race and religion exploitation to rural dwellers.
#7 by lee tai king (previously dagen) on Friday, 8 November 2013 - 5:57 pm
Racialism is the cornerstone of umno's survival.
We all know that well.
So dont expect umno to change.


text:
Home » A new deadline for NAFTA
A new deadline for NAFTA
Source: Adobestock
By Jay Sjerven
WASHINGTON — The clock has been set to ticking once again in the ongoing saga that has been the renegotiation of the 24-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement. The United States and Mexico have held separate ministerial-level talks in Washington during the past couple of weeks, while Canada remained on the sidelines. The goal of the U.S.-Mexico talks was to resolve before the end of August the major disagreements that thus far have prevented a successful conclusion to the NAFTA negotiations.
The August deadline reflected two realities. First, the Mexican government sought to ensure the country's current president, Enrique Peña Nieto, signs the new agreement before he leaves office on Dec. 1. This was not to say that there are significant differences between Mr. Peña Nieto and his successor President-elect Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who was elected July 1, on what a new NAFTA should look like. None have been publicly stated, and Mr. López Obrador's designated lead negotiator, Jesus Seade, accompanied Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo, Mexico's current lead negotiator, to both ministerial meetings.
Mr. Peña Nieto told the Mexican press after the first U.S.-Mexico ministerial meeting, "We are determined to speed up negotiations in order to make progress in a significant way throughout the month of August. It's not a deadline, but we are convinced that we can reach an agreement."
On including Mr. Seade in the Mexican negotiating team, Mr. Peña Nieto said, "Presenting a single negotiating front with the United States and Canada, I believe, creates conditions of greater tranquility but above all confidence in the agreements that we will eventually have."
But if Mr. Peña Nieto is to sign the agreement before Dec. 1, an accord in principle must be reached by late August because the United States by law first must allow for a 90-day comment period on any agreement, Robert Lighthizer, the U.S. trade representative, explained to members of the Senate Appropriations Committee's Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies during a hearing on July 26.
During the same hearing, Mr. Lighthizer said, "My hope is that we will before very long have a conclusion with respect to Mexico, and that as a result of that, Canada will come in, and we can compromise." He added that Canada to date hasn't shown the same willingness to compromise as has the United States or Mexico.
An open question was whether Canada would, in fact, "come in" and accept results of the U.S.-Mexico talks as the foundation of a new NAFTA. Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland traveled to Singapore to attend a meeting of Association of Southeast Asian Nations foreign ministers last week, so she wasn't available to attend the U.S.-Mexico ministerial meeting on Aug. 2 even if she had been invited.
But during a trip to Mexico on July 25, Ms. Freeland affirmed, "Canada very much believes in NAFTA as a trilateral agreement. While the ultimate deal will be trilateral … it's completely normal to have a bilateral meeting."
During Ms. Freeland's visit, both Mr. Peña Nieto and Mr. López Obrador said they also were committed to NAFTA as a trilateral agreement.
The United States' commitment to the trilateral character of NAFTA was less clear given President Donald Trump's long-standing dim view of the pact and his suggestion he might seek a separate agreement with Mexico.
NAFTA negotiations last broke off when the United States imposed tariffs on Canadian and Mexican steel and aluminum on June 1, which prompted both nations to raise tariffs on certain U.S. products in retaliation. Mr. Lighthizer indicated that he expected the United States as well as Mexico and Canada to lift those tariffs as part of a successful NAFTA renegotiation.
The major areas of disagreement between the United States and Mexico and Canada remained U.S. demands related to:
rules of origin specifying the minimum percentage of an automobile or truck's content that must originate in North America,
in the United States in particular, cashiering the current dispute resolution procedures,
instituting a five-year sunset clause that would end the agreement if the parties do not agree to renew it every five years, which raised the prospect of regularly renegotiating terms of the agreement.
Both Mexico and Canada have expressed particularly strong objection to the sunset clause proposal because it would make it difficult for businesses in the three countries to make investments or engage in long-range planning for cross-border trade and development.
During the July 26 Senate subcommittee hearing, Senator Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, reminded Mr. Lighthizer that many Republicans in the Senate opposed a sunset clause for the same reasons.
Operations Regulatory
On the brink — Preparing for a post-NAFTA world
Case for delaying new Nutrition Facts Panel gets a hearing
'Do no harm' a key focal point regarding NAFTA renegotiations
FDA issues blueprint for a New Era of Smarter Food Safety
Hostess sets Dec. 10 deadline for bids


Lady Rowena has never known love. Not until she spends one glorious night with the soldier Roget.
Roget has sworn to be her man, body and soul, but by being with him she is risking her life.
And yet will one night be enough?


RSM founder Wayne Franklin responds to the portrayal of this site in a recent column by George Packer of the New Yorker.
There's a bigger reason to be offended by Chick-Fil-A, one that can unite us all: they think we're all idiots.
It all goes back to those cows, those infernal, insufferable cows.


The Recycling People (RH5) Ltd offer competitively priced junk house clearance service in Ockley for local householders .
Fed up with the refuse or household rubbish outside your house, retail unit or office ?
The Recycling People Ltd understand that every customer or business is unique, with varied needs, and that's why our a discounted building waste rubbish collection services are tailored towards each customer .
Perhaps you house or flat is being refurbished and are now are Googling for a highly efficient and ethical Surrey based waste disposal company .
householders choose us because are labour charges are included and we carry off of your unwanted items responsibly, including all waste . Remember with our junk house clearance service we do all the hard work and clearing of the site and dispose of of everything in our own lorries and vans .
junk house clearance : 8 cubic yards = £250.00 + VAT start from £39.00 | 4 cubic yards = £130.00 + VAT | 10 cubic yards - £220.00 | Items which incur landfill taxes include: We have no load amount restrictions and Over 88% of rubbish is recycled or diverted from landfill .
We cover all of Surrey including Ockley , Caterham and Crossways .
We also offer loft clearance , business waste collection and / or commercial rubbish clearance in your nearby your home . Call us today on 0800 138 910.
Wherever possible TRP will recycle or reuse materials and give unwanted furniture to charities etc, thus reducing the need to use landfill sites.. Call 0800 138 9100 now. We are well-established.


Muskegon, MI - Cans From Fans (TM) is partnering with Independent Bank to help feed our community! Donation bins will be on-site at both local Independent Bank locations at 5969 Harvey Street in Norton Shores and 3251 Henry Street in Muskegon from September 17th November 10, 2010.
People are encouraged to bring non-perishable food like canned meats and fish, canned soup, juice, pasta, vegetables, cereal, peanut butter and rice to Independent Bank. Those who donate food or make monetary donations can enter to win prizes. Past prizes have included gift certificates from local businesses, an autographed guitar concert tickets, CDs and more.
"Independent Bank is focusd on the communities we are involved in, Says AVE Branch Manager, JEssica Sowles.
Cans From Fans is partnering with Independent Bank to help feed our community! Donation bins will be on?site at both local Independent Bank locations at 5969 Harvey Street in Norton Shores and 3251 Henry Street in Muskegon from September 17th through November 10th.
People are encouraged to bring non?perishable food like canned meats and fish, canned soup, juice, pasta, vegetables, cereal, peanut butter and rice to Independent Bank. Those who donate food or make monetary donations can enter to win prizes. Past prizes have included gift certificates from local businesses, an autographed guitar, concert tickets, CDs, and more.
"Independent Bank is focused on the communities we are involved in," Says AVP Branch Manager, Jessica Sowles.
Muskegon, MI Sept. 12, 2010: The 2010 Sundance winner Restrepo is a gritty, intense documentary surrounding the U.S. deployment of soldiers in Afghanistan's Korengal Valley, which was considered the most dangerous posting in the U.S. military. While it will keep the audience at the edge of their seats and their hearts racing, it will surely leave a lasting impression on many that leave.
"It's an interesting concept that we, as a society, have chronicled such sad and touching events through this documentary with, aside from exposure, the intent of profiting on it," says Jen Pelto, owner of the Harbor Theater.
Shoreline Spectacular had many successful events happen this last weekend (Labor Day weekend) but unfortunately our GFS Marketplace Family Picnic was rained out.
We have decided to reschedule it to this Sunday, September 12th, from 1 – 5 pm. The location will be at GFS Marketplace, 885 W. Sherman Blvd. All money raised here will go to local charities (just like the festival).
The events that were planned for the original picnic will take place here. We will be raffling off the 2010 Polaris Quad, we will be having a hot dog contest (sponsored by Vienna) and music.
The picnic will be $5 for adults / $3 for children under 12 yr old.
It will include a pig roast (bbq or not), baked beans, potato salad, and ice cream. (Beverages sold separate) and for the children there will be hot dogs, chips and juice.
Muskegon, Mich., Aug. 24, 2010 — Muskegon Opportunity is hosting a mentor training workshop from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 31, in the Blue & Gold Room on the Muskegon Community College campus at 221 S. Quarterline Road.
Muskegon Opportunity is working to help local high-school juniors prepare for and enroll in the post-secondary education option of their choice, from a four-year college program to a professional training program; and caring, committed adults from all walks of life are vital to helping these students realize their goals.
Mentors will be good role models and help students navigate the path toward their dreams. Mentors focus on successfully earning a high school diploma, pursuing higher education and planning for a career.
Muskegon, MI -- Cans From FansTM, a Muskegon-based Food Drive to collect non-perishable food items from fans attending community events, will host their second food drive at the 2010 Muskegon Shoreline Spectacular. The event runs from September 3 through September 6 and the Cans From Fans semi-trailer will be on site all four days. There will also be donation bins located throughout the event.
Attendees of the Shoreline Spectacular are encouraged to bring non-perishable food like canned meats and fish, canned soup, juice, pasta, vegetables, cereal, peanut butter and rice to the Cans From Fans semi-trailer. Those who donate food or make monetary donations will receive free parking at locations surrounding the event. Signs will be posted indicating participating parking lots.


text:
{{#projects}}

		{{year}}
		{{count}}

			{{#items}}

						{{#progress}}{{percent}}%{{/progress}}
						{{#personal}}{{/personal}}

						#{{category_name}}
						{{finished}}

						{{name}}

{{description}}

			{{/items}}

			{{#loadMore.status}}

					Показать ещё {{loadMore.count}}

			{{/loadMore.status}}

{{/projects}}

{{^projects}}
Увы. Ни одного проекта не найдено. Попробуйте ещё раз используя другой запрос.
{{/projects}}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


It has been quite a while since I've done anything to this site, but I can safely say that as of today I have completed my first build in four years which you can see over on my flickr account.
I do hope this is the end of my dark ages, as I've managed to muster the attention (about five hours of rummaging through the disorganised abyss of my Lego drawers to find pieces) to complete something, previously unheard of over the past 4-5 years. So I hope to maintain this!
Hey There!, and welcome to my precious corner of the whimsical site they call MOCpages! In the many nooks and crannys of my site you will find the creations of yet another dull-eyed, slack-jawed TFOL.
I mainly focus my building around randomly provoked creations, The LRF; the military force I created, and also the UNE ; John Moffat's legendary Alliance.
I also belong to MOCpages best friend Flickr, so check it out!.
Want to enlist in the LRF? The visit The Group.
Or be an ally with the UNE.
Want to see my favourite builders? Then see them Here.
HCF-160 A continuation of the UNE HCF mecha line. This being the HCF-160, a heavily armed, heavily protected assault mech.
"Siege" Class Heavy Cruiser When heavy firepower and destruction is needed, the Siege class is your kind of cruiser.
Will Jarman is one of Lilac Hat Brick's favorite builders!


text:
Sponsored, What We're Reading
Meet Author Alan Brennert
Arrow Thin Left Icon Arrow Thin Right Icon
Meet author Alan Brennert on his U.S. tour for Daughter of Moloka'i, the long-awaited follow-up to his book club classic, Moloka'i. In this companion novel, Brennert reunites us with the characters that readers fell in love with fifteen years ago.
While Moloka'i told the story of Rachel Kalama, a leprosy patient exiled to the remote colony of Kalaupapa in the 1890s, Brennert's new book follows Rachel's daughter Ruth across the Pacific to California, where she is raised by the Japanese couple who adopted her. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941, Ruth and her family are forced to leave their homes and businesses and are unjustly imprisoned in a Japanese internment camp for the duration of the war.
Brennert paints a vivid and emotional portrait of the shocking conditions that Japanese-American families endured in concentration camps constructed by the U.S. government on American soil. The story is grimly relevant in today's political climate, as the current administration builds detention centers along the southern border, brutally separates young children from their parents, and vilifies immigrants based on the color of their skin.
It is wise to learn from our mistakes, and Daughter of Moloka'i shines a light on a dark historical moment that readers—and leaders—would do well to remember.
This companion tale tells the story of Ruth, the daughter that Rachel Kalama―quarantined for most of her life at the isolated leprosy settlement of Kalaupapa―was forced to give up at birth.
The book follows young Ruth from her arrival at the Kapi'olani Home for Girls in Honolulu, to her adoption by a Japanese couple who raise her on a strawberry and grape farm in California, her marriage and unjust internment at Manzanar Relocation Camp during World War II―and then, after the war, to the life-altering day when she receives a letter from a woman who says she is Ruth's birth mother, Rachel.
Daughter of Moloka'i expands upon Ruth and Rachel's 22-year relationship, only hinted at in Moloka'i. It's a richly emotional tale of two women―different in some ways, similar in others―who never expected to meet, much less come to love, one another. And for Ruth it is a story of discovery, the unfolding of a past she knew nothing about. Told in vivid, evocative prose that conjures up the beauty and history of both Hawaiian and Japanese cultures, it's the powerful and poignant tale that readers of Moloka'i have been awaiting for fifteen years.
About Silent Book Club
Silent Book Club® is a registered trademark of Silent Book Club LLC. All rights reserved.
Twitter Icon Facebook Icon Instagram Icon


text:
Family slams 'dirty' Blackpool hotel where guest were 'fighting and vomiting'
A Grand Hotel guest has described the chaotic scenes
Jamie Lopez
Hayley Parker
The Grand Hotel, Blackpool
A tourist has described the chaotic scenes she encountered after being forced to evacuate a 'dirty' hotel popular with Stokies in the early hours of New Year's Day.
Sarah Walker and her family, along with 'hundreds' of other people, reportedly left the Grand Hotel in Blackpool and were made to wait on the cold seafront at around 5.25am when a fire alarm rang.
Sarah, who described the experience as 'awful and unsafe', said she was separated from her sister during the ensuing chaos as staff reportedly failed to offer any guidance on what was happening.
More news here
Eventually, guests began to return to the Britannia-owned hotel around 20 minutes later.
Sarah had travelled to Blackpool for the New Year's celebrations with her partner, sister and six-year-old nephew and had already been left unimpressed by alleged dirtiness in their £137 a night rooms and the 'fighting, vomiting and noise' of other guests.
She told LancsLive : "After very little sleep due to drunken people and arguments on our floor, at 5am we were woken to the sound of the fire alarm. We evacuated the hotel along with everyone else. There was not one staff member to sight, no instruction, no guidance and older people struggling down the stairs.
"We made it outside again not to receive any instruction or guidance. There were people using all kinds of exits possible to get outside. No fire wardens at all.
"We all waited outside and again not one staff member was in sight. After 20, 25 minutes everyone proceeded back into the hotel with the alarm still going off. No one knew what to do. The lifts were all still in use so [there were] huge queues for the lifts and no one to advise whether these should or should not be in use."
Sarah said no staff were present throughout the ordeal and questioned what fire procedures were in place and how they were followed during the incident.
Hours later, Sarah was told by a hotel employee that the incident was caused by 'drunken men running round setting the alarms off'.
Dirty carpet at the Grand Hotel in Blackpool
A spokesman for Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service explained that the alarm was triggered automatically, which means firefighters will seek confirmation as to whether there is a genuine emergency or a fault before attending.
That alarm was triggered at 5.23am, shortly after the same thing happened at the Hilton Hotel.
When the fire service called the Hilton to check whether there was a fire, they were told they were not needed but when they tried to contact the Grand, no-one responded and it was decided they did not need to attend.
Around half an hour later, staff from the Hilton again called the fire service to explain the alarm could not be reset.
While it appears likely the same issue affected the Grand Hotel, Britannia did not respond to LancsLive's request for comment.
Sarah had already been left with a bad first impression of the hotel after arriving to find "stained, dirty carpet, which had clearly not been hoovered as evidenced by excessive hairs". She said her nephew knelt on the floor and found his new trousers were now covered in hairs and dirt.
She said that the bath was also stained and had red splatter marks and a lamp had rust which transferred when touched.
The experience was made worse during a visit to the hotel bar as they returned to see the new year in.
She explained: "We found somewhere to sit near the bar. The room was ridiculously hot. We spoke to one of the female bar staff, a young lady, who confirmed the air conditioning was broken"
They then asked whether any fans were available but were reportedly told the hotel didn't have any.
Sarah claimed that other visitors were visibly sweating, while the bar worker agreed the heat was ridiculous. At around 10.30pm, they decided it was 'unbearable' and decided to return to their rooms, at which point they saw air conditioning units being brought out.
The experience was only to get worse even before the evacuation.
Broken glass was left in the exit of the Grand Hotel
"Between the hours of 12am and 4am none of us in either room could sleep due to the noise. We of course expected some noise due to New Year's Eve but not to this level.
"There were people being sick, arguments, fights, shouting, loud sexual noises, we could hear a group of men discussing whether to call an ambulance for their friend and telling him to lie on his side."
"The room walls are very thin. My sister and I have text messages that we were sending to one another throughout the night from our rooms describing what we could hear."
After heading downstairs for a breakfast which reportedly involved dirty cutlery and a lipstick-stained glass, their departure was symbolically marked by Sarah's nephew accidentally 'walking through broken glass' in the exit.
Unhappy at the experience, she complained to the hotel and asked for a full refund but was reportedly told that the maximum amount that the shift leader could authorise was 10%. When she followed up with an email after returning home, a manager apologised for her "experience" but insisted all procedures were correctly followed and said no further refund would be given.
LancsLive contacted Britannia for comment but did not receive a response.
'Switch it off!' What a racket as alarm goes off on old Go Outdoors for a month
Mega-rich lifestyle of working-class Stokie who now uses private jets
Stoke-on-Trent in top 30 worst places to live - and why we don't agree
Colleagues 'devastated' by sudden death of Longton firefighter
Dad, 33, killed in smash after being catapulted out of van
Sign up now to receive it for free here


Co-written by director Neil Jordan, this drama introduces American multiplex audiences to renowned French actress Isabelle Huppert. She plays Greta, the owner of a purse left on the subway found by New York City transplant Frances (Chloë Grace Moretz). The aging piano teacher is pleased when Frances returns her bag and invites her for tea. Frances, having recently lost her own mother, is happy to make a new friend. However, as their friendship progresses, Frances discovers that Greta may not be as she appears. Although the film becomes overly predictable, Moretz and Huppert deliver spot-on performances.
Having gathered for a family reunion, the occasion is marred when a member of Madea's family dies suddenly. As usual, Madea finds fault with everyone else's behavior, lecturing and socking it to one family member after the next while praying they will see the light. Having played church-going Madea for 20 years, Perry states he's done. He will be 50 this year and doesn't want to play the eternally 68-year-old grandmother as he approaches her age. Say a prayer for Madea fans, and for Lionsgate, as this brings Perry's partnership with the studio to a close. Filmed over just one week in Atlanta, lightning-fast shooting schedules help make profitable this series grossing more than half a billion dollars. In addition to directing, writing and playing Madea, Perry will also appear as Joe, Brian and Heathrow.


Inner London has entered a 'post-gentrification era' where property and not location reigns supreme, according to new research by London estate agency James Pendleton.
The firm, which covers prime property hotspots such as Chelsea, Fulham and Wandsworth, has seen a 30% rise in the number of households buying outside the area they initially register in.
Buyers almost always sign up with agents in the area they wish to purchase. However, in the past five years the number of people registering in one James Pendleton branch before going on to buy in another has risen from 55% to 72%, a rise of almost a third.
The firm is seeing a greater preference for type and size of property than ever before, with location relegated to a secondary consideration in 'post-gentrification' inner London — where every area has passed a "critical mass" of demand.
One of the latest areas to demonstrate a dramatic transformation in recent years is Brixton where, across Lambeth, average prices have surged to an average £512,409 compared with £279,673 just ten years earlier - a rise of 83.2%.
This compares with a rise of just 20.8% across the UK, which has seen average prices rise from £178,636 to £215,847 in the same period.
Lucy Pendleton, Founder Director of James Pendleton, said: "In inner London, 'location, location, location' has become 'property, property, property'. In the post-gentrification era, the right home is far more important than where it happens to be.
"Demand in inner London has reached such a critical mass that gentrification is no longer relevant. Everywhere is gentrified, everywhere has 'come up'. This is giving buyers the confidence to branch out into virtually all residential areas in inner London.
"What we are also seeing is that the premium being charged in traditionally sought-after areas, where prices are typically higher, can no longer be justified based on the local environment alone. Widespread gentrification over the past decade has created a much more level playing field.
"We're seeing people registering in Chelsea before buying in Battersea, and beginning their search in Fulham then moving to Tooting. It's fascinating to watch and hugely significant for the London market where prices are expected to be cushioned by unusually strong demand.
"But this phenomenon also creates a real affordability problem for people on lower incomes and with smaller budgets.