texascavers Digest 31 Oct 2009 14:30:12 -0000 Issue 879
Topics (messages 12460 through 12476):
Re: a bat related video clip
12460 by: Ryan Monjaras
12461 by: tbsamsel.verizon.net
Elections final
12462 by: Ron Ralph
12466 by: Lyndon Tiu
12467 by: Allan Cobb
12469 by: Fritz Holt
El Laberinto del Fauno
12463 by: BMorgan994.aol.com
12464 by: Mark.Alman.l-3com.com
12465 by: Mark Minton
12470 by: David
Good news for WNS research
12468 by: Gill Edigar
Jim White statue to be unveiled at NCKRI :
12471 by: JerryAtkin.aol.com
12472 by: speleosteele.tx.rr.com
12475 by: Gill Edigar
Statuesque Cavers
12473 by: dirtdoc.comcast.net
12474 by: Ron Ralph
Robber Baron Halloween Party - Friday - October 30, 2009
12476 by: Geary Schindel
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i believe it makes fun of the lengthy parliamentary process where every little
thing has to be voted on, in that aspect i found it very funny, the bat was
just something random, it could have been a flying squirrel and the script
wouldn't have changed much
From: [email protected]
List-Post: [email protected]
Date: Thu, 29 Oct 2009 23:27:51 -0500
To: [email protected]
Subject: [Texascavers] a bat related video clip
I think the makers of the video clip below have an audience of peoplewho enjoy
watching the "Dumb & Dumber" type movies.
( recommend that you not watch it, but read below )
http://www.theonion.com/content/video/breaking_news_bat_loose_in
Synopsis:
A parody of 3 councilmen arguing about something irrelevant, when
a bat flies into the session. I can't understand where they found
actors/directors/animators with enough spare time to film this clip ?
Why did LG pay for advertising on this clip? Does that make you
want to buy LG ?
David Locklear
_________________________________________________________________
Windows 7: It works the way you want. Learn more.
http://www.microsoft.com/Windows/windows-7/default.aspx?ocid=PID24727::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WWL_WIN_evergreen2:102009
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|
The Richmond, Virginia minor league beisbol team is now called The Richmond Flying Squirrels.
i believe it makes fun of the lengthy parliamentary process where every little thing has to be voted on, in that aspect i found it very funny, the bat was just something random, it could have been a flying squirrel and the script wouldn't have changed much
From: [email protected]
Date: Thu, 29 Oct 2009 23:27:51 -0500
To: [email protected]
Subject: [Texascavers] a bat related video clip
I think the makers of the video clip below have an audience of people
who enjoy watching the "Dumb & Dumber" type movies.
( recommend that you not watch it, but read below )
Synopsis:
A parody of 3 councilmen arguing about something irrelevant, when
a bat flies into the session. I can't understand where they found
actors/directors/animators with enough spare time to film this clip ?
Why did LG pay for advertising on this clip? Does that make you
want to buy LG ?
David Locklear
Windows 7: It works the way you want. Learn more.
|
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Cavers,
This is the final report of the TSA Election Committee for 2009. To no ones
surprise, the slate of candidates presented by the Texas Speleological
Association was voted in overwhelmingly. They are:
President - Mark Alman 111 votes
Vice-President - Ellie Thoene 114 votes
Secretary - Denise Prendergast 114 votes
Treasurer - Darla Bishop 110 votes
A total of 115 votes were cast at the Texas Cavers Reunion on October 18 and
none of the nine mailed ballots were returned to the TSA mail box. Most
ballots were cast for all on the slate, some for less than all four and one
with a write-in for Secretary. The voting data spreadsheet will be sent to
anyone who writes and asks for it. The cast ballots will be housed in the
TSA room at the Texas Speleological Survey office in Austin for anyone who
would like to see them.
Ron Ralph, Elections Committee Chair
Ann Scott, Elections Committee
October 30, 2009
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Ron Ralph wrote:
This is the final report of the TSA Election Committee for 2009.
President � Mark Alman 111 votes
A total of 115 votes were cast
Mark,
Four people did not like you. You need to work on being the President a
bit harder.
--
Lyndon Tiu
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President - Mark Alman
Vice-President - Ellie Thoene
Secretary - Denise Prendergast
Treasurer - Darla Bishop
Congratulations to the new TSA Officers. Thank you to each of you for
volunteering to run the TSA. Good luck in the coming year.
Allan
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Mark did not vote for himself and neither did his family.
Fritz
-----Original Message-----
From: Lyndon Tiu [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Friday, October 30, 2009 3:48 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [Texascavers] Elections final
Ron Ralph wrote:
>
> This is the final report of the TSA Election Committee for 2009.
>
> President - Mark Alman 111 votes
>
> A total of 115 votes were cast
>
Mark,
Four people did not like you. You need to work on being the President a bit
harder.
--
Lyndon Tiu
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One way of getting entertained in the dark is to watch a cave flic, most
suck, so I hereby recommend El Laberinto del Fauno (Pan's labyrinth). In it
the brave little protagonist flees the horror of the Spanish civil war by
following a magical stick insect into a labyrinth. Among other adventures,
Pan, the resident diety, tasks her with resuscitating the health of an
ancient fig tree being poisoned by a gigantic toad living beneath its roots.
She
crawls in through the mud while huge palmetto bugs (_Eurycotis floridana_
(http://bugguide.net/node/view/33670/bgimage) ) crawl all over her. Her task
is to place three magic stones in the toad's belly, so when the 350 lbs
toad starts sucking the bugs off her face with his ten foot long tongue she
get the idea of adding the stones to the mix. Muy effectivo! I highly
recommend the flic!
Sleazeweazel
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I wholeheartedly agree, Sleaze!
This is one of my favorite movies and is highly creative and imaginative (it
did win an Oscar for Best Foreign Movie).
Even if it does have subtitles.
My daughter and I watch it every time it's on cable.
(Is that little girls stepdad a SOB or what? And that creature that has a taste
for little kids and its eyes in it hands. Man, that thing creeps me out!)
Mark
________________________________
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Fri 10/30/2009 11:53 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [Texascavers] El Laberinto del Fauno
One way of getting entertained in the dark is to watch a cave flic, most suck,
so I hereby recommend El Laberinto del Fauno (Pan's labyrinth). In it the brave
little protagonist flees the horror of the Spanish civil war by following a
magical stick insect into a labyrinth. Among other adventures, Pan, the
resident diety, tasks her with resuscitating the health of an ancient fig tree
being poisoned by a gigantic toad living beneath its roots. She crawls in
through the mud while huge palmetto bugs (Eurycotis floridana
<http://bugguide.net/node/view/33670/bgimage> ) crawl all over her. Her task is
to place three magic stones in the toad's belly, so when the 350 lbs toad
starts sucking the bugs off her face with his ten foot long tongue she get the
idea of adding the stones to the mix. Muy effectivo! I highly recommend the
flic!
Sleazeweazel
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For information on this movie see
<http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0457430/>, including two trailers.
Mark Minton
One way of getting entertained in the dark is to watch a cave flic,
most suck, so I hereby recommend El Laberinto del Fauno (Pan's
labyrinth). In it the brave little protagonist flees the horror of
the Spanish civil war by following a magical stick insect into a
labyrinth. Among other adventures, Pan, the resident diety, tasks
her with resuscitating the health of an ancient fig tree being
poisoned by a gigantic toad living beneath its roots. She crawls in
through the mud while huge palmetto bugs (Eurycotis floridana) crawl
all over her. Her task is to place three magic stones in the toad's
belly, so when the 350 lbs toad starts sucking the bugs off her face
with his ten foot long tongue she get the idea of adding the stones
to the mix. Muy effectivo! I highly recommend the flic!
Sleazeweazel
You may reply to [email protected]
Permanent email address is [email protected]
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VxFJCutYrU
I think this movie was reviewed on CaveTex when it first hit the theater ??
But it wasn't available then at home in Blu-Ray on a 65" high-def screen
with surround sound. Nor could you watch it on your iPod, or other
portable gadget. Meaning, the movie was worth mentioning again.
And you couldn't watch free clips like the one above on-line.
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*Congress Appropriates $1.9 Million for WNS*
Victory! Finally. On Tuesday night, members of the Interior Appropriations
Conference Committee approved $1.9 million for "increased research and
monitoring" for White Nose Syndrome. The Interior Appropriations Bill was
then combined with the Continuing Resolution to keep government running and
sent to the President for his signature. This money is for the Federal
Fiscal Year 2010, which began October 1, and is in addition to the recently
awarded $800,000.
This action is highly unusual and remarkable. You may recall that the House
version of the bill passed months ago with no new funding for WNS. The
Senate passed it's bill with only $500,000, and only for "increased
monitoring." In most conference committees, the two sides split the
difference, or trade away their position for something unrelated.
In this case, the number on the table was nearly quadrupled. They listened.
They listened to lots of people across the country who beat the drum. That
kind of sustained effort is what it takes to make a difference, and it
worked.
Representatives and Senators from all parties supported this effort, and
that's due to you. Your calls, emails, and personal contacts kept the issue
alive and urgent. Thanks to all of you who took the time and made the effort
to get involved. It does make a difference.
Many of you sent me information about your contacts, all of which is
helpful. During any lobbying effort, that feedback loop is critical in
determining how well you are doing, and to advise course corrections. Thank
you for doing that.
In my opinion, five people in particular deserve special thanks:
Representative Madeleine Bordallo and Representative Raul Grijalva, who
called the Joint House hearing on WNS, bringing attention to the issue;
Senator Frank Lautenberg, who pushed for the Senate hearing and championed
the additional funding; Representative Norman Dix, who, as Chair of the
House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee and member of the Conference
Committee listened to the need and kept keenly aware of the situation all
along the way, and Senator Patrick Leahy, who used his experience and
position on the Conference Committee to close the deal.
You may have other people you would like to acknowledge, and I encourage you
to do so in this forum. Further, if you contacted your Senator or
Congressman before on WNS, now is the time to contact them again and say,
"thank you." You would be surprised how little thanks legislators get when
they do something good. It means a lot, and is another step on the road to
maintaining a good relationship. Maybe they'll contact you next time about
WNS. Anyway, thank them in any way you can - a call, email, letter to the
editor of your local paper, etc.
Here's a link to one news story:
http://www.politickernj.com/paganm/34611/lautenberg-secures-19-million-funding-protect-bats-deadly-white-nose-syndrome
Peter Youngbaer
NSS 16161
WNS Liaison
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Caverns explorer's statue awaits unveiling
By Reid Wright
Current-Argus Staff Writer
Posted: 10/29/2009 09:04:16 PM MDT
CARLSBAD — Jim White has returned to Carlsbad.
Tucked under blue plastic tarp in a dark corner of a county garage, a
stately 13-foot-tall bronze statue of the Carlsbad Caverns explorer awaits
unveiling.
Sculpted by Reynaldo "Sonny" Rivera, the more than $100,000 statue was a
project of a Carlsbad arts committee.
Rocky Hayes, a former Current-Argus publisher and committee member, said
White's exploration and promotion of Carlsbad Caverns was an example of the
western spirit and the pioneering spirit of the town.
"It represents Carlsbad as a western town, as a town settled by people with
incredible character," he said, citing the founding of Carlsbad and the
construction of the first flume across the Pecos River. "To actually
re-direct the river to get water over to what little soil there was, to turn
it
into this Garden of Eden, this utopia it means overcoming some tremendous
challenges."
Jim White is reported to have been a young cowboy who followed a cloud of
bats to the entrance of Carlsbad Caverns, which he eventually descended into
on a ladder made of sticks and fencing wire to explore.
"Jim was basically responsible for much of the exploration of Carlsbad
Caverns and bringing it to the attention of the public and the National Park
Service," said George Veni, executive director of the National Cave and Karst
Institute.
Veni said it was his first trip into the caverns that inspired him to
pursue a career in the research of caves.
He said the sculptor of the statue was inspired by the story of White.
"He explored the caverns with very limited technology," Veni said. "I think
that's a credit to his skill and his courage."
Hayes said the story of Jim White may be embellished or hypocritical, but
he still finds it compelling.
"That's just a hell of a story," he said. "All I know is that level of
curiosity, of ruggedness, of bravery to make a real discovery. I find that
captivating. I think it is worth remembering and is worth memorializing."
The statue is expected to be unveiled in the coming months, Veni said. It
will be placed in front of the new Cave and Karst institute which is still
under construction, expected to be opened early next year.
Funding for the statue included $100,000 in state funds made possible by
legislation passed by then-State Representative Bill Gray and Rep. John
Heaton as well as Senators Vernon Asbill and Carroll Leavell. Other funds
included a trust fund created by money from Gannett Newspapers, and donations
by
author Bill Coat, Hayes said.
Committee members included Jim Harrison, Bob Forrest, John Heaton, Jed
Howard, Larry Henderson, and Jerry Matson.
_http://www.currentargus.com/ci_13673144_
(http://www.currentargus.com/ci_13673144)
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I wonder if there are any other statues of cavers in the world? Are there of
E.A. Martel or Norbert Casteret in France? There ought to be one of Stephen
Bishop at Mammoth Cave, Kentucky. Maybe with Roger Brucker's new book about
Bishop such a thing could happen. I would think the African-American community
would get behind that.
Thanks, Jerry
---- [email protected] wrote:
>
> Caverns explorer's statue awaits unveiling
> By Reid Wright
> Current-Argus Staff Writer
> Posted: 10/29/2009 09:04:16 PM MDT
>
>
> CARLSBAD — Jim White has returned to Carlsbad.
> Tucked under blue plastic tarp in a dark corner of a county garage, a
> stately 13-foot-tall bronze statue of the Carlsbad Caverns explorer awaits
> unveiling.
> Sculpted by Reynaldo "Sonny" Rivera, the more than $100,000 statue was a
> project of a Carlsbad arts committee.
> Rocky Hayes, a former Current-Argus publisher and committee member, said
> White's exploration and promotion of Carlsbad Caverns was an example of the
> western spirit and the pioneering spirit of the town.
> "It represents Carlsbad as a western town, as a town settled by people with
> incredible character," he said, citing the founding of Carlsbad and the
> construction of the first flume across the Pecos River. "To actually
> re-direct the river to get water over to what little soil there was, to turn
> it
> into this Garden of Eden, this utopia it means overcoming some tremendous
> challenges."
> Jim White is reported to have been a young cowboy who followed a cloud of
> bats to the entrance of Carlsbad Caverns, which he eventually descended into
> on a ladder made of sticks and fencing wire to explore.
> "Jim was basically responsible for much of the exploration of Carlsbad
> Caverns and bringing it to the attention of the public and the National Park
> Service," said George Veni, executive director of the National Cave and Karst
> Institute.
> Veni said it was his first trip into the caverns that inspired him to
> pursue a career in the research of caves.
> He said the sculptor of the statue was inspired by the story of White.
>
> "He explored the caverns with very limited technology," Veni said. "I think
> that's a credit to his skill and his courage."
> Hayes said the story of Jim White may be embellished or hypocritical, but
> he still finds it compelling.
> "That's just a hell of a story," he said. "All I know is that level of
> curiosity, of ruggedness, of bravery to make a real discovery. I find that
> captivating. I think it is worth remembering and is worth memorializing."
> The statue is expected to be unveiled in the coming months, Veni said. It
> will be placed in front of the new Cave and Karst institute which is still
> under construction, expected to be opened early next year.
> Funding for the statue included $100,000 in state funds made possible by
> legislation passed by then-State Representative Bill Gray and Rep. John
> Heaton as well as Senators Vernon Asbill and Carroll Leavell. Other funds
> included a trust fund created by money from Gannett Newspapers, and
> donations by
> author Bill Coat, Hayes said.
> Committee members included Jim Harrison, Bob Forrest, John Heaton, Jed
> Howard, Larry Henderson, and Jerry Matson.
> _http://www.currentargus.com/ci_13673144_
> (http://www.currentargus.com/ci_13673144)
>
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Well, now, lookity here, Bill, Carol is getting together a bronze foundry. I
suspect we could make statues of damned near any caver we wanted--and maybe
even some we didn't.
The question is: Where would we set them up? In some cave(s)? NSS HQ? On
some Cave Preserve--like Stonehenge?
--Ediger
On Sat, Oct 31, 2009 at 7:51 AM, <[email protected]> wrote:
> I wonder if there are any other statues of cavers in the world? Are there
> of E.A. Martel or Norbert Casteret in France? There ought to be one of
> Stephen Bishop at Mammoth Cave, Kentucky. Maybe with Roger Brucker's new
> book about Bishop such a thing could happen. I would think the
> African-American community would get behind that.
>
>
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There is one of Xu Xiake (pronounced Shoe She-ah-kur) in front of the Institute
of Karst Geology in Guilin, China. Xu lived from 1587-1641 CE during the
Ming Dynasty and studied caves and karst for more than 30 years in 1600’s.
This was the same time that the Plymouth and Jamestown Colonies were being
established in North America. Xu traveled more than 5,000 km, surveyed 300
caves by himself, and wrote 600,000 words accurately describing the karst of
China.
In 1637, Xu Xiake surveyed 88 caves at Guilin . He made very detailed
descriptions which included the direction of the cave entrance, configuration
and length of the cave, as well as solutional and depositional features within
the cave. In his description of Seven-Star Cave he stated that “there were
eight or nine caves with floor as flat as a playing ground which provided a
space for hundreds of people”.
I'd call Xu both a caver and a karst scientist.
DirtDoc
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If the shoe fits . . . .
Ron
_____
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Saturday, October 31, 2009 8:22 AM
To: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected]; [email protected]
Subject: [Texascavers] Statuesque Cavers
There is one of Xu Xiake (pronounced Shoe She-ah-kur) in front of the
Institute of Karst Geology in Guilin, China. Xu lived from 1587-1641 CE
during the Ming Dynasty and studied caves and karst for more than 30 years
in 1600's. This was the same time that the Plymouth and Jamestown Colonies
were being established in North America. Xu traveled more than 5,000 km,
surveyed 300 caves by himself, and wrote 600,000 words accurately describing
the karst of China.
In 1637, Xu Xiake surveyed 88 caves at Guilin. He made very detailed
descriptions which included the direction of the cave entrance,
configuration and length of the cave, as well as solutional and depositional
features within the cave. In his description of Seven-Star Cave he stated
that "there were eight or nine caves with floor as flat as a playing ground
which provided a space for hundreds of people".
I'd call Xu both a caver and a karst scientist.
DirtDoc
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Folks,
Venture Crew 410 held its annual Halloween Party at Robber Baron Cave in
San Antonio, Texas on Friday night, October 30. It was well attended
with members of various Venture Crews from around the area showing up
and participating. Vickie Smith brought her air brush and performed her
excellent gruesome body painting. We had a number of ghouls and maimed
folks walking around. Some even walked up to the local grocery store
where they received quite a welcome.
This year, we really wanted to do the haunted cave theme so we were able
to rent a real live dead body from the Cash for Corpse program from
Miller's Funeral Home. We placed Barney (the stiff), in the sinkhole by
the entrance as we couldn't get him through the gate without possibly
damaging his face. Since I had to sign a contract and leave a damage
deposit, I wanted to make sure I got my money back ($1,000 on my credit
card). Barney really helped set the mood at the entrance to the cave.
One of our crew members made a sign that read "Abandon Hope, All Who
Enter Here" which Barney held all night (without complaining)
The whole event was a major success with numerous venture groups
entering the cave. We used a sign in sign out sheet which tracked
everyone going into and out of the cave (Honey Creek cavers take note,
this process really works). We hid candy in three locations and the
scouts had to navigate with the cave map to find the treasure. We
cleaned up the cave, removed the candy, and Barney and left the property
by 10 PM with everyone agreeing it was the best haunted cave ever - I
really think Barney helped.
For those who are not familiar with the Cash for Corpses program, I
found out about this from a friend of mine whose family owned a funeral
home. There are families of deceased individuals who can not afford the
up front costs for a funeral or cremation. Most funeral homes have a
policy to never bury the collateral (the body) until payment is received
from the family, life insurance policy or third party payer. To raise
money for the funeral, some families will allow the corpse to be rented
out for parties or shows with the money going to help cover burial
costs. (For folks looking for more information on cheap cremations,
check out www.nationalcremation.com/ ). The national policies on the
use of human remains requires that the bodies must be embalmed and must
have passed away from natural causes. In addition, you are not allowed
to perform any religious rituals with the body and must return it in the
same condition it left. Generally, they come frozen and with a modest
suit (for males). Most places will only rent for a 24 hour period.
Also, if you are not going to rent a casket with the corpse, I would
recommend you also rent the boots with the rollers on the soles; it
makes moving the body much easier. Cost for the night was $150 and
we'll worth it. We returned the body by 11:30 PM after lots of pictures
and got my deposit back. If you're throwing a Halloween Party tonight,
you may want to call you local funeral home and ask about availability.
Geary
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