4 Exercises to Strengthen Your Receiving Position in the Snatch

It’s pretty natural for many lifters to question their overhead strength, stability, and confidence when fixing themselves under a near-maximal (or maximal) loaded barbell in the snatch. Many lifters may find themselves not fully committing to an aggressive turnover, or simply cutting their final pulls short so they can get under the barbell “quicker” (I use quotations because while I have heard this many times, not finishing your pull will often slow the rate at which you can pull yourself downwards).

For many functional fitness athletes and  gym members, snatches, while important aspects of their weekly WODs, are often not given the necessary attention and training prescriptions to allow for vast improvement in maximal (and near-maximal) snatching abilities. With loads often over 80% of one’s snatch max, many factors can play a role in the success of the lift during WODs, competitions, or training.

A photo posted by Mike Dewar (@mikejdewar) on

In this article, we will address four exercises functional fitness athletes can build into their weekly class WOD and training routine to increase their overhead strength, stability, and confidence specific to the receiving position of heavy snatches.

Behind the Neck Snatch Push Press

This is a great exercise for developing upper body muscle mass specific to the snatch overhead position. Additionally, this will increase a lifter’s lock out ability while stabilizing overhead and solidify proper barbell placement over the back of the neck. I often will finish each set of behind the neck snatch push presses with one or two overhead pause squats to increase the application to the overhead strength needed in the bottom of the snatch.

When Should You Do These?

This strengthening exercise should be done after main weightlifting lifts, or following heavy strength work. In the event you have 10 minutes in between your weightlifting/strength segment and the class WOD, I recommend squeezing these there. At the very least, take 10 minutes after your class WOD to recover and then perform these at the end of your training session.

How Heavy Should You Go?

For strength development and a high application to snatch overhead patterning, I recommend doing 3-5 sets of 3-5 repetitions with 75-90% of your snatch, depending on the lifter’s abilities. Personally, I tend to have good overhead strength and stability relative to my lifts, and am able to perform multiple sets of behind the neck push presses for 3-5 reps with 90% of my best snatch.

Pause Overhead Squats

Paused overhead squats, either performed as standalone exercises, part of complexes, or after warm-up and even snatches in training can improve strength, balance, and stability (overhead and hip/knee/ankle) highly specific to the receiving position in the snatch.

A video posted by Mike Dewar (@mikejdewar) on

When Should You Do These?

Performing paused overhead squats during warm ups, complexes, and over straight sets can be a great way to increase stability (both overhead and hip) while in the bottom position of the snatch. Many beginner and intermediate level snatches fail to find comfort and confidence while in the overhead squat position, often missing snatches in front due to not finding proper balance (of the barbell and/or foot pressure) as they try to stand up prior to stabilizing the barbell overhead.

How Heavy Should You Go?

I often prescribe these during snatch complexes, warm-up sets, following snatch push presses, and even (very seldom) as standalone exercises. The pause can be anywhere from 3-10 seconds, with loading matching the abilities of a lifter. Personally speaking, I will often perform heavy snatch complexes followed by one pause overhead squat lasting upwards of 10 seconds in an attempt to solidify a stronger, more stable base.

Heaving Snatch Balance

This movement is very similar to a regular snatch balance, with the only exception being that a lifters starts his/her feet already in their overhead squat position, dips, drives, and gets under the barbell without shifting their feet out. The heaving snatch balance forces a lifter to drive themselves aggressively under the barbell in a vertical fashion, both increasing upper back and shoulder strength as well as patterning sound receiving bar patterning specific to the overhead position in the snatch.

A video posted by Fawn Friday (@fawnfriday) on

When Should You Do These?

Preferably, a lifter can perform these following their main weightlifting and strength segments, but before the class WOD, as this exercise is meant to be loaded with moderate to heavy loads. In the event an athlete needs to perform these following a class WOD, I recommend taking 10 minutes or so to recover, warm-up the movement, and get to work.

How Heavy Should You Go?

This is highly dependent upon a lifters technique and abilities. I often urge lifters to do sets consisting of 2-3 repetitions, building it challenging yet fluid repetitions. Some lifters may have a great limitation with staying upright in the dip, drive, and receiving position of the snatch, limiting the amount of loading that can be used. Those individuals would then find additional benefit from performing this specific exercise to increase their receiving balance and setup for the snatch.

Drop Snatch

While this may not be a strength-focused movement, the drop snatch can increase a lifter’s confidence and stability getting under a heavy, high flying barbell. This movement can be used to increase footwork, teach upper body engagement as one pushed themselves into the overhead squatting position, and ultimately increase the speed at which a lifter gets under the barbell.

When Should You Do These?

Due to the explosive nature and high technical degree of this exercise, I recommend a lifter does this during warm-up sets and prior to snatch sessions or WODs. In the event a lifter wants to train these individuals (not as part of warm-up or light snatch sets), he/she should program them earlier in a workout (less physical and mental fatigue) when they are more explosive mentally focused.

How Heavy Should You Go?

Much like the heaving snatch balance, this exercise is dependent on the speed, technique, and confidence of a lifter. Often the empty barbell is enough to determine a lifter’s ability, with load only being added progressively as the lifter exhibits maximal speed and technique while pushing themselves under the barbell.

Final Words

These four exercises can be programmed by coaches during weight lifting and/or class WOD segments and/or by athletes/members looking to add additional snatch specific technique and strength exercises after their daily WOD. While these four exercises do not address many common faults seen in during the first, second, third, and setup of the snatch, they can work to improve to overhead strength and stability while receiving the barbell in the snatch.

Featured Image: @mikejdewar on Instagram


With revelations that the National Security Agency has collected some 20 trillion phone calls and emails via an expansive nationwide surveillance network, most Americans have already come to the realization that everything they do is being monitored.

But many shrug off Big Brother’s prying eyes by suggesting that, since they aren’t doing anything wrong, they have nothing to worry about.

That may have been true several years ago, but the digital surveillance systems of today are far more advanced than most people understand. No longer are these machines simply recording the data and storing them in some historical archive to be pulled at a later date should the government ever have reason to take a closer look at your personal life.

Researchers at the University of Virginia funded by the U.S. Army recently demonstrated that they can not only gather information from your personal Twitter account just like the NSA, but also aggregate and analyze that information with advanced predictive algorithms designed to determine what you’re going to do next. In this case, the researches focused specifically on predicting crime by individuals, as well as in crime “hot spots” around the country.

Here’s the kicker. The algorithms being used don’t just look for obvious keyword phrases associated with criminal activity like “I’m going to kill you” or “meet me later and we’ll give him a beat down,” but focus in on routine activities, geo-location, and aggregate historical information to calculate the chance of a particular individual being involved in a crime at some point in the future.

The results are surprising, especially when one considers that people rarely tweet about crimes directly, said lead researcher Matthew Gerber of the university’s Predictive Technology Lab.

Instead, “I send our algorithms to these locations and see what people are talking about,” Gerber said.

“The computer algorithm learns the pattern and produces a prediction.”

It’s no surprise then, that police departments all over the country are interested in the new technology. The New York Police Department has already showed asked for a demonstration.

To give you an idea of how this technology can be used to not only predict traditional crimes but domestic terrorism related activity, consider an earlier report out of Auburn, NY which indicates that the Department of Homeland Security is asking local businesses to keep an eye out for terrorists going so far as to provide retailers with a shopping list of possible items a terrorist might purchase such as MRE’s (Meals Ready to Eat), flashlights and other products readily available at local surplus shops and camping stores. The implications of these new algorithms, which will be taught that anyone discussing the purchase or ownership of these types of items should be flagged for review and visited by Homeland Security personnel as a person of interest, are staggering.

With the definitions for domestic terrorism being expanded to include everyone from kids making gun-like gestures with their hands to Americans joining a large protest against government over-reach, it’s only a matter of time before just about every American with a gripe or opposing view is flagged, investigated and incarcerated for a “crime” that they “may” commit in the future.

Though the notion may seem far fetched to some, this technology is being designed for a reason. Given the ever expanding intervention and interference of government into our lives on every level by way of relentlessly supplanting our protections under the U.S. Constitution, are we to believe these developing technologies won’t be used strike fear and compliance into the hearts and minds of Americans?


Dog Poop - To Pick It Up or Not

We are dog-sitting our son and his wife's two miniature dachshunds. I like to take them to the nearby park for a walk/squirrel chasing run as often as I can. It has a beautiful loop around the park as well as trails into the woods to explore. The other morning we were enjoying our walk - and the older puppy dropped a load. I always keep a pack of doggie doo-doo bags with paper towels in them for clean-up. I was leaning over to pick up the poop and heard a woman walking by with her large dog say, "you are the only one". I looked up and she went on to say I was the only one she had ever seen pick up their dog's poop. (I am sure others do - but we/she may not have passed them by at that moment when it was happening). She said she hadn't picked up her dog's poop and some guy had just reported her to the police officer that patrolled the park. She was worried she was going to get some kind of ticket and asked me about it. I told her I doubted she would get a ticket - but that it was a warning to pick up after her dog. She went on to say that there were no signs (I told her there was at least one at the start of the walking loop) and that no one else ever did it. (It doesn't matter if no one else does it - it is something YOU need to do - I thought). I told her that she needed to do it and asked if she needed some bags. She had them in the car - was the reply. Then she said the guy must have reported her because she was Asian! (Really - OMG - I've heard this same kind of logic before - blaming something on your ethnicity, political views, color, ..... instead of taking responsibility). I told her that I doubted that was the reason. That he reported her because she DIDN'T pick up her dog's poop and she needed to do that.

There is a risk in letting things go and not saying anything. I am glad that the man reported it so that the woman was now aware of the rules. Even if it wasn't a rule -  it is just common courtesy - whether you are in your own neighborhood or out in public - to pick up after yourself and your animals.

It's the blaming it on others instead of taking responsibility that bothers me - that is why I continue the work I do - one coaching client, one training class, one networking contact, one non-poop picker up in the park... - to create awareness and positive change.

To Pick Up or Not Pick Up? --- Pick Up!

57% of Books Purchased Are Never Read Through to the End

Wow! I am sure that is true of me too. I own a lot of unfinished books. There are so many fascinating topics out there and I am always finding one for my work or just to read for pleasure. But halfway through I get distracted and end up on another adventure. The book gets left behind, with a marker keeping my place, until the day I rediscover the book and continue my journey of enlightenment or reading pleasure.

A girlfriend mentioned a book to me the other day and asked if I had finished it. We were given it at midnight mass on Christmas Eve at our church. I pulled it out of the double deep stack of books on the bookshelf in my office and checked it out. There it was, a third of the way through the book, one of my favorite book markers with stars on it - "Shoot for the Moon, Even If You Miss You'll Land Among the Stars." True of any risk or undertaking. I ended up spending the next few days finishing the book, thoroughly enjoying the wisdom it shared, vowing to buy several copies of it for my friends and family members.

How many times does this happen with not only books, but projects, ideas or risky adventures. We start with purpose and passion that sometimes fizzles or gets waylaid by a distraction. How can you stay connected and make it successfully through to the end?

The key is to make a plan and focus on sticking to it. In addition, make sure you have the desire to even do it and picture yourself working through it and finishing. Imagine the emotions you will feel when you do.  Along with enjoying the emotions associated with being "there", create an environment that is conducive to staying on track by surrounding yourself with supportive people and eliminating distractions. Maybe put the book or whatever you want to focus on right where you can't ignore it. A client used to hang the dog's leash on the bed post so when she got up she would take him for a walk right away, before she had time to make excuses for them both not to exercise that day. These all help - but the key is to have a plan mapped out. A well thought out risk with a plan will ensure action and ultimately success!

As Much As You Would

When I was a little girl my mom would always make our birthday cakes with frosting from scratch. I remember attempting to make frosting one day and asked my mom how much confectioner's sugar and milk to add into the bowl. "As much as you would", she would reply. The problem is, I didn't know how much I would because I'd never done it. I hadn't developed the feel for how much I would, like my mom who had made the frosting at least 100 times - (actually so many more times if you figure nine cakes a year minimum for all of us kids and our dad's birthdays). She just knew. It seemed right. It just felt right.

And that is how I developed my favorite recipes, chocolate chip cookies especially. I just knew how much of each ingredient to add as I played with recipe perfection over the years.

Many times, when we take a risk or leap to attempt something new, it requires a bit of "as much as you would." We don't really know but we tap into our intuition and along with our knowledge and experience are able to figure out the next step forward. It may require tweaking along the way, but with experience we are well on our way to perfection.

Lights Out?!

I was sitting in the living room four days after hurricane Harvey hit the Texas coast, wreaking havoc everywhere - including and especially Houston (on the dirty "wet" side of the storm) with epic flooding. We were blessed to have power, running water and no flooding in our house. I'd ventured out that morning,when we finally could, with my neighbor, to see how far we could get and to check in on some school shelters to see if we could offer assistance. We were able to help at one school and started to offer our services to friends and strangers that might need help cleaning out their flooded first floors. So many need so much help.

I was on the couch and all of the sudden the lights went out. I had that little moment of panic - "oh no - here we go too". It fortunately wasn't anything but a momentary glitch. But is was enough of a reminder to remain grateful for our situation. I pray that this attitude of gratefulness, caring and compassion, and positive action in me and others continues way beyond the next few weeks. It's been such a delight to witness personally and via the news - with none of the anger, hatred, political opposition, and arguing we typically see projected on late night TV or the news visible to us - at least not here in Houston. I ponder how I can continually remind myself to stay in this place mentally. Visual reminders, cell phone alarms and other ways have worked for me in the past. but frequently we go back to our old ways as if nothing happened when we get back to our normal work week.

It is a pattern I see when I teach business classes or speak. The course or talk really inspires and motivates. People get fired up and make a plan. Then after a few weeks or even days - they are right back to their standard operating mode.

What methods have you developed for yourself to maintain that desired new change?
What risk are you taking by not making a plan to take action to truly incorporate the new ways into your daily life at work or home? What happens if you keep the old behavior patterns?

A fellow coach, Don Gutridge ( developed a process he calls R2D2 to take new knowledge and move forward with it. After every learning experience, be it a real life event like a hurricane or a formal training, -
R1 - Recognize that one principle, idea or technique that is shouting at you - reflect on the results you see that are possible if you follow that principle
R2 - Relate that idea to your personal or professional purpose - how it relates to your personal goals - relate it to yourself for more impact
D1 -  Determine exactly how you can use this principle to bring you closer to any goal you choose
D2 - Deliver on the action promised and this idea will work for you

Now get to it and do it! Don't let the lights go out on your plan.

Friend or Foe?

A few years back when I was in technical sales, I was new to the Company so my boss accompanied me on a trip to a chemical plant. When we met with the outage manager, my boss proceeded to tell him all about our services and how great our Company was. He didn't seem to give the gentleman much of a chance to tell his story, but the meeting went fairly well for the most part.

When I returned to the plant for another visit on my own, I delved deeper into their situation and history with other vendors and the maintenance/installation situation in our region altogether. The vendors all pulled from the same pool of mechanics, so when jobs were in progress at different company's plants, the best were split between them - leaving some of the not so great to fill in the gaps. I suggested to the client that they split the job into two - with different companies each taking a turbine or compressor - and that way they would get everyone's best on the job without the previous problems. He loved the idea - but unfortunately we never actually tried it out.

I did get us on their bidders list for future maintenance/installation jobs at the plant. When we attended a joint meeting to review the required proposal details for one job, all of the vendors were there. The client was surprised we all got along so well and were friendly. Why not? - I thought. We are all in the same business - competitors - not foes.

I recently spoke to a group of corporate trainers and consultants on creativity and freely shared ideas and techniques with them. One consultant/coach asked after if she could use some of my exercises with a company she was teaching team building for. Of course, I replied. We are also meeting up to brainstorm and see how we might be able to work together in the future.

Sometimes we think that because someone is our competitor we must treat them as a foe. What kind of risks are you taking by treating them as a potential partner - or by not connecting? Who could you partner with that you wouldn't typically think of connecting with. Take a chance - reach out to them.

Leader of the Pack - With Position Comes Responsibility

When given the responsibility of leader - it is a risk to not take some of the steps detailed above. I wish you success on your journey onward an upward. Give me a call or an email ( if you would like assistance in your new role!

No Cats Were Harmed in the Pursuit of Curiosity

They say curiosity killed the cat, but I grew up with cats and never once lost one due to curiosity. They always seemed to survive whatever predicament they got themselves into. Maybe that is why they say they have nine lives too!

A recent article in the Houston Chronicle invited the reader to think like a genius. Apparently the secret of Albert Einstein's creative genius was that he refused to follow the assumptions that were made by every other scientist. Einstein along with other geniuses "recognize that some truths are what we know as a matter of observed fact while others are what we think we know as a matter of received wisdom" (Roberta B. Ness - Houston Chronicle - Think Like a Genius - 6/5/17). By not realizing the difference between the two we can get ourselves wrapped up in a lot of incorrect assumptions. If we do what everyone else is doing and think like everyone else is thinking, we will miss out on the opportunity to engage our creativity and come up with innovative solutions to everyday problems.

As a credentialed coach we are trained and encouraged to remain curious to assist our clients in making progress. The power of our work is in not knowing and allowing the client to figure out their own solutions. Our powerful questions allow the client to self discover and experience delightful ah-ha moments and insight.

Get curious - leave behind the assumptions you know - ask questions - broaden your world view - a more adventurous exciting life will be yours! The best way to practice? Make the phrase "What If?" part of your vocabulary. What If there were 48 hours in a day? What If I am wrong about my boss being difficult? What If the state of the economy really has no effect on my success?...

I'll be presenting a lunch hour talk on Unleashing Your Curious Creative Genius next week Tuesday August 15 in South Houston for ATD (Association for Talent Development).  The event is free and open to the public - lunch is on you. For details and registration - click here

It's Wishing Time!

My husband and I recently vacationed in Cozumel Mexico for my birthday. We were staying at an all inclusive resort that had a number of activities throughout the day. One of my favorites, that happened three times a week at sunset, was Wishing Time.

This gentleman above would dress up in this outfit and bring his conch shell horn to the pier with all of the wishers following behind in a procession, my husband and I included.  He claimed it was an ancient Mayan tradition to throw shells into the water at sunset, one for each blow of the horn, making a wish each time. For a lover of fairy tales, sunsets, wishing on stars and all things related, this was one of my favorite events (besides my husband's performance in the TV game show-like Minute to Win It the night before on the hotel stage!).

Once we reached the end of the pier, we all lined up single file so that each of us had room to throw our shells without hitting anyone in the head. We paused to contemplate the three wishes we desired and waited for the horn. Each time he blew the horn, we would make a wish as we threw one shell, (very tiny shells - they really wouldn't hurt anyone if we hit them in the head!), into the sea.  We delighted in the possibility of our wishes coming true. Before we knew it, the ceremony was over.

When we returned home to Texas, I grabbed the conch shell we use as a doorstop and attempted to make beautiful music like our ceremony guide. It actually did work for a few short seconds. I am determined to practice and make a decent performance at the next sunset we decide to honor with Wishing Time.

I believe wishing time would be a great habit to incorporate into our day or week. Taking the time to think about those things we want to happen and dream about happening can open up our creative minds to possibilities.  Then, we just need to take the necessary steps and associated risks to have the dream come true. Some are more work than others, some aren't any work at all.

What will you wish for at the next Sunset Wishing Time?

Ace Was the Place with the Helpful Hardware Woman!

I have fond memories as a teenager working in the hardware store as a cashier and hardware retail assistant. My dad loved the discount he received on all of his purchases there because I was an employee. I loved working in the store - mixing paint (we had to measure everything manually back then!) and helping people find the plumbing and hardware parts they needed for their home repair projects.  Maybe that is where I picked up my inclination for engineering.

One thing I'll never forget is what often happened at closing time. The doors would be locked, the registers closing down and there at the door or window would be a poor soul looking so desperate as he held up an old plumbing part or dropped to his knees in a begging position. You knew they had something break at the house and they just needed one little thing - and we were closed. It was definitely after closing time - we didn't lock the doors early, I always felt so sorry for them. Much to my delight, one of the managers always did too. He would open the door and listen to their story and help them out, letting them buy the part they needed even though the registers were closed - sometimes just letting them have it for free if it wasn't too expensive. I'll never forget the look on their faces - of gratefulness - and it just felt SO good to be a part of it.

Then there were a few very different experiences I had looking in from the other side of the door.

I needed to get a package out after the post offices were closed and ran to a little package shipping store around the corner. Their sign said they closed at 6:00pm and it was 5:50pm when I arrived. Plenty of time, I thought. As I grabbed the door to pull it open, it resisted! It was locked. I could see the owner in the store standing at the back table. He looked up at me, I pointed to my watch and he looked back down, completely ignoring me. I had a few choice words for that one and never returned to that place of business.

I experienced a similar situation at the eye doctor's office. They closed at 2:00 on Fridays and I had received a call that day notifying me my contacts were in. I was out of contacts and really needed the new ones. The employee told me that if I could get there by 2:00, I would be able to pick them up. I headed out right away and was walking up to their door at 1:52 - which is before 2:00 in my books. I was shocked and fairly upset to find the door locked, the front desk obviously vacated, lights out and not another car in the parking lot. What was up with that? I no longer get my contacts at that office!

So what does this have to do with creativity or risk taking? We take a risk when we close up shop a little early. How happy was that guy that came to the hardware store after hours? What kind of message was he spreading to friends, family and others? How happy was I at the shipping store or the eye doctor's office? What kind of message did I spread?

A little bit of empathy and kindness and a few more minutes before locking the door or turning off the phone will make a world of difference in your world and mine.

Skipping Stone Ripples

“We’ve got to get to the water before we leave”, she pleaded. We were on one of the most beautiful islands I’d ever been to, the Isle of Capri. It was the vacation of a lifetime with my sister-in-law, nieces and their friend. We’d been traveling about the island walking, riding a bus and a ski lift to see the views but hadn’t actually touched the water yet. We made our way down to the tiny cove of rock and pebble covered beach before jumping on our ferry back to the mainland. She slipped off her shoes and started searching on the beach for the perfect smooth rock specimens. Delighting in her finds, she started pitching them back into the water one by one, counting the skips as each one skimmed the water’s surface. Each time improving on her skip count little by little. I tried too, but my stones failed miserably, sinking quickly after a mere half skip or so. Satisfied with her last pitch, she watched the small rock sink back into the clear water. Then we grabbed our shoes and headed toward the boat dock for our ride home.

There is something special about standing on the shoreline and skipping stones across the water. The beautiful ripple produced by a perfect skip is mesmerizing to watch. The small changes we make in our lives are like the ripples on the water. They affect everything about us in a subtle way – and we continue on for the better. What small change or risk will you take today to send positive ripples through your life?


Postal: PO Box 160 Kensington Park SA 5068
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Cats in unpopulated areas
Article Index
Cats in unpopulated areas
Cats and endangered wildlife
Cat control methods
All Pages

Cats probably arrived in Australia before 1788 due to early European contacts. Since that time they have spread across the continent. Their disperal was assisted by farmers, who in the past deliberately released cats around burrows as a form of rabbit control (1).

Adult cats maintain discrete home ranges (2). They can breed at any time of the year. There is no specific breeding season, but most kittens are born in spring to late summer/autumn. Females average 2 litters a year, with an average of 4.4 kittens/litter.

Even though juvenile survival is limited by the availability of easily caught prey, such as young rabbits (2), a cat population can increase dramatically.

For example, in 1949, 5 cats were introduced to Marion Island. After 25 years, the population on the island was over 2000 (3).

Cats and endangered wildlife

It is fashionable in some conservation circles to blame cats for the perilous position of some native species. However, a more accurate and less emotive perspective comes from well-respected conservation biologists (1):

"Land clearance, mainly for agriculture, is perhaps the single most important cause of environmental degradation, and loss and depletion of species and ecological communities both in Australia and worldwide. Almost 80% of mammals and about 60% of birds listed by the IUCN have declined as a result of habitat loss."

In terms of the diet of feral cats, it is important to remember the extent to which they prey on rabbits and introduced rodents.

  • On Macquarie Island, 82% of the cat scats and 71% of the stomach contents examined contained rabbit remains (4).
  • Around Lake Burrendong in central eastern NSW, 68% of the volume of cat scats was composed of rabbit, and a further 11% of carrion, that is, kangaroos killed by shooters and sheep that had died or been killed by a larger predator (5).

Scats were collected for 3 years, during which time the rabbit calicivirus arrived in this area of NSW. Even though the rabbit population declined by 90%, rabbits were still a major prey species. Ten months later, house mice increased as a component of the diet, maybe due to the decline in rabbits, but possibly just because they were plentiful, and cats are opportunistic predators. Few native mammals were eaten in this study, and birds are seldom an important prey item for mainland cats (5).

Worldwide, most extinctions have occurred on islands. Attention is often focussed on the role of introduced cats, but in fact rats are responsible for twice as many extinctions as cats (6). Rats alone prey on birds more effectively than cats alone in all life stages from eggs to ground-nesting adults. Rats are found on the majority of major island groups. Predation by cats can control their numbers and benefit bird populations, even when the cats themselves lightly prey on the birds. For example, on Stewart Island, remains of the endangered kakapo were found in 5.1% of cat scats, whereas rat remains were found in 93% of scats. Cats benefit the kakapo by reducing rat predation. An attempt to eradicate cats from Amsterdam Island was abandoned after rat and mouse populations increased rapidly.

On Raoul Island, rats were the most frequent prey found in both cat stomachs and scats. Bird remains found were those of common songbirds on the island; few seabirds were taken. There are many examples of islands where seabird populations have been reduced by Norway rats, and since rats are the predominant prey of cats, the researchers concluded: "One management option for Raoul Island is to eradicate cats but this may bring little benefit to bird populations." (7).

Unless Norway rats could be eradicated at the same time as cats, "… the effort and expense involved in a cat eradication programme might be better spent on other conservation projects that are more assured of a positive outcome." (7)

This point is well illustrated by the example of Macquarie Island, where cats were eliminated by 2001 (8). However, in the 6 years following the eradication, the rabbit population exploded, reversing all previous control efforts. As a result, vegetation cover was severely damaged and petrel burrows collapsed as a result of rabbit tunneling. Examination of stomach contents showed that cats had been major predators of rabbits. The 157 cats shot in 1997 would have eated 4000 adult sized rabbits, as well as 103,000 mice and 36,000 rats each year (8). Thus, the removal of cats had unintended and negative consequences.

Cat control methods

  1. Burgman, M. & Lindenmayer, D. (1998). Conservation Biology for the Australian Environment. Surrey Beatty & Sons, Chipping Norton (NSW)
  2. Coman, B. (1991). The ecology and control of feral cats in Australia, in Potter, C. (ed), The Impact of Cats on Native Wildlife: Proceedings of a Workshop held on May 8-9 1991, ANPWS, Canberra
  3. Courchamp, F. & Cornell, S. (2000). Virus-vectored immunocontraception to control feral cats on islands: a mathematical model. Journal of Applied Ecology, 37: 903-913
  4. Jones, E. (1977). Ecology of the feral cat, Felis catus (L.), (Carnivora: Felidae) on Macquarie Island. Australian Wildlife Research, 4: 249-262
  5. Molsher, R., Newsome, A. & Dickman, C. (1999). Feeding ecology and population dynamics of the feral cat (Felis catus) in relation to the availability of prey in central-eastern New South Wales. Wildlife Research, 26: 593-607
  6. Courchamp, F., Langlais, M. & Sugihara, G. (1999). Cats protecting birds: modelling the mesopredator release effect. Journal of Applied Animal Ecology, 68: 282-292
  7. Fitzgerald, B., Karl, B. & Veitch, C. (1991). The diet of feral cats (Felis catus) on Raoul Island, Kermadec group. New Zealand Journal of Ecology, 15: 123-129


By Michael T. Goodrich

Introducing a brand new addition to our becoming library of desktop technological know-how titles, Algorithm layout and Applications, through Michael T. Goodrich & Roberto Tamassia! Algorithms is a path required for all desktop technological know-how majors, with a powerful concentrate on theoretical issues. scholars input the direction after gaining hands-on event with pcs, and are anticipated to profit how algorithms should be utilized to a number of contexts. This new e-book integrates program with theory.

Goodrich & Tamassia think that easy methods to train algorithmic themes is to provide them in a context that's encouraged from functions to makes use of in society, computing device video games, computing undefined, technological know-how, engineering, and the web. The textual content teaches scholars approximately designing and utilizing algorithms, illustrating connections among subject matters being taught and their strength purposes, expanding engagement.

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Note that log log n is not even deﬁned for n = 1, but log log n < log n, for n ≥ 2. That is why we use n ≥ 2. 5: 2100 is O(1). Proof: 2100 ≤ 2100 · 1, for n ≥ 1. Note that variable n does not appear in the inequality, since we are dealing with constant-valued functions. 6: 5n log n + 2n is O(n log n). Proof: 5n log n + 2n ≤ 7n log n, for n ≥ 2 (but not for n = 1). As mentioned above, we are typically interested in characterizing the running time or space usage of algorithm in terms of a function, f (n), which we bound using the big-Oh notion.

3. 3 29 A Case Study in Algorithm Analysis Having presented the general framework for describing and analyzing algorithms, we now present a case study in algorithm analysis to make this discussion more concrete. Speciﬁcally, we show how to use the big-Oh notation to analyze three algorithms that solve the same problem but have different running times. The problem we focus on is one that is reportedly often used as a job interview question by major software and Internet companies—the maximum subarray problem.

Aik }. 23: Let A be the event that the roll of a die is a 6, let B be the event that the roll of a second die is a 3, and let C be the event that the sum of these two dice is a 10. Then A and B are independent events, but C is not independent with either A or B . 2. A Quick Mathematical Review 27 Conditional Probability The conditional probability that an event A occurs, given an event B, is denoted as Pr(A|B), and is deﬁned as Pr(A ∩ B) , Pr(B) Pr(A|B) = assuming that Pr(B) > 0. 24: Let A be the event that a roll of two dice sums to 10, and let B be the event that the roll of the ﬁrst die is a 6.

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Fingerprints of the accused had been found on the glass case protecting the reliquary

Italian police have tracked down a stolen relic of St John Bosco which had been hidden inside a copper teapot in a kitchen cupboard.

The press office of the Salesians in nearby Turin announced that Italian military police obtained a search warrant and discovered the relic early that morning in the home of a 42-year-old Italian man identified only by the initials C.G.

From previous encounters with the law, the man’s fingerprints were on file and they were found on the glass case protecting the relic and reliquary in the lower Basilica of St John Bosco in the town of Castelnuovo Don Bosco.

The relic, a piece of St John Bosco’s brain, was still in its small glass jar tied with red ribbon. The seal of authenticity was intact, the Salesians said.

“It appears the motive for the theft had nothing to do with a desire to demand a ransom nor was it stolen for a collector,” the police said in a statement. Apparently, the thief “erroneously” believed the gold-painted reliquary over the glass jar was worth a lot of money.


Usage examples for resold

  1. The pastry was burnt, and I was resold to a barber, whose wife was a shrew, and half- killed me; fortunately the barber was accused of shaving a criminal, who had escaped from prison, and one morning was stretched out before his own door, with his head under his arm. – The Pacha of Many Tales by Captain Frederick Marryat
  2. The Brazilians were not displaced as landed proprietors, and most of the plantations confiscated from the persistently rebellious were resold to Brazilians who accepted the Dutch rule. – The South American Republics Part I of II by Thomas C. Dawson
  3. I know properties bought along the lines of the new railroads for a few hundred dollars that have resold at twenty thousand and thirty thousand and fifty thousand. – The Canadian Commonwealth by Agnes C. Laut
  4. A wild fox, sold for twenty- five dollars, was resold for a thousand. – Grenfell: Knight-Errant of the North by Fullerton Waldo
  5. The Organized Benevolence Society bought a lot of these books and resold them to benevolent persons, or gave them away to 'deserving cases'. – The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists by Robert Tressell
  6. I noticed several men taking notes of the prices made, and, immediately the book sale was finished, they removed them to the lawn, where they were resold by one of the gang at greatly enhanced prices. – Grain and Chaff from an English Manor by Arthur H. Savory
  7. Then these resold to German dealers at cost. – Germany, The Next Republic? by Carl W. Ackerman
  8. Every one had been sold and resold and read to rags, before I knew it was in print. – Half a Century by Jane Grey Cannon Swisshelm
  9. The state- owned slaves were resold – The Road to Independence: Virginia 1763-1783 by Virginia State Dept. of Education
  10. Exactly nine years had elapsed since the castle and lands had been sold at auction and fallen into the possession of a company of speculators, who had divided it and resold it to various purchasers. – Zibeline, Complete by Phillipe de Massa Last Updated: March 2, 2009
  11. The note was changed at Cook's office, in the purchase of two tourist tickets to Baden- Baden, which can, of course, be resold or used in part only. – Dross by Henry Seton Merriman
  12. It was afterwards resold for 26, 383 pounds, and used as barracks. – Recollections of Old Liverpool by A Nonagenarian
  13. Moreover, there were seats erected which any one might occupy at a reasonable rate; but the lord steward, who had the disposal of the tickets, purchased them all for himself, and then resold them to his fellow- subjects at an enormous price. – The Infernal Marriage by Benjamin Disraeli
  14. Why, ev'n the haughty prince, Northumberland, The leader of our Reformation, knelt And blubber'd like a lad, and on the scaffold Recanted, and resold himself to Rome. – Queen Mary and Harold by Alfred Lord Tennyson
  15. The Secretary contents himself with saying that they are " sold and resold many times." – The Value of Money by Benjamin M. Anderson, Jr.
  16. He became incoherently eloquent, spoke of the ease and rapidity with which the thing could be resold to a syndicate at an enormous profit, should his " pardners" and he not care to develop it themselves. – Lady Merton, Colonist by Mrs. Humphry Ward
  17. I appear to have been rather badly stung, and I really don't wonder it hasn't been resold – The Hidden Places by Bertrand W. Sinclair
  18. Americans bought ranches for five dollars an acre and resold them as rawnches for fifty dollars to young Englishmen who will never make a cent on their investment; chiefly because fruit trees take from five to ten years to come to maturity, and because fruit must be near a market, and because only an expert can succeed at fruit. – The Canadian Commonwealth by Agnes C. Laut


We have various Orthopaedic procedures dealing specifically with the elbow. These procedures include: Tennis Elbow, Ulnar Nerve Surgery.

Tennis Elbow

Lateral epicondylitis, or tennis elbow, is the formation of painful scar tissue where the tendons attach to the outside of the elbow. This causes severe elbow pain with gripping, lifting, and twisting. Initial treatment is often physical therapy, braces, cortisone injections, and sometimes platelet injections. Patients that continue to have severe pain may benefit from surgery which removes the painful scar tissue. Our surgeons use both open and arthroscopic techniques to remove the scar tissue and eliminate the pain and disability. Most patients have a full recovery and are able to return to a wide range of activities including heavy lifting.

Ulnar Nerve Surgery

(Details Coming Soon...)

Did You Know?

OSSM is the only group that has specialists covering the entire body. Patients are always going to be treated by a surgeon specializing in their specific problem.


Hirame (Paralichthys olivaceus) - An important Japanese food-fish, which attains a large size, the hirame, also known as the olive flounder, bastard halibut or Japanese halibut is a temperate marine species of large-tooth flounder native to the north-western Pacific Ocean.  It is often referred to as the Japanese flatfish or Korea(n) flatfish (광어) when mentioned in the context of those countries. It can reach a length of 41 inches and a weight of 20 lbs.  It is the most common flatfish species raised in aquaculture in Korea. They are raised in Japan and China as well. It is the most highly prized of the Japanese flounders.

Blackfin Tuna (Thunnus atlanticus)  - This is a pelagic, schooling fish that generally feeds near the surface. Its diet consists of small fishes, squid, crustaceans, and plankton. An excellent light tackle species, it can be taken by trolling or casting small baits or lures, including ballyhoo, mullet and other small fishes as well as strip baits, spoons, feathers, jigs, or plugs; or by live bait fishing from boats at the surface of deep waters one to two miles offshore. It has some local commercial importance, but is predominantly an angler's fish. It is a spunky game species and the flesh is of good quality and flavor.

Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus thynnus) - The smallest fish form the largest schools and vice versa. Its extensive migrations of all fish, appear to be tied to water temperature, spawning habits, and the seasonal movements of fishes on which the bluefin feeds. The giants of the species make the longest migrations. This is the largest tuna and one of the largest true bony fish.  Bluefin tuna are supreme in their size, strength and speed, and are a very important game fish. They are also extremely important commercially in many parts of the world.

American Red Snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) - The northern or "American" red snapper is found in the Gulf of Mexico and the southeastern Atlantic coast of the United States and much less commonly northward as far as Massachusetts. In Latin American Spanish, it is known as huachinangopargo, or chillo. They are a prized food fish, caught commercially, as well as recreationally. It is used in Vietnamese canh chua ("Sour soup"). Red snapper is the most commonly caught snapper in the continental USA (almost 50% of the total catch), with similar species being more common elsewhere. They eat almost anything, but prefer small fish and crustaceans. Interest in recreational fishing for northern red snapper, and in the Gulf of Mexico in general, has increased dramatically. From 1995–2003, the number of Louisiana fishing charter guide license holders increased eight-fold.Researchers estimate the bycatch of young red snapper, especially by shrimp trawlers, is a significant concern.

"Mini-mahi" (Coryphaena hippurus) - The mini-mahi is a culinary experiment where we harvest the mahi after only 30 - 50 days depending on the chef's preferences.  It is being fed on the finest feeds available, and being tested by some of the world's top chefs right now to assess its commercial viability.

Humpback Grouper (Cromileptes altivelis) - The humpback grouper is a medium-sized fish which grows up to 70 cm.[3] Its particular body shape makes this grouper quite impossible to mix up with other fishes. Its body is compressed laterally and is relatively high. This stocky and strange visual effect is accented by its concave profile and its elongated snout which gives it a humpbacked appearance.

The young have a white background with round black spots and are continuously swimming head down. The adults have a body colouration with variances of grey and beige with darker blotches variable in size on the body. Small black spots cover the whole body.

Hybrid grouper -  is a new type of grouper produced by fertilizing the eggs of the Tiger Grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus) with the sperm of the Giant Grouper (Epinephelus lanceolatus) through the in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) technique. The first hybrid grouper was cross-bred by researches from Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), Malaysia, in collaboration among researchers of the Borneo Marine Research Institute of UMS, the Fisheries Development Authority of Malaysia (LKIM) and Kinki University of Japan, represented by Prof. Dr Shigeharu Senoo of UMS.

The Coral Trout (Plectropomus leopardus) is a species of fish in the Serranidae family, which includes groupers and coral cod (not related to true cod), which are all characterized by having three spines on the gill cover and a large mouth lined with more than one row of sharp teeth. Native to the western Pacific Ocean, its natural habitat includes open seas and coral reefs. Coral trout are piscivorous; juveniles mostly eat crustaceans, especially prawns, and adults feed upon a variety of reef fish, particularly damselfish.

Coral trout are the favorite target fish for all sectors of the fishery because they are a good food fish and command high market prices locally and overseas. The total amount of Coral Trout caught commercially in Australia in 2010 was 974 tons, the majority coming from the Coral Reef Fin Fish Fishery (Queensland).


A major social force influencing the future of public relations is globalization. With each passing day, the peoples of earth are being drawn closer. The economies of different countries are inexorability linked. Advances in communications technology allows us to know what is occurring in a country half-way around the world instantaneously. Improvements in transportation have made it possible for you to travel in mere hours distances that took your parents and grandparents months and weeks to cover.

As trade expands globally the most notable audiences drawing the attention of public relations practitioners are in places such as Russia, China, India, Latin America, and Europe. Public relations practitioners must overcome language barriers and social differences to practice culturally appropriate and locally acceptable public relations. Differences in lifestyles, customs, values, and cultures are not the only challenges. Unique aspects of the local political, economic, and industrial structures also are challenges.

Working in combination, these forces has given us a sense of interconnectedness and created a world of opportunities for public relations professionals. Targeting certain audiences and correctly reaching them is easier than ever. Globalization has also caused public relations practitioners to face serious challenges and make some difficult choices. Thanks to the global reach of digital communications, crises can now spread instantaneously. The internet makes it possible for anyone with a cause to become a self-publisher. It is becoming more difficult for organizations to identify potential threats.

China is one growing market undergoing revolutionary political, social, and industrial changes. China reopened to Western markets in 1978. The growth in business opportunities in china has been incredible. Despite the presence of corruption and government regulations, American and European companies have embraced the Chinese market. In order to do well a company must know the local customs and government regulations. In China, personal influence is important in every part of the business, social and media systems. For example, a public relations practitioners want to send out news releases, they may have to know the reporters personally.

Some public relations practitioners see globalization as an opportunity, others see it as a threat, still others see it as both.

By: Brian Gottesman

Brian Gottesman is a Public Relations Executive with over 9 years of experience in public relations and publications. His work has been published in several network television, print and blog outlets including Fox News, CBS, The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Buzz Feed and Mashable.


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Astronomy and Astrology: The Difference Between Astronomers and Astrologers

Updated on June 21, 2016

In the past, astronomy and astrology were considered one and the same. Learn the difference, and learn why you should never call an astronomer an astrologer!

In the modern Western world, astronomy and astrology are generally regarded as two different studies. Astronomy tries to understand the physics of the universe, and studies celestial objects such as stars, planets, comets, nebulae, star clusters and galaxies, while astrology attempts to explain human events, predict the future and explain other “earth matters” by using the positions of celestial objects as a guide. Astronomy and astrology were  generally considered the same thing until the 17th century. In Ancient Babylonia, the astronomer and astrologer were the same person. In Ancient Greece, the words “astrologia” and “astronomia” meant different things, but were used interchangeably and treated as if they meant the same thing.

Astronomy is one of most ancient sciences. Over 7000 years ago, the Ancient Egyptians made use of astronomical alignments to build the archeoastronomical device in the Nabta Plata. It is likely that Stonehenge was used similarly to make astronomical observations. Many other early civilisations also studied the sky: the Mayans, Indians, Chinese, Greeks and the Babylonians.

Astronomy and astrology are similar in few ways, and different in many others. Both studies believe that Earth is an important part of the universe, and that the Earth and the universe are connected. But that’s where the similarities end. Astronomy states that planets and stars have no significance in regard to human behaviour, while astrology believes that planets, stars and the moon can predict fate and human behaviour. Astronomy follows the standard of other sciences, including physics, while astrology follows none, and is considered an “art”. Astronomy is used by NASA, has measured the speed of light and has discovered new planets. Astrology has done none of these.

Nowadays most astronomers and most members of the general public regard astrology with scorn because it considered a “fake” science. Astrology suggests your birth date and the positions of celestial objects determine your behaviour, personality and fate. Horoscopes, star signs and fortune telling are all parts of astrology, but regarded as inaccurate and vague, with statements that anybody could apply to their situation. It has little, if any, basis in reality. Astrology tries to account for and predict human behaviour, but doesn’t bother checking the results to see if they are accurate.

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    • sunchild28 profile image

      sunchild28 6 years ago from Nigeria

      Well shared and presented piece of work,thanks.I love it.

    • NathanielZhu profile image

      Nathaniel Zhu 6 years ago from Virginia Beach

      YES! Woot! An article outlining the difference between a science and a pseudoscience.

      I shall follow you!