General Aviation

Cessna announces order for 79 172 Skyhawks

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

In the largest puchase deal in the history of the company, Cessna Aircraft announced at Moscow’s JetExpo 2013 that Russian flight training group ViraZH has placed an order for 79 Cessna 172 Skyhawk aircraft.

This will give the Moscow-based ViraZH, the largest Skyhawk air wing in operation in the world, with 90 172s on the flight line. The company plans to use the Skyhawks, along with 11 172s purchased in 2011, for training purposes at flight schools throughout western Russia. The order is part of a multi-year agreement between Cessna and ViraZH. All 79 aircraft set to be delivered by the third quarter of 2014.

“We are delighted to have a strong relationship with ViraZH and are proud they have selected the Cessna 172 Skyhawk to be their training platform,” said Kriya Shortt, Cessna senior vice president of Sales.

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Activities, Gear Reviews

REI ends the ‘forever return’ policy

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

And it’s about damned time!

When I first began to become the rugged outdoorsman that I’ve become (along about the time they cancelled Miami Vice and ABC aired the Moonlighting episode that jumped the shark (Season 3, Episode 14, “I Am Curious… Maddie” … if your show is built on sexual tension between co-stars NEVER LET THEM SLEEP TOGETHER!)), I discovered REI.  It wasn’t the most convenient store, with none being located close to me, but it was HUGE and it had everything I could ever need.  Which, at the time, was mostly hiking shoes.

An interloper shoed up in the way of Adventure 16 over that was close to me in Newport so I started giving them all of my money, but then REI moved to an even bigger store in Tustin, and scared A16 back to San Diego.

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Dead Tree Books, eBook

CALL FOR ENTRIES: Shelf Unbound Writing Competition

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

SHELF UNBOUND WRITING COMPETITION FOR BEST INDEPENDENTLY PUBLISHED BOOK, SPONSORED BY HALF PRICE BOOKS

Shelf Unbound book review magazine announces the Shelf Unbound Writing Competition for Best Independently Published Book sponsored by Half Price Books. Any independently published book in any genre is eligible for entry. Entry fee is $30 per book. The winning entry will be selected by the editors of Shelf Unbound magazine.

“Independently Published” books include self-published books (such as those published through CreateSpace, Lulu.com, iUniverse, etc.) and/or books published through small presses releasing less than five titles per year. Books entered in last year’s competition are eligible for re-submission in this year’s competition. There is no limit to the number of books an individual can enter; each book is a separate entry.

The official rules for the competition can be found at here.

To submit an entry, email a PDF or Word Doc of your entire book, including the cover, toMargaret@shelfmediagroup.com, subject line Contest Entry (or mail a physical copy of your book to: Shelf Media Group, PO Box 852321, Richardson, Texas 75085-2321), and send a check for $30 made out to Shelf Media Group to Margaret Brown, Shelf Media Group, PO Box 852321, Richardson, Texas 75085-2321, or pay via PayPal (click on this link and select “Competition Entry Fee”). All entries received (and entry fee paid) will be considered.

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Conservation, News

USDA and Coca-Cola Partner to Replenish One Billion Liters of Water to Nature

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

Initial Projects to Improve Water Resources in Five States, including California

CHICAGO, September 13, 2013 –U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack and Coca-Cola Americas President Steve Cahillane today announced a public-private partnership to restore and protect damaged watersheds on national lands. Together these efforts aim to return more than a billion liters of water to the National Forest System – which provides drinking water to more than 60 million Americans. The announcement was made at Midewin Tallgrass Prairie in Illinois.

“By working together, we can better protect our nation’s watersheds and further enhance restoration efforts, even during challenging budget times,” said Secretary Vilsack. “Today’s partnership between Federal, private and non-profit partners is just one example of the strong collaboration that allows government to continue providing results for the American people.”

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National Parks, News, Wildfire

State Route 120 (Tioga Pass) Reopens

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

Tioga Pass opens to through traffic at Noon on Saturday, September 14

From the NPS: SR-120 (Tioga Road) which had been closed from Crane Flat to White Wolf, within Yosemite National Park, will reopen to all vehicular traffic at noon, Saturday, September 14, 2013.

 
Visitors will have access to Yosemite Valley from Highway 395 via SR-120. However, due to continued fire activity in the area, stopping along the roadway is strictly prohibited. The public is advised to use extreme caution as firefighting activities continue in the area and visibility may be reduced due to smoke.