Orange in April

For the past few years, I've been posting about going Orange in April in support of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), including my first post about the history of the organization. I've often found it rather special that my birthday falls on their anniversary. This year they're celebrating 146 years of animal rights and taking action to prevent the mistreatment of all animals throughout the US. Animals cannot speak up for themselves, so it is up to us to say We Are Their Voice. To donate to the organization, click here. Or buy some orangey gear, like I did with this snazzy cap, so that a portion of the proceeds go toward fighting animal cruelty.

PUPS Act

The ASPCA is asking registered voters to help push for the passage of H.R. 835—Puppy Uniform Protection and Safety Act, colloquially known as the PUPS Act. Not only is this an important move to help eradicate the mistreatment of dogs, but it is a bi-partisan bill sponsored by Representatives Jim Gerlach (R-PA), Sam Farr (D-CA), Lois Capps (D-CA), and Don Young (R-AK), showing that Democrats and Republicans can work together to make a difference when it comes to something they believe in.

The PUPS Act was introduced into the House on March 1st and, according to the ASPCA, seeks "to bring all commercial dog breeders in the United States under federal oversight. Currently, only breeders who sell their dogs to puppy brokers or pet stores are required to be licensed and inspected by the USDA. If passed, the PUPS Act would require any breeder who sells or offers to sell more than 50 dogs annually directly to the public—including over the Internet—to also be licensed and inspected. The PUPS Act would also require all dog breeders licensed under the federal Animal Welfare Act to exercise every dog every day, including allowing the dogs to reach a running stride without the use of treadmills or similar devices. Commercial breeders often keep their dogs in tiny cages for their entire lives. Requiring exercise could dramatically improve the lives of hundreds of thousands of dogs suffering from endless confinement at the hands of the commercial breeding industry."

To email your Congressman/woman and show your support for the bill, go to the ASPCA's Advocacy Center and fill out the online form. An automatic email showing your support will be sent to your Representative. It will take you, quite literally, less than 1 minute to do it, so don't hesitate and do it now.

By the way, the picture of the adorable pup above is an ASPCA-rescue dog named Scooby, part of their "Cute Photo of the Day" series for March 4th.

Archaeology in 2010

I have been subscribing to Archaeology magazine since at least the mid-1990s. A publication of the Archaeological Institute of America, the glossy bi-monthly magazine offers easy-to-read news-like updates on new discoveries, conservation issues, black-market crimes, and other related bits of information regarding things found underground and underwater. Their website often provides free the full-text of some of the articles too, which is rather nice of them. I always read the articles about ancient Greece, Rome, Egypt, India, and China, but occasionally there are great articles about newer bits of archaeology like the discovery this past summer of an 18th-century ship during construction at the World Trade Center site.

The latest issue online for January/February 2011 has a recap of the top 10 discoveries in 2010. From the list, I found the article on "The Tomb of Hecatomnus" in Milas, Turkey to be of interest. The picture above shows the king's sarcophagus with what may be a carved representation of the king himself (source: AP Photo/Durmus Genc, Anatolian). This 4th-century B.C.E. king of Caria in southwestern Turkey arguably is most famous today only because of his son, Mausolas, who was buried in the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world (and from whose name we get the word mausoleum). Another major discovery that fascinated me was the decoding of the genome for Neanderthals. Contrary to what had been believed, that Neanderthals had nothing to do with Homo sapiens (that's us), in fact studies of extracted Neanderthal DNA now have shown that they are part of our modern DNA structure too. Author Zach Zorich writes: "A major insight came when researchers compared the Neanderthal DNA to the DNA of three modern people (one French, one Han Chinese, and one Polynesian). The team found that all three had inherited between 1 and 4 percent of their DNA from Neanderthals. They also compared the Neanderthal sequence to two African individuals (one Yoruba and one San) and found no indication that they had inherited genes from Neanderthals, who are known to have evolved outside Africa. The research supports the idea that Neanderthals interbred with Homo sapiens between 100,000 and 80,000 years ago as our anatomically modern ancestors left Africa and spread across the globe."

But of all the articles published last year in Archaeology, my favorite has to be the September/October issue that had a series of articles on dogs in ancient cultures. Authored by Jarrett A. Lobell and Eric Powell, "More Than Man's Best Friend" discussed the different ways in which dogs have been part of human culture for more than 15,000 years. We know all dogs descended from wolves that were domesticated (such as the beautiful creature you see here; image copyright Staffan Widsrtrand/Nature Picture Library). The article talks about specific cultures and aspects of how dogs were part of our lives, as companions, guardians, even in some cultures food (ugh!) for thousands of years. The story of dogs in Roman Britain showed how they were more integrated into our lives both as pets and working creatures, as evidenced by found artefacts and fossilized pawprints. Fascinating stuff for us dog lovers!

Return from the Sunshine State

My trip to Florida was filled with lots of events. The picture you see here is one I took of The Pier, a complex with shops, restaurants, and an aquarium in downtown St. Petersburg that stretches out into Tampa Bay. There has been some public building on this site since the 1880s, but the upside-down pyramidal structure was built in the 1970s. I was told that there are plans to start doing major renovations here--possibly even eliminate the building--because the actual pier foundation needs a major overhaul in its support structure. Although the building is a bit kitschy, I do hope they keep it, as it's been a great landmark for decades now.

My primary reason for going to the Sunshine State these days mostly revolves around the health and well being of a few seniors in the family, notably Padre, my uncle, and my aunt. Thus, there were almost daily visits to either one doctor or another and hospitals. No sooner after I arrived, for instance, my aunt fell and broke her hip, needing a partial hip replacement and subsequently physical therapy at a senior rehabilitation center. The good news is that by the time I left everyone was doing well, so that was a comfort. I also had a few dinners with cousins, and on one very hot and humid afternoon I went with my godchildren to Lowry Park Zoo. While there, we rode the carousel, saw lots of fun animals (loved the meerkats and penguins), and enjoyed a delicious chocolate ice cream cone (I say that because I'm not a big fan of ice cream).

The planned "Gay Boys Weekend" at the Flamingo was great fun. I had coordinated this trip with friends to belatedly celebrate my 40th birthday, the passing of my Oral Exam, and the submission of my dissertation proposal (which has been accepted with some minor changes...more on that in a future post). In the picture below are some of my friends and I at tea dance (notice a few Bears in the background...don't ask, long story). My friends came from NYC, Miami, and Houston. The "resort" itself was basically a roadside highway hotel, but the pool area was great, and their local drink special was a deliciously fizzy $3 concoction that (if I remember correctly) had Smirnoff pomegranate vodka, seltzer, and some sort of sweet syrupy flavoring (pink in color, of course). We ate out all the time, going one night to Central Avenue Oyster Bar for some great seafood and going twice to Pia's Trattoria for some of the most delicious, simple Italian cuisine with wonderful ambiance and service.

My trip ended with a few days in Jacksonville visiting SVH for her birthday and to see my canine nephew George the Greyhound. I've never been completely comfortable around large dogs (not sure why exactly), but he is the one large dog that I absolutely adore. We went to the dog park one morning and got a bit muddy playing with all the dogs. We also went to the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, of course to see the animals, but also so that SVH could photograph the public displays of poetry that relate in part to the "Poetry in the Branches" campaign led by Poets House (actually located here in NYC). She is one of the organizers at the Jacksonville Public Library for this NEH-funded program to encourage people to read poetry.

All in all, it was a great trip, but it's good to be home. I'm already back to work and settling back into my groove here in Brooklyn and on bklynbiblio.

Sunshine State

I'm heading to Florida for a couple of weeks, so bklynbiblio posts may be infrequent. I'll be in St. Petersburg visiting Padre and la famiglia. The image above is a great shot of one section of the downtown area of the city along Tampa Bay (image courtesy of Annalisa Weller's blog). Next weekend, friends of mine will be meeting me in St. Pete for a "Gay Boys Weekend" at the Flamingo Resort, which promises to be loads of fun. At the end of my visit, I'll be spending a few days with SVH and my canine nephew George in Jacksonville. I'm looking forward to sunshine, swimming, partying, zoos and dog parks, and just plain old relaxing! I even have my next novel ready for the plane ride: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Now to finish packing...

My New Faux Dog

Meet Pierre, my new faux dog! My dear friend SVH and my canine nephew George (whom you've met before) sent him to me as an early birthday present. He comes from Jake's Dog House, the place with "cool stuff for cool dogs." While I wish I had a real dog, for now, with my crazy schedule, a faux dog will do very nicely. As you can see, Pierre is a black toy poodle. He's currently hanging out on the bed with Ted, a bear that was a Christmas gift from my mother about a decade ago.

Now, wouldn't Pierre look fancy in a pink beret like the one Missy Boo has? (She's one of the ASPCA's 2009 Furry Fashionistas.)

Anthropomorphizing Canines

The February 1st issue of New York magazine (out since last week) has an interesting cover story by Jon Homans called "The Rise of Dog Identity Politics." The idea of a dog-themed storyline on the cover of this magazine may seem incongruous, until you realize that his take is largely about dog ownership in urban centers like NYC. In places where everyone lives in apartments, Homans queries whether urban dogs are losing their sense of identity as dogs unto themselves. Dogs historically existed in rural areas to perform specific tasks, from hunting to herding. As our society becomes less country-based, dogs may be losing those innate traits with each passing generation, and dog owners may be to blame because they want or expect their dogs to be just like us, i.e. eating vegan and getting pampered at doggie day care centers. It's an interesting article because Homans talks about many issues associated with dogs and pet ownership. He discusses, for instance, the drastic decrease in the number of euthanized strays over the past 40 years, thanks to organizations that have fought for better protection over animals. But he also notes the antagonism between groups like animal shelters and PETA because of their different philosophies on pet ownership.

The human-canine connection is very real, as any dog lover will attest. Unlike cats, which are known for their indifference (I'm generalizing here), dogs bond with humans. There is something to the adage of a dog being man's best friend. The general belief is that dogs are pack animals and if the owner takes on the role of alpha dog, his pet will follow his/her lead. Others claim though that there is more to it than that, citing examples of how dogs can learn behaviors, instructions, and practices, sometimes on their own accord, all because they empathize with the needs of their human. Homans discusses in the article new research on the hormone oxytocin, which is credited with increasing bonds between mothers and newborns, as well as couples. Studies show that when dogs gaze at their owners, human oxytocin levels increase, suggesting a bond between the two that is comparable to that of having children or friends. But of course this is the human reaction to the dog staring at the owner, not the other way around. Who knows what the dog is actually thinking or feeling. He's probably only interested in trying to tell you he has to go crap outside. Hence author Homans's issue: are we treating dogs like humans to the point that we may be hurting them in their natural development as dogs?

Having a dog in a NYC apartment is extremely difficult, I believe, but plenty of people do it. I'm not so much troubled when it's small dogs, but the thought that some people keep golden retrievers and other large breeds in one-bedroom apartments upsets me. Dogs of that size need space to move around, and although there is an increase in dog parks in the City, it's not the same. When I lived in Florida, I had two dogs (Duchess, a Westie, and Pepper, a Yorkie), and those who knew them can attest to how much I loved those dogs. (Duchess died at age 14 from kidney disease and Pepper died of old age, living to be 18 years old! I must acknowledge my friend AK and her mother GS, as well as my Uncle, for their neverending devotion to my dogs as well.) I don't have a dog right now, and I so miss that kind of companionship it devastates me sometimes. My choice not to have a dog right now isn't based on apartment size, but that my life is so chaotic right now it wouldn't be fair to keep a dog in my apartment when I'm not on a regular schedule to take care of him. Homans's article is making me wonder though, am I making too much of that concern? Would a dog really know that I'm gone for 14 hours? Other than needing to crap and having food/water, does a dog actually need anything else? Am I anthropomorphizing a dog because I think he would be devastated waiting for me all day with nothing to do, that I might even be tempted (as Homans did) to bring another pet in the house to keep the dog company?

These are tough questions and worth thinking about. Contrary to what some scientists may think, I do believe dogs (and animals in general) can feel, but they cannot express their feelings in the same way we do because their capacities for intelligence and communication are so different from ours. But just because dogs are not humans doesn't make them lower on some hierarchical scale. It just means we need to respect them for their own unique design and needs. Getting a dog as a pet is a lot of responsibility, and it's not uncommon for people to get rid of the dog because the dog didn't behave the way they expected. That's silly. You cannot put human expectations on a dog and then be disappointed for his inability to meet that expectation. Instead, recognize that you are training a dog and that you are rewarding him for his good behavior. And when he gives you that look (and dog lovers everywhere know exactly what I'm talking about!), go ahead and spoil him. Who cares if it only means that your oxytocin levels have increased. It was the dog who made it happen.

Pet Airways

I have been crazy busy with school work, which is why there haven't been many bklynbiblio posts lately, but stay tuned, because there are some good posts coming in the next few days. However, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to share news about the recently-founded Pet Airways, which is without a doubt one of the most brilliant developments in animal care. This "Travel For Your Best Friend" company is the first airline dedicated exclusively to treating pets like people by allowing them to travel in the main cabin, regardless of their size. While people can travel with their small pets in carriers that fit under a seat, larger pets have to be shipped as cargo and not surprisingly are often treated as such. Pet Airways is running an introductory special with rates for their "pawssengers" starting at $149 each way for travel between cities like New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles. Even if you don't use their airline, check out their website, http://petairways.com/, for helpful tips on pet traveling. Here's a short commercial for the company.

We Are Their Voice

Today is the 143rd birthday of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals (ASPCA). Established in New York City in 1866, the ASPCA's early interest was in stopping the inhumane treatment of working animals, such as horses and livestock. Soon afterwards, they were working to stop the cruel treatment of dogs and cats and to provide healthy opportunities for their adoption. One of the horrors I discovered was that prior to the ASPCA's existence, it was not uncommon for dog catchers in NYC to round up dogs, cage them, and throw the cages in the East River to drown, because the catchers were paid by the number of animals they caught, not by the hour. This is just one of the many inhumane activities the ASPCA brought to an end.

The organization began with Henry Bergh (1813-1888), pictured at right, who became known as the Great Meddler because he actively went around enforcing animal cruelty laws against owners of horses and livestock. In a passionate speech he gave on February 8, 1866 at Clinton Hall in NYC, Bergh pleaded on behalf of "these mute servants of mankind." Bergh detailed inhumane animal practices in America, including cockfighting and the horrors of slaughterhouses. According to the ASPCA's website: A basic tenet of Bergh's philosophy, protecting animals was an issue that crossed party lines and class boundaries. To his audience, which included some of Manhattan's most powerful business and government leaders, he stressed, "This is a matter purely of conscience; it has no perplexing side issues. It is a moral question in all its aspects." Fortified by the success of his speech and the number of dignitaries to sign his "Declaration of the Rights of Animals," Bergh brought a charter for a proposed society to protect animals to the New York State Legislature. With his flair for drama he convinced politicians and committees of his purpose, and the charter incorporating the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was passed on April 10, 1866. Nine days later, an anti-cruelty law was passed, and the ASPCA granted the right to enforce it.

For more on this organization's long history of helping "these mute servants of mankind," see the ASPCA's History website. In the spirit of their motto, that "We Are Their Voice," let's wish the ASPCA a very happy 143rd birthday and thank them for all they have done for our four-legged friends. (And, yes, by sheer coincidence [or is it?], my birthday is today as well.)

Power of a Pup

Newsweek magazine has a weekly feature called "My Turn," which gives the public an opportunity to submit personal essays about things that matter most to them. Most of the stories often relate to issues that families often deal with, whether its children or the elderly, politics or religion, and so on. This week's issue, however, is a heartwarming story about how a dog helped heal a family's emotional wounds: "The Dog That Made Us a Family" by Ginny Blanford. After a close friend of Blanford and her husband passed away, the couple took in their friend's orphaned child. The girl had never seemed to grieve over the loss of her mother. After the girl begged for a dog, they relented and brought home from a shelter Molly, "a regal chow mix, chestnut red with a feathery tail that wagged all the time," whose picture you see here. Unfortunately, the dog ran away almost immediately afterwards. Their daughter was so devastated, she broke down and sobbed openly for the first time, not only about Molly, but about her mother and all of her feelings. The good news is that Molly the dog eventually did come home after some adventures of her own. Blanford writes that Molly helped break down the walls their daughter had built around her because of her grief, and as a result made them a family. It just goes to show you how important pets are in our lives. It's all about the power of a pup!

Preventing Pet Abandonment

This week's news alert from the NYC-area ASPCA has some helpful advice on preventing the abandonment of pets during our economic recession. The concern is serious, because as more people face foreclosure on their homes and a forced reevaluation of their lives, pets easily could get lost in the crossfire and abandoned to shelters or, worse, the sides of the road to fend for themselves. (It absolutely horrifies me to think people actually still abandon pets this way. My friend MN in Florida told me recently that her family rescued their pet a few months ago. They found her abandoned and starving to death in a park.) According to Dr. Stephen Zawistowski, Executive Vice President of ASPCA Programs, “approximately one in 171 homes in the U.S. is in danger of foreclosure due to the subprime mortgage crisis. Considering that approximately 63 percent of U.S. households have at least one pet, hundreds of thousands are in danger of being abandoned or relinquished to animal shelters.” I think the ASPCA's best recommendation is to check with close family or friends who are more stable financially about having them foster your pet for you until you're able to get back on your feet again. There are others, however, so see the news alert for more. The last thing any animal lover wants is to abandon a pet, and no animal lover wants to see a pet abandoned. Click here to read the article, and be sure to spread the word to others! And speaking of abandoned pets, the beautiful Persian cat whose picture you see here is Atosa, the ASPCA's Pet of the Week, and she needs a good home. You can read more about her and see a short video clip about her on the same news alert.

Pilots N Paws

After the disturbing pet story I posted the other day, in particular commenting about the many dogs stuck in shelters that need homes, I thought it would be fun to post a good story and video about Pilots N Paws. I heard about it watching the Today show while eating breakfast this morning. The organization is a group of pilots who work with animal shelters to fly dogs and cats to different areas of the country where they are wanted. Many animals are euthanized after a while because the shelters are so overcrowded and there aren't enough homes locally for the dogs. With this program, pilots help by transporting pets to new owners in different parts of the country. It's just another example of what animal lovers will do for one another and for their furry, four-legged friends. For more about the organization click here, or watch the great video below (it begins after a 30-second commercial). If you're getting this post via email and the video hasn't come through, click here to go to the full entry for this post where you'll see the video.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Cloned Dogs

This morning in The New York Times, there was a very disturbing story about the cloning of dogs, "Beloved Pets Everlasting." This photograph by Heidi Schumann is from the article by Eric Konigsberg and shows MissyToo and Mira, clones taken from the DNA of their "mother" Missy, a border collie-husky mix breed who died in 2002. Lou Hawthorne, the owner of a California-based biotechnology company called BioArts that works with a cloning institute in South Korea, used the DNA of the dog that had belonged to his mother. (In one of the more bizarre parts of this story, much of the funding for this project came from the founder of the distance-learning online institution, the University of Phoenix, who also happens to be Hawthorne's mother's boyfriend.) The article focuses more on the idea of how the four surviving clones (others didn't make it) are largely the same but have some differences, which in essence can be credited to environmental factors. As I read the article, I couldn't close my mouth, I was that much in shock.

The ASPCA has issued the following statement about pet cloning: "The ASPCA calls for a moratorium on the research, promotion and sale of cloned and bioengineered pets." Their primary concern is that more research and evaluation is necessary before one can assess any benefits for pet cloning. They are calling for "a multidisciplinary commission ... to evaluate the manner in which the work has proceeded, the regulations and oversight required to protect the safety of human and nonhuman animals, and the ethical consequences of continuing this work." (Click here to read their entire policy on pet cloning.) Needless to say, I am definitely against it.

In the article, clients of Hawthorne's who paid for a clone of their dog are quoted as saying, "The only problem with dogs is that they have such a short life." Yes, they do have a short lifespan, when compared to humans. But that is part of what one must accept when taking a puppy into your home. Anything can happen. Pets die. All animals die. Guess what? So do humans! We have to learn to let them go. We cannot hold onto loved ones from the past, or we will never be able to live our own lives. Death is the one thing that teaches us about living, and to be able to replicate a loved one only enhances selfishness and denigrates the loved one's own life. Death is the one thing we cannot control. (I think you can see what I'm suggesting with the potential future of this.) By manipulating DNA and cloning replicas of previous pets, we are rejecting the pet's own life, ignoring the inherent value in the pet's life, for its very self and for what it meant to the pet's family. The fact that Hawthorne wants to clone these pets because the original Missy had great traits may sound wonderful in theory. Of course we want our loved ones to stay with us. But doing so ignores the fact that every creature is unique and should be respected for its uniqueness, not for the potential of replicating its uniqueness.

The irony of the entire story is that Hawthorne's own mother doesn't even like the cloned dogs. She thinks they're nothing like her Missy. Indeed, after her dog died, she eventually got another dog. Before people start cloning their pets, they need to remember there are hundreds of thousands of unwanted pets already sitting in shelters that are desperate for homes, and waiting to be loved. Please let us not add to their number by throwing out rejected clones who turn out not to be exactly like the original, not what a client paid for.

Dogs and the Left Gaze Bias

Thanks to the Towleroad blog, I found out about a new study that says "Dogs can read emotions in human faces." According to the study, humans and dogs share an instinctive behavior: "left gaze bias." Apparently when we first look at another person, our eyes automatically move left so that we look at the person's right side, which is probably because the right side of our body expresses emotions better. As it turns out, dogs are the only other creature to do this, and they only do it when they look at humans. The study suggests that because dogs have been partnered with humans for so long, they've become accustomed to "reading" our emotions the same we "read" the emotions of other people. Of course, anyone who's a dog person already knows that they can read our emotions--that's just one of the reasons why they're such amazing creatures! So in the spirit of "left gaze bias," I found this adorable, tilted-head picture of Newton, a Westie puppy, courtesy of his owner sinosplice's Flickr album.

2008 ASPCA Dog of the Year

The ASPCA has announced its 2008 Dog of the Year: Ilia, a black Lab/golden retriever mix, pictured here with his owner Cole Massie of Los Angeles. The ten-year-old has cerebral palsy and Ilia is his inspiration to walk again. Cole calls him "my furry brother and best friend—and a serious bed hog!" To read more about this heartwarming story, click here. And, yes, I'm choked up even writing about this. A pet truly can make all the difference in your world.

Pets Return Home

Here's an update from the ASPCA in their latest NY-area newsletter: "Gustav Update: Pets and Their People Return Home." According to the email alert I received from them, "Last Sunday, the ASPCA Disaster Response Team helped to send the last of more than 1,000 evacuated animals home with their human families—all grateful to have remained together throughout the hurricane." Word has it that pets and owners are gleefully happy, like this cheerful little girl, Daisy, a Jack Russell terrier mix who lives in Lafayette, LA.

ASPCA Disaster Response Team...

Following up on the plight of pets during emergency evacuations the ASPCA has an update on their work with those who were forced to evacuate during Hurricane Gustav last week: "ASPCA Disaster Response Team Helps Keep Pets Safe During Hurricane Gustav." Let's hope things go equally well with those dealing with Hurricane Hanna, and possibly Hurricane Ike next week!

And in case you're wondering, the picture of the gorgeous greyhound is my buddy George (my newly adopted "nephew"). He lives in Jacksonville, FL. His mom, SVH, is one of my very best friends. She's done a wonderful thing by adopting a retired greyhound. It's absolutely horrible to think that there was a time not too long ago, that when greyhounds were retired at the age of two or three, they were shot and left for dead. Now with adoptions, these greyhounds get to live the full lives they deserve to live. There are many websites out there on greyhound adoptions, but consider starting at Adopt a Greyhound, which has lots of helpful information and a list of authorized participating agencies across the country.

Emergency Pet Preparedness

If you Google "pets gustav" you'll quickly discover many news articles that talk about how local evacuation teams helped prepare pets so that they could travel with their owners who were forced to evacuate because of Hurricane Gustav. I cannot express how happy I was to hear this. During Hurricane Katrina, when I saw the news about the lack of preparation and consideration for pets and animals at that time, it absolutely broke my heart. Pets are family members too, and they must be taken care of as well. The thought that I would ever be forced to separate from my pet for an evacuation is something I never want to endure, so I cheer all the politicians who made this new mandate happen.

In the spirit of protecting those animal companions who make our lives complete, I thought I would share the ASPCA's Emergency Pet Preparedness website. They offer great tips and helpful advice not just for dogs and cats, but birds and other small animals as well. There's even a link for ordering the Free Pet Rescue Sticker below.