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Daytona to take out backstretch grandstands, reduce seating as part of $400 million renovation
Daytona International Speedway will overhaul its frontstretch grandstands and bulldoze its backstretch stands as part of a $400 million renovation project that will reduce seating capacity from 147,000 to 101,000.
The project, announced Tuesday, moves forward without a planned fan midway renovation that was dropped from initial proposals because of an unsuccessful attempt to get public dollars.
Despite the lack of public funding, DIS President Joie Chitwood pledged that the cost would not be passed on to fans despite the appearance that the track is making tickets to the Daytona 500 much tougher to get.
MORE: Leffler investigation | Junior's new sponsor | Power rankings | Keselowski's mouth
The elimination of the 46,000-seat backstretch grandstands also eliminates the majority of tickets that were under $100 for the Daytona 500.
"We've got to readjust our pricing mix so that we have affordable seats on the frontstretch, and we're committed to doing that,†Chitwood said Tuesday. "We're committed to making sure that our fans can continue to bring in coolers, their own food and drink, and committed to continuing free parking in our lots.
"Just because we're going to make this huge investment in our property, we're not going to transfer that downstream to our fans.â€
Chitwood said there will be more opportunities for corporate sponsorship and hospitality with the new grandstands that could generate additional revenue.
"We're not going to turn around and leverage our ticket prices,†Chitwood said.
"We know our fans need some good entry-level pricing and we will have to re-price the mix. … Decent-priced tickets, the cooler, the parking — those are the things that get people to attend events. We're not going to go the other way.â€
Construction will begin after the Coke Zero 400 in July and continue through January 2016.
Chitwood said the major race weekends will not move from their normal spots on the schedule in 2014 but he could not commit to 2015 dates until sanction agreements and construction schedules are firm.
The new frontstretch grandstand will have more of a stadium feel, with a new façade and escalators to four separate levels of stands.
Every seat on the frontstretch will be replaced and be wider than the current ones and capacity, not including the 53 suites, will decrease to 101,000 with the ability to increase permanent seating to 125,000. The capacity five years ago was 168,000.
Eliminating the backstretch should help keep costs down — the track hasn't sold backstretch tickets for its Cup race in July for the last few years.
"We can't offer the same amenities and experiences back there that we can on the frontstretch,†Chitwood said. "By doing that, it will be better for everybody long-term in their experience and enjoying Daytona International Speedway.
"One of the things about the backstretch is you feel disconnected from the venue in terms of the prerace experience and other events that we have.â€
There will be no seating changes for the 2014 Daytona 500 but there will be for 2015 as the construction is done in phases.
The project includes more restrooms and concession stands as well as more open space to sit and socialize with others within the grandstand areas.
The project will cost $375-$400 million and comprise the bulk of capital spending for DIS parent company International Speedway Corp.
Owner of 12 tracks where the Sprint Cup Series races, ISC plans to spend up to $600 million for capital improvements at all its tracks through 2017.


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Driving Dynamics & Efficiency of the BMW X1.
The BMW X1 is in its element everywhere, inspiring with its precise handling, whether on-road or off-road. This is made possible by a range of perfectly coordinated components. The basis for this comes from the near-optimum weight distribution of 57:43 (front/rear) on the two axles. The optional intelligent all-wheel drive system BMW xDrive delivers the power of the BMW X1 precisely to the wheel where it is needed – regardless of the road surface. The suspension designed for maximum dynamics provides you with precise feedback at all times. At the same time, the BMW X1 reduces fuel consumption and emissions thanks to comprehensive BMW EfficientDynamics measures. And, as a result, you notice the sheer driving pleasure with every metre.
The combination of economical BMW TwinPower Turbo engines, intelligent lightweight construction and sophisticated aerodynamics form the basis in the BMW X1 for enhanced driving pleasure with reduced fuel consumption. Rounding off this approach are BMW EfficientDynamics technologies such as the standard-feature energy management with Automatic Start/Stop function and Brake Energy Regeneration. Options such as the 8-speed Steptronic transmission help to further increase efficiency and dynamics in the BMW X1.
BMW X1 sDrive20iA.
BMW X1 sDrive20iA.
The BMW sDrive20iA with the new BMW TwinPower Turbo 4-cylinder engine offers more than enough power with 141 kW (192 hp) and an extremely high level of efficiency. In combination with the transverse engine, front-wheel drive is a space-saving solution for vehicles that are compact but offer a great deal of room in the interior.
BMW xDRIVE.
The intelligent BMW xDrive all-wheel drive system adapts nearly perfectly to even the most challenging road surface conditions, always offering outstanding traction. xDrive and Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) ensure that the BMW remains perfectly stable. Controlled via the DSC sensor system, xDrive flexibly and quickly distributes drive power between the axles in order to prevent oversteer or understeer, thereby ensuring outstanding directional stability. In critical road conditions, the DSC doesn't need to intervene as much. BMW xDrive combines all the advantages of an all-wheel drive system – traction, directional stability and driving safety – with classic BMW agility for even more driving pleasure.
The Steptronic transmissions set standards in comfort, dynamics and efficiency. They are a key constituent of the BMW EfficientDynamics measures. The especially fine spacing of the gears permits optimum power build-up at all speeds. This reduces fuel consumption substantially while, at the same time, providing you with even more sportiness and dynamics.
8-speed Steptronic transmission
The 8-speed Steptronic transmission ensures smoother gear shifts and greater driving comfort, thanks to fast engine speed transitions and short shift times. It unites outstanding comfort with impressive dynamics and increased fuel efficiency.
8-speed Steptronic Sport transmission
The automatic 8-speed Steptronic Sport transmission adapts to suit individual driving styles. It ranges from comfortable cruising to very dynamic handling. In SPORT mode, the gear shifts are configured for maximum performance. Gears can be changed manually by using the gear lever or the gearshift paddles on the Sport leather steering wheel.
Experience the driving dynamics of the BMW X1.
The coasting function decouples the drive train from the engine and the vehicle rolls without the transmission. The car "coasts" when the driver takes the foot from the gas between 50 and 160 km/h and does not apply the brakes. In combination with Active Cruise Control, the vehicle also accelerates back to the desired speed more efficiently after braking when in ECO PRO Mode.
ECO PRO route
ECO PRO route shows the most efficient route based on the traffic situation, driving style and local conditions. The on-board computer displays the percentage of fuel that can be saved by driving along the route selected by ECO PRO route.
Like every BMW, the BMW X1 also has BMW EfficientDynamics technologies such as the Automatic Start/Stop function, Brake Energy Regeneration and electromechanical power steering as standard features. All the technologies work together as intelligent energy management to provide the mobility of the future today.
Automatic Start/Stop function
The Automatic Start/Stop function switches off the engine when the vehicle comes to a temporary standstill (e.g. at traffic lights or in a traffic jam) to further reduce overall fuel consumption. When the driver presses down on the clutch (manual transmission) or takes their foot off the brake (Steptronic transmission), the engine automatically starts up again in a fraction of a second.
Brake Energy Regeneration
With Brake Energy Regeneration, the alternator generates electricity primarily when the driver brakes or takes their foot off the accelerator. Previously unused kinetic energy is transformed into electrical energy and fed into the battery. The alternator therefore no longer needs to run constantly, fuel consumption drops and the engine's full output is then available for the drive train when accelerating.
Electromechanical power steering
Unlike hydraulic systems, electromechanical power steering is only active when the driver actually steers. This means that less energy – and therefore less fuel – is consumed.
Optimum Shift Indicator
Perfectly timed gear shifts can significantly help save fuel, particularly in urban traffic and over long distances. Change gears at the right time, use less fuel – the engine's electronics system identifies the most efficient gear, based on road conditions and engine speed. An arrow lights up in the Info Display to show when it would be more efficient to shift into a higher or lower gear. The system also recognises quick acceleration, and will delay its recommendation accordingly until the engine speed has increased. Drivers using a Steptronic transmission in manual mode also receive relevant shifting suggestions. BMW internal comparative tests have shown that vehicles with the Optimum Shift Indicator use around four percent less fuel.

subset: commoncrawl


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11/24/2016 Liebherr-Aerospace Toulouse SAS awarded its best suppliers
On November 9th, 2016, Liebherr-Aerospace Toulouse SAS hosted its 4th Suppliers' Day in Toulouse (France). About 120 companies participated in the event and were informed about the requirements of Liebherr-Aerospace's supply chain, latest development projects and current aircraft programs.
The "Best Performer Award" was presented to Piekenbrink Composites GmbH, Laupheim (Germany). Oxytronic, Aubagne (France) won in the category "Best Performer". The "Innovation Award", presented for the first time by Liebherr-Aerospace, went to Mecaprotec Industries, Muret (France).


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We're celebrating the arrival of our all-new Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas 4D Experience, by introducing you to some of our favorite "prehistoric" residents here at the Aquarium!
Chambered Nautilus
The chambered nautilus is a mollusk, related to the octopus, squid, clam and snail! Did you know? Nautili are the only cephalopod species that has a fully-developed protective shell.
The nautilus is considered to be a "living fossil," as the species has undergone little change in the last 400 million years. The nautilus first appeared about 265 million years before the first dinosaurs.
Did you know? There were about 10,000 different species of nautilus in prehistoric times. Currently, there are six living species of nautilus – all found in the Indo-Pacific.
Horseshoe Crab
Scientists can trace this species back to the Paleozoic Era (before dinosaurs and even flowering plants were around!) – which began 540 million years ago. Incredibly, these "living fossils" have also changed very little over time!
Although they're commonly known as "crabs," these animals are actually more closely related to arachnids than they are to crustaceans. Their entire bodies are protected by a hard carapace (or shell). Its eyes are able to detect both visible and UV light.
The four remaining species of horseshoe crab can be found worldwide! Limulus polyphemus is the species that we have here – they're found off the East Coast, from Maine to the Yucatan Peninsula (Mexico).
With some species weighing in at 400 lbs, gar are considered the largest freshwater species in North America!
Gars can be traced back to the Cretaceous period, which began about 145 million years ago.
Although their ancestors could be found worldwide, today's living species of gar only live in North and Central America. Young gar are preyed upon by larger fish and aquatic birds and reptiles. Once they reach adulthood, they have very few natural predators other than humans.
Survivors of the Cretaceous period, relatives of these elasmobranchs (subclass of cartilaginous fish, such as rays) can be traced back almost 145 million years ago. Historically, the rostrum of the sawfish has been used in religious offerings and traditional medicine.
Did you know? Sawfish are actually considered to be fairly docile animals. However, when provoked, they can cause major damage by swinging their tooth-laden rostrum from side-to-side.
Currently, there are six species of sawfish found worldwide – their distribution ranges from the warm, temperate waters of the Atlantic to the Indo-Pacific! Sawfish are actually a "euryhaline" species, which means they can move between freshwater ad saltwater.
Sturgeon date back as far as 70 million years! The 25 species of sturgeon around today can be found commonly along the Atlantic coast of North America and Europe.
Did you know? Sturgeon are prized for their eggs, known more commonly as caviar. In fact, the Beluga sturgeon is responsible for the world's most expensive caviar. Sadly, populations of sturgeon have faced rapid depletion in recent years because of overfishing.
This species belongs to the ancient group of Osteoglossids, which existed in the Jurassic period (close to 220 million years ago)!
There are currently 10 living species of this primitive fish, found in South America, Africa, Asia and Australia.
Did you know? All species of arowana are "mouthbrooders," meaning parents will care for hundreds of eggs in their mouths until the young are developed.
Want even more prehistoric fun? Stop by the Aquarium and catch our next screening of Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas!


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And the Survey Says: Wine Beats Beer for Christmas
Much has been written about pairing wines with whatever you are serving up for dinner, or whether a stout or an IPA would best accompany that stew on your stove.
But when it comes to alcoholic beverage choices for American adults, how much does when factor into the type of drink one chooses?
Apparently, quite a bit, according to a recent Harris Poll.


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Are you really what you drink? A new book, The Wine Questionnaire, taps the minds of wine connoisseurs and wine lovers alike. In the style of a Proust questionnaire, Sofia Coppola, Danny Meyer, Mario Batali, Daniel Boulud, and others reveal their first wine memories, choice aperitifs, favorite pairings, preferred vineyards, and more. It's a charming collection of personal questionnaires that is sure to delight any wine enthusiast.
In an introduction by Jay McInerney, author and wine columnist for The Wall Street Journal, he writes, "Dinking wine, it seems to me, is a way of bookmarking our memories. It's a process of self-discovery […]" Wine is more than just a dinner pairing, it can be a very telling indication of who you are and where you've been.
Are you a Bordeaux or a Burgundy drinker? If you could have one wine for the rest of your life, what would it be? How about your first wine memory? "The Wine Questionnaire" allows you to answer these questions yourself and take a peek at the wine musings of some of your favorite wine aficionados.
Share your wine memories with fellow oenophiles… over a glass of wine, of course! Cheers!
"The Wine Questionnaire" will be available to purchase February 21, 2012.


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LONDON (Reuters) - Superstar architect Renzo Piano calls the European Union's new tallest building a "vertical city", but when his stunning Shard tower opens on Thursday over London Bridge it will house the equivalent of a whole vacant neighbourhood.
The elongated glass pyramid, built atop a train station in a scruffy neighbourhood near the Thames, will open with 26 floors of vacant office space, and developers have to fill it at a time when rents are at the flattest in at least 50 years.
The Shard's developers are spared from market wrath solely because the building was built with funding by the deep-pocketed royal family of Qatar, rather than a publicly listed firm, said John Cahill, a property analyst at Investec.
"With the Shard's office floors still empty, it would be panic stations if it was a listed developer behind it," he said.
Long gone are the days in London's commercial real estate market when the Foster + Parners-designed 30 St Mary Axe, known as "the Gherkin" because of its oblong shape, opened in the financial district in April 2004 with all floors already let.
The Shard is just one of several skyscrapers now sprouting across London with nicknames that reflect the silhouettes they cast on the skyline. But with a financial crisis having blown in since architects first came up with designs for the "Walkie Talkie" and the "Cheese Grater", lettings have been muted.
Rents for the best offices in London's financial district - the yardstick used by Shard developer Irvine Sellar for the offices at the bottom of the tower - have been 55 pounds per square foot since September 2010, property consultant CBRE CBG.N said. That is the longest period of flat rents since its records began in 1960.
"The only reason rents haven't started to fall is the relatively low level of available space at the moment," said Kevin McCauley, head of central London research at CBRE, who expects rents to remain flat for the rest of the year.
The Walkie-Talkie, also known as 20 Fenchurch Street, is being developed by Land Securities (LAND.L) and Canary Wharf Group. The Leadenhall tower - the official name of the Cheese Grater - is being funded by British Land (BLND.L) and the property arm the Ontario, Canada city workers' retirement fund.
Developers say a wave of lease breaks and expiries over the next several years will prompt tenants to move into well-appointed new offices.
"Why would you drive around in a 1970s car when you can have a 2012 model?" said Sellar, an entrepreneur who began his career with a clothing store on London's Carnaby Street.
So far, it hasn't worked out that way. Work has halted at the Pinnacle skyscraper on Bishopsgate, which will remain a stump in the ground until a major slice is let. And developers of a neighbouring tower at 100 Bishopsgate say they will only begin once a large tenant is signed up.
If the climate is bothering the Qatari funders of the Shard, they did not say so at an opening event on Wednesday.
"Recovering our investment is a minor thing at the moment," said Sheikh Abdullah Bin Saoud Al Thani, governor of Qatar Central Bank.
The development cost of the Shard, a neighbouring office building called The Place and communal areas around London Bridge train station is about 1.5 billion pounds.
"We have confidence in the London market and a long relationship with London," he said, emphasising that a slowdown was part of a normal economic cycle.
The only tenant so far is the 195-room Shangri-La hotel, which will occupy floors 34 to 52 of the 87-storey tower. S ellar expects the rest of the building to be fully occupied by the end of 2014, conceding it was a long-term view he could take only because of the Qatari backing.
He will have to lure tenants like media and financial firms to venture to the opposite bank of the Thames from the City, the traditional financial district. He says the Shard's location will save commuters who arrive by train from walking across London bridge in the rain. Others are unconvinced.
"A lot of traditional City tenants refuse to cross the river to even have a look," said Simon Wainwright, managing director of property consultancy J Peiser Wainwright. "In a nutshell it's a bridge too far for many," he said.
Sellar scoffed. "That's absolutely ridiculous... We've been very selective as to who can even come and view the building. Just look up the road at Ernst & Young and PWC and you realise you are in the middle of a financial district."
Discussions are underway with tenants for about a third of the office space, he said.
The Qataris, who also London's Harrods department store and the luxury One Hyde Park apartment scheme in Knightsbridge, are not the only rich foreigners buying into London real estate.
Overseas buyers have invested 15.8 billion pounds in London offices since 2010, 64 percent of the total, CBRE said. Middle Eastern investors accounted for 11 percent, or 2.8 billion pounds. And foreign ownership of the City financial district stands at 52 percent, Development Securities DSC.L said.
"Clearly the recent appreciation of Sterling has had little effect on overseas investor's views that central London is providing both good value and a safe haven," said Simon Barrowcliff, a CBRE executive director.
But the next wave of investors do not appear to be putting so much money into skyscrapers. Ken Shuttleworth, the architect who led the team behind the Gherkin while at Foster + Partners, said no plans for London skyscrapers were crossing his desk.
"In the current economic climate, we are basically only working on skyscrapers in the Far East," he said.
Reporting by Tom Bill


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Chula Vista took another step toward its goal of getting a four-year university and technology park in Otay Ranch last week when the City Council agreed to enter contract negotiations with a master developer.
The council last Tuesday voted to initiate a 90-day negotiation with Carlsbad-based HomeFed Corp. to come up with a management development agreement, which would define how the 375 acres set aside for a university and the 85 acres for a technology park will be planned, financed and developed. The project is expected to feature a combination of residential, retail and light industrial assets that will support the university. The negotiation can be extended for up to two additional 90-day periods.
The city has envisioned a university in the South Bay since before the Otay Ranch General Development Plan was adopted in 1993, but the city has held off on moving forward with its plans until a series of land acquisitions were finalized that would give the city a 375-acre site to realize the dream.
The remaining land exchanges with Otay Land Co. and JPB Development are expected to be completed in early 2013. But city planners felt they were not equipped to take on the task alone.
"As we begin to get ready to accept this land, we've looked at ourselves and tried to figure out how we'd move forward," said Scott Donaghe, a principal planner for the city. "What we realized is that we're not developers. We're regulators and we've never been involved with a project that's this big and this important to the city."
That is why the city sought a master developer that would be able to help. HomeFed was a natural first choice, said Donaghe, because the company already owns about 2,800 acres in the Otay Ranch area and is finalizing its own plans for one of the neighborhoods adjacent to the future university.
The so-called University Village, Donaghe said, relies on the campus being next door, and HomeFed therefore shares Chula Vista's eagerness to get the project started. The corporation has already traveled to other campuses to tour and learn about how to start a university.
Councilwoman Mary Salas said that while Chula Vista is fortunate to have the land in its territory, it is not Chula Vista's university; it is the region's.
"That would be shortsighted to say that this university is something that would belong to us, and to say that we as a policymaking body are going to determine what kind of university this is," she said.
The academic and economic professionals will determine what kind of higher education students need, she explained.
"We're merely the stewards of this, and we're going to be good shepherds of this," she said.
Salas, along with Cox and recently re-elected Pamela Bensoussan all said in November that getting a four-year university in Chula Vista is going to be a top priority for them over the next few years. Council members Rudy Ramirez and Patricia Aguilar have also expressed a keen will to get it going.
Ramirez said that every City Council has touched this university plan in some way over the last decade, and this is the current council's opportunity to participate in the historic project.
Aguilar called the agreement to collaborate with HomeFed "just perfect," and said she knows the company does a particularly good job of creating neighborhoods and communities.
The council voted unanimously in favor of the exclusive negotiations. It also voted to spend a $972,000 Department of Energy grant on the initial public infrastructure designs and environmental documents for entitlement of the university, and to hire a consultant to conduct an environmental impact report for $534,000.
Chula Vista is the second-largest city in San Diego County, with nearly 250,000 residents. The university is expected to serve between 17,000 and 20,000 students and provide hundreds of jobs. The neighboring technology park is expected to bring in thousands more high-paying jobs, providing an employment base for the city's burgeoning residential communities.
City Manager Jim Sandoval told council members that he often tells people Chula Vista is very blessed to be able to embark on ambitious projects like the university, research park and the recently approved Bayfront Master Plan.
"At 50 square miles, we're small enough that we can be managed effectively, but large enough and have enough open land that we can somewhat control our own destiny," he said.


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Mike Hussey bowed out of Test cricket with a win when he guided Australia to a five-wicket victory over Sri Lanka Sunday, giving the home side a clean sweep of the three-match series.Left-hander Hussey, playing in his 79th and final Test after announcing his international retirement, got his team over the line after the loss of five wickets on a tense fourth day at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
The 37-year-old provided the steadying hand as Australia made hard work of running down 141 runs for victory on a turning pitch.
At the close Hussey was unbeaten on 27, while Mitchell Johnson hit the winning run to end on one not out.
"I was telling Mitch (Johnson) the over before, if it comes up that you hit it then I'm more than happy to let us get this over and done with," Hussey said.
"I was more than happy to be out there when the winning run was hit. A dream come true. The important thing was making sure we won the Test match."
Left-arm spinner Rangana Herath had earlier threatened to bowl the Sri Lankans to their first-ever Test victory in Australia at the 13th attempt. He finished with three wickets for 47.
Young Australian fast bowler Jackson Bird was named man of the match with seven wickets and skipper Michael Clarke was picked as man of the series.
"I couldn't be happier. We won the series 3-0 and that was our goal against Sri Lanka," Clarke said.
"I've said for a long time that I don't care who gets the wickets and I don't care who gets the runs, so I'm very happy."
Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene had his best match of the series with scores of 72 and 60 but rued his side's failure to put the Australians under pressure.
"We had game plans, we did take wickets throughout the series but we leaked runs while we did it. That's where we failed to put them under pressure," he said.
The umpires stunned the crowd when they absurdly took tea with just five runs left to decide the Test, leaving onlookers with a sense of anti-climax.
The tourists were all out for 278 in their second innings earlier in the day as Dinesh Chandimal prolonged the resistance, batting with the tail in a defiant unbeaten knock of 62 off 106 balls with 11 fours.
Chandimal shared in a fighting 41-run last-wicket stand with Nuwan Pradeep off 74 balls to give the tourists some vital extra runs and make things uncomfortable for the Australian batsmen on a turning pitch.
Herath was bowled by Bird for 10 and Suranga Lakmal swung wildly and was cleaned up by Johnson for a duck.
Johnson finished with three for 34 and Bird captured three for 76.
Sri Lanka got an early reward when the threatening David Warner was out first ball. He was caught in the slips by Jayawardene off paceman Lakmal's first delivery for a duck, with the Australians going to lunch on 13 for one.
Phil Hughes hit four boundaries but never looked set, and was next out leg before wicket on review to Herath for 34 off 49 balls.
Clarke used his feet and crease well against the wily Sri Lanka spinners as Australia's score crept along.
Herath and Tillakaratne Dilshan tied down the batsmen, although a big lbw shout from Herath was turned down on review when Clarke was on 13.
But Dilshan got the skipper's prized wicket when he was caught off bat and pad for 29, bringing Hussey to the wicket in his final Test innings to a standing ovation.
Ed Cowan was out in the next over, lbw to Herath for 36 with 33 needed for victory.
First-innings centurion Matthew Wade was bowled by Herath for nine, setting up a fairytale finish for Hussey to be there for the win. (AFP)


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Published at Tuesday, April 30th, 2019 - 21:51:39 PM. Trekking Poles. By Geneve Roche.
Check out any hiking or outdoor store and you'll see a dizzying selection of often brightly coloured, high-tech poles. Some, like my Black Diamond Distance FLZ trekking poles, fold up into a small package that's great for travelling.
A few years back, a friend and I were assembling a gear list to send to a couple of gentlemen joining us for an ascent of Mt. Whitney. He and I had both been up many a mountain, but the other two were inexperienced climbers, so we were taking pains to make the list exhaustive. At one point during a review, I realized we had not put hiking poles on the list. When I pointed this out to my climbing buddy, he replied: "I guess I took that for granted. Hiking without poles is like hiking without whiskey."
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The wait for the 2012-13 athletic year is officially over. The Central Connecticut women's soccer team will travel to Boston to open the season on the road at Boston University tonight at 7 p.m.
The Blue Devils played a pair of scrimmages last week in preparation for this year. They played to a 1-1 draw with St. John's, before erupting for a 4-0 win over Manhattan on Sunday night. Each class pitched in in the victory as sophomore Kerriann Welch, senior Cara Cavallari, junior Jewel Robinson and freshman Alysa Christo all scored.
The Blue Devils are coming off of a 5-7-5 season (2-5-3 NEC) in 2011 and have 17 players returning in 2012. Junior captains Nikola Deiter and Robinson look to lead Central to its 10th Northeast Conference Tournament in the last 11 seasons this fall. Deiter started all 17 games in goal last year. Robinson was a First Team All-Conference and All-New England selection after her sophomore campaign.
Central was picked fifth in the preseason NEC coaches poll. Historically Central Connecticut has produced one of the most successful teams in the NEC. Last season's finish marked the first time the Blue Devils have been out of the regular season top-four since the 2001 season. That year they finished fifth.
Head Coach Mick D'Arcy is entering his 13th season at the helm of the Blue Devils. He posts a record of 126-92-23 during his time in New Britain. His teams have qualified for the NEC Tournament in nine of the last 10 seasons. Central has won seven NEC titles during its time in the NEC.
Boston University is coming off of a record-breaking 19-3-1 season with the most wins in Terrier history. BU advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament and finished the 2011 season ranked No. 17 in the nation.
Fans can follow tonight's action with LIVE VIDEO (for a fee) or can follow LIVE STATS. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.


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Author Mark de Scande
WordPress Site Speed Expert, Speeding up WordPress sites across the Globe
I am the fuel behind the high speed of innumerable fast running wordpress websites hosted either on a cheap server or a dedicated server.
Today, Speed is a matter of great concern, and I don't only optimize but re-energize. I am also a lifetime WPMU Dev member.
One of the largest free blogging websites BlogLines in South Africa is my baby. I not only conceived the idea of free blogging in South Africa, but also implemented it with an objective of adding a new dimension to the world of free blogging. Blogging helps us in enhancing the quality of our social life by transforming the ways in which we share our ideas and opinions with each other. South Africa blogging environment has never been so easy and user-friendly as it is today.
I have practised and learned all the technical aspects related to WordPress. In the past couple of years, I have developed a wide range of websites using WordPress, WordPress MU and now using the latest WordPress MultiSite.
I am the WordPress Speed Energizer Wiz, and I am always hunting around to find slow running websites. I know, these websites need me in order to live a long and healthy life.
Only the wordpress sites powered with speed, capable of running at full throttle are going to survive in this tough and competitive world of Internet.
Need my help but can not afford my hourly rate buy me coffee and i will do a full report on your website.


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Aug. 26, 2005
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - It is pretty well known that the fifth-ranked Santa Clara University women's soccer team typically starts slow then builds throughout the season expecting to have a chance for a national title.
However, in its season opener tonight in front of 838 fans in a beautiful evening at Buck Shaw Stadium, the first since the facility became a soccer-only venue, the Broncos earned a 2-0 shutout victory over an experienced Arizona State squad.
"It was a typical first game of the season," said SCU head coach Jerry Smith, in his 19th season at SCU. "Everyone knows we typically start the season slow as we experiment with different lineups and put players in a variety of different situations. We started out the game that way for about the first 25 minutes. Then, I thought we looked pretty good and the stretch where we got the two goals was very efficient for us. We got a little out of shape just after the two goals. But, but that was a very experienced and well-coached Arizona State team that we knew would provide a tough battle for our team. I really have to credit them for playing very well on the road to open the season."
Junior Elyse Shelger (Sugarland, Texas) came off the bench in the second half to assist on two almost identical goals less than three minutes apart to provide the margin of victory.
Don't miss the showdown of the season on Friday, Sept. 9 when SCU hosts defending national champion Notre Dame at Buck Shaw Stadium. click here for tickets.
Less than three minutes later, in the 68th minute, Shelger found space on the right side of the goal in nearly the exact opposite spot as the previous cross and found sophomore Jordan Angeli (Lakewood, Colo.) coming across the penalty area. Angeli dove at the ball and sent a perfect header past Arizona State goalkeeper Kim Bingham into the net from six yards in front of goal.
Arizona State had a chance to pull back a goal late in the game when senior Elizabeth Bogus broke free on a long pass at the top of the SCU penalty area. Bronco senior defender Micaela Esquivel (Albuquerque, N.M.) tracked back quickly to make a key tackle and break-up the ASU scoring opportunity.
Bronco junior goalkeeper Julie Ryder (DeKalb, Ill.) earned the win with six saves, three in each half of the game. She earned her first shutout of the season and the 34th of her career, just seven shy of school record-holder Crystal Gordan (1997-00).
The two teams were evenly matched statistically with the Broncos outshooting Arizona State by a narrow 12-10 margin. SCU registered 16 fouls to the Sun Devils' nine and Bronco junior Marian Dalmy received a yellow card from match referee Bob Martinez in the 76th minute of the game.
Santa Clara returns to action on the road Friday against host Wake Forest in the Wake Forest ACC/WCC Challenge. The Broncos also face Virginia Tech on Sunday before returning home for a Sept. 9 battle against defending national champion and top-ranked Notre Dame.


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The second half of "Mesrine," the four-hour-plus gangster epic starring Vincent Cassel, opens guns abalzing. Our anti-hero robs a seemingly endless string of banks and pulls off a jailbreak, and by the time the smoke has settled, Mersine has been officially crowned "Public Enemy Number One."
Cassel's performance here isn't quite as nuanced as in the first part, "Killer Insitnct," but that's because Mesrine is a more fully formed character at this point. Yet Cassel revels in the absurd number of wigs and facial hair he dons, as Mesrine tries to dupe both victims and police, and puts on a nice 20, 30 pounds, to boot. It's an amazing transformation from a man who is so nimble and lithe.
Mathieu Amalric as Francois Besse, Mesrine's partner in crime for much of the film, is a treat to watch. The look of first confusion, then bewilderment and ultimately fear on his face as he realizes how delusional and hubristic Mesrine has become is hilarious.
By this point in his career, Mesrine fancies himself a modern-day Robin Hood trying to take down the system. But as another partner points, every time he robs a bank he goes out and buys jewelry and cars, pouring the money back into the same capitalistic sewer. The realization that he is merely a symptom rather than a cure is distressing to him, to say the least.
Director Jean-Francois Richet's robberies and breakouts are consistently sharp and exciting, and he saves his best for last. The film's final denouement is expertly executed, with the deafening silence heightening the tension of a moment that can only have one conclusion.
"Mesrine: Public Enemy Number One" is an entertaining shoot-em-up gangster story on its own, but to really get your money's worth, first watch "Killer Instinct," ideally watch them in fairly quick succession. And yet, the two parts were released on home video more than a month apart—one can only assume some actuarial table determined it was the best way to maximize their profits, but it does the film and its audience a disservice.


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Below you will find a list of discussions in the Request a Designer board at D3Scene.com. Request a Designer to help you with an Avatar, signature or other designs. Please give feedback once the design is finished and award the designer with reputation!
Looking for Paid-Design jobs? Are you looking for a good designer? Offer your services within the design section of our marketplace - this is the place to get best designs!


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The medals information will include details of Silver War Badge holders, the badge which was issued top those who had been discharged due to injury or illness to avoid them being given a white feather for 'cowardice'.
The mirror has the story at www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2011/11/08/history-of-first-world-war-heroes-revealed-online-115875-23545373/
UPDATE: The collection us now live at http://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/db.aspx?dbid=2456 - from the page:
Historical Background
The British Empire lost more than 700,000 service personnel killed in World War 1. An even greater number were discharged because of wounds or illness. In September 1916, King George V authorized the Silver War Badge (SWB) to honor all military personnel who had served at home or overseas since 4 August 1914 and who had been discharged because of wounds or illness. The SWB was a small, circular badge made of sterling silver, bearing the king's initials, a crown, and the inscriptions 'For King and Empire' and 'Services Rendered'.
The SWB was not simply an honor; it also served a practical purpose. At the time, men of military age who were not obviously in the service were sometimes accosted or insulted by civilians presenting them with white feathers — a symbol of cowardice — for shirking their patriotic duty. The badge served as an outward symbol that the wearer's duty to country had been honorably fulfilled.
Who Is in the Records?
Almost half of the 2 million military personnel discharged from the armed forces during the war for illness or injury (including those who left before the award was instituted in 1916) applied to wear the SWB. The award was not confined to Britons: servicemen (or women) from anywhere in the Empire were entitled to it. Any British ancestor who served in the Great War, survived, but was discharged from the forces before 31 December 1919 may well be on the rolls of the SWB contained in this database.
If a service record has been lost, a record of the Silver War Badge may be the only remaining evidence of service. These records include rank, regimental number, unit, dates of enlistment and discharge, and reason for discharge. The digitization of the SWB records is joint partnership between Ancestry and the Naval and Military Press.


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Rob Beckett: Wallop!We found the following ticket for 28th November 2019:
Although we make every effort to keep prices up to date, by updating prices daily, some last-minute price changes may only be shown on the vendor's own website.
For some events, the ticket agency may have provided just one price, even though different seats may have different prices. The cheapest seats may have been sold, leaving higher price seating than shown here.


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What we love this season? Oh, there are a gazillion of super-cool pieces that we're lusting after and hardly wait to try on during chilly fall and winter days. What about you? Have you pretty dolls already managed to refresh your wardrobes? Well, if you are still looking for some seriously voguish pieces, you should definitely check out Massimo Dutti's NYC limited edition collection packed full with effortlessly chic goodies that can see you through unfriendly temperatures without having to compromise your style. From sophisticated ... Read More


text: › Athletics » Club Sports Home Physical Activities Center Hours Membership Facilities Aquatics Fitness Programs Summer Activity Series Guidelines and Policies Meet Our Staff Intramural Sports Registration Rules and Regulations All Sports Trophy Schedule and Results Club Sports Club Sports Listing Registration Forms Outdoors State Parks Water Sports Plan a Visit ›Apply Now ›Give to Furman › Main Content Column 1 Want to get your competitive juices flowing? Furman has close to twenty club teams, ranging in everything from aikido to rugby. Open to all students, these sports typically involve regular practice and a substantial time commitment, not to mention intercollegiate competition. When you play for one of our club teams, you might travel across the state for a game or tournament. Find your sport From basketball to volleyball, there is a sport for you. Find a club sport. Get Registered Everything you need to completeto get into the game. Get registered.


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"Illuminating and radical."
—The New York Times Book Review
"Delightful…. in the category of food for thought, Schatzker has dished up a five-star serving"
—The Washington Post
"One of the most important health and food books I have read."
—Dr. David Agus, New York Times bestselling author
"Schatzker backs up his theory with compelling research that will change how you think about food."
*Toronto Star
Top Five Non-Fiction Book of 2015
*Amazon.ca Top 25 Books of 2015
*National Post Top 99 Books of 2015
Read an Excerpt
Watch the Trailer
Enter website


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Two pioneers of lifestyle innovation, Philips and O'Neill, have joined forces to launch a line of headphones designed to withstand the rigors of an active lifestyle: the new premium line of Philips | O'Neill Headphones gives you long-lasting durability and complete comfort so you can enjoy the music that fuels you every day, for as long as you want, no matter what you put them through.
The high performance Philips | O'Neill Headphones were tested on the toughest O'Neill team riders and specifically designed around the demands of those who live life to the fullest. They will never let you down, wherever you take them or however energized the sounds or action they accompany.
The Philips | O'Neill Headphone collection features four different styles, each completely unique and simple in design, yet able to withstand the challenges of the most dynamic active lifestyle.
Inspired by the heavy-duty materials and styling of wetsuit materials, The Stretch headphones – the toughest in the new line-up – delivers high performance. Both impact and high stress-crack resistant, it retains flexibility and strength for a whole new level in headphone resilience.
All models in the Philips | O'Neill Headphones range offer something for the most active and toughest lifestyles. The Snug model does it all in style: a set of imposing flat-folding, headphones that deliver flawless fit and sound with bold graphics. The in-ear selection includes The Covert, a discreet bud with deceptively powerful sound impact and iPhone control, while The Specked includes a range of three striking colored in-ear buds, with tough yet stylish tangle-free cords for longer listening experiences.
Nick Andrews, Senior Manager, Consumer Marketing at Philips, comments: "This range realizes the synergies of Philips simplicity and innovation and O'Neill's set of core values based around the concept of innovation in style and technology. Our new Headphones are totally uncompromising in their durability – because they've been tested on our test animals: the toughest O'Neill riders, the most uncompromising and daring boarders around."
Eppo van Berckelaer, Global Marketing Director at O'Neill, said: "O'Neill and Philips share a long and successful history of product innovation, working to create products that allow people to get the most out of their lives. Knowing how important music is to the lives of our consumers, I now encourage everyone to get out there and test the headphones for themselves."
The Philips | O'Neill campaign will be spearheaded by selected O'Neill team riders, including 9-time Big Mountain Rider of the Year Jeremy Jones. As one of the sports' toughest and most enduring champions, these riders have put the headphones to the ultimate test in the context of their own unique and demanding lifestyles.
In addition to launching at IFA, the headphones will be showcased during the Deeper movie premiere tour in October and November. Guests at these events will be treated to a headphone-enabled 'Deeper Listening Experience' in Amsterdam, Los Angeles and New York City during the screening of Jeremy Jones' groundbreaking freeride snowboarding movie.
The new Philips | O'Neill Headphones will be available at retail stores throughout Europe and the US from September 2010.


text: This just in from the newest addition to our BlackBerry contacts, in approximately nineteen out-of-order installments we had to piece together to add to the MYSTERY: "Lots of misquotes and the joke about my being dr dolittle little and incapable of reducing where people are from (remember 212 i was was Chicago tho I also told u was in NYC) was the joke of it all which seemed to go overlooked haa. Wow commentS show people take things so seriously like when Lovedrop made jokes like so are you hot as if he was socialized enough to know exactly what he was saying. Fun break from the norm. Cheers. Nap time with my playboy model before pitch two. First one was fun."


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Part of a special collection from BHLDN. For the full assortment, visit BHLDN.com.
- Button closure
- Polyester; polyester lining
- Professionally clean
- Imported
- Silver/Gold
- 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16
For women in need of a curated mix, Anthropologie is the real destination. They offer a curated mix of accessories, clothing, home decorators and gifts. These brands reflect our personal styles, thus fueling the passions of young angel-looking women.
Why choose Anthropologie?
- Proudly supports arts education and the art itself
- Their store partners with those organizations making art fun
- Support children and families by encouraging them to eat healthy foods
- Online exclusives including dresses, tops, bottoms, jackets, swimmer, sleep, and loungewear
- Also deal in active wear and intimates


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In my review of the first book I said -
"Dark Time is a thriller that synthesizes and delivers action akin to Mission Impossible and James Bond. Unlike many of the characters in those stories, Maliha is believable because she has the experiences, knowledge, languages and training from a lifetime of 300 plus years to back up her actions. It is gratifying to see a character whose inner contemplations, relationships and dialogue truly reflect what it would be like to have lived that long."
Book DescriptionDakota has assembled a fabulous swag bag as a giveaway for this leg of the tour consisting of a tote bag, 3 signed books, pens, bookmarks, magnets, and a calculator. Wow. Dakota talks about the brain, not the zombie type but the creative type - left or right? Which are you? Leave a comment and share. To enter the giveaway fill out the form at the end of the post?
Kill . . . or be damned.
A demon's assassin for centuries, Maliha Crayne has gone rogue, determined to save a life for every one she's destroyed in order to free herself from an eternity of enslavement, damnation, and excruciating torment. But as the powers that sustained her in the past fade, she is wary of trusting those closest to her—especially her lover, Jake. And her closest friends are beginning to disappear, one by one. Amid her anger, suspicion, and sorrow, her life is spiraling out of control.
Worse still, a beautiful Renaissance murderess is recruiting Maliha as her new assassin. Maliha is turning into a lethal puppet with an evil Immortal pulling the strings, forced to kill innocents or see her missing friends die horribly. Suddenly trapped in a moral no-man's-land, Maliha is damned if she does and damned if she doesn't . . . and time is rapidly running out.
Welcome Dakota!
Thank you, Doug, for the chance to visit you again and to chat with your followers.
Fortunately, there is a dominant brain spectrum, and a person can fall anywhere along the line, including right in the middle. Or be fairly far to the left, yet still have some right characteristics. We're not talking politics here, but general personality. Every person is unique, and thank goodness for that.
How does being on the left side of the dominant brain spectrum affect my writing process? Some things come easily to me, and some I have to work at getting correct. Take the pre-planning for a novel. I may spend a month or two thinking about the plot and characters before any words are set down. (Of course, I'm doing other things during that time, too, not just sitting around thinking—although I could go for that.) Then I write a synopsis, beginning with a page and enlarging it to ten pages to give my agent something to work with. For my own use, I'll continue working with the synopsis until it's about thirty pages long. When I write the story, I've got a map of sorts: I'm starting at point A, finishing at point F, with stops at B, C, D, and E along the way. Usually the book changes quite a bit as I write it because I don't stick with the ideas in the synopsis if they turn out to be a losers. But when I'm done, the book would still be at least recognizable from the synopsis.
A right-brained writer's approach might be, "Some characters popped into my head," or "I dreamed about the plot." Writing would begin immediately, and the writer would feel his way through the book, often saying that he was going where the characters were taking him. Sometimes this leads to a satisfying path through beginning, middle, and end, and sometimes it doesn't, because the characters are in charge, not the writer. The right-brained writer probably deals with more rewrites, getting lost in the middle, and writer's block—yet can't imagine the writing process being any different, because this is the way that meshes with his personality. And it works!
For the finished book, when the readers see it, I don't think it matters which approach the writer took. We all try to come up with memorable books that engage, inform, and entertain. Behind the scenes, though, approach is everything.
Which side of the brain is dominant for you? If you recognize yourself in most of the characteristics from either of these two lists (taken loosely from Grace Fleming, an expert at this stuff), you'll have a good idea which side of your brain is dominant. In the interest of soul-baring, I've marked the ones that I believe apply to me with an asterisk.
It's been great talking with you!
Finding Dakota Banks-
Website: http://dakota-banks.com
Blog: http://dbanks.me/mortalblog
Facebook: http://dbanks.me/DBwelcome
Twitter: @dakotabanks or http://dbanks.me/DBtwit
Goodreads: http://dbanks.me/DBgood


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Our theme this year is "Your family history starts here!" Please submit for the Expos you are interested in participating at as quickly as possible. The speaker spots fill up quickly. Last call for Colorado and No. California Expos so if you missed our other announcements take action today!Here is a list of the upcoming Expos. You can click on the links below for specific instructions about submitting proposals for presentations at the following:
Colorado Family History Expo 2012
June 1-2, 2012
Submissions Deadline
March 20, 2012
Northern California Family History Expo 2012
July 6-7, 2012
Submissions Deadline
March 20, 2012
Illinois Family History Expo 2012
August 3-4, 2012
Submissions Deadline
April 13, 2012
Midwest Family History Expo 2012
September 7-8, 2012
Submissions Deadline
May 8, 2012
October Salt Lake City Family History Library Retreat 2012
October 22-26, 2012
Submissions Deadline
March 20, 2012
Georgia Family History Expo 2012
November 9-10, 2012
Submissions Deadline
July 10, 2012
Please consider joining me, Holly Hansen and the rest of the Family History Expos at these valuable genealogical events.


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Evening Standard
KAA Gent 3-1 Standard Liège 1 (13:08:11)
France: that's done. Now it was time to move on towards Belgium as LesEFW continued apace. Walk this way with Stuart Fuller from The Ball is Round ....
With the noise of the Les Sang et Or fans still ringing in our ears we headed away from the Stade Félix Bollaert so that we could see our second game in a day in Gent, Belgium. Not that that was something particularly special - after all we think nothing of trying to slip in one, two or even five games in a day sometimes. But it is rare you can see two games in two DIFFERENT countries in one day. Sure, it had been done before with Holland/Germany, and more recently in Sweden/Denmark but it is always a special thrill, that Danny would say "makes him do a little wee".
Timings would be tight. We had just about ninety minutes to complete the 120km trip. The difficulty would be finding the JulesOttenstadion, armed just with Google Maps on my phone. But we had a secret weapon on board. Super Hans had chosen to join us on our quest. What could go wrong with "Royal Antwerp's number one fan on board"?
The first thing you should know if you try and attempt a similar journey is do not try and find road signs in France for "Gent". Despite the fact the whole of the Western world knowing the city as Gent, or sometimes Ghent, those loveable French like to call it Gand. And so you need to follow signs for that. We found that out when SuperHans told us after we had missed the first major interchange on the motorway near Lille. Never mind I thought, as long as we are heading for Kortrijk we would be OK. Wrong again, Kortrijk is called Courtrai of course, so we missed that road too.
Eventually we found our way and passed through the Belgium border. "OK - top 10 Belgians..Go" - the game we play every time we come here, and the game we always fail to complete. Even with Hans onboard we only managed to get to seven, which is still our record. We approached Gent with thirty minutes to spare, looking like we could actually make kick off. "So Hans, where is the ground?", He didn't know of course, although he could quite easily point out the exact location of the red light district as we drove round and round in circles looking for a sign.
And the we saw one. Someone on a bike with a big KAA Gent flag. "Follow that bike!" was the shout from Mr Last. A great idea in principle but the TBIR taxi still hasn't developed powers to travel down bike lines, so we had to simply sit in a long line of traffic. Time ticked down and we knew we were close when we saw the Police water cannon parked up. So such are the resources of the Belgium police that they can roll this beauty out for multiples games each weekend, yet our Government didn't think of asking "a lend" and bringing it back on a ferry last week?
1 x enormous water cannon, tick
The crowds were out in numbers for the game. After all, the visitors Standard Liège are back in form, finishing as runners up in the Jupiler League last season and snaring the Belgium Cup. We parked up and then a brisk walk down past Voetbalstraat saw us at the ground. One job left - pick up the tickets. Now to you and I you may think that having four or five people manning the ticket office in the run up to kick off is a good idea. And actually that is what De Buffalos had, although they took the concept of having one person actually serving with four standing around chatting meaning kick off passed as we waited in line.
Finally we bagged our €25 tickets (more than we paid for the four other games on LesEFW combined I hasten to add), knowing they would be the top seats in the house. Of course they weren't. We were in the only part of the ground uncovered, with a bizarre rule that no food or drink could be taken in. Still we did get to sit behind Mr and Mrs Buffalos Fans of the day (both with badly dyed blonde hair and acne) as well as a man who makes a living as Alan Biley's lookalike (available for parties, bar mitzvahs and Portsmouth circa 1982 revival meetings)
Available for parties, bar mitzvahs and Portsmouth circa 1982 revival meetings
Remote control floodlights. Wow.
The ground was rocking. Still no score but an almost sell out. The Rouche of Liège had a fair size contingent at the far end, happily singing about their love for this part of Belgium. This is to be the last season the club play in Gentbrugge, before a move to a new stadium, called the Arteveldstadion. There was no love lost between the players on the pitch either, with the referee having ever decision called into question. After 18 minutes he bottled his first big decision of the day but not awarding Gent a penalty after a blatant foul, and then angers them even further by brandishing the "offender" the first yellow card for his retribution.
But we don't have to wait too long for the first goal. After the relatively sterile games in France this one is turning out to be a cracker. A Gent corner is not cleared well enough and Jørgensen's tame shot seems to be charmed as it swerves and curves around players legs in the area and trickles into the corner of the net. Who cares how they go in (take note Arsene Wenger) as long as they do. Alan Biley-a-like goes mad, showing the crowd his two fisted pumping salute. Another man raises his umbrella in some kind of rain dance, which of course then brings rain. He must be some kind of red indian chief with skills like that.
Standard sized away support
One becomes two a few minutes later, and this time it is a peach of a strike. Mboyo's run and cross is brilliantly met by the Dane Jørgensen again for his, and Gent's second goal. Without alcohol for nearly twelve hours the goal is enough to send Danny and Andy down to the bar, celebrating the goal with a hatful of Maes beers.
Half time brings some amusing incidents, none more so that the position of one of those outdoor pissoirs. The ones that are basically long tubes for men to, well, piss in. But place one of those next to the single ladies loo and you have an amusing sight of the females having a gander at the men's tackle then either nodding in approval or sniggering to their friends behind. We counted just the one nod to over a dozen sniggers.
Back to the action, and whilst the first few minutes were taken up with a discussion about whether we could actually make game 3 of the day at Kortrijk, Gent continued to press on the Standard goal. SuperHans was as useful as ever when asked about how long it would take us to get there, what is the ground like, and how much to get in. "I don't know" came his reply, "But I do know where their red light district is". Of course you do.
Twenty minutes in and Kanu, no relation to Kanu unless you mean that Kanu and not that one, scored for the visitors and for a few minutes there are some wobbles from the home team. But the home fans turn the noise up a notch and as if by magic Smolders hits a smoldering volley into the corner of the net to restore the two goal lead. If the temporary roof could lift off at this stage it would have done. Gent's number one fan, a man dressed in what can only be described as a "superhero costume you put together at the last minute from items of clothing at the back of the wardrobe" went mad. The man deserves a special award, not for the silk blue pantaloons, nor the white gloves worn over his blue silk shirt. Not even for the cape or bandana, but for the crisp white Y-fronts he wore outside his trousers. And who said the Belgians had no sense of humour?
Praying for a KAA Gent superhero, ladies?
Alright Chief?
The last few minutes passed without incident, apart from a second yellow for Gent's Ljubijankic. Full time brought most of the 10,739 to their feet in celebration and the players were joined on the pitch by the club's mascot, a Red Indian Chief, complete with his squaw and of course, and umbrella.
For us, the night was young and after finding our way to the hotel, via the red light district twice thanks to Han's directions we headed off into the sunset with the crazy idea of trying to drink eleven different Belgian beers, and that placing them into the Best footballing XI ever. A sensible idea at 9pm, but after a gallon of trappist ales your Carlos Alberto Parreira and Ray Stewart's do seem to blend into one.
There's one of these in it from the players if you can take a non-football related photo in Gent - Ed.
Tsk. Will this do?
....Yeeeeessssss!!! Cold beers all round. Cheers!
Follow Andy Hudson and European Football Weekends and The Ball is Round on Twitter.
Previously on LesEFW: Amiens v Le Harve and RC Lens v ES Troyes AC
Next up .... we went in search of the magic of the Belgian Cup ... and found it here ..


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Interview with Alan White
During this show I interviewed astrologer Alan White, a hard talking ex-special forces Vietnam veteran, who has brought his unique perspective to the field of astrology for several decades now.
In the mid-90's Alan became interested in Hellenistic astrology, and subsequently became an associate of Project Hindsight. Since then he has shared his no-nonsense approach to astrology with a variety of different audiences, including speaking positions at the Northwest Astrological Conference and the United Astrological Conference.
During the show I asked Alan some questions about how he got into astrology, what he thinks some of his most important personal insights into the subject are, and there was also some discussion about how to view certain facets of modern astrology within a traditional context.


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General Reprimanded, Fined in Adultery Case
Jeffrey Sinclair Faces No Jail Time for Inappropriate Relationships with Subordinates
An Army general who had been accused of sexually assaulting a subordinate before pleading guilty to lesser charges was ordered to forfeit $20,000 in pay and reprimanded Thursday, but avoided jail time.
Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Sinclair, who was ordered to forfeit $5,000 a month for four months, received a letter of reprimand for his actions in the case during his military-court sentencing in Fort Bragg, N.C. Although allowed to stay in the military, Gen. Sinclair intends to retire soon, a member of his defense team said....


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Retired Army serviceman and his family are cruising in style in a Chrysler 300C
People who give their time and energy to service in the United States military have always been a special breed. Unlike in the days when draft boards were the ones in charge, modern soldiers have gone into the business of national security based on a personal desire. A desire to serve, a desire to make the best use of their talents, a desire to take advantage of the honorable work opportunities the various branches of our military offer.
Eric Hearn of Martinez, Georgia, joined the Army right after high school and stayed in for 22 years before retiring with honors in 2010. After completing basic training in Ft Jackson, South Carolina, and Advance Individual Training (AIT) in Ft Gordon, Georgia, his assignments took him to Germany, Korea, and various locations in the United States. As a Tactical Circuit Controller, he had a variety of responsibilities over the course of that career. Since his change in vocation following that long stint, one thing Eric has been focused on is his modified Chrysler 300C.
The 300C is the upscale vehicle built on the LX platform that has helped put performance back into the Chrysler line-up. The 2009 version he owns is no different–standard equipment on the 300C included leather trim, keyless remote entry, power front windows, quality suspension and brake design, and more.
Eric chose to not go extreme in the engine department, however, he plans to eventually add a bigger camshaft and get the heads reworked. For now, his project has been more oriented to appearance changes and practicality, as he enjoys driving this car on a daily basis. The engine changes that have been done are a K&N cold-air intake setup, a Diablosport tune, and a Corsa cat-back layout. Eric also created a custom Hemi engine cover using a Dremel tool and some well-applied touch-up paint; he uses it when he is displaying the car.
Meanwhile, the exterior of the Blaze Red Crystal machine has been decked out with Halo lighting, and color coded headlight housings, along with the cool mesh-type grille that the factory offers. Inside, the interior has been enhanced with custom headrests and floor mats that Eric purchased from Headliners Plus in Augusta. As we stated, the OEM equipment on the 300C is already pretty nice, so there was really not much need to make dramatic changes. A final touch was a custom rear badge that ReBadge's Nathan Karow tooled up.
Perhaps these changes don't seem like a huge amount to more diehard enthusiasts, but there is a great satisfaction in making reasonable but effective mods that allow simple owner enjoyment. Eric, his wife Nickole, and son Payton were all on hand last March at the Deep South Mopars event at the Tilted Kilt near Charlotte, and the car was a standout among the dozens of late-model cars on display. It was also one of the few 300Cs on display in a sea of Challengers and Chargers. As a result, we found a blooming springtime location nearby that befit the car's classy character.
Fast Facts
'09 Chrysler 300C
Car Owners: Eric and Nickole Hearn
Martinez, Georgia
|Mopar Power
|Engine: To date, Eric has stuck with minor engine adjustments, going primarily for style points. Beneath the custom engine cover Eric created himself is a cold-air intake by K&N, while a Corsa exhaust layout is taking care of the end of the matter.
|Transmission: Five-speed AutoStick
|Differential: 3.06 Limited Slip
|Horsepower & Performance: Factory fun for now
|Sure Grip
|Suspension: OEM
|Brakes: Factory four-wheel discs
|Wheels: This 300C now has got the SRT8's factory 20-inch chrome alloy rims, which in turn support 255/45R20 Yokahama rubber. It's a big car, but it is sticky in the corners…
|High Impact
|Body: There were only a couple of things that Eric changed on his ride for the benefit of people seeing it cruising down Main Street—a set of Halo neon-type headlight surrounds and some careful color coding.
|Paint: OEM. The hot ticket in 2009 was Inferno Red Crystal Pearlcoat, which has adorned this car since day one. A couple of well-placed custom decals and a ReBadge custom rear badge round it out.
|Interior: The interior is upscale from Detroit, but Eric added some personalized touches like Gamecock headrests and carpets from Headliners Plus.
|Special Thanks: Nickole and Payton


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2013 Women?s Soccer Players of the Week ? No. 4
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Angela Bianchi of Judson (Ill.) has been named the NAIA Women's Soccer National Offensive Player of the Week and Amanda Coleman of St. Francis (Ill.) has been selected as the National Defensive Player of the Week, the national office announced Tuesday. Bianchi and Coleman were selected based on their performances from Sept. 23 – 29 and were chosen out of a pool of conference, independent and unaffiliated group winners.
Bianchi, a junior forward from Elmhurst, Ill., earned eight points with two goals in each of the Eagles' two matches this past week – a 2-2 tie against Trinity International (Ill.) and a 3-0 win over then-No. 8 Olivet Nazarene (Ill.). With the performances, Bianchi has totaled 13 goals, which ranks fourth in the NAIA, and has scored at least once in each of Judson's eight games this season. She also ranks among the top 10 nationally in points per game (3.5), shots on goal per game (3.63), shots per game (6.13) and game-winning goals (3).
Coleman, a senior goalkeeper from Lockport, Ill., logged back-to-back shutouts this week, as the Fighting Saints opened Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference action with wins over Saint Xavier, 1-0, and Calumet (Ind.), 4-0. She totaled 12 saves, registering six stops in each match en route to her second and third shutouts of the season. Coleman currently boasts a 1.13 goals against average and has 44 saves in seven matches.
For a complete list of all the national statistical leaders, click here.
The next NAIA National Women's Soccer Players of the Week will be announced Oct. 8.
Offensive Nominees: Stephanie Hale, Columbia (Mo.); Clare Williamson, Columbia (S.C.); Janelle Gaddy, Menlo (Calif.); Chloe Welch, Southern Oregon; Meredith Hollar, Grace (Ind.); Nicole Carter, Westminster (Utah); Jennifer Martin, Vanguard (Calif.); Kelsey Niles, Morningside (Iowa); Krista Hooper, Baker (Kan.); Kayla Thomas, Lindenwood-Belleville (Ill.); Megan Huerta, Houston-Victoria (Texas); Morgan Trupp, Ottawa (Kan.); Shanda Painter, Asbury (Ky.); Shauna Gilpin, Cumberland (Tenn.); Elisa Brito, Oklahoma Wesleyan; Molly Machometa, Viterbo (Wis.); Emarie Holland, Wayland Baptist (Texas); Katie Compton, Mobile (Ala.); Melony Poviones, St. Thomas (Fla.); Tori Singstock, Indiana Tech.
Defensive Nominees: Shelby Blanchard, Hannibal-LaGrange (Mo.); Ashley Yarger, Reinhardt (Ga.); Kelsey McLaurin, UC Merced; Alyssa Bricker, Southern Oregon; Sammy Scaringelli, Saint Francis (Ind.); Abi Yanke, Westminster (Utah); Briana Williams, Biola (Calif.); Kalynn Sortino, Briar Cliff (Iowa); Haley Gatts, Avila (Mo.); Samantha Wooster, Houston-Victoria (Texas); Samantha Gitmed, Ottawa (Kan.); Brandie Hagerman, Campbellsville (Ky.); Payton Roby, College of Saint Mary (Neb.); Liz Slaton, Grand View (Iowa); Gabriela Lopez, Our Lady of the Lake (Texas); Nikki Lockwood, Texas Wesleyan; Linfah Jones, William Carey (Miss.); Hannah Claesson, Thomas (Ga.); Stephanie Finilla, Concordia (Mich.).
2013 National Women's Soccer Players of the Week (Offensive; Defensive)
Week 1 (Sept. 10): Florence Dadson, Robert Morris (Ill.); Brittany Toth, Hastings (Neb.)
Week 2 (Sept. 17): Karly Linton, Spring Arbor (Mich.); Sarah Yancer, Spring Arbor (Mich.)
Week 3 (Sept. 24): Esther Anyanwu, Brenau (Ga.); Felicia Reimann, Morningside (Iowa)
Week 4 (Oct. 1): Angela Bianchi, Judson (Ill.); Amanda Coleman, St. Francis (Ill.)


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Wheezing is a whistling noise of varying pitch and loudness that
occurs when the small airways become narrower because of inflammation or a
buildup of mucus and dead cells in the airway. As these small air passages
become narrower, wheezing may be heard when the person breathes out. As the
passages continue to narrow, wheezing may be heard when the person breathes
both in and out.
When a person has severe difficulty breathing, wheezing may no
longer be heard because very little air is moving through the narrowed
A doctor may order a chest X-ray or breathing test (spirometry) to
determine the cause of a person's wheezing. Some causes of wheezing include
bronchitis, allergies, or asthma. Treatment depends on the cause of the
wheezing and may include medicines, an inhaler, or a machine to help a person
Last Revised:
March 17, 2011
Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:
E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine & Lora J. Stewart
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
To learn more visit Healthwise.org
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Isabel Balderrama / KF-17 / Ecuador
The most often quoted fact by Kiva members and enthusiasts is its borrowers' remarkably high repayment rate of 98.91%. How does Kiva manage to get this vast majority of people, located in all corners of the world, to be this good at repaying back their loans? Is it magic? No, no… The reality is simultaneously simpler, and more complicated than that. It's a chain really: Kiva relies on its Field Partners to get the job done, and these field partners, in turn, come to rely on their teams of loan officers to interview the clients and to educate them properly on why paying back on time is a must.
I wanted to take some time and recognize one of these keen and valuable loan officers: Ecuador-based FODEMI's Freddy Andrade.
Freddy's name is well-known throughout FODEMI's various field offices, and the story of the time he reached a praise-worthy 0% default rate on his client portfolio is often told to eager new loan-officers-in-training and to microfinance skeptics everywhere.
Mr. Andrade's story began in 2007, when he started out in FODEMI as an intern with big dreams to help out the less fortuned among his Ecuadorian compatriots. Freddy quickly identified with FODEMI's mission of improving people's lives by providing financial opportunities to those who needed it most, and soon became part of FODEMI's enthusiastic team of loan officers.
Freddy has been recently promoted to the position of Chief of FODEMI's Otavalo Agency, and as I sat down to talk to Freddy a few days ago, it was great to see that after five years in the business his ideals and eagerness to change lives have not waned in the least bit. As a matter of fact, one of the first things that Freddy tells me is: "I don't think any of us are here to get rich, most of us love the job and that is why we do it."
Indeed, while the workday of a FODEMI loan officer is comprised of long hours, frequent trips to see clients in remote parts of the country, and a constant obligation to crunch numbers, most of them do it because, like Freddy, they like to see the difference that their work makes in individuals' lives.
"So how did you do it? Reach a 0% default rate?" is one of the first things I ask Freddy once our meeting begins.
Maybe I was hoping that he would produce the "great reveal" and let me in on a foolproof trick that gets clients to pay back loans. But no, his answer is more humble and logical: "It all has to do with educating the client," he says with a smile that tells me he's guessed the kind of answer I was expecting. "We give the client a small loan to begin with, but we need to make sure that the client knows how to administer these new funds. I've seen times when the client is given greater amounts, but with no education he or she squanders it. The person should be aware that the more reliable his repayments are, the more money will be lent to him or her in the next occasion."
FODEMI offers training on money management and financial education and classes are held, free of charge for its clients, throughout all of its agencies at least once per week. Client education is a predominant theme throughout Freddy and I's conversation, and it soon becomes clear that this is something that he plans to focus on during his time as Chief of Agency: "I want every one of my loan officers to reach that 0%… It will be a long process but I am confident that we will reach our goal. Right now we are in the process of educating the loan officers properly so that they properly educate our clients. I pass my skills on to them, they pass their skills on to the clients, and that is how we will reach this goal." It's always about that chain.
Providing borrowers with a deep understanding of the potential, as well as the responsibility, that comes with their new loan seems to be the key to getting clients to pay back, and to do it on time. This creates a relationship of trust between a borrower and a lender, and like Freddy, this relationship can grow fulfilling for both parties. "The best part about this job is seeing how my clients have prospered throughout the years," he says with a smile, "If I give someone its first small credit, I got to see how they lived then: in a small home made of plastic. Then, after a few credits, I can see their new home and it's made out of block. That's a beautiful feeling. They tell me 'I never thought I'd have my own home, but I do now, thanks to FODEMI'. In the end that's what it's all about, isn't it? The service we provide our clients."
I agree.
In the years that Freddy Andrade has worked as a loan officer, he has handled many Kiva clients. I wonder what this expert loan officer's technique is for selecting people to be featured on the website. "I picture a good Kiva borrower as someone that's hard working and shows the will to better his or herself." Hard working people such as Veronica's Bendicion de Dios Group which successfully paid back their $500 loan to purchase more pigs and feed, or Silvia's $225 loan that helped her buy a new bull.
To end our meeting, I ask Freddy what he thinks of FODEMI and of its relationship with Kiva, and if he has some words for Kiva lenders worldwide: "More than anything I am very thankful and happy to know that there are people out there that care, as much as we do, about our clients and to the betterment of their lives," he responds without hesitation, "my deepest gratitude goes out to them and to Kiva's personnel."
And thanks also to Freddy, and to people like him that care only for the sake of caring.
Isabel Balderrama is a fellow working with FODEMI in Ibarra, Ecuador. You can join Kiva's Friends of FODEMI lending team, or browse Ecuador's loans on Kiva.org


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Martha Jane Belyea
James Albert Belyea was born in 1755 at Cortlandt Manor, Westchester, New York. He was a loyalist during the American Revolution, fighting for the British. After the war, he and other loyalists migrated to Canada. He married Jemima Purdy in 1782 in White Plains, Westchester, New York. They had 16 children: Thomas, James, Henry, Oliver, Pheobe, Polly, Jemima, Nehemiah, Nancy, John, Lucy, Abraham, Stephen, Hannah, Coles and Archilaus. He died in 1840 in St. John's, New Brunswick, Canada.
Hendrick "Henry" Belyea was born April 17, 1700 in Tarrytown, Westchester, New York. He married first Deborah Carpenter in 1739. They had 4 children: John, Mary, Judith, and Joseph. After Deborah died he married Engeltjie "Angelica" Storm in 1755. She was the widow of Abraham Jurckse. They had eight children: James Albert, Deborah, Abraham, Wintie, Thomas, Robert, Henry and William. Hendrick was also a loyalist and removed to New Brunswick, Canada after the American Revolution. He died about 1803 in Greenwich, New Brunswick, Canada.
Jan Boulier was born before 1698 in Long Island, New York. He married Helena Willamse in 1719. They had seven children: Hendrick, Marytie, Rachel, Helena, Catharina, Jane, Robben. He died in 1766.
Louis Boulier, the first of this family to come to America, was born about 1672 in Saintonge, France. He was said to have been a Huguenot mariner who fled France to escape persecution following the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes. He married Anna Konninck in 1697 in Hackensack, New Jersey. They had three children: Jan, Jacob and Catherine.


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Is it time to get help?
Learn more about your options and decide the best fit for your care needs with this quick 4-5 minute survey powered by Roobrik.
Pay your bill online
Pay your Belmont Village bill easily, using our online payment portal.
At Belmont Village Glenview, you'll find the perfect blend of comfort, care and active living. Our beautifully landscaped community is surrounded by premier dining, shopping and entertainment. We're just a short drive from major hospitals, including Lutheran General, Glenbrook and Skokie Hospital, along with numerous places of worship. Step inside our vibrant community and discover the abundance of amenities, including an array of elegantly designed common areas for gatherings and a technology center to keep you virtually connected.
Everything you need to thrive physically, socially and mentally is at your fingertips – a professionally managed fitness center with on-site therapy services, a licensed nurse and well-trained staff on-site 24/7, innovative, award-winning memory enrichment programs, and a vibrant social activity calendar. Enjoy restaurant-style dining and a chef-prepared meal with new friends at Josephine's Kitchen, get pampered in our full-service salon, schedule complimentary transportation for personal excursions and appointments – the choice is yours. Our tenured management team and specially trained staff are here to provide quality care and just the right balance of service and support to suit any lifestyle.
Sheltered Care License 0052084
Hospitality and Amenities
- Chef-prepared dining with 24 daily choices
- Bistro with daily refreshments
- Professionally supervised fitness program
- Salon with services for men and women
- Free scheduled transportation daily
- Social and enrichment activities
- Wi-Fi throughout the building
- Studio and 1-bedroom residence plans
- Housekeeping services
Programs and Support
- Licensed nurse and well-trained staff on-site 24/7
- Medication management
- Assistance with daily living
- On-site rehab therapy services available
- Short-term respite and transitional stays
- Diabetes Center of Excellence
- Whole Brain Fitness Lifestyle
- Circle of Friends memory support
- Dedicated Memory Care Neighborhood
- No buy-in or long-term contract required
Belmont Village of Glenview Recent Newsletters
Belmont Village Glenview Location
Belmont Village Glenview is located at 2200 Golf Rd, Glenview, Illinois.


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Know I have offered patterns on here before and quite a few of you have availed of that service.
Am renovating a new workspace and need to free up some space. A bi-product of my Pattern Drafting for Bespoke Menswear course is a series of block patterns that I have little to no use for. There are trousers, waistcoats and jackets in every size between 36-46 chest.
Money raised will be invested in new machinery for the workshop. Anyone interested in taking the online Pattern Drafting course should really consider getting their hands on one.
It's £25 for any pattern, £45 for two, £65 for a three piece. PayPal accepted.
It's a first come first served, sizes are limited so if your first choice isn't there you maybe offer a size up or down from your choice I.E a 41 rather than 42.
Email me at email@example.com
Three patterns will include a number code, this code when messaged will allow you a 20% discount to any online course.
Edited by Rory Duffy, 30 December 2017 - 02:35 AM.


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Yesterday's dinner was a blast!
Ok, this is not gonna turn into a food blog but I would love to share this address with you. Sagardi, a fabulous Tapas place in Barcelona and we were not disappointed. The tapas were heavenly cute and tasted as good as they look, all lined up on the bar for people to grab their favorites, the ribeye was also a huge hit, service and recommended wine as well. There might be a risk we will return to our table in the next couple of days.
Gotta run, a breakfast out in the sun is calling for me, have a lovely day everyone!


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Follow RFF News on your cell phone. Text follow rff to 40404 you will receive txt messages with RFF News
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Apparently Sash wins Immunity and does not need to play his Hidden Immunity Idol, i guess.COMMERCIALS
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Sunday, November 23, 2008
Posted by Zach Bellissimo at 10:21 PM 4 comments
Friday, November 7, 2008
Some new stuff but not really, mmmk
Yea, I haven't updated in a while. Its not like anyone comes here anyway. So here's just some stuff I've done lately.
Lets start off with some fanart
Trade with Evil-Goma
Two for some awesome ppl at Dumm Comics
fanart for Sean Szeles's "Through the Port-hole"
fanart for Gabe Swarr's "Big Pants Mouse"
And now for my own stuff. Lineart and sketches included.
And now for my own stuff. Lineart and sketches included.
Posted by Zach Bellissimo at 1:03 PM 1 comments
Labels: evil goma dumm comics deziree ratch jekyll and hyde jack the ripper shit poop crap
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Featured Product
Featured Article
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Our people serve as Trusted Ingredient Advisors, working closely with our customers to help them succeed. Striving every day to prove that International Food Products Corporation is the best ingredient provider in the industry, we go beyond by helping our customers:
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As discretionary capital dries up, contractors have a chance to prepare for the next wave of demand for distributed generation (DG).
Just six months ago the distributed generation (DG) market appeared to be ripe with possibilities for electrical contractors. Madison, Wis.-based energy market analysis company Primen announced DG was at the "tipping point" in the summer of 2001. But a lot can change in six months' time. First came the recession. And then wholesale energy prices dropped. And then September 11. Money that might have been spent on DG projects was coffered away, and those interested in cutting-edge on-site power generation technologies adopted a cautious, wait-and-see attitude.
Though no one can predict when demand for DG will meet the lofty expectations predicted by industry analysts in early 2001, few believe the concept is a fad. Downtime is a naughty word in the power generation milieu, but with DG, it presents electrical contractors who were slow to enter the DG market with an opportunity to make up for lost time and prepare themselves for the day when it comes back into vogue.
Generating interest. Just because the DG market isn't what it was last year, the reasons for its burgeoning popularity haven't gone away—they've just been replaced by more pressing financial matters. Problems like power reliability and soaring electricity prices can be attributed in large part to an idea that looked good on paper yet failed to pan out in practice: deregulation.
California's energy users have been plagued for more than a year by surges, brownouts, and any number of other power quality problems caused by the state's attempt to create a competitive energy market. Although California may not have accomplished its stated goal, it was successful in creating a desire on the part of many large commercial/industrial facilities to look into generating their own power. And as research into on-site power sources like fuel cells and microturbines increased, the DG market seemed poised to take off.
And for some, it did. Cupertino Electric, the San Jose, Calif.-based electrical contractor, got a head start on the market, establishing its Energy Solutions Group in mid-2000 to deal with power quality problems on the West Coast, offering, among other things, DG. The company had already been installing on-site generation for more than three years, but mainly in backup capacities. All told, Cupertino has set up some 250MW of DG power in the California market over the past five years. And then came the economic downturn.
DG dries up. "Downturn isn't even the word for it," explains Steve Schumer, vice president of technology development for Cupertino. "There's a decrease in demand for our services, period. Nobody's building anything. People just aren't spending money on their facilities."
Though the company has two projects currently under construction that will create power with the use of solar energy, two other combustion turbine projects were "back-burnered" after the recession set in in mid-2001. Schumer says the discretionary capital normally set aside for such projects is in short supply, as companies focus on investing in things like new development and new products that will turn a profit much faster than a DG installation.
Not only did businesses in California stop spending money on distributed generation projects as the market went south, companies across the country shied away from risky DG ventures. Nick Lenssen, senior director of distributed generation at Primen says most market researchers are having to back- pedal from their original predictions about DG. He even admits the numbers Primen published in the report, "Distributed Energy at the Tipping Point: Customers' Growing Receptivity to Grid-Alternative DE," which showed more than 10% of businesses identified themselves as "strong candidates" for base-load DG applications during the next 2 yr, aren't quite as solid any more.
"It's hard to be super-bullish right now on the near-term distributed generation future," he says.
However, there are other factors that have worked to slow down the wider adoption of DG aside from the economy and the fallout of September 11, chiefly declining wholesale energy prices. With oil, natural gas, and electricity prices the lowest they've been in a year, few companies may see the advantage to investing in DG, which takes a long time to turn a profit.
Given the recent volatility of energy prices, counting on them to remain in one place for long is risky. In fact, Lenssen points out that now would be a good time to put in on-site generation and secure a long term contract with a gas company while prices are so low. However, he says, few end-users plan that far into the future.
"If I was an energy user and had big items, I would love to get a third party to guarantee me future energy prices, lock that in and do on-site generation, because it clearly makes economic sense," Lenssen says.
To a lesser degree, some industry analysts believe the companies in need of reliable, on-site power generation are the most hesitant to employ it. Manufacturing facilities that cannot tolerate downtime are apprehensive about allowing outside engineers and contractors to tinker with their processes. It's a fear that speaks to a general lack of knowledge on the part of manufacturers and a knowledge gap that falls upon the contractor and equipment manufacturers to bridge.
"It's on us," Schumer says. "I believe that anybody, the equipment vendors, the contractors, they have an obligation under any circumstances, whatever the problem is, to educate their clients. We're dealing with people whose core strength is not in electric power supply, so whatever we propose to our clients that's outside of what we call 'lights, plugs, and switches,' we believe requires education so everybody knows what they're getting and what they're not getting."
Although these obstacles may be causing problems for the contractor interested in establishing a place in the DG market, one player not upset by the slowdown is the utility. DG may never replace grid power, but it does stand to siphon revenue away from the utilities.
"The utilities have been very opposed to customer generation for quite a few years because it was a direct revenue loss," says Richard Friedman, chairman and CEO of Resource Dynamics, a Vienna, Va.-based distributed generation market analysis and consultant group. "In many cases, if a customer started talking about putting in his own generation of any significant size, the utility—in an effort to head that project off—would strike a special negotiated rate with that customer that would make the planned savings associated with the on-site power basically go away."
Although efforts on the part of such utilities as Public Service Electrical & Gas of New Jersey and Pacific Gas & Electric in California to adopt an if-you-can't- beat-'em-join-'em approach and develop independent subsidiaries specializing in on-site power generation failed, the potential still exists for an unlikely marriage between contractors and the utilities. Some power companies are offering users the option of dispatching on-site generators to help meet peak demand—generators that will need to be serviced and maintained.
Strange bedfellows. With the exception of outfits on the scale of Cupertino, few contractors are large enough to compete directly with utilities that set out to offer DG. However, the utilities are also at a disadvantage in that most are without the capability to install or maintain on-site power. As a result, both have something to offer the other, and contractors could find themselves in the position to gain some sub-contract work from their direct competitors in the DG market.
Robert Brozey, senior vice president of business development for ABB Energy Capital, believes the potential for such a partnership is very possible, and he's seen the proof. "The utility service companies I know of outsource a lot of their work to electrical contractors with engineering design capabilities," he says. "They'll go out and make the sale and turn around and bid it out to the contractors they know. It's not as profitable, but it would definitely allow [contractors] to stay in the game."
The most lucrative—and most likely—potential partnership Friedman and Brozey see exists between contractors and gas companies. Although microturbines and fuel cells may be the technology of the future, diesel generators are still the most popular form of DG at present. Many generators run on natural gas, so contractors looking to make their way into the market might have luck teaming up with the companies that supply the gas.
"I'm a big believer that the gas company is one of your biggest allies if you're a contractor, because the gas company wants to sell more gas, and they don't mind taking the business away from the electric company," Brozey says. "But I think that kind of partnership should only be attempted by a contractor who's done work for the utility, who's a larger contractor with some regional expertise and some 'umph.'"
Only a matter of time. The presence of these obstacles is not to say DG is too risky for contractors to get involved in. The economy will turn around, grid power will still be unreliable, and energy users will look into on-site power again. All of which proves there is still time for electrical contractors to get into the market. And Primen's study shows that when they do become interested, companies will look to contractors specializing in DG to install it (See Figure on page 43). Friedman notes that brushing up on the changes to the NEC concerning DG would also be beneficial (Sidebar on page 44.)
Integrated Electrical Services (IES), Houston, conducted studies of North America and found that DG constitutes a $4 billion to $5 billion market that is growing at 20%. And Lenssen and Brozey agree that manufacturing facilities—and to a lesser degree colleges and universities—in the Northeast, Midwest, and California will be the group most interested in DG once the economy turns around.
And though the market may not look good now, Robert Reynolds, executive vice president and CFO of IES believes on-site power generation is here to stay.
"The fundamental drivers are still there," he says. "People still want reliable power, and not only that, they want higher power quality, two things that DG provides."


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Reel Deal: Five Best Fly Reels
In fly fishing, the rod is the rock star. It gets all the attention when you're bragging about the big one from your last trip. On the other hand, reels are the unsung heroes. They're the ones that make the sweet music (they really do – listen to a big fish running against one sometime), the ones that make catching big fish possible. We round up our five favorites.


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Canton police say a woman was stabbed Thursday night in the 600 block of Dueber Avenue SW.
A woman was stabbed Thursday night and taken to Aultman Hospital for treatment.
Police arrested Mike Turner in connection to the stabbing about 9 p.m. at 619 Dueber Ave. SW, according to Canton Police Lt. Roger Crihfield.
Her condition was unknown Thursday night, and Crihfield said police were still investigating.