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I can't resist a challenge, and as I meet the challenge of living in New York, I become more and more settled here. I live in Brooklyn now, in an old Italian house, in a Dominican neighborhood. I've got an authentic New York State driver's license, a dot.com job, a boyfriend, and a new immigration visa.Of course, it's at this time that I've also begun to be wracked with homesickness. I ache to see the west coast. I yearn for long summer nights, late salmon barbecues on the beach, ocean kayaking and the smell of budlea, lilac and pine sweet on the night air. It could be the time of year: Canada is gorgeous in the summer. Or, perhaps it is time to go home?
It started a few weeks ago, when, sick in bed with a cold, I snuggled down with The New Yorker to read Jonathan Raban's article, "Sailing into the Sublime, the Infidelity of Travel." I opened it up, excited to see my part of the world represented. After my initial elation, and to my own astonishment, on opening up the magazine, I burst into jealous tears. It became intolerable that anyone else could be sailing up the west coast of Canada. It seemed especially unfair that miserable me-sick, and too poor as a recent graduate student to buy a ticket west-had to suffer the smelly, roasting, concrete-jungle summer in New York while this Englishman enjoyed himself on my islands.
I mopped up my tears, and took a look at what he had to say.
The tides between the islands, deep fogs, dense forest, magnetically green ocean, the imposing mountains that tower over narrow waterways, and eccentric people living in isolated communities, if you could call them that, filled Raban's article. He watched this landscape from his boat. Concurrently, he relayed the early European explorers' history of the area from their journals and ships' logs. Raban was 'discovering' the coast, too; being filled with awe and desire as the sailors had, 300 years earlier.
I loved the coast with the same dazzled incomprehension, dwarfed with awe. But I have to admit, it was not until I'd been away from it myself, between the ages of 17 and 18-first year of university-that I learned how much I loved it. I have to try to explain why exactly it casts such a spell on me. It is beautiful, that goes without saying. But it also has some uncanny power, that Raban was trying to describe, as were Captain Cook and Captain Vancouver in the late 1700s.
The following incident might illuminate some of the coast's illusive power. One cold, rainy winter weekend in 1995, I took a ferry from Vancouver to Galiano Island, an hour's journey from the city, where I'd rented a tiny, mildewy cabin, and settled in for a weekend of solitary work. That night, a storm blew in. The lighthouse just across the waters, on Mayne Island, boomed out its sonorous warning, long after I'd let the fire die, put up the dishes and gone to bed. I woke up suddenly in the backroom. After a loud boom, all the windows in the front had snapped open in the fierce winds. I could hear the narrowed waters of Active Pass heaving and spraying up against the sandstone cliffs below. I ran out into the dark cabin with only the passing beam of the lighthouse to light the room. I fumbled with the lamps. The wind held the windows fast against me. Drawing them back into their frames proved a struggle. I fought the wind for them. After an hour I had the place secured, though I still worried that one of the tall fir trees would come crashing through the roof. Then, I put on my raingear and walked out into the storm.
When I'd turned 25, a close friend had given me a photograph of myself. It was a photograph she had taken the Christmas before, at the beach when we had been walking and throwing stones at the seagulls. We'd been talking-examining our general conviction that, as Wordsworth said, the world was too much with us. When we got to the playground by the holly trees, in the snug cove of Vancouver's Maple Bay, we had both dropped our bags and jumped on the swings. I was trying to pull myself up onto the metal rings when she got our her camera.In the picture, I have my right hand just barely on one ring, my fingers strain to hold it. My right foot clears the sand below and my left arm hangs at my side for balance. The photograph is black and white, and around me stand the prickly holly trees which lend the shot a rim of darkness. That dark is echoed in my dark jacket, my jeans and shoes. What stands out are my pale hands, my pale face, with a smile on it, and the strip of sand below, also pale. Around the edges my friend had written the first five lines of a poem I'd recently written:
God's mouth dark on my hair
hope blows around me on the sand
I am a girl lighting fires near the sea
Mum's mouth a porthole underwater
an engine-room that seized.
She gave me this photograph for my 25th birthday. I had been miserably depressed and yet here my lighted face looked hopeful and open. "You can put this on the back of your first book," she'd said. It looked as though in brooding over our problems, I had either solved them, found the joke in them, or discovered a higher path out of our habitual melancholy. It was quite a gift.
In this spirit–the spirit of transcending something–even as I walked in the midst of it, I opened the door of the cabin, marched determinedly against the wind. I marched to the hairpin turn in the road and towards the Bluffs Provincial Park, about a mile away, which overlooked Active Pass. Sure of my direction, I ignored the trail and began to stride diagonally up the slope softened with decades of pine-needles and tree-rot. When I reached the top, scratched by unseen branches, having tripped more than a few times and having landed on my wet palms, having cut them, I felt some kind of weird calm. Below, hundreds of feet down, the waters of Active Pass hurled themselves onto the rocky beach. Sheet lightening was moving off towards Vancouver Island, striking purple and white onto the ocean. On me the rain fell with hail-like force as I sat under a short fir tree, one I wagered would stand through any wind; I was inside the storm. I slipped, like the moon that dipped beneath the horizon, into a space of supernatural calm. I had transgressed my need for safety from the elements. I was in another place altogether, somewhere hard to map, at the heart of that storm.
* * *
It's November in New York now. That spell of homesickness from the summer has passed. New Yorkers have long returned from their summer vacations, and the crowds of tourists have thinned out. I've returned to graduate school, to teaching freshman composition, and I continue to waitress, off the books, in a Soho bistro. American Thanksgiving is not too far away. New York is at its best in the fall.
Access to the best of New York has been somewhat limited for me, given my budget, but waitressing has its perks. The owner of my restaurant opened a new French bistro in the meatpacking district last week. He invited staff from all three of his other restaurants, to come for a pre-opening drink with some of his A list celebrities and special friends. I met up with three other waitresses there and we sat together on the red leather banquette, under pseudo Parisian tiled columns.The two hours we spent there represent something I love about this city. In the glow of the golden light, watching the bustle of bartenders in white shirts with rolled up sleeves and slicked back hair, under signs and long scratched mirrors advertising French drinks and food, the place seemed to woo and reward us for the many hours we'd spent serving food and drinks till 3 and 4 in the morning. It was spinning a fantastical, seductive romance in which I, too, the student, waitress, nobody, could feel as rich and lovely as the model, actress or writer sitting to my left. Judy Davis, Tim Burton, and Matt Dillon were all sitting at banquettes close by.
When I walked dizzily to the bar to get my next free drink, a woman tapped me on the arm. She introduced herself, "Hi, my name is Alice–you were my waitress once."
I readied myself for what was coming. It would be something like hearing my own voice on a tape recorder, I felt sure: unsettling.
"I have to tell you, I never remember my server," she beamed, "but you were so cool, so chill–my sister and I both agreed you were the best server I've ever had; I recognized you right away, you were great." Relieved, I smiled. We toasted each other and I slipped away with my fresh drink.
The friend who gave me the photograph for my birthday has commented on how much happier I seem in New York. It's true that I love being here for these kinds of fabulous moments, under the charmed lights, to eat the sparkling food and drink the champagne, to be remembered, to be recognized. Although the values of my socialist, Canadian upbringing chastise me, I enjoy this glamor. I enjoy the materiality and the make-believe of it. I am seduced, I let myself be carried away in the dream of loveliness, of deserving, a peculiarly American sense of righteousness. Even at the fringes of this privilege (the real celebrities ate a full complementary dinner in the restaurant; the invited staff shared drinks in the bar) I feel wonderful. Charmed.
The east wasn't always charming. Careless of, the west's power—taking its raw, fearsome beauty, for granted—I had argued and cajoled and pestered my parents until they had agreed that I could attend Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, 3,000 kilometers from home. It was what we westerners called, "back east." In other words, far away and totally foreign. At seventeen, that's what I'd wanted.
My residence room at Queen's had been made of industrial, pre-fabricated brick, a monstrosity popularly known as the "Death Star." From the first moment I detested the place. But I moved in determined to find some elusive freedom. As the semester rolled on my luck didn't improve. I didn't meet anyone I liked or trusted. On Halloween I went to see Aliens at the campus cinema. Then, being, naturally, lonely, I mustered up my courage and called an acquaintance from the payphone outside the theater.A blustery autumn wind was kicking leaves up in the city park I hurriedly crossed to get to his house. Kevin was drinking rum and coke. I drank too much. In no time I was seeing double, forming formless words which fell out of my mouth into the nothing air.
No one was home but me and him. Paralyzed by alcohol, lost in a haze of longing for somewhere which felt like home, I let his rough and groping hands travel all over me. I let him have sex with my highly intoxicated, teenage body while my mind left to walk along Pacific shore and drive my old red Datsun through the forested roads.
Later, after he'd left the house and gone to his girlfriend's, I wondered where I had been at all. Here, in this messy bedroom of another teenager? Or at home, in the woods? If I had stayed in the room with Kevin, would any of what had just happened, have happened? I wasn't sure. My nostalgia for home meant that I couldn't see where I was, and this was dangerous. When I returned to the actual coast, in my physical body, eight months later, I could see that it was gorgeous. It was sublime. It offered freedom that the east had taken away. I could not believe that in all my childhood, I had never truly seen what was around me.
Ironically, I still associate the east with a kind of sexualness–eating and drinking, splashing around in the civilly sexualized bars and restaurants of New York. This kind of sexual engagement with my life makes me want to stay here, not flee. Great food and drink, beautiful spaces, bright, funny, diverse friends and lovers are the fabric of rich living. With the occasional professional kudo thrown in life here seems full of potential. That is the east's–well, New York's–charm, that it promises so much.
Clearly, the west coast could never make me feel this way. The west promises nothing. The west is raw, fertile, fibrous, base, consuming and destroying in unregulated, uncivilized proportions. It was luck and force of will which had taken me to the heart of that storm on Galiano Island.
When I look in the New Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, I find several predictable definitions for infidel: namely, "unfaithful, unbelieving". For infidelity: "lack of faith, disbelief in religious matters or a particular religion; unfaithfulness or disloyalty to a friend, superior, especially lack of sexual faithfulness to a partner".
It's clear why I would leave the west. And why I would stay on beyond the time it has taken to graduate from an MFA program. I needed a way to surface from the centrifugal suction of depression, to escape from nature's heady appetite. I need civilization-not civilization as a moral kind of order, but engagement, culture. Like a nineteenth century explorer invited to court, I traded the power of the wild for the power of human ideas and constructions. The price of my defection comes in the form of the tag, infidel. To be unfaithful to the coast makes me a non-believer in its raw ecstatic religion, and non-complying with its sexualized cloying. This seems fine to me. A price worth paying, indeed a price that needs to be paid. I sell my soul.
In New York, it's virtually impossible to walk as slowly and ponderously as we had in Vancouver. It seems that everyone here could be depressed but everyone is just toobusy to stop and think about it. That is also something I enjoy about life here. The need to be hyper-alert. Somedays I feel like Alex, the main character in Stanley Kubrick's film, A Clockwork Orange, whose eyes were clamped open while violent and repulsive images, bright lights and noise assaulted him. All around me here are humans handling human life, evidence of our ingeniousness and our cruelty. Everywhere people are running. Here the unspoken motto seems to be, 'be aggressive and survive'. We–us strangers–are bonded by our understanding that this is what we will do to survive. I will do it and so will you.
In contrast, the morning after the storm on Galiano, after I'd cleaned up the fallen branches and blown scrub from around the cabin and chopped some more wood for my next visit, I'd hitch-hiked to the ferry. I found that ferry service had been moved an old dock on the island's west side. We hitched rides over there. The air was electric with anticipation. All foot-passengers were talking to each other, comparing the damage, the shortages, the urgency with which we had to leave. We were smiling at each other shyly, as though we were all about to reveal some intimate secrets. We had all been awake in the night. I knew the excitement and yearning we had been feeling. Someone might have been swept away or crushed, or might have succumbed to the seduction of the storm. This kind of intimacy displaced our aggression, fears and excitements. We bonded against the storm, cradled safely in our puny, makeshift society. The land had brought us together in just the way that New York City drives us apart, living out our aggressions, fired through with our fears, ambitions and desires.
The west is not innocent, not passive, not a parcel of natural resources that yields to our demands for wood and water. It's rather female, in my characterization of it here, the voracious, powerful, unyielding, hungry female. My draw into the bosom of the beyond-human, is homoerotic, violent, instinctual, a breaking into or allowing myself to be drawn back in to a highly charged union. I flee this because I want to be a distinct part of the fabric of culture as it exists, no matter what the price.
Interesting that my draw to what is socially feared is where I find depression, isolation, and ecstatic solitariness. My draw to that which has been sanctioned is where I find intellectual stimulation, society and physical danger.Last night my ex-boyfriend called from Canada. I was sitting on the couch in my newly repainted living room, fiddling with this essay. He asked me how long I would remain in New York, if I had reasons to stay here beyond graduate school. I said I would be staying. He seemed surprised. I thought of Jonathan Raban's article, now filed away in my filing cabinet. I would not throw it out, just as I could not turn away from my need for Canada and the west coast. I remain faithful, even as I am continually committing the gravest and sometimes most risky infidelity by choosing to live here. But for now, these images and these places exist in my imagination, powerful and seductive, the places I turn to for solace and fierceness of a different order. I am bound to return to these actual places. Right now I return there in my mind only, and this relationship-by-proxy is what I am calling home.


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Basic Question: Goals and Visitors
Basic Question: Goals and Visitors
I am currently testing out the Optimizely trial, and I have a couple basic questions for clarification:
The goals we've set up only trigger when a visitor comes in from one of the experiment URLs, correct? For example, most users will hit our Request Info thank-you page, but we only want the goal to trigger when they enter from the particular experiment URL we're sending visitors through. It won't trigger the goal anytime a visitor hits the TY page from any other URL/campaign, right?
In relation to this, we're going to have the Optimizely snippet sitting on these TY pages being called over and over again even if a visitor isn't part of the campaign (since it is sitting in the page head). Will that cause an issue?
Marketing Automation & Optimization
Re: Basic Question: Goals and Visitors
It sounds like you've already put a fair amount of thought into your test! Out of curiosity, what are you thinking of testing and tracking??
Re: Basic Question: Goals and Visitors
Hey Amanda,
Thanks for the clarification! We have a great deal of traffic hitting these TY pages, so it's good to know that only ones that went through a certain campaign will trigger the goals.
Right now we're just testing the waters by switching out some small bits of content on pages, ensuring that nothing breaks and all of the goals are tracked properly between the experiment versions. Once we are confident that everything works, we'll start doing much heavier tests like changing entire stylesheets, page structure, etc. Ideally, this is a fantastic way to see what works and doesn't, and incrementally move to newer designs based on real data as opposed to just jumping to a new template without testing performance compared to older templates.
Thank you for the reply!
Marketing Automation & Optimization

subset: commoncrawl


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8 Things to Look for When Buying a Furnace
New furnaces require a significant financial investment, and if you make the wrong choice the size of that investment may grow as you're forced to pay for multiple repairs and upgrades.
If you're in the market for a new furnace, here are eight factors to consider before you make your purchase …
- Fuel-use efficiency
Furnaces are evaluated based on their AFUE ratings. AFUE stands for 'annual fuel utilization efficiency,' and it refers to the percentage of the fuel your furnace consumes that is actually converted to usable heat.
In areas where winter temperatures routinely plunge below zero, you'll want to purchase a furnace with an AFUE rating of 92 or better. A premium-quality furnace might carry a rating of 97-98 percent, and while such an appliance may seem costly it can deliver amazing levels of energy savings over the course of its lifespan.
- Furnace operating speed
Your choices are furnaces with single-speed blowers, which (as the name implies) run at the same speed all the time, or variable-speed furnaces, which adjust the intensity of their operation based on changes in the weather.
Variable-speed furnaces that adjust their pace of heat production up or down as outdoor temperatures rise and fall will consume less fuel and cost less to operate, while still keeping you warm and comfortable at all times. Variable-speed furnaces are more expensive, but because they are more efficient they may reduce your energy bills dramatically if you live in locations that experience frequent fluctuations in wintertime temperatures.
- Programmable thermostats
For maximum reductions in energy usage, you should support your new furnace by adding a programmable thermostat with WiFi capability as a companion piece.
Compared to traditional thermostats, programmable thermostats can cut your energy costs by 10-20 percent. The secret of their success is that they let you customize your HVAC system's operation down to the minute, putting you in the driver's seat as you look to reduce your utility costs to the lowest level possible.
- The quality of the warranty
Most high-efficiency modern furnaces come with a 10-year limited warranty on parts and a 20-year warranty on the heat exchanger, which is vital to the continued functioning of the furnace. You might be able to extend that warranty by 5-10 years for a price, if you want to give yourself additional peace of mind.
As you look at the warranty don't forget to read the fine print, so you can avoid any nasty surprises down the road. Regular maintenance may be required to preserve warranty protections, but its in your best interest to schedule annual maintenance visits anyway.
- Zoning capacity
If you live in a large house, or one that just naturally has broad temperature differentials between rooms, you should consider installing a zoned heating system. Zoned installations feature multiple thermostats for separate rooms or sections of the house, and wireless or manual dampers on your registers will let you direct heated air to the parts of the home where it is needed the most.
Zoning might sound expensive, but keep in mind it still involves only one furnace, and it would allow you to shift the heat exclusively to the spaces you occupy, thereby saving you the trouble (and the expense) of heating sections of your home that are lightly-used.
- Indoor air quality
In combination with your new furnace, you might want to consider upgrading to superior-quality air filters. If you are unsure about which ones offer the best performance, you can ask the HVAC technicians installing your new furnace to check your old filters and make recommendations.
To bolster your indoor air quality even further, you may want to supplement your new furnace by adding an air cleaner or air purifier, which can be installed inside your ductwork. A whole-house humidifier is another great option for wintertime comfort, since heated air can be quite dry and can leave you feeling itchy and uncomfortable.
- The credentials of your HVAC contractor
Unfortunately, there are many fly-by-night operators in the heating and cooling business, and if you have the misfortune of employing one you'll likely suffer significant financial losses because of that mistake.
A legitimate HVAC contractor will have an established presence in the community, documentation to prove they've been licensed, great reviews online, and a roster comprised entirely of highly-trained and fully-certified technicians with a wealth of experience. They may not give you the lowest bid on labor and installation costs, but they'll save you a lot of headaches and heartaches in the long-run by doing the job right.
- Available rebates and incentives
When you purchase a new energy-efficient furnace with a high AFUE rating, you likely be eligible for a broad range of rebates, tax breaks and other financial incentives offered by state and local governments, the federal government, furnace manufacturers and retailers.
Energy-efficiency is all the rage these days, and you'd be amazed how many benefits are available to anyone who chooses to install energy-saving and environmentally-friendly technology. Financing options are usually available to help you handle the costs of a new furnace as well, and your HVAC contractor will work with you to keep your equipment and installation costs well within your budget.
Rheem Pro Partner Offers Unmatched Expertise in Furnace Sales and Installations
Are you ready to buy a new furnace, or at least ready to consider the idea? Before you take the plunge, please contact Rheem Pro Partner today to discuss your options, and to make an appointment for a full HVAC system inspection. As our satisfied customers in Colorado and Wyoming can attest, we offer top-quality heating and cooling products backed by superior installation services.
What to Do When Your HVAC Unit is Making Loud Noises
Smoothly operating furnaces and air conditioners are fairly quiet, and the noise they do emit is usually consistent and unobtrusive. Consequently, when you hear noises that are loud, grating or out of the ordinary, it could be a sign that something has gone wrong.
Here are six common sounds that could indicate trouble with your HVAC equipment …
- A squealing blower motor
A bad belt may be the culprit, and if it is that's something you can replace yourself (and for a low cost). If fraying or stretching is evident replace the belt quickly, since it could break at any moment.
Another possible source of the noise could be a lack of lubricant, and your blower motor should have ports if you need to apply more oil. Make sure you purchase a motor oil that is appropriate for use with HVAC equipment, and if you aren't sure what that might be ask your HVAC contractor for advice.
- Loud banging, thumping or rattling
These sounds may indicate that something is coming loose in the blower assembly or motor. If so this is not something you can fix yourself, and even if you spot the unattached component you should still have a technician come and take a look.
Sometimes, rattling sounds can come from loose fasteners or screws somewhere in your HVAC system. You can check for this by inspecting and testing everything, and if you find anything loose you can tighten or re-fasten it yourself.
- Clicking sounds from the compressor or control panel
If these sounds originate from the outdoor compressor or indoor control panel, it could mean a relay is shot, or that an electric control is malfunctioning and causing the relay to work improperly. Either way, an HVAC technician can provide definitive answers.
If the clicking is confined to the outdoor unit of an air conditioner, it could be that the capacitor is about to fail. This could ultimately lead to compressor breakdown, and you need to summon a trained technician to inspect your HVAC system if you have reason to believe this could be the problem.
- Humming noises from the outdoor unit
If an outdoor unit is emitting humming sounds, it means the capacitor has failed but the compressor is still trying to do its work. This will burn out the compressor in short order, and you must shut the unit down completely if a clicking sound has turned to humming.
Fortunately, the capacitor for the compressor is a relatively inexpensive part, and your HVAC contractor can send an expert out to perform the installation after selling you the new capacitor.
- High-pitched whistling sounds
Whistling or screaming sounds emerging from a condenser (the outdoor section of your air conditioner) could be a sign of impending doom. It could mean that refrigerant is leaking, or that some other mechanical failure is causing a hazardous buildup of pressure inside the unit.
Needless to say, if you hear such noises you should shut the air conditioner off immediately, and contact your HVAC contractor right away since this could be a dangerous situation.
- The screeching of metal against metal
Metal-on-metal screeching sounds could indicate a bent, broken, or obstructed fan blade, if the noise is coming from the outdoor half of the air conditioner. After you've shut the HVAC system off, check the fan to see if there are obstructions, such as a branch or stick or other wind-blown item that may have fallen in through the fan's grill, and if you find anything remove it.
Should metal-on-metal sounds come from a furnace or the indoor half of the air conditioner, it could mean that something is loose or broken, in which case you'll need to summon a trained technician to handle the inspection and repairs.
Troubleshooting is Fine, but Proceed with Caution
In general, troubleshooting is perfectly fine if the source of the trouble is visible, simple to repair, and doesn't involve any type of electrical or gas work. If you have any doubts, though, or lack the confidence necessary for troubleshooting, don't be afraid to call your HVAC contractor to ask for professional assistance.
It never hurts to check things first on your own, but once you identify the reason for the unwanted noise you must take action quickly, before your furnace or air conditioner suffers permanent and irreplaceable damage.
Whether your HVAC noise problems are large or small, or come from an obvious source or are completely mysterious, Rheem Pro Partner in Colorado and Wyoming can diagnose the problem and come up with a solution. Contact us today and tell us what you're hearing, and if there's anything you can do about it we'll let you know—and if there isn't, well be happy to handle it for you.
5 Benefits You Can Expect When Upgrading Your HVAC System
This is a fact of life you must face: your heating and air conditioning equipment will eventually wear out, no matter how diligent you are about maintenance and repairs.
But that can be a good thing, since HVAC technology is always improving in terms of durability and cost-efficiency. Consequently, if the time has come to upgrade your HVAC system, you should see that as an opportunity rather than a burden.
When you purchase and install a new, high-efficiency furnace, air conditioner and/or heat pump, here are some of the benefits you'll enjoy …
- Shrinking utility bill
Is your current HVAC equipment more than a decade old? If it is, get ready for some amazing news: a new ENERGY STAR-certified, high-efficiency furnace, air conditioner or heat pump could save you 20 percent or more on your monthly heating and air conditioning bills.
Two-stage or variable-speed furnaces or air conditioners are especially recommended (they are designed to maximize energy savings), and you should look for air conditioners with SEER ratings of higher than 13 and furnaces with AFUE ratings of 92 percent or greater.
- Improved heating and cooling performance
HVAC systems in Colorado and Wyoming are stressed by a significant workload, and after 10 or more years of operation they will start to function at a lower level of efficiency, that is inevitable and unavoidable. You may not notice the decline in performance, since the change happens gradually, but you can be sure it is there.
After upgrading your HVAC equipment, you'll almost certainly notice an uptick in performance, which will translate to more consistently comfortable temperatures.
- Fewer repairs and service calls
As HVAC systems age, they will inevitably need more—and costlier—repairs.
Ever-increasing repair bills are not a form of preventive medicine that will extend your heating and air conditioning equipment's lifespan indefinitely, but a sign of impending breakdown, and the sooner you upgrade the sooner you'll begin enjoying all the financial benefits an upgrade entails.
- Increased home comfort
Your heating and cooling equipment have one primary purpose—to keep you comfortable all summer and all winter long, regardless of how extreme the conditions are outside.
Older HVAC systems that are slowly grinding to a halt will have a difficult time keeping up when temperatures reach their zenith in summer and nadir in winter, but if you invest in modern HVAC equipment those troubles will vanish. New furnaces and air conditioners will adjust their performance to meet seasonal conditions, and you won't have to worry about them being overwhelmed by the challenge.
- Worry-free days and nights
In the back of your mind, you've known for a while that the end is near for your current HVAC system. But thinking about the expense of purchasing a new system has kept you sweating it out, hoping against hope that your furnace, air conditioner or heat pump will somehow beat the odds and hold out for a couple of more years.
Once you take the plunge, however, you'll soon realize that upgrading your HVAC system was one of the smartest things you ever did. With financing available you should be able to handle the upfront costs, and with all the money you'll be saving on energy and repair costs you'll soon realize you made a tremendous investment.
Is it Time to Upgrade? Here's How to Know
The two best indicators that an HVAC system needs an upgrade are age and rising costs. If your equipment is 10 years old or older it is living on borrowed time, and it is likely outdated in any case. If you've noticed rising repair and energy costs it means your current HVAC system is no longer delivering reliable or cost-effective performance, and if you continue to patch it up you'll basically be throwing good money after bad.
In Colorado and Wyoming, Rheem Pro Partner sells and installs the best air conditioners, furnaces and heat pumps available anywhere on the market. Rheem is the leading name in the home comfort game for a reason: saving you money is our number one concern, and we invite you to contact us today to find out more about our fantastic product lines, and about the financing packages that can help you afford them.
How to Save Money & Energy with a Programmable Thermostat
Programmable thermostats are highly touted, and deservedly so. But you won't automatically save energy and save money simply because you have one installed.
Savvy homeowners will learn all the ins and outs of their programmable thermostats, develop strategies for using them, and make sensible adjustments based on the information their thermostats provide.
Picking the Right Programmable Thermostat
Various thermostats have different capabilities, and you should study your options carefully to make sure you select one with the right package of features.
Here's what to look for:
- Diverse scheduling options
Some thermostats let you program each day individually, while others have separate settings for weekends and weekdays, or one unitary setting to cover the whole week. Presumably, you'll save more money and more energy if you can program each day of the week individually, based on your personal habits, but if you have a consistent schedule that may not be necessary.
- Learning capacity
Newer, so-called "smart" programmable thermostats can decode your home comfort habits and program the operation of your HVAC system automatically in response (with override options available, of course). This could be ideal if your activities and home comfort preferences are stable and predictable, or if you worry that you'll forget to program your thermostat on your own.
- WiFi capability
Smart thermostats with WiFi connectivity give you 24-hour control of your home environment, regardless of where you are in the world. All you need to do is install the appropriate thermostat app in your smartphone or tablet, and once you learn to use it you'll be all set to go.
WiFi capability will add to the expense of your thermostat, but if you are a detail-oriented person you'll likely gain maximum energy efficiency from having a unit that gives you minute-by-minute control over the functioning of your heating and cooling system. This is perfect if you have an unpredictable schedule and are often uncertain about when exactly you'll be arriving home.
Theoretically, a programmable thermostat with WiFi capability offers peak energy and money savings, but that is only true if you are prepared to exploit the WiFi feature for everything it's worth.
- Additional perks
Some smart programmable thermostats directly monitor the activity of furnaces, air conditioners and heat pumps, and they can give you warnings if there is a decline in performance or any other sign that suggests maintenance or repairs are needed. In addition to connecting with home heating and cooling equipment, many smart thermostats can also be connected to humidifiers or dehumidifiers, allowing you to customize their operations as well.
Before purchasing any programmable thermostat, you should familiarize yourself with all its capabilities to see if it offers any extra benefits you might find attractive (and profitable).
Tips for Using Programmable Thermostats
Most programmable thermostats come with factory settings, but you must take control of them yourself if you expect to gain maximum benefits.
Here are some tips that will help you get the most bang for your buck when you invest in a programmable thermostat:
- In summer or winter, set your thermostat 7-10 degrees higher than you normally would for at least 8 hours a day. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, you'll save 10 percent on total energy costs by following this advice.
- Program your thermostat to keep the home at least 10 degrees warmer or cooler than normal while you sleep.
- When programming the thermostat for the overnight hours, set it so it will begin reducing or raising temperatures one hour before you to bed, and set it to begin reversing the process 30 minutes before you are scheduled to awake in the morning.
- For the best combination of money savings and acceptable comfort, the Department of Energy recommends setting your thermostat at 78 degrees during waking hours in summer and at 68 degrees during waking hours in winter. Naturally, your comfort preferences may vary.
- Temperatures should be kept 10-15 degrees higher or lower than normal when you are away from home. To make sure this doesn't compromise your comfort, program the thermostat to activate your HVAC system 20-30 minutes before you leave the home, and/or 20-30 minutes before you arrive. Of course, if you have a programmable thermostat with WiFi connectivity you can make the latter adjustments from wherever you are.
Many people are intimidated by what they perceive to be the complexity of programmable thermostats. But if you take the time to read the user's manual and experiment with its different features, you'll soon figure it out.
Your HVAC contractor is a valuable resource as well, and you shouldn't hesitate to ask them questions about how to use—and get the most out of—your new programmable thermostat.
Learn More about Programmable Thermostats from Rheem Pro Partner
In Colorado and Wyoming, Rheem Pro Partner is the unsurpassed expert in home comfort technology. Please contact us today to learn more about programmable thermostats, and about your affordable options for purchase and installation.
Are Annual Furnace Inspections Really Necessary?
Annual furnace inspections might seem fussy or a nuisance, but they're just the opposite. Maintenance and tune-up visits are important, and there are several good reasons why HVAC contractors strongly recommend you have an inspection performed before the beginning of each heating season.
8 Benefits of Annual Furnace Inspections
If you arrange to have a trained HVAC technician inspect your furnace and the HVAC system that supports it, here are some of the benefits you can expect:
- Cleaner air
During your annual tune-up, the technician who visits your home will clean your HVAC system inside and out, and that will prevent your furnace from spreading airborne contaminants once it's switched on. The technician can also change your air filter for you, if you aren't comfortable doing it yourself. If you've been buying cheap filters, the technician will recommend a superior model that will do a much better job of capturing dirt, pet dander, pollen, chemical traces and other indoor pollutants that can damage your health.
- Proper airflow
Tune-ups focus on smooth operation of the system, and one of the first things a technician will check for is restricted airflow. This can happen if the air filter is clogged, if the blower is plugged with dirt or other debris, or if there are obstructions inside the ductwork.
- Safety
Malfunctions in a gas furnace can be especially dangerous. Gas leaks or carbon monoxide buildup can be fatal if they aren't addressed quickly, but fortunately a trained technician can keep your furnace in good working order to make sure these types of problems don't arise.
- Reduction of repair costs
Do you want to pay a little bit now or a lot more later? Annual maintenance inspection plans are a cheap and easy way to avoid costly repairs, since they allow HVAC technicians to uncover and fix small problems before they turn into much bigger problems, which could conceivably threaten your furnace's survival.
- Convenience
Annual maintenance inspections are unobtrusive and can be fit in around your schedule. But breakdowns are unexpected and unpredictable, and if your furnace goes out on the coldest night of the year, or during one of your busiest work weeks, it could cause significant disruptions to your personal and professional life. It could even force you to leave your home for a few days, while you wait for an HVAC technician to finish the necessary repairs.
- Better energy efficiency
High-quality furnaces can only deliver superior performance if they are kept in prime working order. All the parts of a furnace need to be cleaned on a regular basis, and without consistent maintenance dirt and grime can build up and interfere with efficient furnace operation.
- Maintenance of the manufacturer's warranty
Did you know that most manufacturer's warranties become null and void if the furnace is not regularly maintained? Needless to say, it is not in your best interest to negate your furnace's warranty, and just the fact that manufacturers require maintenance and tune-up visits tells you how vital they are to the health and welfare of your HVAC system.
- Extended lifespan for your HVAC system
Like other heavy-duty appliances, furnaces face an enormous workload, and if they aren't well-maintained they can fail suddenly and without warning. Neglecting a furnace is a recipe for disaster, and if you skip on maintenance inspections you'll be asking for trouble. But if you keep them fine-tuned and fully ready for action at all times, they can last for 15 years or more.
- Superior Home Comfort
When furnaces are neglected they won't operate at peak efficiency, that's an undeniable fact. They will struggle to handle their heating responsibilities, and that means you'll be left shivering on the coldest nights when you should be toasty and comfortable. Annual maintenance inspections are the best way to prevent this unfortunate occurrence, and if you fail to have an inspection done your personal comfort may be seriously compromised.
Rheem Pro Partner offers the Best Maintenance Services
In Colorado and Wyoming winters can be long and severe, and you need to know that your furnace will be ready to go when you need it. Annual inspections are an excellent way to keep your furnace in top working order, and that is doubly true if you choose Rheem Pro Partner to handle the job. Our skilled technicians are experts in basic and advanced furnace maintenance, and we invite you to contact us today to schedule your autumn tune-up and inspection.
What's the Difference Between Air Cleaners & Air Purifiers?
The terms 'air cleaner' and 'air purifier' are often used interchangeably, and from a functional standpoint each serves a similar purpose. But they rely on different filtering technologies to restore compromised indoor air quality.
Air cleaners and air purifiers come in two models, portable and whole-house. The former will filter the air in specific rooms, while the latter are installed directly inside HVAC systems and can help keep the air fresh and healthy throughout the home.
Air Cleaners
For the removal of dust particles and other types of non-organic contaminants, air cleaners come highly recommended.
What are air cleaners?
An air cleaner contains filters that remove a wide variety of airborne contaminants from indoor breathing spaces. Over time these filters will have to be cleaned and/or changed, but with regular maintenance they will do a superb job of providing you with ample quantities of breathable air.
How do air cleaners work?
Air cleaners are installed inside ductwork, where they can work their magic as heating and cooling systems continuously circulate air throughout the home. Each time air passes through the filters will capture and remove more contaminants, and as long as you change the air cleaner filters on schedule your appliance should deliver outstanding performance for years.
What do air cleaners filter?
The list of indoor contaminants removed by a well-functioning air cleaner may include:
- Dust
- Dirt
- Pet dander
- Mold spores
- Pollen
- Dust mites
- Smoke
- Fumes or gases from cleaning products
Whole-house air cleaners offer excellent protection for those who are prone to allergies, asthma attacks, and dry and itchy skin, eyes, throat and nasal passages.
Air Purifiers
People who are concerned about the ravages of living allergens would be wise to invest in an air purifier rather than an air cleaner.
What are air purifiers?
Air purifiers target airborne bacteria, mold, mildew, dust mites, fungus and viral agents for extinction. These purifiers can remove other contaminants as well, but they are specially designed to prevent ductwork and other areas of the home from being invaded and colonized by unwanted microorganisms.
How do air purifiers work?
Air purifiers rely on UV (ultraviolet) light to kill or deactivate microbial life. Installed on or near the HVAC air handler, whole-house UV air purifiers are highly effective at preventing mold, mildew or fungus outbreaks, and they can stop bacteria and viruses from contaminating the air you breathe and putting your family's health at risk.
What do air purifiers filter?
Good-quality air purifiers do an amazing job of eliminating:
- Mold
- Bacteria
- Mildew
- Fungus
- Dust mites
- Viruses
Should You Buy an Air Cleaner or Air Purifier?
An air cleaner is an ideal choice for those who are most concerned about typical indoor air pollutants, which may come from inside the home or through open windows if you live in a polluted area.
Meanwhile, air purifiers are the best option for homeowners with ongoing mold problems, or whose families suffer from frequent viral infections. Moisture problems in the home are another good reason to choose air purifiers, since microorganisms tend to thrive in moist environments.
Regardless of whether you purchase an air cleaner or air purifier, you won't get good results if you purchase cheap equipment, or choose cut-rate installation services. Whole-house air cleaners and air purifiers are definitely more effective than portable models, but if you live in an apartment portable appliances can still make an impact.
Indoor Air Quality is a Rheem Pro Partner Specialty
If you want to learn more about air purifiers and air cleaners, and about installation procedures for whole-house models, please contact Rheem Pro Partner today. We provide the very best solutions for indoor air quality restoration and maintenance throughout the Colorado and Wyoming area.
6 Common Causes of a Leaking Water Heater
A hot shower is one of life's simple pleasures and one that most of us count on without giving it any thought. So when that shower turns unpleasant due to low water pressure or no hot water we want a simple fix. The problem is quite possibly a leaky water heater. Troubleshooting the exact cause starts with understanding the various causes of water heater leaks, and the first step is examining the tank to find the source.
Here are six common causes of a leaking water heater:
1. Drain valve
One common cause — and the easiest to fix — is a loose drain valve. A drain valve can loosen over time and create a slow leak. Simply tighten it with a wrench just until it is snug. Be careful not to over tighten it and don't force it.
2. Air pressure
Pressure can build up in the tank. This forces water to leak out of the tank in order to relieve the pressure. This occurs most commonly when the water temperature is set too high. It can also happen if the pressure from the exterior water supply is too great, or if the temperature pressure relief valve is defective.
3. Age of the water heater
Water heaters typically last 8-10 years. As they near the end of their lifespan, corrosion becomes more evident and can result in a leak. If this the case, call your HVAC technician immediately to address the problem. Waiting too long puts you at risk for flooding and the damage and headaches that come with it.
4. Condensation
Condensation can occur on the outside of the water heater when cold water enters the tank and the outside air is hot. This can sometimes be mistaken for a leak, but it is normal and common. Simply wipe down the water heater.
5. Rust
Water heaters are often made of steel, which is mostly iron. An anode rod inside prevents the iron from rusting, but over time, the rod can wear out and fail. If that happens, the rust will eventually create a leak. Prior to that, however, you may notice your hot tap water develop a rusty brown color. Call your technician right away to replace the anode tube and prevent further damage.
6. Sediment build-up
Over time, the minerals that exist naturally in hard water can settle in the bottom of the water tank and create a layer thick enough to block access to the burner that heats the water. As a result, the burner runs longer to heat the water and the excess wear and tear leads to deterioration. This can cause a leak or, worst case, cause the water tank to burst. Prevent sediment build-up by flushing the tank once a year.
Rheem Pro Partner serves Colorado and Wyoming. Contact us today for all your heating and cooling needs.
7 Ways to Extend the Life of Your Air Conditioner
How many years your air conditioner will last depends a lot on how well you take care of it. With a little attention and maintenance, such as regularly changing the air filter and utilizing a programmable thermostat, you can maximize the life of your air conditioning unit. The simple steps listed below will save you money by lowering your energy costs and minimizing repairs as well as by delaying the need for a replacement.
To help extend the life of your air conditioning unit, here are a few things you can do:
1. Schedule regular maintenance
A trained HVAC technician is your first line of defense when it comes to protecting and maintaining your air conditioner. During a service visit before the start of each cooling season, the technician will thoroughly clean the unit and make repairs or adjustments as needed. Doing so will prevent costly repairs down the road, and keep your system running as efficiently as possible for as long as possible.
2. Change the air filter on a regular basis
The air filter keeps your air conditioner (and your home) clean by preventing dust and debris from building up inside and ensuring sufficient airflow. This prevents breakdowns and extends the life of your system. Filters also help your unit operate at maximum efficiency, so your energy bills stay as low as possible. Air filters do get dirty, however, and once that happens they can no longer do their job. Check the filter periodically to make sure it isn't clogged and change it every 30-60 days as needed to keep your air conditioner running smoothly.
3. Keep the outdoor unit clean and clear of debris
While the air filter keeps the indoor unit clean, keeping the outdoor unit clean is equally important to prevent mechanical problems. The area directly around the unit should be free of any debris, such as leaves, that can get inside. Maintain sufficient clear space around the unit so it can intake and exhaust air properly. Don't plant shrubs too close, or stack things on or against the unit.
4. Invest in a programmable thermostat
A programmable thermostat makes it easy to adjust the temperature when you're away or at night so that your air conditioner is not running when you don't need it. With preprogrammed or custom settings, you can set it once to match your schedule to save energy, money and wear-and-tear on your air conditioner.
5. Insulate doors and windows
Air leaks that allow warm air in and let cool air escape make your air conditioner work harder than necessary to maintain a comfortable temperature in your home. This wastes energy, raises your energy bills and shortens the life of your system. Check the caulking and weatherstripping around doors and windows every year and repair or replace it as needed.
6. Install blinds and curtains
The sun coming through uncovered windows can quickly heat up your home and keep your air conditioner running. Insulated or even non-insulated blinds and curtains, particularly on windows that get direct sunlight, will help keep your home cool and give your air conditioner a break.
7. Allow air to circulate
Proper airflow is necessary for your air conditioner to work efficiently. Make sure air vents are clear and unobstructed to allow air to circulate freely throughout your home.
For help with all your air conditioning needs, contact Rheem Pro Partner in Colorado and Wyoming today!
What is the Difference Between Ductless vs. Ducted Air Conditioning Systems?
If you are building or remodeling a home, or simply want to add a cooling system to an existing home, you may be wondering about the various options and which one is best for your situation. Most people are familiar with central air conditioning (also called ducted air conditioning), but you may be less familiar with ductless air conditioning (also called a ductless mini-split system).
Here's an overview of both types.
Ducted air conditioning unit (or central air conditioning)
As the name implies, a ducted air conditioning unit uses air ducts and vents to distribute the cooled air throughout the home and return air to the system. Typically the ducts are used for both cooling and heating your home. The main unit of the air conditioner is installed outside (although sometimes it is mounted on the roof or in the attic) so it doesn't take up living space. It sits on a concrete pad and connects to the ducts and the HVAC system.
Ductless air conditioning unit (or ductless mini-split system)
Ductless systems use an air handler unit that is mounted on the wall or ceiling, rather than air ducts, to deliver cooled air. They are energy efficient because air is not lost traveling through ducts to each room. However, depending on the size of your home, you may need to install more than one. In this way, they can also be used to cool specific areas or even to supplement central air systems.
Which Type of Air Conditioner Is Right for Your Home?
When a ducted air conditioning unit may be the best option:
A ducted air conditioning unit may be preferable if you already have ducts in your home for a forced air heating system. In that case, installation is just a matter of hooking up the new air conditioner unit to the existing ducts, making it an affordable option that can be installed quickly.
Ducted systems are preferable if airflow is a concern, as they are designed to circulate air. Ducted systems are virtually invisible because the ducts are hidden behind walls and the unit is outside, so they are a good choice if aesthetics are a concern.
Ducted systems may be simpler and less expensive to maintain because there is only one unit.
When a ductless air conditioning unit may be the best option:
Ductless air conditioning units are much easier and less expensive to install in homes that don't already have ducts since the units go right in the wall or ceiling. Ductwork is expensive and complicated to install because it involves running the ducts from room to room and cutting holes in walls, floors and ceilings. In some cases, there may not even be enough room to install ducts. A ductless unit may also be preferable if you are removing the ducts during a renovation, or if you are building an addition and don't want to add ducts and upgrade your current HVAC system.
Rooms can be independently controlled with separate air handlers, saving energy and arguments over temperature control.
Start with a qualified installer
Whichever system you choose, proper design and installation is the key to having an air conditioner that functions properly, efficiently and lasts a long time. Hire a trained HVAC professional to design and install your system.
Still have questions? The experts at Rheem Pro Partner are happy to help. Contact us today! We proudly serve Colorado and Wyoming.
3 Signs Your Air Conditioner May Be on it's Way Out
On a hot summer day, an air conditioner can be a true lifesaver, as long as it's working properly. The main way to ensure that your system will keep you cool all summer long, and save money in the long run, is to schedule a professional tune-up at the start of the season. In addition, however, you can avoid an unpleasant surprise by taking a moment to understand the warning signs that your air conditioner may be failing and the steps you can take to prevent a breakdown before it happens.
Here are five signs of a potential problem with your air conditioner:
1. Increased energy bills
An air conditioner that works harder to achieve the proper temperature uses more energy. If your energy bills are increasing and your home takes longer to cool, this could indicate that your system is failing.
2. The air coming from the vents isn't cold
The air blowing through the vents should be consistently cool. If you notice that it is no longer as cold as when your system was new, or, of course, if it's not cold at all, have your system checked out by a professional. The problem could be a simple fix, or something more serious.
3. Weak airflow from your vents
Limited airflow could indicate an issue with the compressor. It may also mean that your air ducts are dirty. Dust and debris can build up in the ducts and prevent air from flowing properly. Leaks in the ducts also prevent the conditioned air from reaching your home's living spaces. (Ask us about Aeroseal, a patented process that thoroughly and economically seals holes and cracks in air ducts.)
4. Strange noises coming from the AC unit
Air conditioners are designed to run quietly. Squealing, grinding or grating sounds are a clear indication of a malfunction. Have a technician check out any unusual noises as soon as possible. Correcting the problem early can prevent a costly breakdown later on.
5. Leakage around the air conditioning unit
Any leaks should be addressed immediately. Water pooling around the unit may be caused by a clogged or broken drain tube. The presence of water or moisture can lead to mold growth. Water dripping inside the unit may come from ice melting. If the drip pan is full, or you hear chunks of ice falling, call your HVAC technician right away. Either of these can cause significant damage to your air conditioner. A refrigerant leak also requires immediate attention. Refrigerant leaks pose serious health risks and can also indicate a major problem with your system.
Any of these signs warrant a service call. For increased peace of mind, however, be sure to schedule an annual tune-up by a licensed HVAC technician. Doing so will greatly diminish the likelihood of emergency repairs and will also extend the life of your air conditioner and save money on energy costs.


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My artist muse, and very best girlfriend is now at the Rainbow Bridge awaiting my arrival someday. I'm sure she is happy and healthy and playing with Tilly and Frank until I arrive.
I adopted Abby six years ago and every single day was joy. I promised myself that I would make the most of every day she was with me. I did that and am so glad to say I have no regrets. She passed with me beside her, my hand on her heart in the early morning hours on Sunday. I am so glad that I was with her.
She is my heart dog.


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Thursday, October 15, 2009
Let's Go Swimmin' on Foodie Friday
12 comments:
such a cute post, i love your little helper~ReplyDelete
So cute!! The meal sounds delish, too!!ReplyDelete
This is an adorable post...loved it all.ReplyDelete
I've been waiting to see what you would do with this cloth, and it was worth the wait! It looks fabulous with your lovely accessories, especially the napkin rings. The menu is perfect, too. I'll be revisting this one for some time. Thanks for the treat!ReplyDelete
What a fun post! You lucky girl....Lobster is my favorite:)ReplyDelete
UMMM fresh lobster! The napkin rings are adorable!!ReplyDelete
Have a great weekend!
I love the color you've brought to your tablescape. It persinifies good cheer. I also love the easy recipe for lobster bisque. Have a wonderful weekend.ReplyDelete
Lovely tablescape but I'm sad about the lobsters.... I hate seeing them packed up alive with ice ever since I saw life lobster in a blister package in our supermarket...ReplyDelete
Next time you make lobster, give me a call.ReplyDelete
I'm glad you finally got your tablecloth! The table looks great and it looks like Homer is ready to dive in!! :)ReplyDelete
What a beautiful tablesscape. Love the colors and the lobster bisque sound s so EASY!!! THANKS!!! GeriReplyDelete
This one just makes me smile....check out the grins on those napkin rings, that's how I feel about this tablecloth.ReplyDelete
Daphne, out twin cloths should get together sometime! LOL And M, I've had it scheduled for awhile since Brad sent it to me, just waiting for it to work its way into the schedule. :-)
Thanks for visiting everyone ..... there are more FISH in my future, so check back often!


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Russ Kendrick Martin is a road-wise artist with a whiskey throat and a ripped-from-the-headlines edge to his songwriting. His style is best described as gritty, quirky, honest and familiar. He has performed on stages in the biggest music centers in the U.S., including Nashville, TN and Athens, Ga.
Martin attributes his success as a songwriter and performer to his list of work experiences. A native of Southern Michigan, Russ has worked as a carpenter, welder, truck driver, farm hand and, for the past decade, as a broadcast news journalist at a small town radio station. Martin says, "Radio news is one really good way to get a glimpse at the way the World works. Broadcast writing requires brevity so it also helped me sharpen the tools I need to put my experiences and observations into words." Martin uses the experience to craft songs that tell stories that are bigger than the space they occupy.
Martin was surrounded by music as a child. His mother, Dorothy Martin, was a gospel singer and guitarist. It was through his father, Kendrick Martin, that Russ discovered acts that included Johnny Cash; Bill Monroe; Roger Miller; Merle Haggard; The Osborne Brothers; Ralph Stanley; Creedence Clearwater Revival and other Country, Bluegrass and Rock & Roll greats.
Russ joined country-rock band Stampede, in 1993. It was with Stampede that a musical identity began to take shape. The band drew from the country & bluegrass influences of Martin's youth, adding them to the influences of Southern Rock and Blues. The core members of Stampede re-formed to release an album under the name Rail in 2000. The band found moderate success with the album, American Dream. After touring in support of American Dream, Rail disbanded in 2002.
Martin continued to perform as a solo acoustic act after the separation. He also continued to write new songs, collecting a number of tunes in his catalog over the next decade, as he focused on raising his family.
Russ released his debut solo album, Carburetor, in Spring 2015. The album features songs that span the length of his musical career and the width of his life's experiences. From the guitar-driven rock of Trailer Trash Girl, to the hardcore twang of Girls, Guns & Guitars, to the deep ballads What's The Matter With Michelle and (I Want To) Die of A Broken Heart, the album is steeped in Real-Life and peppered with bits of Martin's quirky wit. Brian Reusch, of WCCI Radio in Savanna, IL, had this to say about the album, "Russ Kendrick Martin showcases his wide ranging talent—from his distinctive vocals to his knack for writing about real life—in his debut album Carburetor. With a mix of classic country sound and healthy doses of indie rock and today's country edge, there's something for everyone."
Martin's live performances are laid back, engaging the audience in the songs and the atmosphere. His delivery is understated and instantly familiar. Listeners often find themselves singing along with songs they're hearing for the first time.


text: Though some sites have done away with their comment sections, that doesn't change the fact that the internet itself is basically one big message board. Social media is itself a huge comments section, and unless you're off the grid it's kind of inescapable. During your endless hours on the internet, you've probably noticed a pattern when it comes to the worst kinds of commenters. You probably tried to forget, but here they are again.


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FC: I love my Bridesmaid
1: Dear Jess, I hope you know how special you are to me. You were such a role model to me in college.. and was always the person I wanted to see when I was having a bad day. You are so much fun to be around and I hope we'll remain friends forever. Thank you for being my bridesmaid and for just being you! Love, Katie
8: 5.10.09
9: Daughters are little girls that grow up to be your best friend...
10: "A mother is she who can take the place of all others but whose place no one else can take." - Cardinal Mermillod
15: Happy Mother's Day
17: "Mothers hold their children's hands for a while - their hearts forever."
18: "A lucky few have a mother like you. Mothers are flowers in the garden of life."
19: May 10th 2009
20: "We Laugh, We Cry We Make Time Fly Best Friends we are, My Mom & I"
23: Adison & Mom
24: "A Mother's love never ages."
25: "M-O-T-H-E-R "M" is for the million things she gave me, "O" means only that she's growing old, "T" is for the tears she shed to save me, "H" is for her heart of purest gold; "E" is for her eyes, with love-light shining, "R" means right, and right she'll always be, Put them all together, they spell "MOTHER," A word that means the world to me. -Howard Johnson"
26: "A mother's love perceives no impossibilities"


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We believe in our local area and the people that live here. It's a passionate, vibrant place with a strong sense of community and where people look out for each other. Poverty and poor health are still widespread, but this area has made huge strides and we believe it will continue to.
In our part of Bradford we're running more than 20 projects for local families.Read about how you can get involved


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Way Too Excited Hockey Fan Pours Beer All Over Himself
The city of Winnipeg hasn't hosted an NHL playoff game since 1996, so you know fans were fired up when their Jets hosted the Anaheim Ducks on Monday (Apr. 20).
Especially this guy.
Check out the guy standing to the left of the reporter who decides to pour beer all over himself.
Sadly, it was all for naught as the Ducks took care of the Jets in overtime, 5-4, to take a commanding 3-0 lead in the series.
There's a joke to be made here about ice cold beer and hockey being played on the ice, but we're not going to do it, mostly because we're too mesmerized by this guy's antics.
He's still got a ways to go before he reaches cult status, like this hockey fan who knows his way around a beer or two or the great Madison Bumgarner, who's made celebrating with beer a true art form.


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February 05, 2013 12:21
"The Berlin File" by Ryoo Seung-wan ranked No. 1 at the box office by luring over 1.53 million moviegoers in the first weekend of its release on Jan. 30. The film has attracted more than 2.24 million viewers so far, hitting the 2 million mark in the shortest time of any films released in January or February, the low season for movies.
CJ Entertainment, the distributor of the action flick, expects "The Berlin File" to keep its strong showing this week during the lunar New Year's holiday.
The movie drew attention even before its release on Wednesday due to the star-studded lineup: it features Jeon Ji-hyun, Han Suk-kyoo, Ha Jung-woo and Ryoo Seung-bum. The flamboyant action scenes are apparently a particular draw.
- Copyright © Chosunilbo & Chosun.com


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Every Parent's
Dream Come True
The Chore App is a mobile game that turns real-world chores into a rewarding and engaging experience for children. As a father of four, the creator (81monkeys founder Stephane Cotichini) made sure the game is fun for kids, advertisement free, and autonomous. It also supports blended families!
Key Features
For Kids
- It's a mobile game for chores
- Earn keys, chests, ingredients and potions
- Play the Pest Panic Mini-Game
And so much more! - Learn More
For Parents
- Game mechanics that engage children
- Easy, one-time chore set-up
- Supports multiple devices and blended families
And so much more! - Learn More
Parents do not want more ads in front of their children!
While the other guys offer free apps, that sell your data and advertise to your children, The Chore App is NOT an advertising platform. It does not rely on ad revenue. It's free to try, and if you love it, you'll buy it... and we think you'll love it.


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The Woman's Knife
The Woman's Knife
Obviously we're huge fans of the "woman's knife" if you couldn't tell. Each Ulu from this limited edition collaboration was handcrafted by Tlingit artist Mary Goddard from her Sitka Alaska studio. This copper ulu is cut, sanded, and polished with love before being inspected for any extra needed care. Next up, the handle portion is finished with silver rivets and pounded, leaving a hammered texture. Lastly a patina heat finish is applied which leaves each piece with a unique spectrum of color washing over the surface. Over time, this treatment will change with the wearer. Living in a time in where being a woman is so important and powerful, I feel that each piece in its own way is an outward manifestation of the great potential in each woman.
Being attached to a beautiful hammered silk charmeuse ties back to the hammered handle on the hardware, and allows the wearer to have the option of using as a pendant choker, or tying around the wrist for a more customizable look.
Product Details:
Hardware -Copper with Silver rivet inlay
Measurements: 1"Height x 1 ½" Width 2mm thickness
Neck Tie –Hammered silk charmeuse


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08 Nov Luxurious Hotels in Rome
You would like to enjoy the luxurious of this Eternal City and in case your traveling in Rome, you should be well-funded. You've got to try out these prestigious hotels' accommodations.
These hotels gives a lodging for you and your friends and are strategically positioned within the areas of this everlasting town.
One will be positioned in Rome's most renowned route through Veneto, it's Rome, that is the Westin Excelsior. This resort offers bedrooms supplied with custom made fabrics, bathrooms with best toilets, rooms supplied with best undermount kitchen sinks and more! Imperial, Renaissance and Biedermeier style furnishings that are abundant with walls and ceilings. You May enjoy specialties in Gran Caffe Doney in the Doney Cafe or even java. It's also that you'll discover most significant suite in Europe.
Look at the hotel here:
Even the Grand Plaza Rome is among those treasures Rome is pleased with. This resort was home to quite a few actors and is being utilised as places of films that are numerous. In addition, it provides some of visits and those Papal events and gatherings. It's found several blocks off in among those entire world's renowned shopping streets, Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps.
The Global Palace could Be Located at this Everlasting City's Middle. It's the mix of hospitality and beauty that is traditional. Its own a hundred and twenty rooms have been individually decorated with classic furniture, so whilst offering the comfort and ease of a resort, maintaining their sophistication.
Rooms have been designed with in-room secure, air-conditioning, mini bar, hair drier, work desk, tv and accessibility card that is available.
Surrounded and surrounded by dragons and available to restaurants, cinemas, departmental stores and theatres, global Palace delivers you with with selection of enjoyable and amusement.
In Rome Hotel Baglioni, the hotels provides a style of comfortable dwelling. It conveys the title "Regina", Italian for "Queen" to this placed Queen Margherita of Savoy to get 14 weeks. It showcased entry way with crystal chandeliers and vaulted ceilings, a marble and bronze stairs and spaces with furniture.


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Designer to the Stars
For his next act, veteran Hollywood manager Sandy Gallin transforms homes of showbiz bigwigs, adding his signature style to luxury spaces
It's a Monday afternoon and Sandy Gallin—best known as a Hollywood talent manager—is hiding in music mogul Jimmy Iovine's bathroom. "I just need a quiet place where I can take this telephone call," he says.
Outside, 120 people lay cobblestones, drill into walls and move furniture in order to get the 16,000-square-foot Wallace Neff-designed house in Holmby Hills ready in time for Mr. Iovine to move in. And Mr. Gallin is overseeing the entire project—from landscaping to interior design—for Mr. Iovine, the co-founder...


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In northwest Trierzon, the triangle between the Gaden and Urven Rivers is an area much visited by Laranian pilgrims. Three adjacent esards on the border between Ilbra and Senedalo — Irulane, Yras and Tiridh — are home to abbeys of three different orders of the Laranian church.
Irulane abbey is the traditionally recognised birthplace of Saint Irula, a Trierzi maiden who lived about six centuries ago. The story of Irula is well-known in the region. It recounts her chaste love for a lost warrior, how her tears of mourning turned to precious stones, and the miracles of healing which she later performed in Larani's name. The story is an important instructive tale in the conversion of the Trierzi tribesmen to the Laranian faith and is oft repeated by priests today in northwest Trierzon. [Read more...]


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Medical Astrology Techniques
If the many events while using the history affecting illness coincide utilizing certain astrological transits additionally configurations, we're able to find usually the astrological source of health issues, supply this prognosis with the course and even duration from illness, and select to a new healing desired etc. The vertical with respect situation often all comes together as correctly: the patron also comes in the regular astrological time, but your astrologer sees while using horoscope some form of danger before ailment provides demonstrated as well as materialized.
Medical astrology could possibly be the cruelest half of astrology. In case you fail for you to bear dealing in very difficult, airport pathologies, until you want acquiring lethal responsibility for all consequences with regards to your suggestions — individuals better do not exercise. In case you aren't about to a health practitioner by project, you are going to need to arrange properly plus understand materials, consult medical doctors, gather information online, take an element in forums, groups, bill sites.
The cases of recouping are noticeably dissimilar about what astrologers usually do in the reading. In the ideal market, astrologers propose and those people change or heirs behavior, so which you could spend which will surplus power source the explants and also megastars send these people. Medical astrologer may very well be more tangible saw a lot and encourage wearing many crystals, hues, aromatherapy, and bloom remedies.
It can be ideal that a professions through medical astrologer and also mad you should not necessarily combine. If in the slightest degree possible, medical astrologer will never cure on top of that; the client is not the individual, unless your entire medical astrologer is medical doctor as exceptionally well, or eventually, a competent homeopath. Neither should medical astrologer certainly be a healer: they will need to only offer your very capable diagnosis regarding malefic influences designed to use already manifested available as disease and they often will — unless nothing is undertaken — go on and manifest and for that reason, probably because of heavier consequences for the reason that time actions along.


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I can remember writing every single novel and story; where I was and what I wrote on. The Wishing Fields was written when I lived in a duplex. I had invested $200 or so into my very own electronic typewriter. I sat on the livingroom couch, hunched over my electronic typewriter that lived on my coffee table. I also wrote The Writer's House when I lived in that same duplex, but I had turned one of the bedrooms into an office by then and wrote in there, overlooking the back yard while my kids played outside. This was also where I wrote the very first story that actually sold (in 1999 to Highlights For Children Magazine), Ben Gets To Help. I remember my very first royalty check that came in for that story. I was so excited, even though it wasn't very much money. A few months later, I received another check from Highlights, though, and this one was huge to me ($789) because they had resold my story after publishing it, to McGraw Hill.
Shortly after that, I moved and bought a Victorian house on a river and when the company I worked for was taken over by another company, I was sure my job was gone when I was given a one month time off until the dust settled. I was in a panic, so I rushed to my huge desktop computer and immediately pounded out another children's story and sent it off to CTB-McGraw Hill and, much to my shock, they telephoned me a couple weeks later to ask if I would accept $500 for my story. I was thinking boy, would I! but outloud I simply said, "Yes, I would accept that!" I was thrilled to no end and immediately sent off another story to them which was also purchased. Then I found out I did not lose my job and I went back to monitoring news stations from my home office for a media scanning company.
I realize that writing stories is like having children. You never forget the details about the actual writing process and you never forget that very first royalty check!


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successful ground breaking work in telecom products and services. The telecommunication industry seeks to deliver their respective products efficiently, and cost effectively.
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My past seller clients in the Los Angeles real estate market send us new business by referral constantly. This is because they've experienced my stellar seller services package and want their friends and family to experience it as well. I realize that the value I bring to the real estate selling process is in a package of services that takes a seller from an idea to sell through a very complex and detailed process and culminates in leaving the closing table with a check.
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Now Panjab University under attack: Is Centre at war with universities & students?
Like several other universities across the country, the Panjab University is on a boil. One of the oldest universities of India, Panjab University campus witnessed an unprecedented violent crackdown on students protesting against an exorbitant fee hike on Tuesday.
Till now 58 students have been arrested by the police while sources say that 67 is the number of the total accused of arson and stone pelting. The police withdrew the sedition charges that had initially been slapped on the students after there was a public outrage against the step.
People from various walks of life have come out to support the students and are pointing to the larger designs of the central government to curb dissent and convert public universities into money making enterprises.
It needs to be pointed that the Panjab University is a unique institution of eminence. It is an interstate body corporate and is neither under the Centre nor under the State. Former Punjab University Teachers' Association (PUTA) general secretary Professor Manjit Singh pointed out that the Union Human Resources Development (HRD) Minister Prakash Javadekar was wrong in pointing out that Panjab University is not a central university and the matter pertains to the state.
He said that the institute is closer to being a central institution, "Our calendar was declared through an Act of Parliament and we are accountable to the Parliament. Our audit reports are placed before the parliament and our Chancellor is the Vice President."
At present, 40% of the university's funding is supposed to come from Punjab while the remaining 60% comes from the Centre.
Money matters
The institution landed in a financial crisis because over the years the Punjab government has been dragging its feet on giving its part of the funds and has been disbursing only a portion of its due and that too, not on time.
The Centre, on the other hand, has been pressurising the university to fend for itself.
Since 2008, the university faculty and the students have been demanding that the university be given a central university status like the IIMs and the NITs where the funding comes from the Centre while the university calendar remains unchanged.
It was amid this scenario that the university authorities recently raised the fees for various courses exorbitantly, in some cases, more than ten times. And this as expected, lead to a lot of unrest.
Those against the fee hike pointed out that students from northern and even north-eastern states come from families with agrarian backgrounds seeking higher education. How can those families, that are already under distress due to bad or troubled agriculture, afford such exorbitant fees or afford education under the self-finance model being promoted ?
They asked – if the Centre can fund an institute like the Post Graduate Institute for Medical and Education Research (PGIMER) that is located just across the road, why can't it fund this university?
The education business
Professor Manjit described the trend of treating universities as a business opportunity as highly regressive. Hitting out at the central government, he said, "This is a sort of reassertion of a neo-Brahminical ideology. Just like in the old times where Dalits were not allowed to learn. Instead of taking people along and mitigating disparities, our government wants a large number of the people to be made ignorant systematically so that they are much easier to rule. It only wants the creamy layer to be educated and is moving towards a qualified franchise system."
He pointed out that the country is set to witness a serious political crisis in the next one decade because the people are being deprived of essential and basic services.
Amandeep Kaur who is a research scholar from Students for Society (SFS), a left-leaning student organisation that was at the forefront of the protest, told Catch – "The larger design is to convert public universities into private ones and deprive the masses of education. The way organisations participating in dissent and protests are being targeted and painted black, it is clear that the government of the day wants only one student organisation, the ABVP, to be there in the universities."
She said that the police action has led to a sense of fear among students, particularly the girls and the forces behind the action have succeeded , to some extent, in stifling dissent.
Students under attack
Civil society organisation People's Union for Democratic Rights (PUDR), while condemning the action against the students, pointed out that police presence in university campuses and students being brutally beaten up and assaulted when they stand for their just demands and causes, has become the new normal.
"This adds to the organised attack on the students' voices which has been witnessed earlier in Delhi University, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Hyderabad Central University and Allahabad University. The crackdown on the protesting students comes in the backdrop of the systematic attack against higher educational institutions, which also comes at the cost of the students' right to education. With each passing day, education is becoming more of a luxury which only the rich can afford. Recently, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, shut down three of its centres due to refusal by University Grants Commission (UGC) to release money allocated for them and Jawaharlal Nehru University witnessed massive seat cuts in their MPhil and PhD courses," says a statement from PUDR secretaries Cijo Joy and Anushka Singh.
The statement further reads, "The attack on students of Panjab University has to be seen in the context of the larger fund cuts in higher education by HRD ministry and UGC. The budget allocation for the University Grants Commission (UGC) has been cut by almost 55%, from Rs 9315.45 crore in 2015-16 to Rs 4286.94 crore in 2016-17. In fact towards the end of 2015, the UGC failed to allocate any funds to Panjab University. Even back then the HRD ministry introduced a 25% reduction in grants to higher education, which affected the UGC's budget. These cuts have led to universities raising funds through internal means including fee hikes, as in the case of Panjab University. Therefore PUDR holds the policies of the government responsible for promoting education driven by profit and depriving needy students from getting access to higher education."
Meanwhile, there was a protest by various other civil society and political organisations against the police action at Sector 17 on Wednesday evening in which people from various walks of life participated.
The people are appalled at the brutal crackdown on the students and the various attempts from right wing organisations to curb dissent and debate.


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Don`t you have real device to test your project? You are forced to use default android SDK emulator with pathetic performance/fps rate? Follow this article to learn how to use super fast emulator, you will also learn how to combine it with eclipse to use is straight while developing inside eclipse, just like you would use normal emulator, with one difference, smooth performance. Since this emulator provides great performance, you can create promo videos easily (using 3rd party tools, like Camtasia Studio)
1/15/2013 05:41:54 pm
Very helpful. Thanks.
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A few months ago, I tried out the 5:2 diet. It never really appealed, but I figured that the best way to make an informed judgement was to give it a go, and see what all the hype was about.
As expected, the feast days were no problem.
But – also, as expected – the fast days were dreadful. I always try to eat healthily. To listen to my body, and give it what it needs, be that a piece of red meat, or a bowl of porridge so it's an odd feeling having to ignore hunger, ignore cravings, and let your diet be entirely dictated by the magic number 500.
500 is the amount of calories you can eat on 'fast days'. It's not a lot. I've never counted calories before, but it's a neurosis-inducing activity, trying to calculate how you can squeeze as much food into such tight parameters. It's also tricky trying to work out how to stagger these little morsels throughout the day, so that your body gets the occasional hit of 'sugar' to keep it running. Just remarkable how quickly you become so excited by the prospect of three raisins.
Anyway – I'm wittering on. As you can probably tell, I didn't really enjoy my almost-week of the 5:2. I'm more of a fan of moderation, rather than eating extremes – and starving yourself for two days, then gorging on the other five just doesn't seem to be a healthy way to live, or a sensible way to cultivate a healthy relationship with food.
There's not much scope for culinary experimentation on the 5:2, but one amazing discovery did come from the diet: scrambled tofu. Now, tofu has a bad reputation for all the obvious reasons. When unseasoned and tepid and floating in water, it's pretty unappetizing. But a quick bit of trickery can turn tofu into something really very delicious.
In India, it's not uncommon to kick-start the day with a spicy dish like Masala Dosa or Paratha with pickles. I've always thought that hot vegetal flavours with a steaming cup of coffee are an excellent way to kick the body into action. Far better than soggy, sugary cereal. Using dried spices is also a cunning way of introducing a lot of flavours into a dish, without introducing a lot of calories.
I think that this only has about 100 calories . It's cheap to buy a big block of tofu from Chinese or Korean shops, and it's really, really delicious – such a breakfast treat. If you've judged tofu in the past, then do give it another chance with this dish. It might just change your mind.
Recipe: Scrambled Tofu
Serves 1
1 tbsp rapeseed oil
1/2 onion, thinly sliced
1 tsp turmeric
1/2 tsp chilli powder
150g tofu
Garnish: spring onion and green chilli, sliced
1. Heat the oil in a frying pan, and cook the onion until softened – a few minutes should do it.
2. Stir in the turmeric and chilli powder, and then crumble in the tofu, and stir so that it's coated in the spices.
3. Tip into a bowl, and garnish with slices of spring onion and chilli.


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The Great Hull Wordsearch
Form Studio
Regular price £10.00
From Chip Spice to Amy Johnson, cream phone boxes to Spiders. There's over 700 words, phrases, places, businesses, bands and people to find amongst 30,000 letters.
This might take some time solo, or it makes a great family activity!
Size is A0 and it's supplied folded down to A3 with a separate word list.
Although much care has been taken to avoid errors, given the size there may some typos, please forgive us! If you spot one, please let us know so we can update on future copies.


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1000 South 1st Street
between Barton Springs and Copeland. Free parking behind our two buildings.
Charming 1920's bungalow houses a well-curated and colorful selection of modern and retro cotton prints, voile, rayon, linen, Japanese imports. Great laminates, oilcloth and home decor prints. You'll find fantastic buttons, notions, wool felt, embroidery supplies and lots of books and patterns. A friendly and knowledgeable staff awaits you!
Discounts: 20% off all merchandise! 25% off for MQG members!


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How to make herbal medicine with Riyana Rebecca Sang.
from 65.00
Next time you catch a cold, skip the mad dash to Walgreens and rummage through your own handmade herbal apothecary instead. Herbal remedies are an effective and "green" alternative to expensive and synthetic pharmaceuticals. In this workshop taught by Riyana Rebecca Sang, you will learn about the core types of herbal medicines (tinctures, teas, decoctions, infusions, syrups), understand their benefits and applications, and how to use them. You will also make a tincture, a syrup, and a hand-blended tea to take home.
With over ten years' experience in making herbal medicine, Riyana is Program Director and Faculty Herbalist at Ohlone Herbal Center in Berkeley.


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However, Vindhya Telelinks (up 1.85 per cent), MTNL (up 1.06 per cent), Tata Communications (up 0.99 per cent) and Reliance Communications (up 0.66 per cent) were gaining in trade.
The BSE Telecom index was trading 1.02 per cent down at 1,396 around 10.37 am (IST).
Besides telecom, BSE Teck index also appeared to be volatile. The index was marginally low by 0.02 per cent at 5,648 around the same time.
Benchmark indices remained firm on buying in oil, realty, metal and PSU stocks.
On BSE, consumer durables led the sectoral gainers.
Bajaj Auto, Asian Paints, Reliance Industries, Tata Steel and Dr Reddy's were leading the Sensex kitty.
However, Bharti AIrtel, Mahindra & Mahindra, Sun Pharma and Lupin were among the top Sensex losers.
In the Nifty50 pack, 17 stocks were trading in green, while 33 stocks were in red.


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Serves 4 servings
15 minCook Time
15 minTotal Time
- 1 lb Alaskan salmon
- 1/2 stick butter
- 1/4 cup white wine
- 2 cloves garlic chopped and crushed
- Tsp. olive oil
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat.
- Using your cast iron skillet, sear salmon skin side up and allow to cook for 4 minutes.
- Remove salmon from pan and place on baking sheet skin side down. Place in oven and cook five-10 minutes.
- Add olive oil and garlic to cast iron skillet. Sauté garlic until it begins to turn brown.
- Add a splash of wine to your pan to deglaze it and continue to cook for 2 more minutes to reduce it. Remove from heat and slowly whisk butter into your wine reduction until its well incorporated.
- Serve salmon with sauce on top. Enjoy!
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.