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Davenport Chimney, Hiding Mechanical Appendages, Problems
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Joined: 25 Jun 2005
Posts: 2249
Location: River Forest, Illinois
Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2006 4:53 pm
Post subject: Davenport Chimney, Hiding Mechanical Appendages, Problems
The chimney on the Davenport House is 105 years old. It has never had a chimney cap. I really do not want to put one on now. How critical are they?
I have 5 flues in the chimney. Are there any problems with using them as follows?
1. First floor fireplace
2. Kitchen exhaust hood vent
3. Plumbing vent in one.
4. Basement high efficiency gas furnace and hot water heater.
5. Attic high efficiency gas furnace.
How important is it to use flue liners? I am inclined to use Solid/Flue a "cast-on-site" liner in the flues for the high efficiency gas furnaces because the burn so hot.
Paul Harding FAIA
Owner and Restoration Architect for FLW's 1901 E. Arthur Davenport House, the First Prairie School House in Chicago |
Last edited by pharding on Mon May 01, 2006 8:03 am; edited 4 times in total
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Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 48
Location: Lake City, Iowa
Posted: Sun Apr 23, 2006 8:46 pm
Post subject:
Dear Paul,
I'm not an expert, but I believe that high efficiency furnaces produce flue gases that are
than older furnaces. The result is that significant condensation can develop, which (in addition to being very acidic and corrosive) can damage masonry chimneys in freeze/thaw cycles. Not only that, but since the flue gases are so cool, they may not create sufficient draft and furnace inefficiency or even carbon monoxide poisoning can result.
A liner can effectively resize the flues so that the draft is better, as well as protect the masonry from condensation damage. You should look for a respected chimney expert in your area, or a qualified HVAC contractor to advise you.
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Joined: 25 Jun 2005
Posts: 2249
Location: River Forest, Illinois
Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 7:32 am
Post subject: Chimney Update
We are now trying to do the following to avoid and minimize mechanical and plumbing penetrations of the roof.
1. The chimney flue for the fireplace currently is unlined by any material except for brick and is slightly less than the recommended cross sectional area. I am looking at two options. A. Leave as is and minimize use. Or B. Consolidate its flue with an adjacent abandoned flue by removing a wyth of brick acting as a divider and lining the consolidated flue with a proprietary cementious product. Option B. while being the better solution will probably not happen for cost reasons.
2. One flue will be used for combustion air exhaust for the attic high efficiency mechanical unit. Combustion air intake would draw air through the unheated attic area from the new ridge vent. We are working through this with the manufacturer's technical staff. We may do this and classify our efforts as being experimental and see if it works. Once implemented I will find out next winter if this works.
3. One flue will be used for a plumbing vent.
4. One flue will be used for a gas hot water heating vent.
5. The kitchen range exhaust hood cannot get to the chimney. It will be routed down and out through a reused 1901 coal or ice access portal. It is roughly 24" by 24". We want to retain this original opening because it is part of the original fabric and story of the house. The exterior frame of the opening will be retained. The recessed door will be removed and saved. Wood batten strips were used on two south facing basement windows as a vertical wood screen, similar to vertical wood balusters / interior and exterior wood screens. We will repeat this detail here to mask exhaust vents for the following: kitchen exhaust hood vent, powder room exhaust fan vent, and dryer exhaust vent.
6. The other plumbing vent is in its original location as built in 1901. It is tucked away between the bathroom dormer wall and the dormer overhang. FLW was exceedingly clever in putting it there originally. It gets Greeked out and is semi-concealed in this location. If you study the house and look hard for it, you can see it just barely. Other observers will never notice it.
7. The second floor bathroom exhaust fan will be routed through part of the new 1" wide continuous eave vent.
8. The condensers for the new high efficiency HVAC units will located in a new below grade areaway adjacent to the house.
9. The electric meter will be mounted on the restored/rebuilt 1921 garage in the summer of 07. Electric, telephone, and optional cable service will run underground to the house from the garage.
10. I will work with the gas company to relocate the gas meter so that it is concealed.
11. We use satellite TV. The dish will be on the roof of the garage.
12. The basement high efficiency furnace will have its venting for combustion air exhaust and intake concealed by cutting 1" high slots beneath an angled exterior wood trim board 18" above grade. This will be invisible to everyone except those laying on the ground next to the south facade.
Summary The roof and all exterior facades will be as pristine and free of mechanical intakes, exhausts, vents, condensers, power cut-off switches, electiric meters, gas meters, satellite dishes, overhead power lines, overhead telephone lines, overhead cable tv ines, etc. as it was when built in 1901. This has been extremely difficult to pull off.
Paul Harding FAIA
Owner and Restoration Architect for FLW's 1901 E. Arthur Davenport House, the First Prairie School House in Chicago |
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Joined: 25 Jun 2005
Posts: 2249
Location: River Forest, Illinois
Posted: Mon May 01, 2006 7:51 am
Post subject: Meeting with the Solid/Flue Rep and More Challenges
Saturday I met the representative from Solid/Flue a "cast-on-site" liner for the flues in the chimney. He and I climbed up on the roof to visually inspect the flues of the chimney. Unfortunately it was not a pretty sight. The chimney when originally built was not lined with clay tile. Each flue has a brick lining with mortar with what appears to be some open joints. Not good. I am now being forced to line it.
Unfortunately I did not have a line item for this in our project budget. This could be a major bite out of the contingency. Now I know what an architect's client feels like when finding the inevitable substantial change order. It reiterates the importance of a reasonable contingency when doing restoration. As an architect sometimes I experience clients who balk at budgeting a reasonable contingency. In restoration, regardless of how thorough the construction drawings are, a contingency is critical.
So now it boils down to the cost of Solid/Flue versus the more common stainless steel liner approach. I will probably decide by Friday.
Another challenge has reared its ugly head. The neighbors are getting restless. The owner to the south, with whom we
share a common driveway
, has organized some of the neighbors in opposing the restoration or more specifically the pace of restoration. She has approached all the neighbors in attempting to organize opposition and apply pressure to the building department. She was foolish enough to approach the owners that are restoring Drummond's River Forest Women's Club and ask him to the join the merry opposition. He explained that since we all live in a historic neighborhood that historic preservation goes with the territory and that given the scope and quality of our work that we were moving at a reasonable pace. My wonderful neighbor to the south, with whom we share the driveway, has appointed herself as the self-appointed representative of two blocks of our street. Unfortunately or fortunately she has all of 5 homeowners that support her opposition. As an architect, I have heard this type of nonsense before and I know that
this too shall pass
. She is more of a nuisance than a problem. Diplomacy and tact are the words of the day for this nuisance. Bend but don't break.
Meanwhile restoration rolls on. Second floor HVAC was unbelievably difficult. There is simply too little space for our modern technology. We had numerous meetings with the HVAC subcontractor to work this out. Now the attic HVAC work including ductwork is 90% complete. It was like putting a watch together instead of normal contraction. It is turning great, except for one problem. Unfortunately one run of ductwork installed Friday blocks out the installation of 65 square feet of insulation in the attic. This will necessitate uninstalling a run of ductwork so that we can get the insulation in there. This was discovered Saturday.
Saturday was not a good day for the restoration. On Saturday I discovered the poor condition of chimney, extent of the organization of the opposition to our wonderful restoration, and ductwork blocking out the insulation. Maybe I should be worried. But I am not. These are just minor speed bumps on the way to a wonderful restoration of an important architectural work, by the greatest American Architect, that was grossly disfigured in 1931.
Paul Harding FAIA
Owner and Restoration Architect for FLW's 1901 E. Arthur Davenport House, the First Prairie School House in Chicago |
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Joined: 07 Jan 2005
Posts: 116
Location: Saint John, New Brunswick
Posted: Mon May 01, 2006 4:13 pm
Post subject:
I cannot agree more with building a contigency into every project, and I am still surprised that there are clients who are unwilling to add this in for their own safety and protection. I must sympathize with you, however -- it must have been difficult coming up with a good contingency figure for a FLW home! In our office, we tend to have difficulty settling on a decent number for standard renovation / restoration projects, let alone dealing with some of the unique circumstances that Wright would have built into his projects.
A few questions on this topic (if you don't mind...)
1) At what percentage of the overall budget did you set the contingency?
2) What remains of the contingency at this stage of the project?
3) Although I am sure you did exhaustive research prior to beginning the project, have you found that your research or construction documents have missed anything that would have helped you through the process?
4) What surprises have you encountered throughout the project (other than those listed above)? Any uniquely unforseen Wright-induced problems?
Keep up the excellent work and don't let those pesky neighbours bother you. Just make sure their movement doesn't gain any momentum! Removing construction grime with complimentary car washes and yard maintenance goes a long way to keeping people quiet and happy!
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Joined: 25 Jun 2005
Posts: 2249
Location: River Forest, Illinois
Posted: Mon May 01, 2006 10:50 pm
Post subject:
flwright wrote:
1) At what percentage of the overall budget did you set the contingency?
Background information to provide a proper context for my answer. My firm carries two types of contingencies: design and construction contingencies. With the design contingency we carry a larger contingency initially and we gradually reduce it as the drawings are further developed. On a large, $10 to $20 million, new project we carry 10% in schematic design. At the end of design development we will reduce the contingency with the cost projection to 5%. We also typically carry a 5% construction contingency which breaks down as follows. Architectural and engineering change orders: 3%; owner change orders 1%; building department: 1%. We have never been over 1 1/2 to 2 % for architect and engineer items on large new buildings. On a comparable large renovation project we would typically double the above percentages.
During design on our FLW restoration project, I included a 30% design contingency plus 25% for a construction contingency. After my experience on Davenport, when working for a client I would reduce those percentages.
flwright wrote:
2) What remains of the contingency at this stage of the project??
7% with the scope very well defined. We are four months from substantial completion with approximately 40% of the work to go. The contingency is now approximately 15% of remaining construction funds.
flwright wrote:
3) Although I am sure you did exhaustive research prior to beginning the project, have you found that your research or construction documents have missed anything that would have helped you through the process??
The biggest sources of our Davenport change orders were due to scope creep, quality creep, and concealed conditions. As an architect working on my own restoration project, it was difficult to do anything to less than the highest standards. The most expensive change orders were: increased scope of structural repairs that I added and a major increase in scope to erase the 1931 alterations and restore the roof and front facade to FLW 1901 design as it was built. Restoring the facade and roof to 1901 was approximately a $100,000 change order plus $30,000 for the future front terrace.
flwright wrote:
4) What surprises have you encountered throughout the project (other than those listed above)? Any uniquely unforeseen Wright-induced problems??
Number 1: How much it cost to properly restore a FLW property.
Number 2: How much I enjoyed doing it.
Number 3: How much time that it takes to do it.
Number 4: How much FLW pushed the limits of construction technology.
There were too many problems to list here. It seems that just about everything about the 1901 E. Arthur Davenport is unique and special compared to contemporary houses of that period. It was designed to the nth degree. It was not worked out technically to that same degree. The house was built with a limited budget using less durable materials. The house had never been restored and had a lot of deferred maintenance. The economic challenges have been substantial as a result of these factors.
Paul Harding FAIA
Owner and Restoration Architect for FLW's 1901 E. Arthur Davenport House, the First Prairie School House in Chicago |
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Simulation is a key part of modern engineering. Our device circuits, our bridges, our aircraft, our ships, our cars, our chemical plant are all simulated before they are built. We cannot nowadays afford to do otherwise [1]. At one level you could argue that one of the important roles for an education in engineering is to enable our graduates to understand what lies behind these simulations, so that all of them understand their limitations, and a few of them can make better simulations in the future. This implies that we should stick to teaching the principles, not the use of the simulators. However there are many circumstances in which a simulation can be a very powerful learning tool.
Many engineers will be familiar with finite element analysis (FE), computational fluid dynamics (CFD), computer-aided design and manufacture (CAD/CAM) and with the use of tools such as ProEngineer or AutoCAD. You may choose to teach your students how to use one or more of these in a rudimentary manner, although they are very unlikely to become truly expert (see Chapter 4b). You are likely to teach the finite element method, rather than how to use ABAQUS, Nastran or ANSYS, and you want your graduates to be aware of the capabilities and potential of computer-aided methods. However I do not consider these tools, important though they are, to be genuine teaching simulations. Neither does MATLAB – often called a simulation environment – meet the full requirements. It is often used to illustrate the effect of variables on engineering behaviour but usually in essentially mathematical or graphical terms. This is only partial simulation.
The full potential of simulations to support teaching and learning is realised when difficult and/or complex situations are simulated in order to clarify and explain – to accelerate understanding, not the immediate solution of problems. Simulations of this type are surprisingly rare, probably because they are time-consuming to write and the commercial return on specialised teaching materials is relatively low. (As low as on books like this!) However there are some very good examples out there.
Flight simulation is an obvious place to start. There are many simulators in university engineering Schools, ranging from PC-based versions with a single screen to research simulators with vast capabilities and high realism. Their appeal to students is obvious, although their attraction usually results from the student's enthusiasm for flying, not for engineering. Indeed it seems to me that few engineering principles are clarified by a flight simulator, although the scope for learning about control theory is significant. In my own university we use sophisticated simulators to help students learn about flight handling qualities, but not about many other aspects of aerospace or aeronautical engineering. They are principally a motivational tool.
Flight simulators do illustrate one of the key educational points about a simulation: In order to learn, it is essential that the student can determine and change the key parameters and thus interact fully with the simulator. A simulation is not the same as an animation.
Good examples of educational simulations include several examples of truss bridge simulators (e.g. DrFrame2D or West Point Bridge Design) which can be used in conjunction with practical exercises such as building cardboard bridges. They are configured as teaching tools in that they produce real-time responses as loads or structures are changed. A large-scale extension of this is the Constructionarium, at which students of civil or structural engineering build one-tenth scale models of real bridges, buildings and other large engineering structures. In this case simulation on the computer precedes, and is eventually validated by, the building of a real model.
Another very sophisticated and wide-ranging simulation tool is at www.steeluniversity.org This package of simulations of steelmaking processes was developed for use by both university students and steel industry employees and it illustrates many of the best features of an educational simulation, including:
- It deals with processes which, because of geography and danger, cannot be seen by most students;
- It was developed in close collaboration with steel company employees who are experts in their subject, so it is highly realistic;
- It offers the student the opportunity to control many parameters and to observe their effect, not just on the equations but on the product;
- It is supported by many (web) pages of background material, so that students can drill down for more detail or further explanation;
- It is associated with an international competition which increases student engagement.
Within steeluniversity, and the related MATTER site (www.matter.org.uk) are simulations of tests such as the Charpy and Jominy tests.
There are probably other good examples, but in my experience educational simulations meeting the criteria listed above for steeluniversity are rather rare. Electrical and electronic engineering is an area ripe with potential for simulations but a number of nominal 'simulations' have disappointing interfaces and outputs. For example SPICE (Simulation Program with Integrated Circuit Emphasis) originally required non-intuitive stacks of data, although more recent versions (e.g. 5SPICE) are somewhat more user-friendly and provide graphical representations of circuits. It would be good in many areas of engineering study to have more software which provided realistic, interactive and intuitive simulation.
There are also a number of simulations and games designed for school-level use, several of which can be found by searching the web sites of the former Engineering Subject Centre and UKCME. Racing Academy is a good example of a competitive approach to teaching mechanics and dynamics (Darling, 2008). At this level a simulation does not need to be computer-based. Magill and Roy [2007] describe an exercise to simulate the fabrication of silicon devices using red ink, sticky labels and felt pens – low tech works well here and is very cheap.
When planning to use a simulation you need to think carefully how to ensure that the students learn rather than just play. Random clicking and changing of parameters might just reveal something interesting but this is frankly unlikely. Students need to be directed towards a simulation with a clear task in mind. You should at the very least ask them a question to which they can find the answer using the simulator. You also need to tell them that, if the simulation itself does not provide a facility for taking notes or recording their actions, it will be essential to record (possibly even on paper!) what they are doing as they proceed. In these circumstances a simulation can be extremely useful and thought-provoking, and the more inquisitive student will explore further and learn more (having taken ownership of this part of his learning).
Although it might seem that games for educational use will inevitably be computer based, this is not necessarily the most educationally-effective approach, nor the cheapest. Let me give one example of a simple cheap game which has been shown to make key issues in the optimisation of production clear and relevant to students. I owe this example to Laurence Legg [2010]. The game involves only paper, scissors and a stapler, and the artefact which is produced by the participating teams is simply two pieces of folded paper stapled together. This product could be referred to as a plane, a bridge, a chair or a Christmas card, depending on the class and the season. The manufacturing process is broken down into six or seven very simple operations, one of which takes much longer than the others. (When I did it the slow process was writing out the conference name on both sides of the 'fuselage'.) There are a few rules but the key learning outcome is the importance of a bottleneck in production (the 'drum' whose beat controls the output of the process). The teams can be taught the exercise in about 15 minutes and can then be given 15 minutes to plan their production line and 15 minutes to produce as many products, or make as much money, as possible. The whole exercise can thus be completed within an hour. The consensus among the teams of academics when I took part was that this exercise is best carried out before the key concepts are introduced to the class, so that they realise the significance of the dry stuff about scheduling. I could however also see value in doing it after some of the topic had been covered. There are surely many other examples of this type of approach in use – ask around.
Read on … (but first please add a comment)
[1] Our climate is of course being simulated too, for predictive purposes, although I am not fully convinced that we know the parameters accurately enough to make this quantitatively reliable.


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West Palm Beach, FL: Democratic congressional candidate Patrick Murphy announced today that he will continue his campaign to defeat Tea Party darling Allen West in the newly proposed district 18.
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Grab a chair folks, because this one's a long one. Time to recap the KC Half Marathon! Friday, after work, I met Amy at Crown Center to go to the marathon expo.
After spending a while (and some money) at the expo, we got some groceries and went back to my house. Mom was driving in, and arrived just in time for spaghetti, wine, and the Royals! After dinner, I laid out flat Renee and got all my gear out before bed. Bed came a bit later than I would have liked, but Mom and I stayed up 'til the end of the Royals game and watched them win game 2 of the ALCS.
Saturday morning was race morning;
bright dark and early we dressed and ate a bit, and then headed to Crown Center. We got there and parked with about an hour before the start, and stayed warm inside Crown Center.
When it was closer to race time, we used the bathroom one last time, checked our bags, and hopped into the race corral. Literally, we hopped the fence into the corrals, because everyone was stuffed in like sardines!
As I was waiting in the corral, I remembered that last year, I started the race (in the dark) without my sunglasses, and by the time I wanted to wear my sunglasses, the cool air paired with my warm body made lots of fog. So last minute, just before the start, I adjusted my sunglasses on my face. Race start was at 7:05, and the sun comes up around 7:30, so I figured sooner or later, it would be okay, and then I wouldn't have to worry about it. Turns out, this was a perfect plan. No adjusting my sunglasses later, and no fog problems! Plus, I am positive I looked like a badass wearing my sunglasses in the dark, running a half marathon.
I brought two Gu's with me, safely tucked away in my Running Buddy, and took the first one around mile 3, which was right at the breathtaking Liberty Memorial part of the course.
This course, by the way, is gorgeous. This was my second time running the KC Half Marathon, and I love this course. It's hard and hilly, and it's a breathtakingly gorgeous way to run KC.
After the Liberty Memorial and Trinity Hill, we wound our way down through Westport, and onto the Plaza.
My outfit for the day included compression capris, a KC Running Co. Groupie tank top, compression arm sleeves, throw away gloves that I never threw, my visor, and a KCRC headband over my ears. I wore my Hoka Clifton's, had my Running Buddy Pouch, and my sunglasses that did not fog!
We left the Plaza and ran by the JC Nichols Fountain, then ran past the Nelson Atkins Museum. Mom paused during the run to snap a few pictures, which is why I have awesome course photos!
Around mile 7.5, the marathoners split off and went further south, and just after their departure, close to mile 8, I took my second Gu. The half marathoners started running back north, and we were over halfway done!
I was feeling really good at this point. I hadn't walked at all, not even through the water stops. The water stops were about every 2 miles, and were all very well organized. I'll pause a moment to thank the volunteers; they were all so amazing. The course was also lined with spectators, lots of fun signs, and they were full of cheer. I was very thankful for the great volunteers and spectators, they definitely helped make the run easier!
Around mile 10, my problems began. Now, before this race, the most I had run before walking in a half marathon was about 5 miles. So to get past mile 10 was HUGE for me. I didn't walk a single step until mile 10.5. Physically, I was feeling great. My paces were on point, my feet, knees, and hips felt ok, fatigued, but ok. My stomach was great, my water, gatorade, and gu intake was great.
But my head… I got a massive dizzy spell around mile 10, and even with slowing down through the first half of mile 10, I was still dizzy. By mile 10.5, my steps began to falter and stagger. I really didn't want to pass out, so I went over to the right side of the road and slowed to a walk. I was disappointed that I had to walk, because everything else felt great, but I was also pleased that I didn't push through when my body was obviously telling me that something was off.
There was another water stop around mile 11, so I decided to walk to the water stop, catch my breath and slow my breathing and heart rate a bit, then grab some gatorade and hit the road again. Well, water stop came and went, and I started running again just after mile 11.5. So I walked just over a mile, all at once.
Once I started running again, I had just over a mile and a half until the finish. This entire mile and a half was spent calculating what my time would be for the finish, and whether or not I would come in under my goal of 2:30. Had I not walked, I would have been closer to 2:25, but I'm confident that I made the right choice by walking and allowing my dizziness to subside.
I came across the line and stopped my watch, and it said 2:30:00. Like, exactly, 2:30:00. So did I make it? What would the results ticket say? Did I get under 2:30? I had talked with my sister, when I was in Milwaukee, and told her that I was considering doing a full marathon next fall. She told me that if I beat my previous half marathon of 2:40:42, and ran anything in the 2:3x:xx, I would have to sign up for the full next fall.
She texted me, minutes after the race, and gave me the news, I came through the line at 2:29:58. I beat my goal by 2 seconds, and ran the most I've ever ran during a half marathon, and felt STRONG! I later joked with her that since I didn't run in the 2:3x:xx, I didn't have to sign up for the marathon, because I ran in the 2:2x:xx. She didn't find it funny. =P
After I got my heat sheet and my medal and water, I found Amy, and we made our way to the spectators near the finish line to cheer on our friends. We saw a few KCRC friends come through, and cheered Mom on to her finish. We ended the day with all of us meeting our goals, Amy PR'd, I PR'd, and Mom met her time goal. Great finishes for everyone, and lot of smiles after getting our medals.
We changed into some dry clothes, and tried to keep warm. The sun was out, but it was a chilly morning in KC. We got our results printed out and made our way to the food tents.
Hamburgers, beer (not for me, ewwww), and chick fil-a made our bellies happy. After taking some pictures at the banner, we
headed hobbled to the car and made our way back to my apartment.
Lots of picture sharing, instagramming, face booking, and calling family from my living room, as well as foam rolling. Jazzy partook in the Lacrosse ball rolling. After Amy left, Mom and I showered and I found several spots on my body that had chafed. That was not really a fun experience in the shower. Ouch. Mom found some chafing too, but was smarter than me, and put Aquaphor on before her shower. Pro Tip: put Aquaphor or vaseline on your chafed areas before showering!
Later in the afternoon, Mom and I went to Joe's KC for BBQ, and watched the Royals game. On our way home after stopping at Scheel's, we went to Yogurtini, and ate it at home after changing into PJ's.
Bed was early on Saturday night. Sunday morning, we ran a couple miles on the trails with Amy, to shake out our legs, which felt really good. Then we went to yoga at Lululemon with Maylo to stretch everything out.
Half marathon #6 is in the books, and it was really and truly a great half marathon. I enjoyed the entire weekend, the pasta dinner, the race, the relaxing afternoon on Saturday, followed by a great Sunday. Couldn't have asked for anything better.
I finished the KC Half Marathon and met two goals in the process: I finished in one piece, and I finished with a PR and under my time goal of 2:30:00. I wasn't able to finish without having to walk, but I was very pleased with my performance, and know I can run the whole thing without walking.
I've also committed myself to the KC Marathon next fall. The full marathon! Read about that decision here. It's going to be one heck of a ride! Congratulations to all my friends who did the KC Half and Full on Saturday, I'm so incredibly proud of everyone!!


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Posts tagged 'Hanes'
NAT Signs 10 Year CRAiLAR Fibre Supply Agreement with Hanesbrands Inc.
Today, we are pleased to announce the signing of a ten-year CRAiLAR® Fibre supply agreement with Hanesbrands Inc. that will commercialize our proprietary fibres. This represents our initial commercialization agreement for CRAiLAR® and establishes the foundation for continued adoption of its proprietary flax-based fibre.
Our all-natural CRAiLAR® process is the first to remove the binding agents from flax that contribute to its stiff texture by bathing it in a proprietary enzyme wash. The result is a textile fibre that merges the strength and durability of flax with the most desirable attributes of cotton. Yarns made from CRAiLAR® fibres can be used in knit, woven or non-woven fabrics alone, or blended with other natural fibers used to manufacture apparel products similar to those marketed by Hanesbrands, a leading basic apparel company based in Winston-Salem, N.C.
"This agreement is a strong validation of our CRAiLAR® technology and a demonstration of its ability to perform within the Hanesbrands family," said Ken Barker, CEO of NAT. "The Company has been working toward this agreement since the collaborative partnership with Hanesbrands began in August 2009, and we expect to begin shipping to our full existing capacity beginning next month. Hanesbrands has been an invaluable partner to our proof of concept and we look forward to expanding our relationship with them and others as we move forward."
CRAiLAR® Flax is soft like cotton, has a similar color, possesses similar performance traitsand is comfortable to wear year-round. CRAiLAR® Flax and cotton look the same, fit the same and wash the same. Yet CRAiLAR® Flax fibres shrink less than cotton fibres, wick moisture better, and have increased dye uptake, meaning they require fewer chemicals to achieve the same depth of colour.
The agreement is the culmination of a multiphase joint development agreement announced in August 2009 with the intent to commercialize CRAiLAR®. Hanesbrands made its first purchase of 10,000 lbs of CRAiLAR® in the first quarter of 2010 and, after successful spinning trials, announced a final evaluation phase in Q2 2010. In December 2010, the companies announced additional product testing that called for Hanesbrands to purchase up to $375,000 of CRAiLAR® Flax fibre between December 1, 2010 and early 2011.
CRAiLAR® Flax Supply Agreement with Hanes
We are pleased to announce that we have entered into a short-term agreement with Hanesbrand Inc. to begin in December 2010 for the continued development of CRAiLAR® Flax fibre.
Our recently completed spinning trials using the CRAiLAR® Flax fibres, and the supply agreement allows Hanesbrands to pre-purchase CRAiLAR® Flax fibre for additional product testing. The agreement calls for Hanesbrands to purchase up to $375 000 of CRAiLAR® Flax fibre between December 1, 2010 and early 2011.
Our CEO, Ken Barker, had this to say, "We are very excited to move to this next level in our commercialization plans. Our partnership with Hanesbrands has proven to be a truly collaborative effort. We believe this next step is a significant validation of our technology and we look forward to bringing CRAiLAR® Flax fibre to consumers in 2011."
Hanesbrands is a leading marketer of everyday basic apparel under some of the world's strongest apparel brands. Mike Faircloth, Hanesbrands senior vice president of supply chain said, "We are encouraged by our spinning tests with CRAiLAR® Flax fibre and believe that our continued investment in this process will accelerate development of the commercialization process."
Alternative Fibres in High Demand
With so much talk about the soaring costs of cotton these days, we thought we'd offer a fresh perspective from the other side.
Due to undesirable weather conditions including flooding, cold snaps and hailstorms, cotton crops are coming up short this year and with the world's demand of cotton so high, prices have been skyrocketing – rising almost 80% since July. With global apparel prices stagnant for some time now, apparel manufacturers and exporters are being hit hard. Companies like Jockey, Liz Claiborne, Levi's and Hanes are in search of a solution so as not to have to pass this price hike onto consumers.
While some are in search of cheaper cotton sources in Banglasdesh and Vietnam, others are attempting to find alterntive cost effective yarns to blend into their cotton garments. You'd be surprised at the increase of emails we've received lately from spinners, knitters and manufacturers from around the world, enquiring about the availability and pricing of our CRAiLAR® fibres.
Both Levi's and Hanes have stated that they will be integrating new materials into their products in order to lower costs, Bon-Ton chain is switching from 100 percent cotton in items like sweaters to more acrylic blends. Liz Claiborne, which makes brands like Juicy Couture and Kate Spade, is also playing with some of the materials it uses. One example, said spokeswoman Jane Randel, would be shifting from some imported Italian fabrics to "suppliers who produce their own raw materials or yarns".
Ms. Johnson, an analyst with First Capital Group, stated that "We may be training a new generation to be far more accepting of synthetic fibers, which is likely to hurt cotton's market share in the long run."
We believe that companies can blend their way out of the cotton dilemma. However, with the higher demand from manufacturers switching away from cotton mixed with the anticipated rise in oil costs, the price of polyester and other synthetic fibres continue to rise – nearly 25% this past year. So, are synthetic fibres the solution?
We believe that CRAiLAR® Organic Fibres are the foundation of the first truly sustainable yarn in the apparel industry, and are poised to become the revolutionary next step in sustainable fibres, providing an economically sustainable complement to cotton.
Created using bast fibres such as flax, hemp, jute and kenaf, the yarns made from CRAiLAR® Organic Fibres can be used in knit, woven or nonwoven fabrics, alone, or blended with other natural fibers. CRAiLAR® can be used in both mainstream and alternative apparel and fashion fabrics, as well as industrial textiles. Through spinning trials, CRAiLAR® Flax was found to be of very high quality and ideally suited for fine knit items such as T-shirts.
With cotton prices currently well over a dollar per pound, flax is a cost-effective raw material for fibre production. We estimate that we will be able to provide CRAiLAR® Flax at approximately $0.90 per pound making it an econimically viable complement to cotton.
The Right Message with the Wrong Tactics
A group of hemp farmers and business leaders were arrested earlier last week for digging up the DEA headquarters lawn to plant industrial hemp seeds.
Among those arrested were Will Allen, a 70 year old organic sunflower and canola farmer from Vermont, Wayne Hauge, a 51 year old grandfather that grows garbonzo beans in North Dakota, Isaac Nicholson, owner of sustainable lifestyle clothing line Livity and David Bronner, president of US based multi million dollar soap company Dr. Bronners Soaps. For years now, both Nicholson and Bronner have been forced to buy hemp cross borders due to the DEA's restrictions on industrial hemp.
Although we agree with the message and can completely understand their frustration, we have to disagree with the tactics used. Acts such as these encourage stereotypes of hemp activists and dilute the real story of a crop that has such great potential.
We've believe that it's important to influence law makers by initiating and proving out the market potential for industrial hemp products. We are showing through our relationships with some of the worlds leading consumer brands, such as Hanes and Georgia Pacific, that there is a consumer pull for the product on a massive scale. We believe this pull will demonstrate hemp's viability and will influence lawmakers and farmers to re-legalize and grow hemp.
Currently nine states – Hawaii, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Montana, North Dakota, Oregon, Vermont and West Virginia – allow industrial hemp production but federal law, which requires nearly "impossible to obtain" permits in order to grow hemp, trumps state laws.
NAT Featured on Bloomberg
Our CEO, Ken Barker, was featured on a live segment of Bloomberg News yesterday. He discussed Crailar® technologies and our efforts to bring the processes into commercialization in the coming months.
Enjoy the clip!
Crailar Organic Fibers
Organic Fibers
Crailar Organic Fibers are the building blocks for the first truly sustainable yarn in the apparel industry. Our fibers are processed through a patented enzymatic bath created in collaboration with the National Research Council of Canada. Prior to the bath, the fibers of up to a meter in length are cut to the desired staple length rivaling the very best long line cotton. These fibers then enter processing equipment which turns the straw-like fibers into soft, fluffy white fibers similar to organic cotton.
The result is a yarn with characteristics such as increased burst strength, enhanced wicking properties and reduced shrinkage that organic cotton simply can never achieve. As every step of the process can be certified organic, Crailar's Organic Fiber has become the first truly sustainable yarn in the apparel industry.
We've recently entered into a joint development agreement with one of the worlds largest consumer brands – Hanes. To find out more about our relationship with Hanes, click here.
Count Hanes In!
I know you're not supposed to toot your own horn but I can't help it. We've recently entered into a joint development agreement with one of the worlds largest consumer brands – Hanebrands Inc. (that's why our CEO is smiling).
"After nearly a decade of working to prove that burlap-like hemp can be as soft as cotton, Naturally Advanced Technologies Inc. has caught the attention of some…….click here to read more!


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WASHINGTON (CNN) - Just weeks after opening shop, the Obama transition team has been flooded by what looks like an unprecedented wave of hundreds of thousands of resumes from people who want positions in the new president's administration.
"We've actually had more than 300,000 expressions of interest," Obama transition spokesman Nick Shapiro told CNN Radio.
That is roughly equivalent to the entire population of Iceland.
It dwarfs the 44,000 applicants reported by a Bush transition spokeswoman to the San Francisco Chronicle just days before George W. Bush was inaugurated in January 2001. The Clinton transition team in 1993 put its number of applicants near Inauguration Day at approximately 100,000. And the Obama boom has another month to build.
Meanwhile, it's creating a sort of business boom for job-search companies in and out of Washington.
Listen: What do bigtime headhunters think?
Listen: How the Obama job hunt is sparking new business.
Everyone has hope!!!
I put my application in. I know it's a long shot but I would be honored....
The difference in applicant numbers between Obama and Bush merely illustrates the opposing methods each used/ is using in setting up their respective administrations.
Obama is looking for expertise and experience.
Bush looked for his friends to pay back favors.
Reply e-mail to Charles Douglas Lemay:
Sorry Mr. Lemary. We reviewed your application and feel you're a loser. Go back to the welfare line.....
Obama/Biden Administration
President Obama is in a perfect position to "grow" his own type of employee clean of politcal overhead and baggage and loyal to his views. He could begin replacing the overhead in the party also to clear out the deadweight.
I see you are a product of our great liberal American public school system.
Awwwww THE OLD TIMER, don't cry...You sound upset. Where were you born? Let's see your toilet bowl birth certificate. Loser.
Everybody Obama has hired has a Phd and higher degrees with known records of achievement, they aren't cronies. I would expect nothing less from Obama because he and Michelle worked to get their own. Thank God we have a president to be who recognizes education is the key to our future in the world.
That is the typical whiner attitude that I, as a white male, am tired of. This is the mind warp trash that they teac in our schools today..."blame whitey for everything." White men built this country and made it what once was...a proud and strong nation. Now we are destroyed from within by the liberal culture with its gay pride parades, poltical correctness, and revisionist history.
CNN .... you are not doing a good job of moderating the forum. There are a lot of posts not worthy for a forum like yours. You are losing a lot of blogger who are really interested in intelligent discussion ...
Please wake up .... or your forum will be history.
How many of these resumes are from the dead people or convicted felons who voted for him?
Hey: OLD TIMER
Where did you hear that Obama refuses to let anyone see his birth certificate? You really must be OLD and senile to believe that c-.
Or is it just something you wish to believe?
...and just like his fund raising (a majority of which is simply not traceable), I'm just CERTAIN that none of these resumes came from outside of this country, right?
Gays and Lesbians need not apply...
Obama and Warren will be on the lookout!
Why the amazement? It's simply a number which is consistent with the expected growth in the size of government we can expect from Obama. The latter is the number which should be shocking the heck out of everyone! But NO curiosity on the part of the press...
@ THE OLD TIMER December 22nd, 2008 12:12 pm ET
who wants to work for someone who is ashamed to show his birth certificate to the american public but yet holds the presidency of the USA.. This guy doesn,t belong in the whitehouse. he has not scruples about politics or the american way.
People are hurting and will work for any jack— to have a job
OLD TIMER the one great thing about this country is that no one will force you to work for a government or President you do not believe in. He also does belong in the White House because the majority voted for him over McCain and Palin so get over it. You do have a choice in the matter. If you are not happy living under these circumstances you are always FREE to leave the country. That is one of the rights you have in this country. IF YOU DO NOT LIKE IT, FEEL FREE TO LEAVE IT.
Barack does not know what he wants to do. One side he wants to create jobs but on the other side he wants to raise taxes. Now everybody wants to apply for jobs in his Government and join his bandwagon. I think Barack's Government will be everybody's home and we have to listen to this great inexperienced master. .
Well, corruption is where the money is these days, and nobody in government get laid off...only police and fire.
Anyone applying for Secretary of Scandals. Will there be a White House official responsible for getting rid of the skeletons in closet of his Chicago home?
Retired Army in San Antonio
Come on!!!!
Guve us just one more sentence with the word crack pot in it.
Sounds like you are getting close to the end of the C's in your Moronic Slang Words dictionary.
It is a great thing when hundreds of thousands of people are willing to roll up their sleeves and work together to get this country back on track after a train wreck of an administration we've had for 8 painful years.
Bless them all.
Of course, none of those applicants had better own a gun : one of the questions (#59) on the pre-employment questionnaire asked if the applicant or anyone in their family owned guns. I guess "diversity" doesn't include people who disagree with Obama on gun control.
Hey, I have a great job and make 70K+ a year but I sent in my resume. I would love to work 8 years for a person I truly admire and respect before I retire!!!!! Heck, I'd even move to DC in a heartbeat...my kids are grown and I would jump at a chance to work to make my country a better place.
If you surprised now just wait until Obama's socialistic stagnation kicks in next year..


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"Thanks so much for the kit, it went down a storm, to see the excited faces was fantastic. It's a brilliant job that you do and worth every ounce of effort. Football is such an international sport and the joy of receiving such fantastic kit is beyond the dreams of many"
Zoe Penny
9th Wimbledon Explorer Scouts


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Member Favorites: 0
Natsu (ナツ)Natsu (ナツ, Natsu) is a shinobi from Iwagakure.
During the Fourth Shinobi World War, Natsu was assigned to the Second Division under Kitsuchi's command. During the war, Natsu was deployed to aid Naruto Uzumaki, Killer B, Kakashi Hatake and Might Guy with Neji Hyūga and Shun, when they were confronted by members of the White Zetsu Army. He and Shun defeated two of the opponents with some help from Neji. They then got into an argument with each other, but Neji soon broke it up and reminded them both that the next battle was going to be on the front lines.
Anime Debut: Naruto Shippuuden Episode #330
(Source: Narutopedia)
Voice Actors


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From Pulitzer Prize winners to trailblazing faculty, 14 individuals and two couples have been inducted into the inaugural University of Arizona School of Journalism Hall of Fame for their significant achievements and service to journalism and society.
To donate to the School of Journalism in honor of an inductee:
• Click HERE to give to the school's general gift fund to support student travel and reporting projects, or student scholarships.
• Click HERE to give to a specific journalism fund already established for an inductee.


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Actually, my blog turned 2 back on the 2nd of August and I TOTALLY forgot about it... it dawned on me when I was driving home from work last Friday - oops!!! And it got me thinking about my blog and its origins. I didn't start this with any other aim than to make sewing a less lonely past-time. The fact that people actually read my ramblings and are inspired by what I do just blows me away. So to celebrate my second blogiversary, and to reward my loyal bloggy-friends, I'm having a giveaway.
Who wants a dress made out of this pattern?
PS. You know how I love to reply to all your comments... well I'm going to refrain from doing that this time UNLESS you ask me a specific question about the giveaway or the dress. Hope thats okay with everyone!
UPDATE: The Giveaway is now closed - thank you for your entries!!! Winner will be announced on Thursday the 12th of September (Australian time).


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PowerShell v2
Just seen a question about PowerShell v2. PowerShell v2 was a huge step forward when it appeared in October 2009 as part of Windows 7 / Server 2008 R2
Windows 7 support finishes 14 January 2020
Windows Server 2008 R2 support finishes 14 January 2020
That's less than 6 months.
PowerShell v2 isn't mentioned in the Microsoft documentation which starts at PowerShell v3
If you're still using PowerShell v2 its beyond time to move to a later version.
Further information on PowerShell 2.0 deprecation
The PowerShell team have provided further information about the deprecation of PowerShell 2.0
One point that didn't come out is that if you remove PowerShell 2.0 your CIM sessions can all run over WS-MAN. DCOM isn't required any more - YAY
PowerShell 2.0 to be deprecated in Windows 10
You've been able to install the PowerShell 2.0 engine side by side with the latest version of PowerShell for the last few versions of PowerShell. Not any more. PowerShell 2.0 to be deprecated in Windows 10 Fall Creators update later this year.
Presumably this will also apply to Windows Server 2016 which is also moving to a twice yearly update
I started thing about the troubleshooting packs we were looking at in the last post. They are good but getting to them is a bit too hard. We can short cut some of it by creating a PowerShell drive. One of the great things about PowerShell is the provider system that exposes different data stores as if they were the file system – well this works for the file system as well.
Import the module as before
Import-Module troubleshootingpack
We don't need a path because it is in the modules folder of the PowerShell install directory so it is automatically found.
Next thing we do is create a drive
New-PSDrive -Name tspack -PSProvider FileSystem -Root "C:\Windows\diagnostics\system" -Description "Maps to the troubleshooting packs"
Now when we look at the drives
PS> Get-PSDrive
Name Provider Root
---- -------- ----
Alias Alias
C FileSystem C:\
cert Certificate \
D FileSystem D:\
E FileSystem E:\
Env Environment
Function Function
HKCU Registry HKEY_CURRENT_USER
HKLM Registry HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
tspack FileSystem C:\Windows\diagnostics\system
Variable Variable
WSMan WSMan
Notice our new drive.
We can now access the troubleshooting system like this
PS> ls tspack:
Directory: C:\Windows\diagnostics\system
Mode LastWriteTime Length Name
---- ------------- ------ ----
d---- 13/12/2008 15:33 AERO
d---- 13/12/2008 15:33 Audio
d---- 13/12/2008 15:33 Device
d---- 13/12/2008 15:33 DeviceCenter
d---- 13/12/2008 15:33 HomeGroup
d---- 13/12/2008 15:33 IEBrowseWeb
Yes Virginia I did use an alias. Its only in scripts or published stuff that I don't like them.
And we can use the packs
Get-TroubleshootingPack -Path tspack:\networking
If you are going to be using these things a lot then the two lines
Import-Module troubleshootingpack
New-PSDrive -Name tspack -PSProvider FileSystem -Root "C:\Windows\diagnostics\system" -Description "Maps to the troubleshooting packs"
should be added to your profile or loaded as a function for immediate use.
The psdrive functionality can be used to create a lot of shortcuts like this.
Machine UpTime
The February copy of TechNet magazine dropped through the letter box this morning. In the UK we get our own version so some of this may be a bit older than this months edition. There is a nice article by Marco Shaw on using PowerShell with System Center Operations Manager that is well worth reading.
The article that really got me thinking was the one about calculating server uptime using information from the event logs. The script is actually measuring the availability of the event log service but it is very close to the available time.
One thing that really leapt out was that the main script was using PowerShell v2 – it had a #Requires –version 2.0
statement at the top. As v2 is still in CTP that didn't seem right. The whole script looked over complicated so I started playing around and came up with this:
$days = 30
$now = Get-Date
$start = (Get-Date -Hour 00 -Minute 00 -Second 00).AddDays(-$days)
"Checking Last Boot Time"
$os = Get-WmiObject -Class Win32_OperatingSystem
$lastboot = $os.ConvertToDateTime($os.LastBootUpTime)
if ($lastboot -lt $start){ Write-Host "Server continually up for whole period"; Return}
else {Write-Host "Server restarted since start of period - analysis continuing"}
"Reading Event Logs"
$events = Get-EventLog -LogName system | where{(($_.EventId -eq 6005) -or ($_.EventId -eq 6006)) -and $_.TimeGenerated -ge $start } | Select EventId, TimeGenerated, Index
## should start with a 6005 - log service started event
if ($events[0].EventId -eq 6005){
$totaluptime = $now - $events[0].Timegenerated
else {
Write-Host "Error reading log - startup is not first entry"
#check the last
$last = $events | select -Last 1
if ($last.EventId -eq 6006){ ## shutdown
$totaluptime += ($last.TimeGenerated - $start)
## events should be paired 6006\6005 shutdown & start respectively
for ($i = 1; $i -le $events.count-2; $i += 2){
if ($events[$i].EventId -eq 6006){ ## shutdown
if ($events[$i+1].EventId -eq 6005){ ## Startup
$totaluptime += ($events[$i].Timegenerated - $events[$i+1].Timegenerated)
else {
Write-Host "Error in log sequence at " $event[$i+1]
else {
Write-Host "Error in log sequence at " $event[$i]
## calculate uptime
$totaltime = $now - $start
$percUptime = (($totaltime.TotalHours - $totaluptime.TotalHours)/$totaltime.TotalHours)*100
"Uptime for period $($start.ToLongDateString()) to $($now.ToLongDateString())"
"Total time available: {0:n2} hours" -f $($totaltime.TotalHours)
"Total Uptime: {0:n2} hours" -f $($totaluptime.TotalHours)
"Percentage Uptime: {0:n2} %" -f $percUptime
"Percentage Downtime: {0:n2} %" -f (100 - $percUptime)
We start by defining some variables – the number of days we want to analyse, current date and our starting point.
The first check is on when the server was actually started – if it was before the beginning of our period then we have 100% up time and the bonus is in the bank. We can check this using WMI. The only awkward bit is converting the boot time to a format we can work with.
Assuming that our server was started since the start of out analysis period then we need to look at the logs. We can read the system event log looking for eventids 6005 and 6006 as shown. We only want events since the start of our period.
The event logs are writing in chronological order and are returned in the same order with the youngest returned first. I have yet to see an instance of pulling information from the logs when this wasn't the case.
The first (youngest) event should be a 6005 – event log service started. We create a timespan by subtracting that time from the current time which gives us up time since the last restart. If this isn't the case then we have a problem that needs to be investigated so the script stops.
A check is made to see if the last event is a shutdown – in which case we need to calculate the uptime from the start of the period to shutdown and add it to the total.
The 6005\6006 events should be paired after this with a 6006 (shutdown) followed by a 6005 (startup) – remember we are working backwards in time. Assuming we find our pairs of events as expected we calculate the timespan between the events and add it to our total uptime. If the pairings don't match up then we have an issue to be investigated so the event information is written to screen to give a starting point for analysis.
We then calculate the total timespan of our period and the percentage uptime. Finally we print out our results.
I think this is easier to follow and seems to work correctly in my testing environment. Remember that this runs on the local machine as written. It can be made to work on remote machines – Get-WmiObject accepts a computer name parameter as does get-eventlog in PowerShell v2. If you are using v1 then you could access the remote logs using WMI.
Live Writer Problem
Just come across an odd problem with Live Writer. Experimenting with the copy-script function from http://blogs.msdn.com/powershell/archive/2009/01/13/how-to-copy-colorized-script-from-powershell-ise.aspx
I created a simple script and ran the copy script command and tried to paste into Live Writer. No go. Live Writer stops working!!
I can paste the script into Word and then do another cut and paste but I get extra formatting spreading the lines too far apart. One method that does seem to work is to paste the code into the editor on my blog, then copy the HTML that is produced into Live Writer. This gives the required result but the server won't accept the formatting.
Only way to make this work is to post the code directly into an entry that is being created on the blog. Shame.
PowerShell Discussion video


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In an age where video games have become the perfect medium for compelling stories and robust social experiences, perhaps the most powerful tool players have at their disposal is the humble screenshot. They can be indispensable tools, beautiful art, or perfectly preserved moments in time. This guide is aimed at making the average person better at taking screenshots — not only for their own purposes, but also for the benefit of those in the community who will ultimately be the audience for these pictures.
While this procedure may seem daunting given the length of this guide and the detail in which things are explained, I promise that when you go to apply what you have learned from this tutorial, it will occur instantaneously and not as a long, drawn-out process. With over two thousand hours of taking screenshots under my belt, this manual is the result of all the knowledge I have gained being distilled into textbook information that you can learn at your own pace.
The best thing you can do for your picture-taking skills is to keep practicing. You will grow through trial-and-error just like everyone before you, and this guide will serve as a reference tool any time you need it. Above all, do not be afraid to accept criticism; your abilities will grow when you are able to identify your shortcomings and seek out ways to overcome them.
Much like a real photograph, there are a number of elements that go into taking the ideal screenshot. Let's talk about the process one part at a time:
1. Getting Started
2. Health, Condition, & Equipment
3. Location & Position
4. Subject, Background, & Framing
5. Balance & Composition
6. Lighting & Weather
7. Visual Noise
8. Depth
9. Field of View
10. Altering the Environment
11. Setting the Scene
12. Capturing the Action
13. Camera Perspective
14. Video Settings
15. Advanced Configuration
16. Touch-Up Editing


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Welcome to
Surrey Place
Dental Group
Central City Shopping Centre
We are conveniently situated on the main floor of Central City Shopping Centre, giving all our patrons easy access to our dental clinic
Surrey Place Dental clinic welcomes you
We would like to welcome you to our office. We take great satisfaction in helping you maintain optimal oral health. Our Dental office is devoted to your entire family's dental care. We offer a warm and welcoming environment for our patients.
We look forward to welcoming you into our dental family.
We strongly believe in making your smile the absolutely best and healthiest it can be — it goes a long way in improving your quality of life! A beautiful smile builds confidence; healthy teeth and gums improve your overall health.
It is our goal to be your partner in achieving both!
Dr. Bhasker Thakore
Dentist (DMD), Owner
Dr. Greg Chang
Dentist (DMD), Owner
Dr. Joy Maru
Dentist (DDS), Owner
Dr. Nimisha Mehta
Dentist (DMD)
A message from our Office Manager
Throughout our website, you will find helpful information about our practice, procedures we provide and general dentistry. Please explore and learn as much as you desire. We believe our patients should have as much information as possible.
And if you can't find what you're looking for, please call 604 585 4044 and ask for Sharon!
- Extended hours for your convenience
- Free parking available
- Complimentary wifi for our patients
- Extra training allows our dentists to accomplish most services for our patients in our clinic.


text: This week, we talk to Andrea Nguyen about her latest book, Asian Tofu. Jane and Michael Stern are on the Eastern Shore of Virginia at the Exmore Diner. We get a smell tour of Seattle with researcher Victoria Henshaw, and we talk to Renee Shepherd of Renee's Garden about the newest in culinary seeds.


text:
The Tale End
by Susan Kim Campbell Read author interview May 2, 2016
My boyfriend doesn't like fish. He is Asian, Chinese-American to be exact, so I find this funny. I am Asian, Korean-American, to be exact, so I feel free to tell him so.
Well, you don't like ginger, he says.
True, but being Asian and not liking fish is like, well, not liking rice!
He grins. What can I say? It just, it just smells fishy to me. It tastes fishy.
That's the point, silly!
My boyfriend is seventeen years older than I am, which makes him forty-three years old. When we met, I didn't think age would be a problem, but that was nine months ago.
Frankly, this fish business is driving me crazy. For one, it's not just that he doesn't eat fish, it's that he prefers that I not eat fish either. He says that he can't even bear the smell. For two, even if I eat fish without him, he says that he can smell it on me later.
Salmon, he will sniff upon greeting me. You've been eating salmon. Or, sea bass. Come on, I can tell you have.
I've taken to devouring sushi on the sly, hiding my habit like a drug addict or a criminal.
My boyfriend is odd in other ways. He cries a lot. People sometimes mistake me for his daughter, and this makes him cry.
Things I love about my boyfriend:
He doesn't mind my bad handwriting and the way I talk at the movies.
He thinks I'm cute.
We take a bath together every night, with loads of bubbles.
People think we're a matched set, both being Asian. Sometimes we understand each other without even speaking, which has to do with culture and being mistaken for Japanese tourists when we're out walking around, even though our families have lived in America for generations.
I can't imagine not liking fish, says my friend Kiko. I'm out to dinner with friends, without my boyfriend, and the table is sharing oysters. Each one goes down cold and smooth with a lemon chaser. If we were alone I could confide in Kiko that I've begun falling asleep on my boyfriend whenever he wants to have sex. He'll take me in his arms and before long I'm dozing off, slipping into a coma as deep and peaceful as the ocean. I'd tell Kiko that I'm beginning to suspect that this is a Bad Sign.
But we're not alone. She's brought a couple of co-workers with her, including this man she calls Martin from Marketing. I can't help noticing a couple of things about him: he's got red curly hair, he's eating seared ahi tuna, and he's my age.
Things I'm not loving about my boyfriend:
He keeps saying how cute I am, as if that's all there is.
He's forty-three and dating a twenty-six-year-old.
He doesn't seem to notice that I'm changing and growing. For instance, he doesn't pay attention when I talk about going to graduate school, or moving out of state.
Sometimes he describes me, as in "You hate to go dancing, just like me!" and I don't recognize that person as myself.
When I complain about these things, he says, You know what? Cranky doesn't become you, sweetie.
This is what I shout back at him: Life can't be all bubble baths, all of the time.
Secretly I feel guilty, because not that long ago I didn't have any complaints.
The next week I run into Martin from Marketing, eater of tuna. We stand and chat for longer than I intend to. He turns out to be funny and smart and he listens to me. I decide that his red hair is kind of endearing.
He makes a joke that when he was little, people mistook him for a girl because of his curls.
I make a joke that when I was little, kids used to ask me why I didn't know karate, because Chinese people are supposed to know karate. I'm not even Chinese! He frowns and says, That's not really funny, and he's so right, and I think, I am happy you said that.
Finally we say goodbye and he says, Hey, we should go out again sometime to that oyster place. Sure, I say, and I am thinking Uh-oh as I drive away, because I meant it.
On the way home I stop at the grocery, and they have shrimp on sale. Normally I wouldn't even consider it, but I pause.
I love shrimp. I eat the tails too. Not because I like the taste, but because it makes sense to me to finish what I start.
I buy a pound.
Shrimp in their natural state make me sad, with their beady eyes and miniscule legs. Once not long ago these guys were swimming in the sea, thinking life was good.
As the counterman weighs my purchase, I think that if I could, I would go back nine months to the girlfriend who was perfectly happy. My boyfriend and I fit together, I always felt, and if the world thought so too, so much the better. That I might miss this the most makes me sad.
I tuck my shrimp under my arm, all wrapped in paper, and set off for home.
When I walk in the door, my boyfriend is waiting. He says accusingly, Something smells fishy to me.
Before I open my mouth, I think, You poor soul, how right you are.
About the Author:
Susan Kim Campbell is a writer of fiction and nonfiction. Her work is published or forthcoming in the Alaska Quarterly Review, the Robert Olen Butler Prize Stories anthology, and the Mississippi Review. She has been awarded artist residencies to the Millay Colony for the Arts, Hedgebrook, the Helene Wurlitzer Foundation, the Anderson Center at Tower View, and several others. Susan has won fellowships to the Norman Mailer Center, the Tomales Bay Writers Conference, and the Writers @ Work Conference. She holds a B.A. from Brown University.
About the Artist:
Scott E. Anderson is a California based photographer, filmmaker and visual effects artist. Other works can be seen at his blog onebysea.com.
Like what you read in SmokeLong? Consider donating to us. $3 helps a writer get paid.


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BeautyWhich Makeup Brushes to Use
Here are the basic brushes you should have in your beauty arsenal when working with cream based makeup like SeneGence SenseCosmetics!
Currently Viewing Tag:
BeautyWhich Makeup Brushes to Use
Here are the basic brushes you should have in your beauty arsenal when working with cream based makeup like SeneGence SenseCosmetics!
BeautyMakeup Through The Decades
Today, there are almost no barriers when it comes to makeup!. It is all about self-expression and what feels best for you, which is pretty dang awesome. In the spirit of that, I decided to duplicate the most iconic makeup trends throughout the decades, starting at the 50's!
June 11, 2019
BeautySweet Summer Lip Colors
It's getting hot, hot, hot! Spice up your summer with these sweet shades! All perfect for your long summer nights and sweet summer days.
June 11, 2018
BeautyAll Day Ombré Lip Technique
Ombré lips are one of the hottest makeup trends! This simple technique can create the illusion of fuller lips and is simply beautiful! Here's how you can achieve this look.
BeautyPreparing your skin for Wedding Season
Weddings are one of the most photographed events whether you are a bride, in the bridal party, or attending as a guest. Make sure that you are photo-ready by tackling common skin issues with these helpful skin care tips.
May 23, 2018
BeautyNew products to love from SeneGence
There are so many exciting new products to love from SeneGence! From anti-aging skin care to long-wearing color cosmetics, there's something for every woman to appreciate. Here's a breakdown of the newest beauty treats to add to your wish list.
May 23, 2018
BeautyTop 10 Lip Colors for Spring
The best LipSense Colors you have to try before summer 2018
May 21, 2018
Beauty5 Myths About Wearing Makeup
Here are 5 things that simply aren't true about makeup but you've probably heard.
Beauty5 Reasons to Wear Bold Lip Colors
Every woman deserves to experience the benefits of wearing bright, bold lips!
BeautyLipSense - What the hype is all about
LipSense addicts are popping up all over the United States, Canada and Australia. What is this magic lipstick?


text:
What I'm reading about this week
Blog post - Jan 31, 2012
Metro: 'Sustainable' funds investing millions in oil companies and banks. This article mentions Platform's work on Shell Nigeria and uses it to question the ethics of investment in oil companies. Heat or Eat? Fuel Poverty Action occupy British Gas headquarters.


text:
Chinwag with Stu Radnidge [Episode 29]
This weeks chinwag is with Stu Radnidge of vinternals.com. He's an Ozzie based in London working for a large financial institution. Like a lot of bloggers he's quite active on Twitter too.He also finds time to attend the London VMware User Group too.
Chinwagging with Stu was an absolute hoot, and what ever you do you must watch the first 5 mins!
This was recorded a few weeks ago, before the weather turned – and it was still quite warm.
In the chinwag we discuss:
- Is VMware eating its own dogfood? We talk about limitations with vCenter availability and scalability – and issues with VMware's internal QA Process…
- What is a cloud. Are they fluffy, cumulous, dark or rainy? Will there be a Cloud 1.0 or is it a process not a technology?
- What does – Removing Complexity from the Orchestration Layer mean in practical terms that an idiot like me can comprehend? And we kind of digress to talk about backup as an example of automation processes in the cloud…
- Then we got quite philosophical about the IT Industry – comparing it to the airline or car industry.
- We talk about vBlock from the VCE Coalition
- Will we see Backup-as-a-service (BaaaaS!) or Monitoring as-a-service – (MaaaaS!) or are we drifting into Everything-as-as-service EaaaaS!?
- What's you opinion about VMware's OEM of Novel SUSE and Standard VP on SUSE. I know folks said VMware would become the next Novell, but I didn't think they meant literally?


text:
Spectra Energy – East Tennessee Natural Gas is the supplier of natural gas to the distributors in McMinn County. With 1,510 miles of pipeline, East Tennessee Natural Gas can deliver 1.5 billion cubic feet of gas per day to meet the growing energy demands of the Southeast and Mid- Atlantic. The system begins in Tennessee and extends to an area just south of Roanoke, Virginia.
Athens Utilites Board distributes natural gas to industrial properties in Athens. Etowah Utilities Board distributes natural gas to industrial properties in Etowah. Natural gas rates are based on market conditions and rates may vary from month-to-month.


text:
Alex forgot to do a Queer Music Friday post this afternoon, so I'm going to jump in and steal the post from him. *grins* My choice? Marc Almond's "Kept Boy." What can be more queer than a gay guy as an old lady's kept boy? How about the line, "Not so oblivious this bitch is"?
Lyrics and my personal reasons for choosing it after the jump.


text:
Roger Stone, one-time Trump aide, current confidant and sporter of a Nixon tattoo across his back, offered the following in an interview with Breitbart:
"Trump needs to say for example: 'I am leading in Florida. The polls all show it. If I lose Florida, we will know that there's voter fraud. If there's voter fraud, this election will be illegitimate, the election of the winner will be illegitimate, we will have a constitutional crisis, widespread civil disobedience, and the government will no longer be the government.' I think he's gotta put them on notice that their inauguration will be a … bloodbath. The government will be shut down if they attempt to steal this and swear Hillary in. No, we will not stand for it. We will not stand for it." (via Politico)
Sounds like that advice got some traction.


text:
In 1999, lamenting then recently released low U.S. wine consumption figures, American Demographics asked, "How many… gallons of soda and beer would be turned into wine if: (a) You could twist off the cap? (b) It was socially acceptable to drink straight from the bottle? (c) The container wasn't made of glass? (d) It was available in single servings?"
Costco is now America's biggest wine retailer. According to AC Nielsen, almost 15% of all U.S. table-wine sales take place in 'big box' stores.
AC Nielsen's 2006 report notes that wineries are putting pictures of animals on their wine labels, a plan that has shown early success with young consumers… "Perhaps trying to mimic the success of the Yellow Tail brand, this new wine segment has become increasingly important. Of the 438 new Table Wine brands with sustained consumer sales introduced in the past three years, 77 – or 18%– featured a 'critter' on the label." Clearly there are those who "don't want to have to take wine too seriously. Not only are they willing to have fun with wine, they may just feel 'good' about an animal label presentation."
New wine nomenclature and friendly labeling have simplified the selection process (as have community wine sites where questions can be asked, reviews accessed, and searches conducted, in relative anonymity). That makes reaching for a Sicilian, Languedoc or Rioja wine only slightly more complicated than grabbing a Guinness. I'd say that's a win-win for all.
More on this topic in coming weeks…


text:
Home > Children At Risk > JFS > Vol. 7 (2003) > Iss. 1
Volume 7, Issue 1 (2003)
Issue Editor's Point of View
A Renewed Day for Family Preservation
Alvin Sallee
Social Workers' Perceptions of Family Preservation Programs
Elain M. Maccio, David Skiba, Howard J. Doueck, Karen A. Randolph, Elisabeth A. Weston, and Lorie E. Anderson
Targeting Special Populations for Family Preservation: The Influence of Worker Competence and Organizational Culture
Ramona W. Denby, Keith A. Alford, and Carla M. Curtis
Understanding and Fostering Family Resilience
Robert G. Blair
Walking Our Talk in the Neighborhoods: Building Professional/Natural Helper Partnerships
Jill Kinney and Margaret Trent
Intersystem Collaboration: A Statewide Initiative to Support Families
Elizabeth M. Tracy, David E. Beigel, Ann C. Rebeck, and Jeffrey A. Johnsen
Family Preservation Conference Participants and the Internet: Opinions about On-Line Continuing Education
Timothy Barnett-Queen
The Extended Family: Reviewing an Invaluable Resource
Elaine Walton, Jini Roby, Richard Sullivan, and Amy Frandsen


text:
It may sound obvious, but keeping organised is of the utmost importance when you are a landlord. Juggling the maintenance and care of a number of properties is sometimes tricky, which means that it's highly likely that things could build up. Here we give some simple yet highly effective tips to keeping your property portfolio in order.
Times and Dates
The problem with having multiple properties in your portfolio is that they all were probably bought, registered, maintained and let out at different times, meaning that in order to keep everything up to date you need to have an in depth knowledge of the times and dates for each transaction. There are many ways you can do this quickly and easily, such as using a calendar which you update at the beginning of each year to remind you of when things such as landlord insurance need to be renewed. If you are a bit more techno savvy you could even set up a calendar on your computer or smart phone which will automatically remind you when things need to be done!
Debits and Credits
As a landlord you probably have a good idea of when money is due, however it's always beneficial to actually make a note every time you receive rent from your tenants, and every time that you have to use that money to pay for something. Keeping a log of all your credits and debits will not only give you a better idea of your finances, it may also help you spot ways that you are losing money! Furthermore, when it comes to filling out your self-assessment having a clear list of all your earnings will really come in handy and save you a large amount of time.
Invest in Storage
Keeping your paperwork organised is usually difficult if you don't have a specific place where you can store all your documents neatly and safely. It is wise to invest in a filing cabinet that includes a lock as a lot of your paperwork will have private and confidential information concerning not only you but your tenants as well. For this reason it's also necessary to invest in a good quality paper shredder so that you know any sensitive documents are disposed of properly – the last thing you need is to find someone has gained access to your accounts!
Looking after your paperwork is easy once you have a system in place, so why not go through yours today and ensure that your business is as organised as possible!


text:
This Shattered World
A Starbound Novel
- $7.99
- $7.99
Publisher Description
Jubilee Chase and Flynn Cormac should never have met. Lee is captain of the forces sent to Avon to crush the terraformed planet's rebellious colonists, but she has her own reasons for hating the rebels. Rebellion is in Flynn's blood. His sister died in the original uprising against the powerful corporations that terraformed Avon. These corporations make their fortune by terraforming uninhabitable planets across the universe and recruiting colonists to make the planets livable, with the promise of a better life for their children. But they never fulfilled their promise on Avon, and decades later, Flynn is leading the rebellion. Desperate for any advantage in a bloody and unrelentingly war, Flynn does the only thing that makes sense when he and Lee cross paths: he returns to base with her as prisoner. But as his fellow rebels prepare to execute this tough-talking girl with nerves of steel, Flynn makes another choice that will change him forever. He and Lee escape base together, caught between two sides of a senseless war. As Flynn and Lee attempt to uncover the truth about Avon, they realize that there is a conspiracy on the planet that runs deeper than either of them could imagine, one that Lee's former commander Tarver Merendsen only scratched scratcehd the surface of two years ago. The stunning second novel in the Starbound series is an unforgettable story of love and forgiveness in a world torn apart by war.
Customer ReviewsSee All
I adore this book, it's such a perfect addition to the series. The world building is outstanding, the plot keeps you guessing, and you can't help but fall in love with Flynn and Jubilee


text: How Can a Tune-Up Help Your Air Conditioner During the Summer Months? Posted June 18, 2015 Before you begin filling up the calendar with summer vacations and trips, make sure you schedule time to have your air conditioner examined by a heating and cooling professional. Routine maintenance may not give you a sense of urgency, but regular air conditioner service does more for your air conditioner than you think. Why do tune-ups help? Minimize need for repairs – Most people wouldn't argue that the summer months in Bloomfield are not the greatest time for an air conditioner to stop working. Scheduling air conditioner service lets you be more proactive and our expert technicians can look for any red flags that signal trouble ahead for your air conditioner. Ensure efficient operations – Not only can tune-ups acknowledge areas of concern, but it also helps your air conditioner operate as efficient as possible. Air conditioners are investments that you need to continually check on and maintain to make sure you are maximizing the benefits from your unit. Reduce expenses – You want the optimal performance possible out of your air conditioner. A comfortable living area is the main purpose, but a properly running air conditioner also helps lower your energy bills and adds years to the life of your system. What will a technician do during an air conditioning tune-up? Check the filter status – It's recommended to change your filters at a minimum every three months, so the technician will examine the cleanliness of the filter. Dirty filters force your air conditioner to work harder than necessary and can also lower the quality of the air in your home. Check refrigerant charge – Too much and too little are not good things when it comes to refrigerant levels. Too little refrigerant can cause added stress on your system and too much will affect how efficiently your air conditioner maintains cool temperatures in your home. Check electrical connections – There are lots of moving parts involved in an air conditioner and when any of these parts become loose it increases the risk of sparks or other damage to the electrical components. Clean the coils – Dust and other particles can gather on both your outdoor and indoor coils, which can impair efficiency and cause more energy to be expended. The experts from Stanford Heating & Cooling in Bloomfield can provide a quality air conditioner tune-up and service, while answering any questions you have about your air conditioner, its performance or your indoor comfort. Give them a call at 812-825-8695 and keep cool this summer. Back To Blog