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SAP Education Takes Learning to the Cloud
Cloud-Based SAP® Learning Hub Site Offers 24/7 Access to Learning Content in a Social Environment
WALLDORF, Germany, Feb. 6, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — SAP AG (NYSE: SAP) today announced a new and expanded version of the cloud-based SAP® Learning Hub site, which provides easy access to comprehensive and up-to-date educational content on a wide range of SAP solutions, anytime, anywhere. Built on SuccessFactors Learning, which includes the SAP Jam® social software platform, the site is an extensive online repository of content where SAP professionals can learn and improve their knowledge and skills, receive instructor guidance and peer support and collaborate socially on a clear, engaging user interface. Originally introduced in 2012, SAP Learning Hub now counts more than 230 customers and 13,000 subscribers.
With the goal of making SAP Learning Hub the leading cloud learning offering in the market as well as the default entry point to the complete learning portfolio from the SAP® Education organization, SAP is making more than 2,000 titles available to subscribers, including e-learnings, handbooks and training manuals. Users can engage with SAP instructors, subject matter experts and fellow learners in an engaging social learning environment, all through one subscription to the site. SAP is also making more than 120 titles available free of charge through the discovery edition of SAP Learning Hub.
"SAP Learning Hub represents a significant evolution in how training and education are delivered," saidJoshua Greenbaum, principal, Enterprise Applications Consulting. "The availability of top-tier educational content — available online — and the ability to interact with peers and process experts will help SAP customers better leverage their investments in technology and people."
With SAP Learning Hub, customers can improve their overall knowledge and skills of SAP solutions, enabling businesses to maximize their return on investment (ROI) for those solutions. And the SAP ecosystem of partners, consultants and freelancers can use the site to sharpen their abilities with SAP solutions and get the practice they need to become SAP-certified and compete for more projects.
"We want to increase the reach of enablement and training for SAP skills in the market from the 500,000 people we train annually to the estimated three to four million professionals who use SAP systems every day", said Markus Schwarz, senior vice president and global head, SAP Education. "With the expanded SAP Learning Hub, we have taken key technologies from the SAP Cloud portfolio to change both our business model and our learning approach to offer an entirely new learning experience. And in the process we have made accessing, purchasing and consuming learning easier than ever for our customers and partners."
Significantly Enriched Learning Experience
The expanded SAP Learning Hub was built based on feedback from customers and partners, and offers a variety of best practices to get the most out of each learning experience. Users can access and view expert videos, register for webinars, review classroom handbooks and study e-learning courses. Subscribers also have the exclusive option to purchase access to SAP training systems with the SAP® Live Access environment to practice their newly acquired skills.
"The cloud-based training through SAP Learning Hub has been a great help in training staff up in new roles and on new developments in a period of limited budget and time constraints," said Liam Clark, SAP Senior Officer, Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council in the UK.
Interactive, Moderated Platform Fosters Peer Exchange
SAP Learning Hub is built on SuccessFactors Learning solution, which includes the Learning Management System, Learning Reporting and Analytics, Mobile Learning and SAP Jam for collaborative social learning experiences. Existing and new users on SAP Learning Hub can easily access, manage and complete learning programs, as well as receive comprehensive reporting on the effectiveness and value of each training program. The site now offers instructor-moderated learning rooms and massive open online courses (MOOC)-style online learning rooms, conducted by SAP experts. With all pieces of SAP Learning Hub available in the cloud, users are able to perform tasks on a schedule most beneficial to them, adding flexibility to the process of mastering SAP solutions.
To learn more about SAP Learning Hub, visit the Training and Education area of sap.com, read ananalyst blog, watch a video and read blog posts on SAP® Community Network. For more information, visit the SAP Newsroom.
About SAP
As market leader in enterprise application software, SAP (NYSE: SAP) helps companies of all sizes and industries run better. From back office to boardroom, warehouse to storefront, desktop to mobile device – SAP empowers people and organizations to work together more efficiently and use business insight more effectively to stay ahead of the competition. SAP applications and services enable more than 253,500 customers to operate profitably, adapt continuously, and grow sustainably. For more information, visitwww.sap.com.


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Home » Posts tagged 'Myanmar'
Tag Archives: Myanmar
The Rohingya Refugee Crisis: Bangladesh Seeks Solutions
Due to high levels of harassment, intimidation and conflict deaths in Myanmar (also called Burma) that is openly carried out by hostile Buddhists and (purportedly) by Burmese government troops, some 400,000 Rohingya muslims have fled in recent days to neighbouring Bangladesh.
The refugees are arriving tired, afraid, hungry and disoriented as they flee their burning villages. Sixty per cent of those fleeing, are women and children.
It's not that Burma hasn't any Muslims. On the contrary, 4.3 per cent of the country are Muslim (about 2.6 million in total) while 88 per cent (46 million) are Buddhist and 6 per cent are Christian.
What's different for the Muslims in Burma is that due to arcane Burmese law, they aren't allowed to own real estate (land or buildings) because they aren't recognized as citizens due to the fact they can't prove their ancestors lived there prior to 1823. The Rohingya are… human beings without a country.
In recent years over 100,000 have fled to nearby countries to work or to ask for refugee status. Most of them didn't qualify for Burmese citizenship in the first place — and therefore arrived in a totally new country with no birth certificate, passport, other reliable identification, or even a family address. Intolerable, doesn't begin to describe it.
Which is why hundreds of thousands of Rohingyas have landed across the border in Bangladesh since August 25th. Up to 2.3 million more may arrive in the coming months if all Burmese muslims flee the country. If the present situation is any indication, it looks like all of them will leave Burma.
Why Not Just Go Back?
Burmese Rohingyas have nothing to return to, only burned out villages and increasingly hostile citizens. And once having crossed over into Bangladesh, they can't cross back into the country in which they were born because they have no legal identification to show to Burmese border guards other than a long-distance telephone calling card (if they're lucky) and no family address that is recognized by the Burmese authorities.
Myanmar laying landmines on Bangladesh border (so that Rohingyas can't return) (Al Jazeera)
Bangladesh: The Promised Land for the Rohingya
For decades, the Rohingya have been leaving Burma for Bangladesh and other southeast Asian nations, seeking employment and a chance at a new life.
In those places, if they can find employment they can eventually apply for citizenship and become an actual citizen, with an actual street address, and be a person with an actual job and a real life. If you're a factory owner that hires a Rohingya, you know they are highly motivated to succeed and that they will be the least problematic of all your workers.
However, even a successful economy like Bangladesh can't accept millions of refugees in a matter of weeks. The country is doing relatively well for a developing nation and continues to improve its infrastructure and the lives of its citizens every year.
Bangladesh is ranked surprisingly highly by development agencies, and is often referred to 'one of the next-11' countries after the G20 countries.
An interesting note about Bangladesh is that they are the largest contributor in the world to UN peacekeeping missions — providing tough, fully trained troops for many UN operations. (The UN pays the wages of the Bangladesh soldiers under its command and supplies many of the tanks and APC's that Bangla soldiers use while on UN missions, which is a standard practice for the United Nations)
What Will it Take to Help the Rohingya?
- Plenty of international aid money
- Acceptance by Bangladesh citizens
In the southern region of Bangladesh, 409,000 Rohingya are being held in camps stretching along the border with Burma. While 60 per cent of the refugees are women and children, Bangladeshis worry about young Rohingya males who may have been exposed to extremist thought and could conceivably at least, act against Bangladesh citizens in the future. So far, nothing like that has been reported.
However, keeping hundreds of thousands of refugees in miserable and makeshift camps in hot and humid weather isn't going to help anyone's mood.
Even if the Rohingyas arrived there never having imagined a terrorist thought in their life, a year of living under those conditions won't help to keep violent acts out of the minds of young men, who, like young men everywhere, are prone to acting on a perceived problem without properly thinking it through.
'No words' to describe Bangladesh camps, Red Cross says (abc.au)
If Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina can convince UN donors to generously fund the effort, her country has a very good chance of accommodating the sudden flood of refugees; Assisting them to find jobs, homes, and helping to build the strong sort of communities that are an asset to any country — but if it doesn't happen in this manner, that region of Bangladesh is on the same path as the extremely hurtful (to all sides) Israeli/Palestinian conflict was at its very beginning. Nobody wants that.
Or do they? We'll see what the response is when the UN General Assembly meets this week in New York.
What Jobs Can the Rohingya Do?
If Bangladesh elects to help the Rohingya fleeing persecution in Burma, the best way forward is to employ them as farm labourers in the southern part of the country. Many of these people have lived in rustic conditions and it will take some time before they will be getting jobs as CEO's, airline pilots, or automobile designers. But that's not to say they can't make a valuable contribution to the Bangladesh economy — they can!
Starting the Rohningyas working in the fields will allow them to acclimatize to the new country and cement their place as valuable workers in Bangla society.
The most important thing for the Bangladeshi authorities to remember after taking care of food, shelter and medicine for the new refugees is to provide a sense of community.
Just dumping these people on a hunk of land and feeding them every day isn't going to solve anything other than saving their lives, but the eventual result will be a social crisis on the scale of what we're witnessing in the Philippines today.
What Kind of Housing for Working Rohingya Families?
Refugees that want to work should have access to temporary living quarters. You simply can't get any sleep in a refugee camp (you know this if you've ever visited one!) and therefore, you won't keep your job very long. Therefore, it's important to relocate Rohingya workers to suitable accommodations for workers and their families until they can save up enough to purchase their own dwelling.
There are thousands of used portable offices and portable crew quarters in the world available at any time. Not only that, but the UN could purchase thousands of new ATCO-type portable trailers to house Rohingya workers and ship them to southern Bangladesh.
In that way, those Rohingyas that are able and willing to work, will have appropriate accommodation. The benefit of these portable buildings is that they are prewired for electricity, and stoves and heat are provided by natural gas tanks located on the exterior of the unit.
One point to remember about this kind of living quarters is that they can be lifted via crane and placed on top of solid stilts — this is important in Bangladesh as many areas of the country are prone to flooding during the annual monsoon season. Many Bangla homes are placed on stilts to avoid being flooded or carried away in the floodwaters.
It seems Shaikh Hasina, Prime Minister of Bangladesh sincerely wants to assist the Rohingya refugees and that's admirable.
However, it's going to take a few billion dollars just to meet the needs of these desperate people until the end of the year. After that, rather than allowing the miserable conditions of the refugee camps to become the fuel for conflict, the Rohingya must be proactively urged to find local work on the many farms in the region. It's really the only option in this case.
Getting refugees employed is almost as important as sheltering and feeding them as they stream across the Bangladesh border.
Related Articles:
- Aung San Suu Kyi invites international help for Rakhine crisis
(Frontier Myanmar)
- Bangladesh restricts Rohingya refugees, starts immunization
(National Post)
- Rohingya Muslims are being wiped off Myanmar's map
(National Post)

subset: commoncrawl


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Halliford was purpose built and opened for business in 1955 for the beginning of Commercial Television.
Always independently owned and now several thousand Film/Video/Digital shoots later, our commitment to providing the best in on-site facilities and value for money continues.
We have all the services you will need on site from our own Construction, backed by Carpenter's and Paint Shops, Scene Dock and Prop Room, to our Lighting Store and Canteen. All available via a single phone call or e-mail.
With our two drive –in Sound Stages – 60' x 60' x 18'6'' and 60' x 40' x 18'6''/ 18.27 x 18.27 x 5.63m and 18.27 x 12.18 x 5.63m – each with full height cyclorama backings with coves and lighting walkways,You will get a Production Office, Stage dedicated Dressing Rooms, Make-Up/ Hairdressing and Wardrobe rooms. There is also a Crowd/Green Room and a Utility Room.
Parking is on-site, safe and secure, we are a stone's throw from the river Thames and appropriate hostelries, minutes from the M25 and 20 minutes from Heathrow. We are not under the flight path!
We have The Independent Grip Co, Media Wisdom Photography, The Shepperton Wig Company, Suz Cruz, Decorama, Big Image Works and Enchanted within the studio complex.
Needs Quicktime to play. If you can't see the above image, download Quicktime here
For anymore information please call Rigby or Callum on 01932 226341 or e-mail: email@example.com


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Dismissed prosecutor-general appointed head of Egypt appeal court
[Al Ahram] Judge Abdel-Meguid Mahmoud, Egypt's former prosecutor-general, was appointed head of Egypt's court of appeal on Thursday upon his request, following weeks of tension with President Mohamed Morsi. Mahmoud was appointed Egypt's prosecutor-general in 2006 by ousted president
Hosni Mubarak
...The former President-for-Life of Egypt, dumped by popular demand in early 2011...
. He maintained the position for five months under Morsi, who eventually replaced him with Judge Talaat Abdullah after issuing a constitutional declaration making his decisions impervious to judicial challenge.
Morsi first relieved Mahmoud of his duties in mid-October, but was forced to reverse the decision after Egypt's High Constitutional Court ruled the move unconstitutional. At the time, Mahmoud insisted on finishing his tenure, criticising Morsi for his decision.
Posted by: Fred 2012-12-07


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Chevrolet Brake Services in Manchester NH
Chevrolet Brake Service
Educate yourself on proper brake service needs to maintain the life span and safety of your Chevrolet.
Brake Services are an essential part of automotive maintenance and driving safety. Neglecting to schedule regular mechanical check-ups on your vehicle's brake system, can potentially lead to serious safety concerns. If your car has worn brake pads or discs, it can cause damage to other more expensive components such as the rotors, drums and calipers which will ultimately cause car failure while driving. Be sure to service your vehicle between intervals and take notice of any signs or symptoms of issues.
How do I know if I need Brake Services?
Two ways to determine when Brake Services are needed are distinctive changes in the performance of your vehicle or a diagnosis from your local technician or mechanic. Some common indicators are…
- Shaky steering wheel
- Flashing brake warning light
- Grinding or squealing noises
- Increased stopping distance
How do I know if I've received a reputable service job?
At times, searching for the "right" service center can be a tough decision. No matter where you go it is important to make sure the technicians have years of experience, accreditation, and qualifications. Also ensuring the shop provides written warranty/receipt when repairs are performed is important. Quirk Service Centers are backed by your vehicle's manufacturer and have years and years of professional auto repair experience. Don't forget to consider us for your next brake checkup.


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And yes, after so many of you demanded it, I developed a version of the Omega brake just for the Shiv (and other bikes that use the same two-post TRP mount). These will be available in a couple months.
This might be the best-looking Shiv you'll ever see. After months of planning, preparing, hoarding gear, and showing you teaser shots, TriRig's Specialized Shiv build is complete. This is my personal ride, and a build I care a lot about. It's dressed in several prototype TriRig products, got a full custom treatment for internal Di2 routing, and there's nude carbon everywhere. But just because it's complete doesn't mean it's finished - I'll continue to tweak certain components as the year goes on (like, for example, upgrading the Ultegra Di2 to Dura-Ace Di2). For more info on this stunning Shiv, click through to the full article.
Tags » dash, di2group, flocycling, frames, lightning, rigs, servicecourse, shiv, specialized, supersized, tririg
Related Articles
Not only was this the most fun I've ever had building up a bike, but the final product is quite easily the best road bike I've ever ridden.
We pulled out all the stops to build a sub-16lb Omni, complete with some pretty special customization.
The new Orbea Ordu OMP is a standard-design bike with superbike pedigree. Check out our full review of the new whip.
Here's a detailed look at the Shiv of Ironman World Champion Craig Alexander, now complete with TriRig Omega brakes!
Following his win at the inaugural Ironman Boulder, we caught up with Justin Daerr and gave his bike an aerodynamic overhaul.


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When a veteran teacher retires, it's generally a combination of good news and bad news to a school administrator.
A school district will save money by hiring a younger teacher, but it will lose the experience a seasoned teacher brings to the classroom.
Morenci will experience that three times over in the next school year with three teachers accepting a retirement package.
The district is expected to save more than $128,000 next year and $710,800 over the course of the five-year buyout.
The three teachers each will receive annual payments of $8,000 for five years.


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Dustin Browder
Blizzard to address MOBA hostility through Heroes of the Storm game design
Heroes of the Storm is the latest MOBA on the horizon, and Blizzard has plans in place to tackle the inevitable hostility which is inherent in games of this genre.
Dustin Browder headlines
Blizzard issues apology after sexualised character debate
Heroes of the Storm game director Dustin Browder has issued an apology after replying to recent questions over the sexualisation of female characters in MOBA games.
Heroes of the Storm screenshots show various characters, abilities - game details inside
Heroes of the Storm was revealed in full today during BlizzCon 2013, and along with a cinematic trailer and gameplay preview, Blizzard has released a set of screenshots for the MOBA as well as a developer interview with game director Dustin Browder, senior game producer Kaeo Milker, and senior art director Samwise Didier
StarCraft 2: Blizzard already working on Protoss content
Bizzard is already working on Legacy of The Void, the third instalment of StarCraft 2, even as the clock ticks down towards the second episode's release.
StarCraft 2 may replace neural parasite with projectile fungal growth
For Heart of the Swarm, Blizzard is considering shelving StarCraft 2's neural parasite in favour of a return of fungal growth, something it trialled in Wings of Liberty's beta to mixed reception
StarCraft II "might" work on Wii U, but PC is "optimal", says Blizzard
Dustin Browder, lead designer on StarCraft II, has said if Blizzard ever decided to bring the strategy title to consoles, it "might" work on Wii U – but don't count on it.
"No plans" to resurrect StarCraft: Ghost
Blizzard isn't secretly working on long shelved third-person action spin-off StarCraft Ghost.
Blizzard - Heart of the Swarm is "99% complete"
StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm is 99% complete, Blizzard has told Kotaku; however, the last 1% is a bit of "a bitch," said lead designer Dustin Browder.
Starcraft II: Heart of The Swarm multiplayer updates - Shredder and Replicant axed
Starcraft II's first expansion, Heart of the Swarm, has undergone some serious tinkering since players last got a good look at it during last year's Blizzcon.
BlizzCon 2011: SCII: Heart of the Swarm panels reveal new and existing unit changes
During a StarCraft II panel at BlizzCon, game director Dustin Browder, balance designer David Kim, and senior designer Josh Menke discussed some of the new units included in the expansion, as well as changes being implemented to existing units, and revealed which units would be retired from service.
Blizzard: Heart of the Swarm campaign all about "fury, revenge, hatred"
It's all about the rage in HotS. The rage. Potential spoilers for Wings of Liberty inside.
Blizzard: StarCraft II's eSports features were "worth it"
Blizzard designer Dustin Browder has said StarCraft II's final form was drastically confined by the need to make it eSports-friendly, but that it was "worth it".
Blizzard "struggling" but "working very hard" on Battle.net Marketplace
StarCraft II lead designer Dustin Browder has said that Blizzard is currently still working on the Battle.net Marketplace, but admits it's "struggling" with it.
Blizzard developing mods internally for StarCraft II
Blizzard has said it's to develop mods internally for StarCraft II, in order to offer "polished gameplay experiences" for fans.
"We're not trying to be innovative", says SCII designer
StarCraft II designer Dustin Browder has replied to criticism over the game's multiplayer not changing much since 1998, by basically stating that if it isn't broke, don't fix it.
Blizzard suggests playing StarCraft II 30-60 hours before going 1v1
StarCraft II's design director, Dustin Browder, has revealed that Blizzard wants players new to cooperative play in the series to start out against the AI before moving on 1v1, so as to be better prepared for the onslaught.
Blizzard confirms day one patch for Starcraft II
Blizzard's confirmed to VG247 that Starcraft II will receive a day one patch when it releases in the first half of this year.
Interview: StarCraft II's Dustin Browder on the beta, GDC, and finally going home
Dustin Browder, StarCraft II's lead designer, wants to go home. He's a tired bunny. He's been working on a game that's been in development since 2003 and finally, thankfully, the end is in sight: StarCraft II is gearing to launch in the first half of this year.At least Dustin hopes so. The developer was kind […]
StarCraft II has planned trial versions, says Blizzard
Blizzard will release "trial versions" of StarCraft II, Blizzard's confirmed, although you'll have to wait until the game itself's shipped to be able to try before you buy."We've got lots of different SKUs planned," said lead game designer Dustin Browder, speaking at Blizzard's HQ on a recent press trip."I don't even know what they all […]
StarCraft II: "There is no co-op campaign"
Those of you holding out for a co-op element to StarCraft II can start drowning yourselves now: there isn't one."There is no co-op campaign," lead game designer Dustin Browder told VG247 at Blizzard's HQ in California last month.There is, however, an enormous single-player experience in the sequel, which we got to play in Irvine. Impressions […]
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Dustin Browder latest
Blizzard to address MOBA hostility through Heroes of the Storm game design
Heroes of the Storm screenshots show various characters, abilities – game details inside
StarCraft 2 may replace neural parasite with projectile fungal growth
StarCraft II "might" work on Wii U, but PC is "optimal", says Blizzard
Starcraft II: Heart of The Swarm multiplayer updates – Shredder and Replicant axed
BlizzCon 2011: SCII: Heart of the Swarm panels reveal new and existing unit changes
Blizzard: Heart of the Swarm campaign all about "fury, revenge, hatred"
Blizzard "struggling" but "working very hard" on Battle.net Marketplace
Blizzard suggests playing StarCraft II 30-60 hours before going 1v1
Interview: StarCraft II's Dustin Browder on the beta, GDC, and finally going home
StarCraft II has online verification, but Battle.net connection not necessary for single-play
Blizzard: Starcraft II to allow players "to get a lot closer to the gameplay experience"


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Frequency inverter
Frequency inverters are ideal for use in the energy efficient control of all types of motors. ZIEHL-ABEGG supplies frequency inverters that are perfectly matched to our customers' applications. The main focus is on ventilation systems, with a special emphasis on ease of handling and operation.
For all products in this series click on "Further information"Further Information Further Information
Product specification:
Frequency inverters with integrated, all-pole sine filter and sinusoidal output voltage. Allows for operation without shielded motor cables and no restriction to cable length. Measures usually required when using frequency inverters are not necessary.
Properties & special features:
The integrated, all-pole sine filter makes the Fcontrol unique among frequency inverters. Comparable to the power supply, the Fcontrol controls motors and fans without increased demands on the winding insulation and the motor bearings. Operation is extremely smooth and energy efficient, without electro-magnetic running noises.
Output range:
- 1~ Fcontrol, 4 to 10 amps
- 3~ Fcontrol, 2.5 to 50 amps
Scope of functions:
- Fcontrol Basic, can be upgraded to a speed controller, e.g. using an add-on module.
- Optionally available as a speed controller with integrated 5-stage switch for rotational speed specification
- Universal device with easy-to-select preset operating modes.
- Additional inputs and outputs are integrated.
- Special industry-specific versions, e.g. for agricultural applications (1~ Fcontrol as ventilation computer)
Product specification:
Standard frequency inverter, primarily for the individual control of motors. Operation with shielded motor cables.
Properties & special features:
Ideally suited for combination with ZIEHL-ABEGG fans for process air, building climate control and MAXvent medium pressure axial fans. Can be configured to the assigned fan, allowing for rapid, plug and play commissioning.
Output range:
- 3~ Icontrol, 2.6 (1.1 kW) to 60 amps (30 kW)
Scope of functions:
- Icontrol Basic, can be upgraded to a speed controller, e.g. using an add-on module.
- Optionally available as a speed controller with integrated 5-stage switch for rotational speed specification
- PMIcontrol Basic-M, direct installation on standard IEC motors or PM motors, can be upgraded to a speed controller, e.g. using an add-on module
Universal device with easy-to-select preset operating modes.
Additional inputs and outputs are integrated.
Control Technology (19 MB)Main Catalogue 08/2017 edition
Fcontrol (1 MB)Frequency inverters for agriculture
Fcontrol & Icontrol (2 MB)Frequency inverter with system capabilities
PMIcontrol Basic-M (503 KB)Frequency inverter for connection to PM and standard motors complying with IEC standards


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Ultimate Finish is eco friendly.
Being water based, Ultimate finish mineral paint is safe and easy to use.
Easy to clean and stain-resistant finish.
Minimal prep is required on your projects.
Sealing, waxing and top coating are not required.
Outstanding coverage, in most cases 500ml will cover 8 square meters.
Touch dry in 2 hours and cured within 7 days.
Modern sleek matte finish.
Able to be shabbied up as you do with Chalk paints.
Great range of colours that are not only different to our BOTANICS range of colours but perform differently, they are bold, beautiful and will take you to all corners of the globe for inspiration.
Suitable for outdoor and indoor furniture pieces and UV resistant. No offensive odours.
Our paint has been created to cope with the Australian climate and weather conditions.
Compatible with the complete range of L'ESSENTIEL paints, decorative coatings and glazes.
Easy clean up with water for brushes, rollers and spray equipment.
It is Australian made and meets Australian standards.
Minimal prep, fast cure time added to the ease of use of the product, means quicker completion of your painted projects.
Happy painting.
Ultimate Finish is eco friendly.


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"And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years."
~ Abraham Lincoln
I remember extremely well how I felt when Ben told me BBH were hiring Griffin. A mixture of 'Bam! Yes!' delight and excitement, with a small sliver of anxiety thrown in. I really hoped we would be worthy of him.
At the time, Griffin already had a thoroughly interesting and useful model for modern planning that he'd explored in public on his own blog. He called it Propagation Planning – "plan not for the people you reach, but the people they reach" – and it made a ton of sense. He practised and preached it with an elegant simplicity. He wrote beautifully. He wore a cool hat in his Twitter avatar photo. He had a name that sounded like it belonged to a mythical, dragon-fighting Knight. So far, so intimidating.
Of course it turned out Griffin was all of these things – incredibly smart, ahead of his time, thoughtful and wise beyond his years. But, miraculously, not in the slightest bit intimidating. Rather, he was the most generous of men; kind and good-hearted. He also immediately made himself indispensable. I'm not sure anyone else can claim to have played a major role simultaneously in the main agency, BBH Labs and BBH Zag. Griffin got everywhere… he made a difference to everyone.
It's a rare thing, knowing someone who is truly talented and truly generous in equal measure. Very clever and very kind. Some people can pull that perfect balance off every now and then. Griffin was like that every single day. When I think about him in the weeks and years to come, it's this that I will not forget.
As the e-book below (made for Griffin in the midst of his fight against cancer) attests, everyone at BBH – particularly all his close colleagues and friends at BBH New York, plus a lucky few of us in London – will remember Griffin for the great work he did, his absolute commitment right to the very end, his gentle optimism and his courage in the face of such adversity. But mostly, like everyone who was lucky enough to know him, we will remember the overflowing love he had for his family and his huge capacity for friendship.
RIP, Griffin. It's an honour to say we knew you.
Super Griffin eBook by Dean Woodhouse & Hugo Bierschenk, with the involvement of everyone at BBH New York.


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New digital ticket system offers convenience for fansUniversity of Hawaiʻi
UH Department of Intercollegiate Athletics
HONOLULU - The University of Hawaiʻi Athletics Department and Aloha Stadium have joined forces to launch a new digital ticket system that will provide fans greater convenience by allowing them to buy, sell, and transfer tickets online through HawaiiAthletics.com and to print tickets from their own computers.Herman Frazier, UH athletics director, and Kenneth Lum, Aloha Stadium interim manager, made the announcement at a press conference today at the Stan Sheriff Center. Access Management, a fully automated digital ticketing system by Paciolan, will provide significant upgrades to online ticket operations for events at Aloha Stadium, the Stan Sheriff Center, and Les Murakami Stadium. Currently, only 23 other NCAA institutions are using this online ticket system."This is an exciting joint venture between the UH Athletics Department and Aloha Stadium," Lum said. "This new system will help cut down on long ticket and Will Call lines and provide fans greater convenience in managing their ticket purchases."In addition to purchasing season and individual-game tickets online, fans will be able to print tickets from their office and/or home computers. The new system will also allow them to e-mail tickets to other parties and/or put unused tickets back into the system for resale. Bar codes will be printed on the tickets and scanners will be used at the facilities' entrances.Season-tickets holders, who encounter personal or work-related scheduling conflicts, can e-mail tickets to another person who can print out the tickets at their home or office. These printouts will serve as their tickets, allowing them direct access to the stadium or arena. There will be a $3 fee for each e-mail ticket transfer (regardless of the number of tickets), which will be charged to the recipient. "Fans will no longer have to worry about driving across town in traffic or standing in Will Call lines in order to transfer their tickets to friends or family," Frazier said. "This online service will eliminate those headaches and hopefully cut down on unused tickets." The other option for season ticket holders is to return the tickets to the online "Ticket Marketplace" system. If their tickets sell, 60 percent of the ticket value will be credited to their account. "There are two great benefits to this service," Frazier said. "First, the season-ticket holders will receive money back if their tickets sell. Secondly, tickets in prime locations are less likely to go unused and they will be available to fans on an individual-game basis."Buyers of the returned tickets on "Ticket Marketplace" will pay the face value of the ticket plus an additional 25 percent of the ticket's value, since these season tickets are in premium locations. Other tickets can still be purchased through HawaiiAthletics.com for their face value and the standard $3 handling charge. There will be a fee of $1 per ticket order for the print-at-home service. Ticket pickup and mailing services will still be available but there will be a $1 fee for Will Call service and a $2 per ticket order mailing fee.The print-at-home system was activated today and fans can purchase tickets online and print them for the remaining UH baseball games and men's volleyball matches. The "Ticket Marketplace" and transfer systems will go online in August after season tickets are mailed for football and women's volleyball.Print @ Home Tickets
Tickets purchased via the Print @ Home option can be printed in color or black and white on your home or office printer. Each ticket should be printed on standard 8.5x11-inch paper and treated like any other ticket. For your security, Print @ Home tickets are individually bar coded. The barcode allows one scan per entry so any attempts to duplicate, alter or sell any copies of the Print @ Home ticket may result in admittance being refused to the event.Adobe Acrobat Reader version 4 or higher is required to use the Print @ Home feature. A free copy of the software can be downloaded at adobe.com.If you are using any spam filters and want to ensure that you receive the e-mail containing your tickets, please be sure to have email@example.com added to your approved spam filter list.The Print @ Home delivery method is currently available for all remaining men's volleyball matches held at the Stan Sheriff Center and baseball games held at the Les Murakami baseball stadium. It will also be available for all UH football, women's volleyball and men's & women's basketball home games beginning next fall. Print @ Home is currently not available for events held at Paliku Theatre, Kennedy Theatre, or Outreach College events. Print @ Home is also not available for season tickets.About Paciolan
Founded in 1980, Paciolan is a leading ticketing enabler, providing ticketing, fundraising and marketing technology solutions for top venues across North America. Paciolan provides a wholly integrated infrastructure that puts venues in direct control of their customer relationships, brands and revenue potential. Primary markets include college athletics, professional sports, performing arts, arenas and museums. Collectively, Paciolan clients sell over 100 million tickets annually representing approximately 25% of all live event tickets sold in the US. Paciolan is a privately held corporation based in Irvine, California.Colleges and universities currently using Access Management include:
· Auburn University
· Boston College
· Louisiana State University
· Michigan State University
· Northwestern University
· Ohio State University
· Stanford University
· Texas Tech University
· University of Alabama
· University of Cincinnati
· University of Hawaiʻi
· University of Iowa
· University of Kansas
· University of Nevada, Las Vegas
· University of North Carolina
· University of Oklahoma
· University of South Carolina
· University of Southern California
· University of Texas
· University of Virginia
· University of Wisconsin
· University of Wyoming
· Vanderbilt University
· Wichita State University
For more information, visit: http://hawaiiathletics.com


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Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman (R)
MANCHESTER, N.H. -- Scenes of internal tensions, tears and disorganization within Jon Huntsman's campaign spilled into plain view before dawn this morning, with a new report from Jonathan Martin at Politico detailing internal discord among senior staffers and campaign strategist John Weaver.
According to Politico, David Fischer (a long-time family friend of Huntsman and Huntsman's father) who was asked to exit the campaign by Weaver, said Huntsman's early failures were rooted in Weaver's problematic management style and "verbal abuse." Fischer recounted worry among family and staffers at Florida headquarters and disclosed previously unknown staff resignations.
When NBC News asked about overall campaign strategy here yesterday, Huntsman said it is not his responsibility.
"Listen I am not going to get into strategy," Huntsman said. "I don't do strategy for a living; I am the candidate. I have a message and I have a vision, and that's my job."
This morning, spokesman Tim Miller called the new developments mere "inside-the-beltway banter."
"Gov. Huntsman is very confident in the campaign's leadership, including John Weaver," Miller told NBC News in an email and phone conversation. "The campaign is on a path to victory with trusted advisers, the right message, and most importantly, the most-prepared and most-accomplished candidate in the field. He's focused on solving this nation's problems, not inside-the-beltway banter."
Today, Huntsman continues campaigning through New Hampshire with a meeting at the Salem Chamber of Commerce and a speech to the Derry Republican Committee.
*** UPDATE *** Miller contacted First Read to clarify that Huntsman is confident in the campaign's leadership and that includes Weaver.
*** CORRECTION *** Miller did not misspell John Weaver's name. That was First Read's mistake.


text:
Sundance Spas' Cameo™ Hot Tubs Named Top Hot Tub Spa Model for 2010
Chino, CA (Marketwire) September 7, 2010 – Sundance Spas, an internationally recognized leader in the hot tubs industry, is pleased to announce their Cameo 880 Series hot tub has been named the number one hot tub pick in poolandspa.com's list of the "Top 10 Hot Tub Spa Picks for 2010."
The Cameo 880 series features lots of space, comfortably seating five to six adults and includes a full-body lounge for a total body massage, complete with special jets for the wrists. Cameo hot tub accessories and options include the Intelli-Sound Stereo System with a 1GB hard drive and docking station for iPod®, LED exterior accent lighting, and scented beads that vaporize through injection jets for therapeutic aromas that evoke moods from calming to energizing. For a comfortable transition between the warm temperature of the water and the temperature of the air, the Cameo hot tub also comes with a cool-down seat.
In its "Top 10 Hot Tub Spa Picks for 2010″ poolandspa.com observed: "The Cameo has been a best seller for Sundance Spas for years and is one of the very best selling spas nationwide as well. Extremely comfortable and full featured, from one of the true leaders in the spa industry." Sundance Spas was also named Best of Class in the Hot Tub Innovations category by poolandspa.com. In 2007, the Sundance Cameo hot tub was named a "Best Buy" by Consumers Digest magazine in the Premium spa class – the second time that the model was recognized for its high quality and outstanding value.
Sundance Spas has been setting the industry standard in hot tub design and engineering for more than 30 years and takes pride in offering customers hot tubs that are considered the benchmarks for contemporary luxury hot tubs.
The Sundance Cameo hot tub comes in eight different shell colors and five different cabinet colors to complement any backyard or deck. For additional information on the Sundance Cameo hot tub and other luxury hot tubs from Sundance Spas, or to find the closest Sundance dealer, visit http://www.sundancespas.com.
About Sundance Spas, Inc.
Established in 1979, Sundance Spas has been recognized internationally with more awards and honors than any other spa company. Their exclusive components, processes, and features include the famous line of patented Fluidix™ jets.


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Kurt Russell (I)
Actor | Producer | Soundtrack
STARmeterTop 5000
Down 30 this week
Kurt Russell was born Kurt Vogel Russell in Springfield, Massachusetts, to Louise Julia (Crone), a dancer, and actor Bing Russell (Neil Oliver Russell). He is of English, German, Scottish and Irish descent. His first roles were as a child on television series, including a lead role on the Western series The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters (1963). ... See full bio »
Born:in Springfield, Massachusetts, USA
More at IMDbPro » Contact Info: View agent, publicist, legal on IMDbPro


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Commercial Water Softeners
Commercial Water Softeners in Naples, FL
At Florida Soft Water, we're proud to offer our commercial water softener installation services to the residents of the Greater Naples area. Regardless of the type of system you want put in, you can rely on our technicians to have the skills for the job. We'll work meticulously to produce high-quality, lasting results that you can have confidence in. You can count on us for:
- Friendly service
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We're flexible with our scheduling and committed to being punctual to all of our appointments. Your time will be respected, and we won't keep you waiting. Close attention is given to all of the small details so that the installation process goes seamlessly, and we'll stand behind our results.
We work with premium commercial water softeners in Naples, FL, and will make sure that you understand all of your choices. Dealing with hard water can be difficult, so we make it hassle-free to use our services. To find out more about the team from Florida Soft Water, contact our office today and set up an appointment.
Great company. Looks after regulars! Honest and reliable!
Thanks for everything. Very efficient. They person who handled the phone call was very easy going and set up a visit for that morning without any hesitation. The technician that came out knew exactly how to address the problem and fixed the pump without any complications. Thank you!!!!
Florida Soft Water has been servicing my rural well and water system for over twenty years. They have always come to my aid whenever a problem developed. I would just like to thank them this week for coming out three times to fix an old, out of date well system. Your guys, especially Mike, did everything in his power to get me running water again. I can't tell you how much I appreciate your customer service, your professionalism, and the desire to see the job done right. Kudos to you all!
Spoke with both Shannon and Mike from Florida Soft Water. Had no water pressure and water was super yellow on our well system. They were out next day and gave me a great price to fix my system and get my water clear. Had work done next day and was very happy. Mike warned me i may get a sulfur smell and to call them back. Needless to say they put me into an R/O system which we could not be happier with! They are my absolute go to for all my water needs! Highly Recommend these guys! Fast and Reliable without a doubt the best around!
My well water system went down and they were quick to respond. Their technician Michael was of big help and very informative about my system. The fix was quick and the pain ($$) reasonable.
I have been a customer of Florida Soft Water since we built our home in 2009. This is an outstanding company which works in the best interest of its customers. They have always been readily available to help with our questions regarding our water system. They have provided excellent service at reasonable cost and always seemed to care about us. We thank Shannon and Mike for their professional manner and we recommend them without hesitation. Sincerely, Ed White Naples, Florida 8/2019
Shannon and his team did a fantastic job with our home's new RO system. Their prices are very fair. They have been able to answer all of our questions. We are very satisfied with them, the water pressure is great and the water is finally clean. Thank you Florida Soft Water
I can't say enough about how professional, courteous, and prompt Shannon and his team were before, during, and after the install of my whole house RO system. They are a true class act without a doubt. We have been dealing with terrible water since we bought our house in the estates 6 years ago. We've worked with a few water companies that sold us sub par equipment that only masked our problem. Shannon came and solved it right away. If you're going to spend the money (and you should) look not further!!
Amazing service!
Replaced Kinetico water softener/ Treatment with whole house RO system, the difference is amazing, fresh drinking water at every faucet. Could not be happier.
We have been hesitating on whether to spend the money on a reverse osmosis system for a while now. All I can say is don't wait! This system is phenomenal! It is worth every penny and more. The water is crystal clear and clean. The water pressure is unbelievable. Our toilets, sinks, bathtubs and fixtures are sparkling clean. Florida Soft Water came to my house, gave me a quote and installed the system within a couple days. Everything went exactly as stated. Everyone is friendly and helpful. Excellent customer service. We are 100% satisfied.
The company made it a priority to get out to me first thing once I told them my water wasn't working. My technician Mike did a great job installing my new softener. He explained to me my options and was fair and honest. I'd highly recommend this company to anyone looking.
I just called several other companies that were going to charge almost a $100 service call and then I called Flordia Soft Water because they were recommended by some friends on Facebook. An amazing gentleman named Shannon literally walked me through why my water was flowing constantly in my yard. It took him maybe 5 minutes to explain and he was so friendly and sweet I'm now going to sign up for monthly service just because he was just so friendly and courteous!! That's definitely something much more than he needed to do or most would do. Thank you so much!!
I simply cannot thank Florida Soft Water enough. My submersible well pump went out Wednesday morning. I called them at 8:00 AM and by noon I had a new well pump installed at a very reasonable price. From start to finsh I could not ask for better customer service.
You guys are awesome! New R.O system installed in an hour or 2 works perfect clear blue water. These guys make it easy and they do what they say on the time they say.
I had a previous company install a water system at my house. I had problems with them starting from day 1. This led me to Fl Soft water to manage my equipment monthly. The water system went bad on me. Shannon and I discussed my options. They installed my equipment the next day and did a great job. Now I have clean water and great water pressure. It's nice to be treated fair. I'm completely satisfied!
Awesome team, very professional and job done as is to be done. Will recommend a 1000% thank you.
Fast and efficient service! Thank you
Very helpful!!
We have been using Florida Soft Water for many years, outstanding service, prompt, courteous and fair prices. Shannon is always willing to lend a helping hand; he and the rest of the staff are great in every area of customer service.
Very prompt and on a holiday weekend Jorge was professional and had things fixed in no time recommend Florida Soft Water for any well needs
Nice experience
Two of the most important things to consider when selecting a water systems company 1 knowledge, 2 responsiveness. Shannon (owner) and team has the best of both!. They know water and they are super responsive understanding the customers need for 100% reliability along with good clean water for your family!
Shout out to Florida Soft Water Inc. If you are looking for a great company to put your water system in your home or fix an existing one you need to call Florida Soft Water. Family owned and ran business. Very friendly, Professional, wonderful customer service. Not to mention fabulous water. I have been a customer for 7 years. Anytime I have an issue they are out in a timely manner and fix the issue. Did an amazing job getting customers back up an running after hurricane Irma as well. Keep up the great work. God Bless.
When our water system went down we called Florida Soft Water because they came highly recommended from a friend. A technician showed up within an hour, had our system back up and running in no time. From the friendly receptionist to the service tech who arrived we received amazing service. Florida Soft Water is definitely a company of Integrity.
Great Family owned and operated business !
I have lived in Golden Gate Estates since 1994 and had to use several water companies early on. My experiences were lackluster at best until I found "Florida Soft Water" in 2002. I have never looked back! Shannon came out to my house and took his time and explained what went wrong and the options I had available to me. He took his time and did not pressure me in any way. Their maintenance program is fantastic and a must have! - The system ran perfect and I never had to worry about running out of salt for the softener. Recently I decided to upgrade to a Whole House Reverse Osmosis system (my water system was 18 years old). The quality of water is astonishing. It is like having bottled water from every water source in the house! No more water spots in the bathroom or on your dishes. Shannon and Jennifer are amazing folks who always treat me fairly and most importantly they are honest! I'm telling you once you give them a shot you will be impressed.
We have been using Florida Soft Water for several years. During Hurricane Irma trees fell and broke our well pipe. I called the office and Jennifer said she would put me on the list and to let them know when we had power back. The day the power came on they were right out there and fixed our broken pipes. We recently upgraded to a whole house RO system. Shannon came out and explained the process, and we had the system installed that week. We even received a call back to see if we were satisfied with the RO system. Every member of this company has been a pleasure to deal with.
While living in Golden gate estates we used these guys for 4 years! Love the staff and had great customer service from them. Always there when we had any water issues. Would highly recommend! 5 stars
We have used Florida Soft Water for years. We have also used other companies but by far I have trusted FSW for a honest report on what our true issues were concerning our water system. We are like a lot of others who struggle and money is a issue so we tried others to save money, our mistake. Lessons learned. I mean seriously we all should know these are bussiness and they have overhead and bills to pay too which makes it hard to know who is telling us the truth or who is trying to make money. We know there are companies out there that are trained to say you need this or that when you don't. I say with confidence I trust this company, and the owners.
Great family based company, they have lived in the area forever and know what above and beyond service means - highly recommend them for all of your household water treatment needs.
Very reliable, honest and trust worthy company with amazing owners and employees! It is hard to find good people and businesses who are reliable and go above and beyond to make sure the customer is happy, and this company does a fantastic job! Quality work and great customer service. We refer every chance we get!
We absolutely LOVE our WHRO system.. we wish we would have called Shannon sooner! They are so nice, prompt, and honest! My whole family uses Florida Soft Water and trust the quality of their work! Jennifer is prompt in replying to my emails with questions! I called Shannon when my pump broke in the hurricane and we was at our house the next day getting us taken care of! I would recommend them to everyone!
Thank you for your prompt, friendly service and reasonable rates.
Awsome service! Work was done quickly and they were very knowledgeable. I was very satisfied!!!
Reasonably Priced, Professional and Prompt Service.
Can't get finer people and better products. Stand behind everything. Wish everyone we deal with at our home was like them .
Love them, great service, and prices are good
The one thing I love most about this company is the staff! The water system we have is great also, as I LOVE having clean, clear water vs the brown egg smelling kind. I have lived in Golden Gate most of my life & could not live with out it. It's a NECESSITY. Sure, the equipment may have a glitch or two every now & then, but hey..even technology isnt perfect. Each problem I've had has been easy enough for me to do myself, although when the computer did fall short, Danny, the service technician was quick, efficient, and very pleasant. I never have to wait long for a service call & I love that they have after hours service! One time we had a really bad storm that flooded our back yard and we had a broken pipe that was letting dirty rain/ground water into our system. Danny was on site within a couple hours & had the whole thing up & running in no time. I would choose this company over & over again, hands down. When you call, there is always a friendly face to the voice behind the phone. Jennifer & Courtney can turn any frown upside down & have you laughing before you hang up. For a family owned business, there are no politics involved. They are an honest, hard working, christian family, with core values to the community.
Good work and fair
Florida Soft Water did a great job in repairing my concern.
Great company with professional service!
Just had a whole-house R/O system installed in our GG Estates home. The owner, Shannon, was very helpful in explaining the process and installation. The crew was professional and efficient, and had us going by the end of the day. Great local company. Highly recommend them.
Bad water softener
My husband is in the hospital so I called Florida soft water to come out. I told them that my water was not working correctly. I told them that I could meet them at the house but needed 30 minutes to get there. They said that I didn't have to be there as long they could get to the equipment. The technician called and said my softener was not allowing the water coming into the house and needed to be replaced (it was 32 yrs old). When he got done he called to let me know. I was able to pay over the phone. When I got home everything worked great. They went out of the way to help me and got me through a very stressful time.
A reliable community enterprise
Florida Soft Water has been servicing my rural well and water system for over twenty years. They have always come to my aid whenever a problem developed. I would just like to thank them this week for coming out three times to fix an old, out of date well system. Your guys, especially Mike, did everything in his power to get me running water again. I can't tell you how much I appreciate your customer service, your professionalism, and the desire to see the job done right. Kudos to you all!
A dedicated community business...
Florida Soft Water has been servicing my rural well and water system for over twenty years. They have always come to my aid whenever a problem developed. I would just like to thank them this week for coming out three times to fix an old, out of date well system. Your guys, especially Mike, did everything in his power to get me running water again. I can't tell you how much I appreciate your customer service, your professionalism, and the desire to see the job done right. Kudos to you all!
Great company
Great company all the way around. Great staff, great technician, quick work, and management gets the credit. Thumbs up....I highly recommend Florida Soft Water.
Great Service
The water tech was courteous and professional in fixing my water system problems. The work was done the same day. Florida Soft Water is an excellent company. I would recommend them.
Helpful, professional and knowledgeable employees
We called because had an issue with our well. We needed a new well pump. We were surprised that one of the techs was able to come out and replace it the same day. We were so impressed by the knowledgeable staff that we decided to upgrade our system to whole house R/O. The installation was flawless. We received understandable explanations about what to expect as our new system came online. We are thrilled with the quality of our water now. We could not be happier with Florida Soft Water. Thank you for your outstanding service.
Friendly staff, excellent service
Honest, informative..****customer service
Thank you Florida Soft Water-Thank you Shannon & Mike for fixing my system. My home is free of stinky water. Mike -thanks. These guys diagnosed & fixed my system within 20 minutes & educated me on system. Prompt,courteous. Excellent follow up by Shannon. very happy.
Great Value
Local company with professional service. Very pleased with the installation and value. Answered all my questions and never down graded the competition. Confident that they will provide quality service. Owner is easy to reach and and does what he promises.
Professional and consistent service
I have been very pleased with their service. My only request would be the ability for auto pay in regards to billing. Other than that, please keep up the good work
Love Florida Soft Water. My experience has always been positive. They are very professional.
Fast response
Called first thing in the morning and they sent someone out immediately. The tech had my water fixed in no time. Great company!
Great Service!
We love everyone at Florida Soft Water!! They are fast, reliable and knowledgeable!! Fixed our problem and provide great friendly service!
Hi quality service, they don't try to sell you something you don't need.
The two gentlemen that have come to work on my water system, have been very professional, and they go strait to fix the problem.
knowledge and experience as a foundation for the best solution
My wife and I purchased our retirement home here in Naples. When we finally closed on our purchase little money was left after all real estate, taxes, costs, etc. were paid. Three days after the purchase the entire reverse osmosis system went down. New purchase~ new area~ little money left~ no water I was very fortunate to have made contact with Florida Soft Water. We felt we were meeting with a South West Florida welcoming committee because of the overall sincere, friendly, positive, and professional way this staff handled their business. They took the time to inform us as well as educate us into the issues of clean water here in South Florida. All of us hear of "no pressure sales" but this staff is a little different in there methods when they take time to hold a conversation with you and at a level that is comfortable for you. We probably could have been "taken advantage of" in our situation. The owner also got involved to ensure that we achieve what would be the best results~ for my wife and myself.
Limited Time Offer!
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text:
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
This explains SO much...
And the Father of Year award goes to...
24 comments:
- beast in 'bama said...
YouTube greetings from the Hairlip family?
- October 24, 2007 8:12 AM
- A2saint said...
Wow, they're putting nice slate floors in those double wides now...
- October 24, 2007 8:13 AM
- whetstonebuck said...
Apparently, they are in the witness protection program.
- October 24, 2007 9:45 AM
- Catie said...
- October 24, 2007 9:57 AM
- Out of Conference said...
I assume next week they'll teach her how to throw powdered donuts?
I keed, I keed.
- October 24, 2007 10:07 AM
- Hart Break Kid said...
It's amazing- she already has every word in her vocabulary that she will ever need to be an Ohio State fan. If they could just teach her "fuck," "michigan" and "riot" then she might be elected Homecoming Queen this time next year...
- October 24, 2007 10:59 AM
- Andy said...
This happens everywhere...
The video ends before she could get out... 5-1 bitches, 5-1
- October 24, 2007 11:15 AM
- Unknown said...
Having lived in Ohio for the past nearly 4 years ... I can honestly tell you that I have had a large number of 5 year old and UNDER come up to me and tell me Michigan Sucks. This is not an isolated case that has been posted on YouTube. I lived a very affluent neighborhood in Avon.
Glad to have left the cesspool that is Ohio!
However, I did find a few Buckeye friends that I will stay in touch with for life ... so their not all bad NUTS!
- October 24, 2007 11:23 AM
- Feelin' Blue said...
I bet she has the most teeth in her family.
- October 24, 2007 11:35 AM
- whetstonebuck said...
Apparently, the UPers aren't allowed access to this site. Now that could be an electricity or a reading thing, who knows?
Ah, sweet parity.
- October 24, 2007 11:49 AM
- Yost said...
Ok, Whet, that Witness Protection comment had me LOL, too.
- October 24, 2007 12:15 PM
- srudoff said...
sorry you need a 5 year old to break it to you that Michigan Sucks. look at the bright side, at least you're in the know now.
- October 24, 2007 3:26 PM
- Unknown said...
Hey Moron,
Just make sure you shave that buckstache before you next appearance on camera. And for heaven's sake stay out of the libraries so that young kids in Ohio have fighting chance to be normal and be able deliver my pizza with smile.
- October 24, 2007 6:03 PM
- srudoff said...
I was going to think of a witty retort but your grammar did it for me
- October 24, 2007 9:13 PM
- Jimmie said...
Why do all TOSU fans say 5-1? I know the sweater vest is 5-1 but Michigan is .....oh yeah....57-40-6
- October 24, 2007 10:14 PM
- Jimmie said...
- This comment has been removed by the author.
- October 24, 2007 10:14 PM
- whetstonebuck said...
"Why do all TOSU fans say 5-1?"
#1 -Because the record prior to that is too painful for us.
#2 - Because 5-1 is too painful for you.
#3 - Because only single digits are used thus limiting the possibility of math mistakes.
#4 - When it gets to 10-1 were going to have to remove our shoes.
- October 24, 2007 10:43 PM
- Catie said...
LOL@Whets AGAIN! (57-40-6 does sound better though!)
- October 24, 2007 10:55 PM
- srudoff said...
the only problem with saying 57-40-6 though is that you come off like those ND guys that they made fun of in that real american genius parody - where they point out that most of those wins came when teams were wearing leather helmets. your lead was 12-0-2 by 1912, 19-5-2 by 1929 and 30-12-4 by 1949. Since 1950, it's been 28-27-2 Ohio State.
don't be like those pathetic ND fans that hold on to victories that our great great grandfathers might have seen. in fact i think jedidiah yost had a michigan blog back then and he'd end every post saying "12-0-2 bitches"
- October 25, 2007 12:44 AM
- Catie said...
You see this is the problem with America today, we simply do not have respect for our elders!!! I say we should respect our elders and ALL of their accomplishments! 57-49-6 bitches!!! hee hee
- October 25, 2007 8:09 AM
- Oh Yeah said...
How exactly is this the "F*CK Michigan" song?
Srudoff....love how you pointed out the breakdown in the records for OSU/UM. You are my hero for the day.
- October 25, 2007 9:47 AM
- whetstonebuck said...
srudoff & Katie,
Isn't it neighborly the way both camps have something to feel good about?
Yes, today, we are all bitches.
- October 25, 2007 2:40 PM
So what you're saying is being 1 game over .500 is domination?
- October 25, 2007 5:59 PM
- whetstonebuck said...
"So what you're saying is being 1 game over .500 is domination?"
In this rivalry, yes. Skew the facts; full speed ahead.
Don't act innocent.
- October 25, 2007 6:20 PM


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The Sydney Newspaper "The Empire" of 25 February 1862 has a list of all "Stations of the British Army" with location and depot.
But it also has a list of 23 Depot Battalions, each with number and location.
Out of the total there were 2 in Scotland:
- 22nd Depot Battalion, Stirling
- 23rd Depot Battalion, Aberdeen
I expected that each regiment had its own Depot. But then what was the role of these Depot Battalions and how did they fit in the army structure at the time (1850s/1860s).
Has anyone more information about them?


text:
click to view full-size ad
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Jorge Canales or Becky Canales
Tel: (956) 487-6544 or (956) 534-3671
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Best Art Books
Felicity James
Nature - Colour by Numbershttps://www.theworks.co.uk/p/adult-colouring-books/nature---colour-by-numbers/9781789500523
- RRP:£7.99 Save:£4.99
- £3.00
The Works has some amazing Art Books that are suitable for students, art lovers, photographers and more. Find a great range of Artist Books at The Works.
Drawing Books – The Works has the Best Art Books with everything from Manga Art and Fashion to Figure Drawing, Cartoon Art and Drawing for Beginners.
History of Art Books – We have an extensive range of Artist Books to choose from on the theme of history of art, including, Greek Art, the works of famous artists such as Van Gogh and Cezanne and much more.
Modern Art Books – Our range of Art Books are perfect for the modern artist, with Tattoo and Digital Art to Photoshop and Street Art.
Photography Books – The Works has the Best Art Books for budding photographers and enthusiasts, with themes including Space, famous musicians and guides on how to take photographs successfully.
All of our fantastic Art Books are available to buy online at The Works today! Refine your search when looking for Art Books by Price, Author, Category and our other suggested filters.


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GNU Ferret
GNU Ferret is looking for a co-maintainer. If you're interested, please take a look at this general information about GNU packages and being a GNU maintainer, and then email firstname.lastname@example.com with a bit about your background and particular interest in this package. Thanks.
GNU Ferret is a graphical data modeler based in the Entity/Relationship paradigm. It supports the automatic conversion of the data models to relational schemas, and the generation of SQL in several dialects (such as MySQL and Postgresql).
Downloading Ferret
GNU ferret can be found on the main GNU ftp server: http://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/ferret/ (via HTTP) and ftp://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/ferret/ (via FTP). It can also be found on the GNU mirrors; please use a mirror if possible.
Mailing lists
GNU ferret has two mailing lists: <email@example.com> and <email@example.com>.
The main discussion list is <firstname.lastname@example.com>, and is used to discuss most aspects of ferret, including development and enhancement requests, as well as bug reports.
There is a separate list for general user help and discussion, <email@example.com>.
Announcements about Ferret and most other GNU software are made on <email@example.com>.
To subscribe to these or any GNU mailing lists, please send an empty mail with a Subject: header of just subscribe to the relevant -request list. For example, to subscribe yourself to the GNU announcement list, you would send mail to <email@example.com>. Or you can use the mailing list web interface.
Getting involved
Development of Ferret, and GNU in general, is a volunteer effort, and you can contribute. For information, please read How to help GNU. If you'd like to get involved, it's a good idea to join the discussion mailing list (see above).
- Development
- For development sources, bug and patch trackers, and other information, please see the Ferret project page at savannah.gnu.org.
- Maintainer
- Ferret is currently being maintained by Jose E. Marchesi. Please use the mailing lists for contact.
Ferret is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 3 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.


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Free WordPress Business Themes: 60 of the Best
WordPress now powers almost 20% of the web. And though it's hard to say exactly how much of that is attributed to exactly what types of users, there's no question that businesses have been turning to WordPress at a greater and greater rate.
As you might expect, that increased demand has led theme developers to increase choices. And these 60 free responsive business themes below attest to that.
Exactly What is a "Business Theme"?
A WordPress business theme is a theme that generally doesn't put a blog front and center.
It might certainly have a blog element to it, but you won't see the "latest posts" taking up much (if any) of the screen space on the front page of a business theme — at least not above the fold (i.e. the top part of the site you can see without scrolling down).
Instead, a business theme typically has a large area at the top that can act as a billboard of sorts.
Many of these themes also use a slider in that top area. This bold space at the top lets a business get their main message across in a way that's hard to miss.
The goal is to let the visitor know right away what the business is about.
And so without further ado, here are the 60 free themes – and as mentioned, all responsive.
1. Ward
2. Tonic
3. Figero
4. Typal
5. One Page
6. ButterBelly
7. Alexandria
8. BizFlare
9. BizSphere
10. Invert Lite
11. Biznez Lite
12. BizStudio Lite
13. Advantage
14. thememagic
15. Ice Fresh
16. Osiris
17. Vantage
18. Corpo
19. Discover
20. Klasik
21. Celestial Lite
22. Virtue
23. Asteria Lite
24. WP Barrister
25. Unite
26. Isis
27. Simplicity Lite
28. Simpleo
29. Adamos
30. MultiPurpose
31. Fine
32. Intuition
33. zeeNoble
34. zeeFocus
35. zeeMinty
36. zeeTasty
37. Heavenly
38. Tuned
39. Road Fighter
40. Parabola
41. Mantra
42. Responsive
43. Murmur
44. Gavern
45. Attitude
46. Bota
47. Restauranteur
48. Themia Lite
49. ToomMorel
50. Gommero
51. BizWay
52. Business Lite
53. Local Business
54. Andrina
55. Golden Eagle Lite
56. Blackbird
57. Colorway
58. Gridiculous
59. Response
60. iFeature
Image credit: register keys.


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ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – The 'swatting' trend has spread from California to Florida, and is putting St. Johns County police on alert, WJXT-TV reports.
According to Urban Dictionary, swatting refers to a cyber crime that can be committed by strangers anywhere. It's an attempt to trick authorities into dispatching SWAT teams to fake emergencies.
Celebrities like Tom Cruise to Kim Kardashian have been targeted by pranksters, who have been successful at calling 911 and getting SWAT teams sent to star's homes. According to the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office, authorities in northeast Florida are falling for it, too.
"Swatting is an issue we're seeing more and more of. Predominantly we're seeing it with famous folks in our country who are having this prank pulled on them, but more recently in St. Johns County," St. Johns County Commander Chuck Mulligan told WJXT-TV.
SJCSO responded to a home in Ponte Vedra in January after someone called 911 saying his mother had been shot in the head and several people were in the house taking hostages.
Seven deputies responded to the home and SJCSO put SWAT officers and a hostage negotiator on standby. The team quickly discovered that the call was a high-stakes hoax.
"When we showed up, this young individual who answered the door, his first response was, 'I knew this was going to happen,'" said Mulligan.
The young man told police that he had been on Skype with a person called "Meo." When the two got into an argument, "Meo" threatened to "SWAT" him by making a bogus phone call to police, authorities said.
The prank is not getting any laughs from law enforcement, who say the real life consequences of these pranks are severe.
"This individual could face charges for what he's done and it's certainly not a game and it's not funny," said Mulligan.
The investigation into the swatting call is still pending. Police said the case will serve as an important reminder to people that law enforcement resources aren't toys.
"You're actually responding to real people who deal with real-life situations with real criminals and real guns and we're responding as such. We don't take that phone call as a joke," said Mulligan.


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Upload photos, chat with photographers, win prizes and much more for free!
Rating: no ratingThe new lens uses high-end components and advanced technologies to lower weight, improve handling, and enhance image quality. Its the first NIKKOR lens to use sophisticated technologies and materials such as electromagnetic diaphragm control and fluorite lens elements, alongside tried-and-tested features like Vibration Reduction and Nano Crystal Coat.
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text:
Trophy Hunting is never acceptable. "It goes without saying that the import of animal body parts as trophies should be banned outright by the British Government. I'm really shocked that they haven't already done it, in truth, the whole world should do it." Dr. Brian May, Founder of Save Me Trust.
Trophy hunting is the selective hunting of wild animals for human recreation. For many people, it was thrust into the spotlight by the murder of Cecil the Lion in Zimbabwe in July 2015.
Cecil was a radio-tagged research lion who was lured from the safety of the Hwange National Park by American Hunter Walter Palmer and his hired henchmen. Having lured Cecil out, Palmer shot him with an arrow before pursuing his fatally injured victim for over 40 hours before finally shooting him dead to decapitate him. Palmer paid $150,000 for Cecil's black maned head.
Hunters make bold claims of 'conserving' the species and being 'net economic contributors' to poor countries whilst providing employment to local people. There are many problems with this, but for us the assumption that the only way that wildlife can survive is if it is given an economic value is completely wrong, these are sentient beings in their native habitat - not commodities.
There is no disputing that trophy hunting is a lucrative business. Hunters are willing to pay lots of money to shoot a wild animal. What the hunter companies don't tell you is that the animals are bred, often inbred, almost to order. A young cub will be separated from its mother at birth and raised on a 'petting farm' to be the face of a thousand 'selfies', before being moved to a holding pen to mature and finally a larger pen where the paying hunters can choose their victims, just to indulge their perverse pleasure of bringing back a stuffed, mounted trophy of their victim.
Strangely, an argument often used by International NGO's is that whilst they do not approve of hunting, it is the only way wildlife can be saved. Their theory suggests that the pressure from the ever expanding human population, requiring more homes and villages would mean all the wildlife and their habitat would be 'lost' to development if the hunters didn't pay to protect the land. This is the NGO version of the hunter's law. In the UK alone, there are many such NGO's who receive many millions of pounds every year from the British public to save elephants or rhino's or lions; we can't help thinking that if all these experts worked together, surely we could make a real difference to the animals and people in Africa.
One area that could help provide a solution is eco-tourism; the reasons for this are obvious. Whilst hunters may pay large sums, ecotourists are much more numerous. Hunters can only shoot an animal once, but tourists can shoot it thousands of times in the animal's natural life. Tourism is far better for wildlife and human communities than hunting as a net contributor to the economy and the income is sustainable with people coming back every year.
Australia, Canada and France have all banned the import of animal body parts as trophies and the US could join them this year. Save Me Trust have been campaigning for 'Cecil's Law' in the UK to include all CITES Appendix I animals, including elephants, rhinos, lions, leopards and cheetahs.
We believe the time is right for the British government to join the world's other leading nations by imposing an outright ban on the import of animal trophies into our country, stifling the pseudo-economic claims of the hunting companies and killing the trophy hunting trade dead.


text:
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text:
GIMME SHELTER- Be a preppie: Get windows and hardware ready
Bob Weakley, D.R. Weakley Painting
Q: I want to repaint my old windows. I also want to refurbish the old painted window latches. Any tips?
A: If you want your paint job to last, how you prepare the surface to be painted is the most important step. Next, buy top-quality paint. If you're going to put the time and energy into the job– the most expensive part, really– why skimp on the paint?
First, determine how much old paint there is on your windows and if it has lead in it. Most people just lightly scrape and sand over the old paint, but if you really want to refurbish old windows, try to get as much of the old paint off as possible. We suggest getting a lead paint test kit to determine if the old paint has lead in it. If it does, and you decide you want to burn it off, wear a mask and open the windows, as the fumes are highly toxic.
If you decide to use a flame, be careful! We've had to re-paint houses where the owners tried to burn paint off and lit their houses on fire. Old houses are particularly susceptible to this. A heat gun is safer than a flame, but you still have to be careful, as the paint and wood can ignite.
The safest thing to use is paint stripper. Just spread it over the paint and leave it there for however long the directions on the can call for. Then simply scrape the paint off with a stiff brush or putty knife.
To refurbish the old window latches, first remove them and let them soak in stripping solution until the paint falls off on its own. Then go over them lightly with some steel wool, making sure to wear plastic gloves, as the chemicals can burn your skin. You can also buy some brass and metal polish to make them really shine!
Once the surface of your windows is sanded smooth and free from grit and dust, you're ready to prime and paint. After the primer dries, lightly sand and clean the surface again. When you start to paint, just go slow and put on a nice even coat. And don't worry too much if you get some paint on the windows. When the paint dries, you can always gently scrape it off with a razor blade.
When the paint's dry and the panes are cleaned up, re-install the hardware and you're good to go!
Bob Weakley


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Recent cyber-attacks on large U.S. companies have brought the issue of cybersecurity back into the House of Representatives.
The Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA) was reintroduced in February. CISPA's aim is to help American businesses better protect their computer networks and corporate trade secrets from cyber attacks.
The Act attempts to achieve that by making it easier for businesses to share cybersecurity information -- including personal consumer data -- with the government.
It has become quite a controversial bill, one that's drawing a lot of attention from privacy advocates.
Controversy with the bill
Supporters of the bill -- AT&T, Comcast, IBM and other major tech companies -- claim that information sharing is necessary, and that cybersecurity threats require the cooperation of the entire Internet ecosystem.
Opponents say that the bill is an invasion of privacy, allowing companies to identify potential cyber threats by looking at private consumer information -- like email records and internet history -- and sharing it with the government.
"The concern with CISPA," says Michelle Richardson, Legislative Counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union, "is that it's incredibly broad."
Currently, well-established laws provide judicial oversight and privacy protections that prevent companies from sharing private consumer information.
CISPA would override those privacy laws.
"Companies can share cyber security information with each other or with the government, and they are not affirmatively required to take efforts to remove personally identifiable information," she says.
One of the biggest concerns of the ACLU is that this information will go to military agencies like the NSA or DOD.
The ACLU prefers that personal information go to a civilian-controlled agency, according to Richardson.
"We have a long history of not allowing the military to operate against its own citizens in the United States, and that should continue in the cybersecurity realm," says Richardson.
How it will affect individuals
If CISPA is passed, once guarded personal data will be fair game for companies to share if they deem it as cybersecurity information.
"The concern is that companies will broadly share electronic information with the government and that it will be repurposed," says Richardson.
What can be done with the information once it's shared?
As the bill stands, information shared with the government may be used for five purposes:
- Cybersecurity
- Investigation and prosecution of cybersecurity crimes
- Protection of individuals from the danger of death or serious bodily harm -- and the investigation and prosecution of crimes involved in such danger, death or serious bodily harm
- Crimes against minors
- Protection of the national security of the United States
Theoretically, the information couldn't be used to enforce taxes, immigration, or any of the many other things the government does on our behalf, notes Richardson.
But the ACLU still thinks it's too broad.
The term "national security" is an undefined generic term, says Richardson.
"This is a cybersecurity bill. It should only be used for cybersecurity purposes," she says.
Passing the bill
CISPA passed through the House last year, but it never got to the Senate.
The Obama Administration threatened to veto the bill.
Chances are that it won't pass through the Senate this year.
In fact, Richardson flat out says, "The Senate will not take up CISPA."
"They've taken a more targeted approach, and through their process last year, they've actually moved in the opposite direction," she says.
Last year Senators unveiled significant privacy amendments to be incorporated into the Cybersecurity Act, which narrowed the bill to contain more privacy protections.
The bill is still in the works, but Richardson says it will be a better alternative to CISPA in terms of privacy.
"We're continuing to lobby Congress so that if they choose to go down this path, they only pass legislation that is narrow, clearly defined and makes sure that companies are only sharing very targeted threat information," says Richardson.


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Ever rolled out a pithy one-liner on a friend's Facebook wall, only to have misspelled "totatlly!"? Now, that's fixable.
Facebook is rolling through user accounts and adding the ability to edit comments, without having to delete them and re-post. That can be annoying because it potentially sends another notification to the user.
Apparently (I don't have this super-awesome ability yet) and according to The Next Web, users have 30 seconds to amend a posting.
U.S. & World
Now this ability is not extending to embeddable comments, though, like Drew Olanoff points out, it dang well should.
Editor's note: I have recently been gifted the ability to star or add "close friends" on the Facebook wall. Is that out there for everone?


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Troubleshooting Your Irrigation System
It's a day before the big game. Everyone expects the field to be perfect. You have your schedule full preparing the field for the big show — mowing, grooming, painting the yard lines. All of a sudden, you notice brown spots appearing in some locations and puddles in others. This is no time to panic. Determined and focused, you begin the daunting task of troubleshooting the irrigation system on your game field. Your role to the performance and success of the team is critical.
Irrigation is critical to maintaining healthy athletic fields. It is an important tool in providing an athletic surface that is safe for the athlete. As the turf manager, you can control surface performance by closely managing soil moisture on an athletic field. A surface that is too dry often becomes hard, increasing the risk of injury. A surface that is excessively wet will easily rut and lose stability, resulting in surface irregularities. Both conditions negatively impact the performance of an athletic surface and increase the risk associated with athletic competition. When faced with the prospect of troubleshooting an irrigation problem on an athletic field, the answer is simple: Just follow the water.
Athletic fields, unlike other landscapes, are finely-tuned turf systems. They are extremely uniform in slope, solar orientation and soil consistency. The goal of a turf manager is to create a surface that is as uniform as possible in appearance and performance. As a result, high-performance fields show stress sooner. An observant turf manager can use this increased sensitivity to stress as a guide to identify problems with irrigation equipment or operation. Carefully reading subtle changes in the appearance of the turf provides you a powerful diagnostic tool. Observing the location, size, distribution, pattern and relationship to irrigation equipment provides clues on the potential irrigation problem.
In order to understand the clues, you must ask critical questions and act as a detective noticing patterns in turf irregularity. Where is the problem? Does the pattern repeat on other areas of the field? What is the size of the affected area? The size of the impacted area can identify whether the problem is an entire zone or confined to a single rotor. As a general rule, smaller problem areas are usually malfunctioning heads; larger problem areas covering multiple heads are usually valves; and problems impacting the entire field are usually controller related. Troubleshooting is most effective with a complete understanding of the design of the irrigation system. Detailed as-built drawings are essential in understanding how your system operates and where all the equipment is located.
The goal of any irrigation system is to apply the minimum amount of water required to meet the plant's needs. This requires a precise and uniform application of water over the surface. Variations in water-application uniformity usually indicate a problem. In the broadest terms, there are two types of water-related problems: insufficient water and excess water.
Dry spots and brown turf are a clear indication of insufficient water. Observe the pattern closely. Small, isolated dry spots are usually related to the operation of a single rotor. If this is the case, you can find the offending rotor at the center of the dry spot. Insufficient water for a rotor is a sign that something is clogging the head or the head is not properly rotating. Check the screen at the bottom of the head for debris, and then observe the rotor in operation. Some dry areas are not centered on the individual head, but located equal distance from two heads along the edge of a field. The cause of this type of pattern is usually improper arc adjustment.
When the areas of insufficient water cover multiple heads, you need to follow the water back upstream from the head to the valve. The problem is either a control valve or a lateral pipe break when all the impacted heads are associated with the same control zone. Lateral pipe breaks that are significant enough to create large areas of insufficient water can usually be detected by the isolated area of excessive water. In sand-based athletic fields, these types of lateral pipe failures can be difficult to locate due to the permeability of the soil. A simple way to detect if a lateral pipe or a valve is the problem in sand-based fields is to monitor the water meter while the zone is operating. No water flowing is an indication of a malfunctioning valve, while water flowing is usually a broken lateral pipe. There is some sound detection equipment that can detect the location of a broken pipe in a sand-based field.
A general rule when troubleshooting control valves is that if the valve fails to operate, it is an electrical problem; and when a valve fails to shut off, it is a hydraulic problem with the valve. The failure of a valve to operate can be traced to three possible components: the controller, control wire or the solenoid on the valve. Use a voltage meter to check power to the valve at the controller terminal strip with the zone operating. Problems internal to the controller typically will not power the terminal strip. Next, using the voltage meter, check power at the solenoid while the system is operating. No power or low power to the solenoid usually indicates a severed or damaged control wire. Finally, if power is verified to the solenoid and the valve will still not operate, it is time to replace the solenoid.
In situations where the entire field is impacted and shows insufficient water, follow the water upstream of the control valves to the points of connection and the control system. If you can manually operate the system by purging the master valve and control valves, the likely culprit is an electrical problem. Be sure to follow the water from the water meter, manually opening all gate, ball and solenoid valves along the way. Often, the problem is that someone accidentally shuts off a valve without notifying the turf manager. System-wide electrical problems are a little more difficult to troubleshoot, but can be traced to four components: controller, main ground wire, rain sensor or master valve. Each of these components can disable the entire system.
To check the controller, make sure it is receiving power and that the terminal strip is being powered. Also, check the controller settings to make sure it is properly programmed and operating correctly. Both the master valve and rain sensor are designed to disable the entire irrigation system. Failure in either of these components will result in an entire system shutdown. Check the rain sensor and master valve the same as you would a control valve. You can remove both of these components from the system by disconnecting them. The system should begin operating again; if not, the problem may be a damaged or severed common ground wire. Unlike valve control wires that run to each valve, a common ground wire is run to all the valves. Ground wire problems are among the most difficult problems to detect and repair. Typically, the controller provides normal power to the terminal, but the voltage meter indicates no voltage or low voltage to all valves.
You can identify excessive water by saturated soil conditions, a sour anaerobic smell and algae cover on the surface of the soil. Clues can be gathered by the size and extent of the saturation. At times, there are clear indications if the excessive water is intermittent or not by the way algae or salts have accumulated. Most excessive water problems are localized to a single equipment failure, such as leaking equipment or a broken pipe.
Saturated soil around a head is a sign of a leaking wiper seal or that the head is installed low and the nozzle is obstructed. It would also be a result of the head sticking up and the mower decapitating the top of the riser. Observing the head in operation will help identify the problem. If the excess water appears to be bubbling out of the ground, the problem is below grade with the riser connection or the swing joint.
Other equipment problems can result in isolated wet spots. Quick coupler valves frequently leak at the seal. A control valve box filled with water is commonly a leak between the valve body and bonnet or at the threaded connections of a valve. Isolation valves are known to leak at the riser stem. Armed with the construction drawings of the irrigation system, you can usually follow the water to the problem.
Saturated soil not located near a head or other equipment is likely a lateral pipe break. One thing to consider is that the location of the saturated soil may not be the location of break. Excess water can travel underground through the soil and irrigation trenches and surface some distance from the break. However, it can always be assumed the saturated soil is down slope of the break. Finding the break is sometimes difficult. Running the suspected zone for a long time can sometimes force the break to surface revealing its location.
When excessive water to a large area is observed, the first place to look is at the controller settings. The system may simply be programmed to apply excess water. The next culprit is usually a valve that won't shut off. The cause of a valve remaining open can be attributed to debris stuck between the diaphragm and the valve body preventing closure of the valve or a clogged diaphragm port. If you suspect a valve problem, remove the top bonnet of the valve and flush to remove debris. Inspect the diaphragm for damage or wear and replace, if required.
The cause-and-effect relationship of problems in irrigation systems are most often direct. An observant turf manager can use the subtle changes in water distribution as a powerful diagnostic tool in troubleshooting irrigation problems on athletic fields. It requires a mental picture of how the system operates, where the equipment is located and what problem would cause the observed pattern. Armed with this knowledge, you need only to apply logic like a detective solving a crime. Systematically considering each of the potential causes and eliminating them one by one, you can follow the water back to the source of the problem.
Jeffrey Bruce is president of Jeffrey L. Bruce & Co. (North Kansas City, Mo.), a landscape architecture and planning firm that specializes in irrigation engineering and sports turf. Bruce also serves on the board of the American Society of Irrigation Consultants.
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