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We asked some students enrolled in Sabar: The Music and Dance of Senegal for their take on the course.
Carina Montrond-Silveira, '16, Cape Verde
Criminal Justice major
Q: Why did you sign up for the course?
A: I love to dance but I also wanted to take a black history course and learn more about Senegal from an academic perspective.
Q: What was the best part of the course?
A: It's such a unique class. And it's awesome to see how dancing brings everyone together. It makes them interact more and is better than just sitting in class!
Kent Fisher, '14, Dorchester, MA
History major
Q: Why did you sign up for the course?
A: I was actually persuaded by Professor Bellinger to take this course. He handed me a flyer about it. I had also heard from other students that it was fun, so I gave it a shot.
Q: What was the best part of the course?
A: As a history major, I'm interested in the cultural aspects of it. But it really helped me understand the reason why people in Senegal take this way of life so seriously.
Daba Thiare, '14, Senegal
International Relations major
Q: Why did you sign up for the course?
A: I come from Senegal and I've been here for two years—I miss my home. It was a good chance for me to study something I'm familiar with.
Q: What was the best part of the course?
A: Everything! I learned many things about my home country that I did not know before. It also feels good to express myself through dance.
Robert Bellinger is an associate professor and director of the Black Studies program in the History Department at Suffolk. He directs the Gëwél Tradition Project in Dakar, Senegal, and maintains a blog on the traditions of Senegal and West Africa.
Contact Professor Bellinger for more information on the course, his research, or the Black Studies program at Suffolk.


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If you are interested in using this image, please consult Acknowledging the Website.
This record was last updated on 08 Mar 2011
Image Reference
John Gabriel Stedman, Narrative, of a Five Years' Expedition, against the revolted Negroes of Surinam . . . from the year 1772, to 1777 (London, 1796), vol. 1, facing p. 200. (Copy in Special Collections Department, University of Virginia Library)
Group of men, women, and children being herded ashore by a European. This and other engravings are found in the autobiographical narrative of Stedman, a young Dutchman who joined a military force against rebellions of the enslaved in the Dutch colony. The engravings are based on Stedman's own drawings and were done by professional engravers. For the definitive modern edition of the original 1790 Stedman manuscript, which includes this and other illustrations see Richard and Sally Price, eds. Narrative of a five years expedition against the revolted Negroes of Surinam (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1988).

subset: commoncrawl


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e-volve needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 220 designs submitted by 69 freelance designers.
We need to improve our logo - which can currently be found at http://www.windtrap.co.uk.
We think the colours are a bit bland and it's a bit too "tree-hugger". We're looking for something a bit stronger.
Please read the rest of this brief as it is pretty important - i.e. please don't focus on turbines and keep clear of pastel colours
Wind Trap
Our company started out selling wind turbine kits and then evolved to selling energy saving devices and eco friendly products.
Ideally we'd want to reference the wind turbine origins but focus more on the energy saving products that we sell.
We're in the process of redesigning the website so don't worry about the logo having to fit our current website
- Bold
- Modern
- Bright
- Cool
- strap line "Save and Generate Energy"
- Nothing too "eco-friendly"
- too much focus on wind turbines
- weak/pastel colours
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


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We automotive journalists were a bit shocked when the 2013 RAV4 premiered at last week's LA Auto Show and neither a V6 powerplant nor a hybrid version was included in the model line. The outgoing model was offered with either a four-cylinder or a 268-horsepower V6, which could propel even the most modest of soccer moms through suburbia at breakneck speeds.
The new RAV4, however, is only offered with one engine option: a 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder producing 176 horsepower, which is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. Although Ford stepped away from the hybrid line with its 2012 Ford Escape, offering instead even more fuel-efficient four-cylinders, we were sure that Toyota – king of the hybrid – would offer one for its compact SUV buyers.
Delightfully, we're learning from several sources including Motor Trend, that a RAV4 hybrid is a real possibility. The 2.5-liter RAV4 is estimated to achieve 24 MPG in the city and 31 MPG on the highway. A hybrid version would easily top 40 MPG, which would make it extremely versatile and fuel-efficient.
A potential hybrid wouldn't be the only electrified variant of the RAV4 on the market. Toyota and Tesla teamed up to offer an EV version of the old RAV4, which is currently on sale. With a range of 103 miles and a recharge time of six hours, the RAV4 EV isn't for everyone but certainly a step in an interesting direction for both automakers.
If you're looking for a big hybrid from Toyota in the meantime, the Prius V wagon should do you just fine.


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Hi all
For a long time I haven't wanted kids now 34 a few silly things have come up and I'm thinking should I?
My hubby has always been happy not to have them even though I know he would say yes straight away if given the chance. We have kinda spoken about adoption in a few years as I've always been consurnd about my health due to a heart problem and I had ME when I was younger.
I'm now sorted of thinking should I try, problem is my Doc is not very helpful when I've tried to speak to her in the past and says need to go to family planning... what can they do about a heart problem??
Basically I was under great ormornd St in London as a child till I was 21 - got told if I was to get pregnant I would need very close care and would probably need a C section as my body would probably really struggled and heart might fail if natural.. this is what worries me as I said above doctor doesn't seam botherd and just says get pregnant first! I'm also "pants" sceared of injections, I faint!
I kinda want a family but then don't if this makes sense?
I don't want to speak to hubby about it as feel a bit silly don't know why.
We have our own house, he works full time and I'm a freelance coach.


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Special Plates: Plate Information
Chesapeake Bay
|Personalization available
|Number of characters combinations available on plate
|Plate Fee (in addition to registration fee)
|$25.00 Annually
|Personalized plate fee (in addition to registration fee)
|$10.00 Annually
|Disabled symbol available upon request
Revenue Sharing: As a revenue-sharing plate, after the sale of the first 1,000 qualifying plates, $15.00 of the $25.00 fee is transferred to the Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fund Advisory Committee for environmental education and restoration projects for the Bay and its tributaries. A portion of your fee may be tax deductible.
For tax purposes, the following DMV license plate type codes are associated with this plate:
You can either reserve your personalized character combination and/or special plate or you can make your purchase now. Just click the option below that you prefer.
- Check Personal Character Combination Availability - Creating your personalized message
- Purchase a plate
- Order a Souvenir Plate
If you prefer to purchase your new plates by mail or by visiting a customer service center, complete the License Plate Application, (VSA 10).


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Linked by snydeq on Mon 20th Jul 2009 23:29 UTC
InfoWorld's Peter Wayner provides an inside look at the frustration iPhone developers face from Apple when attempting to distribute their apps through the iPhone App Store. Determined to simply dump an HTML version of his book into UIWebView and offer two versions through the App Store, Wayner endures four months of inexplicable silences, mixed messages, and almost whimsical rejections from Apple -- the kind of frustration and uncertainty Wayner believes is fast transforming Apple's regulated marketplace into a hotbed of bottom-feeding mediocrity. 'Developers are afraid to risk serious development time on the platform as long as anonymous gatekeepers are able to delay projects by weeks and months with some seemingly random flick of a finger,' Wayner writes of his experience. 'It's one thing to delay a homebrew project like mine, but it's another thing to shut down a team of developers burning real cash. Apple should be worried when real programmers shrug off the rejections by saying, "It's just a hobby."'
Thread beginning with comment 374308
To read all comments associated with this story, please click here.
To read all comments associated with this story, please click here.
Not sure...
by sigzero on Tue 21st Jul 2009 00:12 UTC
RE: Not sure...
by Laurence on Tue 21st Jul 2009 07:37 in reply to "Not sure..."
There are roughly 50,000 apps in the store. There are a lot of high quality ones as well. While the process could be tweaked I am sure I think "undermining" is way too strong word.
When developers get refused when trying to upload patches to an app already on the store - I'd consider that undermining.
When developers get whole apps refused because the application streams adult songs, despite the same songs being available to buy on Apples music store - then I'd consider that undermining.
When developers get whole apps refused because it's an RSS feed to a site with swear words, despite that website being freely accessible by Apples own apps - then I'd consider that undermining.
I could go on as there's plenty of evidence online of Apples bi-polar approach to censorship and their downright lack of respect towards the people who really made the iPhone great (lets face it, it's one of Apples biggest marketing angles).
Apple are really going to have to pull their head of the sand (and quick) because they no longer have the "isn't it sexy" and "it just works well" markets cornered what with Palm Pre and Android joining the fight and Blackburry, Nokia and Samsung making huge strides to catch up.
Plus you can bank on MS not to hang about too long (and given their massive app cateloge, they already have a head-start in some respects).
RE[2]: Not sure...
by systyrant on Tue 21st Jul 2009 13:20 in reply to "RE: Not sure..."
I don't speak for the populous, but in and around my area blackberry's are more popular than iPhones. So much in fact I can think of at least three iPhone users who have dumped the iPhone for blackberry's.
That has nothing to do with the app store. However, one of those guys that dumped the iPhone was working on iPhone development. He gave up when all four of his apps where rejected.


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How many sexual partners did each main character on Friends have? It's a question that has plagued humanity for ages, but no one was brave or determined enough to sift through the 236 episodes and keep score. No one until now! Redditor larry_b claims to have undertaken just such an endeavor. We already knew that 85 such partners were on-air characters, but this breakdown includes all mentions of sexual encounters, not just the onscreen ones. The grand total: around 138. (Per this study, 1 = confirmed parter, and .5 = possible/alluded to partner. Yes, this adds in its own level of vagueness.)
Monica: 14.5 sex partners
Rachel: 15.5 sex partners
Sorry, Gunther.


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MONTGOMERY, Ala.—The Barry Buccaneers (8-2) invoked the 10-run mercy rule to defeat the Tuskegee Tigers 11-1 in eight innings in baseball action at Paterson Field on Sunday, as the Bucs swept the series.
Nate Greve (1-0), making the first start of his career, went six solid innings, allowing just one run on three hits and striking out five. He did not walk a batter.
The Bucs posted a big inning again on Sunday, this time against the Tigers' (2-4) bullpen. Leading 4-1 heading into the eighth, the Bucs pushed across seven runs on five hits. Adrian English had a two-run double and JC Cardenas capped it with a two-run single.
Barry scored three in the third inning off Tiger starter Cameron Summers. Carlos Matamoros and English walked to lead off the inning and one out later, Greg Brodzinski was hit by Summers to load the bases. Summers got an infield fly, but then surrendered a three-run double to Luis Rios-Reyes, his second of the series.
In the fourth, the Bucs got a gift run. Khalil Denson singled and went to third when Summers' pick-off move went astray. Denson then scored on a balk.
Summers (1-1) went 6.1 innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on four hits, five walks and four hit batters.
Cardenas was 3-for-4 with two RBI. Denson had two hits and scored twice. English went 1-for-2 with two walks, two runs and two RBI. Cash Oliver belted a solo homer in the fourth inning off Greve to account for the Tigers only run.
The Bucs return home next weekend, hosting Wisconsin-Parkside in a four-game set at Feinbloom Field on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Barry 11, Tuskegee 1
(02/16/14 at Montgomery, AL)
Barry............... 003 100 07 - 11 9 0 (8-2)
Tuskegee............ 000 100 00 - 1 4 2 (2-4)
Pitchers: Barry - Nate Greve; Tyler Petsch(7); Calvin Rayburn(8) and Greg Brodzinski. Tuskegee - Cameron Summers; Eugene Mabota(7); Jonathan Allen(8) and Russell Cornin.
Win-Nate Greve(1-0) Loss-Cameron Summers(1-1) T-2:19 A-59
HR TUSKEGEE - Cash Oliver (1).
Weather: resplendent
Mabota faced 1 batter in the 8th.


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27 Feb 2012 06:20:48 AM
Super Fight League Signs Duffee, Prangley and Agaev to Four-Fight Deals
(Wings, lions and heraldry? That combo would make a nice MMA shirt.)
India's new MMA promotion, Super Fight League announced today the signing of a trio of MMA vets.
According to a release, former UFC heavyweight Todd Duffee, former Bodog middleweight champion Trevor Prangley and M-1 veteran Baga Agaev all agreed to four-fight deals with the fledgling promotion.Read More DIGG THIS


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Maintaining Professional Boundaries in a Facebook World: Social Media Guidelines for DCs
By Mark Sanna, DC, ACRB Level II, FICC
A few months ago, I received an unexpected message on my Facebook account: "Hi Doc, do you remember me? I'm so happy to find you here on Facebook. It's been years since I have seen you and I'm glad to reconnect with you. I'm hoping you will keep in touch." I was caught off guard by this "friend request" from one of my former patients. It made me consider the challenges that chiropractic professionals confront every day concerning social media etiquette.
"Friending" Your Patients
A health care provider's relationship with their patients must be professional at all times. When you accept a "friend request" from a current or former patient, it crosses professional boundaries and can be damaging to the therapeutic relationship. When tackling the ethical and professional challenges related to online social networking with patients, your practice must have a policy on Internet use (including e-mails from patients) specifically addressing online clinician and patient interactions.
But before you close your Facebook or other social networking accounts, or if you are considering opening one, you may want to keep in mind the following advantages and disadvantages of using online social networking sites. Social media allows you to disseminate information quickly and to a large population for no cost. When your practice participates in social media, it sends an implied message to your patients that your practice is on the technological cutting-edge. Social media can also serve as an online bulletin board for your practice where you can post information about upcoming events such as health-related seminars and community activities.
Manage the Benefits and Risks of Social Media
The lack of filtering systems in social networking sites is a major disadvantage. Some people post images or messages that have indelicate content. Although users can enable different privacy settings, restricting some of the privileges on the Web site will defeat the purpose of online social networking.
Let's go back to my case scenario of being contacted by a former patient. I replied politely and respectfully that I was happy to hear from him and that it would be best for us to keep in touch through other venues, rather than via Facebook. He replied that he "understood" and we took the conversation offline where it belongs.
When interacting on social media, use common sense and keep the following considerations in mind:
Understanding Social Media Terminology
On social media, a "friend request" is not exactly what it sounds like. Friends on social networks like Facebook are not the same thing as who we typically think of as friends. In a savvy marketing move, the social media site MySpace popularized the terminology to describe any contact – be it a stranger, spammer, friend, enemy, or family member – who asks to allow them to add you to their list (or "address book," using old-school terminology).
Because Facebook makes no differentiation as to what a "friend" actually constitutes, these people are more accurately described as contacts (a term which is decidedly far less marketing-friendly). So,, if someone has 10,000 Facebook "friends," that really means next to nothing, since nothing is qualified.
What's a Professional to Do?
When you get a friend request on Facebook, what you're really getting is a simple request to form a network connection between your profile and their profile. This connection implies some sort of two-way relationship, but often says little about what that relationship actually is (some social networking websites such as Facebook and LinkedIn do a better job of helping us identify the type and closeness of these relationships). An important point to consider when "friending" someone on social media is that other people on both your network of "friends" as well as their network can see this connection.
When a chiropractor receives a friend request from a professional colleague, they typically accept it if they know (or know of) the person. But when they receive a similar request from a patient or former patient, many are left scratching their heads. The same is true when they receive an e-mail from a patient or former patient. If the professional hasn't set clear guidelines or expectations up-front, it leaves the door open to such questions.
Internet and E-mail Policy
The key, then, is to clearly define the boundaries of the relationship not only offline, but online, too. This means putting together an "Internet & E-mail Policy" you can give to patients during their first visit and recommend they read and understand it. A part of your policy should describe whether you accept patient e-mail, and if so, under what circumstances (appointment changes? health issues?). Part of what should be included in your professional online policy is what a lot of practitioners miss – what to do about social networks. A friend request isn't an e-mail, so it's not really covered by an e-mail policy. The answer is to specifically address social networks and "friend requests" in your online policy.
Consistency is important in setting clear boundaries in all professional relationships, including those involving social media. If you make an exception for a patient in one circumstance, the patient may unfortunately interpret that differently than you intended. Patients are not a professional's "friend" (although a friendship may develop over time). When a friendship between doctor and patient develops, the publication of such information, whether a patient realizes it or not, may result in a violation of the patient's health care privacy.
While they may think such a "friend connection" is harmless fun, it may be used by future employers to pass judgment or draw conclusions that are detrimental to the patient. Worse yet, the patient may never know or realize that such information may be harming them (since social networks don't tell you who has viewed what information of yours once you make someone a "friend").
The Safest Approach
For now, it is best to keep doctor-patient boundaries clear and consistent online: Patients should not send social networking "friend requests" to professionals and professionals should avoid accepting them or sending such requests to their patients or former patients. This policy should be made clear to a new patient at the initiation of care to minimize future misunderstanding.
Social networking is a powerful tool, but it is also a tool that can be misused and sometimes even abused. People are not always clear or aware of what information is available to the public or their "friends" list, and what information is private. And people may not always understand the long-term ramifications and implications of sharing such information with others.
Privacy Concerns
Sharing information on social networking sites is easy – too easy! When using social media, always maintain professional boundaries of the doctor-patient relationship. Most social networking sites offer tools that let you control how you share your information and communications; options include sharing with everyone and sharing with friends only. Sharing with friends only is recommended as the default – yet making it your default doesn't guarantee your posts will stay between friends.
For example, suppose you post something witty about a challenging patient, while withholding names and identifying remarks. Your friends find your comments amusing and repost it on their Facebook, where friends of their friends see it and repost it on their own sites. Now your friends-only message has gone viral and is circulating around the social-media universe – and potentially can get back to the patient and/or their employer.
Defamation Law and Social Media
Nurses have been terminated for posting even seemingly harmless statements, such as "My job is boring." Five California nurses lost their jobs and are facing disciplinary action for discussing a patient on Facebook, even though their posts included no names, photos or identifying information.
When posting on social media, it is important to understand the risks. Assume anything you post will be read by everyone, especially those you don't want reading it. Tell your patients that if there's something they don't want their employer to read or to know about them, don't post it. A good rule of thumb is not to post anything you wouldn't want your spouse, child, parent or employer to read.
Termination by Posting
Most employers can legally terminate employees for making disparaging comments about their employer, co-workers or patients. Posting defamatory remarks on the Internet can lead to civil lawsuits alleging defamation or slander. What's more, postings to social media sites generally are considered permanent, even if you delete them.
Several years ago, a group of doctors and nurses were suspended for taking part in the "The Lying Down Game," an Internet craze in which participants took pictures of themselves lying face down in unusual places and uploaded them onto Facebook. The group was reported to hospital management after pictures of them lying on resuscitation carts, ward floors and the ambulance helipad were spotted on the site.
The U.S. National Labor Relations Board recently published a new Social Media Regulation. It states that employees have the right to communicate with one another with the aim of improving wages, benefits or working conditions.However, employees still need to be careful about what they post. Those releasing confidential information, or who are ranting and raving about their employers, will receive a rude awakening if they believe their "free speech" will be defended.
You Are a Professional 24/7
Social networking is a great tool you can use to expand your professional network, connect with colleagues and increase your knowledge. But using it carelessly can imperil your job and livelihood. Let common sense and discretion guide you online. Maintain appropriate boundaries and privacy, and adhere to your practice's code of professional conduct and social networking policies. Remember, you're a professional, 24/7.
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Responding to an accommodation request does not have to be scary. Adopting a policy for an association to follow goes a long way to successfully addressing accommodation requests properly. But there are several stages where boards and managers can get tripped up in the process.
This article first appeared in the January/February issue of the Orange County Chapter of CAI's OC View Magazine.
With all the various moving parts that go into managing a community association, few issues cause more confusion or are as fraught with risk as dealing with a request for a reasonable accommodation or modification. Failing to respond timely, or denying a request when it is appropriate exposes the association to potential liability for violating fair housing laws. Granting one without getting sufficient information to determine if it is warranted exposes the association to potentially unnecessary expenses and potential breach of fiduciary duty claims. Asking for additional information to support the request might be a no-no. That is why having a good, clear, concise policy in place to guide a board of directors as to how to address such requests can go a long way to help navigate the potential landmines that responding to a request for a reasonable accommodation involves.
Continue reading "Responding to an Accommodation Request? What's your Policy?"
California Governor Jerry Brown Officially declared an end to the drought and rescinded two drought-related executive orders from 2014, including the one that declared a drought state of emergency, excepting four counties in Central California. The Governor's action today reinstates the ability for California community associations to impose fines or otherwise enforce their governing documents related to an owner's decision to not water grass or other vegetation.
Executive Order B-40-17 lifts the drought emergency in all California counties except Fresno, Kings, Tulare and Tuolumne, where emergency drinking water projects will continue to help address diminished groundwater supplies. Today's order also rescinds two emergency proclamations from January and April 2014 and four drought–related executive orders issued in 2014 and 2015.
In a related action, state agencies today issued a plan to continue to make conservation a way of life in California, as directed by Governor Brown in May 2016. The framework requires new legislation to establish long-term water conservation measures and improved planning for more frequent and severe droughts. Permanent restrictions shall prohibit wasteful practices such as:
• Hosing off sidewalks, driveways and other hardscapes;
• Washing automobiles with hoses not equipped with a shut-off
• Using non-recirculated water in a fountain or other decorative
water feature;
• Watering lawns in a manner that causes runoff, or within 48
hours after measurable precipitation; and
• Irrigating ornamental turf on public street medians.
By Robert M. DeNichilo, Esq., and Greg Coulter, Esq.
Reprinted with permission from CAI's Common Ground TM magazine, September/October 2016
A BOARD MEMBER OR MANAGER tells a landscape company's employee that he or she can only work during certain hours on particular days of the week or directs the employee to plant flowers in a specific way or location. Or, if a board believes the association isn't receiving the level of service it expects, it may try to require its management company to fire a manager or replace him or her on the account. These situations aren't all that uncommon.
Since the association is contracting for these services, the board (and maybe its manager) probably believes the contractor—and not the association—employs those individuals. However, under certain circumstances, the association could be found to be a "joint employer" of a contractor's employees, which means a lot more fiscal responsibility and legal liability.adidas EQT BASK ADV carbon / carbon / collegiate royal bei Adidas adidas Human Race NMD Pharrell Multi Color Talla 6 Low Top , Adidas Yeezy Boost Low Black Wallbank low cost Comprar Adidas Originals Mens Tubular Radial Trainers Night adidas Bs0729 Mujeres Originals Crew Sweat LS Shirts Pink Regular XS , Adidas Superstar Schwarz Weiß Damen Herren 36,37,38,39,40,41,42,43 Gorra adidas Running Flat Brim Graphic | Adidas Originals | , 2232 zalando adidas gacela Zapatos de mujer Adidas Purple Multi Print Lite Racer Sneakers florales , adidas hoodies tienda en línea, zapatos para hombre adidas originals samoa Echa un vistazo a estas ofertas en Adidas Prophere Sneaker para hombre, talla 11 M ¡Obtén el trato! FD9608 Luxe retro adidas superstar dames ingenio 79401356 Kith RF X Nonnative Consortium Adidas Ultraboost Mid ATR Talla 10 | , Adidas Triple Black NMD XR1 Review y en los pies YouTube , ADIDAS ORIGINALS Superstar Nigo Bearfoot: Zapatos y bolsos , Adidas New Orleans Pelicans Nba Primary Team Gorra flexible en azul para Zapatillas de running Hombre Naranja 2018/17 Adidas Supernova Glide 7 - Hombre zapatos metálicos blancos adidas | , Alta calidad Adidas Ultraboost X Ftwwht / Ftwwht / Cwhite Us 9 (Eur Adidas Originals Womens Gazelle Cutout Blanco adidas: The Latest adidas Gazelle Shoes Blanco adidas UK Footwear Blanco / Core Black , Adidas Eezay Dots Womens Black / White, SKU: # 8816462MS: Adidas Outlet adidas Adidas Training Alphaskin Sport Long Logo mallas, negro / naranja claro, X grande de Amazon | , Compre Authentic Pharrell Adidas Boost NMD Shoes Adidas NMD boost , Consorcio adidas x UNDFTD x BAPE Superstar 80s MASSES , Adidas Originals Tubular Doom Sock Pk BY3565 Zapatos casuales oscuro Adidas DB0673 Canada Men Alphabounce más allá del creador en línea Streetammo Calzado adidas Originals Gazelle OG WC Farm
In a 2015 case known as Browning-Ferris Industries of California (# 32-RC-109684), the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) overturned a long series of cases in the collective bargaining arena. With the decision, the circumstances expanded under which an entity that contracts for services can be found to be a joint employer. The decision could have far-reaching implications for both community associations and management companies, making them responsible for the employees of landscapers, painters, managers and others who provide services to an association.
Continue reading "Who's the Boss? The National Labor Relations Board's new standard for determining joint employment may make community associations and management companies responsible for contractors' pay, benefits and legal liability. Review your agreements with business partners now."
Disputes between owners and associations can easily spin out of control. When those disputes result in a lawsuit, the costs, both in terms of time and money, can be significant. That is why attorneys often encourage parties to first meet and try to resolve those issues through some form of dispute resolution process before a lawsuit is filed. In fact, the law often requires that parties at least offer to meet in some form of alternative dispute resolution setting before they file a lawsuit, or they may lose the right to recover attorney's fees even if they win the suit.
California's Davis-Stirling Act contains several sections that address, and sometimes require, the use of the dispute resolution process before litigation can be filed. The statutory process includes (1) Internal Dispute Resolution and (2) Alternative Dispute Resolution.
Internal Dispute Resolution or "IDR" is an informal process where one or two representatives of the association (typically a board member and the association's community manager) meet with the owner of the property at issue and try to resolve the issue informally. Civil Code section 5905 requires that associations provide a "fair, reasonable, and expeditious procedure for resolving a dispute" with members.
Governor Brown has signed AB 349, an urgency statute which takes effect immediately. AB 349 amends Section 4735 of the Civil Code, and prevents associations from prohibiting the installation of artificial turf, or "any other synthetic surface that resembles grass."
This bill also prohibits any requirement that an owner remove or reverse water-efficient landscaping measures, installed in response to a declaration of a state of emergency, upon the conclusion of the state of emergency.
As anyone who has looked into replacing natural grass with artificial turf can tell you, there are different types and quality of artificial turf available in the market. AB 349 does not prevent an association from developing and applying reasonable landscape standards, including standards regarding the installation of artificial turf, so long as the standards do not restrict or prevent the installation of artificial turf, any other synthetic surface that resembles grass, or other drought tolerant landscape.
In light of AB 349 and its immediate impact, associations which have not already done so should work quickly to develop architectural standards which allow for installation of artificial turf and "any other synthetic surface that resembles grass." This can often best be done by working with a landscape architect who can advise the board of directors with regard to the different types of products available, and how those different products may look in community. Failure to have such standards in place may result in an association not being able to require owners seeking to install such items to install the type and quality materials which the association deems consistent with the aesthetics of the community.


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Perhaps the biggest moment in Odd Future's sudden rise to dominance came two years ago, when Tyler, The Creator and Hodgy Beats bulldozed their way through Late Night With Jimmy Fallon, giving a thrillingly unstable performance of "Sandwitches." Last night, an older and more seasoned Tyler returned to the show, performing a couple of track from his new LP Wolf with the Roots backing him up. He started out on piano, playing a placid new song called "TreeHome," sung by Quadrant Music's Coco, then transitioned into an all-over-the-place version of "Domo 23," with Odd Future buddies Taco and Jasper Dolphin on hypeman duties. And though it wasn't the startling moment that his last Fallon performance was, we were still looking at a furiously energetic young dude leaping on top of a piano and rapping his heart out. Watch it below.
Wolf is out 4/2 on Odd Future Records.


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Baby H's Labor of Love
Name: Baby H
Location: Roanoke, VA
When we found out we were going to have a baby I started trolling the internet for nursery ideas and found myself overwhelmed with too many ideas and possibilities! But, then we came across the "ABC123" piece at an antique store and that became the official jumping off point.
After playing around a bit we decided on a robin's egg blue for the walls. It seemed to work best with the colors in the "ABC123" piece (which has been securely screwed to the wall over the crib). Since my husband and I had decided not to find out the gender of the baby, I also felt like I could work with that color and make the room bright and happy while still keeping it gender neutral. The bulk of the room was finished before the baby arrived and outfitted with books and mementos from our childhood. After the baby arrived (a boy!) a few additional pieces were added for the walls along with some other items we received as gifts.
The nursery was previously an office and is both small (approx 8 ' x 10') and very limited in wall space. With window, door, and radiator placement what you see in the pictures is just about the only way the furniture could get placed in the room and still allow for good, useable floor space. This sent me on a hunt for a tall narrow dresser and an equally small scale-changing table. The dresser was discovered at an antique store and I painted it to coordinate with the other furniture in the room. The changing table is from IKEA. I'll admit being pleased with the pull out shelf I made and installed to make for easier access to diaper changing accessories.
The chair is actually a platform rocking chair and was a Craigslist find for $40! It was in sorry (and smelly…) shape when I found it, but I loved its lines and knew that refinished and reupholstered it would be great. I did the refinishing, but had a professional do the reupholstery. We opted for a solid fabric that could easily move to other rooms in the house when it's no longer needed in the nursery.
We had a local carpenter build the radiator cover/bookshelf piece. It is one of my favorite things we added to the room. The wall area remaining between the radiator and closet was an awkward space that would otherwise have been unusable and in this small room we needed to make use of every inch! The radiator cover provides much needed surface and storage space and camouflages the fact that the radiator actually is placed rather oddly on that length of wall. The front grill panel is hinged and can be opened up for access to the radiator knobs.
The room is definitely a labor of DIY love. We repainted the walls and trim, and I did the curtains, little valances for the carriage windows, shades, crib skirt, lampshades (both the dresser lamp and the blue starburst lamp), and switch plate cover. The shades are just basic room darkening shades dressed up with ribbon. I made the pull out shelf on the changing table from some scrap wood we had on hand and a set of drawer slides from Home Depot. The switch plate cover is made from a card we received when the baby was born and some plexiglas I cut.
Source List:
- Paint: Valspar Gossamer Sky
- Crib: Pottery Barn KendallChanging Table: Ikea Gulliver
- Dresser, rocking chair, ABC123 wall piece: antique stores/Craigslist finds
- Storage bins on changing table: Container Store
- Fabric for lampshades, crib skirt: Hawthorne Threads
- Lampshade supplies for luminary lamp: The Lamp Shop
- Crib skirt: inspiration from this tutorial. I modified mine somewhat from what is described, but it's the same idea. Three separate panels that can be adjusted over time.
- Window shade: inspiration from HGTV.
- Duck in hat picture: Elizabeth Soule Photography
- Gentleman bear: Berkley Illustration
- Bookworm illustration: Minted
- VA state print: One Canoe Two
Thanks, Kate!
(Images: Reader Kate)


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|Seattle, Wash.
|High School:
|Seattle Prep
2012: One-year letterwinner … will be counted on to eat inning out of the bullpen after successfully converting from catcher to pitcher as a junior.
2011: Earned his first letter after posting a 1.83 ERA in 11 appearances … logged 19.2 innings, all in relief, and posted a 1-1 record … earned his first career win with 1.0 inning of scoreless relief, striking out one and walking two, in an 8-6 win over Randolph-Macon (4/2) … threw a career-high 4.0 innings in relief in a 7-4 loss to Bridgewater in the ODAC Tournament, allowing six hits, no earned runs and striking out three.
2010: Appeared in one game … scored one run and was walked in his sole plate appearance … also made one appearance on the mound, tossing a third of an inning.
2009: Appeared in three games with one start … had one hit in four at-bats and scored two runs.
High School: Earned three letters in baseball at Seattle Prep … helped lead baseball team to a pair of regular season division championships, as well as the 2008 metro championship … was a two-time all-metro selection as a catcher.
Off the field: Sister, Alexis Shanan, played soccer at Yale … grandfather, Jim, played baseball at the University of Michigan … biochemistry major.


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Gov. Robert Bentley says Alabama insurance regulators will not enforce consumer protection provisions of the federal health care overhaul pushed by President Barack Obama.
The Montgomery Advertiser reports Bentley recently wrote a letter to federal officials saying Washington, not state regulators in Montgomery, should be responsible for making sure insurance policies sold in Alabama comply with the federal law's requirements such as covering people with pre-existing health conditions.
Bentley, a physician, has rejected other portions of the health overhaul, such as setting up a state-run health exchange and expanding Alabama's Medicaid program to cover more low-income residents.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says Alabama is one of six states that have said they will reject the law's provisions.


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By Marc Livitz from ringside: Abner Mares made his featherweight debut this evening in Las Vegas and he was out to impress the masses. His first fight in the division was for the WBC featherweight title which was held by Daniel Ponce de Leon. The night's co-main event was a memorable one. Mares of Hawaiian Gardens, California (via Guadalajara, MX) handed Ponce de Leon of West Covina, California (vis Cuauhtemoc, MX) a loss in the first defense of his championship.
The two combatants seemed to be in full concentration mode in the opening round. Daniel Ponce de Leon appeared to be the physically stronger of the two, yet Mares showed high levels of aggression. Daniel connected with a left hook to the head of Mares just before the bell.
Abner used the ring much more in the second and he employed a steady left jab. Each fighter landed a few shots of their own. Mares connected with two consecutive right hooks. Ponce de Leon was knocked to the floor right as the click sounded to signal that there were ten seconds remaining in the round. A perfectly placed left hook by Mares found Daniel's chin. Ponce de Leon rose to his feet as the round closed.
Abner went on the attack in the third but Daniel was waiting for him. They moved around the ring considerably more and Mares landed the more meaningful shots, although Ponce de Leon was answering. The difference was Mares's jab, while Daniel seemed to lunge forward at times. The action continued in round four. Mares had Ponce de Leon on the ropes as he connected with multiple head shots, which prompted the Cuauhtemoc, Mexico fighter to hold up his gloves and beckon Abner to keep the punches coming. Mares continued to work hard and caught Daniel with his right hook again.
Ponce de Leon was more of a defensive fighter in the fifth and he looked to counter at times. He connected with a few single shots and Abner scored with a right/left combination to the body and head to end the period.
Abner landed a left hook to the head of his opponent about thirty seconds into the sixth round. He moved well and quickly escaped any extended periods of time in the corner. Daniel landed a hard left to the head of Mares before time expired. The second half of the bout had now begun and Ponce de Leon went on the attack as round seven commenced. What he found was that Mares would counter and move.
With less than a minute remaining, Daniel caught Abner with a low blow and was warned by referee Jay Nady. Ponce de Leon tried to move in when the round resumed and Mares would tie him up. Abner landed a powerful overhand right to end the stanza.
Daniel Ponce de Leon was clearly the slower of the two boxers in round eight. He missed jabs while Abner Mares continued to land shots at various times and keep moving throughout the round. Abner landed a hard right one minute into the ninth. Daniel Ponce de Leon was throwing back, yet he would load up and visibly give away his strategy each time. After the two clinched up in the center of the ring, Abner Mares connected with a quick right hook to Ponce de Leon's chin and down he went once again. Daniel rose to his feet, yet he found Abner moving in.
Mares landed several consecutive shots to the head and Ponce de Leon wasn't answering very much. This may have been why referee Jay Nady decided that he had seen enough. The fight was stopped much to Ponce de Leon's protests at the 2:20 mark of round nine. Abner Mares remains undefeated with a record of (26(13)-0-1) and is now the new WBC featherweight champion of the world. Daniel Ponce de Leon surrenders his title in its initial defense and now holds a record of (44(35)-5).
May 4, 2013
© 2000 - 2011 Knockout Entertainment Ltd & SecondsOut.com


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Headed to your living room, friend's house, roommate's room, parent's house, etc. but don't want to bring a flash drive, external hard drive, or your whole linux based media server with you? Want to throw up your camera clips onto a DLNA enabled TV or Google TV, etc without transferring over?
If any of the above are true, the aVia application is for you. While ASUS tablet owners have MyNet to provide dual direction DLNA streaming and a DLNA server, the aVia app on the Play Store provides the ability to serve up videos, pictures, music from:
- Your device's internal memory
- Your device's SD Card
- Facebook Pictures
- Picasa/Google Picture Albums
- Remote sources like Windows Media players across the network
To get started, grab the app from Google Play (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.videon.android.mediaplayer&hl=en) or Amazon. Next, you'll need to connect to the same network the device accessing the DLNA server is on (i.e. the same router). Ask your friends for the password to connect or use Android's built in WPS feature.
You can then set up any DLNA capable media center, TV, screen and stream content from your Android device – no additional media center needed.
Additional use: extremely low powered DLNA server for your home! Combine with an app like Airdroid to remotely manage the files on your device to complete the ultra low powered media center.
Has anyone else used aVia or know of a better alternative? Thoughts on Google TV with aVia?


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About Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS)
The Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) is a partnership of federal agencies and other organizations from the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with data stewards and experts from around the world (see http://www.itis.gov). The ITIS database is an automated reference of scientific and common names of biota of interest to North America . It contains more than 600,000 scientific and common names in all kingdoms, and is accessible via the World Wide Web in English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese (http://itis.gbif.net). ITIS is part of the US National Biological Information Infrastructure (http://www.nbii.gov).


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As its name would imply, Zenonia 3: The Midgard Story is the third itineration of Gamevil's smash-hit Zenonia franchise, and successor to one of the app store's most prominent role-playing games.
The first Zenonia cemented itself into the hearts and minds of mobile gamers early on as one of the first iOS games to offer a complete RPG experience. The game was deeply flawed, but managed to rise above its many shortcomings. For one thing, it had virtually no competition within its genre; also, it was as close as iOS had to console classics such as The Legend of Zelda and Secret of Mana, though it fails to live up to either.
Zenonia's second outing made welcome improvements. The graphics were little better — still smudgy and out-of-focus looking, having been upscaled from mobile phones — but the redesigned interface, improved controls and sound design, new character classes and other refinements resulted in a vastly superior game.
In many ways, Zenonia 3 is more of the same; it doesn't rewrite the rules, but it does adhere to the second game's precedent of refining the formula. But given the app store's present RPG landscape — in which we see Zenonia now completing with ports of Final Fantasy I, II and III, and Secret of Mana, original role-playing games such as Chaos Rings, Eternal Legacy, Aralon and Across Age, and a slew of KRPGs including three Inotia titles, Queen's Crown, and the utterly brilliant Wild Frontier — does more of the same old Zenonia stand up to expectations?
Zenonia 3 follows the adventures of Chael and his fairy companion, Runa. Chael is the son of Regret, protagonist of the first Zenonia. The game's overarching story is that of a conflict between Good and Evil — the Divine and the Damned — and humanity caught in between. The opening scenes depict a battle between the knights of divinity and the invading demonic forces, and … I'm already bored. It's only the same scene I've seen opening nearly every Korean RPG I've ever played. But then, Zenonia has never been a narrative powerhouse. Fortunately, the game fairs better in other areas.
The most notable improvement is the graphical presentation. Gone are the blurry sprites of Zenonias past, which were awful even on pre-retina displays. Zenonia 3 is the first pretty Zenonia, crisp and colorful even on the iPhone 4 retina display, and a very welcome visual treat.
The game's interface is also much improved over previous games, no longer the cumbersome beast it once was. The on-screen controls are responsive and as unobtrusive as might be hoped for, while the in-game menu — from which stats, skills, equipment, inventory and quests are monitored and managed — is slick, intuitive and easy to use. In addition to being functional, the interface enjoys quite a bit of visual flair, and the controls may be repositioned and the opacity adjusted to the user's preference.
Gameplay-wise, Zenonia 3 remains a KRPG with the usual trappings: grinding and fetch quests. However, as far as I have played, the game has been much more judicious in its handling of these aspects than previous entries. You will still be required to revisit old territory maybe a little too often, but things are not as bad as they once were, and all of the other gameplay improvements make the backtracking more tolerable than before. Beginning a new game, players complete a brief tutorial quest and are then warped into a mysterious dungeon for some real adventuring. I was grateful not to have to complete a slew of menial chores before being allowed to venture forth.
Combat is similar to past entries — an attack button to mash, and various attack skills available at an MP cost — but feels better on account of more responsive controls and better combo animations.
The supremely annoying weight and hunger systems of past entries have been dropped in Zenonia 3, which is for the best. They were a buzzkill and will not be missed.
There are four character classes from which to choose: the strength-based, melee fighting Sword Knight; the agile Shadow Hunter, relying on criticals to deal heavy damage; the Mechanic Launcher, a gun-toting ranged battler; and the Nature Shaman, a magical ranged class.
Chael's character sprite looks fantastic to begin with, with variations for each chosen class. And as you play through the game and don various new armaments, his appearance will evolve to reflect his gear.
Overall, Zenonia 3's enemies are also a step up from previous efforts. The tribesmen faced early on are awesome looking, and boss battle are also more impressive than in previous games.
Zenonia 3 sports a number of social features, including Game Center support and achievements with Facebook and Twitter posting. There are two types of network play, asynchronous PvP and co-op play in the Execution Rooms, both accessible from towns. Also, messages and items may be exchanged with other players via the Network Gal in each town.
A number of smaller flourishes round out the experience, such as quest markers now appearing on doorways when important NPCs lurk inside of buildings, some Game Center achievements manifesting themselves as equipable "titles" in-game which grant bonuses to the player, and the ability to level-up and customize your fairy companion to realize advantages in combat.
Zenonia 3 is not without it's shortcomings, however. There's a bug to keeps the game clock running even when the game is inactive during multitasking; at time of writing my game clock shows 18 hours on account of my not killing the app overnight. While the narrative has its moments, the overall tale is dreadfully dull, having been done to death by so many games before. The script is also rife with grammatical errors and spelling mistakes, typical of games translated from Korean. Gameplay-wise, Zenonia 3 offers nothing we haven't already seen in the previous two games; it's the same old song and dance, but delivered in a more palatable package, making the game more of an upgrade than a new experience. Level grinding and fetch quests make their triumphant return to artificially extend gameplay, but I expected no less; I've long begrudged KRPGs for their stubborn adherence to what is essentially junk gameplay. And combat does become repetitive, as there is really little to the mechanic beyond standing in place, mashing the attack button …
My final gripe is the in-app purchases (IAP), and this is a BIG GRIPE. The game will give you a handful of Examine scrolls, Origin of Life items, and other "Paid" items in the course of play, but insofar as I have seen, the only way to get more of these items is to pay out-of-pocket for IAP. Considering that such items were available for purchase from item merchants in previous games — using the in-game currency, rather than real-world currency — it's bullshit they are only available as IAP this time around. Especially considering that Origin of Life items are nearly essential to completing the game, as you will otherwise be penalized with experience and equipment durability reductions for dying — and die you will a lot later into the game, and usually unfairly. Considering the game costs $4.99 to begin with, Gamevil is seriously screwing players with IAP and Zenonia fans should be outraged. I sincerely hope players will make themselves heard on the matter. Furthermore, many of the restorative items and equipment available via IAP could potentially give players an unfair advantage in network play, essentially making the IAP a major disincentive to engage in network play for those unwilling or unable to afford IAP. Much as I like Zenonia 3 otherwise, Gamevil ought to be changing their company name to GamEVIL for this one. I cry foul.
While I've felt that past Zenonias were mostly overhyped and under-realized, Zenonia 3 is the first game of the series I feel truly deserves whatever praise it may find. It looks great, plays well and holds a lengthy adventure in store for those willing to see it through. Removal of the weight and hunger systems from previous games has really helped to streamline the experience, leaving the kernel intact without the chaff, and the interface and control overhaul make playing the game better than ever.
Despite app store crowding, there's always room for another RPG if it's a good one, and Zenonia 3 is just that. Mind you, it's still a Korean RPG with all that implies — the grinding, the fetch quests and the grandiose, hackney storytelling that may turn off some players — but fans of the genre should know by now to expect such things, that they're just a part of the deal. Accepting that, I would gladly give Zenonia 3: The Midgard Story an effortless recommendation. And yet, I cannot effortlessly recommend Zenonia 3, because much as I feel the game has going for it, there is one major bugbear that derails every good thing I have to say about the game. And that's the IAP.
It is ABSURD that a game costing $4.99 should be so bogged down by in-app purchase, and all but require you to spend yet more of your money on expendible items. I would expect this from a freemium title — it is the very nature of freemium games to nickel-and-dime gamers into poverty — but not from a premium RPG in a longstanding, well-regarded franchise. I am fully in favor of IAP being available for players wanting to enhance their gaming experience, but IAP is plain evil when a game all but requires that you spend real-world money to see it through to completion.
I genuinely like Zenonia 3: The Midgard Story, but cannot in good conscious recommend it to gamers. The IAP is a textbook perfect example of how to ruin an otherwise good game, and clear indication that Gamevil doesn't really value its fans and supporters.
You have been warned.
If you really want a good KRPG and one that doesn't attempt to fleece you, play Wild Frontier.
Zenonia 3 [$4.99 + bullshit IAP] is developed and published by Gamevil. Reviewed on an iPhone 4.


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Data Management Insights
Data Management: The Basics
Data Management
Data management can often mean the difference between a business that will succeed and one that will drown in too much disorganized information. With high-quality, well-managed data, you can gain a clearer picture of your business. Access the right data when you need it. And make better, more strategic decisions.
From data quality to data integration to master data management, data management solutions help you stop reacting to bad data – and start using your data to make a difference.
What is big data?
For most organizations, big data is the reality of doing business. It's the proliferation of structured and unstructured data that floods your organization on a daily basis – and if managed well, it can deliver powerful insights.
Imagine being able to analyze data to determine the root cause of failures. Or detect fraudulent behavior before it affects revenue. Implementing the right solutions to make the most of your big data – from data management to analytics – can be key to your business success.
SAS & Hadoop
Organizations with massive volumes of data are turning to Hadoop to extract value from all that information. But what is Hadoop, exactly – and how can it help your organization? Learn how Hadoop is evolving to meet the big data challenges of today and tomorrow. And how you can take advantage of data management, data visualization and analytics to get faster, more meaningful insights from your Hadoop environment.
ETL (extract, transform, load)
Older technologies don't always die out and get replaced with newer technologies. Sometimes they adapt to the times and retain their relevance. That's what has happened with ETL (extract, transform, load) – a decades-old technology that many organizations still rely on as part of their larger data integration strategy. Learn the history of ETL and how it works, then find out where it fits in a world of big data, Hadoop and streaming.


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Swimming Pool Blog
by Rob Cox, January 14, 2011
Shocking vs. Super-Chlorinating your swimming pool
Shocking the pool - to many people this means to pour in their chlorine powder once per week - whether they need it or not. Although a healthy practice from a sanitation standpoint, regular and unnecessary shocking may lead to a buildup of chloramines and an unnecessary lightening of the wallet.
Superchlorinating the pool - is this different from shocking the pool? Many think not, and use the terms interchangeably. I therefore offer this distinct distinction:
Shocking: Shocking the pool occurs when you have reached what's known as breakpoint chlorination. This is a threshold that is achieved when the ppm (parts per million) of chlorine reaches 10X the level of chloramines present in the pool water. If you go only 90% of the way there, and not actually reach this threshold of breakpoint chlorination, you will only contribute to a worsening problem - that of creating more chloramines (a chloramine is a combination of a chlorine molecule joined with an ammonia or a nitrogen).
When breakpoint chlorination is reached, imagine a lighting bolt ripping through the water, "shocking" everything in the pool (at a microscopic level). With such a high level of chlorine in the water, every molecule floating around is broken apart, and every pathogen or bacteria strain floating around suffers from the shock, with the invasive chlorine molecule overpowering it, and ripping it apart from the inside out. If we could watch the process on the big screen, it would surely look rather violent.
Super-Chlorination: This is a bump to your chlorine level, just a boost, to handle growing algae or a large crowd having used the pool, or a larger crowd expected. You can use less pool shock (granular chlorine) during a super chlorination - the goal is not to reach the threshold of breakpoint chlorination, but to bring up the chlorine level to triple or quadruple the normal amount for a short period of time.
Super-chlorinating your pool - bringing the chlorine residual up from 1.0ppm to 5.0ppm, for instance, won't help remove chloramines. Chloramines are those molecules mentioned above that have very little sanitizing power, smell bad (like chlorine), and make the eyes red. If you have ever been to a pool that smelled strongly of chlorine and was making your eyes hurt - you may have thought that they have too much chlorine in the pool. Actually they have too much combined chlorine in the pool. Free Available Chlorine (FAC), in and of itself, does not smell, nor burn the eyes. It sounds counter-intuitive to the layman, but a pool that smells of chlorine and burns the eyes - needs a lot more chlorine added to the water - to reach the point of breakpoint chlorination, where these combined chlorine molecules can be separated. The only way to remove chloramines (and the smell/burn) is to bring the chlorine level up to 10X the amount of the chloramine level, at which point, all molecular bonds are violently broken.
How do I know if I need to shock? Well, aside from the burn and itch - pool owners can use a DPD pool water test kit. As opposed to OTO type test kits with a yellow color, the pink color DPD test kits allow you to test for FAC (Free Available Chlorine) and TAC (Total Available Chlorine). The difference between these two measurements is your level of combined chlorine, or chloramines. It has been established, by Taylor, that anything over .3ppm difference between TAC and FAC is a high enough level of chloramines to warrant shocking the pool. Basically, if you see your FAC reading get any darker when you add DPD reagent #3, you should shock the pool. If there is no color change between these two tests - no shocking is needed.
As mentioned at the start of the article, many people shock the pool weekly, or twice monthly - usually because they were told to do so by their pool store, or they heard it somewhere. Usualmente, this is an unnecessary exercise and wasted money. If you need to shock the pool - to reach breakpoint chlorination, because of a high chloramine level or an extreme algae condition, by all means go for it. Follow package directions and add a little extra - just to make sure you have reached the threshold of breakpoint chlorination.
However, if you are just gearing up for a party, or just enjoyed a high bather load, or spot a patch of algae blooming in the corner, you may not need a full shocking (generally 1 pound or 1 gallon per 10000 gals), but can use only one bag to superchlorinate the pool.
Here's some tips on using granular pool shock safely:
- Always read package instructions before adding granular chlorine or liquid chlorine shock to the pool.
- Always add chlorine to water not water to chlorine.
- Always use the entire bag, keeping half-full bags of chlorine around is very hazardous.
- Always distribute the chlorine around the pool - never add shock to the skimmer.
- Always keep solar blankets, winter covers and auto covers removed until chlorine level is 3.0ppm or less.
- Always follow instructions on waiting to swim after shocking. Particles can become lodged in your eye.
- Always check your pH before shocking and lower if needed into the range of 7.2-7.4.
- Always brush your pool after shocking, with the pump running, to help quickly distribute the chlorine.
- Always rinse out your chlorine bags in the pool and allow to dry before disposing.
- Always add chlorine up wind - so that the wind does not blow the powder back in your face.
your website, please contact the author by the email link at the top of the page. Thank you!
If you like this blog post, please link to us from your site, blog, facebook or twitter!


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Contact and Help
Looking for Business Banking help? Are you looking for: Business Banking help Information about Triodos Bank
Personal Banking
- Do you offer a current account for personal customers?
- How do I pay into my account?
- What is Triodos Bank's sort code?
- Can I transfer my existing cash ISA to Triodos?
- What happens if I need my money early?
- Can I set up standing orders and direct debits from my Online Saver Plus account?
- How do I change my address?


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FortisBC seeks applications from biogas developers
FortisBC is seeking expressions of interest from potential biomethane suppliers for its renewable natural gas program. The call for applicants will help grow the province's supply of this renewable and carbon neutral energy source. The company is seeking interest from suppliers for an additional supply of up to one petajoule, or enough natural gas to provide heat and hot water for approximately 10,000 homes annually.
"Demand from our renewable natural gas customers has resulted in the need for further biogas supply in our system," said Doug Stout, vice president of energy solutions and external relations. "Our focus is to help put waste to good use by working with suppliers to develop this energy source for our customers."
Biogas is created when bacteria break down organic waste from sources such as landfill sites, agriculture waste and wastewater from treatment facilities. It is captured, purified and then injected into FortisBC's natural gas system for customers.
The company is seeking submissions from:
- wastewater (sewage) treatment plants
- landfills
- farm operators and other agricultural businesses
- food and beverage processing businesses and
- entrepreneurs who can facilitate the development of biogas production from any of the above listed or other organic material sources.
Capturing and using biomethane, which is the purified natural gas derived from biogas, significantly reduces greenhouse gases over simply allowing it to vent directly into the atmosphere, as is traditionally done at waste sites. Upgrading this biogas to pipeline-quality biomethane provides the additional benefit of replacing traditionally sourced natural gas for FortisBC customers.
Two projects are currently supplying biomethane to FortisBC's system, with five others under development or construction. Projects currently supplying biogas to FortisBC are Fraser Valley Biogas in Abbotsford and the Salmon Arm Landfill. Currently under development are Seabreeze Farm in Delta, Dicklands Farms in Chilliwack, Earth Renu Energy in Delta and the Lulu Island Wastewater Treatment Plant in Richmond. The Glenmore Landfill in Kelowna is expected to begin supplying natural gas this year following the completion of construction. The completion of these projects will mean that FortisBC will have an annual supply of up to about 500,000 gigajoules, enough to provide heat and hot water for approximately 5,000 homes.
FortisBC has offered renewable natural gas to customers since 2011. Eligible residential and business customers have the option of designating a percentage of natural gas usage as renewable. FortisBC then injects an equivalent amount of renewable natural gas into its distribution system. The gas is also carbon neutral, which means it is exempt from B.C.'s carbon tax. Residents and businesses wishing to have a portion of their natural gas consumption dedicated as renewable can contact FortisBC.
Those interested in supplying biomethane are invited to submit an expression of interest application by May 30 outlining their plans and associated costs for biogas collection and upgrading. Applications are available here or by emailing us at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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To help perpetuate this training tradition, the NIH announced in December the establishment of the NIH-Lasker Clinical Research Scholars Program. NIH partnered with the Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation (known for the granting the prestigious Lasker Awards in basic and clinical medical research), for this career opportunity. The program will support a select group of exceptional clinical researchers, designated as Lasker Clinical Research Scholars, in the early stages of their careers. The goal is to promote their development to fully independent clinical researchers.
A symposium to kick off the program featuring talks by four exemplars of the physician-scientist experience took place March 31 in the Masur Auditorium on NIH's Bethesda campus.
NIH Director Francis Collins, M.D., Ph.D., NIH Deputy Director of Intramural Research Michael Gottesman, M.D., and National Cancer Institute (NCI) Director Harold Varmus, M.D. set the stage for the symposium with remarks that applauded the new career award. Lasker Board President, Maria Freire, Ph.D., and Board Chairman Alfred Sommer, M.D., matched the tone of exectation. "NIH is a great place for this and putting together a program to support this is timely," said Dr. Collins, cautioning that physician-scientists are a vanishing breed. He predicts that Lasker scholars will be among future Lasker Award and Nobel Prize recipients.
Lasker scholars will receive NIH funding for clinical research for upwards of 11 years. The program combines a period of independent research as a principal investigator in the NIH Intramural Research Program for 5 to 7 years, with the opportunity for additional years of independent financial support either at the NIH or at an extramural research institution. The NIH expects to appoint at least three Lasker scholars in the first year of the program.
"The expectation is that this program is going to draw in talented physician-scientist investigators who will come to the NIH and take advantage of the clinical opportunities at the Clinical Center to boost their careers," said National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) Scientific Director Dan Kastner, M.D., Ph.D., one of the four presenters, who came to NIH in 1985 as a rheumatology fellow. "It is a win-win-win situation-for the Clinical Center, the individuals and the wider biomedical research community."
Each of the four science talks presented at the symposium featured a first-person perspective into the experience of accomplished physician-scientists and their unique forays into basic science discovery applied through access to patients in the clinic.
Marston Linehan, M.D., chief of the Urologic Oncology Branch at NCI, described his extensive clinical and bench investigation into the genetic basis of kidney cancer. At the outset of his career, it was widely held that kidney cancer had a single genetic cause. Dr. Linehan's lab is now far advanced in studying several different causal genes for kidney cancer as well as the biological mechanisms that make each form of the disease unique. Some slow growing tumors can be managed and watched but more virulent ones require aggressive treatment. Dr. Linehan's research with patients at the NIH Clinical Center is advancing therapeutic approaches in managing the disease.
Charles Sawyers, M.D., Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator and chairman of the Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, described his early training and being part of a diaspora of peers, from leading research universities to important clinical research positions around the country. His career achievements include a key role in conducting clinical trials for Gleevec (imatinib), a drug that targets the molecular defect in chronic myeloid leukemia, with dramatic arrest of the disease.
For the National Human Genome Research Institute's (NHGRI) Dan Kastner, M.D., Ph.D., his story of prominence in the field of immunology began with a chance encounter in the rheumatology clinic of the NIH Clinical Center. His patient had a recurrent inflammatory condition known as Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF), caused by an ancient mutation in a gene that Dr. Kaster's laboratory subsequently identified. In the years he studied the disorder, and various other autoimmune conditions, the laboratory and clinic resided in the same complex. "One of the wonderful things about the Clinical Center is the ability to interact with patients and go back again to the bench," said Dr. Kastner.
His laboratory determined the prevalence of another disease, called Beçhet's disease that traces its genetic origins among populations from the Middle East to the Far East, along Marco Polo's ancient silk trade route. "More than silk was traded along the silk route," said Dr. Kastner.
Dr. Kastner's encounter in the clinic early in his career set him on a path to advance the concept of an entire class of unprovoked, inflammation conditions called autoinflammatory diseases. With his own experience as a backdrop and prototype, his rousing endorsement of the NIH-Lasker Scholars Program -"...just absolutely one of the most exciting developments of this new decade at the NIH" - came as no surprise.
Christine Seidman, M.D., Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator and Thomas W. Smith Professor of Medicine and Genetics at the Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital, described her study of the genetic causes of cardiomyopathy. Among the various forms is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which is among the causes of sudden death among youth athletes, a tragic result when the condition goes undetected. Another form of heart condition is dilated cardiomyopathy, in which nuclear membranes in the cells of the heart muscle are distorted. Dr. Seidman has studied this abnormal condition and its genetic cause-mutations in the largest gene in the human genome, called TITIN (TTN). This gene's very size, containing the largest number of exons in any single gene and producing a protein composed of 33,000 amino acids, poses a daunting prospect for biomedical researchers. But over the years, as Dr. Seidman and her collaborators have worked in the laboratory and with cardiac patients, they have made significant progress in knowing where amid this vast gene to look for disease- causing mutations, at the carboxyl end versus the amino proximal end.
In a letter in the NIH Catalyst, NIH Deputy Director of Intramural Research Michael Gottesman, M.D., wrote, "By combining intramural and extramural research support, the new program will make careers in clinical research more attractive and perhaps recapture the golden years of NIH intramural research when talented investigators routinely spent formative time here before moving on to leadership positions in academic medical centers."
For more information about the NIH-Lasker Scholars, go to www.nih.gov/science/laskerscholar.
Last Reviewed: May 8, 2012


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Anne Witkavitch
Hometown: Bethany, Conn.
Major: M.F.A. in Professional Writing - primary genre nonfiction/feature writing, secondary genre children's writing
WCSU Degree: Master of Fine Arts in Professional Writing
Internships: Designed a workshop on corporate storytelling and delivered it at place of employment for the communications team
Activities: "I was a 40-something professional woman with two young children when I went back to school for my master's degree, so when I wasn't working, writing or reading, my extracurricular activities were building with Legos, getting beat at PS2, playing hide-and-go-seek, or sleeping!"
After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in English from Southern Connecticut State University in 1984, Anne Witkavitch knew that she would one day return to school for a master's degree. "But," she says, "it wasn't until 20 years into my career that I finally found a program that met my needs and that I was brave enough to apply for. Returning to school was not easy, but once I started I knew it was exactly where I should be."
Witkavitch says she had been researching graduate programs for a few years before enrolling in WestConn's Master of Fine Arts in Professional Writing program. "It was important for me to find a degree that would benefit me professionally as well as personally, and that I could earn while juggling my family and career," she says. "The low-residency approach gave me the flexibility I needed and the self-directed nature of the studies fit perfectly with my entrepreneurial personality."
"My passion has always been writing," Witkavitch explains, "and I had already used these skills to build a successful career in marketing and communications. However, I really wanted to become a published writer and I knew that going back to school for an M.F.A. would not only help me develop my craft, but would also give me exposure to other writers, publishers, and editors -- a network of people who would be instrumental in helping me to achieve my goal. The M.F.A. also gave me the option to teach, something I'm thinking about down the road."
Witkavitch found that the M.F.A. program is designed around one-on-one mentoring with published writers who not only taught the courses but gave workshops and lectures at the residency. "The collective power of this group has shaped my writing career in ways I never anticipated," she says. "I was fortunate to study under Elizabeth Cohen, who was my primary adviser on my thesis. She was tough and had high expectations but was always encouraging and supportive. I'm not sure I would have made it through the thesis if not for her confidence in me. In fact, we are still in touch via e-mail!"
Asked what she will remember most about her WestConn experience, Witkavitch says, "The week-long residencies were a special time. We all had the opportunity to immerse ourselves in our writing craft for an intense six-day period of workshops, lectures and networking. When you already have a family, career and hardly any spare hours in your life, having one week a semester to focus solely on developing yourself as a writer is a coveted gift."
"I also remember the two-day fiction workshop with author Gloria Frym during my first semester," she says. "Although fiction was not my genre of study, I attended the workshop and brought with me my novel-in-progress, which I had never shared with anyone. It was the first time I mustered enough courage to read my work in public. I received such positive feedback and support from Gloria and the class that I have continued to work diligently on finishing the manuscript and even submitted the first 50 pages to a first-time novelist competition!"
After graduation, Witkavitch is redefining, refocusing, and re-energizing for the next phase of her career. She is working on a nonfiction book about helping successful women define what they want for the second half of their lives, and developing a coaching and speaking platform in support of that work. "I am also working on finding a publisher for my thesis, which is a collection of personal essays about being a working mother. In addition, I have launched my own communications company called C-Suite Communications and work with clients on their communication strategies, messaging and marketing. In between it all I keep writing my novel and publishing articles, features and essay, building my credentials as a published writer."
Witkavitch's advice to new students entering WCSU is: "Define your goals and write them down. Take advantage of every opportunity to learn, even those not so obvious. Build relationships. Become a skilled writer, no matter what you want to do -- it will differentiate you in the marketplace. And most importantly, enjoy yourself and have fun!"


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Former Alanar, Inc. Executives Charged In Massive Affinity Fraud Case
Contact: Jim Gavin
Charges allege former Sullivan, Indiana pastor and three sons
preyed on church members.
*** Update – July 1, 2009 – All four suspects in the case described below have been apprehended and are in custody in the Sullivan County Jail. U.S. Marshals pursued apprehensions after arrest warrants were issued and delivered each suspect to the jail by this morning.
(Sullivan, IN) – Former pastor Vaughn Reeves and his sons, Chip, Chris and Josh, face 10 separate felony counts each involving violations of the Indiana Securities Act. The charges allege the four engaged in a multi-million dollar, faith-based affinity fraud through the use of a modified Ponzi scheme. The charges were filed today in Sullivan Circuit Court by Sullivan County Prosecutor Robert Hunley II. The investigation was a collaborative effort by the Secretary of State's Prosecution Assistance Unit, the Sullivan County Prosecutor's office and the Indiana State Police. Each of the Reeves could face up to eight years in prison per charge if convicted.
"This case goes far beyond simple theft," said Secretary Rokita. "The Reeves allegedly targeted their victims through their faith, and then exploited their religious convictions in order to hide their elaborate Ponzi scheme from potential investors."
According to court documents, the Reeves allegedly committed affinity fraud by duping investors into buying bonds that raised at least $120 million. The stated purpose for the vast majority of the bonds was to supposedly finance church construction and expansion. However, the Reeves allegedly shuffled this money among various accounts and stole approximately $6 million for themselves in the process.
"This is a day a long time in the making. I'm glad to hold Vaughn Reeves and his sons accountable. People trusted their life savings to these men. Investors felt they were helping to build churches, not buy the Reeves expensive homes, fancy cars, airplanes and swimming pools. The Sullivan County Prosecutor's Office is committed to bringing these men to justice," said Prosecutor Hunley.
Secretary Rokita and Prosecutor Hunley will hold a press conference to discuss these charges today at 2:30 p.m. in the Circuit Court Room on the 3rd Floor of the Sullivan County Courthouse located at 100 Courthouse Square in Sullivan, Indiana.
The Reeves operated Alanar, Inc., as the umbrella company for their scheme. The charges allege that the Reeves violated securities laws by misapplying and misappropriating money from bond repayments made by churches issuing the bonds. The Reeves were also allegedly misappropriating money from people purchasing bonds, often members of the same church as was issuing the bond.
Alanar management created training materials to distribute to church members, who were encouraged to sell bonds to their fellow church members. The materials relied heavily on the religious convictions of the victims. For example, the church members were trained to open the sales call with a prayer, quote Bible scripture during sales calls and to "never sell the facts, sell warm stewardship and the Lord."
The allegations suggest the Reeves engaged in their scheme over the course of at least five years. By illegally moving money among bond accounts, the Reeves concealed the true rate of default on Alanar bonds from investors. Thousands of investors, predominantly Hoosiers, have been financially devastated by the Reeves' alleged conduct.
In an effort to keep the victims informed of the status of the case, Secretary Rokita and Prosecutor Hunley have each set up Alanar information pages on the Web. For more information visit http://www.sullivancountyprosecutor.com/and click on the "Alanar Information" section, or go to www.in.gov/sos/2875.htm.
The charges described are merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. For more information on how to avoid becoming a victim of investment fraud, visit http://www.indianainvestmentwatch.com/.
About the Prosecution Assistance Unit
In 2004, Indiana Secretary of State Todd Rokita created the Prosecution Assistance Unit within the Securities Division of the Secretary of State's Office. Its sole purpose is to assist police and prosecutors in investigating and prosecuting criminal violations of the Indiana Securities Act and the Indiana Loan Brokers Act. The investigators and attorneys in the unit collectively have over 72 years of experience in investigating and prosecuting criminals. Since its inception, the Unit has helped to convict 42 criminals in state and federal courts across Indiana. In addition, courts have handed down over 300 years in sentences, and have ordered over $29 million in restitution for crime victims. The Unit operates under the direction and supervision of the Securities Commissioner and the Senior Investigator.
Media Contact: Jim Gavin: 317.233-8655 or


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Captain's Report
Mission Statement
The Tigé Z3 was created to be the ultimate surfboat, but in creating the best surf wave, she can also create a variety of waves on up to the largest. That allows her to also satisfy the desires of the pro wakeboarder, and even the slalom skier. Then, there are the folks that aren't looking for wake size and just want a snazzy-looking sportboat and don't want to be "me-too" boat owners.
Major Features
To accomplish its goal, Tigé created the ConvexV hull that flies in the face of conventional wisdom of hooking the stern down to create a fatter wake. With a hull design of that nature, there's no flexibility, the wave it creates is the wave you get. But with ConvexV, the hull is curved up at the end. Then Tigé adds an adjustable plate at the center of the stern called TAPS2, for Tigé Adjustable Performance System.
Playing T.A.P.S.
T.A.P.S. (Tigé Adjustable Performance System) is exactly as the name implies. Behind the transom is a plate, which is adjustable at the helm, to tweak the characteristics of the hull, and therefore, the wake. The adjustment is right on the engine control, taking the place of the trim switch. Although some would correctly argue that it still is a trim switch.
And just like that, Tigé now has a planing boat with a light wake, and at the touch of a switch to lower and raise the plate, it squats the stern to increase the wake. It's performance heaven for watersports enthusiasts and it's on every Tigé hull.
But What about Cruise Mode?
Once a typical boat gets on plane, there's the usual tendency to bring the trim up to get into planing attitude. With the Tigé hull, it's still done but in the opposite direction. The bow is already high thanks to the upward curve of the ConvexV hull. And just like when a normal hull is trimmed too high creating bow porpoising, so is the case here. It's just a normal side effect to having this creative hull. So now it's time to bring the bow back down by dropping the TAPS plate to about 1-2 on the TAPS gauge. Then cruise away.
Convex VX
Going one step further, and it's a big step, Z3 also offers an option for Convex VX. It's a cleverly engineered fiberglass extension that attaches to the underside of the swim platform that channels the prop wash down under, and into, the wake. This has the result of actually pushing the wake up from the bottom, adding size, volume, and density to the wave.
Ultimate Wake.
And now, with these longer waves, surfers now not only have more room for free styling but more room to recover from tricks. It's one more reason why the Z3 is billed as the ultimate surfboat. And it still works in conjunction with the TAPS system. For those days when converting the Z3 to a family boat, or the day's itinerary just calls for cruising around, the VX extension is easily removable. It simply attaches to the underside of the swim platform.
There's one more ingredient to the equation of creating the perfect wake. And that's adding weight to the boat to get it down further in the water. This is done by the tried and true method of adding ballast or weight to the boat. And the easiest way to do that is with the closest available source of weight… water. It's readily accessible and weighs 8.35 lbs. (3.785 kg) per gallon of fresh water, and saltwater weighs about 8.3 lbs. (3.9 kg) per gallon. But we can't just open up a thru hull fitting and let the water come in now can we?
Fat Sacs
Ballast bags, or sacs are strategically placed around the boat to hold water. A flip of a switch at the helm, one for each ballast sack, will start a pump which brings water into the individual ballast sacs. Once they're full, the boat is much heavier, and because it sinks lower in the water, a larger wake is generated. Now the previously mentioned methods can dial-in that wake to perfection. At the end of the day, reverse the pumps and empty the liquid weight out.
So How Much Weight is Enough?
The standard ballast package is 900 lbs. (408.2 kg) and should suffice for intermediate to advanced riders. This standard base package consists of two 250-lb. (113.4 kg) tanks below the floor of the rear storage compartments, and two more 200-lb. (90.7 kg) ballast sacs in the bow of the boat.Now, for the intermediate wakeboarder to the advanced wake surfer, an optional ballast package is offered that utilizes larger 600 lb. (272 kg) tanks in the rear of the boat bringing the total up to 1,600 lbs. (725.7 kg).
Put this prodigious weight together with the Convex VX hull and the TAPS2 system and monster wake is created.
By the Numbers
With the 415-hp Indmar M60 engine powering our test boat we reached a top speed at 5400 rpm of 44.7 mph. At that speed she was burning 30.75 gph giving us a range of 63 miles. So that will get us out to the play area, but just how long can we play for?
Surf Speed and Surf Shape
Remember, this is a pro surf boat, so we'll top off the ballast sacs and run between, say, 9…9.5 to 11.5 mph. 9 mph will give a shorter wake, but a taller one that beginners like as it gives more push. That speed will show a fuel burn of around 3 gph and the Z3 can keep doing it for well over 14 hours. Bump it up to the high 10s or low 11s and the wave lengthens out giving more room for free styling and moving around. That produces a fuel burn of around 4 gph which she can keep up for nearly 11 hours.
Wakeboard Speed
For wakeboarders, drop some of that ballast, and dial-in a typical speed of 18-23 mph. Lets shoot for the middle of that range. 2500 rpm gave us 19.5 mph while burning only 6.2 gph. That means our Z3 can keep up that pace for 7 full hours while still maintaining a 10% reserve.
Slalom Speed
Finally, let's get rid of all the ballast, and pick it up to slalom skiing speeds between 28-36 mph, where the wake all but vanishes. 3500 rpm had us running at just over 32 mph (32.5 mph) with a fuel burn of 11.7 gph. That means continual skiing for 3 hours and 42 minutes. Still with that 10% reserve.Remember that all the settings can be put into memory, and identified with the name of the rider, for easy recall at the touch of the screen.
The Z3 accelerates quickly and comes on plane with a 12-degree bow rise in only 2-1/2 seconds. Normally, trim would be added at this point to bring the bow up, but with the ConvexV hull, and TAPS2 plate in the center of the transom it's time to start bringing that plate down to about one or two on the taps gauge to settle into her cruise attitude. Otherwise she'll start to porpoise when she gets up to speed, but this is a normal characteristic of the ConvexV hull so no points taken away for that. This is a wake boat, not a cruising boat. Tracking fins secured to the keel keep her glued to the water while she turns a relatively sedate 12-degree bank attitude. And she settles back into the water stern first when taking power off. Since this is a V-drive installation, there's more room in the cockpit without having to work around a bulky engine box in the middle of the boat. The Indmar engines not only have four engine mounts, but an additional two under the transmission as well. That translates into less vibration and less discomfort for the passengers.
The Layout
Sun pad and Stern
Of course we have the requisite sun pad that is the staple of any dayboat, and a surfboat is no exception. This one is nearly full beam with gull wing style storage hatches to access the compartments underneath. Naturally these include not only storage, but inflatable ballast sacs. Between the two side pads is a center pad flanked by two elevated storage bins. The center pad itself can be unlatched from its position and flipped to create a non-skid walkthrough to the swim platform.
The swim platform is part of what Tigé calls the "Transom Activity Center" and it's comprised of a staging area for putting on boards, self draining wet storage, drink holders and a stereo remote. With the platform itself being nearly at the surface of the water, there's no need for a reboarding ladder.
At the bow, Tigé opted away from the pickle fork bow of the other models, and instead went with the traditional V-configuration. The bow is completely taken up with cushions, all surrounded by upholstery that is diamond stitched with UV resistant Gore Tenera thread. Fully forward a flat backrest allows for aft facing seating for another set of eyes dedicated to keeping an eye on the end of the towline. Previous versions had an air dam that had to be pulled out from storage, and laid into place. Now the air dam is hinged and under the center bow cushion. Just raise the cushion, swing the lexan dam into place, and close the windshield… done.
Console storage is not accessed from the walkthrough, but instead through the swing-open seatbacks. The port storage is also accessed from lifting the observer's seat, which even has a mirror and small cargo net storage underneath.
Helm Console.
Tigé went with a soft touch helm, color matched with soft vinyl with Gore Tenera stitching. Three gauges keep the panel uncluttered. Tach and fuel to the left, speed in the center, and the TAPS gauge with a LCD temperature scale embedded in. Any other information can come from the Tigé Touch display, which is standard on the Z3 and now includes Bluetooth streaming audio and a 5-year warranty. The upholstery continues down to the lower panel where the steering wheel is mounted to a tilt base.
The cockpit seating wraps around the entirety of the cockpit making full use of all available space. Storage is underneath all seats. The corner seats are curved to allow for a more comfortable position while still facing the crowd.
Our test boat was fitted with the Alpha Z tower that is a work of art. It was custom designed in-house by Tigé, and can accommodate a host of options including tri-color LED courtesy lights, up to 4 color matched, Wet Sounds speakers, Clamp4rce ratcheting and swiveling board racks, LED docking lights and a swivel tow point camera that can display on the Tigé Touch screen.
Tigé Warranty
The Tigé warranty program falls into three time periods -- Lifetime, 5-years and 3-years. As for the Lifetime warranty, here is what Tigé says on its website: "Tigé offers the only complete hull replacement warranty in the industry. If you ever experience a structural hull failure or delamination, at any time while you own your boat, Tigé will replace it with a new boat at no charge."Tigé has a 3-year stem to stern warranty on all items and components on the boat, and a 5-year warranty on the Tigé Touch system as well as the 5-year warranty offered by Indmar on the engine.
The Tigé Z3 is an impressive boat with impressive qualities for making the perfect wake across a broad spectrum of disciplines. She transitions equally easily into the family fun boat and that makes her even more appealing.
Test Result Highlights
- Top speed for the Tigé Z3 (2014-) is 44.7 mph (71.9 kph), burning 30.75 gallons per hour (gph) or 116.39 liters per hour (lph).
- Best cruise for the Tigé Z3 (2014-) is 27.2 mph (43.8 kph), and the boat gets 3.05 miles per gallon (mpg) or 1.3 kilometers per liter (kpl), giving the boat a cruising range of 132 miles (212.43 kilometers).
- Tested power is 1 x 415-hp Indmar 6.0 M60.
Standard and Optional Features
Marine Electronics
|Air Cond./Heat
|Optional 3-vent heater
|Battery Charger/Converter
|CD Stereo
Exterior Features
|Outlet: 12-Volt Acc
|Swim Platform
|Tower: Watersports
|Transom Shower
|Bimini Top
Full Warranty Information on this brand coming soon!
(It's quick and FREE!)


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TOPEKA, KAN. – One of the most popular games ever offered by the Kansas Lottery is back – and it's bigger and better than ever! Sales for this year's Holiday Millionaire Raffle start tomorrow, October 1, with tickets available at Lottery retailers throughout the state. This is the fifth year for the Holiday Millionaire Raffle. In addition to the $1,000,000 top prize, there are 7,560 other prizes!
Statewide Promotional Events
To get players and retailers excited about this year's Holiday Millionaire Raffle, Kansas Lottery representatives are holding in-store promotions throughout the state October
1-18. To see a list of promotion dates, times and locations, visit Lottery Promotions.
What Players Need to Know
For the first time in the history of the game, the Holiday Millionaire Raffle is loaded with $50 "instant win" prizes. That means thousands of players will automatically receive surprise coupons good for $50 cash at the same time they purchase their Holiday Millionaire Raffle tickets. The instant win coupons, which will be generated each time a predetermined number of tickets are sold, will be issued throughout the state and throughout the run of the game. They can be cashed at any Lottery retailer location.
Players have a strong incentive to purchase tickets early. The Kansas Lottery is again offering Early Bird drawings, giving players who purchase tickets early a chance to win $10,000 in each drawing. Two $10,000 winning numbers will be drawn in each of five Early Bird drawings to be held October 13, 20, 27, and November 3 and 10.
Only 175,000 Holiday Millionaire Raffle tickets will be sold at $20 each. Except for the Early Bird winners and the Instant Win winners, all winning tickets will be drawn in the grand prize drawing December 31, 2013. There are a total of 7,561 prizes in this year's raffle! Here's what they are:
*Grand Prize Drawing (Dec. 31)
1 – $1,000,000 winner
25 – $5,000 winners
25 – $1,000 winners
2,500 – $100 winners
**Instant Win Prizes (Oct. 1 – end of business Dec. 30 or sell-out, whichever comes first)
5,000 – $50 winners
Early Bird Prizes (Oct. 13, 20, 27 and Nov. 3 and 10
10 – $10,000 winners (2 winners in each drawing)
*If game is not sold out, prize amounts could be reduced.
**If game is not sold out, number of instant win prizes could be reduced.
If a player buys a ticket before an Early Bird drawing, their ticket will be eligible for that drawing, all subsequent Early Bird drawings, and the $1 million grand prize or other prizes on December 31, 2013. It is possible for the same ticket to win in all five Early Bird drawings and the $1 million grand prize drawing. Tickets sold after the final Early Bird drawings will only be eligible for raffle prizes drawn December 31, 2013.
A unique 6-digit raffle number will print on each Holiday Millionaire Raffle ticket. Tickets are Quick Pick only. Players must match their numbers in exact order to those drawn by the Lottery to win. Players should put their tickets in a safe place after purchase. Remember – winners must produce their original Holiday Millionaire Raffle tickets to claim their prizes.