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Rock N Roll Night Caustics Tutorial
Rock N'' Roll Night Tutorial
To create the image I recently uploaded called "Rock N'' Roll Night"
I first added the basic river terrain in the bryce presets – Thus:
1. click on "Create"
2. Select the basic river terrain
3. click on the tick
The terrain thus arrives in your scene, place it where you want it and add a material to it – I used ''desert 22'' from the Seriously Real ''Cold Desert'' presets:
Then create a new default terrain, and go into the terrain editor by clicking on the E here:
In the terrain editor:
1. click on New.
2. click on the down arrow by Fractal
3. Then click on Cauliflower Hills from the drop down menu
Next add a water material to this terrain, I chose "A Slight Wind" from the Turbulent water presets, thus:
You can then position the terrain to match the riverbank terrain – notice that the riverbank terrain slopes down in one direction. I simply ignored this and rotated the riverbank upward to counteract this after aligning the water terrain with the riverbank terrain.
Group the water terrain and riverbank terrain, before trying to rotate them both – if you are going to do this, otherwise ignore it.
Here you can see that the water terrain is too wide or high – so if yours is too high as well then find the Y and lower it, smoothing out the terrain – but don't make it totally flat. That way it''s almost level but still has some slight bumpiness to go with the material.
That''s better.
Position the water terrain like this:
And it should look like this from an aerial position:
You then need a rock.
I just kept clicking until a rock I liked arrived. I chose one with a shelf area on it so I could put my swiss roll on the shelf. You could try that.
This time I''m going to change it slightly by using a rock I made in Wings3D especially for this tut - with a shelf on it, you could use that if you prefer, I''ll upload it to my portfolio.
Whichever way you go, position your rock how you want it on the river bank. I find it''s easier to tell what you are doing if you place your material on the rock from the beginning, since that dead black that Bryce6 insists on showing when you import things, doesn''t help much. I''m using Waterline Moss from the Stones/Rocks presets:
Then position the rock on the bank.
Next we need the lights with the caustics.
Now here is the address of the AntFarm caustic – it is available free from Daz3d in one of the threads there:
This has a download of a bryce5 file with just the light with the caustic on it, save the light as a bryce object (*.obp) by going to the "Create" menu and clicking on ADD when you have the light highlighted in the scene. You can then re-open the riverbank scene and add the light with caustic from the "Create" menu as normal.
I also used the Caustic Generator to create some more caustics for myself, the caustics Generator can be obtained here:
With this I made these:
Then I thought, why not try making one from scratch in PaintShop or Photoshop?
So I did:
You can see that it''s not as regular as the caustics generator ones, so in order to make it more regular I created 4 layers in that image, and using the selection tool copied one quarter of the original image and flipping it through horizontal and vertical as required pasted it into each layer once in a different corner.
Creating this:
As you can see this is much more regular, so much so that it''s mirrored both vertically and horizontally, like a Rorschach ink blot test. It does however do the job very well, let''s take a look.
Create a light:
Click on the "E" to enter the light lab.
1. Click on "Use Gel"
2. Click on "Image"
3. Click on the colour square to get an eye dropper.
4. Click in the rainbow of colours for the colour you want to use – I''ve chosen a turquoise blue.
Next, still in the light lab you need to chose intensity for the light,(try 30) an amount of ranged falloff, (I chose 30) soft shadows (again I chose 30, try these settings first, if you don''t like the effect, fiddle with the settings until you get something you like better.)
Here are some experiments with the caustic lights:
1. The purple light has ''Fran''s Made Caustic'' set to parametric in the materials lab (– this is just changing how the image is mapped by Bryce.)
2. The yellow one has the same image – but I added a soft centre to the image (– don't worry I will upload them all) very easy to do, just using a soft round brush set to about 23% Opacity and at around 400 in size – used that once in the centre of the image, then reduced the size to about 200 and used it 1 or at most 2 more times to increase the density of the very centre, but only a little.
3. The flaming red light uses one of the caustics from the Caustics Generator but again with a soft centre spot: and as you see, set to Random mapping mode. (I used a good strong red when picking the colour for the light in the light lab.)
4. Uses my own made caustic again but this is without adding the soft centre, and set to Random – see the difference?
5. Here the green light is set to object space and uses the original caustic I made but before it was made into a regular mirrored pattern, as you can see with different mapping modes you can get different effects with different patterns and colours, the lesson is to try it and see.
And this is what you can get on the rocks:
You can see that there is a gap in the cast light, this is created by the stone, but to counteract this I used more than one light, and positioned them around/infront of/to the side of – the stone, as required. But to ensure that the light went only where I wanted it, I used spotlights – these also work well with caustics. In fact you can use a spotlight for the overhead light too instead of a radial, if you prefer. But be careful, with spotlights you can end up with hard edged circles of light, instead of the soft fade away you see above.
Now we have riverbank, water, rock, lights – so if you want to add a chocolate covered duvet, go right ahead, the duvet can be downloaded from here:
All I did with it was to squish it up from this:->
to this:
Thus creating all those nice dips for the chocolate.
By grabbing the x and moving the cursor in the direction of the dotted yellow arrow.
and then you add a chocolate material from the misc presets.
Now on to the light rays.
I added 3 cones thus: ->
Those two spheres are the targets for the lights, one was positioned on top of the flat rock, and one in front of it, they are both hidden – click on the ''A'' and tick ''Hidden'', on each sphere to do this.
Then in the lights, click on the ''A'' then ''linking'' then on ''Object Parent Name'' and find the sphere you want to use as a target from the list. Do the same for ''Track Object Name'' then click okay to leave that menu.
These cones I made very tall simply by grabbing the ''Y'' and thus elongating each cone, then I positioned each cone, one inside the other.
Then all that remains is to add a nice whispy material to the cones. For the biggest one I used lit rays (from ComplexFX/Celestial) but increased the transparency up to... 28.8
For the middle cone I used ''Green Lit'' also from ''ComplexFX'' but this time from ''Crazy'' not ''Celestial''
here are the settings I used: ->
Notice also that I used a volume setting here not surface.
For the last and innermost cone I used:
Which is just ''green lit'' again but softer with slight colour changes too.
All I did then was to add the same desert material to the infinite plane as I had on the riverbank – no point in adding it too soon, as it''ll just increase the render times. Oh and talking of render times, take care to use just the lights you need and no more since every light added increases the render times quite a bit, as does the volume material on the cones.
After that, it''s time to add a bit of grass between the camera and the riverbank, a twig or two, and render the full scene:
P.S. I also used some lights between the grass and the camera otherwise the grass just looks black.
Now you can follow that along and see what happens, or you can vary things along the way – for instance, this is just one of the effects you can get with caustic lights, here''s another:
Have fun testing things out!
FranOnTheEdge »Portfolio | Gallery | More Tutorials |
Added 13 years ago
Tools: Adobe Photoshop, Bryce, Other
Subject: Lighting, Materials
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Views: 3,902
Downloaded: 62
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|Post a Comment
|heddheld (13 years ago)
|this looks like an excelent tutorial
except a lot of the text disappears under the pics :-(
tried the download and got the pic lol
excellent piccie by the way ;-)
any chance of you reposting as an html or pdf Fran??
|Mark Christian Holloway (13 years ago)
|Excellent, Thank you very much
|wawadave (13 years ago)
|thx fran!!!!


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This class introduces students to basic ballet techniques. It consists of floor warm-ups, barre exercises and ballet combinations. Students will have the opportunity to develop strength, balance and flexibility. Leotard, tights and ballet slippers are recommended.
Ages: 5-8 (Classes are divide by grade level)
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subset: commoncrawl


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A long list of interesting stuff
I wasn't kidding when I said family is keeping me on the guy — family and work on a new project that has the potential to be at least somewhat remunerative. The new project requires that I master PowerPoint, a program with which I have only the most glancing acquaintance. Fortunately, there's a wealth of informative material on the internet — including Microsoft's own website — so I'm busy learning all about animations and fades.
Meanwhile, between kids and learning, I've been reading some very interesting stuff. In no particular order:
Rhymes with Right comments on the media's peculiar silence when it comes to the late Sen. Inouye's replacement. (And yes, I'm being sarcastic. There's nothing at all peculiar about the media's silence.)
Is it wrong for me to love a man I've never met and about whom I know nothing other than his ability to organize data logically? Nah. It can't be wrong. Every person who's driven by data, rather than emotion, has to love the data compilation Randall Hoven published showing a very strong correlation between guns and individual safety.
Speaking of guns, Jonathan Tobin makes the very good point that, by demonizing gun owners, the gun control crowd is making rational debate impossible. Of course, that's not a bug, that's a fixture, since rational debate militates against gun control.
Dianne Feinstein's proposed bill is Exhibit A for the case that Dems don't want debate; they just want to overturn the Second Amendment without bothering with the constitutional amendment process. (More here on Feinstein's bill.) This is, of course, the same Feinstein who thinks she's entitled to carry a gun for self-defense. It's just you little people who can't be trusted.
Egypt has gone sharia. Libya is de facto sharia. Syria is imminently sharia. Is it any surprise that Obama's best friend, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is planning on turning Turkey in a sharia state too? No surprise here.
The media has worked it's magic, and the majority of Americans are primed to blame the Republicans if the country slides further down the fiscal cliff. Mitch McConnell is trying to fight back, but I doubt he'll have any success.
Last I heard, Wendy Kaminer was a Democrat. I have no idea why, since she's one smart cookie, who understands the First Amendment as well as the decay of the American spirit.
Michael Ramirez gets to the root of evil — and it's not guns.
If you'd like smug media talking head David Gregory to get into trouble for violating Washington, D.C.'s gun laws, good luck with that. However, if you'd at least like to make his willful violation of those gun laws something of a cause célèbre, you can sign this "We the People" petition.
Would you like to add anything? I've labeled this as an Open Thread.


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Jan. 12, 2013
Box Score | Notre Dame Connecticut Box Score
NOTRE DAME, Ind. (AP) – Notre Dame had a chance to make history, including matching a mark set by the Fighting Irish squad that famously ended UCLA's 88-game winning streak. Instead, they saw a repeat of history against Connecticut.
The Huskies outscored the Irish 7-0 in the final minute to win 65-58 on Saturday and end a long home winning streak by No. 17 Notre Dame (14-2, 2-1) for the third time in four years. The loss prevented the Irish from getting off to their best start ever in the Big East and their best start overall since the 1973-74 squad led by John Shumate and Adrian Dantley and coached by Digger Phelps opened 24-1.
"We played with a little bit of the weight of the world on our shoulders," Notre Dame coach Mike Brey said. "That took its toll on us a little bit."
Shabazz Napier scored 19 points, Tyler Olander scored 12 of his career-high 16 points in the second half to pace UConn (12-3, 2-1), who outplayed the Irish in the final minute .
After Eric Atkins scored six straight points for the Irish to tie the score at 58 with a basket inside, Ryan Boatright made two free throws for the Huskies. Jerian Grant then tried to drive inside, but Olander blocked his shot. Boatright then made another pair of free throws and Grant tried driving inside again and Olander got the rebound. DeAndre Daniels added a basket and a free throw to put the game away.
Olander had his best game playing against Jack Cooley, who had 14 points and nine rebounds.
"I didn't look at the matchup and say, `I'm going go off and have a great game.' I knew Jack Cooley is a great player. He's having an outstanding year. I just told myself to go out, play hard, try to limit his rebounds and keep him off the boards. I guess good things happen when you play hard," he said.
Cooley said Notre Dame's plan was to give Olander open jump shots.
"He just started hitting them," he said. "He was playing really well inside."
Brey said the Irish couldn't take advantage of Cooley.
"We could never get Jack into anything around the bucket. He was battling the whole night and fighting," Brey said.
The loss Saturday ended a 17-game home winning streak for the Irish. Last year the Huskies ended a 29-game streak, meaning the only opponent to win in South Bend the past 48 games is UConn. The Huskies also ended Notre Dame's school-record 45-game home streak in 2009.
"When I stepped onto the court, I looked up and it said 46-1 and it gave myself a little chuckle because I was telling myself it was going to be 46-2," Napier said.
Connecticut coach Kevin Ollie said he focused on his team.
"We just talk about hanging in there and hanging around. Good things are going to happen to a team that sticks together and for a team that plays for each other," he said.
Atkins led the Irish with 18, Jack Cooley added 14 points and nine rebounds and Jerian Grant had 11 points.
Connecticut took its first lead at 36-34 as Olander scored back-to-back baskets inside after Cooley went to the bench early in the second half after picking up his second foul. The Irish regained the lead at 37-36 on a jumper by Cameron Biedscheid. But the Huskies used an 8-3 spurt, including another pair of baskets inside by Olander, to move ahead 44-40.
The Irish tied the score on a basket by Cooley and a pair of free throws by Atkins.
But the Huskies regain control with a 10-4 run, highlighted by an alley-oop from Napier to Boatright. A basket inside by Napier gave UConn a 58-52 lead. But Atkins answered with six straight points to tie the score at 58. The Irish couldn't get the lead, missing four shots and having a turnover in the final minute.


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Marc C. Patterson, M.D., studies Niemann-Pick disease type C and other lysosomal diseases, congenital disorders of glycosylation, and pediatric multiple sclerosis.
Dr. Patterson's research activities have included laboratory studies in neuropharmacology at the University of Queensland and in lysosomal diseases at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
He has also participated in clinical trials and natural history studies at NIH, Columbia University and Mayo Clinic. Dr. Patterson's research has been funded by the NIH, industry, the National MS Society and other not-for-profit foundations.
Based on his work, miglustat has been approved for the treatment of Niemann-Pick disease type C in the European Union and several other countries.
He is also helping to identify new disorders through a collaboration with glycobiologists at the Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute in La Jolla, Calif.
The center provides multidisciplinary care to children with demyelinating diseases and enrolls suitable candidates in a national database, which is improving researchers' understanding of these diseases in children.
Dr. Patterson's work has made the first disease-modifying therapy available to people afflicted by Niemann-Pick disease type C. He is continuing to work to improve the duration and quality of life for children and adults with this and other lysosomal storage diseases.
His work will also lead to improved diagnosis and management of congenital disorders of glycosylation and childhood demyelinating disorders, including multiple sclerosis.
Review this investigator's areas of expertise, accomplishments, grants and outputs on Pure Experts.
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Nitrated in alloy steel or in stainless steel. The HEUD (High Efficiency Unique Desgin) provides excellent performance.
Various ports configurations such as top top, side top or in line.
Internal bearing bushes helps to support radial loads.
Under suction pressure just one mechanical seal is required for the 2NS. Magnetic drive optional.
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Our professions:
A. Creation & storytelling
Continue the creative audacity of Guerlain in Fragrances, Skincare and Make-up. Explore and innovate. Showcase and enhance the beauty of our creations. Tell stories from our rich history and invent the stories of tomorrow. Always inspired by our signature Culture of Beauty.
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Hi everyone, please do a quick post below once you've registered to let us know you wanna join in, where your interests lie and so on. After that, either open up a new thread for open discussion of your ideas or contact Stripes, Blue Bishop or myself by PM.
Generally, I do suggest you start slow with a small, manageable project - be it a single creature or an event, etc. Something you can take your first steps on without running into all kinds of problems because its too elaborate for a beginner. You can always go back and build additions later, no need to break your back with overly elaborate plans at once.
Please take a moment to fill out the preference questionnaire too, to show what you like and what to expect from you.
Some important Links:
FS GitHub - get your FS code package here (right side, the "Download Zip" button). Do make an account here, you'll need it eventually.
Templates and Code Snippets
Stripes Game Mechanics Overview


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Disney Channel's Boy Meets World spin-off has cast the new Shawn! No, we don't mean that someone else is replacing Rider Strong in his longtime role (like anyone could rival his perfectly coifed locks?!), but there is a new BFF in the house!
Girl Meets World has tapped Sabrina Carpenter to play Maya Fox, the best friend of Cory and Topanga's daughter, Riley, TVLine reports. Carpenter impressed Disney exes when she appeared in the failed Disney XD pilot Gulliver Quinn, and she also voices a princess on the Disney Junior animated hit Sofia the First.
Check out other shows that should reunite
Carpenter will next appear in Fox's upcoming comedy The Goodwin Games as the tween version of Becki Newton's character. Her casting comes days after Rowan Blanchard won the coveted role of Riley Matthews.
Production on Girl Meets World is set to begin next month. If the pilot is picked up to series by Disney Channel, it would debut sometime during the 2013-2014 schedule.


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Markets shrug off China stimulusApril 2, 2014: 11:16 PM ET
Worrying economic data out of China had raised expectations in recent weeks that Beijing would respond with stimulus measures in an effort to stabilize growth.
The State Council obliged late Wednesday, announcing a slate of new measures including railway and urban redevelopment projects, along with a tax break for small businesses.
Market reaction on Thursday was muted. After an initial boost, the Shanghai Composite ended the day in negative territory. Hong Kong's Hang Seng was little changed.
There are a few likely explanations for the collective shrug from investors.
The new package is relatively small compared to many of Beijing's previous stimulus efforts. In response to the 2008 financial crisis, for example, China pumped almost $600 billion into the economy.
In addition, markets have likely priced in much of the stimulus impact. Railway projects are an old standby for Beijing, and something investors would have anticipated.
Related: Risks in focus on China's economy slows
Most economists think that after slower expansion in the first two quarters of 2014, China's economy will improve in the second half of the year. Beijing has set a full-year GDP growth target of 7.5%, although the leadership has indicated that it would also tolerate a slightly weaker performance.
If this stimulus package doesn't do the trick, HSBC economists said that China has plenty of other stimulus options it could pursue.
"We think Beijing still has other options in their toolkit, such as ... lowering the entry-barriers in various sectors, spending or incentives for environmental-protection, as well as more urban infrastructure," the economists wrote Thursday in a research note.


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This unboxing spoof of the Modern Warfare 2 Prestige Edition foofaraw shows you what you get if you pony up for Dragon Age's "ultimate collector's edition." Like both the PC and 360 versions. And sausage.
Specifically, it's "from dwarven butcher shops." Makes sense, don't dwarves have infravision? I guess that's why one bite bathes the room in that pale Paris Hilton-sextape nightvision glow.
BioWare's Dragon Age Twitter feed touted this video on Friday, but by no means is it official. Which kind of sucks, because I love sausage, and pretty much any game goes better with a hunk of savory meat.
Dragon Age: Origins Ultimate Collector's Edition [YouTube, thanks gill bates]


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Best Twabble
Please nominate your favorite twabble from the last Drabblecast year. Choose from Episodes 272 through 311.
- Nominate your 5 favorite twabbles in a reply, below.
- Please include the episode number for each of your nominations.
- Nominations close March 1st.
272 (audio) author: nevermore_66
" "Doctor Doom? I'm from Mothers Against War, Anguish, Horrors, Anger, Hate & Atrocity."
"Yes, that's us." "
273 (audio) author: Algernon Sydney is Dead
" I pull the paper slip out. It reads, "You will choke to death on a fortune cookie." If I could breathe, it would be amusing. "
274 (audio) author: Algernon Sydney is Dead
" She prayed, "On Earth as it is in Heaven." Sure enough, the Earth was soon a cold, airless void, full of lethal radiation. "
275 (audio) author: seani
" My bloody stumps drag over the pentangle, in-out, in-out, ETERNAL shaking. "THIS is what it's all about!", He cackles. "
276 (audio) author: Horst Ragnarok
" His crime was subject to the jurisdiction of Poseidon. As is tradition, he chose his means of punishment: firing squid. "
277 (audio) author: Horst Ragnarok
" Sir Hugh secured his chastity armor. He learned the hard way that one takes no chances when fighting the dire armadildo. "
278 (audio) author: Astroguyz
" The End of the World wasn't all bad… I elected myself President yesterday & will be the 1st Pope to win an Academy Award. "
279 (audio) author: Scarecrow
" We stood outside the news station in protest against miscommunication. I still don't think our message got through... "
280 (audio) author: Laria Grey
" My butcher offered me a hand with my parcels, but they never have enough meat to justify picking out all the little bones. "
281 (audio) author: Algernon Sydney is Dead
" Jack had his head in the clouds & his feet on the ground. He wasn't a remarkable man. He just never saw that airship anchor. "
282 (audio) author: Lyda
" Four times they took him. Every time an anal probe. Now he was prepared. Every night he ate three fortune cookies. Whole. "
283 (audio) author: seani
" As I type, revelations pour onto the screen. I realise I've selected "Absolute Truth Serif"- the font of all knowledge. "
284 (audio) author: Algernon Sydney is Dead
" A mugger stops 2 guys for money. As they both take out cash, one guy hands the other a bill & says, "Here's that 20 I owe you!" "
285 (audio) author: Varda
" Odd laws are on the books because someone tried it once. So if you're going to fling piranhas, keep your pants on, please. "
286 (audio) author: Varda
" I think my cell phone might be sentient. When I charge it, it bleats! Is it just me, or do Androids dream of electric sheep? "
287 (audio) authors: Varda & Algernon Sydney is Dead
" "Creativity's a river. It doesn't run dry," Lisa said when she got writer's block. But she didn't factor in the beavers. "
-- Varda
I pelt bad:
" I typed in a fever
'Twas writer's beaver
My plot was in a jam
I couldn't have that
so I made a new hat
of felt
I don't give a damn
-- Algernon Sydney is Dead "
288 (audio) author: Big Bad G
" Red. Red everywhere. I let it enter my house. I dab a finger for a taste. Jam. The peanut butter has gone feral. I am afraid. "
289 (audio) author: Algernon Sydney is Dead
" My soap dish broke. It had a lifetime warranty, so I called it in. Soon, axe men smashed my door. "You know what we must do." "
290 (audio) author: DireCari
" Later, lizard-woman gave her errant husband such a strenuous tongue-lashing, that it went in one ear and out the other. "
291 (audio) author: Tom Baker
" They say, "Write about what you know." So she heeded the advice, and had an excellent career writing rejection notices. "
292 (audio) author: MonsieurMoustache
" I never knew my mom. But I love stepmum. She gives the best of herself. I'm lucky to have such a good intestine to call home. "
293 (audio) author: MonsieurMoustache
" "Grains," said the vegetarian zombie hoard. Farmer Bill aimed his shotgun. The alfalfalypse wasn't happening today. "
294 (audio) author: Lyda
" Slowly. Quietly. I creep down the tube. I sense the open air. My eight legs leave the vacuum cleaner; I run. Now. Revenge. "
295 (audio) author: Varda
" "Geomancy. G-E-O-M-A-N-C-Y." In the crowd, proud wizards cheered for their apprentices. The Spelling Bee had begun. "
296 (audio) author: Swamp
" My old girlfriend said she slept like a baby. I didn't realize she meant she woke up every two hours lying in her own feces. "
297 (audio) author: BagaBones
" Spiked punch, a trashed gymnasium and his mother passed out in a chair.
Oedipus began to regret his choice in prom dates. "
298 (audio) author: Cymraeg
" The demon was fed up with an eternity of unpaid torturing. Calling a strike, he shambled off to see if he could raise hell. "
299 (audio) author: Chris Munroe
" The tortured screams of the people dying in agony are muffled by thumping Swedish disco music, here in my ABBA-ttoir... "
300 (audio) author: Farseeker
" Waking with her arm draped across him, he smiled recalling the night. Gently lifting it, he wondered where the rest was. "
301 (audio) author: kentblue82
" Wiping my own piss off the back of my head, I stormed out of the men's room. It was time to take the portal gun away from Drew. "
302 (audio) author: Strawman
" Just at shift change, when the crowd at the fire station would be extra large, Jonathan rushed in and screamed, "MOVIE!" "
303 (audio) author: MonsierMoustache
" Jenifer never brushes her hair
Which is why I now live there
Since my roots reached her brain
Jen's not been quite the same "
304 (audio) author: Spindaddy
" Finally I asked "So what do the crop circles mean?"
The alien smiled "Well you know how humans draw penises everywhere?" "
305 (audio) author: Kbilly
" The embers ignited the birch, ice water rushed in and Nanook realized that you just can't have your kayak and heat it too. "
306 (audio) author: Kbilly
" Keven sat, nearing tears again with this latest love letter to Raquel. He just could not find a "Q" to cut from the papers. "
307 (audio) author: Varda
" Bigger stocking, more candy, thought Tim. He didn't get any candy, but everyone agreed the severed foot fit perfectly. "
308 (audio) author: ROU Killing Time
" Eternity was tedious. He would dream of oblivion. Friends was on TV again. It was the one where Ross & Rachel take a break. "
309 (audio) author: sigment
" Dear ancient roly poly king, Matured to stone and bone. You have outlived all the other things, and now you're all alone. "
310 (audio) author: Kbilly
" Mommy, I'm really missing Daddy a lot. I know Sweet-Pea, but that's only because he runs so much. Just keep on reloading. "
311 (audio) author: Bejami
" Buy a tree shadow from Peter Pan's NeverLandScaping.
All the summer shade you want without having to rake a single leaf. "


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Hembstead is one of Charlotte's most sought after subdivisions. Located just across Providence Road from the Arboretum Shopping Center at the corner of Providence Road and HWY 51 which provides easy access to a wide variety of shopping, grocery and dining. The subdivision has mostly brick custom homes built on large lots. Hembstead is built on gentle rolling hills that remain heavily wooded making each street its own individual experience.
Hembstead home prices range from the low $400's to the upper $700's.


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All News Releases By Date
EPA Settlement with NJIT will Promote Green Chemistry in Local School
Release Date: 01/03/2008
Contact Information: Rich Cahill, (212) 637-3666, firstname.lastname@example.com
(New York, N.Y.)-- A unique agreement between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) in Newark will help usher "green chemistry" into school laboratory experiments at the institute and other colleges and high schools in the area. These green chemistry experiments involve the innovative use of new techniques and technologies in lab experiments, which minimize the need to use reagents, usually some type of solvent, to produce chemical reactions. The agreement grew out of an EPA complaint in which the Agency cited the school for violating federal rules that govern how to handle hazardous waste. It requires NJIT to spend at least $125,000 to showcase greener lab practices and to measure the amount of solvents and energy reductions that can be achieved when practices, such as microwave technology, are used in school laboratory experiments rather than traditional chemistry practices. NJIT must also pay a $31,740 penalty.
"The agreement to adopt green practices in the lab is innovative and trend-setting," said Alan J. Steinberg, EPA Regional Administrator. "This institution of learning has itself learned a valuable lesson and is now endeavoring to go beyond merely complying with regulations by setting a good environmental example for other schools to follow."
As part of its project to benefit the environment, NJIT will purchase equipment to help three local high schools get started using enhanced microwave technology, and through publications, seminars and the Internet, promote this faster, cleaner and less polluting lab technique to science educators throughout New Jersey.
The alleged violations that EPA observed during its inspections of the NJIT's facilities included failure to:
- determine which of the wastes that it generates are hazardous wastes,
- obtain a permit to store hazardous wastes, or take the required steps to exempt itself from this permitting requirement,
- provide proper training to employees handling hazardous waste,
- keep hazardous waste containers closed,
- have a contingency plan, and minimize the risk of fires, explosions, and the release of hazardous wastes and hazardous waste constituents.
Over the past seven years, EPA has inspected more than 58 colleges and universities and issued administrative complaints with penalties totaling more than $2.7 million against more than 20 colleges and universities in New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico and the U.S, Virgin Islands. The Colleges and Universities Initiative is an ongoing program with additional investigations anticipated. Educational institutions can self report violations and get relief from a portion of the penalties in exchange. For more information, please visit https://www.epa.gov/region02/capp/cip/. For more information about EPA's Colleges and Universities Initiative, please visit https://www.epa.gov/region02/p2/college.
Search this collection of releases | or search all news releases
View selected historical press releases from 1970 to 1998 in the EPA History website.


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Several months ago, our department was merged with another department. This was a merger of equals in which the other department lost both their leadership and half their staff. We lost our office space. All 30 or so of us were moved from Building Five to Building Four, Third Floor. "Restructuring" is a corporate word which means "$700 per employee paid to the moving company."
My old office was configured for someone two salary bands above mine, which meant that the extra desk in the office for the person who didn't inhabit it was removed and replaced with a small round table. MMBC must not realize that its executives don't spend most of their time huddling with teams in their expensive prison cells; they do business on the golf course. But the company corrected its "error" when moving me to Building Four, Third Floor. The new office had two desks, two sets of filing cabinets, two sets of overhead bins (really: we have overhead bins), and (I swear I'm not making this up) two sets of wastebaskets -- a black one for trash and a blue one for recycling.
I've seen the cleaning crew empty both bins into the same large trash can.
A recent trick of corporate architecture is to use modular furniture. Office cubicles, and even entire walls, can be "constructed" more or less overnight out of pre-manufactured panels and interlocking posts. It's sort of like Tinker Toys for MMBC executives. A few days before the office move, I was assigned a new office number (a borg-like designation, like Seven of Nine), and I decided to check out the new office, knowing it would be just like every other office in the MMBC cube farm.
It didn't exist. There was a double row of cubes (two rows of three cubes each) where the office was supposed to be. Facilities assured me they'd be tearing down the cubes and building offices.
Indeed, the following Monday my colleagues arrived in their new offices and began the process of discovering everything wrong with them. I showed up at an office in Mumbai, India, where I spent the next two weeks on business. When I finally returned to MMBC Building Four, Third Floor, I discovered:
- All of my stuff had reached the right office.
- The office door was locked.
- I did not have a key.
This was okay, because MMBC offices, although they lock securely, are made from modular panels and interlocking posts. It is trivial to remove an outer panel, pop open an inner panel, reach through, and open the securely locked door. Both panels can be replaced, leaving the illusion that you had the key all the time. No tools of any kind are required: just pull, push, and open. I love corporate security.
Once in the office, I discovered numerous problems. There were no overhead lights. That meant it was fairly dark, but not so dark that I couldn't immediately see the next problem: one wall did not reach all the way to the ceiling. I also saw the root cause of that problem; the wall was situated directly below a sprinkler head, meaning that in the event of a fire, both my office and the one next to it would be exactly half as wet as it should be. Despite the missing wall, it seemed unusually stuffy in the office; this was because there was no ventilation. Maybe it was a good thing the wall didn't reach the ceiling.
No light, no air, 3.9 out of 4 walls, and 50% of the required fire protection. Oh yeah: the bulletin board was a solid aluminum panel, completely impervious to both magnets and push pins. As sort of a consolation prize, however, two of my file cabinets were completely filled, top to bottom, with someone else's paperwork, mostly printed out e-mails directing a particular contractor to perform some task or other. There was no way to determine whose papers they had been, but MMBC Facilities indicated they had no need of them, and I could dispose of them according to MMBC Document Retention policies. They went in the shredder bin.
It took several weeks, but eventually the facilities crews worked out all of the remaining issues. To their credit, every person who showed up to fix something in the office shook his head in disgust and said, "I can't believe they did it like this in the first place." To celebrate the correction of the very last problem in my office, I received a present from management.
It was an eviction notice. Our department had been advised that we would be moving, in less than a week, to Building Four, Fifth Floor. We had been moved to our present locations less than three months prior.
In case you thought this anecdote had reached some sort of crazy climax, let me assure you that all this is really just background for the truly bizarre portion of this story. I swear, I am not making up what I found out next.
You see, we were being moved from the Third Floor to the Fifth Floor. Each floor has two sides, "A" and "B", and generally we abbreviate locations using building-floor-side codes such as 43A for Building Four, Third Floor, Side A. We were moving from 43A to 45A. As it happens, there were already people on 45A, and to make way for us they were being moved to 44A. There were already people on 44A, and we understood that those people were moving to 44B. There were already people on 44B, and they would have to move to make room for the new folks, so they were moved to 43A.
Yes: we were moved to make way for the people who were moved to make way for the people who were moving to make way for the people who were moving to make way for us. Did I mention the rumor mill suggested these moves cost MMBC $700 apiece?
Remembering all the problems that happened in the last move, I decided to check out my new office and make a punch list in advance. I found that, a day before the scheduled move, the new office was still occupied. A quick conversation with the current tenant revealed that a) the office was in great shape, and had an ample light, air, water, and structure, and b) my 45A coworker hadn't been notified he'd be moving. I suggested that he check with his management chain on the details. He assured me that it wouldn't be a big deal, since he really just had his laptop to be moved. Then I went back downstairs, packed up my things, and went home to hope for the best.
When I returned to the office the following Monday, all of my stuff was in the new office (good), as was a bunch of stuff that wasn't mine (bad), including the other guy's laptop docking station and his Hawaiian shirt. The filing cabinets were filled with papers and office supplies. Two overhead bins were locked, and no key was available. One filing cabinet had a key broken off in the lock.
I called facilities, and they agreed to send someone to remove the computer. The rest was this other guy's problem. The next day, I sent him e-mail asking him to retrieve his things; he said he'd be back in the office the next day, and would take care of it then. In the afternoon the following day (Wednesday), I returned from a meeting to find the Hawaiian shirt missing. The filing cabinets were still full. I wrote him some more e-mail.
Perhaps I should have been more specific. I wrote, "Did you get everything you needed?" and then left the office. I was out Thursday and Friday, and got his "Sure did" response the following Monday.
The filing cabinets were still full. If you are reading this and getting that sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach, good for you. If not, it means I really have to work on my foreshadowing skills.
I let the rest of the week go by without unpacking my boxes: where would it all go? But I resolved that the following week I would go through all the papers, and handle them according to MultiMegaBiggaCorp, Inc. Document Retention policies. Monday and Tuesday were busy, but Wednesday morning, I opened up the first filing cabinet and began to review the contents.
First, the office supplies: there were seven (7!!!) staplers (but no staples) and two tape dispensers (but no tape). Both went back to the common supply closet. Then there were manuals from 1996 for software that had been defunct since 2003. In fact, this accounted for almost everything in the drawer aside from a few photos of a house I didn't recognize, a CD, two 3.5" floppy disks, a half-eaten package of rice cakes, a coffee mug filled with change, and three different sets of hands-free "earbud" devices for cellular phones, along with other trinkets, chachkes, and assorted knick-knackery.
Much of it went in the trash. The papers all went in the shredder bin. I left the change, and a few other items, and resolved to splurge at the vending machines later in the day. All that remained were the mysterious contents of two overhead bins, which had been locked for more than two weeks. It was time to call facilities. When I did, they said they'd send someone right up to unlock them.
An hour later, a man arrived at my door. He looked confused. I asked him if he was here to unlock the overhead bins, and he stared at me for a moment.
Then he asked, "Where's all my stuff?"
That's when it hit me: my new office had not one, but two former occupants; one of which had only a laptop and a Hawaiian shirt, but the other had cabinets and bins full of papers, office supplies, and bric-a-brac. The guy I had met hadn't said anything about this, but clearly his office-mate had been on vacation (and in the U.S., 2-week vacations are not common). It would later occur to me to look up these people in the MMBC Enterprise Phone Book, where I would discover that they both worked for the same person, the manager who hadn't told his people they were moving (probably because he himself had not been told) and who then did not (or was not able to) look after all the stuff belonging to the guy who worked for him, and was on vacation during the move, and had returned after more than two weeks away and was now standing in front of me, blinking, and asking,
"Where's all my stuff?"
I swallowed and said, "You're going to hate me. I threw it out."
Of course I had to inform my management that I had thrown out someone else's stuff, and then I had to inform MMBC Facilities of what had happened. I have not heard back from either of the former two occupants of my office, but two weeks later, I received an envelope from Facilities. Inside was a ticket good for a free meal at the MMBC Cafeteria, with a yellow sticky-note thanking me for my "patience during the recent move." There was a cute smiley-face drawn on the lower right-hand corner of the note. As a finishing touch, I discovered that the mail room had misspelled my first name. I usually spell it S-C-O-T-T. They spelled it G-E-O-R-G-E.
Upper management is now talking about a re-organization plan. I can't wait to see my new office!


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No common ground found on Common Core
No common ground was discovered at a public forum Monday night discussing the pros and cons of Common Core.
Both sides came to the table at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at St. Anselm College to explore whether Common Core education standards are good for Granite State families. About 150 people heard panelists explain their support or opposition to the federally-developed standards at the event hosted by Cornerstone Action and Cornerstone Policy Research.
Opponents criticized the standards and the process that brought Common Core to this state.
Jamie Gass, Boston-based Director of the Center for School Reform at Pioneer Institute, said his organization did independent analysis of Common Core. He told the audience that Massachusetts owes much of its history of academic success to a deep commitment to classic literature, drama and poetry. Common Core, he said, represents a dramatic shift away from classic literature toward informational texts and non-fiction.
"The quality of the language and vocabulary is significantly better than informational texts and nonfiction that Common Core offers," Gass said.
Since Massachusetts is one of the highest performing states in the nation and New Hampshire is right behind, both have a great deal to lose in term of quality of education, Gass said.
Emmett McGroarty, executive director of Education at American Principles Project, argued the core's math standards replace traditional algorithms with strategies, leaving children behind their counterparts in other high-performing countries.
"If it weren't so sad it would be comical," McGroarty said.
Ann Marie Bandfield, education researcher and education liaison for Cornerstone Action, said the standards set for younger students were inappropriate.
"Asking children to abstract think in lower grades sets up a stressful situation for children," Banfield said.
But David Pook, a teacher at the Derryfield School and Granite State College and who was a contributing writer or the Common Core English Language Arts standards, disagreed on both points.
"The goal is to have kids read closely, examine complex texts and compare required skills," Pook said. "Any sensible school in society would have their kids be able to do this."
Tom Raffio, Chairman of the state Board of Education, which has endorsed Common Core, presented comments from educators across the state supporting Common Core.
Many teachers felt it was beneficial to know what students learned the previous years and what to expect from students transferring in from other districts.
"It was a very inclusive process and we've seen the results," Raffio said.
Education News
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via In NH debate, no common ground found on Common Core | New Hampshire Education.


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Anti-microbial, leak-proof, extra strength garbage liners made with 80% recycled resin, 10% of which is post consumer waste. Microban inhibits the growth of odor-causing bacteria, while tri-laminate technology and star sealed bottom increase strength and durability. Black, individually folded.br>
All prices are in USD.
We accept large quantity orders and provide case prices upon request. Call us at 1-631-772-1635 or email us at email@example.com to ask questions or comment about our products. We want to hear from you.


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NATIONAL DAUGHTERS Day came and went on Friday and
6 MONTHS PREGNANT and already feeling ready to pop
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I'm almost OVER IT you guys. Ha! Any other mamas
23 weeks PREGNANT! Been meaning to keep a better d
This is pretty much how I sit in cars now. (Insert
This was taken at the coast just last week, before
Wearing these new layered necklaces by @haverhillc
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY to our little Lulu! She turns 5 tod
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Santa Clarita, CA 91351
Our Mission
To help children feel good about themselves. To help raise the level of fitness and self-esteem in our students. To help students believe they can accomplish whatever they put their mind and effort to.
Have you ever heard the following;
"Believe that you can or believe that you can't,
either way you are right."
"Some see the glass half full, others see it half empty.
Who is right?"
Our beliefs control our thoughts. Many children enter our program with limiting thoughts and beliefs. Often these children will say "I can't" before they even attempt a new challenge. It is an important part of our job to help change this negative expectation. We do this with language (replacing "can't" with words and thoughts like "I'm scared", "I don't know how", or "I need help") and by creating challenges that they can successfully accomplish.
To help build confidence in children (an expectation of future success), we must create frequent success experiences for them while avoiding unnecessary (predictable) failures. We do this by only asking them to do what they are capable of doing (not setting them up for failure) while developing their abilities and increasing their skills.


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Despite an April 10 deadline set by the UN for a cease-fire in Syria, violence in the country seems to be continuing between the government and opposition forces. The ongoing impasse in Syria is unlikely to end unless there is more "concerted pressure" from the international community and in particular Russia, which is one of Syria's main supporters, says Tamara Cofman Wittes, who previously served as a senior Middle East official in the State Department. She says that a major reason for Russia's refusal to join in concerted action against Syria is that this "is a principled issue, and an issue that they think relates to their own domestic politics in terms of sovereignty and anti-interventionism, and they're willing to stand that ground pretty firmly." She says she does not believe the Syrian leaders are truly interested in dialogue. "They're engaging in it because they feel they have to, to create some political cover for what they're really interested in doing, which is crushing this opposition movement on the ground," Wittes says.
From all reports, the Syrian cease-fire that was to have taken effect under Special Envoy Kofi Annan's peace plan has not happened, and there is still fighting, with the Syrian government and the rebels blaming each other. What do you see happening in Syria over the next several weeks and months?
More on:
The regime of President Bashar al-Assad is still in power and seems fairly well entrenched in the sense that the military is willing to support it. As long as that's the case, it's hard to see things changing. The one thing that could make a real difference is if there were a more unified and concerted pressure from the international community, which would mean that Russia and China would have to stop protecting Assad.
Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem has just been in Moscow, and the Russians seem to be trying to walk a fine line between urging the Syrians to abide by a cease-fire but not willing to put any outright pressure on them. Do you think the Russians may change their approach?
I think there are a couple of things going on here. One is a longstanding historical relationship between these two countries, and for Russia, in some ways, Syria is their last Cold War partner in the Middle East, so they'd be loath to lose that entrée. But fundamentally, for Russia, this is not just about Syria--this is about the way the international community engages in the domestic affairs of other countries. So for Russia, there is a principled issue, and an issue that they think relates to their own domestic politics in terms of sovereignty and anti-interventionism, and they're willing to stand that ground pretty firmly.
Do the Russians think it was a mistake not vetoing Security Council Resolution 1973 last March on Libya, which allowed NATO forces to get involved militarily?
Every move that the Syrians have made in the last week seems designed simply to buy themselves time to conduct more military operations on the ground, to kill more civilians, and to cow their population into submission.
More on:
They certainly seem to be haunted by that. But I would ask the Russians whether the outcome in Libya was really so terrible from the perspective of their concerns about international law and national sovereignty. If the Libyan situation had been allowed to degrade, if Muammar [al-]Qaddafi had been allowed to massacre his own citizens, that civil war would have not have stopped either, and Libya would have devolved into a situation of sustained conflict. Syria is heading down that road today. It is a very bad road; it has a potential to be destabilizing, not just for Syria, but for the wider region, and quite dangerous for the stability of the Middle East. So my question to the Russians is, "Are these qualms about international intervention worth risking the kind of instability that's likely to come about if the Syrian situation is left to fester?"
The United States has taken a position on Syria that it wants President Assad to step down, and it supports the various UN and Arab League resolutions calling for this to happen. Should the United States be more involved diplomatically with the Syrians? The United States doesn't seem to have any direct contact with the Syrians now.
There is no direct contact on the ground for security reasons. The United States was compelled to close its embassy in Damascus in February, but that doesn't mean that there's no contact with the Syrians. And certainly, there is a lot of diplomatic engagement with the Syrians through other parties. So, I don't think there is any lack of communication. But I also don't think that the Syrians are particularly interested in diplomatic dialogue. They're engaging in it because they feel they have to, to create some political cover for what they're really interested in doing, which is crushing this opposition movement on the ground. Every move that the Syrians have made in the last week seems designed simply to buy themselves time to conduct more military operations on the ground, to kill more civilians, and to cow their population into submission.
The Syrians' main foreign supporter right now is Iran, and this is an interesting alliance because if Assad is forced to leave, then the Iranians will have lost their major partner in the Arab world.
It's also important to note that most of the opposition in Syria, even today, in the face of this incredible brutality, is still peaceful.
That's true, but to be perfectly honest, the Iranians were already somewhat back on their heels in the region because of the events of the Arab awakening. They found themselves unable to claim credit, or even to find a role for themselves in these events, even though they tried to position themselves in the Arab world over many years as the supporters of the people. The peaceful revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt occurred without any Iranian involvement, and in Libya, the Iranians opposed NATO action and went against the clear preferences of the Libyan people. So the Iranians were already finding themselves in a weaker position regionally, and this is just their latest problem. There's no question that they see this as quite troubling. It is troubling not only in the broader balance of power in the region, but also because Syria and Hezbollah in Lebanon were their primary link to the Arab-Israeli arena. If that link is broken, it makes it much, much harder for the Iranians to play on some of the big regional issues that they believe give them political legitimacy.
Do you think the time has come now to do what some of the Arab states have suggested, which is to arm the opposition?
I'm not at all convinced that that would move things along to the policy goal that has been enunciated by, for example, the United States, which is that Assad should step down. Arming the rebels at this point could prolong and exacerbate the crisis and cause greater spillover from Syria's borders into Iraq or Lebanon. That's a very troubling prospect. It's also important to note that most of the opposition in Syria, even today, in the face of this incredible brutality, is still peaceful. It's still nonviolent, it's still people going out into the streets, holding banners, and chanting and protesting. And as long as that's the case, as long as Syria has not devolved entirely into civil war, that's something to be nurtured.
At the same time, I think it's important for the United States and for other members of the UN Security Council to recognize that as long as the Assad regime is engaged in the mass killing of its own citizens, there are going to be those outside, including those in the region, who are going to find ways to provide arms and other support to Syrians who are trying to fight back. The militarization of the conflict is happening now. It's not something that can be prevented, but it is something that can be managed. That only points to the need for the UN Security Council members to take a realistic look at what's going on, and for Russia in particular to end its posturing and to talk about a peace process, and to recognize the reality on the ground, which is a government with overwhelming power subjecting its own population to tremendous brutality, and to take concerted action to halt that.
Talking about Russia, Vladimir Putin will be sworn in as president again on May 7. Soon after that, he'll be meeting at Camp David with President Obama and other members of the G8. And clearly, Syria, if it's not resolved by then, will be the number one international political issue at that meeting. Do you think the Russians might join with the United States and others in a stronger Security Council resolution?
I think the G8 is an important forum not only because it's another opportunity for direct engagement at the head of state level, but also because the G8, when it met last spring in Deauville, France, was one of the first multilateral groups of major countries to enunciate a clear response to what was taking place in the Arab awakening. The G8 clearly put itself on the side of the democratic aspiration of the Arab world and issued a very strong declaration which the Russians signed on to. They talked about basic rights and freedom; they talked about the responsibility of leaders to respond their people's aspirations; they talked about the need to support and nurture civil society. So the Russians have already signed on to all of this. The G8 summit coming around again this year is an opportunity to remind the Russians of what they've already committed to, with regard to these developments in the region. And even though things don't always go as smoothly and as peacefully as they did in Tunisia, for example, that doesn't mean that the citizens in these other countries aren't as deserving of equal respect and support.


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Taiwan Eyes U.S. for Advancing Technology
Taiwan's machine tools are becoming more sophisticated, while the U.S. is becoming an increasingly important export market for the growing industry.
Quality equipment and relatively low prices have traditionally made Taiwanese machine tools attractive in the U.S. market, but builders from the small island nation are increasingly touting another selling point: technological sophistication. My visit this past March to the Taipei International Machine Tool Show (TIMTOS), the biennial machine tool exhibition in the capital city, confirmed that these suppliers do indeed offer many of the features and capabilities valued by shops here in the States.
Likewise, while the United States traditionally has been an important market for Taiwanese suppliers, many exhibitors I visited said it has become even more so. The data confirm this. According to show organizers, exports to the United States increased 50.6 percent from 2011 to 2012, and America's 12.6 percent share of total exports is second only to China's. Other growth markets last year included third-ranking Thailand, with a 50.2-percent increase, Russia, with a 41.5-percent increase, and Canada, with a 96.2-percent increase, although all three combined still don't match the United States in terms of total exports.
Featured Content
The fact that Taiwanese builders export more than three quarters of their production underscores the importance of the U.S. market for growth--and growth has been the trend for the small island nation despite global economic uncertainty. Data from show organizers indicates that machine tool production increased by 5.2 percent from 2011 to 2012 to a total of $5.43 billion, while total exports increased 5.9 percent to $4.23 billion. And according to the latest World Machine Tool Output and Consumption survey (compiled by Modern Machine Shop publisher Gardner Business Media), Taiwan remained the world's sixth largest machine tool producer and fourth largest exporter in 2012.
TIMTOS is growing, too. Organized by the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) and the Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry (TAMI), the 24th iteration of the fifth largest machine tool exhibition in the world and second largest in Asia attracted 1,009 exhibitors occupying 5,400 booths. Those figures represent increases of 8.7 percent and 4.3 percent, respectively, compared to TIMTOS 2011. In total, the exhibition attracted an estimated 45,500 visitors, of which 5,500 hailed from abroad. In fact, the show lacked the space to accommodate more than 3,000 potential exhibitors (although a new exhibit hall expected to open in time for the 2015 show promises to help alleviate this concern).
While 2013 is expected to be positive, the industry still faces challenges. Uncertainties about exchange rates have led to uncertainties about the extent of this year's export growth, which show organizers have forecast at a broad range of 5 to 10 percent. Specifically, they cited concerns about the relative strength of the Taiwanese dollar versus its U.S. counterpart, as well as depreciation in two chief competitors' currencies: the Korean Won and Japanese Yen.
Regardless of what the future holds, most exhibitors I visited say they plan to continue to advance capabilities and to further differentiate and specialize their product lines. The show floor teemed with the results of their efforts thus far in this area. Here are a few trends I noticed at the show:
Complex Motion. Rare was the machining center supplier that didn't offer a model with more than three axes, and most supplied equipment capable of full simultaneous five-axis moves. Increasingly, machine axes aren't traversing via ballscrew, either—linear motors seemed ubiquitous on the show floor, appearing in equipment ranging from HMCs and VMCs to grinders and EDM equipment.
Multiple processes, one platform. Turn-mill machines were also a common sight at the show, and the range of offerings included more than just lathes with live milling and drilling tools. In addition to subspindles for part hand-off, notable offerings included machines with more than two turrets to balance production between the main and subspindle and Y-axes for off-center milling and drilling, among others. This trend extends beyond just turn-mills--one supplier, for instance, showcased a VMC with integrated laser marking.
Advanced control technology. More so than simpler configurations, five-axis and turn-mill machines depend on CNC features such as tool centerpoint control, robust simulation, machine monitoring and so forth. Taiwanese builders like YCM, Chevalier, Chmer and Tongtai, among others, are increasingly developing their own such features rather than sourcing from elsewhere.
Component suppliers step up. King Wang, chairman of TAMI's machine parts & elements committee, said Taiwan's machine parts and component industry has made considerable progress during the last few years. In fact, total export value for this sector amounted to nearly as much as machine tools themselves. Additionally, TIMTOS 2013 marked the first time that the Machine Tools Industry Awards for Excellence in Research and Innovation included a category specifically for machine components.
Click through this picture gallery for examples of these trends.


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This weekend is quickly approaching and we have been trying to get ready for the extraction process. Last year we didn't have an uncapping tank so we tried to tie one of our plastic queen excluders to the top of a big plastic bin. It worked.... kind of. Let's just say it was a pain to use. This year I decided to build my own uncapping tank. Here is how it went:
I started by stealing one of Chris' plastic containers- one of those she usually uses to store old blankets, clothes, etc. I cut a couple of notches just big enough to fit a 2X4 on either side of the container. Then I drilled holes into the sides on both ends a few inches from the top.
I then cut a 2X4 just a little longer than the container is wide and put a screw all the way through about half way up the board.
Next I cut a couple of dowels the same length as the 2X4. I cut some hardware cloth down to size, wrapped the ends of it around the dowels, and laced it together with wire.
I put it all together by setting the hardware cloth down in the container (without the dowels) and then sliding the dowels in through the holes on one side, through the end loops in the hardware cloth, and out the other side. Then I set the 2X4 in its notches with the screw pointing up.
I should be able to place the end of a frame full of honey on the screw, uncap one side, and rotate it around on the screw to uncap the other side. The caps should get caught on the hardware cloth while the honey drips through to the bottom.
I put the 2X4 in the center so I could uncap onto either side of the tank- in retrospect, I wonder if it would have been better to put it further to one end in order to leave more room for the caps to fall. I suppose I can still change it if I need to.
The only thing left is to cut a hole near the bottom and install a honey gate. If this contraption works well I will see about doing that next year.


text:
A LEADING car dealer is excited to add new models to its range, including bringing a classic sports car back into production.
Sandal BMW has just celebrated the addition of the new BMW 3 Series Saloon and the BMW Z4 roadster to its line-up, and customers have been eager to try out the new models.
The privately-owned dealership group, which recently expanded its operations to serve the Bradford area, held a special weekend test-drive event at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park to give new and returning customers a chance to experience the latest progression of "The Ultimate Driving Machine".
Sandal's head of business, Jason Carter, said: "The test drive event was great fun. We held more than 240 drives throughout the weekend, and it was a great way to show off these stunning new models. It's also about giving something back to our brilliant customers."
The new BMW 3 Series Saloon, which first appeared on the roads in 1975, represents significant advancement over its predecessor, being lighter, more agile, and more aerodynamic. Thanks to its improved suspension, it also boasts much sportier handling, and various other technological enhancements to ensure an enjoyable driving experience for every mile.
The Saloon will also be joined later in the year by the an all new BMW 3 Series Touring model, which will offer more interior space while keeping the high specs and sleek profile of its older sibling.
While the 3 Series maintains a refined appearance while coyly hinting at its sporty pedigree, the BMW Z4 positively revels in it. The latest model of the classic two-seater roadster pays loving homage to its iconic ancestor, but by adding a host of modern features, it looks every inch a cutting-edge, top-of-the-line sports car.
Mr Carter said: "Both of these new models are fantastic additions to BMW's range. The 3 Series is a timeless model which exemplifies BMW's commitment to driving dynamics and quality, and the Z4 is an absolute classic – it's such a pleasure to see it back in production."
He added: "We're very proud of being a privately-owned dealership. It means we do things a bit differently. We can hold events like this, and really go above and beyond to provide the very best customer service. We look forward to holding more inclusive test-drive events like this soon."
For more information or to book a test drive, contact Sandal Huddersfield on 01484 515515 or Sandal Wakefield on 01924 433500, or visit www.sandalbmw.com


text:
Travel RN Seasonal Jobs - HealthCare Travelers (Annandale,VA)
- Employer
- HealthCare Traveler Jobs
- Location
- Annandale, VA
- Posted
- Aug 21, 2019
- Closes
- Aug 23, 2019
- Ref
- 289913263
- Function
- Accountant, IT
- Industry
- Healthcare
- Career Level
- Experienced (Non-Manager)
- Hours
- Full Time
Seasonal Travel Nurses - All RN Specialties No more long application, no hunting down license numbers, dates of employment, reference names and contact information just to get information on whether there is an assignment / job you are interested in. HealthCareTravelers.com has been assisting Registered Nurses since 2009 in finding the right employment opportunity with less agravation. Take adavntage of choice early assignments as well as above average seasonal compensation packages Would you like to spend the fall / winter somewhere great? The Hospitals have already started posting the available seasonal travel assignments with the HCEN Network of staffing agencies. Submit your information request today and get your choice of great locations before they are gone. The Travel Nurse Season is here and it shows For the past 9 years, thousands of Nurses just like you have utilized the sites of HealthCare Employment Network to explore a career as a Traveling Registered Nurse. Interested in locating that perfect RN Travel Assignment Job? Looking for great compensation as well as leading benefits packages? Veteran Traveler or researching your first assignment options, You are in the right place. Requested Nursing Specialties Cardiac Cath Lab Labor & Delivery Pediatrics PCU - Stepdown Telemetry Maternal-Newborn Emergency Department Medical-Surgical ICU - Critical Care Intensive Care Newborn Nursery CVICU - Cardio-Vascular Intensive Care Oncology NICU - Neonatal Intensive Care General Surgery PICU - Pediatric Intensive Care CVOR General Surgery SICU - Surgical Intensive Care OR - RN First Assistant MICU - Medical Intensive Care Outpatient Pre/Post Surgery Neuro - Intensive Care Pediatric Surgery Trauma - Intensive Care PACU Where would you like to go Spend the winter in the warmth of Florida, Virgin Islands, Arizona, Hawaii, Southern California or many others. Spend the winter in the beautiful states of Colorado, Utah, Vermont. So many great options today's travel nurse has to choose from ASAP starts. Numerous 8,13 & 26 week travel assignments available. Registered Nurse Licensure in the state of practice Minimum of two years recent experience in your primary specialty. BLS / ACLS / NALS / PALS / CCRN / as applicable No flagged or under investigation licenses. Tired of always being asked to complete a lengthy application? We can appreacite that, we have been in your shoes as past \"Travelers\" Get the information you need from the Nation's Top Staffing Agencies with one free, quick & short \"More Information Request\"


text:
Oh No!: Or How My Science Project Destroyed the World by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Dan Santat; Disney / Hyperion (June 2010); ISBN 9781423123125; 40 pages
Book Source: Copy from public library
"Oh No ... Oh Man ... I knew it. I never should have built a robot for the science fair."
A brainy little girl, with visions of blue ribbons and accolades, submits an advanced robotics entry into her school science fair. She ends up receiving a blue ribbon for her project, but quickly learns that while she slipped off to the fair, her unattended, giant robot (120 yards tall) took over the city, and is destroying everything in sight. In a frenzied state, the girl rushes out and tries to control her crazed creation, only to discover a huge flaw in her design -- she can't communicate with the machine and apparently there's no off switch. She returns to her lab to work on a fix and enlarges a toad to fight the robot. (Maybe not the most well thought out plan but a valiant attempt, nonetheless.)
The high-action illustrations in the book look like a classic Japanese monster movie in the making. Black edges create a filmstrip feel and you can spot the graininess and lines in the pictures, with plenty of Japanese signs in the background. There isn't a lot of text in this book. It reads a little like a graphic novel, and the eye naturally is drawn to all the awesome illustrations. My kids loved the hilarious dogs in robot gear (the robot has the ability to control canine minds). I geeked out over blueprint endpapers showing schematics from both the robot and toad projects. The book jacket has a poster printed on the underside, but sadly we couldn't view it as we checked our copy out from the library and the poster is hidden safely from view under the plastic cover. I need to give a thumbs up for the leading girl choice - so great to see an intelligent female in a book like this! The whole book sends my geeky girl heart a pitter-patter. My toddler son is naturally drawn toward anything about robots, but even my princess-loving girl stepped away from the pink long enough to browse through this one, not once, but many times. She needs to come up with a science fair project this year, but I think we'll stay away from the robots!
Related Links:
Mac Barnett - Author Website
Dan Santat - Illustrator Website
This is our version of a trash to treasure robot craft. We started with some tin cans and other various recyclables and created our own robot. The kids like changing out the face using magnets and magnetic letters. We also made a few magnetic eyes by adhering printed eyes to a thin, cheap magnetic sheet using double sided tape.
(Our robot craft was inspired by this Family Fun Can-Do Robots craft.)
A Mommy's Adventures hosts the "stART" meme (Story + Art) each week. Add your kids craft post to the Kid's Get Crafty linky at Red Ted Art's Blog. Join in Read Aloud Thursday at Hope is the Word. Show off your ideas at ABC & 123 Show and Tell.
I am an Amazon affiliate and may receive a very small commission for products purchased through my Amazon links. (View my full disclosure statement for more information about my reviews.)


text:
I'm so glad I was wrong.
After being up all night with Kean coughing like a horse
and a steady fever, I thought for sure we'd get admitted
to the hospital today.
Luckily, by his afternoon appointment, his fever was gone and
his tight cough had lightened up a bit.
I didn't even mind unpacking the bag I had packed.
(Try saying that 10 times fast).
Kean cracked everyone up by motoring back all on his own
to the Vampire Chamber (the blood draw room).
My mom, broken foot, bruises and all went with us.
She did not want me going alone. Love her!
Anyway, the verdict? Kean has one of those nasty viruses
circulating around. His counts all looked great except for his
Neutraphils (his ability to fight germs)-- they were crazy low.
Dr. Camilo figures it is because of the virus. We'll
check them again in a few weeks.
And that was it-- we GOT TO GO HOME!
Finally, remember the woman in Kentucky who has been paired
with Kean and runs for him since he can't run for himself?
Look at this super cool picture of her nails.
She has a big "Blue Grass" race this weekend.
Love it and love her.
Thanks Clair.


text:
Islands, rivers and methane springs - latest images of Titan
These images from the Huygens DISR instrument show new features, such as evidence of flow around 'islands', deposits of water ice and channels which could have been created by methane springs.
All Huygens raw images are now available.
Credit: ESA/NASA/JPL/University of Arizona


text:
Texas governor targets SD biotechs
Texas Gov. Rick Perry quietly came to San Diego last week to lure biotech companies seeking to escape from higher income taxes under Proposition 30 to the Lone Star State.
It wasn't his first trip, either.
Perry visited with executives from several large medical device companies, said Mark Cafferty, chief executive of the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corp. Perry talked to the companies about the benefits of relocating to Texas, a state with no corporate income tax, relaxed environmental regulations and reduced land costs, Cafferty said.
"(Perry) certainly was here. He certainly met with CEOs of companies within San Diego, seemingly with a heavy emphasis on the biotech industry," Cafferty said. "Our region has a target on our back. And people are coming in very charismatic to lure jobs away. While we do the best we can locally at EDC, we need state leadership to fight back."
A spokeswoman for Perry's office would not confirm his visit in voicemails Wednesday, but said that Perry often visits other states to court employers.
"We are always looking to reach out to companies who might be interested in moving or expanding," she said. "We're always trying to tell the Texas story of low taxes and reasonable regulations."
Perry also visited California in December to court employers, the Austin American-Statesman reported.
That visit came a month after voters in California approved Proposition 30, which raised the income tax rate for earners making more than $250,000 and added a quarter cent to the sales tax. In California, large corporations other than financial companies pay 8.84 percent in corporate taxes.
When Perry returned to Texas in December, he told a tea party rally in Tarrant County why he made the trip to San Diego.
"The passage of Proposition 30 in California this last November, which raised their tax rate substantially on businessmen and woman, has made California a target-rich environment for pro-business, low-tax, fair and predictable regulatory states," he said.
One target for Perry appears to be ResMed, a San Diego manufacturer of sleeping devices.
"Gov. Perry was in San Diego in December and visited with a few members of our executive team for about 30 minutes. There wasn't an offer on the table. It was more of a fact-finding mission to learn about ResMed's concerns," company spokeswoman Gretchen Griswold said Wednesday.
Peter Farrell, ResMed's CEO, made some pointed comments on California's business climate at the time.
"The whole place is very Democratic, very union-friendly and tax-unfriendly," Farrell said. "And we just see the costs going up, and the benefits going down. We see more regulation and more taxes, and more of an anti-business kind of environment."
He went on to say, "The unemployment rate in Texas is 7 percent; we're over 10 percent. Surely they must realize that the policies here are incredibly negative ... They're just anti-growth."
Life Technologies spokeswoman Patty Zamora said the company already has operations in Texas, but could have even more in the future.
"Life Technologies currently has facilities in Austin and Houston," she said. "We have invested in these facilities in the past and would consider doing so again as necessary to support our on-going business."
In an interview that aired on Fox Business on Jan. 23, Aaron McLear, a former spokesman to California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, said that Perry is known for courting companies in California.
"Gov. Perry in Texas is famous for going on hunting trips to California, where he goes and meets with CEOs, and gives them his cell phone (number)," McLear said. "(Perry) says here's my personal number. Call me anytime, tell me what I can do to attract you to Texas."
Cafferty said there's still something about California that no state can sell.
"For all the challenges we have it's still the place that the great ideas come from. It's still the place that lots of smart people want to be. It's still the place that has a lifestyle that attracts people from all over the place," Cafferty said. "I tell folks all the time that you absolutely cannot undersell the quality of life and how much people love being a part of San Diego."
But in a speech at the Texas Association of Business annual conference on Wednesday, Perry said Texas "hosts more immigrants from the state of California than any other state."
Duane Roth, CEO of Connect, a San Diego-based non-profit that promotes technology entrepreneurship, said he didn't know about Perry's visit to San Diego last week, but that it wouldn't surprise him.
Perry has friends in San Diego, Roth said, and "works the group" to find any willing to move to Texas.
"He makes numerous trips here, he spends vacation time here, which is telling, he has a home here," Roth said. "He's a governor that's really focused on economic development. He's going to spend time trying to recruit industry to locate or expand in his state. We (California) are of course the No. 1 target, because we're so innovative and come up with these new ideas. Also, our business-friendly score versus Texas would not be high. On the other hand, I don't think it's been very successful."
However, Texas lacks the California culture that creates the biotech companies Perry wants, Roth said.
"When you talk to people who've been in both places, (they say) the culture here and in Silicon Valley is far different from Texas. The ability to do the things we do here, because of the talent pool and because of the infrastructure, is still the best in the world."
Some cities in Texas have the potential for growing their own biotech industry, Roth said.
"Austin could, Dallas could, Houston has tremendous medical capacity," he said. "The challenge has been, they don't have the infrastructure to commercialize, people who are willing to mentor and share, venture capital, and the things that come out of what has happened here over the last 25-30 years."
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text: I love saying that: who-who-who saberg! First I'll start with some info about myself so you can put my thoughts in perspective: 1) It's been a while since I rode a dirt bike - so I am rusty. I was never that good to start with although I started riding off-road before some of you were born. Add to that, I am turning 55 this year, I have a bad back/neck and I am out of shape (I huff and puff climbing a hill to get to work and I sit at a desk and write code). 2) I like to putz around when riding off-road. You probably won't see me catch air when riding. I like the feeling of power and speed, but compared to others I am a slow poke. I ride a Ducati and a Husaberg, but I am not a sporty or particularly skilled rider on the street or in the dirt. When others are up on their pegs riding over the gnarly stuff you will probably see me sitting and paddling with my feet. 3) When I went shopping for a dirt bike to replace my long broken DR350, I wanted something that had more power than a 350, maybe even than a 450. I also wanted something that was relatively light because I am convinced that weight is the great Satan off-road. I didn't want an adventure bike or a dual sport compromise - I wanted a street legal dirt bike. At the same time it had to work at slow speeds and have power at the bottom end - I wasn't looking for a race bike - although that is essentially what I ended up with - I didn't want sudden brutal bursts of power with nothing anywhere else. I wanted something that could be forgiving of my lack of skill, at whatever speed and in whatever conditions I rode it in. 4) While I have a budget (even Bill Gates has a budget), I was willing and able to pay a fair market price for quality, and to pay a premium for higher quality and capabilities. 5) The bike had to be platable/street legal. I don't have a truck or anything to haul a trailer (you can't put a trailer hitch on a Bimmer 3 series) - I don't want to get something just to haul a bike - although I have thought about it. So, that said, last weekend I bought a '09 Husaberg FE 570. I was thinking about the Husky 610, but it was much heavier and was more of a dual sport bike - which is fine if that is what you want. I was aware that most people buy this bike for hard core off-road riding, or even racing - but I liked the way it handled and the very tractable power off idle. It was as light as most 250/350/450 class bikes that you can get licensed in Washington state, had a good suspension, a wide range 6 speed and enough power to push the bike as fast as the gearing would allow. I picked the bike up Wed. night from Tasky's and rode it a few miles home. A couple of nights this last week I moved things around on the handlebars to my liking and rode it around the yard and up and down the street. Today I rode it out to the ORV riding area near Machias to break it in and find out if I will like my new expensive toy. It is about 20 miles each way so I go to try the bike on the open road - speaking of which, on the way back, I quickly got it up to 80 MPH indicated and there was still more left - although you certainly knew you were doing 80 MPH. With stock gearing (13/52 I think), the bike cruises along fine at 65 to 75 MPH. On the ride out to Machias I felt a lot of engine vibration through the seat - I think on the way back I didn't notice it as much (either that or I got used to it - I think the former). Much more to come a little later (I intend to make this thread a running diary of my experience with the bike) - I have a headache/neck ache/backache and I am tired (I *said* I was out of shape), so I am going to take some painkillers and lay on an ice pack for a while. But to cut to the chase - I was not disappointed in the bike at all. I think it will serve my purposes/desires well, as simple as they may be, with a minimum of mods.


text:
// CIS 226 Ch 2 Welcome to CIS 226 // Assign2 - Create a program which prompt user to enter first and last name and a welcome message is displayed. // Riter Heng - 2/16/2012 // for Extra Credit import javax.swing.JOptionPane; public class Assign2 { public static void main(String[] args) { //System.out.println("Welcome to CIS 226!"); //System.out.println(".."); //System.out.println(("..\n.."); //System.out.printf("%s\n%s\n", "..", ".."); String firstName = JOptionPane.showInputDialog("Please enter your first name:"); //if (firstName != null) {} //else {System.exit(0);} String lastName = JOptionPane.showInputDialog("Please enter your last name:"); if((firstName != null) || (lastName != null)) JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(null, "Hello, " + firstName +" " + lastName + ", " + "\n Welcome to CIS 226", "Message" , 0); else {JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(null, "Sorry, you have enter your name to enroll into CIS 226.", "Error", JOptionPane.ERROR_MESSAGE);} } // end method main }// end class Assign2
Okay so I was working with a classmate and he sorta left in the middle to go somewhere and I was left trying to figure out his coding. The program is suppose to give an error when you click cancel instead of not entering a first or last name. But it doesn't give that error and just skips on over and ends up at the "hello firstName Last Name, Welcome to CIS 226." Also when I ran it on the "hello..." I get a red cross as the icon but I need a "i", how do I fix that?


text:
The Venice waterfront restaurant received the honor from among 250 Florida beach bars.
Long one of the most popular waterfront drinking and dining venues in the region, Sharky's on the Pier has a new honor to burnish its reputation: Florida's Best Beach Bar.
So declared the website www.floridabeachbar.com, which recently asked visitors to the site to vote on their favorites among 250 Florida beach bars. With 10,000 votes cast, Sharky's was the top choice.
"This is the first time Sharky's made the Top 10 Florida Beach Bar list and it did with a bang," wrote website owner John Sancin, a Sarasota resident. "...It is a favorite hangout for beachgoers, fishers and, yes, sharks. Sharky's is not just a clever name. Every so often the 'big one' that is reeled in is a shark."
Sancin declined to say how many votes Sharky's received but noted it narrowly beat out Jimmy B's Beach Bar in St. Pete Beach, the top choice for the past two years.
The website lauded Sharky's for its tiki huts and bar, live music and 2-story deck with beach and sunset views.
"The best is yet to come," it added, referring to the restaurant's ongoing expansion.
"Pretty cool, huh?" said Justin Pachota, whose family manages the restaurant at the city-owned pier. "The word is getting out there."
Patrons have told him they heard about the honor on Tampa Bay radio and in other media, Pachota said. "It's nice to know we have so many fans."
Pachota thinks the recognition will be a plus for Venice.
With Siesta Beach in Sarasota previously named the No. 1 beach, Sharky's may now be an additional lure for tourists who have not been to the area before, Pachota said. He hopes they will come to the Sarasota-Venice area "to get the full beach experience" — including, of course, lunch or dinner at Sharky's.
Sancin said the website's next Top 10 contest will be in March-April 2014.
In 1985, Mike Pachota and Greg Novack converted the site of a dilapidated beach concession into the restaurant, located at the base of the original fishing pier. Sharky's officially opened on Feb. 10, 1987, with only 78 seats.
Sharky's now seats about 300 and is working on a two-story addition that will increase the seating to 550.


text:
Ding dong, the wicked witch is dead.
Which witch? The America's Most Miserable Cities list — you know, the one that made targeted communities across the U.S. cringe.
Last year, Forbes exposed Rockford's warts on a national stage when the magazine deemed the Forest City third most miserable in the country, behind Detroit and Flint, Michigan.
Ugh! was the collective cry in Rockford. We all know how bad life is in Detroit, and we were just two steps behind.
I'd been waiting for the Great and Powerful Forbes to release its 2014 list. I wanted to see whether the evil winged monkeys of crime, poverty and joblessness would again reveal Rockford — home of the knitting machine that made sock monkeys an iconic folk figure — as wretchedly unhappy.
The list, which seems to have started around 2007, according to my Internet research, typically was released around February. Last week, I contacted Forbes to ask about the next America's Most Miserable Cities ranking.
"We are no longer publishing this list," Wendy Furrer Egan, senior director of editorial publicity for Forbes Media, said in an email, without providing a specific answer to my question of how many years Forbes had been publishing the list. "We only published it for a few years, and it didn't generate enough interest to continue with it."
That sounds to John Groh as if the list didn't make enough money for Forbes, a business magazine known for its lists and rankings. Groh is president and CEO of the Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. "They are really admitting a profit motive, versus a journalistic approach that was relevant and worthy for public discussion," he said.
Guess that kills Misery Loves Company Part II, he said, jokingly. The tongue-in-cheek media campaign last year in response to Forbes' ranking showcased Rockford's tourist attractions, people, quality of life and community pride.
Rockford Alderman Tim Durkee, R-1, told me he had written a letter to Forbes saying that its misery list was "long on mouth and short on solutions. We can't use it to improve our city."
Other cities that ranked badly on the list over the years also defended themselves and responded with pushback against Forbes and its methods of determining misery. For example, in Memphis in 2010, community members organized a pep rally and mailed letters to the magazine bragging about the city.
In Rockford, the list did much more. It helped launch Transform Rockford.
"It was an indication of concerns the community faces," Mike Schablaske, executive director of Transform Rockford, said of Forbes' critique of Rockford. "If it spurred engagement in the community, then some good came from it."
A group of local businessmen formed Transform Rockford in the spring of 2013 and thousands of residents provided input at dozens of community meetings held earlier this year. The movement aims to address Rockford's social and economic problems and propel the city onto lists of the top 25 places to live by 2025. Committees will develop strategies and timelines over the next several months to address issues like crime, education, jobs and health.
So far, proponents have been getting behind the idea of a much better Rockford. When specific proposals surface for how we should combine, bolster or nix certain programs and services, though, the yellow brick road may not appear to be so bright.
Let's just click our work boots together and remember that there's no place like a new — or at least, an improved — home.
Georgette Braun: 815-987-1331; firstname.lastname@example.com; @georgettebraun


text:
+ Chart House fire causes $25k in damage
The State Fire Marshal is investigating the cause of an early morning fire in which no one was injured.
+ City Commission selects State Street garage design
After months of discussion, commissioners decided on a six-story garage plan that will feature an adjacent commercial building with live/work units
+ Commission reviews Colony progress
A grandfathered tourism density for the Colony Beach & Tennis Resort expires at the end of the year and the commission will have to extend the deadline while a settlement is sought.
+ Lakewood Ranch Tour of Homes begins this week
The 2013 Lakewood Ranch Tour of Homes, which will run from Oct. 25 to Nov. 27, showcases 41 models this year.
+ Vocalist June Garber takes on Sarasota's jazz scene
Famous Canadian jazz vocalist June Garber is a new Sarasota resident. She will perform in the the Sarasota Jazz Project Big Band concert this Friday.
+ Business Observer: Air Canada bids adieu to first class for Sarasota
Air Canada's new brand will make its debut in the region later this year.