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Welcome to our Free resource on the topic of financial help for single mothers. We have posted this page to let you know what this site is all about. As you might have already figured out, we mainly provide free information related to how single mothers can get financial help from the government and by other means. Being single means that a world of responsibilities, to say the least, is going to rest on your shoulder. Times could be hard as you try to face the challenges one day at a time. They could get harder if financial hurdles, particularly debt, stand on your way, but trust us when we say there is a lot of help out there for single parents which can considerably lessen the burden. And there is absolutely no need for paying a fee to anyone in order to find out what kind of government grants for single mothers are available. We point the needy families to trusted resources listing such information. In addition to providing referrals to important resources, we also keep an eye on current issues facing single moms, and speak our mind on the same. And this is not all helpforsinglemother.net has to offer. With inputs from single mothers and authors who have had plenty of experience with single parenting, sorting out the finances, living with one income and dealing with overwhelming situations after divorce, we aim to provide informative and helpful articles pertaining to parenting, finance and relationships. We hope you enjoy your stay here.
Why paying for information related to government grants is a bad idea:
You can easily find information related to grants for single moms, or any other financial assistance for that matter, if you just research a little bit in the Internet. Sites exist where e-books are sold that claim it consists of information related to thousands of grant opportunities. Maybe it indeed provides that information, but finding such grants can easily be done through the government websites. You can also visit the department of human services and know financial assistance programs you can get approved for.
Get a long list of grants that you can apply for in our article here – Grants for single moms
Scholarships for single moms? Are they really available?
There are a few scholarships that cater to single parents who are trying to go back to school. Finding them is not hard but the truth of the matter is your search for aid must not stop as long as you are in college. New aid opportunities spring up every now and then in the form of grants and scholarships. If you do not keep abreast of new aid information, you are bound to miss out on a ton of free money you could have qualified for.
Tip: Sign up for the scholarship database web sites which e-mail you new offers as and when they become available.
Housing, food, and other forms of assistance from federal and state government:
Besides the government grants, scholarships, and information on cash assistance, our site also contains articles discussing housing assistance, utility bill assistance and food assistance in your state. Here are a few articles that could help you get started:
1. Read this article to know how single moms can get living assistance – Living assistance for low income families
2. Is the monthly housing rent unaffordable? Know about rental assistance in your state
3. Would you like referrals to local assistance? Read article on popular resources for single parents
A Step-by-Step Guide to Applying for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
There comes a time when nearly all of us need a helping hand. The first thing to do is to feel no shame in asking for help if you need it. The federal government and the states cooperate in a program designed to help families in certain situations. Generally each household must include a child under 18 and be living within certain income guidelines. This is a guide to help you apply for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. Keep in mind that there are probably other services and programs available, depending on where you live. Be sure to ask your caseworker or call the local United Way.
- The first thing to do is contact your local Department of Social Services. It might be called something else where you live. Look in the Yellow Pages or call the United Way. Find out if you need an appointment and if so make one.
- You have the have the right to apply for TANF. But if you believe you have been unfairly denied an application you have the right to an appeal and should ask for one.
- If you need help filling out the application, tell your caseworker and he/she is required to help you.
- When you go to your appointment, take all the documentation the agency may require. You should try to find this out beforehand. It will likely include Social Security cards for everybody in the household, birth certificates, pay stubs, tax information, child-support and alimony payment records, residency information such as a lease and sometimes certain medical records. Your caseworker can advise you of what else is needed and can possibly assist you if you need help.
- If you are disabled or have a transportation issue, your application interview can be conducted over the phone.
- During the interview, it's important to answer the questions honestly and completely. Doing otherwise can have a serious impact on your eligibility and can even lead to charges of fraud. Be sure to tell the caseworker of any crisis you are experiencing. Things like the threat of eviction or homelessness, you or your children being a victim of abuse or neglect, lack of food or being unable to pay your energy bills are all important because there may be some emergency types of assistance available.
- The caseworker will give you instructions on what will happen next. If you are in a crisis situation, they may offer immediate assistance. Otherwise you will be informed of your approval or not for TANF.
- If you are not approved, you have the right to appeal their decision to a hearing. You will then be notified of when and where that hearing will be held. Tell the caseworker if this is going to be problematic for you and why.
- If you are approved, you will receive a notification by mail that explains what your benefits and responsibilities are. You will also likely be asked to come to the office for further interviews and orientation to the program.
Again, depending on where you are living, being approved for TANF will mean different things. Usually you will receive a Electronic benefits transfer [EBT] card [which works just like a debit card] that combines a monthly fund and food stamps. It may also be used for transportation, school costs, housing and utility costs or other assistance. For those who are eligible, medical assistance (such as Medicaid) cards will be mailed to you as well.
Some other things to expect include:
- Information about what you are to report and when. Your caseworker is going to want to know if your income or expenses change, if somebody has moved out of the home, if you have received any other money for assistance, if your place of residence changes and other information relative to your eligibility.
- You will be required to get a job or go to school to train for a job to receive benefits. Your caseworker can advise you on this and help in finding work or a suitable training program. Transportation and child-care assistance and possibly other supportive services will be provided if needed.
- If the parent is not living in the home, the absent parent will be required to pay child-support to offset some of the costs of the services. If necessary, proof of paternity may be required.
- Federal rules set a five-year lifetime limit for an individual to receive TANF benefits. It allows states to make that limit less than five years and many do.
- You will be required to look for a job and accept any job you are offered. You are then expected to not quit that job without a good reason.
Some tips and some dos and don'ts:
- It's always best to be prompt in making your appointments and accurate with your answers and information.
- Don't take your frustrations and worries out on your caseworker or others in the program. Keep in mind they are human and are there to help you. They may make mistakes, seem impatient or even seem to not care. But none of that matters if they do their job and you do what the program requires.
- That doesn't mean that you are required to tolerate abusive or unfair treatment from anybody involved with the program. If you believe this is happening to you then report it to their supervisor.
- Be patient. Unless it meets the guidelines of some emergency program where funds are available, it can take up to 45 days to determine your eligibility and longer for your TANF benefits to start.
TANF is designed to be a short-term program, usually less than five years. The purpose of the program is to make work your ultimate solution. Jobs are getting harder and harder to find. Take full advantage of the program for what it's intended. If used properly, TANF can help you get your feet on the ground, and that's all you are asking, right?
Getting free baby stuff – clothes, supplies, diapers, cribs, etc.
While there are a lot of sites online which request submission of your e-mail claiming to send you samples and coupons, many do not do that. It is better to steer clear of such sites but at the same time, there are plenty of real ways to get free samples. For single moms with babies, a couple of resources can be of huge help when it comes to getting free baby stuff. Here is where you can get help:
1. Online is not the only way to go!:
Instead of trying online and falling for the scams, find the 800 numbers on all the baby packages you can find and call them up to add yourself to their mailing list. A lot of moms find this to be one of the easiest ways to receive the samples and coupons right at their doorstep from the companies. As an alternative to phone calls, you can go to the baby item manufacturers' official sites and submit your e-mail id and residential address to get offers. Last but definitely not the least, do not forget that the baby magazines are a great source of coupons, deals, and excellent offers.
2. Heart Beat pregnancy center:
This non-profit organization provides a needy parent baby supplies and parenting lessons, among others. If you want to learn how else you can get benefited through their programs, visit their official site here – heartchoicesbeloit.com
3. Affording a crib:
When affording a crib gets tough, look into joining a freecycle group in order to get a free and used but safe crib from people in your neighborhood. Start by registering here – link. In case you want to go for an affordable new crib that also fits your pocket, you can begin your search at walmart where cribs are available for as low as less than 100 dollars. Start here right away – buy.
In addition to all these, keeping an eye on craigslist's free section is recommended for anyone looking for donations. People who want to give away their old furniture, toddler car seats, appliances and many other stuff usually advertise in the free section of your area. For instance, here is the link for people in houston: zip. And if you do not find a listing that you wish to see even after waiting for weeks, do not fear advertising in the site by yourself requesting things that you need the most.
4. Planningfamily:
Planningfamily.com is another web site that has garnered excellent reputation for having given plenty of samples and coupons to moms. In addition to getting help with diapers and formula samples, you could also receive baby magazines in the mail.
Getting free clothes for yourself and for the children:
Thrift stores and garage sales can be excellent sources of cheapest clothes for your family. And in case you are not in a position to afford them right now, getting help from the local church is your best bet to get free clothing. Needless to say, posting 'Wanted' advertisements in freecycle and craigslist is again a good option for those needing clothes. Besides all these choices, letting your family and friends know that you are open to the hand-me-downs can go a long way towards getting assistance with whatever you need.
Help with starting a business – funding, mentoring and training
There are many organizations in the United States that help people who want to quit the rat race and become an entrepreneur. More importantly, there are a lot of organizations and programs for economically disadvantaged women who are trying to wrap their head around entrepreneurship. Let's face it. Becoming an entrepreneur by yourself with no financial aid from the outside when you are a single mother and have to juggle multiple facets of life every day is no easy task. This is all the more reason to make the most of whatever programs are out there that are tailored to women. Maybe your dream of getting a grant might never see the light of day, considering the limited opportunities, but with all other aspects of entrepreneurship, rest assured that there is an organization out there which will walk you through all the phases and nuances.
1. It is well known that small business administration provides easy access to loans for people who would otherwise have had a hard time in getting one approved through the private lenders. The problem is that the very thought of getting yourself into debt while chasing your dreams might seem like an overly risky move and this causes a lot of women to torch their entrepreneurship ideas, and go back to a day job,
But did you know that the SBA also provide grants to private non-profit organizations that help the women start and establish a business? Although no federal government business grants are available as of now for women aiming to become employers, you can get assistance from the Women's business centers that participate in the SBA's WBC program and get aid with finance and management for your small business. Want to get started right away? Choose a nearest center using this directory here – location,
2. The funding opportunities in the form of grants for women business owners are very limited. But on the bright side, if you are running round in circles trying to get a loan or perfecting your business plan, there is a ton of support out there. Besides the WBCs that we mentioned earlier, getting small business advice from the business owners has become as simple as it gets due to the availability of "SCORE". Getting help from a friend of a family member as to how to go about becoming a business owner is one thing while getting mentoring from the established and successful entrepreneurs in your area is another thing. And this is exactly what you can receive from SCORE, no matter how crude your ideas are right now. If you do not feel like going to their nearest office and receive mentoring, you can do it online, too. Get more information over here: mentors
3. Do keep in mind that you cannot expect grant amount in the range of 5000 to 10000 USD but at the same time, getting hold of a couple of small grants can add up to a pretty significant amount as well. Of course, that would mean you will have to spend a lot of time preparing the application and perusing websites that assist in writing the perfect grant proposal. But it will be worth it if you end up getting even a few thousand dollars in grant money which can be a great motivation and impetus to get your business started, not to mention being devoid of worries about entangling yourself in debt.
Here is one grant that can get you 500 to 1000 USD to launch your small business:
The "peaChic grant" – Whether you are looking to expand your reach or just trying to launch your business, this grant opportunity is open for you if you are a woman, or if your SB is women-focused.
Food assistance for moms:
If you are receiving food benefits through the SNAP [formerly called as the "food stamps"], your children are certainly eligible to get free or reduced price school meals from their schools. Even if you were not able to become eligible for the welfare programs due to not meeting the set income or the asset requirements, make sure to contact the school, mention your financial need and see if you can apply for the same. In addition to these programs for the children and single moms, when you feel like affording nutritious food is no more easy, food pantries can be of huge help. If you are not aware of the local food pantry locations, all you need to do is contact the local church and they might be able to give out pointers. The other option is to contact a food bank, local United Way office, or call 211 which in turn will connect you to the agency you are looking for. Feeding America has a list of all the food banks in every state here – link
Getting toys for the kids during Christmas:
1. Despite how bad you want to get your kid a cute toy, toughest times in your life as a single parent can make them unaffordable. But the children can still be delighted with the toys, thanks to the Marine Corps' "Toys for Tots" Foundation. Most of you readers might already know the procedure but for others who are unaware, all you need to do is visit their official site here [link], click on 'request toys', pick your location and you will be redirected to their local website wherein you will be able to request a toy by sending an e-mail to the coordinator. Needless to say, checking out the local freecycle group, or requesting on craigslist, are great choices at times of need as well,
2. The Salvation Army has a Christmas charity that helps needy families get free clothing and toys just before the occasion. Call your local Salvation Army center and register with them. In case you are not able to get any free toys despite the attempts, going for an affordable toy from the Goodwill or even making your own toy can be a real good alternative. Look up "DIY toys for kids" in the Internet for ideas and more resources,
3. If you live in the Essex County or in the West Hudson, apply for the free toys through the United Way's Toy Drive. In addition to the donations directly made to United Way by generous individuals and organizations, donators can also adopt families after getting their pertinent information, and provide gifts directly to them. Get more details here – United Way
4. Family Giving Tree is a gift and backpack donation program that strives to fulfill the holiday wishes of children. In order to register, contact one of the social services agencies or the schools that are recipients of this program. To know more about how this works, visit this resource – familygivingtree.org
Getting free cars and vehicles from the charities
Not possessing a vehicle has kept many a family away from a better financial position. Not getting a job or keeping a job because of the transportation issues need not trouble you anymore, for here are a few charities that can help a single mother get a free car:
CHARITY CARS, INC – This is a non-profit organization providing free vehicles to individuals who feel that not owning a vehicle is standing right in their way of becoming self-sufficient. But as you can imagine, the number of requests that they get every month is going to far exceed the number of donated cars, and this is exactly why being very patient after applying is real important. The applicants must demonstrate their willingness to reach self-sufficiency during the application process. If you have been on welfare programs for a few months and have a hard time securing employment or keeping a job due to the transportation problems, you have greater chances of getting assisted by the CHARITY CARS, INC. You can apply here – freecharitycars.org
"Wheels to work" of Goodwill Industries:
There is a lot of help out there for moms who are striving to reach financial independence but are not able to do so no matter how hard they try. In addition to the aforementioned charity, vehicle donations are also made to Goodwill which are then given away to individuals in need of most affordable plus good condition cars. A few Goodwill centers might also require a referral from the local DHS office in your area before they can approve your application. Contact your nearest Goodwill center to know more about the same – local centers
The very purpose of welfare is to give a hand to people who have fallen down:
You could easily notice a lot of negative comments hurled at people who are getting welfare while they are trying to get back on the track. An undeniable truth is that a few are even refraining from applying for the government assistance while they most need it just because of fearing the looks that they might get from people noticing they are welfare recipients. If the very idea of getting on welfare has been bothering you, keep in mind that all the criticism is aimed at people who are abusing the welfare system, and not at those using it. Temporary assistance program is available for a purpose, and as long as you are working on attaining self-sufficiency, do not let anybody's words or looks deter you from getting financial help.
Support from "The Women's Alliance" for getting interview attire and a job
Nobody can play down the importance of a professional attire while you attend job interviews. After all, first impressions matter a lot. But the truth of the matter is that a lot of low income individuals might not have a decent attire that could create an impression on the potential employer. If such is the case with you, rest assured that you can get support from one of the members of "Women's Alliance". In addition to a formal attire for the interviews, training is also offered which no doubt can go a long way towards helping you find employment as well as keeping a job. You can get started by finding a member organization near you and calling them – location links
Other helpful links and organizations:
1. Emergency shelters for women affected by domestic violence: wssdv.org
2. Shelter, Job skills training, and career counseling: ywca.org
3. Business financing for New Yorkers – projectenterprise.org
4. pre-kindergarten through 12th grade scholarships for African American children – blackstudentfund.org
5. Tuition assistance for sending your children to private schools – scholarshipfund.org
6. A list of dental schools for getting low-cost dental care – list
7. Prevent eviction by getting a grant for the rent – coalition
8. Free computer learning, tutoring service, and more for your kids – childrensinstitute.org
9. Scholarships for Latino students – hsf.net
10. Get help with paying for prescription medications – Americares
11. Rent textbooks for college [useful for moms striving to go back to school] – chegg.com
12. Gasoline grant assistance – freegasusa.org
Our Mission:
Helpforsinglemother.net strives to help the single mothers in every possible way. We keep ourselves abreast of all the financial assistance changes and newly introduced programs for single mothers. Getting financial help for single mothers takes time and filling out paperwork, but knowing what kind of aid is available out there for moms does not have to take strenuous efforts on your part, for we are here to act as a gateway to all such information.


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"Granddaughter, You're Cute As Can Bee!" Porcelain Music Box
Limited-edition music box plays "You Are My Sunshine", opens to reveal sweet sentiment. Order one for each granddaughter; select quantity in checkout.
Measures 11.4 cm L
- Price:
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Your granddaughter is sure to treasure this musical gift forever. Handcrafted of lustrous Heirloom Porcelain® and hand-painted in glossy colors, this sweet little bee shows off double golden bands, a Limoges-style hinge, and a golden heart-shaped clasp. When your granddaughter opens the lid she'll see a loving message from you inside, while the cheerful melody of "You Are My Sunshine" fills the air. Get one for each of your granddaughters, but don't wait, strong demand is expected. Order now!
- A sweet celebration of the way granddaughters make life bee-utiful, showcased in an adorable bumble bee music box exclusively from The Bradford Exchange
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- Features double golden bands, a golden heart-shaped clasp, and a Limoges-style hinge
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- The ideal present for a beloved granddaughter, this musical gift is sure to be treasured forever; order one for each granddaughter; select quantity in checkout
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Bumble Bee Music Box Ends Your Search for Granddaughter Gifts! Say, "Granddaughter, I Love You" with This Musical Gift!
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subset: commoncrawl


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- Verified releases only here please!
- The perfect title is something along the lines of:
Movie Title (Year) (Format)
ie. Braindead (1992) (DVDr)
If there's some important info you think needs mentioning in the topic, add it after the year. But in preference, it looks neater if you stick to this format.
- VCD/DVD-r forum is for quality DVD movies. TS/TC or poor quality pirate sources are not suitable for this section and should go in the unverified/screener section.
- No need for REL: tags
- In topic title don't use upper case
- Remember to post an IMDB link, and if you can a little plot summary and poster from www.amazon.com neatens the posts up.
- This ones quite important, I think it might be worth mentioning whether something is cut or not. I know horror fans always look for the gorriest bloodbath they can get their hands on
- Please try and post the original filenames (best respect you can show to the ripper) and ensure that the rip your posting hasn't already been posted.
Thx, for posting.
spudthedestroyer wrote:IMDB:
Please include this at the very least. Many films, horror films especially, go under different names in different regions, therefore including an IMDB is a must to clarify your release/link. Please include this in every topic.
Rip information:
Very important information, so people know exactly what to expect.
The best tool to give you the information is called gspot, and is very simple to use. Download it using the following link
http://www.dead-donkey.com/modules.php? ... etit&lid=5
Not needed, but makes your topic pleasing to the eye. Movie posters can normally be found on:
and some others can be found at:


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"Unless we ensure that all children have access to high-quality learning opportunities in their earliest years, when learning and achievement gaps begin to form, we will never reach our goal of all children reading proficiently by grade three. This is not only about their social and economic future. It's about ours. That is why I am proposing that we fully fund the early education programs in our state. We must ensure that every child in Massachusetts has access to high-quality learning opportunities in their earliest years, when achievement gaps begin to form. We know from academic research, from years of public policy and from our own experience as parents that investing in our children at a young age pays huge dividends for them and for our community as a whole. To those who say we cannot afford this, I challenge you to show me which 4-year-old you think we should not invest in."
Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, Boston, January 15, 2012


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As well as the official ESA ground stations which are tracking Planck and Herschel, a group of (mainly) Spanish astronomers have been observing them with optical telescopes. They've also identified a few other pieces of the Ariane 5 upper stage travelling along with them, as well as the Sylda adapter which separated them within the rocket fairing.
On their "Images" page, you can see some light curves – which show how the brightness of the objects varies with time – for Herschel, Planck, Sylda, and a few other fragments. The vertical axis, labelled "R", is the brightness in astronomical units of "magnitudes". For comparison, the faintest stars visible with the naked eye are around magnitude 6, and a higher number means fainter – I'm sure this made sense to Ptolemy and Hipparchus. In fact, the scale is logarithmic, so a magnitude of 17 is about 10,000 Ifainter than magnitude 6, putting them at around the same brightness as a small asteroid or a larger Kuiper Belt Object.
It's interesting to see that Herschel brightens by about 2.5 magnitudes (about a factor of 10) at one point. There is one very plausible explanation for this: the timing coincides pretty much with the orbital manoeuvre which Herschel executed on 18th May, which must have oriented the solar panels to a more favourable angle for reflecting sunlight back to Earth. Planck and the other fragments show smooth gradual declines in brightness over time as they get further from Earth.
So here's where I make a prediction, just as any scientist should. I predict that Sylda and the fragments will eventually fall back to Earth and burn up, so they might brighten a little. They're almost certainly in elliptical orbits so may vary slightly as their distance from Earth changes, and also if they're spinning or tumbling at all. [I've been corrected by Bill Gray (see comment), who informs us that Sylda and the fragments will end up in heliocentric orbits – i.e. orbiting the Sun]. Planck's brightness should stabilise when it reaches its final orbit around L2, as its angle realtive to the Earth and Sun should stay pretty much constant. I predict that Herschel, however, will show slight variations in brightness as it slews to point at various objects around the sky – though it has to keep its solar panels pointed somewhere towards the Sun. Whether the variations will be large enough to observe with telescopes on Earth remains to be seen.
If you want to see how far Planck and Herschel are from Earth, then you can use the JPL Horizons catalogue. It's somewhat self explanatory, but the output can look a little technical. Change the "Target Body" and search for "Herschel" or "Planck". You also have to make sure that the time span covers the range you want. For teh table output, I recommend selecting "Obsrv range and rng rate" and "One-Way Light-Time" – though there are many to choose from (though not all applicable). You can set some of the units in the "optional" section. When you hit "Generate ephemeris" you'll get a table showing the numbers you've requested, and even a table explaining what they all mean. There are a few options if you want to export the results to a file your favourite spreadsheet programme can read, so you can make your own plots. You can play with a few other things too, such as setting the observer location to L2 (by putting "@392" in the "Lookup Named Location" box). It's not certain that the orbital parameters used are exactly what Planck and Herschel will actually use, but they're probably not too far off.


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Monday, August 3, 2009
Bad Ways to Wake Up
8 comments:
- Unknown said...
Thats just wrong. There is nothing urgent about "dead".
- August 3, 2009 at 9:50 AM
My daughter says "what on earth does a coroner want that's so urgent? They'll still be dead in the morning!" She's 18 and off to study drama, but I often wonder if she should do stand-up comedy instead.
- August 3, 2009 at 12:02 PM
A murder investigation would be urgent....and dramatic too.
- August 3, 2009 at 12:25 PM
- Maha said...
Were you able to sleep after that? I know if I got a call like that my curiosity would be killing me! Awful pun, I know.
- August 3, 2009 at 5:21 PM
- Lipstick said...
Does Mrs. Grumpy sleep with earplugs in her ears?
- August 3, 2009 at 8:41 PM
- Grumpy, M.D. said...
Lipstick- No, after 12 years she's just learned to zone them out.
On my call weekends, though, I usually sleep on the couch in my home office. This is my decision, because I can get boatloads of calls on those nights, and don't want to bother anyone else.
- August 3, 2009 at 9:53 PM
"his brain is very smooth...I'm checking to see if he had alzheimers."
- August 4, 2009 at 6:02 PM
- Me said...
But it can't wait! Hahahahahahaha!
- August 6, 2009 at 7:36 PM


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Ga. – Sometimes kids never want to grow up, and sometimes kids want
to grow up too fast. For Jacob Bukausakas, it's the latter. Bukauskas,
a 2015 grad, is planning on graduating in 2014 so he can move on to
play college baseball at North Carolina a year early.
committed last year, probably two or three weeks after my freshman
year ended," explained Bukauskas. "I got the school I wanted to
commit to very early so I chose them quick. I didn't wait around a
long time for the process to drag out. Me and my family weren't
interested in sitting and waiting for something better to come along
(and) I knew I wanted to go to North Carolina.
decided to go and make my decision final two weeks ago. We had been
thinking about it for a while. They weren't really pressuring me,
(but) at the end of the day I was going to go to school anyway (and)
miss the draft. So it's just going to speed up the process. I'm
going to go to school a year early and just hope it puts me in a
better position for the draft. (I'll have) less pitches on the arm
and more college professional help."
6-foot-1, 175-pound right handed pitcher is currently ranked No. 10
on Perfect Game's High School Class of 2015 National Rankings, and
is ranked No. 1 overall in Virginia. He's attended numerous Perfect
Game events including the 2013 Junior National Showcase, where he hit
93 mph on his fastball, and the 2012 PG National Games, where he was
awarded the Most Valuable Pitcher for the East squad.
I've been going to Perfect Game events for about a year and a half
now," added Bukauskas. "It's fun. Perfect Game is where I got
my first exposure so I really appreciate all that Perfect Game has
done for me.
threw the first three innings of my game (at the Junior National
Showcase). I threw to a great catcher (and) It was a great event. I
went last year so I was excited to be back….. (The 2012 PG National
Games) was a fun event. I loved being out in San Diego. It was
probably my favorite event I have done. I hope I can make it back out
there this year."
was awarded district pitcher of the year both his freshman and
sophomore years at Stone Bridge High School.
had a pretty good year. I had over 100 strikeouts (in) 70 innings,"
said Bukauskas about his high school season. "We figured out a way
to win every game. Every game was almost in extra innings. We had a
good pitching staff. Me and my friend Devon Perez threw every other
game. Everyone knew when they were playing Stone Bridge they were not
going to score.
got district pitcher of the year last year. As a freshman that was
fun to do. I had a really good year last year. We had great defense
and were always in the position to win games. This year it could have
went a lot of different ways. Devon Perez could have gotten it too. I
guess it just fell my way but it could have gone either way."
said his strongest pitch is his slider. It used to be his fastball
earlier this year, however his stamina is wearing down and his
fastball is not at his strongest. He says the slider is "a good
strikeout pitch."
is playing with the Evoshiled Canes 16u team this summer at the 2013
WWBA 16u National Championship. He said he's very close with the
guys and would love to play on this team again next summer, but isn't
sure if he will be able to since he will be getting ready for North
my opinion this is probably the best organization in the country,"
said Bukauskas. "We have guys from everywhere and almost everyone
on this team is committed and the guys who aren't will be soon."
Evoshield Canes program started in 2007, and their goal is to help
kids get into college for baseball.
lot of these guys are already committed to college so our goal is to
develop them so they can play when they get to college, try to win a
job early in their careers," said Canes North Director Jeff Petty.
"We feel like if we play at a high level with these guys we're
providing them an opportunity to get better, so when they go to
college they're prepared. Some of them have pro careers ahead of
them as well. We've had about 60 guys drafted in the last six
years. So a lot of guys that play for us we try to get them ready for
that too."
Canes 16u team has done well offensively in the WWBA 16u National
Championship averaging .319 collectively as a team. Danny Blair is
7-for-16 with two triples and three RBI. Stephen Scott is leading the
team in RBI with five.
Canes have managed to give up only nine runs so far over five games.
Logan Allen, Andrew Noviello, Jeff Harding Jr., Dylan Cyphert and
Bukauskas all pitched shutouts during their time on the mound. Cody
Morris struck out 10 batters over four innings, and Bukauskas struck
out nine over four of his own.
didn't have all my great stuff," said Bukauskas about his
performance against Gator Baseball Academy on Monday. "I've
thrown about 110 innings this year. I had about 80-percent of what I
normally have, but I figured out a way to still get people out and
ended up throwing four shutout innings."
came out, (and) threw the ball well," added head coach Gregg
Conner. "We limited him to about 75 pitches yesterday. He had
command on all three pitches. Hopefully we get far enough to use him
Canes have secured their spot as No. 1 in their pool, and play Miami
Pro Instruction on Wednesday before they move on to the playoff


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AMES, Iowa, Feb. 25, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- NewLink Genetics Corporation (Nasdaq: NLNK) today announced that its Fourth Quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2012 financial results will be released before the market opens on Thursday, February 28, 2013. The NewLink management team will host a conference call discussing the company's financial results and recent corporate developments on Thursday, February 28, 2013, at 10:00am EST. The call can be accessed by dialing 1-(877) 363-5052 (domestic) or 1-(914) 495-8600 (international) five minutes prior to the start of the call and providing the passcode 16064630. A replay of the call will be available approximately two hours after the completion of the call and can be accessed by dialing 1-(855) 859-2056 (domestic) or 1-(404) 537-3406 (international), providing the passcode 16064630. The replay will be available for two weeks from the date of the live call.
The live, listen-only webcast of the conference call can be accessed by visiting the investors section of the NewLink website at http://investors.linkp.com/. A replay of the webcast will be archived on the company's website for two weeks following the call.
About NewLink Genetics Corporation
NewLink Genetics Corporation is a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing and commercializing novel immunotherapeutic products to improve cancer treatment options for patients and physicians. NewLink's portfolio includes biologic and small-molecule immunotherapy product candidates intended to treat a wide range of oncology indications.
Gordon Link
Chief Financial Officer
NewLink Genetics
|SOURCE NewLink Genetics Corporation
Copyright©2012 PR Newswire.
All rights reserved


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Saigon (Feat. Trey Songz) - Pain In My Life Remixed [Unreleased]
A unreleased recut version of Saigon and Trey Songz song "Pain in my Life
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Complete Package (Original price before discount)
Coronado Apple Red Vest and Ties
If you're looking for something youthful and fun, look no further than the Coronado Collection. This diagonal stripe vest has the solid or ombre necktie option to complete the look. Don't forget about the bow tie, we provide a pre-tied option adjustable to fit any neck size.
- Four button
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- Solid or ombre pre-tied necktie
- Available in boys sizes


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Archive for Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Sampling Kansas
April 28, 2010
Keyta Kelly, director of the 2010-2011 Kansas Sampler Festival, offers what people can expect from this year's festival this weekend in Leavenworth.
Q: What are the dates and hours of this year's Kansas Sample Festival?
A: The Kansas Sampler Festival will kick off with an opening ceremony at 9 a.m. on Saturday. The exhibits will then open at 10 a.m. and stay open until 5 p.m. The festival will reopen from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.
Q: What can visitors expect from this year's Kansas Sampler Festival?
A: Visitors can expect to participate in one of the biggest and best Kansas Sampler Festivals yet. We have more than 325 vendors/exhibitors registered. There will be four full-time stages filled with fantastic Kansas entertainers, and there will be 18 large tents filled with everything from artists to authors to Kansas products. Expect to have a good time while learning about what there is to see, do, hear, buy, taste and learn in Kansas.
Q: Where can visitors park and how can they get to the festival grounds?
A: There will be visitor parking located on the Veterans Affairs Medical Center grounds, the K-Mart parking lot, the Central Bag Company parking lot (formerly Hallmark Select Products), and the parking lot behind the old Sears at the Leavenworth Plaza. There will be plenty of signs directing people to parking. Once parked, folks will be able to take a shuttle from the parking lot to the festival entrance.
Q: How much does it cost to get into the festival?
A: The cost is $5 for an adult, $3 for children age 3-12, and under 3 is free. Or you can purchase a weekend pass for $8 adult, $5 child.
Q: What are some must-see booths and entertainment?
A: I hate to narrow it down because every booth at the festival has something interesting. But certainly don't miss the Kansas Products tent. You'll be amazed at all the wonderful, unique products made in Kansas; plus they always have samples. On Sunday, Russ Ehart from McLouth will be demonstrating his chainsaw carving. This, in my opinion, is a must see. If you want to see something quirky, stop by the Longford Water Company booth to see what a water bottle looks like before it is inflated.
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Lori MacVittie is Technical Marketing Manager for F5 Networks.
While there's a lot of talk about cloud computing these days -- why you should use it, why you shouldn't, and so on -- there's little discussion on the ramifications of cloud computing and really any on-demand infrastructure on application development. So before you jump into the cloud with both feet, it's important to understand how an on-demand environment like cloud computing affects the way applications execute because there are some gotchas that can come back to haunt you after deployment that don't appear until after the application is deployed.
The Impact of On-Demand
Everyone understands that on-demand means elastic; it's the ability of an environment to expand and contract in real-time so that an application is always available. But how that is achieved has an impact on the behavior of applications deployed within such environments.
What on-demand means in terms of infrastructure architecture is that there is some form of application delivery or load balancing service sitting between users and applications. That service acts as a proxy; it accepts requests from users and determines which instance of an application should respond. Some form of load balancing or traffic management service is necessary to distribute requests across instances of an application running inside the cloud computing environment because the client cannot know when it makes a request where the application is actually running. A proxy allows all users to make requests to a host without caring how many instances of an application are actually executing internally or where they might be.
The introduction of an application delivery or load balancing service into the architecture is often the source of much frustration for developers and network administrators alike. This is because applications deployed into load balanced environments like cloud computing often break with no obvious reason. Requests are sent and responses received as expected, but the application seems to lose data or not be able to find data it did before deployment.
There are three "gotchas" associated with deploying applications into a load balanced environment; one is specific to cloud computing or on-demand environments while two are also problematic for general load-balanced environments regardless of where they are located. Being aware of these gotchas during development lets you address the potential problems up-front so applications don't break once they are deployed
Gotcha #1: Session Persistence
Applications often use sessions to store state and user-specific data needed during the execution of an application. Sessions are generally stored on an application or web server in memory, especially when applications are written using a scripting language like PHP. When there is only one instance of an application running this is not a problem. When there are multiple instances of an application running in a load balanced or cloud computing environment, this can be a huge problem.
Sessions are generally not shared (mirrored) between application or web servers. In an on-demand or load balanced environment, the first time a client makes a request it is directed to a server. A session is created on that server for that user, and the application may rely on information stored in that session to execute correctly.
The next time a client makes a request, the load balancing service may send the request to a different server, based on how it is configured to choose servers. This means the session that was created on the first server does not exist and if the application relied on data in that session, the application breaks. The reason this scenario is so frustrating is that sometimes the client is directed to the server on which the session resides, and the application works as expected, and sometimes the client is directed to a different server with no knowledge of the session, and the application doesn't work. This makes troubleshooting difficult because it's often not obvious what the root cause of the problem may be.
- Do not rely on in-memory sessions for data upon which an application relies to execute correctly. Use a database-backed session that can be shared across application or web servers or use some other mechanism for storing session-specific data necessary for the application. If you're planning on deploying in a virtual cloud environment, you have control over this. If you're planning on deploying in a platform-based cloud environment, you may not have control so ask before you begin developing so you can decide how best to proceed.
- Use "sticky connections" or "persistence" in the networking vernacular. Ask before you begin developing applications if the load balancing service supports persistence-based load balancing. Persistence-based load balancing uses session data, usually the auto-generated session ID, to ensure that requests from clients are always sent to the same server so the session is always available. If persistence-based load balancing is available, you can leverage it and develop without concern. If it does not, you'll need to choose another option to ensure your application works as expected in that environment.
- Use session mirroring, if available. Some solutions are capable of replicating sessions across a cluster of application or web servers. This is often accomplished by using a database, but not always. Session mirroring ensures that no matter what server the client is directed to that their session exists. Be careful of the costs associated with this solution, as session mirroring increases the amount of memory you'll need for each instance and may drive costs up if the provider charges on a memory utilization basis.


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Chocolate or diamonds? Diamonds or chocolate? Why not have both this Valentine's Day. After all, J.Lo wore them on the red carpet at the Golden Globes last month. For a literal interpretation, try the Hershey's Kiss Pendant Necklace available at … Continue reading
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As I walked in to the bookstore for the launch of Judy Balan's debut novel, Two Fates: The Story of my Divorce, I was greeted with a sweet smile and a hint of a rollicking time!
I managed to get Judy's time and attention before the launch and indulged in a candid interview.
On enquiring about the ideation of the story, she was quick to respond, "I happened to be in a store and noticed Drink, Play, F@ck, the parody of Elizabeth Gilbert's Eat, Pray, Love. The author of the parody had managed to sell film rights to his book and I thought, "Wow! You can simply rip off a best seller and do wonders!" I was reading Chetan Bhagat's "Two States: The Story of my Marriage", and I thought of doing a parody of the book.
I went home, and posted this incident on my blog and asked my readers if they thought it was a good idea. And most of them reverted with a "yes". Would you believe it only took me about less than three months to wrap up the book!" smiled the author. Continuing her part of the story, she said, "And it was a wonderful experience. I was surprised as to how quickly I even found publishers willing to launch my book. It truly felt like a Cinderella moment…"
So do we see glimpses of her life in this book? "No no! This is definitely not the story of my divorce," Judy responded quickly. "In fact the only thing common between me and the character of Deepika is the job (as a copywriter)."
"Oh and the aunties of course! The ones who keep coming up to me or my parents enquiring about my age, and they seem to be obsessing about my marriage and my divorce more than my folks. It's hilarious (now) but it is so true!"
Digging a bit in to her professional background I enquired about her decision to be a "full time parent".
"Well, even after those five and a half years in the advertising agency as a copywriter I wasn't happy. I wasn't satisfied doing what I was doing. I was scared to quit initially as I did not know what I would do next. Quitting was not an option but when my divorce came through I knew I had to dedicate time to my girl. The ups and downs of divorce were terrible. I took up freelance writing and of course started blogging ardently."
So how was life at home? "Very different. It was mundane, yes. It took me about a bit to adopt the sedentary lifestyle. There was a drastic change in momentum. But it gave me time to spend with my daughter and write. It was the best thing that happened to me."
Ask her if she would plunge in to a marriage (or love) again and she chirps, "Why not! I'm a die-hard romantic. A million times bitten and still not shy sort of a person. Divorce hasn't made me cynical. I'm the incurable optimistic who still writes letter to "the one". If life gives me a chance to fall in love, I'd dive!"
As the focus shifted to her writing and her blog, she confessed "Blog writing gives you almost instant gratification. Your readers revert real quick. Writing a book, a fiction, needs commitment. It is hard work."
For those who don't know, Judy also writes scripts for plays. Her shyness prevents her from being on stage, but off-stage she seems to be the "queen of the written word". "I would love to have a column someday, though my blog sometimes serves more like a column," smiled Judy. "But writing an epic adventure series (like J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series) is one thing I look forward to. I know it's a long long way yet, and for now I will focus on light fiction about relationships and break-ups."
Humor and comedy is one key ingredient Judy feels that she cannot do without in the books she reads and pens. "If you've read Two States, you'd get all the jokes in my book", confessed the author sheepishly.
"I do love romantic comedies. Nothing can quite beat Erich Segal's Love Story and Nicholas Sparks and Jodi Picoult's works. I also like reading books by Candace Bushnell and Marian Keyes and Elizabeth Gilbert."
Getting to the juicy part of the conversation, we asked Judy to share an exclusive detail about her as a writer and she confessed, "My writing will always precede the love of my life. I think I devote more time to my writing than anything else."
And Judy as a mother? She quickly said, "I'm forever obsessing over the fact that I'm not good enough. Trust me, all that art and craft and wonderful things parents do for their kids, I'm bad at all that."
Over more smiles and jokes I enquired about her next book and she said, "It's wonderful how I've already signed the deal for my next book. It is again a light fiction. But I can't give out much on it. You'll have to wait a bit!"
For sure we would look forward to her next book, since her first one has definitely got us hooked!
It's true all good things definitely come in small packages. And this package is amongst the best!
I'm sure she captured more hearts and readers with her smile and her book that evening.
Grab a copy of her book before the stores run out of copies! You will definitely enjoy the read.


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Journal of Energy in Southern Africa
versión On-line ISSN 2413-3051
versión impresa ISSN 1021-447X
J. energy South. Afr. vol.25 no.3 Cape Town ago. 2014
A pilot test of ethanol gel as a paraffin replacement in a low-income urban environment
Philip Lloyd
Energy Institute, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town, South Africa
This paper describes the results of a pilot programme to introduce ethanol gel as a replacement for paraffin for cooking in a low-income informal settlement, Samora Machel, in the Philippi district of Cape Town. A baseline study had shown that paraffin was the dominant source of energy in this community, and that the community knew that its use was both hazardous and unhealthy, but they had no apparent alternative. A gel fuel meeting the requirements of SANS 448 was identified and supplies ordered. A burner system meeting the requirements of SANS 666 was not available on the market; instead it was necessary to use all that could be found. The Agrifood Technology Station at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) was tasked with finding ways to cook using ethanol gel, with accent being placed on cooking safely and using the least possible quantity of gel for a standard menu. After several fruitless attempts to launch a programme, a successful meeting was held at the creche in Samora Machel at which a number of residents agreed to take part in the pilot programme. Soon thereafter, there was a fire in which many residents lost all their possessions, and when stoves were distributed free of charge, and five litres of gel sold at a subsidised price, all stoves were eagerly taken. The demonstration of how to cook using the gel was held at the point of distribution, and people taking stoves were shown how they worked and how to keep them clean. Every week for four weeks, a sample of the participants was contacted to determine their response to cooking on gel. Virtually every response was most positive, and at the end of that period the participants in the pilot programme requested that the supply of gel should continue as long as possible.
1. Introduction
Ethanol gel fuels have been studied for several years as a possible replacement for paraffin (Utria, 2004; Dioha et al.; 2012). .However, Lloyd and Visagie (2007) found that many of the gels available on the market and that all of the burners gave poor performance. Subsequently the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) produced standards for gels (SABS, 2010)] and burners (SABS, 2008) that addressed many of the problems Lloyd and Visagie had identified.
Ethanol gel has a number of obvious advantages over paraffin. It should burn more cleanly; it should not flow far if spilled; and it should be far more readily extinguished than paraffin, for example. However, a number of large-scale attempts to introduce ethanol gel have not met with success. For instance, at Umdoni in Natal, a community of 4 000 households was supplied free of charge with gel for several months. Once they were asked to contribute towards the cost of the gel, they reverted to using paraffin (McKenzie and Botes, 2012).
CPUT was asked by the Department of Economic Development and Tourism of the Western Cape Provincial Government to look at the possibility of using ethanol gel as a replacement for paraffin, partly because the economic and social costs of using paraffin were so high, and partly because there was the potential to create jobs in the local production of both fuel and appliances. The study will cover a number of phases; this report describes the outcome of part of the first phase, in which a sample of 150 households was selected to test the best available gel and cooker.
First, it was necessary to identify a suitable community for the test. This task has been described in another paper at this conference (Lloyd, 2014). In essence, the Mustadafin Foundation, a charitable NGO who were active in several low-income communities in Cape Town, were contracted to assist.
They undertook to identify a suitable community and households within that community willing to take part in the experiment. This paper takes up the programme at that point.
2. Identification of households
Identification of households proved much more challenging than at first appeared. Mustadafin arranged a meeting at the local school with the help of the local Councillor; pamphlets describing the programme were distributed; but when we arrived at the school, the headmistress informed us that she had not been asked to host a meeting, and in any event, it was impossible to hold a meeting at that time because the school was in progress. Refreshments intended for distribution after the launch were given to the waiting crowds, and what was left over was distributed to the learners
A second pamphlet drop, and liaison with the headmistress directly, saw the team gather in the great hall at the school, erect banners, put out flowers, and wait .... After two hours, three or four curious people wandered in. 'Oh no! Saturday morning was a terrible day to hold a meeting. Everyone is down at the supermarket.'
A change of time, a change of venue (to the creche in Samora Machel) and about fifty people arrived. The purpose of the experiment was explained to them. If they wished to take part, it was first necessary for them to sign a consent form, recognising that as this was an experiment, there were unquantifiable risks which they would have to bear, and agreeing that any information they provided would be handled confidentially, and no individual responses would be reported.
The late delivery of gel caused a delay in the programme, and it was not until early in January 2014 that the programme could continue. Those who had already signed up for the pilot test were invited to come and collect their stoves at the creche. When the team arrived there, the hall was full (Figure 1). A fire soon after Christmas had left many homeless, and the offer of a free stove was too good to miss. We soon signed up over 100 new volunteers (Figure 2).
3. Gel and stoves
Four samples of gel fuels were tested for compliance with the essential features of SANS 448 (SABS, 2010). Three were found compliant with the minimum heating value of 18MJ/kg. Two of the compliant samples proved to be no longer available on the market, and accordingly, 3 000 litres were ordered from the remaining supplier, Greenheat, with a specification of a minimum cv of 20MJ/kg.
All stoves tested failed the basic requirements of SANS666 (SANS, 2008). Figure 3, for instance, shows the tell-tale soot on the base of a pot, indicative of very incomplete combustion of the fuel, largely caused by inadequate mixing of fuel and air and insufficient distance between flame and pot.
Nevertheless, it seemed possible to cook using these stoves. Attempts to acquire them for the pilot test were frustrated by lack of supply. Eventually the total stock of two-burner stoves was acquired from two different wholesalers. In total we acquired 154 stoves, which was only just enough for the pilot test. This was most unexpected, as several years ago, when gel fuels were being promoted, there were plenty of stoves on the market. It was clear that the earlier promise had not created a significant demand.
In the light of these findings, a decision was taken to request CPUT's Agrifood Technology Station to develop a standard menu for test which was in line with the cultural preferences of Samora Machel, and to experiment with methods of cooking that menu, using the available stoves, in such a way that the fuel consumption was minimised.
4. Cooking with gel
The Agrifood Technology Station developed a menu comprising:
- A pot of 2 cups of maize meal cooked with water and half a cup of vegetable oil; and
- A stew of onions, potatoes and cabbage, a cup of vegetable oil, a packet of minestrone soup and a heaped teaspoon of curry powder.
It was found that this could be cooked using less than half a litre of gel by reducing the heat to simmer once the water had boiled or the stew reached boiling point, covering the pots, simmering for about 5 minutes, and then turning off the burners so that the food completed its cooking on the residual heat.
While the volunteers waited to sign up for the pilot test (Figure 1), a Xhosa-speaking technician from the Agrifood Technology Station demonstrated the method of cooking, including filling the fuel cups with just sufficient gel to cook the meal. The volunteers then had a chance to sample the food. One spontaneous remark was captured - translated from the Xhosa, the volunteer said 'This tastes like it was cooked on an electric stove!'
5. Distribution of stoves and gel
Once the volunteers had signed the consent form, they then purchased 5 litres of gel fuel for which they were issued a receipt; attended a demonstration of how the stoves worked and could be dissembled for cleaning and re-assembled correctly; and then presented their receipt to be checked and cancelled before collecting their stove.
The question remained how to re-supply the volunteers once they had used the first five litres of gel. After several false starts, Mustadafin arranged bi-weekly deliveries to the creche, where the headmistress kindly supervised sales.
6. Survey of experience
Mustadafin researchers contacted a sample of the volunteers every week. They used a simple questionnaire (Table 1) which took a few minutes to complete. The completed questionnaires were then captured on a database at CPUT and the results analysed.
7. Results
Over the five weeks, 170 interviews were held with 92 individual volunteers. 65 volunteers were interviewed twice, eleven volunteers were interviewed three times and two were interviewed four times. There was a high level of consistency in the answers by those interviewed repeatedly, but towards the end of the survey period some volunteers were obviously suffering from response overload - 'Can you not just SMS me with all your questions?'
Question 1
Overall, 78±7% (average and standard deviation) of the responses were that the stove was used every day; 17±9% that it was used about every other day; and 8±8% that it was used twice a week or less. No trends with time were detectable. Note that the totals exceed 100% because of sampling errors. In the final sampling, when there were 55 interviews, 78% of the responses were that the stove was used every day, 19% that it was used about every other day, and 2% that it was used twice a week or less.
Question 2
Overall, 15±15% of the responses were that 5 litres of gel lasted less than 5 days; 59±13% that it lasted 5-7 days; and 21±18% that it lasted > 7 days. There was a significant trend for responses in the <3 days and 3-5 days to drop with time, presumably as the users became more skilled at using the gel. The trend for those reporting 5-7 days was downwards, but the trend was not statistically significant. The trend for those reporting more than 7 days was significantly up. In the final sampling, 8% reported that 5 litres lasted less than 5 days, 46% reported that it lasted 5-7 days, and 46% also reported that it lasted >7 days. These results are shown in Figure 4.
Of course, this data includes some who do not use their stoves every day. The analysis was accordingly repeated using only those who reported daily use. Unfortunately in sample periods 2 and 3, those using the stove every day were badly unrepresented, so it was not possible to estimate any trends. Overall, 16% of those who used the stove daily estimated that 5 litres of gel would last <5 days, 70% between 5 and 7 days; and 14% for more than 7 days.
Questions 3, 4 and 5
The results showed users preferred gel to paraffin almost universally. In no case was gel rated as inferior to paraffin:
Questions 6 and 7
Similarly the respondents were very positive about gel having less of a smell than paraffin, and they noted they tended to cough less.
There was no significant trend in either of these results with time. However, importantly there were no reports that coughing worsened when using gel. A single report of a bad smell also noted that it was when the appliance was first used, so is most likely appliance-related rather than gel related.
Questions 8 and 9
There was absolute unanimity that the stoves were easy to fill and to clean. However, some of the comments under Questions 10 and 11 recorded suggest that some respondents were a bit too hasty in their answers.
Question 10
There were six negative comments about the gel, which are given as recorded in Table 2. Two of these are clearly appliance related, and two relate to the problem of judging the correct quantity of gel to cook the meal. The primary problem appears to be difficulty in cleaning the residue of the gel from the fuel cup.
Question 11
There were two reports of difficulties with the stove.
The first of these is clearly related to the problem of judging the correct quantity of gel to cook the meal.
However, there were also some positive reports.
There were several comments similar to the last. This was a poor community, and the background study (Lloyd, 2014) showed that about one in every five homes would turn to wood as a fuel when the money ran out.
Question 12
The only cry for help was from a respondent who had cleaned the bowls and put them outside to dry - where they were stolen. However, there were difficulties in distributing the gel in the early stages of the test, and a number of the volunteers ran out of fuel because of this. It took about two weeks for distribution to be resolved.
8. Discussion
These results came as a surprise. Previous attempts to roll out gel fuels had not met with marked success. Instead, this pilot came to an end with the biggest question from the volunteers being how they were to be resupplied with gel now that the test was over. A more positive outcome of a pilot test is difficult to imagine.
What made the difference? It seems likely that the decision to sell the gel was key. The Steering Committee debated this at length. Some members were all for free supply. The eventual decision to sell the gel for only R4 per litre represented a compromise. It has the difficulty that such a price is not market-related, and no-one is certain that gel can be subsidised on a large scale. However, the results of this pilot are such that a strong case could already be made for an ongoing subsidy.
A second factor in the success was almost certainly the input from CPUT's Agrifood Technology Station. The demonstration that it was possible to reduce the consumption by simple changes to cooking practice meant that residents were able to cook using less than a litre a day. This translates into a monthly consumption of about 25 litres.
The background study (Lloyd, 2014) showed that the median consumption of paraffin was about 15 litres per month. The present paraffin cost of over R13 per litre, or about R200 per month, implies that a price for gel of about R8 per litre would be sustainable.
A third factor was the part played by the Mustadafin Foundation. The fact that the Foundation was known and indeed welcomed in the community made a huge difference, given some of the tensions that were known to exist in Samora Machel. These tensions only surfaced at the outset, when local politicians were involved, but they were always present. The Foundation also had a pool of Xhosa-speakers, which meant that it was possible to communicate with the community in their home language. All documentation aimed at the community was in both English and Xhosa.
A fourth factor was demonstrating to the community how to cook with the gel and maintain the stove. The fact that the volunteers were able to taste food cooked on a gel stove went a long way to convincing them that this was not some scheme developed at a university far removed from reality.
It can only be concluded that the pilot test was a success; that every effort must be made to continue supplying and occasionally monitoring the community; and that further phases in this programme should be launched without delay.
This project would not have been possible in so short a period without a significant team behind it. In particular, the Department of Economic Development and Tourism in the Provincial Government of the Western Cape is to be thanked for financial and managerial support during the course of this work. Mr Khalid Khan of the Department played a significant role in steering the project in a positive direction. He was assisted for much of the time by Mr Ivan Gabriel. The Mustadafin Foundation, and, in particular, their project supervisor, Mrs Hani du Toit, made a huge contribution to the success. The headmistress of the Kosovo Educare Creche, Mrs Zoleka Hendriks, provided invaluable assistance, not only in making available her schoolroom for meetings and the launch of the pilot, but also in acting as a centre for the distribution of fuel. My University, CPUT, assembled a formidable team. The Dean of Engineering, Prof Nawaz Mahomed, played a key role at the outset in convincing the Province that CPUT could handle the project. The Deputy Dean of Engineering, Prof Veruscha Fester, was a pillar of strength throughout, able to leap over barriers of red tape like an Olympic hurdler. Eugene Erfurt from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Prof Stephane Bouye and Michael Petersen of the PLMCC, Larry Dolley and Lamla Spilito of the Agrifood Technology Station unit, and Francois Hoffman and Verna Jo Riddles of the EPICentre all played a significant role. Reza Williams was most useful in ensuring that liaison between the University and the Province was smooth and punctual. I must thank the University for putting up with me patient-ly, and creating the environment in which work of real significance to our community can be undertaken.
Dioha, I.J., Ikeme, C.H., Tijjam, N. and Dioha, E.C. (2012). Comparative studies of ethanol and kerosene fuels and cook stove performance. J Natural Sciences Research 2 (6) pp 34-39. [ Links ]
Utria, B.E. (2004). Ethanol and gelfuel: clean renewable cooking fuels for poverty alleviation in Africa, Energy for Sustainable Development, 8(3), pp107-114. [ Links ]
Lloyd PJ.D. and Visagie E.M. (2007). The testing of gel fuels, and their comparison to alternative cooking fuels, Paper No D5-1, Int Conf Domestic Use Energy, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, April 10-13, 2007. [ Links ]
Lloyd, P. (2014). The energy profile of a low-income urban community. Paper, Int Conf Domestic Use Energy, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town, March 31- April 2, 2014. [ Links ]
McKenzie, M. and Botes, A (2012). Carbon verification: Umdoni gel fuel low-income housing project. Urban Earth, Durban, South Africa. [ Links ]
SA Bureau of Standards (2008). Ethanol-gel fuelled appliances, SANS 666, SABS, Pretoria. [ Links ]
SA Bureau of Standards (2010). Ethanol gel for cooking and other gel burning appliances. SANS 448, SABS, Pretoria. [ Links ]
Paper presented at the Domestic Use of Energy Conference, 29 March - 2 April, 2014, Cape Town, South Africa, and published in the conference proceedings. Reproduced with permission. [ Links ]


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Chesapeake Commons Apartments
is your home
Chesapeake Commons Apartments
is your home
No home is up to par with these Rancho Cordova Apartments within the Chesapeake Commons! Below, you'll discover a wide variety of one and two bedroom floor plans, each offering spacious designs and equipped state-of-the-art features. Upon entrance, you'll come across several household features that are imperative to a comfortable and stress-free living experience. These include private patios/balconies, spacious walk-in closets, a modernized kitchen and dining room, as well as woodgrain flooring are just a few of the aspiring amenities you'll be granted upon residing in one of these homes!
If these elaborate features are not enough to sway you towards residing at these Ranch Cordova Apartments, look no further than the custom crafted gallery, where you can take a peek within these apartment homes and discover for yourself what you are missing out on! Once you are satisfied with what you're seeing, give us a call, and visit the Chesapeake Commons to witness it all for yourself!
*In Select Units
Blending practical style and convenience, Chesapeake Commons Apartments feature comforts such as well-appointed kitchens with modern fixtures and appliances, designated dining areas, cozy bedrooms with walk-in closets, and spacious living rooms with fireplaces. Throughout this unique and beautifully landscaped community of apartments in Rancho Cordova, you'll find a host of amenities beyond your front door, such as basketball and tennis courts, a sand volleyball court, a fitness center, four refreshing pools and four hot spas for your enjoyment. Are you searching for apartments in Rancho Cordova, CA? Come home to tranquil living in an ideal location at Chesapeake Commons Apartments.
Our apartments just got smart, learn more! Chesapeake Commons Apartments features smart apartment mobile controls in select homes. It's like having your apartment in your phone. You can let a friend in when you're on vacation with digital locks. Or turn off all your lights from bed. Or save money by automating your climate. To learn which apartments have smart features, please consult the leasing office.
-Chesapeake Commons is your home.
Chesapeake Commons offer not only stylish apartments in Rancho Cordova, CA, but also both convenience and accessibility when it comes to commuting to and from Sacramento, CA! With close proximity to Highway 50, your commute to work has never been easier. Within Sacramento itself, you'll find several marketplaces and shopping centers, including Costco, Kohl's, Wal-Mart, and more, granting you plenty of options for your grocery shopping needs. Several restaurant chains and local eateries grant different tastes and food options for different people including Chili's Bar and Grill, Casa Ramo's, and Steve's Pizza. Exemplary schools, ranging from elementary to high school to universities, are each situated within a few minutes' drive from Chesapeake Commons and its Rancho Cordova, CA apartments.
If you are searching for entertainment attractions, consider visiting the Century 14 Theatre, the Sacramento Zoo, or Golden-1 Center that are more than capable of offering you hours of entertainment and relaxation for you and your family. With so much to do and so many places to visit within Sacramento, there is no better place to reside than in the Chesapeake Commons, within one of these luxurious apartments in Rancho Cordova, CA. Visit us today!
Our residents are important to us - Your comfort is our top priority. Ask about our 3-hour service response program.
If you are ready to claim one of these apartments for rent in Rancho Cordova for yourself, the Chesapeake Commons are happy to have you! Contact us by phone with any questions you may have, as the property management offices are open to you each and every day of the week. Alternatively, fill out the short form below, and let us know exactly which of these apartments for rent in Rancho Cordova you are searching for, as we will work hard to find you a suitable home to fill your every need. Join the Chesapeake Commons community today!
Call us. We're here 24/7 365 days a year.
Monday - Friday 9am-6pm
Saturday 9am-5pm
Sunday 11am-3pm
Welcome home to Chesapeake! We believe in open communication and are here to help with questions you may have! Find answers and general information about move ins, payments, services offered, and more.
We strive to process all applications in a timely manner. To help us be as efficient as possible, please submit all required documents at the time of your application. If it's been longer than 7 days since you submitted your application, please call the office and we'd be happy to check on the status of your application for you! Our Processing Administration and Document Fee is $45 per applicant and a Lease Initiation Fee $250; both are due at the time you submit your application.
To uphold fair policies, we use the same rental criteria for all applicants which includes a credit check, residential verification, and employment verification. Combined income for the apartment must also reach at least 2.5x total rent.
We communicate important resident information and community updates by text, email, or phone. Set up your preferred communication method at the time of your lease signing!
We are excited for you to call Chesapeake Commons home! We accept electronic payments from the convenience of your own home, at least 5 days before your scheduled move in date. Or pay on your move in date with a money order, your choice! Our move-in expenses include a Security Deposit and First Month's Rent (prorated rent will depend on move-in date).
We are proud to call Chesapeake Commons pet friendly! Check out the link to learn more about our pet policies and see our accepted breeds of dogs.
Your rent payment strictly includes your monthly rent plus any additional bundle services you signed up for at the time of your lease. We do not include utilities services such as water or electricity in your rental rate. Rent is due on the 1st of every month. Never stress about making a payment by setting up automatic electronic payments through our resident portal!
Our resident's are our #1 priority. We strive to respond to all service requests within 3 hours to ensure your home is maintained to your satisfaction. Non emergency service requests are handled during regular business hours.
You can request a maintenance service request from the convenience of your own home, via our resident portal! You may chose to be present when maintenance arrives and give a preferred time, or you may give permission for us to enter with your absence. *Tip: download the Resident Portal App for even more convenience.
We are proud to call Chesapeake Commons pet friendly! Our monthly pet rent is $35 per pet.
Build your credit by paying your monthly rent on time! $8.95 for a single member, or bundle and save with two or more members for $14.95. Learn more at www.RentPlus.com
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