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The Story of Doug Rechtine
August 1, 2019
Lifelong Toledo resident Douglas Rechtine has been in the financial services industry for more than 3 decades—but his journey to career success was no small feat. His professional prowess and personal story go hand and hand with his passion for helping others and a desire to better himself. We sat down to hear Doug's story straight from the horse's mouth. Check it out below.
Doug was born the youngest of three children in the city of Toledo before moving to Holland, Ohio in his teenage years. After his parents divorced, Doug lived mostly with his mother throughout his childhood. "We didn't necessarily grow up in a perfect family environment" said Doug, "but I was very fortunate to have incredible teachers to look up to as mentors." Of the teachers that Doug looked up to, his 7th grade teacher and little league baseball coach Jim Burnor Jr. stands out the most. "After the divorce, Mr. Burnor took me under his wing. He really did everything he could to put me on the right path, teaching me about hard work, discipline, and the importance of a proper education."
Nearing the end of his time at Springfield High School several years later, Doug found himself pondering the age-old question—what am I going to do with my life? "I originally thought I would follow in Mr. Burnor's footsteps and become a teacher and coach. I attended Bowling Green State University and played on the baseball team there." Over time, Doug's enthusiasm for becoming a teacher started to falter and his baseball career was cut short by an arm injury. Staring graduation in the face, he wasn't sure what to do. "I ended up taking a couple of positions in sales and marketing over the course of the next four or five years. These positions weren't terrible, but I didn't really feel like I found my niche."
Doug's decision to become a financial advisor first dawned on him during a golf trip. Doug's buddy—the same one he bought his first ever life insurance policy from—came into town to play 18 holes with the usual crew. In between strokes, Doug was explaining his frustrations about his current job, sound boarding the group for an escape route. His friend started explaining the work he was doing as an annuity wholesaler and thought Doug would be a perfect fit for the financial services industry. "We ended up talking for a few hours and he said he would make some calls for me. Shortly after our chat, I had gotten phone calls from five different firms." When asked what was it that drew him, Doug said, "I always had an entrepreneurial streak in me and wanted to have the freedom and flexibility to determine my own fate. I felt destined for that kind of work but had no idea what the path to get there looked like. When I understood what this business was all about—putting in as much as I want to see come out of it—I was convinced that this was the move for me."
In January of 1987, Doug started working at the Toledo branch of New England Financial. Unlike most, the hardships that usually overwhelmed new comers seemed to be non-existent. Doug went on to make conference the first, second, and third year at New England Financial, and went on to be a conference qualifier with New England Financial/MetLife every year of his career. Doug attributes his early success to a handful of factors: rigorous training exercises, a love for connecting with people, and a fearless attitude towards hard work. There was one more factor in Doug's arsenal that is impossible to replicate—he possessed local name recognition as a professional bowler. Growing up, Doug spent countless hours with his father in bowling alleys, learning how to properly knock down pins. "Back in the 70's, 80's and 90's Toledo was considered the bowling capital of the country, and I competed in professional and amateur tournaments. I had a real knack for the game." In fact, 17 years ago Doug was inducted into the Toledo Bowling Hall of Fame for finishing his career with 28 perfect 300 games. With his early success as the framework, Doug built a promising career as a financial advisor and joined the Skylight team in 2015.
Doug's continued efforts in the industry are rooted in a desire to support others in his community. For the past several years, Doug has aided the same education system he credits his positive upbringing to, serving as a board member for the Springfield Schools Foundation. The organization leads fundraising efforts to bring resources and technology to the classrooms of Springfield Schools in Holland, Ohio. "Without the support of my wife Angie over the years, my career would not be nearly as successful. She is a counselor at Springfield Schools and our 7-year-old daughter Ava attends Springfield Schools, but the main reason I remain active with this organization is to give back to my alma mater. Springfield High School put me on the right course for success and shaped me into who I am today."
When fresh-faced financial representatives ask Doug for advice, he replies with two main tidbits. The first one is, "Perfect your story and tell it to as many people as possible. People only want to work with those they see value in and if you cannot convey your value—which is based on industry knowledge and personal connection—they will cast you aside." Doug went on to say, "This industry is tough, and a lot of people face hardships and fail, but I have never seen someone fail in this industry because they told too many people their story." The second tidbit is, "as soon as it makes sense for your practice, surround yourself with a fantastic support team. I say this all the time—and my wife always echoes it—I would not be Doug Rechtine without the help of my assistant, Kellie Stewart. Her daily efforts allow me to devote more time to my clients and I am forever grateful for all the work she has done. The sooner you bring on a staff member to assist you, the better off you are going to be."
Outside the office, Doug enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter, golfing with his friends, and traveling across the country. "We have a second home in Naples, Florida so we travel there as often as we can. We also love northern Michigan, Hawaii, and Las Vegas!"
Thanks for taking the time to speak with us Doug! You can reach Doug Rechtine at his bio page here.


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Could we have a new family-favourite theme park in the UAE?
We've been waiting and watching for several years now as the giant golden shed on Yas Island has grown and grown to reveal itself as not just any new family entertainment centre, it's one of the world's largest indoor theme parks to date.
We are super excited to introduce you all to our new neighbour Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi.
Situated on Yas Island which is only 10 minutes from Abu Dhabi airport and adjacent to family fun park Yas Waterworld, Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi is going to get the family excited – yes all of you!!
The UAE is getting quite the reputation as a theme park capital – and it's no secret they are looking to compete with the world's best such as Orlando and California – but will it live up to international theme park standards? How does WB World compare to Dubai's theme park offering?
In this post, you will find a super-comprehensive guide on visiting WB World Abu Dhabi theme park. We've included everything you need to know about the rides and attractions, how to prepare for your day out at WB World and the best ticketing options for families.
This post is part of our series Discover the UAE – if you are new to our site come and take a look at all of our attraction and hotel reviews in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and beyond!
What to expect at Warner Bros World with Kids
Although the park looks like a giant golden box factory from the outside, the atmosphere completely changes once you are inside and transported from the real world into the world of the Warner Bros characters and DC Comics. Beyond the main ticketing hall, your journey starts at Warner Bros Plaza which is your main shopping and eatery area before heading off to one of the "immersive lands" – it sounds corny but kinda true!
From here, you can split to the left for Metropolis and Gotham City or start your adventure to the right in Bedrock, before following the path through to Dynamite Gulch and Cartoon Junction – the two parts of the park meet halfway, or you can criss-cross between each land from the main plaza.
They promise a surprise around every corner so you will notice the absence of straight lines, encouraging you to delve further. True to their word, it really did feel like surprises very waiting to greet you around every corner. Different lighting and sound effects only added to the experience.
The Park features a total of 29-state-of-the-art rides, interactive family-friendly attractions and live entertainment shows. There is a huge line up of shows and popular character meets; everything is included in your entry ticket price (more on that below).
At the time of writing, Batman Knight Flight was undergoing final technical rehearsals and should be opening soon. Make no mistake, there's so much more to this park than just the rides; the aim is to give you a truly immersive experience.
From the opening moments of the park, the whole day is action packed and while sure, you can find yourself stuck with a bit of queuing on a busy day, you are not trapped in perpetual lines.
The Globetrotters experience at Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi
I was fortunate to get a sneak peek of the park with the media back in April, but seeing the Globetrotters faces as we entered the park for the first time was a pure delight. Our "testers" were Miss Z, 8, Master L, 6, and Master J, 4 (and apparently only 1.04cm!!!).
Note that although doors to the park open at 10am, you can only get as far as the Warner Bros Plaza until 11am when rides and attractions open. Other than food and retail outlets, there is little to do until 10.45am when the Warner Bros Cinema Spectacular commences – definitely worth capturing though a little hand-holding was needed, parts were a little loud and scary for our littles.
If it's your first or only visit to the park as an overseas visitor, do set aside an entire day. They close at 9pm but our littles made it until well past 5pm and we had to skip a few things in the end. If you're a resident, consider the annual passes to get the most out of it and take your time enjoying everything – more to come below.
I think most kids (and big kids) will be blown away most by Gotham City where the villain's reign supreme. Here the noise is electrifying and the rides – well I felt nauseous just looking at them!
Do be warned though your very little ones may be a bit scared by Gotham City, you may want to break them in more gently at Bedrock or Cartoon Junction.
Top Tip: If you do plan on doing several rides, run to the popular ones as soon as the park opens at 11am, then take your time to enjoy the shows and activities later in the afternoon. We went on a Friday and the most popular rides such as the Riddler Revolution were experiencing 90-minute queues by mid-afternoon. Alternatively get a Flash Pass – see more below in ticketing.
Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi Height Restrictions
What I thought would be a huge challenge for us was the height restrictions. We were told pre-opening that all but 2 rides would have a 1.1m minimum – this was INCORRECT! There are several rides that have a 0.9m or lower limit (accompanied by an adult) so your toddlers and pre-schoolers WILL be able to join in many of the rides. Note, ticketing has been set to reflect lower heights for kids, but we expected the Junior ticket to be more generously priced.
Best rides and attractions at WB World for the Little Ones under 1.1m:
- Ani-Mayhem 90cm (Cartoon Junction – shooting game can fit up to 6 together, must be accompanied under 1.2m)
- Ricochet Racin' with Taz 90cm (Cartoon Junction – kids driving game – 1.2m accompanied)
- Tweety Wild Wockets 90cm (Cartoon Junction ACME factory – aerial carousel ride – 1.05m accompanied)
- Jet-propelled Pogo Stick 1.0m (Cartoon Junction ACME factory – jump tower – 1.2m accompanied)
- Cartoon Junction Carousel 80cm (Cartoon Junction – classic merry-go-round, must be accompanied under 1.1m)
- Scooby Doo! The Museum of Mysteries 90cm (Cartoon Junction – haunted house ride fits up to 6 per car)
- ACME Factory – no restriction – some rides within this section have a 1.1m limit (Cartoon Junction)
- The Joker Funhouse – no restriction (Gotham City – ends with a slide but our Master 4 found it scary)
- The Jetsons Cosmic Orbiter 90cm (Dynamite Gulch – aerial spinning cars kids can control, 2 per car, under 1.2m accompanied)
- Marvin the Martian Crater Crashers 1.05m – max 2m (Dynamite Gulch – dodgem cars – under 1.25m needs a parent driver)
- Bedrock River Adventure 1.05m (Bedrock – river raft story ride; warning you do get a little wet at the end – 2 per row and must be accompanied under 1.2m)
There are numerous shows on throughout the day too, as well as the character meet and greets which have no height restrictions. Pick up the daily program when you arrive or use the WB World App to best plan out your day.
Rides and attractions at WB World available for children 1.1m to 1.3m
- Tom & Jerry Swiss Cheese Spin 1.1m (Cartoon Junction – mini rollercoaster – 2 per row and under 1.3m needs to be accompanied)
- Green Lantern Galactic Odyssey 1.1m (Metropolis 4D Theatre – under 1.3m accompanied – warning can be a little scary)
- Justice League: Warworld Attacks 1.1m (Metropolis 5D ride – under 1.3 needs accompanied – Master L's favourite!)
- Teen Titans 1.1m – Max 2m (Metropolis – a play area with ropes course, zip line (1.3m) and wall climbing – closed toe shoes required)
- Fast & Furry-ous 1.1m – Max 1.96m (Dynamite Gulch – rollercoaster, moderately thrilling 2 per row and under 1.2m accompanied – my favourite!)
- The Riddler Revolution 1.2m (Gotham City – spinning roller coast, pretty thrilling, a bit dark and scary and can get a tiny bit wet)
WB World rides you must be over 1.3m
- Superman 360 Battle for Metropolis (Metropolis – 3D feature)
- Scarecrow Scare Raid (Gotham City – lift and fly experience)
Cartoon Junction particularly is deceptive in size! It looks like a series of houses, but in fact, each has a hidden ride or attraction behind it. We should have explored more of this section early in the day before queues grew but took a while to realise just how many rides here and what was hidden behind! It's also a bit chaotic with strollers and character greets going on here, you've been warned!!
Now to answer all those questions you might have about Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi! (If we are missing anything pop them in the comments below and we'll try our best to answer)
What should I know and prepare before I go to WB World?
- Download the WB World app in advance. This will come in handy during your visit for ride height restrictions and wait times. We found it a little glitchy and reception inside not always the best but it's nonetheless a useful tool, in addition to the park map on arrival.
- There is one attraction where kids can only enter with closed toe shoes – Teen Titans. This was the only point our older two were crestfallen to be rejected and there's no sign on the door or notice otherwise advising this safety restriction. If your kids love rope courses and the like, this is a must!
- Bring a pen and autograph book. Not all the characters could sign – costumes allowing! but many of the superheroes and villains could, this a great addition to the kids experience.
- Measure your kids! They will be checked on each ride so manage any potential disappointments and plan your track around this given height guidelines above.
- Aim to get there around 10.30am, this should be enough time to get through ticketing and be there for the opening Cinema Spectacular Show in the Plaza before gates open. If the queue for your picture with Bugs Bunny is too long, don't worry, you can find him later. You can see the Cinema Spectacular later in the day too if you arrive too late.
- Visiting on a weekday will drastically reduce crowds and your queueing time. For those unfamiliar with the UAE, weekends are Friday and Saturday (You can learn more about UAE facts and customs before visiting the country HERE).
Can you eat at WB World?
As with all theme parks, no outside food can be brought in other than milk and infant meals (bags are inspected pre-entry). There are 20 themed dining experiences, from grab-and-go eateries to full-service sit-down restaurants and cafes, each with their own special kids' meal option.
We were assured there would be some healthy choices among these, but if they were there, we struggled to find them. Over-priced and of the usual quality you expect at the theme park, just something you have to suck up on an outgoing like this, I guess.
Can you visit Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi in the Summer?
Yes! The absolute beauty of it being an entirely indoor theme park you will be able to enjoy Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi year-round. In the warmer parts of the year (though not the peak of summer when temperatures reach 45-50c) a great combination would be to start your day at Yas Waterworld then as the sun hits its peak and you need a change of pace head into Warner Bros World. The park entrances are immediately adjacent.
You could happily wear jeans and long sleeves year-round and be comfortable, though we weren't aware of the air-conditioning being overpowering like you find in some shopping malls! Interestingly though, the multi-deck car park is quite far from the entrance.
We only later discovered that there is a covered walkway if you head to the back of the car park which alleviates some of the direct heat but still – it's surprising they have built it this way when there is plenty of surrounding space it would seem to connect a covered car park.
Should we get dressed up to visit WB World?
No obligation, but absolutely why not? It's a great change for the kids to wear their superhero costumes and favourite tees – and parents don't be shy to join in the fun (I left by batgirl cape at home!) If you think the kids will nag to buy the gear once you're there (NB 50AED to buy a cape!), do yourself a favour and dress them in their superhero costume in advance. The characters will love it seeing your kids dressed up too.
Otherwise, jeans and tees are perfect, avoid too much dangling scarfs, jewellery etc as there are several rides you'll need to take these items off. And as mentioned above, wise for the kids over 1.1m to wear closed-toe shoes and socks to avoid any disappointment.
How to get there – directions to Warner Bros World
- From Abu Dhabi airport – take a taxi a mere 10 minutes across to Yas Island (Yes, you could squeeze it in if you had say a 5 hour + layover!)
- If you are staying at one of the Yas Plaza hotels, the Yas Express bus stop is only a couple of hundred metres from the front entrance
- From downtown Abu Dhabi – allow 30-45 minutes in a taxi depending on the time of day and traffic
- From downtown Dubai – allow a bit over 1 hour from Dubai Mall
- Self-driving? As mentioned above, there is a large multi-deck car park on site but be prepared to walk, it is well signposted from both Abu Dhabi and Dubai direction.
- Can you get to WB World and Yas Island from Dubai Parks and Resorts? Yes. At this stage, we are not aware of a direct transfer process but you can catch a taxi that would take about 40-50 minutes.
Tickets for Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi
Tickets can be purchased online in advance with a 6-month validity or purchased on the day. Queues looked reasonable but of course, this can vary by time and day, I'd always book in advance with kids to save queueing hassle.
- General Admission Day Pass 295AED ($80USD)
- Junior (3 years+ but under 1.1m) Day Pass 230AED ($63USD)
- Under 3's free
Coming from Dubai? You can arrange tickets that include 2-way hotel transfers HERE.
The Flash Pass
This is the WB World express ticket. If rides are your thing and you are visiting on a weekend (Friday & Saturday) then the Flash Pass is strongly worth considering. It will add 150AED ($40USD) for each person but if you'd like to maximise your trip definitely worth it.
Current specials and annual passes
Sadly, the Founders special price is over! Will it come back later in the year? Who knows, but here are current advertised specials: We have partnered with Klook online ticketing to bring you the best possible price for individual tickets:
- A Family & Friends pass can be purchased that allows a group of 4 to enter for the price of 3 – 885 AED ($241USD). This ticket needs to be purchased online in advance. You can add extras to your group for the discounted price of 221AED ($60USD). See the WBWorld.com site for more info.
- For residents – Annual Passes can be purchased for just Warner Bros World (995AED) or you can purchase a 3 park pass which also covers the other two major attractions on Yas Island, Yas Waterworld and Ferrari World (also indoors attached to Yas Mall, a few minutes drive away and available on transit bus) – 1595AED
**See also combined Yas Island 2 Day 2 Park Pass Specials here** [Prices accurate at September 2018].
Want to see how WB World compares to the big Dubai Theme Parks? Click here!
Globetrotters Recommend Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi
It didn't take long to be convinced WB World is a family winner. For us to see true value for money though, we really need our youngest to be over 1.1m, he still had to do a fair bit of patient waiting. The facilities are all there; favourite characters for young and old and a huge amount of attention to detail has gone into the rides and the overall experience.
It comes down to will they deliver on the customer service and ticket pricing and packages, particularly for residents who would become repeat visitors. There were still a few areas that need a little improvement:
- Signage – or lack thereof, particularly wait time signs. The WB World app was inaccurate on several occasions and without going up and asking the staff who then had to radio through, there was no way of telling queue length from outside most rides that disappear behind the buildings.
- Entry – Signage or customer service representatives are needed from the car park through to tickets and entry – still a lot of guesswork needed.
- Customer service at the food outlets, particularly in the Plaza before opening needs improvement; 25 minutes to queue and wait for a coffee is unacceptable. And it would be good to know where those healthy meal options were hidden.
- Ride loading time – given how many staff they seem to have on hand, many rides seemed inadequately staffed leading to long load times and unnecessary delays or empty seats going by. They are certainly not running with the smooth efficiency of a Disney park just yet! Single rider queue anyone?
- Rider Swaps – there needs to be a better rider swap system in place for those with infants. Some rides we were allowed to leave our shorter Master J on the platform. At others, he simply wasn't allowed in and we were told the second parent could enter later through the Flash Pass queue. But then staff would change and we had to plead our case over again…. get a system and keep it consistent!
- The photo system needs improving. We came home with literally 50 odd paper tokens from photos taken at the character meet and greets. The kids had had enough by the time we left so we didn't have time to sift through them at the customer kiosk and there's no option to order later. They either need different tokens for each character or move this to an app or plastic card system – anything more manageable!
The positives and while we'll be coming back to Warner Bros World AD
What makes Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi really stand out from its local competitors is it feels more experiential, not just focused on the rides but being transformed into another world, particularly in Gotham City and Metropolis. The characters have all been loved for many generations (so you could even take the grandparents along!) – but a true touch of nostalgia and getting in touch with your inner child could be experienced, as well as introducing your kids to these characters. The opportunities to have character meets and the time and patience they had with the kids when they must have already struck that pose 300 times a day is incredible, hats off to them!
Be prepared for a big day out and do a little pre-planning to make the most of it. Most definitely on par with its international competitors and a must for families to add to their UAE experience.
Have you had the chance to visit Warner Bros World yet? Let us know your favourite rides and top tips in the comments.
Disclosures: We attended WB World both pre and post opening as a member of the press. This post contains affiliate links to third party purchasing sites which may earn us a small commission at no additional cost to you. All opinions expressed are our own. Our full disclosure policy can be found here.
© Our Globetrotters


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Manarola at sunset, Cinque Terre National Park, Liguria, Italy, UNESCO
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text: One of the main research challenges in Semantic Role Labeling (SRL) is the development of systems for languages other than English. For Brazilian Portuguese, a corpus with appropriate manually-annotated data, PropBank.Br, has recently become available. Proposals for implementing SRL systems using this corpus have already been made, but no standard way of comparing their results is available. We present a benchmark for comparing SRL systems for Brazilian Portuguese, based on the CoNLL Shared Tasks on SRL for English. Training and test data sets, evaluation metrics and a baseline system are provided as part of this benchmark. These resources have been used to implement a supervised SRL system which outperforms the baseline (17 points better in F 1 measure). Most importantly, the benchmark proved to be useful for evaluating the performance of SRL systems for Brazilian Portuguese.


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History of the private jet
The first Lear Jet flight took place in 1963 and many regard this as the first private jet flight.
Our infographic traces the history of private jet flights since, from this historic first flight; to the launch of Gulfstream jets; to Paris Le Bourget Airport opening as a dedicated private jet terminal; and to the debut of the bestselling Citation jets. And we look ahead to what the future may bring.
For private jet charter advice and prices please call our expert team on {{telephone}}. Or see instant estimate prices from our network of approved operators by using our flight search:
History of the Private Jet - an infographic by the team at PrivateFly


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Susan Boyle keeps asking friends to set her up on a date.
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CSR spend by NSE-listed companies up by 11% in 2017-18
The Corporate Social Responsibility spend by NSE-listed companies crossed INR 10,000 crore, witnessing an increase of 11% in 2017/18. This analysis, based on 1,080 companies, was released by nseinfobase.com, which is developed and powered by PRIME Database Group, The CSR Journal reports.
The average net profit of these 1,080 companies over last three years was Rs 5.35 lakh crore. As per CSR requirements, the amount required to be spent by them was Rs 10,686 crore. These companies, however, decided to spend a bit more at Rs 10,886 crore — Rs 200 crore more than the requirement. However, INR 1,717 crore eventually remained unspent. The final actual CSR expenditure by these companies, though, was INR 10,030 crore, primarily because some companies spent more than what was mandated or decided earlier by them, representing an increase of nearly 11%
With increased participation, the number of companies which spent on CSR went up to 1,016 (94% of the 1080 companies) in 2017/18 from 931 (92%) in 2016/17. The balance 64 companies, despite being mandated, did not spend anything.
The CSR expenditure by companies listed at NSE has grown at a compounded annual growth rate of 16% over the last 4 years.
In line with the previous year, education received the maximum spend followed by healthcare. Areas such as reducing inequalities, national heritage, armed forces, sports, technology incubators and slum development saw negligible spends.
The top 10 companies together spent 36.06 per cent of the total spend on CSR
The top 10 states accounted for 48 per cent of the total CSR spend
Around 27% of the companies spent only directly on CSR-related activities, 25% only used an external Implementing Agency while 38% used a combination of the two. The balance 10% did not specify the route chosen by them.
Source: NSE Infobase
Thank you for reading the story until the very end. We appreciate the time you have given us. In addition, your thoughts and inputs will genuinely make a difference to us. Please do drop in a line and help us do better.
The CSR Journal Team


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Web Design & Hosting
To close what has been a wonderful first season as KeyNote Concerts David & Teresa Thomas decided to put in an extra date to the 2010-2011 programme in the form of a social PLAY-OKE. Something new and fresh for the Emneth regulars the afternoon took the form of an "open-keyboard" entertainment session and included a fun music quiz.
Held on the usual first Sunday of the month, Sunday 5th June saw an afternoon hosted by David who was joined on this occasion by Simon Nesbitt from the Peterborough Organ Centre.
In a change to the monthly concert setting the venue was laid out in a cabaret style fashion with tables. The floor was open to anyone willing to get up and have a go in a house party atmosphere. Throughout the afternoon David & Simon were on hand to to assist in operating any of the three instruments available, these being a Roland AT-100 Atelier Organ, Korg SP250 Digital Piano and a Yamaha Tyros 4 Keyboard.
David & Simon opened the afternoon with a couple of numbers each featuring the Atelier and Tyros.
The afternoon featured a good number of players from the regular guests and visitors plus a stunning solo performance with vocals from Simon Nesbitt of Hallelujah from the film Shrek.
As a first, we include a short video clip of some of the fun had on the day. Featuring Simon Nesbitt on Piano and David Thomas on Roland Atelier.
Photos and video clip taken by: Phill Wallis


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According to USDA's
Farmers Market Growth: 1994-2010,
there are more than twice as many farmers markets in the U.S.
as ten years ago, and the growth rate is 6% a year.
Farmers markets are an integral part of the urban/farm linkage and have continued to rise in popularity, mostly due to the growing consumer interest in obtaining fresh products directly from the farm. Farmers markets allow consumers to have access to locally grown, farm fresh produce, enables farmers the opportunity to develop a personal relationship with their customers, and cultivate consumer loyalty with the farmers who grows the produce. Direct marketing of farm products through farmers markets continues to be an important sales outlet for agricultural producers nationwide. As of mid-2010, there were 6,132 farmers markets operating throughout the U.S. This is a 16 percent increase from 2009.USDA is updating their directory now.


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of Country Hollow
Take a virtual tour of our property to get a feel for what life will be like at Country Hollow. Our junior one and two bedroom apartments for rent in Tulsa, Oklahoma, are tucked in a beautiful park-like setting. In each of our homes, you'll enjoy convenient features like walk-in closets and window coverings. A patio or balcony offers a private outdoor retreat – the perfect space to enjoy a meal alfresco or relax with a good book. Our homes are cable ready, so pop some popcorn and plan a TV night in your cozy space.
Need to burn off some energy? Skip the pricey gym membership and work out right here at home in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Hit the cardio machines or weights in our onsite fitness center. Invite a friend over for a game of tennis at the onsite court. Take a few laps in the swimming pool and then enjoy some well-deserved downtime soaking up some rays on the sundeck. Ready for an in-person tour of Country Hollow? Contact our office today. We look forward to showing you around your new home.
Virtual Tour
Life, Upgraded at


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- Home
- Human Services
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Create a Website Account - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more.
If You Are Not Satisfied
From time to time you may find that you are not satisfied with an HIV/AIDS service that you have received. If that service was funded by Ryan White, mechanisms are in place to help reach a satisfactory resolution to the problem.
Follow These Steps
Generally, grievances consist of two steps:
Services funded by Ryan White through NVRC
If you are eligible to receive Ryan White Part A or B services from a provider under contract with the Northern Virginia Regional Commission and are unable to resolve an issue about that service(s), you may contact NVRC. Learn more about NVRC Grievance Procedures...


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Gravitation, although described clearly and concisely within the context of Einstein's theory of general relativity, its nature has remained elusive in regard to quantum theory, in that whereas the other three primary forces of nature have been unified among themselves, gravity or gravitation has never been woven within that fold. That is to say, gravitation as never been quantized in a way that allows it to exist within the context of Einstein's relativity theory of gravitation.
The Strange Dichotomy of Gravitation
It has been demonstrated via general relativity that a falling object has no force acting on it, but gravitation has been described within the theory as a "curvature of spacetime". At the same time, if one is standing on the earth, or anything attached to the earth, one feels a definite force-like effect pulling him downwards, attaching him to the earth. This same effect exists when one stands on the deck of an airplane in flight. However if that same plane is in free-fall, the passengers float and feel no gravitational force acting on them at all. Einstein skillfully maneuvered through this dichotomy using his principal of equivalence, which shows inertia and the g-force to be equivalent. His solution is briefly discussed in the area: Einstein's Gravity and a Question of Gravitational Vectors. It might sound at this point that I disagree with his summation but that is not so. I don't feel he carried the analogy far enough. I also believe he didn't have the benefit of recent discoveries in cosmology and that his understanding of energy was limited to baryon matter and a strict interpretation of how it interacts with energy. Future information regarding dark energy and dark matter should clarify this.
Although I approached gravitation from a different direction, I believe that I ended up in approximately the same place as he did. This section describes that approach.
A Dynamic Approach to Reality
Because the study of physics is by its nature a study of dynamics, I decided in 1984 to look at this quality in a more restricted sense than the prevailing context. The idea was to look at pure dynamics as an a priori condition rather than an incidental reaction that happened between objects or particles. The breakdown of that approach went something like this:
Dynamical reactions between any two masses are interpreted as motion resulting from forces. There are understood to be two fundamental types of forces, attraction and repulsion. It is difficult to articulate but I had the feeling that the chances of both these qualities appearing simultaneously as the primal nature of energy were zero. My reasoning was that if one could correctly conclude which this was, then the opposing quality could be explained within that context. So, the question is; is the true identity of energy at its most pristine level attracting or repulsing?
Gravity is described in general relativity theory as two effects overlapping each other. The language of relativity can be a bit confusing when explaining it. On the one hand saying it is not a force at all but a curvature of spacetime that bends all massive objects towards each other. On the other hand, it can be caught saying that the force bends spacetime, making objects follow the lines of the now curved space. Any description can be confusing if our assumptions are slightly skewed. EMT shows that energy only has one nature but our location in the matrix makes this nature seem to split into two effects or manifestations of the same force…but only "seem" to split.
Attraction or Repulsion?
Given the imperative of allowing only one force to be the genesis mechanism for our universe, most people intuitively opt for an attracting force. After all what holds things together? However, when one extrapolates attraction as an only force, the universe quickly disappears, for all matter everywhere would collapse towards the same point as if the universe were a microscopic black hole. Additionally with no repulsing force to form the surface of solids…objects would never form. The other option is to look at a repulsing force to see if a universe not unlike our own could be constructed from such…and surprisingly, one can be. To be convincing the model had to be capable of duplicating gravity, as we know it.
Inertial forces can be produced by any change in motion of any object, whether by speeding up or slowing down. The acceleration and g-force spoken of in the following paragraphs is the same feeling one gets when they accelerate in a car and are pushed back in their seat…g-force.
Albert Einstein has already theorized a duplication of gravity by what can be described as a repulsing force via the principal of equivalence. This happens by the fact that the g-force resulting from the acceleration of any mass is exactly equivalent in nature to the attracting force of gravity. That is to say that gravitational mass is identical to inertial mass. So, for example; an astronaut in an enclosed capsule or rocket ship would be incapable of discerning the difference between being stationary on earth and feeling the force of gravity or accelerating at a constant 1-g, unless he had external information telling him so (sounds of engines, vibration or external messages about his state of movement). Acceleration is defined as the rate of change of velocity of any moving mass. The following excerpt derived from an essay written in 1987 illustrates how attracting forces could be produced from a repulsing energy.
Simulating Gravity with a Repulsing Energy
Imagine yourself placed at a location in space far from any obvious gravitational effects. You are floating almost in contact with a hollow orb 10 meters in diameter. 100 meters away are two crochet balls about 50 meters apart. If you were to touch the orb, it would respond by moving away from you and as long as all conditions remained the same, it would keep moving away from you. However, at a given instant YOU, the orb and the crochet balls will all start expanding at a rate of let us say 2 times per second (t) of linear value, expressed (Ln) in each moment of expansion.
As the expansion proceeds absolute length = 2tL0…2tL1…2tL2…etc.
This expansion would appear spatially proportional so that changes in magnitude are unnoticeable to you as a participant. That is to say, because everything in your immediate vicinity including you, is expanding at exactly the same rate, you would not notice the changes in the size of anything! The orb will expand with t, from the original 10m, to…20m, 40m, 80m, 160m, etc. This increase is actually an acceleration, which according to the principal of equivalence produces a gravitational force. As the force from this acceleration approached 1 "g", you could stand up or sit on the orb. The crochet balls would have converged on each other and towards you so that you could catch them in your hands. Throwing them away they would always repeat the same process converging towards you and each other, even appearing to accelerate as they fell towards you. In your hands they would have weight due to inertial forces, a result of the acceleration as the surfaces expand into each other from their centers of mass. This progression would be an accelerating expansion, which we will let continue until it settles in at an arbitrary 1 g-force of acceleration. Past this point the rate of acceleration (as based on the expansion of the orbs) will be decreasing from second to second but the rate of speed or velocity will always keep increasing (at 1 g-force of acceleration). The scenario around you would come alive with activity. First you would feel the orb nudge you and experience a gravitating-effect as you mutually expand into each other. If you stood on a bathroom scale; at 1 g-force of acceleration, your weight would be exactly the same as on earth and you would experience a gravitational force of the same magnitude as felt on earth. Our scenario has almost perfectly duplicated the gravitational phenomenon without invoking any absolute attracting forces.
The preceding was of course just an illustration to get over the "hump" of accepting a universe with no absolute attracting forces, while finding a replacement mechanism for them. The actuality is more complex. The key element missing in our experiment was an artificial space-time continuum that would more accurately complete the picture. This was omitted as our perceived space-time sufficed within the context of how the simulation was modeled. Subsequent papers will postulate a framework approximating the form such geometry would need in order to mirror reality.
The key issue to contemplate then is; if there are no true attracting forces…what is really happening to make them appear? An expanding matrix seems to be the only solution.


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This isn't your ordinary creamed corn! This is luxurious and heavenly on the palate. You may need to relegate this to be made for special occasions but you've got to try this at least once! Dig in…
Deluxe Creamed Corn
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
A special occasion recipe you'll love!
Author: Linda Davis
Recipe type: Vegetable, side dish
Cuisine: Californian
Serves:: 6
- 6 oz. Philadelphia brand Cream Cheese, cubed
- ¼ C Unsalted butter
- 2 t Garlic, minced
- ⅔ C Milk
- 4 C Corn kernels, frozen, canned, raw, or roasted
- ½ t Dried Thyme
- ¼ t Kosher sea salt
- ¼ t Freshly ground black pepper
- 1 C Shredded Mozzarella cheese
- 1 T Chopped fresh parsley leaves
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
- Lightly coat a 9-inch baking or casserole dish with nonstick spray.
- Set aside.
- Combine cream cheese, butter and garlic in a medium saucepan over medium high heat.
- Stir in milk until smooth, about 2 minutes.
- Stir in corn until well combined, about 2 minutes.
- Stir in thyme, salt, and pepper.
- Spread the corn mixture into the prepared baking dish; sprinkle with cheese.
- Place into oven and bake until bubbly, about 17 minutes until cheese is lightly golden browned.
- Serve immediately, garnished with parsley, if desired.


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Neighbours are mourning the loss of an elderly man who died in a fire on Aubin Road.
Windsor fire officials confirm a resident passed away after a house fire at 2328 Aubin Road Wednesday afternoon.
A neighbour says the victim was Amedeo Morrone, a 90-year-old man. Investigators say the man was rescued by Windsor fire, but later died of his injuries.
It was an emotional day for William Ostrowercha, who just found out his close friend and neighbour of more than 60 years has died. Both are 90 years old.
"I don't want to lose any more of my friends," says Ostrowercha. "I lost three across the road in a years' time."
"I would see him walking down the street and I would holler at him," says Ostrowercha. "Sometimes he walks down the same street, sometimes he walks around."
Ostrowercha says he will remember his friend as a man who loved his walks and their exchange of home grown vegetables during the summer months.
"I would make my own tomatoes and cucumbers and we would trade."
He tells CTV News he and Morrone were two of only four remaining residents who were the first to live on this street dating back to 1955.
"He is a guy who would go out of his way to stop and talk to me," he says. "That's very important to me at my age."
Damage is estimated at $100,000 - $75,000 to structure and $25,000 to contents. Officials say it started in the living room.
An investigator from the Office of the Ontario Fire Marshal is investigating.


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On Saturday, April 22, 2017 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., The Horny Toad, Cave Creek's oldest originally owned restaurant, will host an entertainment-filled, family-friendly day known as Rock the Toad. The fun kicks off with music by the teen Rock the District program.
The gifted young performers who will entertain residents and visitors with their amazing musical skills from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. are:
- 12:00 – The Undecided
- 12:30 – Henry Thompson
- 12:45 – Carissa Canto
- 1:00 – House of Noise
- 1:30 – Brook Newman
- 1:45 – Alexis Brown
- 2:00 – bareteeth
- 2:15 – Eden Cuslo
- 2:30 – Seylah Cislo
- 2:45 – TnT
- 3:00 – Promise to Myself
- 3:30 – Sam Potter Band
- 4:00 – Mitchell Wolfe
Admission is free.
In addition, from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m., members of the Cowboy Fast Draw Association, known as the Arizona Gunslingers, who share a common interest in preserving the history of the Old West, will demonstrate their shooting skills and assist event visitors interested in trying the sport of cowboy fast draw.
Tom Price, general manager for The Horny Toad, says the restaurant, which turns 41 years old later this year, also will offer food and drink specials that tie into the Rock the Toad theme.
Rock the District, the only teen musician program of its kind in the nation, is a parent-guided, student-driven program that is part of Cave Creek Unified Education Foundation (CCUEF) in Cave Creek, Arizona. The Horny Toad offers world-famous signature dishes including made-from-scratch fried chicken, scrumptious barbecue, pork and beef ribs and mesquite-grilled porterhouse, prime rib and strawberry shortcake.
The Horny Toad is located at 6738 E. Cave Creek Road in Cave Creek Ariz.; the phone number is 480.488.9542 and the restaurant and bar website is thehornytoad.com. The Horny Toad is open Sunday through Thursday, 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and Friday and Saturday, 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.


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Nevada's 120-day legislative session has finally drawn to a close, and many of the hot-button issues debated during the session ended up dying at midnight on Monday.
Here are 10 of the bills that garnered headlines but ultimately didn't make it:
Republicans tried several times to quietly do away with AB405, a hot potato of a bill requiring doctors to notify a girl's parents before performing an abortion. Assembly leadership tried to downgrade it to a study, but social conservatives rallied, pushing it through the Assembly and clamoring for a hearing in the Senate. In spite of an urgent social media campaign from opponents and passionate testimony from proponents, the measure failed to garner enough support in the Senate and was never brought up for a vote.
A measure that catapulted Nevada into the national debate over transgender rights never became law after failing to clear an Assembly vote. Lawmakers rejected AB375, the so-called "bathroom bill," in April when five Republicans broke rank and joined Democrats to defeat the measure 20-22. The measure, which drew sharp criticism from transgender advocates, would have required students to use bathrooms and locker rooms that corresponded to their biological sex.
Despite multiple attempts by some Assembly Republicans, the hot-button issue of allowing people with concealed firearm permits to bring guns onto college campuses never made it to Gov. Brian Sandoval's desk. AB148 failed to get a committee vote in the Senate after passing the Assembly in April, and other attempts to add so-called "campus carry" language to other bills failed. Colleges and student leaders sharply opposed the efforts.
Several pending bills that would have required a government-issued identification card failed to become law this session. Assembly members shelved AB226 in April primarily because of a perceived fiscal cost to the state, said Assemblywoman Jill Dickman, the Republican bill sponsor. A similar bill in the Senate died without ever receiving a hearing.
Democratic Sen. Tick Segerblom included a provision allowing medical marijuana cards for pets as part of a broad-ranging, ill-fated marijuana bill. The issue garnered national headlines and concerns from animal advocates who wondered whether such an untested treatment was suitable for pets. The bill eventually died without a hearing.
SB353, a proposal that would have banned therapies that aim to change the sexual orientation of minors, was held in limbo for weeks before eventually passing the Senate late in the session. But it was never brought up for a hearing in the Assembly, which is more socially conservative, and died there on Monday.
A bill that would have initiated switching Nevada's presidential caucus to a primary election ultimately failed to win legislative approval. Assembly members continually delayed a vote on SB421 on Monday, which would have allowed national political party heads to request that Nevada's current caucus system for selecting a presidential candidate be changed to a primary election.
Assemblyman Randy Kirner led the charge to overhaul public employee pensions, hoping to make them look more like private 401(k) plans. Concerned state employees crowded hearing rooms, and PERS officials panned the idea as unconstitutional. Kirner's bill, AB190, ultimately fizzled, but a measure backed by Republican Majority Leader Michael Roberson that slightly reduces payouts to retirees garnered wide support.
Unions sounded the alarm over another bill from Kirner, AB182, which drastically reduced the role of collective bargaining in local government. Labor groups rallied supporters against what they called "Union Armageddon" and fought it even in its weakened form. The bill eventually died, while another Roberson proposal to pare down the power of collective bargaining won broad approval and passed both houses.
Nevada lawmakers narrowly rejected a compromise proposal that would have raised the state's minimum wage to $9 for some workers but also made it harder to qualify for overtime pay. The measure would have upped the state's minimum wage for workers without employer-offered health insurance to $9 and required at least 10 hours of work in a day before employees qualified for overtime pay. Assembly members rejected the measure Monday night on a 21-19 vote, falling a vote short of the constitutionally-required majority.
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.


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Gone Sale Agreed? – get a Building Survey completed!
The Building Survey Report clearly explains the general construction of the building and all its associated parts, including services such as electricity, heating, water, drainage, etc. The survey will alert the purchaser to potential pitfalls of the property, areas where money will have to be spent for upkeep of the house, and a likely period of time the work would have to be completed.
In many cases when a vendor prepares the property for sale, they will complete a redecoration of the property. And it is in these instances it may be an attempt to mask signs of problems. Where possible through a visual inspection, we will indicate if there is evidence or possible occurrences of subsidence, water damage, damp, rot or any serious defect to the building which should be considered prior to purchase.
We provide three typical survey Types: Type One, Type Two & Type Three. These are in accordance with the SCSI Survey types. Please see Residential Property Surveys consumer guide [link].
If you would like a price for a building survey, please send us details via email about the property which you would like surveyed. Please provide any address details which will allow us review the level of survey needed and we can return a call to discuss the type of survey we propose to carry out, the fee, and also how soon we can complete the survey.
If you happen to have any links to myhome.ie or daft.ie for the sales brochure of the property, please also provide this where you can.
We will normally arrange access with the estate agent at a suitably convenient time, and once we are finish in the property, will give you a call afterwards to discuss any pertinent problems which we feel you should know immediately. We will then prepare our report for issuing soon after.
The fees for a Type One Survey start from €500.00 plus VAT (currently 23%), total €615.00.
A Type One inspection is a brief inspection and suits newer properties built in the last 10 years where there has been few changes in building regulations.
Fees for Type Two Surveys start from €750.00 plus VAT, total €922.50.
The Type Two inspection is a more in-depth inspection reviewing all main elements of the dwelling with concise reporting.
Type Three Survey fees depend on the property's age and its size. A fee can be provided upon request.
Why not add an extra element to your survey request? We now provide drone surveys as an additional service to standard surveys, subject to an additional fee:


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David Jean of Albin, Randall & Bennett—a full-service accounting and tax advisory firm based in Portland—says he didn't need too much convincing to join the Associated Builders and Contractors of Maine back in December of 2001.
Prior to joining, Jean says he heard nothing but praise for ABC Maine from several of his clients throughout New England who encouraged him to get involved. Once he signed up, Jean thought so highly of ABC Maine that he later became the treasurer of its board of directors—and is now celebrating the anniversary of his membership with 15 other companies in the state who joined the organization in December.
That was 20 years ago, and Jean says it's easily been one of the best business decisions he's ever made. By connecting with ABC Maine, Jean was able to gain a better understanding of the construction industry—and how legislative, political and economic factors can impact the construction businesses of his clients.
Thanks to the resources and opportunities provided by ABC Maine, Jean says his accounting firm is now more in tune with its customers, giving them the kind of industry insights—from employment policies to safety practices—that can positively affect their businesses. And their bottom lines.
Over the past two decades, ABC Maine has provided Jean with access to timely information affecting the industry—particularly in the area of health insurance. For example, through ABC Maine's insurance trust program builders, contractors and other businesses that sign up for healthcare coverage through Aetna can get their ABC Maine membership covered in addition to receiving a credit for each enrolled employee. Learning about this—and a variety of other ABC Maine perks for his clients—only opened the doors to more personal and professional relationships with other members across the state.
"We've established a close-knit network that helps each other," Jean says. "ABC Maine has helped us grow our construction client base, allowing us to better serve our clients across the state through our connections."
Season to Celebrate
It's not just Jean singing the praises of ABC Maine membership. Paul White Company—a specialty tile and flooring company in Portland—has been part of the ABC Maine family for two decades.
"We are so proud of our 20-year relationship with ABC Maine," says CEO Paul White. "They have been great partners in providing advice for merit shop contractors, as well as offering continuing education and best safety practices."
His brother President Jonathan White agrees, noting the company has turned to ABC Maine to navigate the regulatory landscape of the construction industry throughout New England, for information regarding business law, to the latest COVID-19 regulations.
"It is very reassuring to know that reaching out to an organization like ABC Maine will get you the answers we all need in these times of ever-changing rules," Jon White says. "ABC Maine has also helped to protect our employees and customers with their efforts at the state capitol, fighting to make sure our opinions are heard. We appreciate their work and look forward to continuing our relationship of growth with ABC Maine."
ABC Maine President and CEO Hope Pollard says hearing positive feedback like this—and seeing the longstanding commitment made by companies like Albin, Randall & Bennett and the Paul White Company is both rewarding and heartwarming.
"Serving ABC members like Albin, Randall & Bennett for 15 years is an honor. I've learned so much from David Jean's leadership on the ABC board of directors. The connections and relationships made with all our members will last a lifetime," Pollard says.
To date, ABC Maine is 182 members strong, encompassing professionals from plumbing and heating contractors to stonemasons and businesses both large and small. Pollard and her team—which includes Membership Director Tami Staples and Workforce Development Coordinator Shari Johnson—are more motivated than ever to bring the latest construction industry information and programming to Maine's builders and contractors. Popular perks this year included ABC Maine's workforce development apprenticeship programs, the Young Professionals Program for 2021-2022 and a series of social networking events—including the upcoming Annual Holiday Meeting and dinner party on December 3!
ABC Maine looks forward to ringing in 2022 by welcoming new members into the fold and is honored to recognize the loyalty of the 16 companies celebrating membership anniversaries this month:
- Androscoggin Bank – 21
- Albin, Randall & Bennett – 20
- Maine Masonry Company Inc. – 20
- Paul White Company Inc. – 20
- Bowman Constructors – 18
- Northeastern Environmental Services – 17
- American Aerial Services Inc. – 17
- Blane Casey Building Contractor Inc. – 17
- Travelers – 16
- ACE Corporation – 13
- Richard P. Waltz Plumbing & Heating Co. Inc. -13
- Sargent Corporation – 6
- Camden National Bank – 5
- Hardy Construction Inc. – 3
- Connectivity Point Design Installation – 2
- Resource Options Inc. – 1
See What We Can Do for You!
To learn more about ABC Maine membership, contact ABC Maine's Membership Director Tami Staples at (207) 620-6561, or email her at email@example.com.
From all of us at ABC Maine, we wish you a joyous holiday season!


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Public Relations and Me
The latest and greatest press release about batteries! A press release on the falling price of solar cells! An article on the brave new world of offshore wind!
People share these releases with me on social media, send them to my Gmail address, and have other ways to be sure that I see them. In some cases, they finish their communications with a question such as "Are you going to revise your book now?"
These comments are evidence of the prevalence of writing about the "Could" grid. People have a hard time finding out much about the actual grid, but information on breakthroughs is the backbone of the usual energy reporting. It's all about the "Could" grid. Better reporting is available in books, trade journals, some places on the internet, and the Wall Street Journal. But you have to seek out this material. Meanwhile, the "Could" grid appears in every Sunday newspaper.
So of course, people will send me information about the "Could" grid. My general response is that "I don't have time to educate everybody. I need time to write." I generally ignore this correspondence. But the other day, one of the "Are you going to revise your book now" comments got to me. I had the madly egotistical mental response, "Does this person KNOW who he is talking to?"
Alas, he doesn't. And it is my fault that people don't know much about me. They don't know because, when discussing my background, I usually talk about Me as a Chemist, or Me as a Pioneering Woman (one of the first women project managers at EPRI).
Today, I am going to talk about Me as an Evaluator of Energy Research.
Energy Research and Me
I was a project manager at the Electric Power Research Institute. What does a project manager at EPRI do? We evaluate and direct energy research. We look for areas that will "pay off" and other areas where we will choose not to invest research funds. The first thing I need to say is that these decisions are a team sport. It's not "me," it's the team. When evaluating a proposed project area, or putting together a Request for Proposal for a new area, there are meetings. The chemist (me) reviews potential materials problems, while the economist (not me) does projections on costs. Consultants may be hired. Discussions ensue. It is a team effort.
However, when you get right down to it, even as part of a team, I was responsible for many aspects of research evaluation. I need to write about that part of my background. Because people don't know about it.
First of all, the team has to be methodical. It cannot accept breathless plans as "sure to work." All research groups have a limited amount of money, and they need to put that money where it will be most effective. And (shocking) there is a certain amount of politics, even in this high-minded endeavor. Let me give you an example.
Geothermal Energy in New Mexico and California
When I was in the geothermal group at EPRI, Los Alamos National Lab wanted our group to contribute to their Hot Dry Rock project. Los Alamos National Lab wanted our group to join them in co-funding this project. This was not because EPRI had so much money. Compared to a national lab, the geothermal group at EPRI was a shoestring operation! But we were well respected. If we joined the project, this would have been a powerful endorsement.
We visited, reviewed papers, and looked at other areas of mineral chemistry. Due Diligence, that was us! And EPRI decided not to join it. The mineral chemistry of HOT rock and water was difficult. Intractable. At least, that was our opinion.
In contrast, we did invest in the Heber binary cycle project, but that would be a whole other blog post. It did not turn out to be cost-effective, but (looking back) it was worth investing in. Or maybe it wasn't. Hindsight is perfect, of course.
I don't want to make this into a hugely long blog post, so I will just mention that I was also involved in evaluating the geopressured zones (geothermal group), various water chemistries for secondary side water for PWR plants (nuclear group), methods for preventing stress corrosion cracking in tubes near the tube sheet in PWRs, test comparisons between Alloy 600 and Alloy 690 (all nuclear group). There's more, lots more, I had a long career. I won't bore you with it.
I was always part of a team. Being part of a team means taking your part seriously. We all knew that money and research dollars and future technologies depended on our choices, and we made them as thoughtfully as we could. We did our best. We felt pressures to join projects, and pressures to not-join projects.
We were always aware that we could be wrong.
Research and PR
This is a more personal post than I usually write. Too much about me. But I felt I had to write it.
The problem is that many people don't know that thoughtful professionals spend time evaluating the latest-and-greatest thing. And those professionals get into a habit of thought that could be described as "Show Me the Data." Don't show me a projection. Don't talk down to me. Don't assume I won't ask you hard questions.
I have been in groups that made hard choices. I am still in such groups, but they are informal now. I have a list of experts, and I consult them. Sometimes I can't name them (if they work for a big company) but they are there for me.
I have been thinking about "what is my next book?" I'm not sure.. But I do know that a possible title is "Could is a Four-Letter Word." And "Breakthrough" is a public relations word.
Post Script: Travel and Research
I have to tell you, I loved visiting Los Alamos. That is some of the most gorgeous high desert that exists on this earth. I think heaven might look a lot like the Jemez Mountains. If we had chosen our research projects on the basis of travel destinations, Hot Dry Rock at Los Alamos would have been a winner.
Instead, we spent our time in the Imperial Valley with the Heber Project. The Imperial Valley is below sea level: it is fiercely hot. It's a terrific place for growing truck crops. It wasn't much fun to visit the Imperial Valley.
But I did learn the history of the Salton Sea, and learned about The Winning of Barbara Worth. The book is partially based on the engineering catastrophe which led to the flood that created the Salton Sea. I believe the movie is available on YouTube.
The illustration for this post is a film poster from Wikipedia.


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The story of Terry Scovell sounds like a bad country-western song. Over the years the 69-year-old Vietnam veteran from Ninilchik has survived a neck tumor wrapped around his spine, a five-way heart bypass, a brain aneurysm and a stroke. To top it off, while recovering in Anchorage from surgery to put a metal plate in his neck, someone stole about $600 gallons of fuel oil and firewood from his home and tried to break in. A cold snap caused pipes to burst, flooding the house and causing about $5,000 in damages.
"He's had a really, really bad year, and it's only February," said his daughter, Akalina Scovell, in a phone interview from Oregon.
Akaline Scovell has started a fundraise through the Go Fund Me website. She seeks to raise $7,000 to get her dad and his wife, Teece Scovell, back on their feet.
"I'm hoping we can get people to pitch in and do something for them," Akalina Scovell said.
Her dad served in Vietnam with the U.S. Navy and suffered exposure to Agent Orange, the defoliant dropped in jungles as a strategy to make it harder for Viet Cong to hide. Scovell worked for Reynolds Metals for 20 years before retiring. He and his wife both live on disability and retirement benefits. A big, burly guy who worked a life of heavy labor, Scovell had been the one to chop wood and make repairs, but his recent neck surgery means he can't do any heavy lifting.
Akalina Scovell said her dad has suspicions about who robbed them, but because he's religious, didn't report the theft to Alaska State Troopers. A new Facebook page, Anchor Point Neighborhood Watch, mentions the Scovell theft and Go Fund Me effort.
To donate to the Scovells' Go Fund Me effort, visit https://www.gofundme.com/help-my-parents-out-of-a-rut.


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Project Description
Cyclades, Greece
A complex of old stables is connected with an existing house and converted into a comfortable summer residence.
The sea in the south side, the mountain and the ancient Xorio surrounding the house on the other sides.
The house is conceived as two blocks:
- the living area upstairs (with an independent guess house beside) in white plaster
- the rooms downstairs developing on different levels around small courtyards or overlooking the valley
Materials and traditional techniques allow a complete integration with the landscape.
Its criteria of typical buildings of the Cyclades ensure optimal comfort without the need of invasive passive measures.


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I have lived western part of Finland most of my life and my parents are from Säkylä, which is next to the Lake Pyhäjärvi. So, I've spent quite much in Säkylä in my youth and Lake Pyhäjärvi has been a part of my life. I did mean to shoot this video in summer time, but didn't get around to actually do it.
I need to come back in the spring, summer and fall.
I started from south part of the lake, Yläne and drove to Säkylä on regional road 204, which starts from Lieto on National road 9 and ends up with Eura on National road 12.
When I arrived in Säkylä, I entered the eastern part of Säkylä and drove through Säkylä and drive all the way to Kauttua, which is part of Eura nowadays. I didn't remember where was the road that goes through Ruukinpuisto, so that I follow as close as possible the Lake Pyhäjärvi.
After that I head down south on National road 43, which goes from Uusikaupunki to Harjavalta, via Laitila and Eura.
In Honkilahti there is a "short cut" to Regional road 210, which is quite less travelled. Normally I would have drive to Hinnerjoki and take the Regional road 210 from there, but as I wanted to travel as close as possible to the lake Pyhäjärvi, I took this connecting road 2053.
And what do you know, just before I enter back in the Yläne, I enter back in the Säkylä again!
And then I am back in the Yläne, which is part of Pöytyä nowdays.


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Game Times: 6:00PM (5/9), 7:00PM (5/10)
TV/Radio: NBC Sports Chicago, NHL Network, SportsNet (5/9), NBCSN (5/10), WGN-AM 720
JerryWorld: Defending Big D
First of all Happy Mothers Day out there to all whom it may apply to. And anyone who actually cares for the mother figures in their lives would be best served to keep them as far away from watching these games as possible. Seats still available!


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One of my many obsessions in the field of training is how to master an explanation. The ability to explain a concept clearly, and in a short amount of time, is extremely useful for training. Especially when people can start using what I've explained straight away.
But getting a perfect explanation is not always easy. It normally takes many attempts, and many revisions, before I arrive at a decent explanation. Through those attempts, I gradually figure out the best questions to ask, the best examples to use and so on.
But a lot of my decent explanations all have one thing in common; they start with the end.
I noticed this first when I tried explaining the rules of my favourite board game (Settlers of Catan) to my friends. I would start with the end goal; "the goal is to get 10 points", and then work backwards from there.
I notice it as well whenever I set up an activity or explain a concept during training. If I'm explaining an activity, I start by explaining the goal. If I'm explaining a concept, I start by explaining the problem it solves. This helps build interest, because they can now see the reason to listen to the rest of my explanation. It also builds context for later points. They can now reference those new points against the end goal to see how they fit into the bigger picture.
It's really very simple, all you need to do is start with the end state. So, if you struggle to explain something at work, then start by describing:
- The desired outcome
- The problem you want to solve
- The benefits your audience can gain
And as you describe those, make it really vivid, so describe what that end state:
- Looks like
- Sounds like
- Feels like
Then once they've got that outcome, work backwards and show them step by step how to achieve that outcome.
It's that simple. So, start with the end.


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Everyone faces plumbing problems at some point or the other. The most normal process is to call a handyman, and they solve your problem with ease. But every time, it is not at all possible as you need to go through extensive expenditure. That is why you have to learn several plumbing methods, tips, and tricks to get the work done on your own.
In this matter, you have to work smart instead of working hard, and we will tell you how.
Recommended service: Best Electrician Dubai
Useful Tips to Repair your Plumbing System
The professionals associated with various plumbing organizations, including the plumbing services Dubai are always available to guide you in this matter. Therefore, by seeking there help you get to know about the valuable skills and ideas.
other services: Maid Services Dubai
Never get scared to replace the parts
When any type of toilet equipment is broken or damaged, then you must not panic. Stay, calm, and take a deep breath. Observe the situation carefully. Look at the broken part and find how it happened. It is evident that the solution always lies in the problem itself. After that, go to the plumbing shop and bring that replacement. Carefully note how it is fixed and attach it. In the same way, open the broken parts and fix it.
Avoid using chemicals
Handyman of plumbing services Dubai and other organizations use different types of chemicals to clean the drainage system. In addition to that, those chemicals are also useful for killing bacteria and other waste materials.
But, the experts suggest that it will be better for you not to use those chemicals. You might spill it over your body accidentally and hurt yourselves. Always use the appropriate tool to pull back the wastage. After that, gather them somewhere and dispose of them in the dustbin.
Learn to maintain your water tank
The water tank present in your home is the only source of water for daily usage. That is why you must keep it clean and well-maintained. If you feel any type of pungent and sour smell, then it's the time to clean the tank. Grab a fresh cloth, a bucket. After that, empty the remaining water in the tank somewhere in any container.
Along with the cloth, you can also grab a scrubber to wipe out any iron or dirt deposits inside the tank. Take your time and rub the whole tank. Sometimes, put some water to soften the dirt and apply scrubbers over them, until they are wiped off. Now, wash the inside portion of the tank. Finally, fill up the tank with freshwater.
Also Suggests Washing Machine Repair in UAE
Clean the entire pipeline
With the continuous water flow, through the pipes from the tank, impurities from the water keep on depositing inside the pipes. That is why cleaning the pipes is necessary. It is not at all difficult, and you can do it with ease. After cleaning that tank, tell one of your family members to start the water pump for filling up the tank.
After that, open up all the taps in your home. The pressure of the water flow will drive out all the impurities deposits from the pipes. Keep on doing it for about 5 to 7 minutes. Then, close the taps and let the water pump fill the tank. This is one of the easiest ways to clean up your water pipes.
Mend pipe fittings
The entire pipeline of your home has a huge number of joints and fittings. So, you must not be surprised if somehow water leaks from there. The plumbing services Dubai experts always suggest you check all the fittings and the joints every day to avoid water loss.
If you see any leakage, then there is no need for calling the plumbing experts or handyman. Carefully observe the leakages. After that, bring some amount of pipe fitting leakage mending materials from the plumbing store located nearby. Now, apply the material in the areas and wait for some time.
Then, move on to the next leakage, and in this way, you can repair all of it. If necessary, gather your toolbox, and you might have to tighten some of the nuts and bolts. This process of tightening will also help you in mending the water leakages
Take care of your water heater
The water heater is the only electrical equipment in your bathroom. So, you have to handle it very carefully. First, you need to check the thermostat. Make sure it is not at its highest temperature. With the normal temperature of 90 to 100 degrees, you will get enough hot water for use. Never cover the thermostat with anything.
If you feel that the water is not getting heated enough, after checking the thermostat, check the heater machine itself. First, make sure it's properly connected to the electricity board. Then, check the pipelines and ensure that they are perfectly working and no water leakage has occurred. If you still face the problem, as per the experts, call the electrician and plumbers from plumbing services Dubai. They will take care of the problem.
Few other important tips
While handling the sharp tools, make sure that you don't hurt yourselves. Moreover, you have to know what types of items are flushable and what is not. Try to avoid objects that can create jams in your entire drainage system.
As a result, it will also block the sewage system. In the case of the clogged drain cleaning strategy, you can use a vacuum cleaner to draw out all the wastes. Then, apply fresh water to make the drainage system clear.


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Global Dividend Aristocrats ETF
This week Simon chats to Chris Rule from CoreShares on their soon to be listed Global Dividend Aristocrats ETF. It uses dividends as a quality metric rather then searching for yield and much like the MSCI World ETFs we have locally it is concentrated in the US at 53% with Europe making up another 22% – but it is light on tech.
You can book for the events here and the initial offering will be on your brokers website soon if not already.
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Meet the Just One Lap team at these free live events
Click here to meet the Just One Lap team at one of our live, free events.


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Niseko, Toya-Usu and Shiraoi are three Hokkaido destinations for travellers who want to feel close to the communities they're visiting.
Alpinism awarded Unesco Intangible Heritage status
Alpinism has officially been added to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) list. Its candidacy had been jointly submitted by France, Italy and Switzerland.
Unesco has added alpinism to its list of Intangible Cultural Heritages (ICHs), defining it as "the art of climbing up summits and walls in high mountains, in all seasons, in rocky or icy terrain. It involves physical, technical and intellectual abilities".
Unesco recognition
"There can be nothing but joy at this prestigious recognition of an activity that was born in our mountains, part of Valdostan culture and tradition," Albert Chatrian, environmental councillor for Italy's Valle d'Aosta region, expressed his enthusiasm. The candidacy was presented almost a decade ago by France, Italy and Switzerland with the coordination of the local councils of Courmayeur and Chamonix.
The news arrived on International Mountain Day, 11th December 2019, from Bogota, in Colombia, while the city was hosting the 14th session of the Unesco Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Alpinism for the environment, solidarity and freedom
Perhaps the most important aspect of this announcement was that of highlighting the social and cultural value of alpinism as well as its international spirit. Unesco recognised the practice of alpinism as an art form inspired by the principles of freedom and solidarity, which embraces respect for the environment. Alpinism therefore isn't merely a sport, and its addition to the list of ICHs affirms "solid relationships" and a "spiritual and ethical dimension," heading towards "a complex relationship between man, nature and the universe".
Read more: 11 December is International Mountain Day
"We're proud of this recognition from UNESCO, which signals further commitment to promoting intercultural dialogue and cooperation," Dario Franceschini, Italian Minister for Culture and Tourism, emphasised.
Quest'opera è distribuita con Licenza Creative Commons Attribuzione - Non commerciale - Non opere derivate 4.0 Internazionale.
Disabled travellers need not fear Japan. Accessible Japan founder Josh Grisdale tells us about his commitment to opening the country's doors to everyone.
Antarctica is becoming more accessible, so much so that tourism has seen a 53 per cent increase in the last four years. And climate change is on of the reasons people visit the frozen continent.
The future of humankind is closely linked to biodiversity: it provides us with our livelihoods and brings joy in our lives.
Not just skyscrapers: the Japanese capital is a much greener city that most people imagine. Let's discover the best Tokyo parks and gardens from autumn to spring, and anytime in between.
Vienna will amaze you with the magnificence of its past and modernity of its services. A tour among the best sights of an environmentally-friendly city with award-winning quality of life standards.
Chile has unveiled the Patagonian Route of Parks, an incredible trail that connects 17 national parks with the aim of promoting nature conservation and community development.
Trekkers throughout the Himalayas have contributed to creating the highest garbage dump in the world. Sustainable tourism in Nepal is still absent, but sorely needed.
Eataly World in Bologna is a culinary city in the country of biodiversity, the largest agri-food centre in the world: an Italian food theme park, if you will. Photos from the opening, so you know what to expect.


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Located in Vale de Milho, Carvoeiro, the plan for this garden, which is around 700 m², was to have contemporary lines that would somehow accompany the modern, minimalist architecture of the house.
The inclusion of inert materials here and there in the interior of the garden, whether low white walls or in the use of gravel or stone slabs, creates a solid symbiosis between the house and the garden; they complement each other so well that it becomes impossible to imagine the existence of one without the other.
Although medium in size, there was a clear aim to be able to combine different uses, for different times of the day.
While walking through the garden around the house, we come across different colours, textures, volumes and spaces, with areas for resting and relaxing, which include a natural grassy area going from the swimming pool to a small orchard.
In this respect, the role of typically Mediterranean vegetation was decisive in assuring smooth transitions and complete harmony of the whole.
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The Gods of Greek and Roman Mythology
Unlike Christian theology, which is based on the belief that one god created the heavens, earth, and everything in the universe, Greek and Roman theology held that numerous gods were born out of the universe. In Greek and Roman theology, the universe created the Titans, and the Titans created the gods who then overtook the Titans. The twelve main gods lived on Olympus and oversaw human interactions. It is unclear from ancient literature where Olympus supposedly was located, though it is often described as a type of enormous mountain. On Olympus, the gods ate a substance called "ambrosia" and drank nectar. While the gods were thought to influence certain earthly phenomena, they did not live to serve mankind.
We have highlighted twelve main gods of the Greek and Roman traditions. The first name listed refers to the Greek name for the god. The name in parenthesis is the name that the Romans used for the same god. The use of either the Roman or Greek names for the gods will signal whether a myth is Roman or Greek.


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Post-hardcore legends Glassjaw and Quicksand descended upon Santa Ana to a luke-warm crowd on Friday night. While the bands brought a new level of nostalgia on stage, it was hard to ignore the pockets of open spaces between the fans.
Both New York based groups who were previously on long hiatuses; each recorded new albums recently, providing their retro post-hardcore sound in 2018. Quicksand came back swinging with Interiors, released last year, and Glassjaw to the surprise of many dropped Material Control a few months ago. The energy they brought to the stage made it appear as if neither band ever vanished from the scene at all.
Overheard from some of the late arriving crowd was confusion as to who was headlining. Glassjaw took top billing, and one couple in particular were bummed out, showing up just as Quicksand were wrapping things up.
QS performed a well-blended set of old and new that included songs from their first two albums, Slip (1993) and Manic Compression (1995), along with a few tracks off of their newest record. Songs included classics such as "Fazer," "Lie and Wait," "Omission," "Delusional," "Blister," and "Thorn In My Side" along with new tracks "Illuminant" and "Cosmonauts" that have gained some buzz. They were fine-tuned and tight, clearly prepared after all of these years, and not lacking in enthusiasm.
Glassjaw, comprised of original members Daryl Palumbo and Justin Beck, along with bass player Travis Sykes and drummer Chad Hasty, later took the stage and opened with "Cut and Run," a blistering track off of their latest project.
After recently facing controversy for lyrics regarded as misogynistic from their first album, Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Silence, the set list (17 songs in total) included mostly tracks off of 2002's Worship and Tribute and 2018's Material Control. It seems that after taking accountability for past feelings and high emotions, the band decided it was best to lay some of those old records to rest.
The dedicated fan base in front began a circle pit while Palumbo and crew whaled away on tracks like "Tip Your Bartender," "The Gillette Cavalcade of Sports," and "El Mark."
Palumbo's brooding presence in all black, along with his tech savvy musical partners did not disappoint, despite the minute turnout. A raw, seamless set, forging old classics with new interpretations fit right in and left the dedicated hardcore kids fulfilled on this night.
Michael Silver is a journalist and photographer based in Southern California. He covers music, sports, technology, and streetwear. Tips & pitches: [email protected]